February 2023 | Yacht Warriors

Bareboat Charter Pricing: How is it Determined?

Let’s sort out how your bareboat charter pricing is determined to help you better compare quotes for your next sailing trip.

What influences total pricing?
Components of your bareboat charter pricing
What is not included in a yacht charter quote?

The Baths in the BVIs on a bareboat charter — The Baths in the British Virgin Islands

What influences your bareboat pricing?

There are several key factors that will affect your charter pricing:

Type of yacht: monohulls are going to be more affordable than catamarans (all else equal)
Size of yacht: not surprisingly, the longer and bigger the boat, the more expensive it will be
Number of cabins: a 3-cabin catamaran with an owner’s cabin is going to be more affordable than a 4-cabin equivalent
Age: you’ll pay a premium for newer boats (but also might experience fewer maintenance issues)
Season: when you charter matters a lot. The high season holiday periods are always the most expensive, whereas, you can find great deals (and solitude) in the low season when tropical disturbances might threaten in the Caribbean

Discounts: charter companies offer various promotions, but you can always usually to expect to receive an early booking or a repeat charter discount (5 or 10% each). Last-minute discounts are another great way to save money if you are flexible (or work from home!)

Our Lagoon 46 catamaran at anchor at Playa Flamenco — At anchor on a bareboat charter in the Spanish Virgin Islands

Components of your bareboat charter pricing

Charter fee

This is your daily, base price fee for the yacht. Some weeks are priced higher than others, and it’s possible you straddle two weeks that are priced differently to give you a blended daily rate.

Included in this charter fee is a booking commission paid to an in-house or independent broker.

Extras

This is the everything else category! These are the common items you may or may not see included here. Think of them as either mandatory or optional.

Mandatory extras

Starter pack: it’s common to see a starter kit/pack on your quote. These are some items that might be included
- Welcome package: bottle of rum, gallon of water, dish soap, sponge, paper towels, toilet paper, garbage bags, and matches
- Dinghy outboard fuel
- Cooking fuel
- Cleaning fee: sometimes this might be broken out separately
- Sheets/linens
- Full water tanks
Damage waiver insurance: this buys down your deductible obligation in the event of covered yacht damage. I’ve seen it lower the deductible to anywhere from $0 to $8,000. Most insurance policies for the charter yachts have deductibles in the 1-2% range prior to the buydown.
Municipal/state tax
Cruising tax and National Park fees: sometimes unique to the British Virgin Islands

Stand up paddleboarding in the Exumas — SUP'ing in the Exumas - an optional extra for your charter

Optional extras

Sleep aboard option: this allows you to board the yacht the night before your departure, usually at 5:00pm. It typically costs 50-60% of the daily charter fee. Read more about why I think it makes sense in this post.
Skipper: this could be an option you add for your entire trip, or it could also be a check-out skipper if required by the charter company. Expect to pay $200-300 per day, depending on location.
Chef/Hostess: they will help with provisioning, prepare meals/snacks/drinks, and clean up. Expect to pay $200-300 per day
Water sports: such as kayaks, stand up paddle boards, floats, or floating mats
Sailing instruction: in some locations you can bring a sailing instructor aboard to conduct courses (ASA). This fee will also include the course registration/materials/certification
Wifi
Dinghy ladder
Lifeline netting
Fishing equipment

Stock Island Yacht Club and Marina sunset — On the dock in Key West, Florida

What is not included in a yacht charter quote

Don’t let these necessary items escape your budget for the yacht charter trip. You pay for them separate from the charter company.

Diesel fuel: most charter companies require you to return the boat with a full fuel tank. Some will give you an option to purchase a tank in advance or let them handle the refueling for a fee
Provisioning: your food and drinks for the trip. Some companies will offer a provisioning service where your items will be delivered to your yacht prior to arrival
Dockage: any extra nights you plan to stay in a marina. Your first and last night are usually included in your pricing at your charter base marina.
Mooring balls: usually $30-40/night

bareboat

Sailing Songs – The Best Yacht Rock Playlist

I am on an endless quest to create the perfect sailing songs playlist. These are the tunes that are meant to be jamming when we’re boating: the sun’s out, the sails are up, and the trolling lines are in the water.

