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Bareboat yacht charters

If you’re new to chartering or have sailed a million times, you can sail the places you’ve always dreamed of on your perfect boat with our bareboat yacht charters.

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Bareboat - Dream Yacht Charter
Bareboat Charter - Picture by Damien Bidaine

Your vacation dreams aren’t ordinary, so sail with an extraordinary charter company…

All you need is sailing experience, an adventurous spirit, and yearn for that live-aboard lifestyle. Bareboating provides the utmost in freedom and privacy – do whatever you want, whenever you want to!
Hire a boat from our bareboat yacht charter fleet.
Explore azure lagoons, island-hop archipelagos, experience bucket list sailing grounds and create memories with family and friends on a bareboat sailing holidays that will last a lifetime. We’ve more than 40+ destinations to choose from.
Too many options to choose from?

Everything you need to know about sailing

What is a bareboat charter?

A bareboat yacht charter enables you to hire a catamaran or monohull from our fleet, sail it yourself and be in control of your bareboat charter. You are responsible for planning your itinerary and your provisioning.

Sail your way and plan your bareboat sailing holiday to suit you and your guests.
Our bareboat yacht charters offer you the flexibility to sail at your own pace and enjoy newly discovered snorkeling spots, authentic local bars or spectacular sunsets.
Find out if you are qualified to sail bareboat. Learn more with our bareboat yacht charter frequently asked questions.

Catamaranbareboat yacht charter in blur crystal waters
Family enjoying vacations in bareboat yacht charter

Am I qualified to sail?

We usually ask that you have sailing experience on a boat of similar size for our bareboat yacht charters. It’s also helpful to have at least one crew member of similar experience. If you are unsure whether you are qualified for a bareboat yacht charter, take a look at our guide. You can also hire a local skipper at a daily rate, then continue on your own when you feel comfortable. If you’d rather not cook, hire a chef and have all of your meals prepared for you.

Our incomparable bareboat fleet across unrivaled destinations

We’re the world’s leading charter company with bareboat catamaran charters and monohulls in exciting destinations worldwide.

We are always adding new yachts to our bareboat yacht charter fleet so you can try the latest models and newest features. Our fleet diversity means you can try different manufacturers too.
Choose from the world’s largest, most diverse fleet.

Bareboat yacht charter sailing in blur waters

How do I provision for a bareboat yacht charter?

One thing you are going to need to do on your yacht charter is eat and drink! Maybe you are going to dine on local lobster, visit renowned local restaurants, make favorites from home or hire a professional chef.
An important part of your charter preparation is thinking about provisioning your boat.
You can sort out your yacht provisioning in three main ways:

Use our provisioning service

Many of our bases offer a yacht charter provisioning service so that all of your goods are ready for your arrival. Contact our team for more information.
This removes the hassle of shopping after your travel. If you are sailing a remote destination, advance provisioning could be essential.
Try not to order too much, as you can top up at local markets as you sail in most destinations.
We’ll send you preference sheets and you can tick off what you’d like. You can see if the service is offered in the destination’s base guide.

Buy your goods when you arrive

Our destination guides on our destination pages have information about where the nearest supermarket is located and opening hours.
Our bases are usually near a large supermarket where you can get a range of goods and stock up on your yacht supplies.
Keep in mind that after a long flight and with all your luggage this may not be convenient or how you want to start your vacation. You can also find that produce can be limited depending on your location, time of year and time of your arrival.
Buying local brands will help keep your yacht provisioning costs down, as will buying from local markets and suppliers.

Order your provisions in advance

Many supermarkets offer online ordering and will deliver to your boat ready for your arrival.
You can check the destination’s base guide to see what is available locally.

Sunset sailing a bareboat

Provisioning basics checklist

Treat your yacht provisioning list like your clothes packing list. Write down everything you need and then cross off half of it. Stick to what you know you need.
It might be that you plan to eat out nearly every day of your charter. Even so, here are some essentials you can’t do without on board your boat:

  • Water: Don’t underestimate how much you will need
  • Sun protection: Make it environmentally friendly
  • Insect repellent: Avoid scratching all vacation
  • Toilet paper: Don’t get caught short, so buy plenty
  • Trash bags: Don’t let trash blow into the ocean
  • Seasoning and spices: Can jazz up a simple meal
  • Matches: Will always be needed
  • Dishwashing soap: Don’t forget it!
  • Hand sanitizer

Practical Information

Men sailing in a bareboat yacht charter


Meet our yacht manufacturers

Our large fleet offers the highest quality catamarans and monohulls from the industry’s most innovative yacht builders, including Aquila, Bali, Beneteau, Dufour, Fountaine Pajot, Jeanneau, Lagoon, Nautitech and Waquiez.

