Bareboat Charters from Corfu
Taking the yacht yourself
A bareboat charter means the yacht is yours for the week and you are the skipper. No crew, no fixed route. You choose where to go, when to leave and where to spend the night. For an experienced crew it is the most rewarding way to sail the Ionian, and Corfu is one of the best places in Greece to do it.
We run our own fleet from Gouvia Marina and maintain every boat ourselves, so the yacht you take out is one we know inside and out. Here is what you need to charter bareboat with us, how to choose the right boat for your crew, and how the week works from check-in to check-out.
Why the Ionian suits bareboat sailing
- Short distances. Paxos is a morning away from Gouvia, and most hops between the islands and the mainland harbours take two to four hours.
- A predictable summer wind. Calm mornings, a northwest breeze filling in from early afternoon and fading towards sunset. Easy to plan a day around.
- Sheltered water. The channel between Corfu and the mainland is protected, so there is a quiet bay to be found on almost any day.
- Ports, marinas and anchorages everywhere, and a taverna within reach of nearly all of them.
1. What you need to charter bareboat
Greek rules require the skipper of a bareboat yacht to hold a recognised sailing licence, and the crew list is checked before departure. In practice, this is what we ask for:
- A skipper’s licence from a recognised school, such as the RYA (Day Skipper or above) or the ASA (104 Bareboat Cruising or above), or from a national offshore sailing school, together with an ICC (International Certificate of Competency) where it applies.
- Experience. We recommend two to five years of sailing experience for the skipper, and one to two years for a co-skipper.
- A co-skipper. A second crew member with sailing experience, who can take over if the skipper cannot.
- A VHF radio licence. Optional, but recommended.
- A short sailing CV for the skipper. Where you have sailed and on what. Not an official logbook, just enough for us to understand your experience.
Everyone else on board needs no qualification at all.
Not sure your licence is enough?
Send us a photo of it before you book and we will tell you straight away. If you are close but not quite there, we can help. Our miles building and crew training trips let you build experience and confidence with one of our skippers, and we work with affiliated sailing schools if you want a formal certificate.
2. Choosing the right yacht for your crew
The right boat is less about length and more about how your group sleeps. Couples want double cabins. Children and solo adults are often happier in a bunk cabin with two singles. And on a full boat, the number of heads matters more than people expect.
| Yacht | Model | Cabins | Heads | Beds | Bow thruster |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amfitriti | Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 479 | 4 | 4 | Four doubles, each cabin with its own head | Yes |
| Ariadne | Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 449 | 4 | 2 | Three doubles, one bunk cabin with two singles | Yes |
| Alfa | Bénéteau Oceanis 45 | 4 | 2 | Four doubles | Yes |
| Asjemenou | Bénéteau Oceanis 41 | 3 | 2 | Three doubles | No |
All four yachts were refitted in 2024 or 2025.
Amfitriti — Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 479
Our largest yacht and the most comfortable. Four large double cabins, each with its own head, and a big saloon. The galley is separated from the saloon (galley to starboard, saloon to port), which leaves real space in between and lets the cook work without being in everyone’s way.
Equipment: large bathing platform, two sets of solar panels, 1500 W inverter, 12 V filter coffee machine, Bluetooth music system, Raymarine 10-inch touchscreen plotter with Navionics at the helm, bow thruster, chain counter, fixed stainless-steel gangway, holding tank, cockpit cushions, USB sockets throughout.
Ariadne — Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 449
Four cabins: three doubles (two aft, one forward) and a bunk cabin to port with two single beds, which makes her a good choice for families. A well-designed cockpit with clever stowage near the wheels, and a manually operated bathing platform.
Equipment: two sets of solar panels, electric toilet, Raymarine 10-inch touchscreen plotter with Navionics at the helm, bow thruster, fixed aluminium gangway, holding tank, cockpit cushions, USB sockets throughout.
Alfa — Bénéteau Oceanis 45
An award-winning design with four double cabins. The wide cockpit gives the two aft cabins very generous beds. The forward cabins follow the shape of the bow and narrow towards the front. Gennaker fittings for those who like to sail.
Equipment: electric bathing platform at the push of a button, B&G 10-inch touchscreen plotter with Navionics at the helm, bow thruster, holding tank, cockpit cushions, USB sockets throughout.
Asjemenou — Bénéteau Oceanis 41
Faithful to the Oceanis spirit: comfortable on board, with real sailing performance. Three double cabins, an electric winch for the mainsail, and air conditioning when connected to shore power.
Equipment: electric mainsail winch, air conditioning on 220 V shore power, two solar panels, four 90 Ah AGM gel batteries, cockpit cushions.
Asjemenou has no bow thruster. If you are less practised at stern-to mooring, one of the other three will make the week easier.
3. Security deposit and damage waiver
Every bareboat charter carries a refundable security deposit of up to €3,000, depending on the yacht. It can be split between members of the crew. It is taken at check-in by credit or debit card pre-authorisation, in cash, or a combination of both, and returned in full when the yacht comes back in the condition it left.