Our yacht rock playlist – Yacht Warriors Rock – is the culmination of multiple edits over the last 9 years since we embarked on our first sailboat adventure. It’s not perfect, but we think it’s pretty close and keeps getting better with age.

The name, Yacht Warriors Rock, is a play on the Yacht Rock genre which was coined in 2005. It features primarily soft rock bands from California that produced music in the 1970s and 1980s.

We honor a few of those artists, but our playlist is intentionally much more diverse in style. You’ll find something for everyone – classic rock, country (mostly Zac Brown Band), reggae, caribbean soca, sea shanties, Jimmy Buffett, Kenny Chesney, and more.

Here are some of the best sailing songs that are included in our playlists below.

Rich Girl – Hall & Oates
Southern Cross – Crosby, Stills, & Nash
Peaceful Easy Feeling – Eagles
Africa – TOTO
Steve Winwood – Higher Love
Running on Empty – Jackson Browne
Into the Mystic – Van Morrison
Smooth Operator – Sade
Come Sail Away – Styx
Vahevala – Loggins & Messina
Sailing – Christopher Cross
Carolina in my Mind – James Taylor
Sailing – Rod Stewart
Sail Away – David Gray
Knee Deep – Zac Brown Band (featuring Jimmy Buffett)
Banana Boat – Harry Belafonte

There are a couple other playlists with links below that you should add to your arsenal. In the morning, we love starting our day on the catamaran with the soft sound of steel drums in the background. In the evening, nothing is more appropriate than eating a meal (hopefully something freshly caught) with Boccherini from Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World.

Dancing to sailing songs in the British Virgin Islands — Getting in that yacht charter trip mood

Yacht Warriors Rock Sailing Songs

Check out the latest version of our hand curated Yacht Warriors Rock selections. Play these sailboat tunes with a cold beverage in hand and no other sound besides the water lapping against the sides of the hull.

Yacht Rock Starter Playlist

If you’d prefer to take a DIY approach with your sailing songs, check out this starter playlist. We pulled together the top 40 songs that should be on anyone’s sailing playlist. If you want to go heavy on the Jimmy Buffett, copy these tunes over in the Spotify desktop app and build the rest out in your own style!

Morning Jams - Summertime Steel Drums

Everyone’s got their own morning routine on the boat – ocean dip, yoga, breakfasting, etc. While everyone gets ready for the day, this Spotify playlist is the perfect background music to energize the crew for another great day on the water.

Dinner Music Playlist - Master and Commander

The film Master and Commander with Russell Crowe is one of my favorite movies of all time, so perhaps I’m biased with my recommendation here. But, you should give it a shot – this Master and Commander inspired playlist is an excellent choice for dinner music while rocking gently and lying at anchor. Close your eyes and you can picture yourself aboard the HMS Surprise listening to a Boccherini duet by the main characters Jack Aubrey and Stephen Maturin.

Yacht Charter Bucket List: Here’s Where I’m Sailing

As for yacht charter destinations, I’ve sailed many of the usual suspects such as the British Virgin Islands, the Exumas, and the US Virgin Islands. We enjoy visiting time after time.

But, which places are on my yacht charter bucket list? And why do I need a bucket list – why not go there next?

Well, for a few reasons.

More difficult travel and logistics, such as longer flights and multiple country custom clearances
Less robust yacht charter fleets
Longer trips required: with younger kids we don’t sail with yet, we can typically only afford a week-long trip at a time. Some of these destinations require 10-14 days to truly enjoy and justify the added travel or to cover enough territory
Perhaps more challenging sailing conditions, longer passages, etc.

So for my bucket list, I’ve picked 3 yacht charter destinations. I’ll also share with you where I’m not planning to visit any time soon.

Let’s get to it!

French Polynesia (Tahiti)
The Windward Islands One-Way: St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, and Grenada
The Leeward Islands Loop: Antigua, Barbuda, Guadeloupe, and Montserrat
What’s not on my bucket list

Approaching Raiatea from deeper water — Raiatea as seen from outside the lagoon

French Polynesia (Tahiti)

The Society Islands of French Polynesia tops my list. Is there a more exotic yacht charter destination? Perhaps not.

