--- title: "Charter with a skipper in Croatia: cost and tipping" description: "What a hired skipper costs in Croatia at three charter companies, the licence the law asks for, where the skipper sleeps, their food, and tipping." url: https://olasail.com/charter/skipper/ updated: 2026-10-07 --- > The Markdown copy of https://olasail.com/charter/skipper/, from OlaSail, a planning reference for sailing in Croatia, not for navigation. Every page: https://olasail.com/llms.txt [Report a change](https://olasail.com/about/corrections/#page=Hiring%20a%20skipper%20in%20Croatia%3A%20cost%2C%20what%20they%20do%2C%20where%20they%20sleep%2C%20tipping) # Hiring a skipper in Croatia: cost, what they do, where they sleep, tipping A hired skipper costs about €230 to €350 a day at the three charter companies we read, on top of the boat, and you also feed them. (Measured by us, 7 Oct 2026) Most sleep aboard, so plan a cabin for the skipper. A tip is up to you. €230 to €350 a day with VAT, Ultra Sailing (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) $330 a night, The Moorings (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) £240 a night, Sunsail (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) Category C the Croatian licence for a paid skipper (Official source, 26 Sep 2026) Photo: “Voilier à Kornati” by [julien](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Voilier_%C3%A0_Kornati.jpg), [CC BY 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), resized All 21 facts on this page name their source, the latest checked on 7 Oct 2026: 13 from the operator, 6 from official sources and 2 measured by us. See every source 13 From the operator (operator) 6 Official source (official) 2 Measured by us (measured) Written by [Domagoj Franc](https://olasail.com/about/people/domagoj-franc/), editor. Reviewed by [Ivor Benko](https://olasail.com/about/people/ivor-benko/), skipper (Croatian skipper's licence, category C). Published 7 Oct 2026. What most crews need to know - Budget about €1,610 to €2,450 a week for the skipper at these three companies, before food. (Measured by us, 26 Sep 2026) - Feed the skipper. The skipper's food is not in the rate, and at Sunsail you pay for it when you book. (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) - Plan a cabin for the skipper, so book a boat with one more than you need. (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) - Tipping is your choice. Charter companies say the amount is up to you. (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) ## How to charter a boat with a skipper Book the boat and ask the company to include a skipper in the quote. Ultra Sailing lists a skipper as an optional extra for its Isla 40 charter catamaran from Dubrovnik and asks customers to make a booking request. (From the operator, 29 Sep 2026) Ask whether you can choose the skipper before you pay. Sunsail calls a week with a hired skipper a skippered sailing holiday; it offers a package with skipper costs included or lets you add a skipper to a bareboat booking as a paid extra. (From the operator, 29 Sep 2026) Compare the full quote, including the skipper's cabin and food, before you choose. If you want to learn while someone else handles the boat, agree on that role before you book. [Check which charter suits you](https://olasail.com/charter/bareboat-skipper-or-flotilla/#check). ## What a skipper costs You pay the skipper on top of the boat. We read the rates three charter companies publish for Croatia, and turned each into euros for a 7-night week. Rates change with the season and the size of the boat, so ask for yours in writing with the quote. | Company | Published rate | In euros | A 7-night week | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | The Moorings | $330 a night | about €290 | about €2,030 (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) | | Sunsail | £240 a night | about €280 | about €1,950 (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) | | Ultra Sailing | €230 to €350 a day, with VAT | €230 to €350 | about €1,610 to €2,450 (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) | On 25 Sep 2026 one euro was 1.1403 US dollars and 0.86045 pounds. (Official source, 26 Sep 2026) A 7-night week with a skipper comes to about €2,030 at The Moorings, €1,950 at Sunsail, €1,610 to €2,450 at Ultra Sailing, before the skipper's food. (Measured by us, 26 Sep 2026) Sunsail's costs are 'starting from' prices. The page gives no year. Not every company publishes a rate. Dream Yacht Charter publishes no skipper rate. You pay the skipper in advance or in cash on arrival, and one double cabin must be kept for the skipper. (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) [How to read a charter quote](https://olasail.com/charter/booking/#quote) Some crews take a skipper for the first day or two only, then carry on alone. Ask the company before you book, and expect to pay the skipper's way back. [What a local sailor told us](https://olasail.com/charter/skipper/#report-skipper-r-local) · [Bareboat, skipper or flotilla](https://olasail.com/charter/bareboat-skipper-or-flotilla/) ## What the law