Take control and be the skipper of your very own private yacht whilst cruising one of the many beautiful cruising areas world wide. Mariner Boating Holidays can help you choose between vessels sized from 32 – 52 feet in length – sailing yachts, sailing catamarans and power catamarans. We offer quality charter yachts in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, South Pacific and the Indian Ocean. In each location, we select only the operators who meet our strict criteria for fleet management, maintenance standards and service ethics.

For your own safety and enjoyment of your holiday, it is required that at least one person on board has some prior sailing experience. If you are a beginner, why not hire a professional skipper to take care of the yacht while you sit back and relax and do as little or as much as you like. This is called a skippered bareboat yacht charter. Your skipper will have excellent local knowledge and be able to take you to all the best anchorages and snorkelling spots.

If complete independence is what you are after then a bareboat yacht charter is the perfect choice for you. This is where you are the skipper and your group of friends your crew! You are free to go at your own pace and choose your own itinerary.

Many charter extras are often available for your bareboat yacht charter including provisioning, kayaks, cruising chutes, or a hostess just to name a few.

Which is the best yacht for me?

Choosing a charter yacht can be very over-whelming as there is such a large choice of yachts and catamarans to choose from. This is where Mariner Boating Holidays can help you! With 30 years of experience in the yacht charter and travel industry, our friendly and experienced staff will help match you with your perfect charter yacht. We will discuss with you your party size, your sailing experience and most importantly your budget, and help you choose the most suitable yacht for your yacht charter holiday. Whether you are after the performance of a sailing yacht, or the comfort and stability of a sailing catamaran, we will be able to find the right yacht for you.

Which destination is best for me?

Throughout the world there is an abundance of beautiful cruising areas perfect for sailing and experiencing on your very own charter yacht. The number of locations is almost as numerous as the number of charter yachts that cruise them! The most popular cruising destinations are the Mediterranean (Greece, Turkey, Croatia, Italy, France), the Caribbean, South Pacific (Tahiti, Tonga, New Zealand) and the Indian Ocean (Seychelles) and Asia (Thailand and Malaysia). Other more unique destinations include the Whitsundays in Australia, Mexico, and Vancouver.

Some sailing destinations are more challenging than others, so it is important that you choose one that will suit your sailing ability. Mariner Boating Holidays will discuss your sailing experience with you and help you choose a destination that is suitable and that you will be able to enjoy. For further information on cruising destinations please click on the below links:

Sailing Qualifications

Sailing licenses are becoming increasingly indispensible for international bareboat yacht charters. This is being forced on the operators by the insurance companies and foreign governments because the rapid development of the charter industry has caused situations where inexperienced skippers have put property and lives at risk. It is impossible to imagine that a car hire company would hire a vehicle to a driver without a license!

The International Certificate of Competence is universally recognized throughout the yacht charter industry and is now attainable in Australia by taking a practical assessment at a RYA Training Centre. The assessment lasts approximately half a day and can be taken on your own boat or one provided by a sailing school. The test includes questions on safety, collision avoidance, navigation and piloting in coastal waters.

We recommend that you obtain a copy of the ICC Handbook from Boat Books  because it sets out exactly what you need to know.
The assessment is not an exam and there is opportunity for some coaching during the assessment.
If an applicant fails the assessment it will then be necessary to complete the (RYA) Day Skipper Certificate Course. This is a comprehensive five day course – prices and details available from accredited training centres on the following page.

Alternatively, the International Yacht Training course (IYT) for the International Bareboat Skipper Certificate is accepted throughout the world of chartering as far as we are aware.
A Marine Radio Operators VHF Certificate of Proficiency (MROVCP) is also required in most charter destinations but is a very useful ticket to have even if it is not called for - this is especially so in emergency situations. ABC Online offer this certificate course and the website for enrolment is www.vhfradioonline.com. Otherwise the VHF course can be taken with most sailing schools, Coast Guard or TAFE.

We have a list ofsailing schools Australia wide that are offering this course if you need any help or if none of these situations fit your circumstances please call and we will see what can be done.

The Mediterreanean
The Caribbean
Asia
South Pacific
Australia

If there is a destination that you are interested in that we have not covered above then please contact us for more information on This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it or on 02 9966 1244.

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