Cutting edge yacht design

We’ve partnered with the best shipyards in the world. The yacht building sector is always progressing and we are at the forefront of cutting-edge yacht design. We take great care to choose yachts for our bareboat charter fleet that give excellent sailing performance, comfort and space.

You are never far from one of our bases

We’re sailors at heart and our vast network of destinations means you can explore the world while on a bareboat yacht charter.
Find out where we offer bareboat sailing vacations.

Our base team is ready to welcome you

Our base teams are small and handpicked to offer a highly professional service where you receive personal attention while on your bareboat yacht charter.
They are responsible for maintaining and inspecting the yachts and familiarizing you with the local cruising area and your yacht, above and below the waterline.

Friends enjoying vacations in a bareboat yacht charter
Couple sailing in a bareboat yacht charter

Do I need insurance?

We always recommend that customers have travel insurance and strongly advise coverage for sailing as an activity. Read about our booking policy.

How does the chart and technical briefing work?

Getting to know your yacht is a key part of the Dream Yacht Charter bareboat yacht charter experience.
Our base teams are welcoming and will introduce you to the boat’s systems and make sure you see the best of the destination you are sailing.

The chart and technical briefing

The base team will personally show you:


● Yacht safety equipment (fire extinguishers, lifejackets and first aid kits)
● Engine and regular check procedures
● Cooking and refrigeration systems
● Heads and showers
● VHF radio system and mayday instructions
● Instruments, including GPS
● Charts and pilot books
● Halyards, winches, reefing lines, rigging and controls
● Anchoring system
● Dinghy and engine
● All other systems particular to that vessel

Pilot sailing a bareboat yacht charter
Catamaran bareboat charter sailing

Fleet maintenance

Our bareboat yacht charter fleet meets the highest safety requirements, are well maintained and undergo regular technical checks.
Should a technical failure happen despite our highly professional maintenance, we will repair the failure within four hours following your call to the base during working hours (8am to 5pm). If you lose more than four hours during working hours, we will refund you one full day. If the repair takes more than one day, we will provide you with a similar boat or refund you on a pro-rata basis. Our guarantee applies to essential equipment only and not the repair of ancillary equipment, including but not limited to genset, air conditioning or watermaker.

Dealing with emergencies

In case of emergency during your bareboat sailing vacation, you can rely on our hotline, at any time, seven days a week. The hotline number is provided to you after your booking is confirmed.

Couple enjoying sailing in a bareboat yacht charter

How much does a bareboat charter cost?

You can tailor your yacht charter to make the most of your budget. We’ve listed some considerations that will make a difference to your bareboat charter cost.

  • Choose an older yacht – Our newest yachts are more expensive to charter than others in our fleet. As yachts get older they move to our economy fleet and offer the best value. You can sail wonderful older yachts and that will lower your charter price.
  • Sail in low season – Peak seasons are popular for good reason, yet the shoulder seasons can also provide pleasant climates and fewer crowds. Low season also has the advantage of being less expensive with more yachts available and cheaper flights.
  • Charter for longer – Most charters are for one or two weeks, but it is possible to secure additional discounts if you sail for more than three weeks.
  • Combine discounts – You can combine discounts to get up to 20% off if you book 180 days before departure, have booked with us before and book during a boat show. Take a look at our bareboat yacht charter special offers.
  • Mooring and marina fees – Your choice of destination makes a big difference to your overall bareboat charter cost. Some locations offer free or very low mooring fees if you buy a meal at the local restaurant. In others, you may need to pay marina fees, as well as fees for landing on islands, entering national parks or marine reserves.
  • Add-ons for your charter – Water toys enable you to explore mangrove creeks, blue caves and lagoons, or to simply exercise and have fun. It is easy to add kayaks or paddle boards to your charter.
  • Early boarding – Check in and depart on the same day.
  • Delivery sailing – Experienced sailors can help us get our fleet ready for the season by sailing boats to our network of bases. If you’re flexible and have the right resume, this could suit you.

What is included?

