Do need to know about sailing or boating?
Will I get seasick?
The destinations that we recommend are usually fairly calm most of the time. However, if you tend to be mildly motion sick this should not affect you very much. If you suffer quite badly from motion sickness then it may take you a day or two to get your sea legs and after that you should be fine. There are many safe and affective remedies that one can use.
Do I have to tip the Skipper and crew?
It is at the charterers discretion and is customary to tip your crew. Depending on the quality of service it is recommended that you tip between 10 – 20% of the base charter rate.
Could I get the charter cheaper if I go directly to the boat owner or operator?
As an agent, the boat owner pays us a commission out of the charter fee for finding the customer and taking care of all questions, paperwork, and payments. Our prices are the same or lower than the prices that the charter operator offers to the general public, and normally they will not reduce these prices for individuals. So, the price that we propose to you is normally the best price you’ll receive. If you are looking for a discount, ask us and we’ll see what we can do – we have a lot more leverage with the owners than an individual would because we do a lot of volume with them and know each operator on a first name basis.
How do I know the yacht is going to be in tip top condition?
First and foremost, all charter companies must adhere to the local maritime laws and regulations. This is your primary protection, and in most cases the rules are quite strict. All operators also must carry insurance by law. You have every right to see these papers prior to embarkation. Beyond this, we work only with proven operators, who have a track record of success and happy customers. Before we work with an operator, they must agree to meet our high standard of customer satisfaction, and agree to provide boats that are clean and in excellent condition for their age. Finally, we personally view the yachts and meet with the crews each year at designated boat shows around the world.
Can I charter for more and or less than 1 week?
If you are chartering a bareboat then you will usually be asked to charter in week increments with a designated day for boarding and disembarking. With a crewed Yacht there is no criteria. One can charter for less or more than a week, which rates will be pro rated to cover. There is usually no designated pick up or drop off day. This is the choice of the charterer, depending on the yachts booking schedule.
What are the hidden extras?
Bareboats – There are extra costs which will be itemized on you invoice so that there are no surprises. Even an estimation on food provisioning can be requested.
Crewed Yachts – INCLUSIVE RATES: The rate includes the yacht, crew, food, standard bar, fuel for up to 2 hours of cruising for day and use of water sports equipment onboard. NOT INCLUDED are dockage, shore excursions, onboard communication costs, cruising taxes and crew gratuity.
Crewed Yachts – PLUS ALL RATES: A base rate is charges and then a 30 -35% APA (Advanced Provisioning Allowance) is added to this rate for expenses relating to your charter. These will include, but is not limited to: food, bar, dockage, fuel, running costs of generators and onboard equipment, flowers and any other costs uncured during your stay onboard. Crew Gratuity is not included in the APA and is customary at 10 – 20% of the base rate.
What is an APA?
APA (Advanced Provisioning Allowance) A percentage of the base rate of the charter – usually 30 – 35% is charged to cover the expenses relating to the charter as mentioned in the item above. The Captain will keep a running tally of the expenses and will, on occasion, let the charterer know what has been spent. Should the cost of the charter exceed the APA then the charterer is required to cover these costs before he disembarks from the yacht.
How can I trust that the boat will be there when I arrive and my payments will get to the owner?
Richleigh Yachts has been in business for 21 years and our reputation precedes us. Unlike many of the E-Based companies Richleigh Yachts is run by the owners Richard and Leigh Ford. We do exist in real time. We have offices in Ft Lauderdale Florida USA and you will always get a person on the telephone when you call. Apart from selling charters we also manage a number of charter yachts ourselves and we ensure that these yachts are kept up 100%. All monies that are paid for charters are held is Escrow accounts until such time as it is dispersed to the yacht. Your funds are secure on payment. We do however, recommend that you procure Trip Cancellation Insurance to cover you in case of any eventuality that may arise between the time that you book your charter and the time that you travel.
Once I book a charter, how do I pay?
The two most common means of paying are by bank transfer or credit card. Prior to payment, we will give you a full invoice that clearly shows the payments due in the currency of your charter. We often have the opportunity to buy forward cover on foreign currency and can sometimes pass this saving onto your clients. Unlike some large charter companies – WE DO NOT CHARGE EXTRA for credit card payments. If you book within 6 months of your trip a 50% deposit is taking on booking and the balance is due 45 days prior toy our departure. Should you book outside of 6 months, 25% is taken at booking, 25% at the 6 months mark and the balance is 45 days out. While we can accept the first 50% by credit card the balance must be paid by check or Wire transfer. All of our charters are done via a contract that provides significant protection for you. Please read the fine print, or ask your representative how you are protected against failure to deliver a boat, or technical problems along the way.
