8 Lessons Learned:
Life gets busy and overwhelming so from time to time and you may need to get away from it all. If a sailing vacation has ever tickled your fancy then you know there are a lot of factors you have to weigh in on before actually choosing your destination and company you will hire from.
The first thing you would have to pick is a destination. Is there a sweet spot you have always wanted to visit? Do your research and settle on one choice. The British Virgin Islands, Hawaii, Canary Islands, Greece, and Grenada are just a few examples of the great places you can visit. If there is, check whether its waters have any yacht chartering companies set up there. You have the option of hiring from bigger widespread companies that have their boats set up in numerous varied locations. There might be some good recommendable smaller companies but they are normally only restricted to one location. The considerations you would need to make before settling on one choice are varied. How many boats do they have, the type of support staff and the services they have at their bases, and how old their boats are. Generally, new boats are more expensive to hire than older ones. Once you find a boat suited to your personal preference and budget, you can begin making other preparations.
Another thing you will have to decide on is whether you want to go solo or have help. A bareboat charter is basically a cruise where you are the captain. You have to get sailing training first, otherwise, there are no restrictions such as timetables or schedules. You are basically given the yacht and given a return date. You get to pick and decide your own route and when and where you will go. The chartering company will have very little interference except sending personnel in case of an emergency. You also get to decide what you will eat as well as cook your own meals and tend to your own needs. There are however many suitable personalized customizations you can make to your bareboat charter. You can get a crew inclusive of chefs to make the voyage more comfortable while still veering the boat by yourself. The company can provide you with food on the boat already so that you do not have to go and buy supplies by yourself as well as plan some fun activities you can check in on such as scuba diving close to specific ports.
The other option is getting a captained charter which really gives your vacation comfort and rests that you are long deserving of. All the ‘work’ is handled while you relax. The captain will navigate the voyage and based on his professional knowledge and experience. Having a captain also has its perks like getting into special spots exclusive to locals. Controlling helmsmanship, getting the boat to harbors, and securing it, paying any applicable tariffs in new waters can be hard work for you and can really dampen the mood at your vacation. A captained charter will save you the trouble.
You may also opt to go for a flotilla where someone else can enclose you in if you would like. A group of boat cruises together which guarantees safety in the event of an emergency as well as diversifies the experience making it more memorable.
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