While many people refer to this as Tahiti, that’s actually the main island you’ll only fly in and out of. The action really begins at Raiatea where most of the charter bases are located.

The cruising area consists of the five volcanic islands: Raiatea, Taha’a, Bora Bora, Huahine, and Maupiti.

Bora Bora in French Polynesia, one of my yacht charter destination bucket lists — Bora Bora, the jewel of the Society Islands

Why French Polynesia is on my list

An exotic, mountainous tropical setting unlike anywhere else
Great fishing prospects in the deeper water in between islands with chances to catch mahi mahi, tuna, and wahoo

Excellent snorkeling amidst a thriving marine ecosystem
Some fun, open-water passages between islands

French Polynesia, a summer sailing destination during hurricane season in the USA — Beautiful Huahine, which you can include on a 10-day charter

What to expect on a French Polynesia yacht charter

This trip is best undertaken with at least 10 days, where you won’t feel rushed. Better yet, do it with 14 days and you’ll have a good chance of making it farther offshore to lesser visited Maupiti
Invigorating sailing in between islands where the seas are exposed to the long fetch of the trade winds
More challenging navigation inside the lagoons
Potential for deeper anchorages in 30+ foot of water
Lagoon passes which are best timed to avoid strong currents
Sticker shock! Provisioning is not cheap – we’re talking $65+ for a case of local beer

St Lucia and the Pitons, a yacht charter destination — Sailboats on moorings beneath the mighty Pitons in St. Lucia

The Windward Islands One-Way: St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines, and Grenada

Start in St. Lucia and sail south over 100 miles passing through Grenada and the Grenadines, to finish in Grenada. That’s the plan!

Why St. Lucia as a starting point? For me – there is only one reason. To grab a mooring ball underneath the mighty pitons – one of the most dramatic settings anywhere. We honeymooned in St. Lucia many years ago, and I’ve always wanted to return.

And why go south? With the trade winds typically out of the north east in this part of the Caribbean, it means you have more comfortable sailing conditions for your trip. Heading north could mean uncomfortable beating – not something I want to do on a vacation!

Tobago Cays looking south — The Tobago Cays, one of the gems of the Windward Islands

Why the Windward Islands is on my list?

A couple longer, epic passages to enjoy sailing on the open seas
- The passage from St. Lucia to Bequia (most crews skip the island of St. Vincent) is over 50 nautical miles
Again, good chances for fishing while trolling from the back of the catamaran
Varied, dramatic landscapes from the rain forests of St. Vincent to the palm tree lined white sandy beaches of the Grenadines
A local, rustic Caribbean vibe, full of culture rather than an upscale feel like you can expect elsewhere (BVIs for example)

Anchorage at Salt Whistle Bay — Salt Whistle Bay in the Grenadines

What to expect on a Windward Islands yacht charter?

Plan for at least 10 days to tackle this trip. A week is too short to really enjoy it and it leaves little room for error if you experience a maintenance disruption
Consistent easterly trade winds allowing for fantastic sailing conditions as you head south
Customs will have to be cleared several times as you are visiting three countries
Fantastic cuisine – don’t miss the spiny lobster beach bbqs, jerk recipes, and rotis
One of the highlights includes the protected Tobago Cays one of the most spectacular anchorages in the Caribbean

The Leeward Islands Loop: Antigua, Barbuda, Guadaloupe, and Montserrat

I’m tackling Antigua and Barbuda on an upcoming week-long bareboat charter, but, let’s say you have more time. I think it would be fun to venture farther afield and include the surrounding islands of Guadeloupe and Montserrat (and don’t forget the Kingdom of Redonda!).

This loop is set up largely north-south, so most of your longer passages should have the trade winds, well, not on the nose!

Shirley Heights on a Antigua yacht charter — Historic Nelson's Dockyard as seen from Shirley Heights in Antigua

Why the Leeward Islands Loop is on my list?

The beaches of Antigua/Barbuda, the cuisine/culture of Guadeloupe, the volcano of Montserrat, and the fishing of Redonda
A few longer passages with many short days to mix it up (are you starting to see my pattern??)
More fishing during passages, especially at Redonda where a day stop might be in order

Montserrat with Redonda in the background

What to expect from a Leeward Islands yacht charter?

