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What experience do I need to charter a bareboat through Sun Tan Yacht Charters?
The primary element we look at is your experience. We also look at your charter history if any and boats you have owned in the past and currently. Your primary cruising grounds are also an important element of your sailing experience. Experience as “crew” is also valuable. You can provide us with your sailing resume but also request and complete one of our Experience / Qualification Forms

What if I have not chartered or piloted a boat in quite awhile?
If it has been some time since you last captained a yacht and you think your skills have become tarnished a bit, we can help. Sun Tan Yacht Charters can set you up with a Captain that will get your confidence back and give you the comfort level needed to have an enjoyable charter for yourself and crew. Having a Captain onboard is not an admission to not knowing what you are doing. This is the absolute best way to get back into the motions and get comfortable with the boat and its systems. It will also give you an opportunity to chat with someone who knows the area very well and can point you in the right direction.

What are your cancellation policy terms?
It is Sun Tan Yacht Charter’s policy to ensure you have an enjoyable sailing vacation with your family and friends. We realize elements of life happen and very little can be done to control them. Sun Tan Yacht Charters cancellation policy is as flexible as possible. All balances are due 20 business days prior to your charter commencement. If you must cancel a cancellation fee of 15% of the charter amount may apply. The balance of any monies paid will be returned provided we can rebook that charter week. Otherwise the balance will be forfeited. Of course we highly recommend obtaining travel insurance which will prevent any loss of funds due to cancellation.

Is the Sun Tan Yacht Charters base the only charter termination and origination points?
Warwick/Cranston/Providence is our home base of operations. Positioning one of our boats for charter elsewhere proves to be a logistical challenge and affects the scheduling of a boat prior and after the week of your desired charter. There are occasional opportunities to originate from ports other than those mentioned. Call us to check availability.

What cruising grounds and points of interest are in your area? Narragansett Bay offers days of enjoyment with hundreds of miles of coastline, and islands to explore. Newport’s historic port has several wharfs with shopping and restaurants. Home of the America’s Cup Races, its nautical ambiance is unparalleled. Mansions which were summer homes of the rich may be toured and a sea walk gives lots to do on land. We are centrally located providing easy access East to the Elizabeth Islands, Martha’s Vineyard, and Nantucket, or head west to Block Island, and Long Island Sound all within easy reach from Narragansett Bay.

Where is Sun Tan Yacht Charters and can I fly into the Narragansett Bay Area?
Sun Tan Yacht Charters is located just two miles from downtown Providence, RI and two miles from the airport. TF Green Airport (Providence Airport) which is served by Northwest, United and American , USAir, and Southwest Airlines and others. We can arrange pickup at the airport for you and your party. By car Sun Tan Yacht Charters is just 1 hour south of Boston and 3 hours northeast of New York City. Directions to our Dock

Are there adequate provisioning, lodging and amenities near your facility?
Sun Tan Yacht Charters is located at the heart of Rhode Island. Within a two mile radius are several places to provision from a large grocery store to small delis and convenience stores. Several major accommodations are within the Warwick and Providence, RI area. Providence is renowned for its offerings of restaurants, cafes, organic stores and many other culinary specialty stores. When you arrive at Sun Tan Yacht Charters , we will assist you in finding what you may desire.

What are the typical charter seasons/months? The summer season in New England is typically: May 15th through September 15th. If you wish to catch a few weeks on either side of this time, weather may be a bit cooler. The water temperature is quite cold in May coming from the winter season, so swimming may be an issue. Otherwise, September water temperatures are still quite nice for water sports.

What is the Security Deposit ?
A security deposit is an amount which is often equivalent to the deductible amount of the yachts insurance policy. The amount is paid by the charterer and held by the charter company or broker. Upon the completion of the charter a review/examination of your charter boat is performed. provided there are no damages caused by you, the security deposit is returned to you. Details of the security deposit will be explained in more detail within the bareboat charter agreement.

What are the qualifications necessary to bareboat charter?

We will need to determine whether you have the experience to charter type and size of vessel you are interested in. Our goal is to be sure you and all aboard have a FUN and SAFE time. Listed below are some of the elements in your experience that are important to us in determining your competency to handle the boat you would like to charter:

· Your recent boating experience (last 5 years).

· The size and types of boats you have sailed on in the past. Were they of similar size, give or take a few feet, to the size of the boat you wish to charter.

· Do you own or have you owned a boat in the recent past. This is important because most people who have owned boats have an understanding about systems and the inner workings of a boat, which is essential to happy cruising.

· Have you done some cruising. Have you planned a trip from A to B requiring navigation skills, decision making, anchoring, mooring or docking under sail and power?

· Have you sailed on the ocean or other large bodies of water such as Long Island Sound, Chesapeake Bay, San Francisco Bay, Great Lakes and so forth.