asks of a paid skipper A hired skipper is working, so the rules are stricter than for a crew sailing their own charter. Check the skipper's papers the way the law does, and keep what the law says apart from what a company offers. What the law says The licence A yacht up to 18 m hired out with crew in Croatia's coastal waters must have a master who holds the Croatian certificate for a category C boat skipper (voditelj brodice kategorije C) (Article 81). (Official source, 26 Sep 2026) Foreign certificates The list covers boats for private use and boats hired without crew. It does not cover working as a paid skipper. (Official source, 25 Sep 2026) On a charter boat, every crew member must be trained and hold a certificate to prove it. A certificate from another country must also be recognised by the country whose flag the boat flies (Article 9). (Official source, 26 Sep 2026) A foreign skipper A foreign crew member on a charter boat must meet Croatia's rules on the stay and work of foreigners (Article 10). (Official source, 26 Sep 2026) At the handover At the handover, the charter company must check the competence of the boat's master (Article 25). (Official source, 26 Sep 2026) What charter companies say What the skipper does Ultra Sailing: the skipper does the boat's technical handover, advises on and agrees the route, and looks after the boat's systems and your safety. (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) The Moorings: a skipper handles navigation and local routing. (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) A cabin Ultra Sailing suggests taking a boat with one more cabin than you need, for the skipper. (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) Dream Yacht Charter publishes no skipper rate. You pay the skipper in advance or in cash on arrival, and one double cabin must be kept for the skipper. (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) Food Sunsail: a skipper costs £240 a night, and you must pre-pay the skipper's provisioning when you book. (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) Ask in writing Which licence the skipper holds, which languages they speak, and whether they can teach you while you sail. The licence rules for skippering your own charter are in [Do you need a licence to sail in Croatia?](https://olasail.com/croatia/licences/) ## What a skipper does, and doesn't A skipper is in charge of the boat and your [safety at sea](https://olasail.com/croatia/safety-and-emergencies/). On most skippered weeks that means the planning, the harbour work and the weather calls, while you sail, swim and help as much as you like. If you want to learn, say so, and agree it before you book. - Usually does: Ultra Sailing: the skipper does the boat's technical handover, advises on and agrees the route, and looks after the boat's systems and your safety. (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) Plans each day around the forecast, and berths, anchors and picks up buoys. [Med mooring, step by step](https://olasail.com/moorings/med-mooring/) - Is not: A cook or a cleaner, unless you agree that with the company before you book. - Has the last word: On whether to sail, and where to spend the night. If the forecast is bad, the skipper may keep you in port. [Which forecast to trust](https://olasail.com/croatia/weather-and-winds/) ## Where the skipper sleeps The skipper lives aboard for the week, so they need a bed of their own. Ultra Sailing suggests taking a boat with one more cabin than you need, for the skipper. (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) On a boat with no spare cabin, the skipper may have to sleep in the saloon, which suits nobody for a week. Ask the company before you book. On a catamaran, check the skipper berth and fee. Ultra Sailing's Isla 40 Sailor Venus has a small forward skipper cabin and lists a catamaran skipper at €1,925 a week, plus cabin and food. (From the operator, 29 Sep 2026) [Compare catamarans and monohulls](https://olasail.com/charter/catamaran-vs-monohull/). Three cabins for a crew of up to six, and the fourth for the skipper. A drawing, not a boat plan. ## Food for the skipper You feed the skipper for the week, on top of their rate. The companies handle it in different ways, so budget for one more person at every meal. - The Moorings: The Moorings: in Croatia a skipper costs $330 a night, and the skipper's provisioning is not included in the charter price. (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) - Sunsail: Sunsail: a skipper costs £240 a night, and you must pre-pay the skipper's provisioning when you book. (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) - Ultra Sailing: Ultra Sailing: it is usual for the skipper to eat with the crew. (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) Agree before you sail how meals work ashore. If you eat in a konoba most nights, ask whether you pay for the skipper's dinner too, or give them a daily sum instead. Mooring at a konoba for dinner: [restaurant moorings, free or paid](https://olasail.com/moorings/restaurant-moorings/). ## Tipping the skipper Sunsail: on a