Guide
Hiring a local skipper vs bareboat chartering in Grenada & the Grenadines
Bareboat if you have the qualifications and experience a charter company asks for and want the boat to yourselves. Hire a local skipper if you don’t, if you want to learn as you go, or if you simply want someone who knows these waters handling the passages, anchoring and clearances.
By Terrel Andrews · Last updated 2026-10-19
What is a bareboat charter?
You rent the boat without crew and you are the skipper, legally and practically. Charter companies usually ask for a sailing CV and often a recognised qualification before handing over the boat. Passage planning, anchoring, weather calls and clearing customs between Grenada and St Vincent & the Grenadines are all on you.
How do the options compare?
| Bareboat charter | Hiring a local skipper | |
|---|---|---|
| Who’s in command | You | The skipper — or you, with coaching |
| Experience you need | Usually a sailing CV and a recognised qualification | None |
| Passage planning & weather | You | The skipper, with you as involved as you like |
| Customs & clearance | You | The skipper handles it or shows you how |
| Best for | Experienced crews who want the boat to themselves | New owners, developing sailors, and anyone who wants local knowledge aboard |
What does a local skipper add?
- Local knowledge — anchorages, reefs, swell, and where the holding is good.
- Clearance experience — Grenada and SVG are separate countries, and clearing in and out is part of most trips north.
- Time back — you sail, swim and explore while someone else handles the planning.
- Learning — on your own boat, every passage doubles as coaching.
Is White Dog Sailing a charter company?
No. White Dog Sailing is not a charter fleet. I’m an independent, RYA-qualified skipper based in Grenada: I skipper, deliver and coach on your boat, and offer daysails with genuine local knowledge — personal service without big-company pricing.