Planning a charter: cruising area, daily legs and a reserve day for one week
as of 07/10/2026 · 5 min read
In short: For a charter week, plan roughly 15 to 30 nm a day, at least one reserve day for weather, and keep the first and last days close to the base.
The best way to divide up a charter week: on day one, handover and a short leg, then four to five sailing days of 15 to 30 nm, a reserve day for strong winds and, at the end, back close to the base, because in many areas the boat has to be back there the evening before you return it.
Which cruising area suits my charter week?
The area whose wind suits your crew. If you are chartering for the first time, choose short distances between sheltered islands; if you want to cover miles, pick an area with steady, strong winds.
| Area | Summer wind | For whom |
|---|---|---|
| Croatia, Dalmatia | afternoon Maestral from the northwest, plus spells of Bora and Jugo | beginners to experienced sailors, short distances, many harbours and mooring fields |
| Greece, Ionian Sea | afternoon Maestro from the northwest, usually moderate | beginners and families |
| Greece, Aegean and Cyclades | Meltemi from the north, in July and August often force 6 to 7 for days | experienced crews |
| Turkey, Lycian coast | afternoon sea breeze, downdraughts at the headlands | bay-hoppers, Göcek and Fethiye with short distances |
| Spain, Balearics | sea breezes, Tramontana in northerly situations | beginners to experienced sailors, crossings between the islands |
The typical winds of each area are explained in the guide Local winds of the Mediterranean.
How many nautical miles a day are realistic on a charter?
As a guideline, 15 to 30 nm a day, which at 5 kn means three to six hours under way. More is possible but leaves little time for swimming, anchoring bays and going ashore.
| Crew and aim | Daily leg | Under way at 5 kn |
|---|---|---|
| family with children, lots of swimming | 10 to 15 nm | 2 to 3 hours |
| mixed crew, a harbour every evening | 15 to 25 nm | 3 to 5 hours |
| experienced crew, covering miles | 25 to 40 nm | 5 to 8 hours |
Upwind the distance quickly becomes one and a half times as long, and in high season popular harbours and mooring fields are full by early afternoon. So plan to leave early and arrive early, or book your berth.
Why do I need a reserve day?
Because almost any week can bring a day when you are better off staying in harbour: Bora, Meltemi or a thunderstorm. Without a buffer, you end up sailing back in weather you would otherwise avoid.
Plan the round trip so that the furthest point comes roughly in the middle of the week and the way back offers sheltered harbours. If you do not need the reserve day, it becomes a harbour day or an extra bay. When the weather is right is explained in the guide Weather window.
How do I plan the first and last day?
On the first day after handover, just a short leg to a nearby bay or harbour, and on the last day another short one back close to the base. Handover, briefing and shopping take longer than you think.
The first afternoon is for getting to know boat and crew: hoisting sails, reefing, practising mooring. On the last day you have to refuel and wait at the fuel dock, and the charter contract gives the time by which the boat must be back. Spending the last evening in a bay a few miles from the base makes for a relaxed start to the return day.
Which licence do I need for a charter?
The country decides, and the charter company checks: usually a recognised boating licence for the area and a radio certificate (SRC) for the VHF. Many charter companies also ask for proof of your sailing experience.
| Country | Licence | Radio | Special features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Croatia | under the law of your home country where recognised, such as the German Sportbootführerschein See or the ICC | SRC | vignette and tourist tax, crew list |
| Greece | ICC or a licence recognised under the law of your home country | SRC | up-to-date crew list on board |
| Turkey | certificate of competence, ICC recommended | SRC | Blue Card for pump-outs in Muğla province |
| Spain | under the law of your home country | SRC | anchoring ban on seagrass in the Balearics |
Rules change: read the formalities on the country page before booking, for example Croatia, and ask your charter company.
What should I check at the boat handover?
Everything that could stop you on the way, and damage you do not want to pay for. Photograph existing damage and have it noted in the check-in report.
- Hull, rudder and propeller: note scratches and damage.
- Rig and sails: halyards, reefs, furling gear, sheets and winches.
- Engine: oil, coolant, V-belt, engine hours and fuel level.
- Anchor, chain and windlass: length of chain, remote control.
- Safety: life jackets for everyone, liferaft with service date, fire extinguishers, flares, bilge pump, first aid kit.
- Navigation and radio: VHF radio, plotter, charts and pilot book.
- Dinghy and outboard.
- Papers: crew list, boat papers, insurance, deposit.
How does Sailseer help with a charter trip?
With the multi-day trip in the menu on the start screen, you plan the week on the map: choose the start harbour, leave “Round trip: back to the start harbour” ticked, enter days, reserve days, nautical miles and hours per day, plus the earliest departure and latest arrival in local time.
- Daily legs by budget: Sailseer spreads the week over harbours that suit your draught and facilities, out to the halfway point and then back. Reserve days shorten the sailing days; seven days with one reserve day become six sailing days.
- Preferred harbours: Sailseer includes stopovers as mandatory harbours, as far as they fit the budget.
- For each day: leg with times, ports of refuge along the way, harbour info, bridges and GPX for your plotter.
- Formalities for each country on the route, with notes on ports of entry and fees.
- Weather: every daily leg can be run through the weather analysis; “Free sailing” shows the local weather around your base for each day, with a verdict for your boat. Plus the 10-day outlook for each harbour, the local winds and, if you like, a morning briefing by email.
One example is a round trip from ACI Marina Split; other popular bases are D-Marin Göcek, Alimos Marina near Athens and Lefkas Marina. The guide Passage planning explains it step by step, and there is more about the area in Sailing in Croatia.
For navigation, official charts, marine forecasts and warnings apply. Sailseer is not for navigation.
Frequently asked questions
How many nautical miles a day do you sail on a charter?
As a guideline 15 to 30 nm, so three to six hours at 5 kn. Families with children tend to plan 10 to 15 nm, experienced crews more. Upwind the distance quickly becomes one and a half times as long.
Do I need a reserve day on a charter?
Yes, at least one per week. Bora, Meltemi or a thunderstorm will often keep you in harbour for a day. Without a buffer, you end up sailing back in weather you would otherwise avoid.
Which licence do I need for a charter?
Usually a recognised boating licence for the area, for German sailors often the Sportbootführerschein See or the ICC, and a radio certificate (SRC). The country sets the rules; Sailseer's country pages list them, and the charter company checks them.
When does the charter boat have to be back?
That is in the charter contract. In many Mediterranean areas the boat has to be back at the base on the evening before the return day. So plan the last day short, with time to refuel.
Which area is best for a first charter?
Areas with short distances and sheltered islands, such as Dalmatia in Croatia, the Ionian Sea in Greece or the Lycian coast of Turkey. The Aegean, with the Meltemi in July and August, is better suited to experienced crews.
How do I plan a round trip with Sailseer?
On the map, open the multi-day trip from the menu on the start screen, choose the start harbour, leave “Round trip” ticked and enter days, reserve days and nautical miles per day. Sailseer suggests the daily legs with ports of refuge, and each one can be run through the weather analysis.