For experienced skippers there is an alternative: a non-refundable damage waiver combined with a lower refundable deposit. It is available when the skipper can show at least five years of sailing experience and the deposit is covered by insurance. We work with Pantaenius, and with EIS as an alternative. Ask us and we will tell you what applies to your booking.
| Yacht | Refundable deposit | Reduced refundable deposit | Non-refundable damage waiver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amfitriti — Sun Odyssey 479 | €3,000 | €1,500 | €550 |
| Ariadne — Sun Odyssey 449 | €3,000 | €1,500 | €500 |
| Alfa — Oceanis 45 | €2,500 | €1,500 | €500 |
| Asjemenou — Oceanis 41 | €2,500 | €1,250 | €400 |
With the waiver option you pay the reduced refundable deposit plus the non-refundable damage waiver, instead of the full deposit.
We also recommend charter cancellation insurance. It costs a small fraction of the charter and covers the things that actually happen: illness, a family emergency, a cancelled flight.
4. Check-in, briefing and check-out
The handover is where a good week starts, so do not rush it. Check-in is from 17:00 on the first day.
Before you cast off we go through the yacht with you: engine, electrics and batteries, water and holding tanks, toilets, sails and reefing, anchor and windlass, safety equipment, and where everything is stowed. We check the inventory together and take care of the paperwork for the port authority. Ask anything. No question is too basic on the pontoon, and every question answered there is one you will not have to solve alone in a bay.
You can also complete an online pre-check-in before you arrive, and see where the inventory is stowed on board before you reach the base.
We will also give you local notes for your week: which bays hold well in the afternoon breeze, where to find fuel and water, and anything particular to the season.
On the last day, bring the yacht back to Gouvia by 17:00–18:00, which leaves time to refuel. We check the yacht and the inventory together, and once everything is in order the deposit is released. Disembarkation is by 09:00 the next morning.
5. Planning your week
The most useful number on a charter is six knots, the speed of a charter yacht under engine. It turns miles into hours, and hours are what decide whether a week feels like a holiday. Keep most days under three hours under way, about 18 miles, and the week takes care of itself.
Our Skippered Charters page has two real weeks out of Gouvia, with distances and times for every leg: an easy 78-mile week around Paxos and the mainland coast, and a fuller 169-mile week reaching Meganisi and Lefkas. They work just as well bareboat.
Things that matter more when there is no skipper
- Plan around the afternoon breeze. Choose overnight stops sheltered from the northwest, and if you are heading into a port, aim to be secure before the wind is at its strongest.
- Arrive early at the popular harbours. In high season the good berths are gone by early afternoon. If you need a port for water, fuel or provisions, be there by lunchtime.
- Practise Med mooring on a quiet afternoon. Going stern-to with the anchor out is the manoeuvre that worries most bareboat skippers. Do it once in a quiet harbour before you need to do it in a busy one, and agree beforehand who drops the anchor and who handles the lines.
- Check the forecast every morning, and have a plan B for the night. We will show you the forecasts we use at the briefing.
- Call us if something stops working. We maintain these yachts ourselves and can talk you through most things by phone, WhatsApp or our online chat, between 10:00 and 16:00. If a technician is needed, we arrange the visit the day before at one of our technical stations, so let us know as early as you can.
| Area | Technical stations |
|---|---|
| Corfu | Gouvia Marina, Benitses Marina, Petriti |
| Paxos & Antipaxos | Gaios (port), Lakka (bay, north), Mongonisi (south of Gaios), Antipaxos (not ideal) |
| Greek mainland | Plataria, Sivota (Mourtos), Preveza |
| Lefkas | Lefkas Town, Nydri–Vlicho (bay), Sivota |
6. Not quite ready to go alone?
If you are licensed but rusty, or it is your first time in Greek waters, there are good middle grounds:
- An assisted start. One of our skippers sails with you for the first day or two, then leaves you to it once you are comfortable with the boat and the area.
- Build miles with us first. A miles building or crew training trip with one of our skippers, before your own week.
- Take a skipper this year, go bareboat next. Plenty of our bareboat guests started exactly that way.
A week of your own
Your own yacht, your own route, and the whole of the Ionian a few hours away. Tell us about your crew and your experience, and we will suggest the right boat and a first route to start from.
What are the prequisities for bareboat charters ?
- Sailing license from a regognised sailing school like RYA or ASA or from a local sailing offshore school in combination with an ICC certificate
- Proposed 2-5 year of experience for skippers
- Proposed 1-2 years of experience for co-skippers
- Novice experience with co-skippers or skippers for the crew members
- Radio license operator (optional but proposed)
- Written sailing resume (for skippers) but not an official log book
- Refundable Security Deposit up to 3.000 € (possible multiple amounts among the crew)
- International Certificate of Competency (ICC): The standard “driver’s license” for boats in Europe and the Mediterranean.
- RYA Day Skipper: A widely recognized Royal Yachting Association qualification for skippering yachts.
- ASA 104 Bareboat Cruising: American Sailing Association standard for bareboat chartering.
