SAILING LICENSES:

To be allowed to charter a bareboat yacht we require that you hold a sailing certificate. Something like the RYA Day Skipper certificate is sufficient for most European destinations. In Greece, it is also required that the co-skipper has proof of their competence to sail, for example, the RYA Competent Crew certificate.

For the port authorities, usually only one official license is required. However, Cosmos Yachting requires additional proof of adequate sailing experience, for example, number of miles sailed or sailing school attended. If you are joining a flotilla then no license is required. For motor yacht charters you must possess a motor boat license otherwise you will be required to hire a skipper.

EQUIPMENT:

Almost all charter yachts come with more-or-less complete equipment. It is nonetheless advisable to take a look at the equipment of your preferred yacht – especially if you are particularly keen on a certain, such as an electric anchor windlass or a refrigerator for instance.

Some parts of equipment depend on the areas you are sailing in: the bimini top is essential in tropical waters, as is the onboard heater in the cooler North. In areas where you are more likely to stay on anchor a dinghy will be required to get ashore. You should always check as to whether your yacht has a dinghy and outboard provided as standard.

When comparing the prices of various charter yachts, it is important to consider that items one might consider standard equipment might actually be charged as extras.

The following items are almost always charged as extras: Spinnakers or cruising chutes, boat phones, windsurfer, skipper, or hostess/cook, BBQ grill (often standard equipment in the Caribbean), snorkelling equipment and end cleaning (sometimes included). Outboards can also sometimes be charged as extra.

PROVISIONS ON BOARD:

In many ways, the cook is the true captain on board. Thanks to the fresh sea air, the boat’s crew will find themselves hungry and thirsty and will want to be properly fed properly. Something that cannot be achieved with a mere bar of chocolate! Culinary pleasures are a vital ingredient in the recipe for a successful holiday, and not only for the keen gourmet. Many of the most splendid and therefore usually secluded inlets, do not have a restaurant at the beach, and a barbecue in such a place is a truly memorable experience.

Cosmos Yachting offers an excellent provisioning service. Choose the items you wish to purchase from the shopping list sent to you and your provisions will be delivered to your yacht on your arrival.

While this is a tempting idea, shopping in foreign markets and supermarkets can be excellent fun. Foreign countries are often best explored through their cuisine, which the yachtsman can explore in the local markets. A kaleidoscope of colors and scents unfolds in the local markets in Asia, as well as in the Caribbean, Turkey or Greece. However, if you do not enjoy shopping in foreign markets then you can pre-order your provisions for the whole trip.

A good compromise is to pre-order some provisions for the first couple of days until you have become acclimatised and feel the urge to explore the markets and shops for yourself.

Sailing with children:

A charter holiday is often also a family holiday. Children onboard add life and colour with their passion for exploring and discovering, and help adults gain completely new impressions of an area. It is easy to staying in port for more than one night because children are very fast at finding friends and playmates from other boats. This is despite or even because of language barriers: they just seem to make things all the more interesting! For these reasons, a charter with children must be planned differently.

Long passages without a break are not advisable. Children want to be entertained onboard, and even though their enthusiasm for sailing or motor boating may be immense, it usually lasts no longer than a couple of hours. During this time they can, however, be involved in the events onboard: for instance, learning to tie knots, navigate, fish or watch birds.

Children have fun and are more enthusiastic if they are given responsibilities, such as watching the dinghy when landing, or fixing the fenders. When traveling, children should always wear a lifejacket. In harbour it is up to the parents whether the children continue to wear their life jackets. When booking a yacht with crew, you should point out that children will be coming along, since some boats are more suited to the needs of our smaller charter guest than others.