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It is a condition of your booking that you obtain adequate holiday insurance. If you have made alternative arrangements it is very important that you inform us of your arrangements and ensure that all policies cover sailing.

Topsail Insurance Ltd offer Yachtsman’s Travel Policies with security provided by Canopius Managing Agents Limited.

These policies are tailor-made for yacht charter holidays, whether bareboat or flotilla, and have no restrictions as to how far offshore you can sail. They also provide cover if you have to cancel your sailing holiday because the qualified skipper cannot travel due to injury or illness, even if he/she is not a close relative and cover for flight delay due to volcanic ash or adverse weather conditions.


Single Trip Travel Insurance

Topsail Insurance offer a fully comprehensive Single Trip Travel Insurance policy to cover sailing holidays which you can now buy on-line.

Single Trip Travel Insurance


Multi-trip Travel Insurance

If you are going to be away for a long duration or plan to travel several times over the course of the year you may wish to consider annual multi-trip travel insurance. Topsail Insurance offers our clients a fully comprehensive Annual Multi-trip Travel Insurance to cover all your holidays in the next 12 months, including sailing holidays, which you can now buy on-line. Gold and Silver policies also include skiing holidays.

Annual Multi-trip Travel Insurance

If you make your own travel insurance arrangements you should check with your insurer whether there are restrictions on sailing holidays and whether there is cover in the event that the qualified skipper cannot travel.

"We all had a wonderful sailing holiday out of Marmaris in the 479. GMM Yachting were exceptionally helpful. I would recommend them to anyone. The boat was in pristine condition and sailed like a dream. For the most part the winds were favourable and we had our best sailing ever. Thanks for organising the charter for us. We now have to choose where to go next year!"

Marmaris 2019 - G.P-M.
Trustpilot

Sailing Qualifications

To skipper a bareboat charter or flotilla yacht, you need to hold a practical sailing certificate equivalent to RYA Day Skipper Practical qualification or RYA International Certificate of Competence (ICC). For charters in Greece, you must now have the ICC certificate. You must also be assisted by at least one competent crew member over the age of 18.

The port authorities in Greece are now insisting on one of the following practical certificates: RYA ICC (International Certificate of Competence), RYA Coastal, RYA Yachtmaster, ASA IPC (International Proficiency Certificate) or the IYT (International Yacht Training) Passport. If you hold an RYA Day Skipper or ASA104 it will no longer be accepted and you need to obtain either an ICC or IPC from the corresponding issuing body (RYA or ASA). If your RYA Coastal/Yachtmaster or ASA105/106 certificate is more than 12 years old and does not have a photo ID, then we would also strongly advise applying for an ICC or IPC. If you are a member of the RYA or ASA, you may qualify for a discount or free certificate, otherwise, you will have to pay. The approximate cost is £50. Please use this link - RYA application for the ICC or ASA application for the IPC.

For charters in Croatia, Malta and the Canaries, at least one member of the crew or the skipper will also need a VHF licence.

RYA qualifications can be obtained by RYA sailing schools in the UK or alternatively choose from one of our overseas centres in Gibraltar, Greece or Turkey.

For Seychelles, the local authorities require an ICC for the skipper of a bareboat or flotilla yacht charter.

For Caribbean and Tropical charters, formal qualifications are not compulsory, however, you should be Day Skipper standard and be assisted by at least one competent crew. A brief sailing resume should be provided to outline your experience.

If you don't hold the relevant qualifications then why not add a skipper?

Sailing Levels

Level 1

Winds force 2-3 (4-11 Knots)combined with generally shorter distances. Good for beginner or intermediate sailors. Line-of-sight navigation but basic knowledge of charts and ability to plot your position required.

Level 2

Winds force 3-5 (7-21 Knots) with approximately 15-20nm per day. Intermediate experience required. Predominately line of sight navigation but an understanding of how to sail in open water.

Level 3

Winds force 4-6 (11-27 Knots) with mileage of approximately 20nm+ per day. Ideal for experienced skippers looking to venture out to new destinations. Day skipper standard but with experienced crew would be recommended.