First yacht charter: the only checklist you need
What to book, what to pack and what to expect at check-in — a practical pre-departure checklist for your first sailing holiday.
The boat is booked and the countdown is on. Here is the short version of everything our guests wish they had known before their first charter week.
Three months before
- Check that passports and sailing licences are valid for the whole trip
- Book flights that land before noon — check-in usually opens at 5 p.m.
- Agree the provisional route with your crew (and keep it flexible)
One week before
- Send the crew list to the charter company — it is required for registration
- Arrange the security deposit: card limit or deposit insurance
- Check the long-range forecast, but do not obsess — plans change on the water
What to pack
- Soft bags only — hard suitcases do not fit in yacht lockers
- Deck shoes with light soles, one warm layer, a windbreaker
- Sunscreen 50+, seasickness tablets, a power bank
At check-in
Walk through the boat slowly. Test the windlass, the bow thruster and the dinghy engine before you sign anything. A photo of every existing scratch saves every discussion at check-out.
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