BALTIC SEA - BENEFITS

The basic package includes gas consumption as well as complete interior and exterior cleaning after the cruise. You take over a yacht that has been cleaned by our team and return it after your charter in a tidy condition and swept clean.

Bed linen, blankets, pillows, towels, tea towels, sponges, washing up liquid, as well as food and consumables such as salt or pepper, are not part of the standard equipment. Bed linen can be hired through an external service provider.

Dogs are also welcome on board many yachts, subject to prior arrangement. Please refer to the details for the respective yacht or your booking to see whether pets are permitted on a particular yacht and what additional cleaning costs may apply.

Short charters are possible in individual cases from three days. A binding confirmation can only be given at short notice before the charter begins, as we must first establish whether the yacht in question remains available for that period.

Under previous conditions, short charters were only available for yachts above a certain weekly price. Surcharges applied for three and four day charters, while the short charter surcharge was waived for five days. The conditions applicable to your booking will be provided with your specific offer.

The general terms and conditions are provided with the reservation or booking. The documents valid at the time of booking are always decisive for the binding terms of your charter.

A suitable certificate of competence for the skipper, together with sufficient sailing experience, is required for the charter. If you hold a foreign licence, its recognition should be checked individually before booking.

This applies in particular to Swiss certificates of competence and Royal Yachting Association certificates. Previous charter information referred, for Swiss guests, among other things, to the Swiss Certificate of Competence for Ocean Yachting or its predecessor with the corresponding endorsement for sailing yachts. These requirements should be checked against the currently valid regulations before the charter.

Our Baltic yachts are equipped with VHF radio. Even if you hold a British SRC or another foreign radio certificate, we recommend clarifying this with us in advance so that it is clear before the cruise begins whether your certificate is sufficient for the yacht booked.

The regular yacht handover begins on Saturday from 07:00. Return takes place by Friday at 16:00. Subject to availability, arrival the evening before may be offered, allowing you to stay on board from Friday at 22:00. Under previous arrangements, a surcharge of 100 euros applied for this option.

Up to date paper charts from NV Verlag are part of the Baltic equipment. The chart material is renewed regularly. Any additional electronic navigation options on your yacht can be found in the relevant yacht description.

For arrivals via Hamburg Airport, transfers to the Baltic bases were previously arranged through external service partners. Availability and current prices should be requested for your chosen date.

First Class Sailing is also developing a new customer area. Its launch is planned for the end of 2026. Charter guests with a booking for 2027 will receive a notification. In future, key information and functions relating to the booked charter will once again be brought together there.

Even if deposit insurance has been taken out, the agreed security deposit for the yacht must still be lodged first. If an insured loss occurs, the claim is then submitted to the relevant insurer after the damage has been assessed.

An additional skipper liability insurance policy can cover risks beyond the yacht’s own liability insurance. Previous information highlighted, in particular, possible claims arising from gross negligence, personal injury, and claims between crew members. The relevant provider’s current policy terms always apply.

After the cruise, the deposit is settled or released, provided there is no damage or any unresolved matter. Previously, this process was generally completed within three working days. If damage has occurred and the amount first needs to be determined, settlement may take longer accordingly.

Please allow sufficient time for check in. By taking over the yacht, you confirm its condition and the inventory on board. For this reason, check the equipment against the handover list and discuss any uncertainties directly with our team.

Inspect the sails for tears, loose stitching, or other visible damage. The boom cover, sprayhood, and bimini should also be checked for chafe and damage. Lazy jacks should not be unnecessarily tight, and lines should not rub against delicate parts of the sprayhood.

On a furling genoa, the jib halyard should be adequately tensioned. The furling system must not be operated with force or by using a winch. After reefing, the sheet lead should be adjusted to the reduced sail area. An in mast furling mainsail should, wherever possible, be rolled in and out with the yacht correctly aligned and without excessive force. A conventional battened mainsail should also be hoisted as close to head to wind as possible so that the leech does not catch in the lazy jacks.

Reef early and avoid leaving sails flogging heavily for prolonged periods. Sheets should be taken around the winches with several turns. Electric winches should not be driven all the way to their limit, and fine trimming is best completed carefully by hand.

Before departure, every crew member should familiarise themselves with their automatic lifejacket. Check the condition of the firing mechanism and keep the lifejackets stored in a dry place.

After switching it on, the diesel heating should initially be operated at a high setting. If it does not remain running, items such as warm air ducts, outlets, and battery voltage should be checked. Heating outlets must remain unobstructed.

