Do you need crew service for your upcoming sailing adventure in Croatia? How many crew members do you need? Can you choose the team that will sail with you? Find out the answers to these essential questions and all the information regarding the crew members.
The answer to the first question, “Do I need crew for my upcoming sailing trip?” depends on three factors:
- Your sailing experience
- The size of your charter yacht
- The level of luxury and service you wish to have
1. YOUR SAILING EXPERIENCE
If you have a boating license and feel confident maneuvering boats, you don’t need to hire a crew. You can rent yachts up to 50 ft in Croatia without a skipper/captain.
However, if you have yet to sail in Croatia, I strongly recommend you consider hiring a skipper. From my experience, even if you have sailed before in other locations, the weather here can surprise you, especially in the off-season. Actually, this applies even to boat owners in other parts of the world. We have many different winds that can stun you. The Bura wind is one of the strongest and the most unpredictable. If you’re coming to sail in Croatia, you have to know about the winds here. I understand that the Caribbean islands have constant trade winds, but here, the winds are everything but steady. You have to watch the weather prognosis all the time and plan your sailing route accordingly.
2. THE SIZE OF YOUR YACHT CHARTER
As I mentioned earlier, for boats up to 50 ft, you don’t need a crew. From 50ft to 55 ft, you will have to hire a captain. Above 55 ft, the crew members are permanent, and their services are included in the yacht charter price. Of course, you can always hire more crew members like a deckhand, a hostess, or a chef. For example, a nanny can be a good option if you have children.
3. THE LEVEL OF LUXURY AND SERVICE YOU WISH TO HAVE
Most luxury yachts have a crew of between 1 and 5 members. The three main crew members on a luxury yacht charter are the skipper/captain, chef, and stewardess. If you’re renting a superyacht, the list is much longer. They have a crew of up to 15 or 20 people. The biggest ones have up to 80 staff members.
The Skipper/Captain
The word “skipper” comes from the Dutch word Schipper, which means “a person who steers a ship.” A Schipper guides his crew to their destination or achieves another sailing goal. In sports, the team captain has the same job to fulfill. Hence, he is called a “skipper.”
The description of the skipper’s duties is still the same as in the beginning. He will sail and navigate your yacht and take care of the docking, water toys, and cleanliness of the outside part of the boat. The skipper is also a source of local knowledge- after all, he knows his country better than most. He can recommend the finest restaurants, stunning bays, safe anchorage spots, and beautiful beaches.
Stewardess
The stewardess is responsible for preparing simple light meals, serving food and drinks, and clearing up. She will wash the dishes and keep the yacht tidy. The stewardess takes care of the provisioning, so she will ensure that you have all the supplies on board. If you miss something, she can restock at the next stop. She also helps the skipper with docking. Now that you know most of her duties, isn’t it an excellent choice to hire a hostess?
Chef
The yacht cook or chef prepares delicious gourmet meals with the freshest ingredients possible. She/He adjusts the menu to your dietary needs and wishes. You will receive a preference list weeks before your charter has started. After you fill in your preferences, she/he can plan your menu accordingly. The chef supplies the groceries and has contacts for the freshest fish, meat, and vegetables. She/He has fantastic time and management skills and takes complete care of the yacht’s kitchen.
CAN WE CHOOSE THE CREW ON OUR OWN?
One of the questions you ask us the most is, “Can we choose the crew on our own?“ The answer is not easy, but I’ll make it as short as possible.
When renting a sailboat, catamaran, or motor yacht with a skipper, we know you would like a skipper whose personality is suitable for your sailing trip. Or you would like to find out who will be a part of your sailing adventure. That’s why we always send CVs of the crew that will sail with you, so you get an idea about everyone onboard your yacht.
As you read earlier in this text, you can choose the crew for boats up to 55 ft long. What does that mean? Well, these boats don’t have a permanent crew. Therefore the team working there is freelance. Whether the crew is permanent or freelance, they are always highly professional, reliable, educated, and have the best references.
The importance of booking your yacht in time
If you book your yacht charter on time, it’s easier to choose your skipper, stewardess, chef, etc. We send you the CVs of different crew members we know personally, and then you can choose who would be a perfect option. After we find you the best fit, you get contact numbers to directly discuss your itinerary, meal plan, or any other topic with your crew members.
As the season approaches, the best freelance crew has most of their weeks booked. So it’s essential to plan your sailing holidays on time. But don’t worry; even if you book your yacht later than ideal, we always have a solution no matter when you contact us.
Finally, with the crew onboard, there’s nothing left for you to do as it’s supposed to be. Step onboard your yacht, leave the world behind, and enjoy the best holidays of your life.
I hope this article answers your questions. For any other questions, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me by email. I read every letter sent. You can also call me directly on my phone.
Author: Vedrana Radanović
