Why do I have to purchase a damage waiver if I have a professional skipper? Isn't he the one responsible for the boat?

This may seem surprising, since your first thought might be, "I don't want to be responsible for anything since I'm hiring a skipper," but that's not the case. When you rent a boat, legally speaking, you are the charterer because you are renting the boat for your personal use, whether you skipper it yourself or hire a skipper to do so on your behalf. However, the charterer is always responsible for the property they rent. Yacht charter for private use is, in fact, different from renting a cabin or taking a cruise on a cruise ship. In fact, it’s a bit like you temporarily become the boat’s owner, with the skipper serving merely as a driver you hire to operate the vessel. The skipper does not sign a charter agreement or post a security deposit. You do.

In the event of damage, the charter company will deduct all or part of your security deposit. If the skipper is proven at fault, the charterer may seek compensation from the skipper’s professional insurance. But proof of fault is still required. Most incidents are not often due to the skipper’s fault (a typical example is a net or plastic bag getting caught in the propeller, causing it to fail, or colliding with a floating object or a rock just below the water’s surface that isn’t marked on the charts). We are a realistic and, above all, responsible company, so we require our clients to insure their security deposit with a damage waiver to avoid losing significant sums due to damage that is not the skipper’s fault. To sail with peace of mind, you must be insured.

Exceptions: sailboat or yacht charter with a crew is not affected. These boats have a captain, who is responsible for the boat and is employed by the owner, not by you. You are not a charterer but a “guest” renter, so you do not have to post a deposit.