CHARTER CLARIFICATIONS
Clear expectations between principal charterer, broker, and captain form the bedrock of an effortless holiday. Below are nine factual clarifications covering contracts, provisioning budgets, and seamanship realities.
1. What does the base charter fee include under a standard MYBA agreement?
Under Worldwide Yachting Association (MYBA) terms, the base fee covers the exclusive hire of the vessel, crew salaries and crew catering, hull and machinery marine insurance, and use of standard ship’s tenders. Variable operating costs—fuel, guest food and wine, marina berthing, customs clearance, and national park permits—are paid through the Advance Provisioning Allowance (APA).
2. Why is the APA lower on a sailing yacht than on a motor yacht?
A 28-metre sailing yacht burning diesel only for battery charging, tender runs, and occasional calm-weather motoring consumes a fraction of the fuel burned by a planing motor yacht. Consequently, sailing yacht APAs typically sit at 25% of the base fee rather than 35%–40%.
3. How are VAT rates applied in European Union waters?
VAT applies based on the country of embarkation and whether the vessel ventures into international waters. As a general benchmark, commercial charter VAT in Greece, Italy, Spain, France, and Croatia ranges from 12% to 22% depending on local maritime tax legislation in force during the cruising season.
4. What is the customary etiquette regarding crew gratuity?
While always discretionary and contingent on attentive service, industry custom across Mediterranean and Caribbean crewed charters ranges between 10% and 15% of the base charter fee (excluding VAT and APA), handed to the captain in an envelope or wired via the stakeholder broker for equal distribution among the crew.
5. How detailed should the Pre-Charter Preference Sheet be?
Very specific. Note preferred breakfast hours, coffee roast and milk types, linen pillow firmness, wine regions you enjoy, any seafood or nut allergies, and whether you prefer the crew to serve courses formally or place shared platters on the cockpit table.
6. What happens if strong winds prevent reaching a pre-booked marina?
Under maritime law and charter contracts, the captain holds ultimate authority regarding vessel safety. A seasoned skipper always prepares a leeward alternative route so guests remain comfortable in flat water even when a Mistral or Meltemi blows.
7. Should guests bring hard-shell suitcases aboard?
Collapsible canvas or leather duffels are strongly recommended. Even on a 30-metre sailing yacht, dedicated luggage lockers are contoured to the hull frames; soft bags stow cleanly out of sight once unpacked.
8. Are non-marking deck shoes still required?
Most guests go barefoot on scrubbed teak decks from embarkation until disembarkation. For stepping ashore, bring a pair of shore shoes in a tote bag that you put on once seated in the tender or standing on the passerelle.
9. Why choose May, June, or September over August?
In June and September, sea temperatures across the Mediterranean sit between 22°C and 25°C, thermal breezes are steadier than August calms, charter rates are frequently 15%–20% lower, and quiet coves have a fraction of the traffic.