Corfu Yachting - The easy way of sailing..
Frequetly Asked Questions
What qualifications do I need to charter a bareboat sailing yacht?
To charter a sailing yacht in Greece it is necessary for two crew members (skipper and co-skipper) to have sailing certificates proving their competence. If no such certificates are issued in your home country, you will be required to present a reference from your yacht club verifying your ability to sail. Also the skipper and co-skipper will be asked to complete and sign an official self-declaration form, stating their sailing competence. Corfu Yachting will assist you with all the necessary formalities. You may also be required to submit a sailing resume that will enable us to assess your ability to sail in safety. Corfu Yachting reserves the right to insist that charterers hire a professional skipper if their sailing skills are not judged sufficient by Corfu Yachts’ staff.
What qualifications do I need to charter a bareboat motor yacht?
For bareboat motor boats, both qualified crew members (skipper and co-skipper) must present a license for motor boats. In this case self-declaration forms are not acceptable. Corfu Yachting reserves the right to insist that charterers hire a professional skipper if their cruising skills are not judged sufficient by Corfu Yachts’ staff.
If I need to hire a professional skipper?
Corfu Yachting is in the position to select, recommend and hire on your behalf a professional skipper for as many days as you wish. Even if you have experienced sailing, you may still require the services of a professional skipper to make your cruise more relaxing and benefit from the skippers’ local knowledge. There is a set daily fee (€ 120 per day) for the professional skipper regardless of the number of people on board. Please remember that the professional skipper needs to be provided with his own cabin, as he is obliged to sleep on board.
Which days of the week can I begin and end my charter?
Sailing yacht charters begin and end on Saturdays for multiples of seven days. In the low season period depending on yacht availability this may be flexible. In this case Corfu Yachting will try to accommodate your wishes for different days of the week and uneven periods of time, such as a ten or twelve-day charter. Your agent will advise you and discuss the possibilities.
What is the charters’ schedule?
All charters begin at 17:00 on the day of departure (normally Saturdays) and typically end at 09:00 on the day of arrival (normally Saturdays). However you will be kindly asked to return to Corfu Yachting base on the last evening of your charter (normally Friday evening). Corfu Yachting requires this valuable time between charters to ensure that yachts are always delivered to the next charter in perfect working order. If we can deliver your charter yacht earlier on the day of embarkation, without compromising our standards, we will, but this cannot be guaranteed.
What does the charter fee include?
Yacht prices are per yacht, per week, depending on time of the year, regardless of the number of people aboard (subject to the maximum number of berths). Charter fees include the cost of yacht insurance and VAT.
Are there any additional charges?
The following additional charges may apply:
- Deposit – The security deposit you choose to pay.
- Fuel – The yacht should be delivered topped up with fuel, which is available in all C.Y bases.
- Port or Marina fees – This is a daily-base fee, which applies to almost all ports in Greece with varied costs. This fee also applies to yachts that do not leave Corfu Yachting base, or remain in base for more than one day.
- Optionals – Any optional extras that you might have specifically requested. (Inventory List)
Should I have a travel insurance?
In your own interest, you are strongly advised to buy suitable travel insurance before leaving home, including cancellation insurance to protect your booking deposit.
What types of security deposits are available?
Each Corfu Yachting vessel is comprehensively insured, including third Party cover, beyond a deductible excess figure. This amount is published in the price list for every yacht in the fleet, under Security Deposit. You must indemnify the company against such possible loss, for which you may choose to pay either a Refundable Security Deposit or a Non – Refundable Damage / Loss Waiver.
- The Refundable Security Deposit is held against the yachts insurance excess and, if there is no damage or loss to the yacht or her equipment, this figure is returned to you. Exception: for any loss or damage caused by gross negligence or wanton or wilful misuse by the charterer or by any of his party, to a value in excess of the Security Deposit amount, the charterer will be held liable for the total amount of loss or damage.
Normally, Corfu Yachting will refund the Security Deposit immediately at the end of the charter. However, if any damage and/or loss is extensive, the deposit or appropriate proportion will be returned, if applicable, as soon as possible after full assessment of rectifying such damage or loss has been made.
The Refundable Security Deposit covers:
• Loss of or damage to the vessel or its tender or to third parties.
• Loss of or damage to the equipment listed in the inventory and given to the charterer at check-in.
• Costs incurred if the vessel is returned in an extremely dirty condition.
