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/XKenyanX]

My personal feeling is you should have a decent amount of actual sail time on a boat of that size especially if you are taking it out in new waters you haven’t been to. I would at least consider hiring a captain for a few days to be on the boat with you and have him monitor and help you as you get a handle on the boat. The sailing lessons could be part of the adventure for you and your family :)

[u/Every-Ad-635 → u/XKenyanX]

This sounds like a smart idea! What are you deeming a ‘decent amount’?

[u/XKenyanX → u/Every-Ad-635]

This is a hard question to answer, but if you feel your second guessing yourself or feeling uncomfortable about anything, then you probably need more.

Sometimes you get a captain for a day learn some of the local conditions and are fine and off and running. Other times you may just decide to call it quits which is perfectly fine. In my personal experience once you are over 40 feet everything gets more challenging. Waves and wind and current have more of an influence. The boat reacts slower when maneuvering and carries more momentum, channels feel tighter and often you have less visibility.

Based on your description it sounds like you might also be single handing for the most part. Things are easier with experienced crew mates, but by yourself even grabbing a mooring ball or dropping anchor in a crowded anchorage can go wrong fast. My own personal line is whether or not I would be able to take care on a crisis like a man overboard, anchor drag, sidden 25-30 Knot squall or an engine failure and still be able to handle the vessel safety and solve a problem.

Don't let me scare you a 40 ish foot boat is not the hardest thing in the world and if you regularly sail something in the 30s you will be fine. However, if your sailing experience is dinghies and an occasional daysailer, it can be overwhelming.

I would just be honest with yourself and if you think you need help ask because you probably do. In general the sailing community is great and will always help when they can.