Yacht Charter

The Club yachts are available for charter. Seahorse VII and Craftsman III, both Hallberg Rassey 342s, are based in Hornet Services Sailing Club, Gosport, click here for directions and here for our Offshore Charter Bookings page.

Charters

Only suitably qualified members of REME Sailing Club or any other Service Sailing Club may charter the offshore yachts. Charters run from 1800 hrs on day 1 (but there is no charge for this day) to 1600 hrs on the end date; hand-over and take-back of the yachts does not take place on a Saturday. The charter fee is currently £100 per day for REME Sailing Club members and £135 per day for members of other Service Yacht Clubs; lower rates apply between 1st November and 31st March annually (£50 and £100 respectively). In addition, there is a charge of £4.50 per engine hour run to cover the cost of servicing and fuel.

Charter Diary

Our charter diary is available here. Whilst we make every effort to keep the booking calendar up to date, you should check availability with the Offshore Booking Secretary (offshore.bookings@remesailingclub.com) before making firm plans based on the diary.

Security Deposit / Damage Waiver

The charterer is required to leave a security deposit/damage waiver for £1000 (representing the excess on the insurance) with the Bosun on taking over the yacht. This is normally a cheque made out to "The REME Charity", and will be returned or destroyed provided the yacht is returned with no damage or claim pending. Charterers should also note that should damages result in an insurance claim, the charterer is liable to cover the excess which will result in an additional £500 fee payable to The REME Charity.

Minimum and Maximum Manning

The yachts are MCA coded for 6 persons and this is the maximum number permitted to sail. The minimum crewing for day sailing between Chichester and Poole is a RYA Coastal Skipper (insurance requirement), with an RYA Comp Crew as mate plus 1 other person. For night sailing and for sailing beyond this (up to Dover - Falmouth, maximum 20 nautical miles from the shore) the skipper needs to be at least a RYA Yachtmaster Coastal with a Day Skipper as Mate plus 1 (see Rules & Byelaws). Exemptions to the minimum manning can be applied for via the Offshore Booking Secretary at offshore.bookings@remesailingclub.com who will seek authorisation, as appropriate, from the Rear Commodore (Offshore). The minimum qualification required to charter the vessel is RYA Coastal Skipper (Practical Assessment).

Applications to Charter

Charter applications should be made here. General enquiries can be made by email to offshore.bookings@remesailingclub.com. Please allow up to two weeks for a response.

Confirmation of Charters

On receipt of an application, the Offshore Bookings Secretary will send a charter agreement by email (charter agreements can only be sent within 3 months of the proposed charter dates). The charter is then confirmed once the charter agreement has been signed and returned to the Offshore Bookings Secretary (last page only required to be sent) along with the confirmation of charter and the charter deposit. Please note that it is essential, once the charter is confirmed, that charterers liaise with the Bosun, Sgt Phil Cartlidge (contact number in the Charter Document), regarding confirmation of the take over and hand back arrangements.

Payment

Payment details are included in the charter agreement.

Cruising Areas

Cruising areas are determined by Club policy and insurance, and are as summarised below:

• RYA Coastal Skipper : Not East of Chichester Harbour, or West of Poole Harbour. Mate to be RYA Competent Crew or higher.
• RYA Yachtmaster Coastal Skipper : Not East of Dover or West of Falmouth Harbour, maximum 20 miles offshore. Mate to be RYA Day Skipper or higher.
• RYA Yachtmaster Offshore : Area enclosed by Ouessant, Lizard, North Foreland and Oostend. Mate to be RYA Coastal Skipper or higher.

Charterers are not to take the Yacht outside the Cruising Limits as defined on the Agreement without written permission from the Club. The minimum qualification required to charter the vessel is RYA Coastal Skipper (Practical Assessment).