Bareboat Charter Valencia — Captain Your Own Adventure

We accept a wide range of internationally recognised sailing qualifications for bareboat charter in Valencia. The most commonly presented licenses include: the International Certificate of Competence (ICC), which is the universal standard recognised across Mediterranean countries; RYA Day Skipper practical certificate or above (including Coastal Skipper and Yachtmaster); ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising or above from the American Sailing Association; the Spanish PER (Patrón de Embarcaciones de Recreo) or the higher Patrón de Yate; and most national boating licenses issued by EU member states including German Sportbootführerschein See, French Permis Plaisance, Italian Patente Nautica, and Dutch Vaarbewijs. For licenses from non-EU countries, the ICC is strongly recommended as a supplementary document. If you are unsure whether your specific qualification is accepted for bareboat charter in Valencia, contact us with a photo of your certificate and we will confirm within 24 hours. We verify all licenses in person at check-in, so please bring the original document — photocopies and digital images are not accepted.

For bareboat charter in Valencia, we require documented sailing experience on vessels of similar size to the one you wish to charter. As a general guideline, this means a minimum of 5 prior charters or 500 nautical miles logged on boats of comparable length — for example, if you want to charter our 40-foot Jeanneau, you should have experience on vessels of at least 35 feet. You will need to provide a sailing CV listing the vessels you have sailed, their approximate lengths, the locations and dates of your trips, and whether you served as skipper or crew. Charter company references are helpful but not mandatory. We assess experience on a case-by-case basis and take into account factors such as the type of waters you have sailed (coastal versus offshore), weather conditions encountered, and whether you have experience with the specific vessel type (sailboat versus catamaran). If your experience is borderline, we may suggest a supervised familiarisation sail with one of our skippers before releasing the yacht to you — this is a complimentary service designed to ensure your confidence and safety on the water.

The bareboat charter price in Valencia includes the yacht itself, comprehensive maritime insurance with a deductible equal to your security deposit, all mandatory safety equipment (life jackets, flares, fire extinguishers, first aid kit, EPIRB, life raft), navigation charts and pilot guides for the Valencia coast and Balearic Islands, a tender dinghy with oars, mooring lines and fenders, a full set of crockery, cutlery, glasses, and cooking utensils, bed linen and towels for all berths, and a thorough pre-departure briefing including a sea trial. Items not included that you will need to budget for separately are: fuel (diesel), which typically costs €50 to €150 depending on the vessel and how much motoring you do; provisions (food and drink), which you can purchase at Valencia's excellent Mercado Central or nearby supermarkets; marina fees en route, which range from €30 to €80 per night along the Valencia coast and €50 to €200 in the Balearics; an end-of-charter cleaning fee of €80 to €150; and any optional extras such as outboard motor fuel for the dinghy or additional equipment rentals.

Yes, subject to availability — and this flexibility is one of the great advantages of starting with a bareboat charter in Valencia. If you set off on your bareboat adventure and decide that you would prefer a professional skipper to handle navigation, simply contact our operations team by phone or VHF radio and we will arrange for a qualified skipper to meet you at the nearest port or marina. The skipper can typically join you within 2 to 4 hours, depending on your location along the coast. The additional cost for adding a skipper mid-charter is the standard daily skipper rate of approximately €200 per day, pro-rated for the remaining days of your charter. This option is particularly popular with guests who want to handle the sailing during the day but prefer an experienced captain for challenging passages — such as the overnight crossing to Ibiza — or for entering unfamiliar marinas. You can also pre-arrange a hybrid charter where a skipper accompanies you for the first day or two and then leaves you to continue independently once you are comfortable with the vessel and local waters.

Standard insurance on all bareboat charters in Valencia covers accidental damage to the yacht including collision, grounding, storm damage, and equipment failure, with a deductible (excess) equal to your security deposit. The security deposit varies by vessel: €2,000 for the Beneteau Oceanis 32, €3,000 for the Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 40, and €4,000 for the Lagoon 42 catamaran. This deposit is taken as a credit card pre-authorisation at check-in and released within 7 business days after the yacht is returned in good condition. For complete peace of mind, we offer deposit waiver insurance at an additional daily fee of €15 to €25 depending on the yacht. This optional coverage reduces your liability to zero in case of accidental damage during the charter — meaning if you run aground, scrape a hull, or damage rigging, you pay nothing beyond the daily waiver fee you already paid. Note that deposit waiver insurance does not cover intentional damage, gross negligence, sailing outside the agreed cruising area, or loss of personal belongings. We strongly recommend the deposit waiver for all bareboat charter guests, especially those chartering in the Balearic Islands where shallow rocky anchorages require extra caution.

No. Your sailing license must be valid and current at the time of charter. If your license has expired, you will need to renew it before your charter date. Alternatively, you can book a skippered charter which does not require any license.

Yes. We offer deposit waiver insurance for an additional daily fee (typically 15-25 euros per day depending on the yacht). This reduces your liability to zero in case of accidental damage, except in cases of gross negligence or breach of charter terms.

Sailing to the Balearic Islands (Ibiza, Mallorca, Menorca, Formentera) is permitted and encouraged. These are Spanish territory. Sailing to other countries requires prior written approval, additional insurance, and may incur extra fees. Please discuss international passages during booking.

Marina fees along the Valencia coast range from 30 to 80 euros per night depending on the port and vessel size. Balearic marinas are more expensive, ranging from 50 to 200 euros per night in high season. Anchoring in coves and bays is free. We provide a list of marinas with current pricing.

The yacht must be returned by the agreed time (typically 6pm on the final day). Late returns incur a charge of 50% of the daily rate for up to 3 hours and a full day rate for longer delays. If bad weather prevents timely return, contact us immediately and no penalty applies.