Bareboat chartering

Although you don't have the freedom to wander the high seas at will, there are many advantages to bareboat chartering, not least of which is the time factor.

Cruising in your own boat means either staying close to home, or taking weeks, even months off work to cross the oceans to reach your destination.

With chartering, you fly in, make your way to the marina and within a few hours you can be under way.

Some of the most obvious advantages are:

You don't have capital tied up in your own boat. You can complete a cruise during your annual leave.

Charter boats are generally in good condition and fully equipped. All the necessary charts will be on board and the charter company will help with advice on route planning.

In the case of equipment or mechanical failure, the charter company is on hand to answer your VHF call and repair or replace the item concerned.

You don't have to worry about boat maintenance and the associated costs.

The boat is fully insured.

Among the questions to ask are the following:

• If the charter company is European based, is it a member of the Association of Fully Bonded Sailing Companies? Membership offers guarantees and and financial protection for clients.

What type of fleet do they operate? Popular makes of charter craft include Gib'sea, Beneteau, Bavaria and Jeanneau for monohulls; Robertson& Crane and Voyage Yachts for catamarans.

When chartering, there are a few simple rules worth observing, as they make life at sea more pleasant for you and for your fellow sailors.

• Obey local rules for anchoring, particularly where there is coral, as damage from anchors may take decades to recover.

• Avoid problems with storing luggage or using soft carry-alls, not hard suitcases.

• Do not dump tins, plastics or anything not totally biodegradable into the sea. Store rubbish in bags and dispose of it in an appropriate area ashore. The same rules as for all wilderness areas apply .

• In a marina or crowded anchorage, avoid late night parties that keep other people awake.

Charter boat ownership

Many of the boats for hire are owned. Most of the charter companies have schemes where, for a deposit of between 25 and 50 per cent, boat owners get income from their craft's charter activities plus a free annual charter holiday. After an agreed period, usually four to five years, ownership of the boat reverts to the owner.

Many people take this opportunity to obtain a boat at today's prices, for delivery in the future, while others do it for investment purposes, often selling the boat when the time period is up and reinvesting money. If you've ever wished to own a cruising yacht, it is certainly worth investigating.

Selecting a charter company

Locating a good charter company is the key to having a wonderful holiday. There is nothing to beat word of mouth, so ask at your local yacht club for recommendations from happy customers.

Most reputable charter companies advertise in the yachting press, and there are specialist magazines aimed at the cruising and charter markets. The Internet is also a good resource for locating information on overseasbased companies.