  • Yacht, dinghy & outboard
  • Marina mooring: First and last night at our base
  • Fuel and water: All of our yachts are delivered to you with full tanks of fuel (yacht & dinghy), full tank of water, one bottle of cooking gas + one spare. You have to return the yacht with full tanks of fuel and water
  • Watersports: snorkelling equipment
  • Mandatory extras: End cleaning and starter pack, which includes four 1.5L bottles of water, one small bottle of dish-washing liquid, one dishcloth, one sponge, trash bags, one roll of paper towels, one box of matches and one roll of toilet paper in each head. Please note that contents vary by destination
  • Essentials pack: What is the Essentials pack? Designed for our bareboat charters, it includes our previous damage waiver extra, end cleaning & starter pack which will not be shown in new quotes & bookings. Only handling fees will remain as other mandatory extra (+ taxes in some destinations). All bookings with the Essentials charter pack will have 0 € security deposit. Essential pack is mandatory in most destinations with few exceptions. Contact us for more details.
  • Damage waiver: Insurance with a lower excess has been added to your quote and is mandatory in some destinations. You can pay a higher damage waiver deposit at the base, which is fully refundable if there is not any damage or loss to the boat, dinghy and equipment. The damage waiver, or refundable security deposit, is designed to cover one incident of a substantial nature at any one time. In the case of loss or damage to equipment of significant value, such as the outboard engine or dinghy, you have the right to an immediate replacement while on the charter.

What licenses do I need to hire a yacht and sail myself?

The skipper of a yacht has primary responsibility for the safety of the crew and yacht at all times. Many destinations require just relevant experience demonstrated by a sailing resume.

To charter in the Mediterranean, it is mandatory that you hold a sailing license recognized by the local port authorities for bareboat charters in Italy, Greece, Croatia, Spain, Malta, Montenegro and Turkey. Other destinations that require a license include Madagascar, Seychelles, Thailand, Brazil and Sweden. For Belize, the port authority will issue a certificate of competency and an application is made on arrival.

You must take your proof of competency and original certificate with you on your charter. We advise you to contact our team about your qualifications and the destination requirements before booking.

By accepting the yacht contract you are confirming that you and/or members of your crew are capable and competent to sail the yacht in the conditions and cruising area of charter. We reserve the right not to hand over the yacht if, after inspection, it is the opinion that the charterer is not, or may not be competent to be in charge of the vessel.

What briefing do you give at base?

Before you leave base you will have an overview of the cruising area, safety inspection on board and yacht familiarization briefing from our base team, including:

  • All of the safety equipment
  • Cooking and refrigeration systems
  • Heads and showers
  • Engine and check in procedures
  • VHF radio and mayday instructions
  • All instruments including GPS
  • Charts and pilot books
  • Halyards, winches, reefing lines, rigging and controls
  • Anchor system
  • Dinghy and engine
  • Other systems

Do I need insurance?

We highly recommend you arrange travel insurance in case you need to cancel for an unexpected reason to cover non-refundable deposits. Please make sure you have personal travel insurance that covers sailing.

We will insure the vessel throughout the charter with first-class insurers against all risks, to provide permission to charter as under contract terms and to cover third-party liability.

The following options are available in limited locations:

  • Security Deposit: This varies on the size of the boat and when the boat is returned without damage it is refunded.
  • Damage Waiver: The charterer agrees to pay a non-refundable damage waiver at the time of booking, as well as a reduced damage deposit on embarkation that is refundable upon completion of the charter should no damage occur.

Are their child or age restrictions?

There are no restrictions.

What is the cancellation policy – Bareboat charters?

If you cancel your charter, cancellation fees will apply:

  • If the Charterer cancels more than 60 days before the original charter start, Charterer will lose their 30% deposit. If Charterer has already paid for add-on options, DYC will reimburse Charterer for these expenses.
  • If Charterer cancels 59 days or less before the original charter start, Charterer will lose the entire charter fee paid to date. If Charterer has already paid for add-on options, DYC will reimburse Charterer for these expenses, unless cancellation occurs within seven days of departure. If within seven days, payment for add-on options will not be refunded.

Why travel with DYC?

We want to make your bareboat yacht charter a pleasant, fun experience, and your experience starts with our amazing team.
Our sales staff, base managers, skippers, personal chefs and dock hands are dedicated to delivering a personalized service with real choice.

Our promise to you

Diverse fleet

Unparalleled choice of manufacturers

Premium destinations

Widest choice of sailing grounds

Innovation

Developing new, exciting sailing grounds

Trust

Commitment to customer satisfaction

Knowledge

Our team are passionate sailors too

Flexible

Take a look at our booking policy

The real experience

Absolutely amazing! Fred + Isabelle were so accommodating and did so much for us. Isabelle’s food was incredible. Thanks so much!

