Skippered vs Bareboat Charter: Which Is Right for You?

When booking a yacht charter in Lefkada, the first decision is whether you want a skipper or plan to sail yourself. Both options have clear advantages. The right choice depends on your sailing experience, the size of your group, and how you want to spend your time on the water.

What Is a Skippered Charter?

A skippered charter means a professional captain comes with the boat. They handle all navigation, anchoring, mooring, and route planning. You show up, tell them where you want to go (or ask for their recommendations), and enjoy the ride.

No sailing licence required. No stress about weather decisions, harbour approaches, or anchoring technique. The skipper knows the local waters, hidden beaches, best tavernas, and which bays are sheltered when the wind picks up.

What Is a Bareboat Charter?

Bareboat means you rent the yacht and sail it yourself. You need a valid sailing licence (ICC or equivalent) and enough experience to handle the vessel safely. You are responsible for navigation, anchoring, mooring, and all decisions on the water.

This gives you complete freedom: go where you want, when you want, at your own pace. No schedule, no one else's preferences to consider.

Comparing the Two Options

Experience required

Skippered: none. Bareboat: sailing licence plus practical experience in similar conditions. The Ionian is generally calm, but summer Meltemi winds can reach 20-25 knots. If you have only sailed in sheltered lakes or rivers, bareboat in open sea may be a bigger step than expected.

Relaxation vs independence

Skippered charters are holidays from the moment you step aboard. Bareboat charters are adventures where you are part captain, part navigator, part engineer. Both are rewarding, but they are different experiences.

If your group includes non-sailors who just want to swim, eat, and relax, a skippered charter removes the friction. Everyone enjoys the day equally.

Local knowledge

A local skipper knows which beaches are sheltered today, which taverna just got fresh fish, where to anchor so the boat does not swing into shallow water overnight. This knowledge takes years to build. First-time visitors to the Ionian will benefit enormously from having a skipper who knows every cove.

Cost

A skipper adds to the daily charter rate. But factor in what you save: no security deposit risk, no fuel miscalculations, no marina fee surprises, and no stress-related arguments about who parked the boat wrong.

Which Should You Choose?

Choose skippered if: you have no sailing licence, your group includes non-sailors, it is your first time in the Ionian, or you simply want to relax without responsibility.

Choose bareboat if: you hold a valid licence, have open-water experience, want complete independence, and enjoy the hands-on aspect of sailing.

At Genesis Yachting, all our charters include a professional skipper. We believe the local expertise and stress-free experience is worth it, especially in waters you are visiting for the first time. Get in touch to plan your charter.