Bareboat Certification!!

Our mention of a Certificate of Proficiency to show your boating experience, especially if you’ve been sailing for years, raised the ire of some sailing schools and so we are amending our comments.

Over the past year, many CharterSavvy readers who want to bareboat in Europe (or elsewhere) have encountered major headaches because the authorities in several nations are cracking down on how you prove your boating qualifications. 

This is a governmental issue, not an issue with the charter companies.  You may meet all your charter company’s experience requirements but, unless you have a piece of paper called the International Certificate of Proficiency (Certificat International De Conducteur, or ICC), you’ll have to hire a captain for your charter.  This is especially true in Croatia.

To get your ICC, you can take a series of sailing classes that lead to a certification, or you can pay for an extensive “evaluation” by a sailing school.  All of this involves travel and lodgings, adding to your out-of-pocket costs.

But what if you’ve been sailing for years?  What if you’ve chartered many times in the British Virgins or the San Juans or elsewhere that required experience but not a certificate?  Do you really have to have to go back to sailing school? 

Here’s a zinger. The United States is not a part of the European Union and didn’t sign Resolution #40.  And the United States doesn’t issue boating licenses.  And we’ve heard reports of sailing certificates (and even a USCG license, being declined. 

It seems, particularly in Greece and Turkey, that officials are vague on what is required.  Croatia, no, they’re playing hardball.  But for Greece and Turkey (and elsewhere), one charter broker noted, “It’s safe to say that pretty much anything that looks official will work.”

And so we come to the American Yachting Association, a team of licensed captains, who think you should get credit for your knowledge and they offer the AYA International Certificate of Proficiency based on the boating experience you already possess. Fill out their free evaluation form, let their team take a look, and you're on your way.

Here’s the deal they’ve offered to CharterSavvy subscribers.  For just $49.95, you get the AYA International Certificate of Proficiency: a passport-sized folder with your photo and data, written in nine languages to make it easy for local port authorities to understand and approve.  CharterSavvy subscribers also get a hard-laminated ID card for your wallet and you even get free shipping.  And not only is the evaluation free, but they offer a 100% moneyback guarantee!  

Even if you don't plan to charter in Europe, this is a great way to impress your sailing buddies and, besides, it's good for five years. Who knows when you'll need it?

This deal for CharterSavvy readers won’t last forever, so click here for the American Yachting Association website, or email them by clicking here to request your free evaluation form. 

Seems like a pretty cool thing to have, but check with your charter broker to see what is required in each area.

LeBoat Special Savings For CharterSavvy Readers!!

LeBoat, the specialist in European canal boating holidays that is the sister company to The Moorings and Sunsail, is offering CharterSavvy readers a 5% discount on their future charters.  

LeBoat features custom-built self-drive cruisers on the waterways of Europe in eight countries: France, Italy, Germany, England, Ireland, Scotland, Belgium and Holland.  They also offer Afloat In France, a luxury crewed barging experience.

To receive the discount, use the code SAVVY when booking your next charter.

For information, visit www.leboat.com/savvy or 800-734-5359.

MarineMax Goes Barging!

MarineMax Vacations has expanded their bareboat offerings from the existing fleet of sailing yachts in the BVIs and soon-to-come power charters at the same destination to include the inland waterways of Europe.

Partnering with Locaboat Holidays, a well-known provider of barge bareboat charters on European canals, MarineMax Vacations adds more than 200 itineraries on the canals of France, Germany, Holland, Italy, Ireland and even Poland.  Their fleet includes the Penichette-style boats based on the original commercial barges that once populated these waterways as well as boats with more modern styling.

We’ve chartered with Locaboat several times, and you’ll find a great feature on a Locaboat cruise through the heart of Burgundy in the premiere issue of CharterSavvy, out shortly.

For information, contact MarineMax Vacations, (888) 461-5497.

Let's Split To Split

The Croatian coast is increasingly popular for bareboat charters, and the city of Split is the new “hot” destination, according to Kiriacoulis Charters, which has opened a base there for the 2012 season. 

The company already has other three bases along the Croatian coast, allowing flexibility for starting and ending one-way charters. 

From Split, charterers can sail the pretty islands of Vis, Brac, Hvar, Solta and Korcula, as well as explore Makarska (shown here) on the mainland.  All of these islands have ancient ports and UNESCO Heritage villages that are unbelievably beautiful.

Kiriacoulis has also opened two other new bases this season on the Med, with one in Gocek, Turkey, and the other in Grado, Italy.  The Gocek base opens up one-way charters from their bases at either Bodrum or Marmaris, while the Grado base is close to Venice and Trieste.

For info, email Kiriacoulis@mindspring.com or call the U.S. office at (800) 714-3411.

Italian Finances & You

We love Italy and, hey, my brother-in-law is an Italian winemaker.  But sometimes we just have to stand back and wonder what they are thinking. 

The Italians are talking about imposing a tax on any boat that visits or anchors in Italian waters during the 2012 summer and, apparently, this applies to everything from inflatables up to megayachts, including bareboat charters.  The rate hasn’t been set, although early indications are that a 30-40’ yacht would be hit about US$10-15 per day.  Yachts of 55’ will pay about US$40. Megayachts of 50 meters (164’) will pay 700 Euros (something less than US$1000) a day whether at anchor or docked. 

The politicians of Sardinia imposed a similar “luxury” tax in 2006 that applied to all yachts over 46’, with fees ranging up to $20,000 for the privilege of spending money in Sardinia’s jet-set harbors.  As you can imagine, the yachts left in droves and the harbors were empty until 2009 when wiser heads in a new government scrapped the tax.

This is just a heads-up for anyone planning to charter in Italy this summer.  Check with your charter company or agent for updated information.