Laura

Exumas Cabin

Excellent. Very professional and great service!

Thomas

Antigua Bareboat

Just what we needed coming out of a year of lockdown, to see new places and connect with nature. Highly recommended for your next sailing adventure!

Johan

St. Martin Bareboat

Excellent cruise and very good stay. Skipper attentive, very pleasant and very professional.

Maxime

Guadeloupe Skippered

Just returned from another fantastic sailing week at your base in Pula and I would like to thank everyone involved for making this possible on such short notice and without any problems.

Mathias

Croatia Bareboat

The marina itself is a perfect starting point with great facilities! The Lagoon 42 was in good condition and the skipper was amazing and very knowledgeable of the area.”

Jonathan

Spain Skippered

What an AMAZING experience. We’ve just returned from a week long skippered charter from Corfu, sailing around the beautiful islands of the Ionian. Paxos, Antipaxos and Corfu Old Town were beautiful and the secluded bays we had the pleasure of visiting thanks to our local skipper, Nicholas, were simply overwhelming. Fly and flops are no longer for us – we’ll be chartering with DYC for the foreseeable future.

David

Greece Skippered

Our group of 10 had an AMAZING time in French Polynesia from May 21-28, 2022! The food was amazing, our captain and chef, husband and wife: Henry and Mehee (sp), were incredible and the whole experience on board was a dream! We can’t wait to book another trip through DYC

Katie

Tahiti Crewed Premium

DYC provided a great sailing experience for my extended family on 2 monos out of Scrub Island. The boats were in great shape and preformed perfectly and the staff were friendly and helpful. Having worked for a number of charter companies over the years DYC is one of the best.

Charlie

British Virgin Islands Bareboat

I’m currently in the Maldives and having the time of my life. Captain Jack and the crew are professional, safe and FUN! The boat is immaculate and the food is delicious. He even makes CAKE! The beds are surprisingly comfortable and we are all sleeping 9 hours a night. If you like island hopping, there is no other better option than Dream Yacht Charter. We will be booking Tahiti next year.

Cynthia

Maldives Cabin

The new boat was in fabulous shape. We had the greatest possible experience exploring archipelago waterways and islands. I could never imagine this might be so much fun and joy and we are already looking forward for the another upcoming trip in Ionian.

Vyautas

Scandinavia Bareboat

Baja is my favorite place now. There was something for everyone: sailed under northerlies with mostly calm evenings, snorkeled, fished, bummed it on the sandy beaches, enchanted by pelicans feeding, greeted by the barking sea lions and explored the Ispiritu Santo island geology. DYC La Paz base provided competent professional support with a well provisioned and maintained boat. We were nourished well by an onboard cook arranged with DYC freeing us all for more play. A vacation and an adventure connected with nature.

Taiyoko

Mexico Crewed Premium

All staff were fantastic and made our trip very memorable. Incredibly friendly and welcoming, the food was amazing. The service throughout the trip was always first class!

Tommy

Thailand Cabin

Absolutely recommended. Perfect service and set up. Will charter again and will recommend Dream Yacht Charter anytime.

Zahradnik

Turkey Bareboat

I just returned from 3 weeks of amazing sailing with my family on one of your catamarans in Sardinia. I would like to express my thanks to our skipper Simone and Daniela, our hostess.

Giles

Sardinia Skippered

For a first cruise as a skipper, the Mediterranean is great. The Dream Yacht Charter service is too!

Thomas

France Bareboat

We had an incredible trip and actually got engaged on the first night of our sail! We will certainly be back one day. Thank you for getting us ready for our charter. We were definitely beginners but he gave us a very thorough but very easy to follow training and it gave us a lot of confidence.

George

Australia Bareboat

The on board experience was way beyond our expectations. Isabelle provided exceptional three course meals. We could not believe her creativity and delicious meals. Thomas was an excellent skipper. He was always on the lookout for our needs. Thanks guys!” Spira, New Caledonia bareboat with crew charter

Spira

New Caledonia Easy Crewed

Yet again another fantastic sail with another great crew. Thanks again to a great captain and cook. Was totally fantastic.

Connie

Seychelles Cabin

It’s always a pleasure sailing with DYC in the UK. Great team, great boats, great sailing. Very flexible and work hard to make your trip a success. Many thanks.

Derek

Brittany Bareboat

Unforgettable spots to snorkel and beaches. Very experienced crew. Highly recommend.

Simone

Cuba Cabin

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