skippered charter a gratuity is expected, given to the skipper or crew at the end, and the amount is entirely up to you. (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) Split-area charter companies set no amount: Sail Croatia, and Sunsail and The Moorings at Agana, say a tip for the skipper is customary, given at the end of the week, and the amount is up to you. (From the operator, 5 Oct 2026) No law or price list we read sets a tip. Sailors disagree on how much, from nothing at all to a share of the trip's price, and we keep their words apart in [What sailors told us](https://olasail.com/charter/skipper/#sailors). If the week went well, give the tip in cash, in euros, to the skipper in person on the last evening or the last morning. If there was also a hostess or a cook, thank each of them yourself. ## Before you book a skipper - Get the skipper's rate in writing with the quote, per day or per night, and whether it includes VAT. [Read your quote](https://olasail.com/charter/booking/#quote) - Ask which licence the skipper holds. A yacht up to 18 m hired out with crew in Croatia's coastal waters must have a master who holds the Croatian certificate for a category C boat skipper (voditelj brodice kategorije C) (Article 81). (Official source, 26 Sep 2026) - Book a boat with a cabin for the skipper, or agree where they will sleep. [Catamaran or monohull](https://olasail.com/charter/catamaran-vs-monohull/) - Agree food: on board, ashore, or a daily sum. - Say what you want from the week: to learn, to relax, or both. ## Common questions - Is it better to sail Croatia with a skipper?: A skipper suits a new crew who wants help with the boat. An experienced crew with accepted papers can sail bareboat. If you want help only at the start, ask whether the company will book a skipper for the first days and how the skipper gets back. [What a local sailor told us](https://olasail.com/charter/skipper/#report-skipper-r-local) · [Check which charter suits you](https://olasail.com/charter/bareboat-skipper-or-flotilla/#check). - How much does a skipper cost in Croatia?: Ultra Sailing: a skipper costs about €230 to €350 a day, including 25% VAT. The Moorings: in Croatia a skipper costs $330 a night, and the skipper's provisioning is not included in the charter price. Sunsail: a skipper costs £240 a night, and you must pre-pay the skipper's provisioning when you book. A 7-night week with a skipper comes to about €2,030 at The Moorings, €1,950 at Sunsail, €1,610 to €2,450 at Ultra Sailing, before the skipper's food. (Measured by us, 26 Sep 2026) - Do I have to feed the skipper?: Yes. The skipper's food is on top of the rate, and at Sunsail you pay for it when you book. (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) - Where does the skipper sleep?: On board, ideally in a cabin of their own. Book one more cabin than you need. (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) - Do you tip a skipper in Croatia?: It is up to you. Charter companies say a gratuity is expected at the end and the amount is your choice. (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) - Can my skipper be a friend with a foreign licence?: Not as a paid skipper. The foreign certificates on the Ministry's list cover private use and bareboat charter only. (Official source, 25 Sep 2026) ## Help keep this page right Found something different on the water this season? Tell us what you found. We check it with the source before anything changes. [Report a change](https://olasail.com/about/corrections/#page=Hiring%20a%20skipper%20in%20Croatia%3A%20cost%2C%20what%20they%20do%2C%20where%20they%20sleep%2C%20tipping) [Other ways to help](https://olasail.com/about/contribute/) ## Sources 21 facts from 14 sources, last checked 7 Oct 2026. [Sail Croatia: before you go, Private Yacht Tours](https://www.sail-croatia.com/pre-departures/private-yacht-tour), Tipping in Croatia (What skippers in Split expect as a tip) (From the operator, 5 Oct 2026) [Sunsail's page for its Split-area base (useful information)](https://www.sunsail.com/yacht-charter/mediterranean/croatia/split/useful-information), "How does tipping/gratuity work in Agana?" (What skippers in Split expect as a tip) (From the operator, 5 Oct 2026) [Ultra Sailing: Croatian charter boat listings](https://ultra-sailing.hr/catamarans/isla-40/sailor-venus/), Sailor Venus, Optional: SKIPPER CAT 40-42 FT; Make booking request and Sailor Venus, cabin description and Optional: SKIPPER CAT 40-42 FT (Adding a skipper to an Ultra Sailing Isla 40 booking, catamaran skipper cabin and rate at Ultra Sailing) (From the operator, 29 Sep 2026) [Sunsail: skippered sailing holidays](https://www.sunsail.com/uk/sailing-holidays/skippered-holidays), Skippered Sailing Holidays, How does a skippered charter work?; Do I need to pay for my skipper's living costs? (Sunsail skipper package and extra) (From the operator, 29 Sep 2026) [Sunsail: the cost to charter a yacht in Croatia (a blog post)](https://www.sunsail.com/uk/blog/croatia-yacht-charter-costs) (Tipping, Sunsail, Sunsail's skipper rate) (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) [The Moorings: