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Nautilus Yachting > Yacht Charter > Bareboat Yacht Charters
Sail away on a bareboat charter and plot a course for your ideal sailing holiday. Perfect for seasoned sailors to explore the hidden gems as well as familiar favourites, at your own pace. Where will your next sailing adventure take you?
We offer bareboat sailing holidays in over 20 destinations worldwide. Discover ancient Mediterranean marvels, vibrant Caribbean shores, and everything in between. Each location offers something special and unique to be uncovered. Bareboat yacht charters are the perfect holiday for couples, friends or families, looking to embrace the freedom to go where they want, when they want.
Spend your days island-hopping on a sailing holiday in Greece. With over 6000 to explore, you will be sure to discover something new every visit. From the rich history to the sumptuous food, there is something to delight all ages.
Discover towering cliffs, secret coves, deserted bays and sandy beaches on a sailing holiday in Turkey. Its unique mix of East meets West culture, and the warmth of the Turkish people make for an unforgettable yacht charter.
With over 1000 islands, Croatia has become Europe's leading yacht charter destination. New and experienced sailors alike will be delighted by the rich history, fresh seafood and quaint villages.
Explore the delights of an Italian sailing holiday on a private luxury yacht. Experience the beauty of the Amalfi Coast, the Michelin star restaurants of Sardinia and the stunning volcanic landscapes of Sicily.
Explore the beauty of the Balearics away from the party towns and villas. Discover the unspoilt beauty of the Cabrera National Park and the numerous secluded white sandy beaches. Experienced sailor looking for a challenge? Look no further than the Canary Islands, Atlantic cruising at its best.
Charter a luxury yacht in some of France's favourite sailing destinations. We offer departures from Brittany, Corsica and the French Riviera. From UNESCO World Heritage sites and whale and dolphin sanctuaries, there truly is something for everyone.
The British Virgin Islands are the idyllic sailing holiday. This beautiful paradise offers warm weather, crystal blue waters and steady trade winds. A true sailor's paradise.
This surprisingly little island embodies a dual personality - half French, half Dutch. The perfect mix of a picturesque diver's delight with luxury boutiques and vibrant nightlife.
This one small island boasts 365 beaches, but that is just the beginning. Explore the rich history of Nelson's Dockyard, sample the traditional rum cocktails as you watch the sunset, and dance the night away to the sound of the steel drums.
Explore Guadeloupe on a bareboat yacht charter. Discover pristine beaches, lush islands, and world-class snorkelling for an unforgettable Caribbean holiday.
Martinique is a delightful island with a distinctly French flavour, with many pretty seaside villages. Explore unspoilt beaches with fantastic snorkelling and the lush rainforest-covered mountains.
Charter a yacht from Grenada or St Vincent and explore these Robinson Crusoe islands. Boasting white sand beaches, turquoise waters, and breathtaking coral reefs, they offer an idyllic haven for sailors.
Nestled in the heart of Central America, Belize is home to the second-largest barrier reef in the world. It combines Caribbean beauty with the rich heritage of the Mayans. A perfect destination for experienced sailors.
With easy access from Miami, the Bahamas offers a wide range of sailing opportunities from easy to challenging. The islands are alive with wildlife, from the famous swimming pigs and iguanas to the majestic sea turtles and colourful fish.
A yacht charter in St. Lucia is the perfect Caribbean getaway with gorgeous palm-fringed beaches, miles of unspoiled rainforest, and the majestic Piton Mountains.
A fantastic alternative to a Caribbean sailing holiday. A Seychelles yacht charter offers strong, reliable winds, beautiful scenery, and an abundance of rare flora and fauna.
Find peace and tranquillity amongst the dramatic scenery and beautiful beaches of Phuket. The abundant coral reefs and tidal currents make for a thrilling sailing experience like no other.
Just off the Queensland coast, are a chain of 74 islands - The Whitsundays. With lush green islands protected by the Great Barrier Reef, calm seas, and balmy tradewinds, they are truly a sailor’s paradise.
