French-speaking skipper: rates, process, accommodation on board

It is a request that comes up very regularly with our advisers and our concierge service: "I'd like to hire a boat, but I'd rather be accompanied by a skipper who speaks French". Whether you lack experience, want to rest during the passages, or the sailing area requires a professional on board, adding a French-speaking skipper is entirely possible: boat hire with a skipper is a common option at Filovent. What remains is to understand how the request works, how much it costs, and where the skipper sleeps and eats once on board. Here is a practical guide so you can book with full knowledge of the facts.

How does requesting a French-speaking skipper work?

Finding a skipper is not done "self-service" on the website: it is managed by your Filovent adviser, who draws on a network of professional partner skippers. The process is always the same.

1.  You set out your needs to your adviser: destination, dates, type of boat, number of crew members and language preference (French-speaking). You can also specify your expectations (a good teaching manner, experience of the area, familiarity with sailing as a family, etc.), which we pass on in order to target the right profile. Certain technical details may also be needed, such as the flag under which the boat is registered: the flag does indeed determine certain rules, such as the qualification required of the skipper and the applicable insurance.
2.  We pass the request on to our partner network with all of this information. The search is then launched and directed towards profiles suited to your cruise. The first profiles generally come back within a few days, often in less than a week.
3.  The partner proposes one or more profiles, selected according to the type and size of your boat, and sends you the sailing CV of each skipper (experience, qualifications, languages spoken, sailing areas they know) along with the conditions: daily rate, any travel costs, food, insurance, accommodation on board. You review these profiles and choose the one that suits you.
4.  You confirm, the skipper's contract is drawn up, and we update your booking file accordingly. Before boarding, the base will generally ask you for a crew list including the skipper.

How much does a skipper cost: the rates

The cost of a skipper is made up of several elements that need to be clearly distinguished. The amounts below are given for guidance: they vary depending on the destination, the size and type of boat, the duration and the season. Your adviser always confirms the exact rate for your booking before you approve it.

In practical terms, for a one-week cruise, the additional cost is obtained by adding up the following items:

• the skipper's fee, multiplied by the number of days;
• any travel costs;
• the food, over the same period;
• the dedicated insurance.

As a benchmark, a week with a skipper often falls between €1,800 and €2,450 in fees depending on the destination and the profile. The payment terms are confirmed on a case-by-case basis with your adviser: depending on the destination and the partner, the fee may be set and paid upfront at the time of booking, or directly on site.

French-speaking skipper: is it always guaranteed?

This is the most important point to understand in order to avoid any disappointment. A French-speaking skipper is very frequently available, and our partners regularly receive good applications from professionals who speak fluent French, including at sought-after bases, for example for a catamaran hire in the Balearics or a sailing yacht hire in Greece. That said, the language cannot be guaranteed 100%: it all depends on the destination, the time of year and availability at the time of your request.

In some areas or in peak high season, it may happen that only a professional English-speaking skipper is available on your dates. In that case, your adviser informs you in advance so that you can make your decision with peace of mind. The golden rule therefore remains planning ahead: the earlier your request is made, the higher the likelihood of benefiting from a French-speaking skipper for the period you want.

The skipper's accommodation and meals on board

The skipper lives on board with you for the entire duration of the cruise. Two questions come up systematically: where do they sleep, and how do their meals work.

Where does the skipper sleep?

The skipper takes a berth on the boat, most often the forward cabin, sometimes called "the bow". This is a point not to be overlooked when choosing your boat: the berth taken by the skipper is no longer available to your group. If there are many of you, do check the number of cabins and berths when choosing your boat, whether you opt for a catamaran hire or a sailing yacht hire, so that adding the skipper does not reduce your crew's comfort. On some boats, the skipper may have a dedicated berth separate from the passenger cabins, to be checked on the specification sheet.

How do their meals work?

