Crewed Yacht Charters in Greece

[Jimmer]

I've been a bareboat skipper in the Ionian at Sunsail for a couple of years now and just can't shake off wanting the lifestyle. However, I want to work for myself as that way I feel I can really give an excellent holiday, and provide my girlfriend and I a bit of excitement and challenge doing it. I'm looking to buy a reasonably priced Beneteau 50 in decent condition with all the mod cons, keep it in good nick and skipper it out half board at rates that wouldn't be much more than the likes of Sunsail. (The cost savings of buying a 5 or so year old boat could be passed onto the paying charterers) But the question is - would people go for it? If you look at the Caribbean there are hundreds of 50 foot crewed charters knocking around compared to Greece or Turkey. Is this a gap in the market or is the gap there because there aint a market! Your thoughts would be very very very appreciated.

 

[Melody]

Hi James

There are a few people in Greece doing what you suggest but it is not an easy living. We ran skippered charter for several years before starting an RYA school out here so I'm happy to pass on any info to help you.

You need to make sure that your boat is fully registered and you comply with all legislation. If you buy an ex-charter boat you should be okay as long as you keep up the annual inspection. A lot of the 'skippered charter' in Greece is in fact illegal - people taking paying guests to subsidise their own cruising. Every so often there is a clampdown and this is more likely now the charter market has opened up other EU flagged vessels. Your insurance is totally invalid if you have any accident whilst illegally carrying fare-paying passengers so it isn't worth it.

Have a look at Seascape who offer skippered charter in the Dodecanese. Run by an Aussie woman called Diane I think. You should be able to find them on the Internet. I think she is very successful in attracting business.

I know a few people who are doing this successfully in the Saronic and Ionian. The key is to get repeat business and build a reputation as a skipper I think. You are competing with all the big charter companies for customers so you must offer something very special and know how to market it.

PM me if you want to discuss this further.

Melody

 

[jimbaerselman]

Individual skippered charter is a hard world. Many have tried, few have succeeded.

The single most important problem is marketing - filling the berths. But you musrt realise that already being ex Sunsail . . .

It costs.

You can either work through international agents who flog your boat for you, while you exhibit to them at charter boat exhibitions (Marmaris week is an example). The agents are critical, they'll tell you anything that doesn't suit their particular client list, and they may advise you whose list you'd fit. But You're talking BIG service here, not Sunsail skippered charter.

At the bottom end it's a question of whether or not you've built up a client list already, remembering that only 1/10 of them will actually book in a given year.

Price is not that critical in this game - trust is more important.