A skippered sailing yacht charter means hiring a boat together with a professional who handles the sailing, the safety and the navigation. It suits people without a boat licence just as much as sailors who want to improve their skills or simply switch off on holiday. The skipper is responsible for the crew and the boat: he sets the route according to the weather, handles the manoeuvres and manages emergency procedures. This page brings together the answers to the most common questions about this type of charter: the skipper's role, price, booking, accommodation on board, languages spoken, itinerary and life as a crew. Chartering a sailing yacht with a skipper remains one of the easiest ways to discover a destination from the sea.
The essentials of a skippered sailing yacht charter
| Question | Short answer |
| What does the skipper do? | He sails the boat, handles the manoeuvres, the safety and the itinerary. He does not cook and does not clean. Full list of duties |
| Do you need a boat licence? | No. The professional skipper is the captain of the boat and takes on the legal responsibility. |
| How much does a skipper cost? | The rate is charged per day or per week, excluding food and on-board expenses. See the rates |
| Where does the skipper sleep? | Usually in a dedicated cabin, most often the forward cabin or a berth in the saloon. Find out more |
| Is the itinerary fixed? | No, but it adapts to the weather, and that decision rests with the skipper. Understand the rules |
| Do you need a sailing CV? | Not when the charter is booked with a professional skipper. Check the conditions |
| What language does he speak? | A professional skipper generally speaks at least two foreign languages. Languages available |
All of these questions are covered in detail in our skippered charter FAQ.
Who is the skipper and what is his role on board?
The skipper is the person who, under way, handles the manoeuvres of a boat of which he is the captain. He is a sea professional and knows the local geography inside out. Man or woman, the skipper is responsible for the crew and is liable under both civil and criminal law for the way the boat is handled. Having completed formal training and passed both the theory and the practical exams, he also takes charge of emergency procedures and safety management on board. The more experience and nautical miles he builds up, the sharper his ability to anticipate and prevent danger. Beyond his role as a guide at sea, he needs enough technical knowledge to repair the everyday breakdowns that happen under way.
What does the skipper actually do?
The skipper sails the boat, plans the route, handles harbour and anchoring manoeuvres, monitors the weather and looks after the crew's safety. On the other hand, he does not prepare meals and does not do the cleaning: those tasks fall to the crew or to a hostess, which is a separate role. The full scope of his duties and their limits is set out in What does the skipper do?.
What language does the skipper speak?
A professional skipper usually speaks at least two foreign languages, English being the baseline in most sailing areas. Whether a French-speaking skipper is available, however, depends on the destination and the season: see What language does the skipper speak? and French-speaking skipper: rates, process and accommodation on board.
How much does a skippered sailing yacht charter cost?
Contrary to a widespread belief, a sailing holiday is not reserved for big budgets. The skipper's fee is added to the boat charter price and is most often calculated per day or per week. His food and on-board expenses are generally added on top.
How much does a skipper cost?
The rate varies with the destination, the size of the boat and the season. We publish daily rates by sailing area, along with the budget to allow for the skipper's meals.
How do you pay for the skipper?
Depending on the charter company's policy, the skipper is paid either with your booking or directly at the base on the day of embarkation. We set out the payment terms country by country.
Should you tip the skipper?
A tip is not compulsory, but it remains a widespread custom when the service has been appreciated. This question is covered alongside the most common misunderstandings in What are the common sources of disappointment on a skippered charter?
How do you book a skipper?
What if the charter company does not provide a skipper?
You can book an independent skipper or go through a specialist agency. How this works, and the main players, are listed in How do I book a skipper if the charter company for the boat I am interested in does not provide one?
Can you talk to the skipper before departure?
Yes, contact beforehand is possible in most cases and remains the best way to prepare the itinerary and line up everyone's expectations. See Can I be put in touch with the skipper to plan my holiday?
Can you turn down a skipper?
Turning down a skipper, and the steps to follow, is covered in Can you refuse a skipper?
What happens if the skipper falls ill?
A replacement procedure is in place so that the cruise can go ahead as normal. It is described in What is the procedure when the skipper is ill?
What is life on board like with a skipper?
