Skipper’s Handover Information

Notes & Qualifications​

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There are Qualifications***  that are required to charter our yachts. We follow the guidelines laid out by the RYA and the MCA. We request charterers to confirm they have appropriate qualifications and experience. For bareboat yacht charter on our smaller yachts (below 40ft) from Largs in the Clyde area and we ask that the designated Skipper in the charter party on each yacht should hold the  RYA Day Skipper qualification and that they or one member of  the crew should hold a VHF Radio Operators Licence and that a member of his crew has an equivalent sailing qualification or suitable experience to act as Mate on the Yacht.  

 

For the larger yachts, RYA Coastal Skipper or equivalent sailing experience, is required. Yachts can be chartered out-with the Clyde and from Oban. In this instance we ask that the designated Skipper in the charter party on each yacht should hold at least  RYA Coastal Skipper or Yachtmaster qualification, and a VHF Operators Licence. This can be waived if you can demonstrate having considerable previous experience.

 

If you have a  Day Skipper and/or other certificates but perhaps would like a little experience of the yacht’s handling qualities before  heading out, we will be prepared to accompany you for any handling exercise that you feel would be of benefit before you depart the marina.

 

If you would like some refresher training we can offer you the services of  RYA Instructor.

 

Please let us know where you would like to go if you’re not familiar with the Clyde or The Western Isles. Our Yacht Owners will be delighted to advise you on the local cruising area and on harbours and anchorages to visit and to give you some suggested routes for your charter. It’s a great cruising area. Largs & Oban have great transport links and are easy to get to by road, rail and by air. There are good pubs, restaurants, a good supermarket & great local facilities at both Largs Yacht Haven & at Oban Town Pontoons.

*** For visitors from abroad we recognise that you might well not hold the UK RYA Qualifications, however we are quite happy to accept equivalent qualifications.​

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Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend that charter clients should arrange travel insurance cover for cancellation and accident risks. Your current Holiday Insurance policy may not cover you for sailing activities so please check to ensure you have adequate cover.  If your policy does not seem to cover everything you need, then you can get an online quote and pay for your insurance through Haven Knox Johnston, Bishop Skinner or Topsail who offer a specialist Yachtsman's travel insurance policy.

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Handover Information

Notes on Changeover days. Bare boat  Charter Times, Handovers and Handbacks.
The normal handover times for weekly charters for our yachts are Saturday at 2pm

with a handback at 10am on the next  Saturday.

Yachts should ideally be back in their berth at Largs & at Oban on the previous evening,  refuelled, cleaned and ready for the handback no later than 10.00 hours on the changeover day. Variations to these times may be possible  for example where weekend charters may be available. Crews can expect a comprehensive handover on the boat that normally will last about an hour. If you are new to the area we are quite happy to brief you on some of the best places to include in your itinerary. The handback will normally not last more than a few minutes so you can get away quite promptly. However, we do request that you keep a note of any malfunctioning items & breakages so that we can attend to them immediately.

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Cleaning & Refuelling
Cleaning.  We expect you to return the yacht to us in as clean and tidy a condition as you found it at the start of your charter. If you prefer not to thoroughly clean it at the end of your charter (in which case you should please inform us of this before you depart) then we will arrange for the yacht to be cleaned on its return and would request the cost of that from your security deposit. This could amount to £75.

Refuelling. Unless otherwise agreed between us we will hand over the yacht to you with a full fuel tank and expect you to refill the fuel tank at your expense, on your return to Largs. If you prefer not to do this then we will have the boat re-fuelled and deduct the cost of fuel from your security deposit, together with a £40 boat handling charge (this handling charge will not be applied where exceptional circumstances or difficult weather conditions have prevented you from refuelling the yacht.) 

Berthing.
Free berthing at Largs Yacht Haven for the duration of the charter, is included in the charter price for each yacht. Berthing at Oban Town Pontoons is free from when you start to when you leave on the day of your arrival. If you remain at Oban for the night after your Handover please settle the night's harbour berthing fees with the Harbourmaster. After your Charter, when you have completed the Handback at Oban Town Pontoons, please pay your night's harbour berthing dues to the Harbourmaster's Office. - Please replace empty cooking gas containers at the end of your charter or, with the agreement of the staff at handover/handback, assess the amount of gas used and pay for it. When chartering away from our home base you will be responsible for the Marina Fees you incur during your charter.

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Extras included with the charter price.

Each yacht will be provided with a complete set of life jackets (plus two spares) all fitted with harnesses & have auto-inflation.  Safety lines are supplied for each life jacket. The dinghy/rib & outboard motor are provided free of charge. There will be at least one full cooking gas container at the start of your charter.

We would like you to agree the contents (roughly) at the start of the charter, for the bottle in use, agree how much you have used when you do the handback, and pay for the amount used.

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Optional Extras.

Please bring your own bedding (sleeping bags, duvets, blankets, & pillows) and wet weather gear. We have a very good selection of  bedding, waterproofs & boots if you are sailing from Largs. If you would like to rent bedding & waterproofs please order well in advance !