Again, several countries to check in and out of (Redonda is part of Antigua/Barbuda)
Some spicy sailing in between islands as they are exposed to the fetch of the trade winds
Good provisioning and logistics options to begin and end your charter in Antigua

Seychelles yacht charter destination — Some of the dramatic scenery you can expect in the Seychelles

What destinations are not on my bucket list?

Please tell me why I’m wrong about these!!

Seychelles

The scenery is dramatic, but I’ve heard it can be crowded. There aren’t many protected anchorages for the 2 main islands, and it’s a long way to travel. If I’m going it will be land based and I’ll stay where Prince William and Kate Middleton honeymooned 😂.

Anywhere in the Mediterranean, such as Croatia, Greece, or Italy

When I think of yacht charter trips, a tropical setting comes to mind, so the Mediterranean just doesn’t appeal to me. I want to be able to get in the water year round and watch sunsets over some palm trees.

Also, I’d prefer to find a protected anchorage to drop the hook vs. setting up a med mooring on the seawall (which is necessary at many overnight locations).

If however, I do some cruising someday, I will certainly spend at least a season exploring the Med.

Whitsunday Islands yacht charter — The Whitsunday Islands of Australia

Whitsunday Islands of Australia

Look, I’m sure they are great from what I’ve read, but that’s a long way to travel from the U.S. for a destination that might not be all that different than what I could experience in the Caribbean. I know you’ve got the Great Barrier Reef nearby, but for now it’s on the back burner.

Belize

I’ve been to Placencia where the yacht charter bases are, and it was not the easiest to travel to. It has more of a tropical feel, but Belize seems like a less interesting Exuma Bahamas that’s harder to get to. Pass (for now!).

Should You Purchase the Yacht Charter Sleep Aboard Option?

Frenchtown Marina in St Thomas, where the Waypoints charter base is located as we prepare for our yacht charter sleep aboard

So you should purchase the yacht charter sleep aboard option for your next sailing trip? I think the answer is yes, in most scenarios.

In general, it takes a lot of potential stress out of the equation and helps you get off the dock earlier for your first full day. Let’s dig in. I’ll also share a few scenarios where it might make sense not to take the sleep aboard option.

What is the yacht charter sleep aboard option?
Why does it make sense?
When might you want to skip it?

Getting ready to get unpacked after arriving the first evening

What is a sleep aboard on a yacht charter?

Simply put, a sleep aboard just means that your charter yacht is your hotel room on your first night after arriving.

Usually, boarding begins at 5:00pm, but sometimes you can request early access if the yacht has been cleaned (be nice to the base staff!).

If you arrive late after the base is closed, no big deal. You’ll be provided access to the marina and should have been provided instructions about where to find your charter yacht.

How much does a sleep aboard option cost for a yacht charter?

Charter companies typically price the sleep aboard in one of two ways:

A charge per crew member, usually around $75/pp
As a percentage of the daily charter rate. This is usually 50-60%.

For more information on how the rest of the bareboat charter pricing is determined, read this post.

Prepping fishing gear on our yacht charter sleep aboard — Prepping lures for our trolling lines on our sleep aboard during a recent Exuma charter

Why does a yacht charter sleep aboard usually make sense?

It can be cheaper than a hotel room

Usually our flights don’t arrive until later afternoon or evening, especially in Caribbean destinations. So, we aren’t getting off the dock until the next day.

Let’s say you have 4 couples on a catamaran and the daily charter rate is $1,750. If the sleep aboard is priced at 50%, that’s only ~$220/couple. Not bad.

You get off the dock earlier on your first day

We love getting organized on our first evening.

Put away gear.
Receive the provisioning delivery, or go shopping ourselves.
Get comfortable with the yacht’s systems.
Add waypoints to the chart plotter.
Prep our fishing gear.

I enjoy waking up on the yacht with really one thing left to accomplish after a leisurely breakfast: the charter briefing.

If you can get yourself first in line, it’s possible to be off the dock at 9:00am and enjoy nearly a full day in the islands.

It makes things less stressful

If you don’t add the sleep aboard option, most charters start at 10:00am or 12:00pm. That means that after having your provisions delivered (or going shopping) and completing the charter briefing, it won’t be until early afternoon that you are sailing for your first anchorage.

