First charter week calendar: Saturday handover and Friday return to base

I thought charter Saturday meant "board and sail toward sunset." In reality Saturday is boat handover (handover in base jargon): paperwork, boat inspection, docking in the base marina, sometimes a short outing "to practise at the quay." Friday is not "one more day at sea" - it is often return to base. A Saturday-Saturday calendar (or close) is common at many Mediterranean bases; in the Baltic check your contract - a template is not law.

Short answer: plan the week from handover to checkout, not as a "beach holiday." Yacht charter formats are a separate topic; a training week on the water has different logistics (course-week logistics · Yacht Crew).

In short

• Saturday-Saturday - common pattern: handover Saturday · checkout next Saturday.
• Friday often = return to base (not always the last day on the water).
• Before handover: provisioning, documents, insurance, licences (do you need a yacht licence).
• Days 1-2: short route, not a long hop.
• Mid-week: main cruise; guest marinas per plan.
• Friday: dock at base, clean, fuel, debrief.
• Saturday: checkout · often morning · do not plan a late flight without buffer.
• First bareboat after a course - separate article.

1-2 weeks before arrival

• check format (bareboat / skippered / flotilla) - charter formats;
• documents and insurance per base requirements;
• provisioning list (water, food, first-aid);
• route with weather buffer - not "8 marinas in 7 days";
• transfer to the marina: Saturday handover is often morning/day, not midnight.

On a first week fatigue cuts attention harder than ads suggest: plan short days, not "every island in 7 days."

Saturday: boat handover

Typical block (depends on the base):

1. paperwork, deposit, insurance;
2. boat inspection with a rep - photo defects;
3. systems briefing (gas, heads, electrics);
4. docking out/in at the base marina;
5. sometimes a short outing - not a long hop on handover day.

First bareboat: do not hero - first bareboat after a sailing course.

Table: day → task (Sat-Sat)

Day	Usually
Sat	Handover, briefing, often a night at base
Sun-Mon	Short outing, first night away from base
Tue-Thu	Main route, 1-2 hops per day max
Fri	Morning return, fuel, cleaning
Sat	Checkout, deposit, transfer

This is a template, not law. The base contract may move return and checkout - read the PDF before paying.

Days 1-2 (usually Sun-Mon)

• short route, a familiar marina nearby;
• check anchor/docking skills on "your" boat;
• crew learns roles - not a holiday.

Provisioning on arrival day

Shop before or right after handover - not "first a long hop, then figure out the fridge." Night one needs water, simple food, a first-aid kit. In peak season marina shops have queues - budget an hour. If handover runs long, a night at base and morning shopping is wiser than leaving tired without provisions.

Mid-week (Tue-Thu): not a checklist race

• main hops, but 1-2 per day max - not "three marinas because the chart looks close";
• guest marinas - booking/timing; in peak season no booking = pier stress;
• weather - plan B (bay, short day); better an extra day in a nice bay than a hop in a bad window;
• crew learns rhythm: who cooks, who watches docking, who holds lines - not a "holiday without roles."

On a first week 2-4 stops with buffer beat a "must see" race. Fatigue accumulates: by Thursday attention is not Saturday-after-handover attention.

Friday vs Saturday: return and checkout

At many bases Friday evening means the boat is already in the home base marina:

• last hop in the morning, not in the dark;
• fuel, cleaning, damage report;
• do not plan "one more night far away" without the contract.

Friday - return to base; Saturday morning - keys and final inspection. Do not confuse "Friday night at base" with "Saturday checkout": late checkout often means a fine or conflict with the next crew. A 4-6+ hour buffer before a flight is normal.

If the base requires cleaning by a set Saturday hour - that is not a "contract detail." Plan the last night so morning still has energy for cleaning, not only an airport transfer.

First time - buffers

• +1 day before/after the week - time zones, delayed flight, cleaning;
• deposit and insurance - know what is covered;
• defect photos at handover - arguing a scratch without photos is harder;
• licences and format - bareboat only if base and insurance are ready (licences).

Course week ≠ charter week

	Course week (training logistics)	Charter (this article)
Goal	skill	route/rest
Rhythm	instructor	your plan
Handover	school	base/broker
Return to base	programme	Friday contract

FAQ

Why Saturday-Saturday?

In Mediterranean charter, Saturday-Saturday is common - fewer overlaps when crews change. Baltic and Scandinavia - check your contract.

Can we leave on handover day?

Sometimes a short outing; often a marina day after handover is wiser.

Is Friday the last day on the water?

Often return to base on Friday; Saturday is checkout. Not always - read the contract.

How many marinas in a week?

For a first week 2-4 stops with buffer beat a race.

Bareboat from day one?

Only if base, insurance and your experience are ready - see licences and first bareboat.

Is this a legally exact calendar?

No. A planning template; the base contract is the source of truth.

What to do next

1. Charter formats.
2. Licences.
3. First bareboat after a sailing course.
4. Course-week logistics · 6-day overview · Yacht Crew.
5. Contact if bareboat vs skippered is unclear.

A charter week starts in the calendar, not in an ad sunset - know Saturday handover and Friday return before you pay.