Skippered Charter in the Ionian: Complete Guide

What is Skippered Charter?

A skippered charter includes an experienced professional skipper who sails the yacht for you. You help as much or as little as you want — it’s your holiday. The skipper handles navigation, docking, and all sailing decisions while sharing local knowledge of the best anchorages and tavernas.

Who Is It For?

Perfect for:

  • First-time sailors who want to learn
  • Experienced sailors without a license (or whose license isn’t recognized in Greece)
  • Families with young children
  • Groups who want to relax without responsibility
  • Anyone who wants insider local knowledge

What Does the Skipper Do?

Navigation & sailing:

  • Plans the route (with your input on preferences)
  • Handles all sailing, docking, and anchoring
  • Makes weather-based decisions
  • Manages navigation and safety

Local expertise:

  • Recommends the best anchorages for conditions
  • Books moorings where needed
  • Suggests tavernas and restaurants
  • Shares knowledge of local history and culture

What the skipper does NOT do:

  • Cook (unless specifically arranged and paid extra)
  • Clean the yacht
  • Act as a tour guide on land
  • Make bookings for you

You’re still responsible for provisioning, cooking, and general onboard life — the skipper is there for sailing expertise, not as crew.

Costs

Skipper fees: €200 per day (standard rate across Greece in 2025)

Additional costs:

  • Skipper’s meals: You provide food/drinks, or budget €30-40/day for taverna meals
  • Skipper’s cabin: The skipper occupies one cabin (typically the smallest/forward cabin)

Example 7-day charter:

  • Yacht charter: €2,800 (Sun Odyssey 419, high season)
  • Skipper: €1,400 (7 days × €200)
  • Skipper’s meals: €210-280 (7 days × €30-40)
  • Total additional cost: ~€1,600-1,700

This adds roughly 50-60% to your bareboat charter cost.

Cabin Allocation

On a typical 3-cabin yacht:

  • Aft cabin (largest): Couple or family
  • Forward cabin (second): Couple or children
  • Bow cabin (smallest): Skipper

On a 4-cabin yacht, the skipper takes the forward-most or smallest cabin.

If you’re a couple chartering a yacht alone with a skipper, you’ll have 1-2 cabins for yourselves and the skipper will have a separate cabin.

Typical Day

Morning: Breakfast onboard, plan the day with your skipper Midday: Sail to next anchorage (2-4 hours), swim stop en route Afternoon: Arrive at anchorage, swim, paddleboard, relax Evening: Dinner at waterside taverna (skipper joins) or cook onboard

The skipper will suggest the day’s plan but it’s flexible — want to stay longer at a beautiful bay? Just ask.

Learning Opportunities

Many sailors use skippered charters to learn:

  • Hands-on: Help with sail trim, docking, anchoring
  • Navigation: Watch the skipper use charts and navigation systems
  • Local knowledge: Learn which anchorages work in which winds

It’s like a private sailing course on your own schedule.

Yacht Selection

The same yachts available for bareboat charter are available with a skipper:

  • 30-34ft: Comfortable for a couple + skipper
  • 37-42ft: Perfect for 2 couples or family of 4 + skipper
  • 44-49ft: Groups of 4-6 + skipper
  • Catamarans: Larger groups, more space, separate skipper cabin

See our costs guide for detailed yacht pricing.

Booking Process

  1. Choose your yacht size and dates
  2. Request a skippered charter when booking
  3. Charter company assigns a skipper (usually confirmed 2-4 weeks before departure)
  4. Brief phone/email introduction to your skipper before arrival

You can request specific skipper traits (e.g., “English-speaking”, “experienced with families”, “local to the Ionian”).

Skipper Accommodation

On the yacht, the skipper has:

  • Their own cabin (the smallest one)
  • Shared bathroom/head facilities
  • Shared saloon and cockpit

The skipper will typically sleep onboard every night. In very rare cases, on larger yachts in busy harbors, the skipper may ask if it’s okay to sleep ashore (this is uncommon and always by mutual agreement).

When It Makes Sense

Choose skippered charter if:

  • You don’t have a sailing license
  • You want to learn but aren’t confident yet
  • You have young children and want to relax
  • You want insider knowledge of secret anchorages
  • Your group wants to share sailing duties

Choose bareboat charter if:

  • You have a license and experience
  • You want complete freedom and privacy
  • You’re confident with navigation and docking
  • Your budget is tighter