What if you’re provisioning delivery is late, or missing items? What happens if I’m last in line for the charter briefing?

You can avoid unnecessary vacation stress by taking the sleep aboard.

Enjoy the marina’s amenities

Don’t forget many of the charter base marinas have great amenities such as a pool or beach bar & restaurant.

These are often in beautiful settings – hard to beat a better environment to spend your first night on vacation.

Yacht charter sleep aboard — Getting organized on a sleep aboard

When might you want to skip the option?

I can think of 6 possible scenarios for when you might want to skip the sleep aboard:

Your flight arrives early and you have enough time to accomplish pre-departure steps and sail to your first anchorage. No need to waste a day in the marina!
The charter company tries to charge you for a full day (yes, I’ve seen this!).
You have a higher priced yacht and a smaller crew – it might be cheaper to get a hotel room(s).
There are competitively priced, convenient hotels available at your charter base marina.
It’s your first bareboat trip and you might not be comfortable with the air conditioning or electronics. Remember, the base staff are usually not available after hours.
It’s not available – sometimes booking availability prevents the sleep aboard option. That’s too bad, but it’s a good sign for your charter company. It might signal that they block off maintenance days in between charters to keep the fleet in good shape.

Our Favorite Secret BVI Anchorages: Escape from the Crowds

When we go on bareboat sailing trips to the British Virgin Islands, I love to find off the beaten path anchorages. While you will be sure to find me with a painkiller at the busy Soggy Dollar Bar, I enjoy a secluded anchorage with an epic Caribbean sunset even more.

BVI lays claim to to tagline Nature’s Little Secrets, but each visit it seems to get more crowded. That is, unless you know where to look.

I’m going to share four of my secluded anchorages where you are most likely to enjoy the view all by yourself. I have a few more, but I can’t give away all of my secrets! If you are looking for the more popular British Virgin Island anchorages and mooring fields, check out my recommended itinerary for a perfect week in the BVIs.

Eustatia Sound
Muskmelon Bay
Benures Bay
Key Bay

As always, confirm with your charter company during your boat briefing whether some of these areas could be red-lined and therefore, off-limits.

Eustatia Sound Anchorage — Beautiful sunset at secluded Eustatia Sound

There is plenty of room for everyone in North Sound, but if you want to get away from the crowds, check out Eustatia Sound between Prickly Pear Island and Eustatia Island.

Take note that this area is redlined by several charter companies, such as the Moorings – make sure you confirm during your boat briefing. If it is off-limits, you can still explore this area with your dinghy from North Sound.

This peaceful area is usually one of the first stops on our BVI sailing trips. It gets me perfectly settled in vacation mode every time. It is also a convenient jumping off point for the offshore crossing to Anegada.

Eustatia Island is a high-end, water sports focused resort. You might see some of the guests kitesurfing nearby.

Sunsets here are excellent, and there is a nice reef with good snorkeling just to the north. We often take our dingy over in calm conditions.

You get the added benefit of gazing upon two islands owned by billionaires – Eustatia Island is Larry Page’s. His neighbor, Sir Richard Branson, owns the luxe resort Necker Island which he lives at for a number of months each year.

North Sound is a short dinghy ride – you can still get a piece of the action at some nearby beach bars and restaurants. Our picks would be Saba Rock and the Bitter End Yacht Club.

Eustatia Sound Anchorage in BVI — Eustatia Island, Eustatia Sound, the snorkeling reef, and proximity to North Sound (source: Eustatia Island)

Eustatia Sound Anchoring Guide

There are two approaches to reach Eustatia Sound. The easier route is to continue past the channel markers outside of North Sound and enter the wide channel on the east side of Prickly Pear Island from the north.

Your other option is to enter North Sound and continue east towards Saba Rock. Use the channel markers, keeping Saba Rock to port. You’ll see Eustatia Island to port as well. Proceed carefully around the reef, giving yourself plenty of space.

Anchor west of Eustatia Island in about 10-15 feet of water. The bottom is sandy and your anchor should set well.

This spot is exposed to northerly ground swells, so make sure you try this one in settled conditions. They are well-forecasted.