Sailing with a skipper lets you make the most of your sailing holiday and unwind, with no navigation to manage. If you want to take part in the manoeuvres, he will usually welcome your help: it is an excellent opportunity to learn to read the wind, practise your knots and understand how a boat is handled. The skipper can also pass on his best tips for dealing with seasickness. Bear in mind, though, that he is entitled to rest: he is not obliged to share every moment of the crew's free time or to go ashore in the evening.
Where does the skipper sleep on the boat?
The skipper needs a dedicated berth in order to rest between passages. Depending on the boat, this will be the forward cabin, a crew cabin or a berth in the saloon. The breakdown by boat type is set out in our section on where the professional skipper sleeps.
Does the skipper have his own bathroom?
That depends on the layout of the boat: some have a separate crew heads, others do not. To know what to expect on your boat, see our page on the skipper's bathroom and heads.
Monohull or catamaran with a skipper?
The choice has a direct impact on the space available and on the crew's privacy when a skipper is on board. We explain when a monohull still makes sense with a skipper on board, depending on the size of the crew.
How much freedom do you have over the itinerary?
A sailing holiday means no two days are the same: one night in a harbour, the next in a deserted bay, with a swim before breakfast. You may have decided to charter a boat in Naples without knowing whether to head for the islands in the gulf, the Pontine Islands or the Campanian coast. Thanks to his knowledge of the geography and of the weather, the skipper builds the itinerary with you. Remember that at sea unpredictability is part of the programme: routes often change with the conditions, and the final call rests with the skipper.
Is there a compulsory itinerary?
There is no set route, but certain sailing area and safety constraints do apply. Details in Is there a mandatory route?
Can you spend every night at anchor?
Spending every night at anchor is not always possible: the weather, your water and electricity autonomy and the skipper's rest all come into play. See If I charter with a skipper, can I spend every night at anchor?.
Do you need experience to charter with a skipper?
Do you need to fill in a sailing CV?
With a professional skipper on board, the client's sailing CV is not normally required, since the skipper is the one sailing the boat. The exceptions are set out in I am chartering a boat with a professional skipper, do I need to fill in my sailing CV?
Can you learn to sail with a skipper?
Yes, but not in the same way depending on the package you book. A charter skipper sails the boat safely: he will happily let you join in the manoeuvres and take the helm, but the learning happens as you go, with no programme and no set objective, because teaching is not his job. A skipper-instructor, on the other hand, is trained for exactly that: sail trim, harbour manoeuvres, anchoring and reading the weather are covered in a structured way, with progress built over the week. If your plan is to sail one day without a skipper, this is the option to ask for at the time of booking, as it has to be arranged in advance and cannot be improvised on board. See Skipper-instructor for a first cruise: guide and rates.
Why choose a sailing holiday with a skipper?
Choosing a skipper means, first and foremost, handing over a workload. Sailing means checking the weather several times a day, picking an anchorage sheltered from the wind direction, handling harbour manoeuvres and anticipating technical problems. Entrusted to a professional, that workload drops off the holiday programme: the crew can concentrate on swimming, stopovers and long evenings on board. It is also a real gain on the itinerary, because a skipper who sails the area regularly knows which cove is still quiet in the middle of August and which anchorage will hold if the wind gets up. The skipper can perfectly well have you join in the manoeuvres and let you take the helm, but it is worth remembering that his job is not to teach sailing: it is to sail the boat safely. Even so, many people come away with a taste for sailing and the urge to do it again, and for those who genuinely want to learn there is a dedicated option: the skipper-instructor.
All the frequently asked questions about skippered charter
- What does the skipper do?
- How much does a skipper cost?
- How do you pay for the skipper?
- Can I be put in touch with the skipper to plan my holiday?
- How do I book a skipper if the charter company does not provide one? What are the main skipper agencies?
- Can you refuse a skipper?
- What is the procedure when the skipper is ill?
- Where does the professional skipper sleep on the boat?
- Does the skipper have his own bathroom?
- Is it a good idea to charter a monohull with a skipper?
- Is there a mandatory route?
- If I charter with a skipper, can I spend every night at anchor?
- What are the common sources of disappointment on a skippered charter? Should I tip the skipper?
- I am chartering a boat with a professional skipper, do I need to fill in my sailing CV?
- What language does the skipper speak?
- Skipper-instructor for a first cruise: guide and rates
- French-speaking skipper: rates, process, accommodation on board
Ready to cast off? Browse our sailing yacht charter offers and start planning your next cruise with a skipper.
