The Charter Quiz

Do you have the urge to put your sailing education to use on a bareboat charter? Are you considering a crewed charter? Test your knowledge with this quick and fun charter quiz to give you some of ideas during the planning process of your sailing vacation.

• What size boat should you rent for your bareboat charter?
  1. The biggest boat possible because bigger is better You didn’t really think that was right, did you?
  2. Go small. Get cozy on deck with your crew, after all, a week together should be about really getting to know each other.Wrong! Size does matter just not the way you think it does.
  3. Save money and go with the cheapest boat possible. If it floats you’ll be fine.Not correct. Safety first!
  4. Consider the number of people going on the charter as well as the experience of the captain. A bigger boat requires more manpower and experience. Space and privacy should be considered as well. We knew you’d know!
  The bigger the boat the more hands you will need to be active crew. Even though charter boats have all the required bells and whistles that make sailing easier, if a boat is much larger there will be a need for more experienced and willing crew members. You can expect most boats over 36 feet to have twin steering stations that allow for easy passage from the cockpit to a swim platform carved into the transom. Most handling will be done from the cockpit.

  If this is your first charter consider a smaller boat and fewer people so that you have less crew with which to deal.

• How much water should you expect to use while on a bareboat charter?
  1. Approximately 5 gallons per person per day including all water usage.
     Yes yes!
  2. Half gallon per day per personNo. Do you get behind your ears while showering?
  3. 15-minute showers, 5 minutes brushing of teeth, 3 restroom visits, 8 glasses to drinkWrong. That’s a lot. Drink more water and shower less!
  4. Your body uses less water on a boat so there is no need to worry about water usage when you are surrounded by water. Wrong. Although don’t tell me wife that.
  Water becomes very valuable on a boat so it is important to understand the limitations of its use. This is a valuable commodity so ask these questions of the charter company: Does the boat have a watermaker? Can you return to the base for water? Are there convenient locations to get water?

• Where should your first bareboat sailing charter destination be?
  1. Choose a destination such as the British Virgin Islands where navigation is easier and winds are more predictable. Also, support services are readily available throughout the chain of islands.Yes. It’s a vacation so make it easy to handle.
  2. Challenge yourself by choosing a location that is unfamiliar to you and that requires you to utilize all of your sailing skills and more.Uhhh, no.
  3. Consider rounding Cape Horn and scratch that off your bucket list.Not even close, plus, imagine the money you would spend on rain gear.
  4. Put a dinghy on a trailer and pick the five best lakes in the country, your crew will thank you when they get to see your sailing skills from the back seat of a car.
     No, you might enjoy that but the backseat is a brutal vacation spot.
  If this is your first charter vacation there is a good chance you’ll want predictable wind, easy navigation and a destination that is charter-friendly. With that in mind, the British Virgin Islands are as an ideal location as you can get. Essentially, the BVI are a giant pond surrounded by lovely islands full of onshore diversions and excursions.

  Navigation in the British Virgin Islands is virtually line of sight. You see where you want to go and you find the heading to get you there.

• Why Choose a Bareboat Charter Instead of a Crewed Charter?
  1. You want to select a crew that will cater to your every need so that your charter experience will be better than a crewed charter.
     Do not invite people on a bareboat charter expecting them to cater to you. They are on vacation.
  2. You are a control freak and no matter where you sail you should be the captain and people need to know that.
     No, but do you know some sailors like that?
  3. You have uniforms for your crew picked out and you know that on your cruise the staff will win the dance contest on the Lido deck.Wrong, but that would be fun to watch.
  4. You have the confidence and experience to lead your own charter. You also like the flexibility to decide on every aspect of the charter.Correct. You are confident and an educated sailor who is ready for a bareboat charter.

  When you embark on a bareboat charter you are on your own. While the charter company might help you with some maps, tips, and emergency support, you are basically on your own to set your itinerary and your provisions. You essentially rent the boat and agree to bring it back by a set date. No crew, no schedule, no timetable other than a start and end date.

  This option saves you the most money and affords you the most amount of flexibility. You are responsible and in charge of everything. If you feel like you have the training and confidence this could be the best way to experience your first sailing charter vacation.

• You are ready to provision for your charter. How much stuff do you need?
  1. Have the charter company order everything, they have done this before, just give them your credit card number and forget about it.
     While not entirely wrong you want to think through your provisions list so as to not have too much on board.
  2. Don’t buy anything before hand. Do you really think you would rather eat your own cooking instead of stopping into some friendly beach bar for live lobster?
     No. You will need some food on the boat even if you can’t cook.
  3. Consider how many people will be on board and factor in how many meals you want to have onshore. Also, factor anchorages that may not have any services. While you should have enough food to not have to worry about eating you should also realize that part of the bareboat experience is taking the dinghy into town to find a great restaurant to enjoy the local culture and cuisine. Yes, proper planning is best.
  4. Just get beer.Well…not completely the wrong idea but you will need more than liquid calories, right?
  While the charter company can shop for your food for a week plan on eating on shore a few times. You need snacks for your first few days and you want to arrive to a boat with some items waiting for you.