FAQ

Please take a look at our frequently asked questions and find all the answers that will help you in your search for a vessel. Should you have any further questions, do not hesitate to contact us (via telephone, e-mail, Skype, chat).

• 1.

  Which vessel type and size should I choose?

  The choice of the vessel depends entirely on your wishes and preferences. Our offer includes the following vessel types:

  • Sailing boats - excellent for both family holidays and active vacation
  • Catamarans - very stable and comfortable, ensure fast sailing

  Before choosing a vessel, please bear in mind the following details:

  • How many people will be on board
  • Does your group consist of pairs who can share the same cabin or do some crew members require a separate cabin
  • Do you prefer comfort
  • Do you require a skipper or not. If you need skipper's services, please keep in mind that the skipper sleeps on board as well, so one of the berths (either in the saloon area or in a cabin) should be reserved for him.
• 2.

  How do I book a vessel?

  You can consult our Contact Center about the vessel choice - they will make an offer for you, based upon your request. Should you prefer to choose a vessel on your own, you can do so by using our Online Database system. After having chosen a vessel, we can reserve it for you for several days, with no obligation, giving you time to organize your sailing trip (buying plane tickets, etc.) and arrange everything with your crew members. The vessel is considered booked as soon as you pay the first instalment, 50% of the total price (or less on request), or the whole charter fee for bookings within 30 days before the departure. You can either pay by credit card or by bank transfer.

• 3.

  Can I charter a vessel for less than a week?

  Sailing yacht charters usually begin and end on Saturdays. However, should you desire to take a several days long sailing trip in the off season (October - April), this can be organized as well, and the price is then calculated according to the number of days spent on board. During the high-season (in June, July and August, as well as the beginning of September and the end of May), we cannot deviate from our weekly charter system (Saturday - Saturday charter), since these are the busiest months for the charter companies and most weeks are sold out well in advance (therefore, the price is unlikely to be flexible and you would usually be charged for a full week of charter).

• 4.

  Do I have to hire a professional skipper?

  If you have no sailing experience at all, or if you do not possess an officially recognized sailing licence, you are obliged to hire a skipper. Even if you have experience in sailing but are not sure in your manoeuvring skills, it is strongly recommended to hire a professional skipper for at least several days, in order to make your cruise more relaxing. You can also benefit from the skippers' knowledge of the local attractions - they are well acquainted with the Adriatic region and will be able to suggest you the most interesting places for swimming and fun, as well as fantastic restaurants. We can reserve a skipper for you.

• 5.

  What qualifications do I need for a bareboat charter?

  In the event of a bareboat charter (without the SailingEurope Charter skipper) the client must be in possession of a sailing certificate of competence in order to charter a boat. It is also a legal requirement for one member of the crew to be qualified for the operation with the VHF station (to possess the VHF licence).

• 6.

  Which licences are accepted?

  Licences and certificates corresponding to the Croatian programme and containing the verification of the state are accepted by the Croatian authorities. The VHF licence is obligatory as well. Most of the RYA licences are accepted for sailing in Croatian territorial waters.

• 7.

  Is my licence valid for a bareboat charter?

  In case you possess any kind of a sailing license please make sure to send it to us via e-mail or fax (No. + 385 1 488 22 09), so that we can check its validity with the charter agency as well as the Croatian authorities before chartering a vessel.

• 8.

  I have a licence for motor boats, is it valid for sailing yachts as well?

  A licence issued for navigating motor boats can be accepted as valid if it is clearly indicated that it can be used for navigating sailing boats as well. By all means send us a copy via email or fax (No. + 385 1 488 22 09), so that we can check its validity with Croatian authorities. If it is not indicated on a licence that the licence is valid for sailing boats as well, it can be upgraded.

• 9.

  I have a years-long sailing experience but do not posess a license. What do I do?

  In order to hire a yacht in Croatia, the person navigating the boat has to be qualified for operating a vessel or a yacht, and must posess a necessary licence, corresponding to Croatian rules and regulations. The certificate can be obtained in client's mother country, in which case the client's picture, official stamp and verification of the state must be included on it. The other possibility is to take an exam in one of the Croatian port authorities - the certificate is obtained the same day. In case you opt for this, SailingEurope Charter will gladly help you in organizing the exam and will let you know all the necessary details on time (i.e. the price of the exam as well as the exact date, time and place of the exam).

• 10.

  Are skipper's services included in the price?

  Skipper's services are paid separately from the charter fee. The guests are obliged to pay them (also those of a hostess) as well as food and drinks for the skipper or the other crew members.

• 11.

  Where does the skipper sleep?

  It is strongly recommended to charter a bigger boat and provide the skipper with his own cabin. Since he is in charge of the day-to-day running of the yacht, as well as the security of people on board, he should be well-rested - apart from that, the guests will have more comfort and a free salon area to hang out. Every vessel is registered for a certain number of people (the law does not allow this number to be exceeded) - if this number does not include a berth in the salon area, the skipper is required to have his own cabin.