In practice, the skipper shares the life and meals of the crew. The food flat rate mentioned above (in the region of €30 per day) corresponds to their contribution to the on-board kitty, that is, the shared shopping and provisions for the boat. There is no hotel-style service to arrange for them: they fit into the collective running of the cruise, which often makes them as much a sociable asset as a sailing professional. To better understand their day-to-day role, find out what it means to sail on a yacht with a skipper.

Frequently asked questions

Will the skipper necessarily speak French?

Not in a guaranteed way, but it is very often the case. Our partners look first and foremost for French-speaking profiles when you request one, and regularly receive good applications from skippers who speak fluent French. Depending on the destination and the season, it may nonetheless happen that only an English-speaking skipper is available on your dates: your adviser then informs you before any approval.

How much does a skipper cost per day?

For guidance, budget for roughly €260 to €350 per day for the skipper's fee (a lower rate in some areas such as Spain, higher for a French sailor), to which travel costs may be added, around €30 per day for food and, most often, dedicated insurance for hires with a skipper. These amounts are benchmarks: the exact rate depends on the destination, the boat and the time of year, and is confirmed to you by your adviser before booking.

Is the skipper accommodated and fed by us?

The skipper sleeps on board, generally in the forward cabin (the bow), and shares the crew's meals. Their food is covered by a daily flat rate corresponding to their share of the on-board kitty. There is no accommodation to arrange ashore and no separate meal to organise.

Does the skipper take up a place on the boat?

Yes. The skipper uses a berth, often the forward cabin, which is therefore no longer available to your group. If you are travelling with several people, check the number of cabins and berths when choosing your boat, so that adding the skipper does not reduce your crew's comfort.

When should I book my skipper?

As early as possible, especially in high season. The right habit is to reserve the boat first for your dates, then launch the search for a skipper. Once the request has been passed on, the first profiles generally come back within a few days. The earlier the request, the higher the chances of having a French-speaking skipper for the period you want.

How does the request work in practice?

You communicate your needs to your Filovent adviser (destination, dates, boat, number of crew members, preferred language). We pass the request on to our network of partner skippers, who launch the search and propose suitable profiles, often in less than a week. Once the conditions are confirmed, your agreement given and the skipper's contract drawn up, we update your booking file.

Can I see the skipper's CV before booking?

Yes. Before any confirmation, we send you the sailing CV of the proposed skipper(s): experience, qualifications and certifications, languages spoken and sailing areas already covered. You thus choose your skipper in full transparency, and you can let us know specific criteria (teaching manner, family sailing, experience of a particular area) to refine the selection if necessary.

Will I be able to talk to my skipper before departure?

Most often, yes. Once the skipper is confirmed, their contact details are passed on to you so that you can prepare the cruise together: planned itinerary, level and pace of sailing, particular expectations. You therefore do not set off with a stranger, which makes the cruise more relaxed, especially if you are sailing as a family or with beginner crew members.

Is insurance compulsory with a skipper?

Specific insurance is generally required for hires with a skipper. Its amount, in the region of €350 per charter on some bookings, depends on the boat and the destination. It appears in the details of your booking and is specified to you by your adviser.

Can I pay the skipper on site?

It depends on the destination and the partner. In some cases, the skipper's fee is set and paid upfront at the time of booking; in others, it is paid directly on site. The exact terms (amount, currency, receipts) are specified to you by your adviser when finalising your booking.

Key takeaways

Adding a French-speaking skipper to your boat hire is a flexible and reassuring option, provided you plan ahead. Keep the right ballpark figures in mind (roughly €260 to €350 per day, plus any travel costs, food and dedicated insurance), bear in mind that the skipper takes a berth on board (often the forward cabin), that you receive their sailing CV before approving, and make your request as early as possible to maximise your chances of obtaining a French-speaking profile on your dates. For a precise quote tailored to your cruise, the simplest thing is still to contact your Filovent adviser, who will manage the search for the right skipper within our partner network.