Anyone going on a charter this winter/spring? Most charter companies are coming back to life after a bit of hibernation due to the COVID restrictions.
Charters – whether bareboat, crewed, or partially crewed – are great for several purposes:
- Exploring the cruising life. Want to know if you – or a significant other – would like the liveaboard life? No, a charter isn’t exactly the same, but it does give you a taste. A crewed charter is more of a vacation, while a bareboat gives you a better feel of what it’d be like on your own boat.
- Learning charters. These can be either with an accredited ASA or RYA school, other sailing schools, or programs tailored specifically to items you want help with, such as Capt. Suky on Shambala, Paul and Sheryl Shard, and Sailing Britican. There are also many teaching captains that will arrange a learning charter.
- Cruising in a different area. Always wanted to cruise in an area that you’re unlikely to take your own boat to? A charter is a perfect way to experience it!
- A getaway. Do a bareboat if you have a hankering to plan it all and take the wheel, or a crewed charter if you want more of a vacation. Many crewed charters will let you participate as much as you desire, without requiring you to do everything – often a good compromise.
- Age or medical problems. If you love sailing but are dealing with decreased stamina, mobility, or other limitations due to medical problems, a crewed charter can make it possible to go places you couldn’t on your own.
In many places, you can do a crewed charter by the cabin so you don’t have to find enough other people to fill up the boat. Sometimes sailing clubs or other groups will put together charter trips, too.
Dave and I first got our feet wet with three bareboat charters in the BVI. Over the years, we’ve done three more charters in Turkey, Alaska, and the Spanish Virgins.
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Carolyn Shearlock has lived aboard full-time for 17 years, splitting her time between a Tayana 37 monohull and a Gemini 105 catamaran. She’s cruised over 14,000 miles, from Pacific Mexico and Central America to Florida and the Bahamas, gaining firsthand experience with the joys and challenges of life on the water.
Through The Boat Galley, Carolyn has helped thousands of people explore, prepare for, and enjoy life afloat. She shares her expertise as an instructor at Cruisers University, in leading boating publications, and through her bestselling book, The Boat Galley Cookbook. She is passionate about helping others embark on their liveaboard journey—making life on the water simpler, safer, and more enjoyable.
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