- Location Authority: Local Port Authorities in countries like Greece and Croatia must approve qualifications, and they usually require the skipper to have a formal license and sometimes a co-skipper.
- VHF License: A radio license is often required alongside the sailing license.
- Practical Training: You can obtain certifications through us and our affiliate sailing schools and training centers.
- Theory Requirements: Some certifications, such as the RYA Day Skipper, or the ASA 104 require prior theoretical knowledge (e.g., navigation).
- Start with Beginner Courses: Gain basic competency (e.g., RYA Competent Crew).
- Move to Skipper Level: Complete practical courses like Day Skipper or ASA 104.
- Get Certified: Pass exams through accredited schools.
- Obtain ICC: Convert your certificate to an ICC for easier chartering in Europe
Choosing your yacht is an important asset of your sailing holidays . Lots of things to consider and many people will be satisfied or unsatisfied from your choise .
As a skipper , you need to take care of the details and make everyone happy. Lets us assist you in making the choise of the what is the right yacht for you .
Choosing the layout of the yacht is also very important asset of your sailing holidays . You need to consider the space and how the group is formed . For example if you have couples in your group is essential to organise double beds in the cabins . If you have kids or solo adults , then a bunk cabin with two single beds is ideal .
As a skipper , you might want to use the salon table for an extra bed of all your guests require a cabin . We can help you with all different combinations and layouts .
Layouts
Sun Odyssey 449
The second in size , Jeanneau in our fleet .It has 4 cabins . Three with double beds (2 in the rear , aft cabins ) and the one in the front (Bow cabin) . The fourth cabin is a bunk cabin on the port side (front) with 2 single beds .
Sun Odyssey 479
Our bigger Jeanneau in our fleet with the most space and comfort . 4 large cabins with its own Wc . All cabins have double beds .
Oceanis 45
Our Oceanis 45 has 4 cabins all with double beds . The aft cabins benefit from the spacious design of the cockpit and the beds are huge . The front cabins follow the shape of the mask of the bow and they gey a bit narrow as the reach the bow . The rear cabins have more lower beds than the front cabins .
Oceanis 41
Faithful to the Oceanis spirit: quite simply experience the pleasure of being on board. A high level of comfort and real sailing performance. It is evidently a boat in the Beneteau line.
Choosing the age and the equipment of the yacht is also very important asset of your sailing holidays . You need to consider the comfort every yacht gives you with its equipment .
If you need a bathing platform and a bow-thuster or you need a classic line with an open stern for easier access to the docks and marinas .
As a skipper , you might want to have a plotter in the cockpit.
Equipment
Sun Odyssey 449
The second in size , Jeanneau in our fleet and this one has wondeful interior design and a large cockpit outside . We like the space that has been used in the cockpit with very well designed lockers and hidden spaces near the steering wheels . Easy to use bathing platform with a manual way to operate it .
Equipment & Amenities
- Large bathing platform
- 2 sets of Solar panels
- Usb in the chart table , in the cabins and outside in the cockpit.
- Electric Wc
- Raymarine 10'' Gps plotter in the cockpit with Navionics and a touch screen
- Bow thruster
- Aluminium fixed gangway
- Holding tank
- Cockpit cushions
Sun Odyssey 479
Our bigger Jeanneau in our fleet with the most space and comfort . 4 large cabins with its own Wc . Large saloon space and large Galley area . One of the specifics in this yacht is that they separated the galley from the salon (Port side the salon) and (Starboard side the Galley) , thus giving a huge space in between , making it independent at the same time .
Equipment & Amenities
- Large bathing platform
- 2 sets of Solar panels
- Usb in the chart table , in the cabins and outside in the cockpit.
- 1500 W Inverter in the chart table
- 12V Filter coffe machine
- Bluetooth enabled music system
- Raymarine 10'' Gps plotter in the cockpit with Navionics and a touch screen
- Bow thruster
- Chain counter
- Inox fixed gangway
- Holding tank
- Cockpit cushions
Oceanis 45
This is our only Beneteau in the fleet . Was given the best of the year award on 2012 . Great design in the cockoit with a vast space . Given that , the aft cabins benefit from this and the beds are huge . Decent space in the gallley and the salon . The front cabins follow the shape of the mask of the bow and they gey a bit narrow as the reach the bow . Gennaker fittings available . Electronic bathing platform with just a push of a button .
Equipment & Amenities
- Flexible 2 parts - Bathing platform
- Usb in the chart table , in the cabins and outside in the cockpit.
- B & G 10'' Gps plotter in the cockpit with Navionics and a touch screen
- Bow thruster
- Holding tank
- Cockpit cushions
Oceanis 41
Faithful to the Oceanis spirit: quite simply experience the pleasure of being on board. A high level of comfort and real sailing performance. It is evidently a boat in the Beneteau line.
Equipment & Amenities
- Electric winch for the main sail .
- 2 x Solar panels
- Cockpit cushions
- A/C with 220 V , shore power
- 4 x 90 AMP AGM GEL batteries