Before departure, check the fresh water supply. Water from the tanks is intended as service water. Depending on how long it has been standing and the temperature, its quality may change. When filling, allow sufficient water to run through the hose first.

The fresh water pump is only needed when drawing water. If you notice an unusual loss of pressure, all outlets should be checked, including the stern shower.

The yacht is handed over with a full diesel tank and should be returned refuelled in accordance with the handover rules. When refuelling, take particular care to ensure that the diesel filler is actually being used. Confusing it with the fresh water tank can cause considerable damage.

Seacocks and other shut off valves are relevant to safety. Their positions can be found in the onboard documentation. A closed cooling water valve while the engine is running, or incorrectly operated diesel valves, can cause damage.

In port, the yacht should be connected to shore power whenever it is available. Check the charging indicator, fuses, and main switches. If there are problems with the onboard voltage, please contact our technical support rather than making changes to the electrical system without prior agreement.

Before starting the engine, the gear lever should be in neutral. If the engine does not start, the main switch, starter battery, and fuel supply are among the first points to check. After switching off the engine, the ignition must also be turned off completely.

Oil level and coolant are part of the regular checks. After starting, make sure that cooling water is flowing from the exhaust. Unusual noises, warning indicators, or a lack of cooling water flow should be taken seriously at once and discussed with our service team.

When changing between forward and reverse, the gearbox should not be shifted abruptly. Let the engine idle briefly before engaging the other gear. This helps protect both the gearbox and the shifting mechanism.

Prepare harbour manoeuvres in good time. Fenders and mooring lines should be ready before entering harbour, and the crew should know who is responsible for each task. Lines must not be left loose in the water, as they can become caught in the propeller or drive.

Before anchoring, check the anchor, fittings, securing arrangement, and anchor windlass. The crew should know how the system is operated. The required chain length depends on water depth, weather, seabed, and local conditions.

For bridge passages, we will provide the yacht’s mast height. The decision on whether a safe passage is possible rests with the skipper, as water levels, construction works, current notices to mariners, and other factors can alter the actual clearance available. This applies, for example, to the Fehmarnsund Bridge as well as other bridges in the cruising area.

Particular care is required in shallow or navigationally demanding areas. Previous charter information expressly restricted the Guldborgsund for yachts with greater draught, among other examples. There are also shallow water areas and rocks in the Fehmarnsund and parts of Flensburg Fjord. Please rely on current charts, buoyage, notices to mariners, and the guidance given during handover.

Please keep the logbook on board carefully throughout the cruise. This includes, among other things, relevant position, weather, and engine data, as well as any notable incidents. The logbook maintained for the charter must be returned after the cruise. If you would also like to keep a personal cruise diary, you are welcome to make your own notes in parallel.

If technical problems arise, please contact our service team as early as possible. In an acute distress situation at sea, the emergency call should be made on VHF channel 16 or to the responsible sea rescue services. Save the service numbers provided for your charter in your mobile phone before departure.

Under previous charter rules, minor necessary repairs due to wear and tear could be arranged without prior approval up to an amount of 150 euros. Approval was required for higher amounts. Please ensure that an itemised invoice is issued showing the yacht name and repair details, and keep any removed or damaged parts.

Damage to the yacht must be reported and documented without delay. In the event of grounding, the exact position is important. Incidents such as fire, explosion, or theft may also require a report to the relevant authorities. Please coordinate the next steps with First Class Sailing and, where applicable, the insurer.

Plan the final leg so that you reach the home port in good time. If strong winds or difficult conditions are forecast, the return passage should be planned earlier accordingly.

The yacht must be returned by Friday at 16:00. Before handover back to us, it should be refuelled, tidied, and prepared in a swept clean condition in accordance with the charter terms. Our team will check the inventory and condition together with you. Any known damage or technical issues should be mentioned directly at that time.

The final cleaning included in the basic package does not replace tidying the yacht before return. Personal belongings, rubbish, and food must be removed by the crew, and the yacht should be left in an orderly condition. Our service team then carries out the thorough interior and exterior cleaning for the next crew.

A regular overnight stay from Friday to Saturday after return is not предусмотрed, as the yacht is prepared for the next charter. If it is not booked afterwards, an alternative arrangement may be possible by individual agreement.

After return, any outstanding accounts and, where applicable, the release of the security deposit will be processed. If any damage still needs to be assessed, we will inform you of the next steps.

Your feedback on the yacht and the overall charter process is valuable for our technical support and the continued preparation of the fleet. With the new First Class Sailing customer area, such functions are intended to become available digitally again in future. Its launch is planned for the end of 2026. Customers with a charter booking for 2027 will be informed as soon as the new area becomes available.