• Cost of returning the boat to her prearranged harbour if the charterer fails to do so by the scheduled date and time.
• Cost of refuelling if the boat is returned without refilled tanks.
- Non-Refundable Damage / Loss Waiver. This is a fixed amount depending on the type and size of boat and duration of charter and is not refunded in any circumstances. With payment of the Damage/Loss Waiver, the charterer is relieved of all liability for loss or damage to the yacht, with the following exceptions:
- Loss or damage caused by gross negligence by the charterer and/or his party.
• Any loss or damage caused to the boat or her equipment by the charterer or any member of his/her party while under the influence of alcohol or narcotics.
• Cost of returning the boat to her prearranged harbour if the charterer fails to do so by the scheduled date and time.
• Cost of refuelling if the boat is returned without refilled tanks.
Gross negligence may include, but is not limited to:
• Sailing at night without all navigation lights functioning or without sufficient watch on deck.
• Damage resulting from non-observance of instructions given during the technical briefing.
• Damage resulting from non-observance, in accordance with good seamanship, of protective measures against bad weather.
• Failure to have a competent person on the helm or supervising the helmsman while the boat is under way.
• Failure to take reasonable seamanlike precautions to avoid danger for both yacht and crew.
An additional, although much reduced, Security Deposit of € 380 is payable when selecting the Damage Loss Waiver. The purpose of this additional refundable deposit is to cover:
• Cost of returning the boat to her prearranged harbour if the charterer fails to do so by the scheduled date and time.
• Cost of refuelling if the boat is returned without refilled tanks.
The payment of either the Refundable Security Deposit, or the Damage / Loss Waiver, is designed to cover only one incident of a substantial nature at any one time, viz: in case of loss or damage to equipment of significant value such as outboard engine or dinghy, the charterer will have the right to an immediate replacement whilst on charter, provided that the charterer pays a new Refundable Security Deposit immediately upon receipt of replacement or repair.
Either form of security deposit is payable at the yachts base before embarkation. Please note that, for a skippered charter, only the Damage/Loss Waiver is accepted. For bareboat charters, Corfu Yachting reserves the right to insist that the Refundable Security Deposit is paid.
What should I bring with me?
Every vessel of the Corfu Yachting fleet is fully equipped for charter. Apart from provisioning, stowing your personal possessions, you could step aboard any Corfu Yachting vessel and leave the dock without a further thought. The Inventory List indicates how fully you can expect your yacht to be equipped. The equipment varies depending on the size and the type of the yacht but you need to take very little with you. You should bring your own beach towels, sun tan lotion, sun hat and so on, but thats about it!
Do you provide boat briefings?
The charterer and his or her party will be given general briefing covering the local cruising grounds. Questions about navigation, anchorages, prevailing conditions, or any part of the desired itinerary can be answered. A more specific boat briefing aboard the yacht will then be given, covering all the operating systems, including rigging, electrical system, water system, windlass, stove, dinghy, outboard and emergency systems.
In case I want to cancel my charter?
Corfu Yachting will apply cancellation policy to bareboat yachts as follows depending on the time-interval between the booking confirmation and the cancellation date. An administration fee of € 150 will be charged for bookings cancelled after signing the contract and up to 90 days prior to embarkation.
a) For bookings cancelled between 90 and 60 days prior to embarkation, 30% of the total charter fee
b) For bookings cancelled between 60 and 30 days prior to embarkation, 50% of the total charter fee
c) For bookings cancelled less than 30 days prior to embarkation, 100% of the total charter fee
Corfu Yachting will return the cancellation fee, less the administration fee, if the cancelled yacht is rechartered for the same period, under the same conditions.
Where can I get more information?
For specific sailing information, you will find the appropriate copy of the “Greek Waters Pilot”, written by Rod Heikell, onboard all Corfu Yachting vessels. For research before leaving home, the “Greek Waters Pilot” is an excellent reading choice. It is published in the UK by Imray Laurie Norie & Wilson Ltd.
Tel: +44(0) 1480 462114. Fax: +44(0) 1480 496109. E-mail: sales@imray.com
Will you give me the chance to evaluate my experience with Corfu Yachting?
Of course we will be giving you the chance to evaluate your experience with Corfu Yachting, since what matters to us the most is your opinion! After the end of the charter we will be giving you a questionnaire to fill, which will give us the opportunity to analyse your experience with Corfu Yachting. Issues such as the condition of the boat, inventory, and service provided will be examined.