Bareboat or Skippered Cruise? You Choose

Spending time on the water, exploring new coves, stopping off for drinks and dropping anchor wherever the fancy takes you sounds like the perfect way to spend the spring and summer with family and friends. But unless you have your own boat, you’ll have to hire one from a local rental company.

Whether you opt for a skippered or bareboat charter in Sydney and the surrounding waters will very much depend on your confidence as a sailor and your sailing skills. So how do you make the decision between choosing a bareboat charter or the skippered option? 

What’s the difference between skippered and bareboat charters?

The main difference between bareboat and skippered charters is that with a skippered boat rental there will be a professional skipper on board to navigate the vessel for you, while with a bareboat yacht charter, you’ll be the one in charge of navigation. 

Choosing the Skippered Option 

A skippered charter is the perfect way to enjoy all the fun of the water without having the responsibility for the boat and its occupants. Your boat will come complete with a qualified and experienced skipper who will plan your itinerary for you, steer the boat, and take full responsibility for everyone onboard. 

There’s no need for you to have any kind of qualifications or indeed any sailing experience, although you’re welcome to learn and practice a few sailing skills along the way. 

Your skipper will also know the best places to sail and have some suggestions about hidden places to explore, while you are free to relax and enjoy every moment of your trip with your companions. 

Become the Master of Your Own Destiny

By opting for a bareboat yacht charter in Pittwater, you’ll be fully responsible for the boat, which includes both navigating and anchoring the boat, and you’ll be able to sail wherever you please.

It’s a great opportunity for you to practice and improve your sailing skills, but you will need to have sailing experience or your IYT Skipper or a similar qualification under your belt before you can sail off into the sunset. 

As far as privacy is concerned, you’ll choose exactly who you want onboard with you – whether that’s family and friends or a group of like-minded sailors. You are free to put together your own itinerary and enjoy your sailing adventure in the privacy of your own vessel. 

Of course, you’ll be responsible for the boat itself and the safety of all who sail with you, but it provides the ultimate sailing experience. 

Skippered or Bareboat? You Choose

Whether you charter a skippered or bareboat cruiser for one day, a few days or for longer, spring is the perfect time to explore Pittwater, Broken Bay and the Cowan Creek. 

Imagine it now, diving off the dropdown swim platform into the sea before winding up on deck watching the sun go down with a few drinks. Make your dreams become reality and book a charter soon.