Frequently Asked Questions
What are the qualifications needed to charter a bareboat?
If you hold a skipper certification or its equivalent you are eligible to sail bareboat. If you do not have certification but you have previously chartered a bareboat then we require you to fill out a resume of sailing experience. In Greece we may require the charterer and his crew to demonstrate their competence in handling the yacht safely.What can I expect from a sailing holiday?
The pleasures of a sailing holiday at sea are innumerable: the sensation of the warm wind and salty spray on your skin as the boat races through the water. The freedom to move from one place to another discovering uncharted beauty as you go. The pleasures of drinks on board at sunset, before you walk onto “terra firma” for dinner in a taverna. Coming back after dinner and gazing at a star-filled sky and being gently rocked to sleep by the waves lapping at the boat, all your cares left behind on shore.When is the best time to come to Greece?
The official sailing season begins in late March and goes through October. Temperatures range from 70F in late March up to 95-110F in August. Occasional heat waves from the African continent hit Athens and the Saronic area; these may last from one to three days and temperatures can go up to 110-120F. The heat is pleasant and dry especially with the cool breezes from the Meltemi winds that make June, July, August and September so popular.Charter info
Charter booking
Yacht charters begin and end on Saturdays for multiples of seven days. Brama Yachts will try to accommodate your wishes for different days of the week and periods of time such as ten or twelve day charters, upon yacht availability.
Inventory
The yachts are equipped with a full inventory list, outboard & dinghy and end cleaning is included. Provisioning, Fuel, Gratuity for the crew (Tips) are not included.
Check in/out procedures
Usually charters start on Saturday's at 5pm, check out time is 9am unless any other time is pre-arranged with you.
Charters with Skipper
The check-in procedure is minimal, just walk in the yacht, accommodate yourself and let the skipper brief you (Boat functional operations, itinerary). Checkout procedure is handled by the skipper.
Skippers and Hostesses
It is highly recommended that first time sailors in the Aegean hire a skipper. Not only will your holiday be stress free but you will also discover the hidden places and local treasures no brochure will tell you about. All our skippers are Greek nationals, hold valid skipper licenses and are fluent in English. Upon good service provided by the skipper/captain, usually the recommended tip is an average of 5-10% of your total charter fee.
Bareboats
The Check in procedure consists of: Boat Orientation, Operation of Sails, Technical Orientation, Map Orientation, Inventory Check, Itinerary Briefing.The entire checkout procedure takes less than an hour.
Daily expenses:
In order to have an idea of your expenses you should consider your daily expenditures for the boat: Fuel, Water, Port Fees, Ice. These would not be over $35 on a 50 footer. Average meal costs would be around $50 per person, per day for three meals a day. Drinking out can vary.A beer can be anywhere from $3 up to $10 in a trendy place. Tipping: In Greek restaurants, tipping is usually 5-10% of the bill.
Can the itinerary change?
Of course it can.That's the beauty of chartering your own boat, you have the complete freedom to go wherever you please, to decide your own itinerary. The only element that can sometimes dictate your direction is the weather.
Provisioning
We recommend that you fill out the provisioning list and send it to us the latest two weeks prior to your charter. Brama Yachts offers provisioning service at no extra charge! Our provisioning list is based on variety and flexibility. All options can be tailor made to meet your catering needs. On the islands you will be able to stock up with your daily needs of fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh bread, fish and in general all other things you may require.
Provisioning services
We will be happy to arrange all your provisioning needs. Just fill out the provisioning list online and find everything in the yacht when you arrive in Greece.
Other travel services
Transfers
We operate a fleet of minibuses in the Athens area.Upon request we will make all the necessary arrangements at an extra cost (depending on how many guests) to escort you from Athens International Airport to your yacht.
Additional transfers can be arranged upon request as well as sightseeing tours.
Additional transfers can be arranged upon request as well as sightseeing tours.
Accommodation
We can arrange your reservations to all hotel categories.
Tickets
We can arrange through well-known tour operators your international and/or domestic air and boat tickets.
