Why do I have to return to port on Friday evening if I rent a boat for a week from Saturday to Saturday in the Mediterranean or the Atlantic?
Updated on: 26/05/2025This is standard practice; 99% of our reputable charter companies in Europe operate this way. Weekly charters typically run from late Saturday afternoon to early the following Saturday morning, with the boat returning to port by late Friday afternoon. A typical example is from Saturday at 5:00 PM to Saturday at 9:00 AM, with return to the port on Friday evening at 5:00 PM. This means that all boats end their charters at the same time, which creates a major peak in workload for the charter company and requires flawless logistics.
Here is how a typical charter ends in Europe:
- On Friday afternoon, you refuel and then return to the port.
- A diver inspects the hulls of all boats for yacht charter (the only way to check for any signs of grounding or underwater damage).
- You conduct the final inspection and return inventory with the boat owner.
- You spend your last night peacefully at the marina.
- Early Saturday morning, you must vacate the boat. In the hours that follow, it’s all hands on deck for the rental company’s staff to ensure all boats are clean and tidy to welcome the next renters!
Returning to port the day before may seem restrictive because you cannot spend the last night at an anchorage. However, this is necessary from a logistical standpoint to ensure that every renter has a well-prepared boat. Also keep in mind that you will spend the last night in a safe place, under relaxing conditions, without the risk of returning the boat late due to bad weather or other issues.
Please note: if a Mediterranean charter company were to allow you to return to port only on Saturday, without returning the day before, the timing would be too tight to properly prepare all the boats, taking into account minor repairs that may be needed on certain vessels and unavoidable unforeseen circumstances. If they also allow the renter preceding you to do the same, will they be able to properly prepare your boat after you disembark?
In which cases does the requirement to return to port the day before checkout not apply?
- If your check-in is early Saturday morning, with a check-out late Friday afternoon. This is common on the French Riviera or in Brittany.
- If you’re renting in the Caribbean: in this case, you’re not required to return the day before disembarkation, as checkouts aren’t limited to Saturdays, which spreads out the workload for rental companies. However, you must spend the first night at the port (since the sun sets early and nighttime departures are prohibited due to the many rocks just below the surface near the islands).
- If you charter a luxury yacht or sailboat with a crew: in this case, things are much less standardized; boarding and disembarkation generally take place at noon (or another time of your choosing).