• 12.

  Besides the charter fee, are there additional costs I should budget for?

  Please check the additional costs for a sailing vacation at our Sailing Costs page.

• 13.

  Is there a parking area within the marina?

  Marinas have a secured parking area for cars - the price of a parking space depends upon the marina itself and amounts to about 45 € per week. There are enough parking spaces, so the reservations are not necessary. The personnel of the marina take care about the vessels as well as the parking area in the marina.

• 14.

  What should I bring with me?

  Please check the following link with a detailed list of items you should consider bringing with you.

• 15.

  Where should I berth, in a marina or in bays?

  If you have enough electricity, water and food, you can spend the night in one of the numerous, well secluded bays along the Adriatic coast. If using the services of a skipper, you won't have any problems finding the most secure bays, since the skippers are well acquainted with the Adriatic region. If navigating a vessel on your own, please feel free to contact us for help - we'll gladly give you our suggestions about the safe bays in the maritime zone you're sailing in. You could also ask the personnel of the charter agency for some suggestions during your check-in procedure in the marina.

• 16.

  Which currency should I use to pay for mooring fees and other expenses?

  Please note that all services in Croatia are paid in Kunas. Sometimes it is possible to pay mooring fees in Euros, but it depends upon the marina and should be checked upon in advance. In restaurants, shops and supermarkets you can use credit cards as well. If sailing in territorial waters of Slovenia, Italy or Montenegro, the additional costs are paid either in Euros or with credit cards.

• 17.

  Technical equipment on board?

  If having reserved a vessel through our website, please check the additional information on vessel equipment for every single boat in our offer. Should you need any further assistance, just contact us and we'll send you a document quoting all the equipment on your chosen boat. All boats in our offer have safety and navigation equipment as well as navigation maps.

• 18.

  Is bed linen, cutlery, etc. provided on board?

  Bed linen (sheets, blankets, pillows) is provided on every vessel. Only few charter agencies provide towels as well, so by all means take your own towels with you (both beach towels as well as those for personal hygiene). Kitchen is equipped with stove, oven, fridge, sink, cooking utensils and cutlery. Cleaning agents, dish cloths, etc. are not provided on board, but can be bought in stores in the marinas before boarding.

• 19.

  Which places should I visit?

  If you don't know which places to visit, please check some of our suggested routes and info on departure points of the vessels in our offer. We can also provide you with additional information about cultural sights, beaches, etc.

• 20.

  Children on board?

  Children can go sailing with you from an early age - there is no age limit, however, their stay on board should be closely monitored by adults. Be sure to choose the safest cabin for a child (e.g. the front cabin) and a place for him/her to play (cockpit is a relatively safe place). You can also put a safety net along the sides of the boat and children should by all means wear life vests. You should bring baby food along, since it cannot be bought in every supermarket in marinas. You should also consider choosing shorter routes and visiting marinas more frequently in order to provide safer berthing as well as comfort.

• 21.

  When should I return the vessel to the marina?

  The vessels are returned to the base on Friday afternoon/evening with an overnight on board till Saturday. Check-out procedure is scheduled for Saturday morning between 8am and 9am. At this time the guests must leave the boat, so that it can be cleaned and prepared for the new guests. The vessel can also be returned to the base on Saturday, but make sure it is before 8am, in order for guests to have enough time to fill the tank before leaving the vessel.

• 22.

  Is it possible for some people to leave and other to join the crew during a sailing trip?

  Crew changes are possible - however, this should be indicated in advance, before embarkation, so as to make a crew list, where all the information on changes and people joining or leaving the crew will be specified. Our guests receive a blank crew list, which they fill in with the crew details both before and after the change of crew - the date of the change has to be indicated. The complete crew list can be sent to us via email or fax. Before taking over the vessel, the charter agency will provide the guests with a verified crew list with data both before and after the change, which the guests need to have during the sailing trip. If the crew suddenly changes during the cruise, without previous notice, the guests are obliged to contact the charter agency and inform them about the change in order for them to send the new verified crew list. The new list can then be sent via fax to the guests (to any place where they are at that moment). In case an official requests that the guests provide documents for inspection, they need to present the new crew list, although they are obliged to keep the old one as well.

• 23.

  Can I take over the vessel before the time determined for check-in?

  If you are arriving before the time determined for taking over the vessel (check-in is usually done at 5pm), let us know the approximate time of your arrival and we will try to arrange with the charter agency to have the vessel delivered to you earlier, which is possible if the marina isn't too crowded at that time. In case you are arriving on Friday or earlier and need some help in finding suitable accommodation, feel free to contact us.

• 24.

  How do I get documents for a visa application?

  When planning a vacation in foreign countries, you need to check which ones require a visa. Our agents are here to make your life easier by providing all the information and documents that are required for obtaining a visa. The only thing that you need to do is submit your visa application and required documents at the relevant embassy/consulate before you plan on visiting the desired country.