The Bahamas have long been a sailor's paradise, the calm, crystal clear blue waters and ideal summer temperatures have lured many pleasure sailors to drop anchor and relax. Up until recently the only people who could sail in to these glorious waters were those who owned their own yachts. Now with several companies offering bareboat charters to the Bahamas, those who have the skills needed to sail a yacht can cruise the islands in comfort and style without having to own their own luxury yacht. Before you get excited and start planning your sailing adventure there are a few things you need to know about what is required before you can take advantage of bareboat charters in the Bahamas. The first thing you need to realize is that you will be taking on the responsibilities of a luxury yacht that cost the owner anywhere from $40,000 to over $1 million and you will be 100% responsible for it.

This means that you must return it in exactly the same shape as it was when you took over. If anything gets damaged you are responsible for the entire bill to restore it back to the condition it was in when you took over. Since all of the yachts used for Bahamas bareboat charters are relatively large and require a certain amount of sailing skill, the charter company is going to want proof that you can handle it. This means you will need to be able to demonstrate that you have the seamanship and skills needed to captain a yacht this size. You should also have completed a recent course offered by US Sailing, the RYA or the ASA. You will also need to demonstrate your abilities to handle routine maintenance chores such as cleaning filters and checking the engine oil level. In order to handle most of the yachts used for bareboat charters in the Bahamas, you will need at least two competent crew members, i.e. a skipper and someone else.

At the handover both of you will be taken around the boat and shown where everything is. You will also be shown how to perform the various simple maintenance tasks that must be completed during the time that you are in charge of the yacht. This process usually takes about an hour or so to complete and is the perfect time to get familiar with the boat and ask any questions you might have. Companies who offer Bahamas bareboat charters more often than not represent the owners of the yachts rather than owning them. It is because of this that they have such stringent requirements, the owners of the yachts want to be assured that their boat is being kept in perfect condition and that it is being safely operated by whoever is sailing it. If you are interested in Bahamas bareboat charters and would like more information regarding availability and price contact 360 Yachting. They offer a variety of options from complete bareboat rentals to fully crewed depending on your sailing skills and the type of vacation you want.