Stop dreaming and start planning your next sailing holiday in the Polynesian paradise of Tahiti. A perfect island-hopping experience in the calm waters of the South Pacific.
Bareboat yacht charter means you charter a fully equipped yacht without a professional skipper and crew. If you have sufficient sailing experience, you can board your sailing yacht in any of our glorious holiday destinations and sail away! The yacht is yours for the holiday to explore the sailing area at your own pace. Enjoy the unique experience of holidaying aboard your own yacht - it's the ultimate multi-centre holiday without the packing and unpacking!
Being the skipper of your own sailing yacht gives you total flexibility every day. You'll enjoy the privacy and freedom that’s hard to find in a hotel. Set sail for a different destination every day - without the clouds and crowds of the Solent! There's always another bay, harbour, and island to explore. And when you arrive, step ashore for dinner in a waterfront restaurant. You'll be supporting the local community, and you'll feel like a traveller, not a tourist.
Your yacht provides self-contained accommodation with cabins for everyone. Every night, you'll enjoy being in the best harbourside location or in your own secluded anchorage - a different place to discover every day. All yachts have a fridge and cooker onboard, so self-catering for breakfast, lunch and drinks helps keep the cost of your holiday down. At night, party animals can hit the local bars or you can relax with dinner in a restaurant on the water's edge.
To skipper a bareboat yacht charter or flotilla yacht, you need to hold a practical sailing certificate equivalent to RYA Day Skipper Practical qualification or RYA International Certificate of Competence (ICC). For charters in Greece, you must now have the ICC certificate. You must also be assisted by at least one competent crew member over the age of 18.
For yacht charters inCroatia and the Canaries, at least one member of the crew or the skipper will also need a VHF licence.
RYA qualifications can be obtained by RYA sailing schools in the UK or alternatively choose from one of our overseas centres in Gibraltar, Greece or Croatia.
For Caribbean and Tropical yacht charters, formal qualifications are not compulsory, however, you should be Day Skipper standard and be assisted by at least one competent crew. A brief sailing resume should be provided to outline your experience.
If you don't hold the relevant qualifications, then why not add a skipper?
We have an excellent selection of quality sailing yachts for bareboat yacht charter ranging from 30' to 56', including all the well-known names, Jeanneau, Beneteau, Dufour and Bavaria. Most are less than 4 years old, and many are brand-new models. In some cruising areas, we can offer spacious owner's layouts with a master cabin.
Catamarans offer plenty of deck space and a large cockpit, ideal for relaxed sailing holidays. The saloon, with its panoramic windows, is spacious and airy. Even if you haven't sailed cats before, you'll be impressed by their easy handling. Cats are very popular for yacht charters in the Caribbean, where you spend most nights on anchor rather than on a crowded town quay or marina.
All our charter yachts are fully equipped for cruising in comfort and have full safety, navigational and domestic equipment.
On arrival, you will be given a technical briefing on your yacht and cruising area. We do recommend that you check your yacht carefully before you leave the marina, as any technical issues can be quickly rectified at the base before getting out on the water.
Before you set sail, you are given contact numbers for the base, including emergency out-of-hours telephone numbers, so help is just a phone call away at any time. Should any repairs be necessary during your charter, the base manager will usually arrange for these to be done in your nearest harbour.
If you have your next bareboat yacht charter or flotilla holiday booked, your thoughts may now be turning to what to pack! Whether you are heading to the turquoise waters of the Mediterranean or jetting off to sail in the warm breezes of the Caribbean, we have a few suggestions for you for useful items to pack for your next sailing holiday.
Sailing holidays are the ultimate family-friendly summer holiday! In this article we share the best destinations in the Mediterranean for family-friendly sailing holidays and our top tips for sailing with children.
We took a look at the destinations which are currently top of the list and have been surprised by a few of the entries! Tried and tested favourites for your yacht charters stand alongside a few newcomers, keeping things interesting and allowing a few lesser-known sailing areas to have their place in the limelight.Â
Call our knowledgeable sailing specialists for the latest advice and recommendations on the sailing areas most suited to you.
Arrange a call back from one of our specialists (Mon-Fri: 0900-1730).