What does the charter fee cover?
It covers the cost of chartering a yacht fully equipped with the yachts inventory. It also includes the cost of yacht insurance and VAT.
What costs are additional to the charter fee?
Marina and port dues, as well as cleaning, fuel and water costs. Any optional equipment you order (such as an outboard engine etc.) is also at additional cost. Finally, the security deposit is not included in the charter fee.
What about the security deposit?
The yachts are comprehensively insured, including third party liability as required by law, beyond a deductible excess amount. This is indicated in the Nava pricelist under Security Deposit. You are responsible for this amount.
Though the Security Deposit is normally refunded immediately at the end of the charter, in case of extensive damage and/or loss the applicable refund will be made as soon as possible after full assessment of rectifying such damage or loss has been made.
Please note that the charterer will be held liable for the total amount of any loss or damage caused by gross negligence or wanton or wilful misuse by the charterer or by any of his party which is in excess of the Security Deposit amount.
Gross negligence may include, but is not limited to:
- Sailing at night without all navigation lights functioning or without adequate watch on deck
- Damage due to non-observance of instructions given during the technical briefing
- Damage due to non-observance, in accordance with good seamanship, of protective measures against bad weather
- Failure to have a competent person at the helm or supervising the helmsman while the vessel is under way
- Failure to take reasonable seamanlike precautions to avoid danger for both yacht and crew
Security deposit is payable at the yacht’s base before embarkation for skippered charter or bareboat charter.
Do I need a skipper’s license to charter a bareboat sailing yacht?
Absolutely!!!
Skipper must possess valid licence for size and tonnage of the boat required by local Law, and the VHF radio certificate.
If we judge your sailing skills are not adequate, we will require you to hire a professional skipper: this is for the sake of your, and your group’s, safety.
Do I need to hire a pofessional skipper?
You will need a professional skipper if your knowledge of sailing is not adequate to skipper the boat yourself and if you do not possess the valid licence. Of course, many experienced and competent sailors who are perfectly able to skipper a boat themselves nevertheless choose to hire a skipper. This is because this may make the sailing holiday more relaxing. You will of course benefit from the professional skipper’s local knowledge.
If you wish, Topsailis able to select and provide a friendly, professional skipper to assist you. The usual language spoken is English. Please keep in mind that the professional skipper needs his own cabin or at least the berth in saloon.
Do I need to bring anything with me?
Not really, apart from personal possessions such as clothing, footwear and beachwear (including beach towels). Our yachts are fully equipped to sail away standard. We provide bed linen and a few hand-towels. But keep in mind that soft bags stow much more easily aboard than hard suitcases. Also soft-soled boat shoes providing good grip are a must, for your safety as well as to avoid damaging the yacht. Equally necessary is sun protection (hat & lotion).
Lightweight clothing is best in the summer, with pull-overs or wind-jammers for spring and autumn nights. Heavier clothing and wet weather gear is really only necessary for winter sailing or if you intend seriously to sail in heavy weather.
Are there specific days of the week to start (and end) a charter?
Normally sailing yacht charters begin and end on Saturdays. The normal duration of a charter is for one week, ore multiples of weeks. Of course, whenever possible Topsail will try to accommodate your needs to start and end on different days of the week, and also for uneven periods of time such as a five or eleven-day charter.
Are there pre-set times of day to start (and end) a charter?
Charters normally start from 17:00 hours and end at 9:00 hours. We kindly ask you to return to base on the last evening of your charter. This turn-around procedure enables us to make sure yachts are always delivered to the next charter in perfect working order.
If we can deliver your yacht earlier on the day you embark we will be happy to do so. However, we cannot guarantee this as we must ensure we keep to our high standards of yacht turn-around.
What about the provisioning?
You can easily purchase all the food near by marina. Do not forget that you can purchase all the food on the islands as well. If you prefer to have everything ready on board before your arrival, Topsail will organise this for you. Please note that this option should be agreed before your arrival.