Muskmelon Bay Anchorage — The rugged geography of Guana Island with our catamaran at Muskmelon Bay

We like to stop here for lunch at Muskmelon bay on our way back from Anegada. Muskmelon bay is located at the northwest part of Guana Island, near Long Point. The entire island is a very private luxury resort and nature sanctuary.

This spot is incredibly picturesque and is swarming with marine life. Cliffs near the anchorage site make for some spectacular scenery. Truly a BVI secret.

The coral reefs are well developed and it attracts plenty of baitfish. This, in turn brings the birds – what a show the they put on! I’m not much into bird watching, but it is a lot of fun to see them diving for fish at close range.

You’ll definitely want to hop in for a snorkel – you won’t have to swim far from the yacht. Expect to see lots of fish, rays, and a few turtles on most days.

The anchoring location is quite close to shore at Muskmelon Bay

Muskmelon Bay Anchoring Guide

I view this as a day anchorage only and there are no moorings available. The anchoring area is quite small, so I’d suggest you move on if there is another boat occupying the space.

Drop your anchor in the patch of sand about 400 feet south of the rocky beach visible on satellite in the NE corner of the bay. You’ll be fairly close to shore.

Backwinding is a concern here and is why I wouldn’t want to be here overnight unless in very calm conditions. If you aren’t as familiar with the concept, I talk about it in my BVI weather post.

Benures Bay Sunset at Norman Island, British Virgin Islands — Not another boat in site at Benures Bay

(Update – since I wrote this, I’ve learned several mooring balls were installed, which is disappointing. You may not find solitude in this anchorage anymore.)

This peaceful bay is quite the opposite of the Bight with rowdy Willy T on the other side of the island. The shoreline is rocky and there is some interesting snorkeling in the bay.

If you like hiking, you can access the Norman Island trail system from the middle of the bay. It is easily visible on satellite imagery. Check out this article for tips on other ways to experience Norman Island

Pro tip: start early and hike over to the Pirate’s Bight restaurant for a nice lunch or dinner. It’s about a mile over to the Bight. If you go for dinner, make sure you make it back in time for sunset at Benures! Take a look at your sailboat lying in the bay below.

It is also a short dinghy ride over to the Bight. Make sure conditions are calm so you don’t get wet.

Benures Bay is another fantastic place to grab a sundowner and watch the beautiful show. The Indians and US Virgin Islands provide an outstanding backdrop.

Benures Bay, Norman Island British Virgin Islands — Another view of Benures Bay at Norman Island

Benures Bay Anchorage Details

The approach is straightforward and the bay is fairly deep in the middle. Aim for the north east side of the bay. The bay should have enough room for 4 or 5 boats, so don’t worry if you have to share.

Depths get shallow quickly as you get closer to shore. Drop the hook in ~20 feet of water and deep sand. Holding is excellent.

Be careful not to anchor to close to shore since backwinding can occur at Benures. Leave yourself enough swinging room.

Key Bay at Peter Island

The legendary Willy T, now an artificial reef at Key Bay | Source: Beyond the Reef

Key Bay is a wonderful, seldom used (in my experience) anchorage on the south side of Peter Island. It’s small, with only room for 2-3 boats – but that is what makes up it’s charm. It’s not possible for this one to get crowded.

Given it’s proximity to the marinas at Tortola, it can be a convenient first or last night stop for your sailing trip.

In 2019, Beyond the Reef successfully sunk the Willy T at Key Bay. Willy T was beached nearby at Norman Island after Hurricane Irma.

Beyond the Reef turned it into an artificial reef, and had some fun with a pirate theme. You can see it if you snorkel (the top mast is at about 30 feet), but it is really intended for divers.

They ask for a $5 donation if you use their mooring ball which will go towards supporting local kid’s swim programs.

Key Bay Anchorage Details

If there is any wind out of the south, this anchorage should be avoided, since swell will wrap it’s way around Key Cay. No one likes a rolly night.

The approach is from the SW and you’ll want to get close into the NE corner. Depths are around 15 feet with some sand, but also a lot of sea grass. Choose your spot carefully as there is also some coral in the area.

My BVI Beginner’s Guide has some useful information on other more popular anchorages in the British Virgin Islands.

BVI

Month: February 2023