Bareboat Catamaran Charter
Take the wheel yourself. Choose your own anchorages. Cook breakfast on your own deck. Bareboat charter is the most independent way to spend a week on the water — with full control over the rhythm of the trip.
You sail it.
Nobody else aboard.
A bareboat is a charter where you and your party are the only people on the boat. No captain, no chef, no crew. You navigate, you cook, you anchor, you wake up at sunrise and pull the lines yourself.
It is the closest thing to owning a yacht for a week — without owning a yacht.
Two things to qualify.
A skipper qualification.
Most operators require RYA Day Skipper / Yachtmaster, ASA 104, ICC, or equivalent — plus a sailing CV showing recent multi-hull or larger-than-30ft experience. We help you check which licence the destination accepts before you book.
A confident first mate.
Most bases want at least one experienced crew member alongside you. They don't need a licence, but they need to be useful at anchor and on lines. Your partner usually counts.
Not sure? Hire a skipper.
You can take a bareboat and add a professional skipper just for the first day, the first week, or the whole trip. It is a soft path into self-charter and many first-timers go this route.
How it differs.
Three ways to spend a week on a catamaran. The right one depends on how much you want to do yourself.
| Bareboat | All Inclusive | By The Cabin | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who sails | You do | Captain & crew | Captain & crew |
| Who's on board | Just your party | Just your party | You + other paying guests |
| Meals & drinks | You provision | Negotiable / often included | All meals + open bar |
| Itinerary | Whatever you choose | Yours, with captain's advice | Set route, set dates |
| Licence required | Yes | No | No |
| Pricing model | Per week, whole boat | Per week, whole boat | Per cabin, fixed package |
| Best for | Experienced sailors who want independence | Groups, families, milestone trips | Solo travellers, couples, budget-conscious |
Cruising grounds.
British Virgin Islands.
The most popular bareboat destination in the world. Short hops between islands, predictable trade winds, mooring balls at every anchorage. Forgiving for first-time self-skippers.
Greece & Croatia.
The Med's two classic bareboat grounds. Greece is open water and bigger passages; Croatia is sheltered island-hopping. Both demand higher skipper qualification than the Caribbean.
Bahamas, Belize, Sea of Cortez.
Less-trafficked alternatives if you want a quieter week. More planning, smaller bases, but the anchorages are unspoilt.
Bareboats ready to charter.
Tell us what you want to skipper.
Send a quick inquiry — preferred destination, dates, sailing CV. We come back with vessels that match your licence, your group size and your budget.