Croatia yacht charter costs (a blog post)](https://www.moorings.com/blog/how-much-does-a-croatia-yacht-charter-cost), Gratuity (The Moorings' skipper rate, what a skipper does, The Moorings, what skippers in Split expect as a tip) (From the operator, 5 Oct 2026) Show all 14 sources Show fewer sources [Ultra Sailing: sailing with a skipper (Croatian)](https://ultra-sailing.hr/hr/plovilo-sa-skiperom/) (Ultra Sailing's skipper rate, the skipper's cabin, Ultra Sailing, what a skipper does, Ultra Sailing, the skipper's meals, Ultra Sailing) (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) [Dream Yacht Charter: skippered FAQs](https://www.dreamyachtcharter.com/faqs/skippered-faqs/), "Skipper and crew accommodation"; "What is not included for a skippered charter?" (A skipper, Dream Yacht Charter) (From the operator, 26 Sep 2026) [European Central Bank: Euro foreign exchange reference rates](https://www.ecb.europa.eu/stats/policy_and_exchange_rates/euro_reference_exchange_rates/html/index.en.html) (The euro exchange rates we use) (Official source, 26 Sep 2026) [The boats and yachts ordinance (Pravilnik o brodicama, čamcima i jahtama), Narodne novine 13/2020](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2020_01_13_223.html), Article 81; Article 48 (A paid skipper's licence) (Official source, 26 Sep 2026) [The charter ordinance (Pravilnik o uvjetima za obavljanje djelatnosti iznajmljivanja plovila), Narodne novine 42/2017](https://narodne-novine.nn.hr/clanci/sluzbeni/2017_04_42_972.html) (Crew certificates, foreign crew, checking the skipper's competence) (Official source, 26 Sep 2026) [Ministry of the Sea, Transport and Infrastructure: list of recognised foreign certificates (Priznate isprave), table of 21 May 2026](https://mmpi.gov.hr/UserDocsImages/dokumenti/MORE/More%205_26/TABLICE%20MoU%20HR-EN%2021-5_26/TABLICA%20MoU%20HRV%2021-5_26.pdf) (Paid skippers) (Official source, 25 Sep 2026) Our sum: the middle of four Split-area companies' published skipper rates for a 38 to 45 ft monohull (Waypoint €200 a day, Fair Wind €1,540 a week, Ultra Sailing from €230 a day, Sail Club Croatia €250 a day), rounded to €10 (A day with a skipper, in euros) (Measured by us, 7 Oct 2026) Our sum: each operator's published rate for 7 nights or days, converted at the European Central Bank's euro reference rates of 25 Sep 2026 (A week with a skipper, in euros) (Measured by us, 26 Sep 2026) Photos on this page - Telašćica Bay, heading for the Kornati islands. Photo: “Voilier à Kornati” by [julien](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Voilier_%C3%A0_Kornati.jpg), [CC BY 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), resized - Uvala Šešula, next to Maslinica, island of Šolta. Photo: “Šolta Maslinica Hrvatska Uvala Šešula 2019 08a” by [Joadl](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:%C5%A0olta_Maslinica_Hrvatska_Uvala_%C5%A0e%C5%A1ula_2019_08a.jpg), [CC BY-SA 3.0 AT](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/at/deed.en), resized - Pakleni islands, off Hvar town. Photo: “Pakleni otoci - panoramio (4)” by [Dejan Sekuloski](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Pakleni_otoci_-_panoramio_(4).jpg), [CC BY 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), resized - Hvar town, island of Hvar. Photo: “Hvar” by [Jeremy Couture](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Hvar_(4858219998).jpg), [CC BY 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), resized - Marina Punat, Krk. Photo: “Sailboat leaving marina Punat” by [Yacht Rent from Croatia](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Sailboat_leaving_marina_Punat_(19497124969).jpg), [CC BY 2.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0), resized - ACI Marina Trogir, Čiovo shore of the Trogir channel. Photo: “Trogir marina 053” by [Ante Perkovic](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Trogir_marina_053.jpg), [CC BY 3.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), resized (From the operator) (Official source) (Seen by us) (Seen by a sailor) (Measured by us) (Sources disagree) (Third-party source) [How we check](https://olasail.com/about/how-we-check/#labels) 21 facts, last checked 7 Oct 2026. [See every source](https://olasail.com/charter/skipper/#sources) [Charter planning Bareboat, skipper or flotilla? Who each way of sailing suits, and the experience a bareboat needs](https://olasail.com/charter/bareboat-skipper-or-flotilla/) ## Keep planning [All guides](https://olasail.com/guides/) [Charter planning What a sailing week really costs The boat, marinas, buoys, fuel, food and the deposit, added up](https://olasail.com/charter/cost/) [Charter planning Booking a charter: quotes and deposits How to compare quotes, and what to check before you pay](https://olasail.com/charter/booking/) [Moorings Med mooring, step by step How to moor stern-to on a town quay or in a marina, pick up a buoy and tie ashore](https://olasail.com/moorings/med-mooring/) [Sailing in Croatia Do you need a licence to sail in Croatia? What the law asks of a skipper, and what charter companies ask](https://olasail.com/croatia/licences/)