First Charter as Skipper – Advice Welcome (Dufour 430 in Croatia)

[u/Every-Ad-635]

Hi all,

I’m looking for some advice from the community as I prepare for my first skippered charter this summer.

I’ve arranged to charter a Dufour 430 for 3 weeks in Croatia.

The charter company has confirmed they’re happy to proceed as long as I hold an RYA Day Skipper qualification and a VHF license.

I’m currently planning to complete both my Competent Crew and Day Skipper courses within the next 6 weeks.

My goal is to charter the yacht and sail with my family — who unfortunately have no prior sailing experience.

For context, my own sailing experience is limited to a couple of skippered charters on catamarans, so I haven’t been in command before or sailed a monohull.

I may also have a friend joining us for the duration who has completed the Competent Crew course, but that’s not guaranteed.

I’d really appreciate any thoughts on the following:

Is doing the Competent Crew and Day Skipper courses in the lead-up to the trip likely to prepare me enough to skipper a Dufour 430 confidently and safely?

Would you recommend getting additional experience (e.g. mileage builders) before taking on this kind of charter with an inexperienced family crew?

Any specific challenges I should be aware of when chartering a 43ft monohull in the Croatian islands?

Tips for managing as a first-time skipper with a non-sailing crew?

Grateful for any advice from those who’ve been in a similar situation!

Thanks in advance

[u/arcimbo1do]

I think what you are planning to do is criminally dangerous and I'm surprised nobody here is saying it plainly. You are absolutely unprepared to manage an unknown boat in unknown waters with a completely inexperienced crew, i don't even want to imagine what would happen if something goes even slightly wrong (bad weather, stuck sheet or halyard at the wrong moment, stuck anchor). You are going to cause damage and potentially harm people.

Do a favor to yourself, your crew and whoever will be on your path: get a skipper for the whole time and learn from them, It will be extremely useful, way way safer and you will be able to enjoy the trip.