· Are you experienced in the operation of twin screw vessels. This is an important requirement to charter a trawler or a trawler catamaran and a slightly lesser important requirement for a sail catamaran. A boat with stern drives (inboard outboards) is not considered a twin screw vessel.. If you do not have any twin screw experience plan on spending at least a half day getting up to speed in this area before we let you leave the harbor.

· Who are the crew that will be aboard with you. Are they knowledgeable people that will be actively participating in sailing the vessel. Can you count on them to help you or will they be inactive guests? If you are on a large cat or a power yacht you will need at least one (maybe two) good crew members to assist you.

· Have you had any professional or formal training? Have you cruised in the area before?

· The answers to these questions will help us assess your skills and ability to take command of the charter boat.

· If your skills are a bit weak, we may suggest a SKIPPER be aboard for a few days, or if you are not approved to charter, skippers are available for your entire cruise.

· A Bareboat Certificate is not necessary to charter a bareboat. A Bareboat Certification course is valuable training, however, this document alone may not qualify you to charter. Your overall practical experience is what counts!

GENERAL QUESTIONS

Are Gift Certificates available for most any charter? Yes, most any charter can be provided by you and presented as a Gift Certificate. The Gift Certificate will list your recipient and you as the provider. It will also provide a description of the charter and location and most any other information you may want to add. The Certificate is then sent to you for presentation to the recipient. Click here to view Sample Gift Certificate

What is the cost of a crewed charter? The cost of crewed charters vary depending on the size of vessel, power or sail, number of people on board, etc. The duration of the charter is usually a week, but can be any length. Generally, all food, beverages and water activities are included. Diving is usually extra. The price per person starts around $200-225 per day, based on 8 day 7 night charter (Approximately $1400 per person per week). Motor yachts cost more than sail. Groups on larger yachts can often be less expensive per person than a couple on a small yacht. Yachts are available for parties of 2 or more. Large groups may prefer to charter more than 1 yacht and travel as a flotilla. This is very common, especially for corporate groups. Dockage and shore excursions are extra.

What is the cost of a captain only charter? A few yachts are available with the Captain only. The yacht is available with the Captain at a lower rate than fully crewed and the charter guest pays all the expenses. These would be provisions (including enough for the Captain), fuel, water, taxes, etc. Also, you prepare the meals and look after your cabins. This might be a good choice for those that want to eat ashore frequently and don't need the personal service that a fully crewed charter includes.

Gratuities are the norm as the service merits it. Remember that your crew work hard to ensure your vacation is a great one. Typical of crew can be: your chef, bartender, tour guide and waiter.

What are the typical charter seasons? The summer season in New England is typically: May 15th through September 15th. If you wish to catch a few weeks on either side of this time, weather may be a bit cooler. The water temperature is quite cold in May coming from the winter season, so swimming may be an issue. Otherwise, September water temperatures are still quite nice for water sports. The summer season may be less expensive than winter in the Caribbean. Summer season is May 1st to December 14th. Winter season is December 15th to April 30th. Xmas and New Years usually have an additional fee.

What kind of activities are there to do? All yachts have water sports and will vary depending on equipment. These might include snorkeling, Scuba Diving, knee boarding, water-skiing, windsurfing, kayaks, fishing and, of course, sailing. Most water sports are included but some are extra, and can be arranged by your crew. These would be diving and parasailing. On shore activities can be recommended by your crew and will vary depending on location.

What's our itinerary going to be like? Your itinerary is based on your preferences of activities. The crew knows its territory very well and will tailor the cruise to fit your requests. Most locations offer a tremendous variety of bays, anchorages and towns to visit. It isn't possible to see everything in one week or two week visit. So, you may need to adjust your itinerary to accommodate your schedule and the activities you have chosen or return again in the future for another charter. Your Sun Management agent will be happy to help recommend a suitable schedule.

What Should I Bring? First, only bring soft sided luggage since space is limited and storage is easier. For clothing bring casual wear, mostly shorts and t-shirts, and swimsuits. A few of the more formal restaurants require long pants and collared shirts and occasionally a jacket, but "smart casual" is the norm. You can bring your own mask and snorkel if you're inclined, but all yachts typically carry an assortment of sizes. If you are expecting to scuba dive, check with your broker to make sure of the available equipment on board the yacht.

What else do I need? Passports are necessary if you are leaving the country. Also you must have one to travel between the US and British Virgin Islands - they are two separate countries. While some yachts provide sunscreen, you may wish to bring your favorite along with personal toiletries. Also, make arrangements for any medications you take. It would be good to speak with your physician about shots and medications for visiting certain countries.

How much do I leave for gratuities? Tipping yacht crews is expected and part of their compensation. Therefore it is both customary and discretionary. The standard practice is to award 10 - 20% of the charter fee, based on your level of satisfaction at the close of the charter. It is customary for the charter party to leave the entire gratuity with the captain with a suggestion as to how the gratuity should be distributed among the crew.