General Booking Terms and Conditions

These General Booking Terms and Conditions (hereinafter: Terms) regulate the mutual rights and obligations related to yacht charter booked through Blackbird One Ltd., a company registered in Gibraltar (hereinafter: Blackbird One Ltd., “we”, “us”), including bookings made through our yacht charter websites SkipperCity.com and Yachtco.net (hereinafter: Brands).

The vessels covered by these Terms (hereinafter: Vessels) are recreational vessels in the fleets of independent charter companies which own or manage them (hereinafter: Charter-Operators). Blackbird One Ltd. operates as Agency-Mediator for the booking of those Vessels: when you confirm a booking, you enter into a direct, legally binding charter contract with the Charter-Operator, not with Blackbird One Ltd.

These Terms are binding for the person who books the Vessel (hereinafter: Client). By placing a hold or making the first payment, the Client confirms that they agree with these Terms. The Client must be at least 18 years old and have the legal capacity to enter into binding contracts on their own behalf or on behalf of the travelling party.

The Client can book a Vessel online on one of our Brands’ websites, or ask us for offers first by inquiry or email. We check the Vessel with the Charter-Operator and, if it is free, place a hold (an “option”) on it in the Client’s name.

A hold is free and binds neither the Client nor us. It lasts until the deadline the Charter-Operator sets, which is stated in the booking emails and on the Client’s booking page where one is available. If the first payment has not been made by then, the hold lapses and the Vessel may be booked by someone else.

The booking is confirmed only after the first payment is received within the deadline and the Charter-Operator confirms the reservation. We confirm this to the Client in writing, by email.

All booking communication is done in writing by email (occasionally supported by phone or WhatsApp). The latest written email confirmation always prevails as evidence of what was agreed.

Payment amounts, instalments and deadlines follow the Charter-Operator’s payment plan (for example 50 % on booking and 50 % 4–6 weeks before the charter) and are stated in the offer and booking emails we send to the Client. The Client may pay any instalment early, or the whole amount at once.

All payments are made to Blackbird One Ltd. The Client can pay:

• by bank transfer, at the quoted price, to the account stated in the booking emails, or
• by card, on the secure payment page of our payment provider. Card payments carry a surcharge of 5 % of the amount paid, to cover card fees; the card price is shown before the Client pays.

Bank transfers are accepted in euros only. The Client pays all bank transfer costs, including their own bank’s outgoing fees and any intermediary bank fees, and should send the transfer with charges “OUR”. If the amount received is lower than the amount due, the payment is not fully settled and the Client must pay the difference.

If a transfer for the first payment is on its way when the hold’s deadline arrives, the Client should send us the bank’s payment confirmation before the deadline, so that we can ask the Charter-Operator to confirm the reservation. The Charter-Operator decides whether to do so.

The Vessel can be taken over only after the full charter price and all contracted extras have been paid. If payments are not received in full and on time, the Charter-Operator and/or Blackbird One Ltd. may cancel the booking without refund of amounts already paid, applying the cancellation rules in section 8.

The charter price usually includes:

• use of the Vessel for the agreed charter period,
• standard equipment according to the presently effective inventory list (such as a dinghy with oars and gas for cooking),
• the usual charter base services at the time of the Vessel’s delivery and return (check-in / check-out),
• the services the Charter-Operator makes compulsory and payable in advance, which are listed in the offer,
• VAT, if and as applicable at the time of booking.

The charter price usually does not include (unless explicitly stated as included): fuel; marina, port and mooring fees; harbour dues and tourist taxes; national park fees; charges the Charter-Operator collects at the base; food and beverages; crew (skipper, cook, hostess), unless added to the booking or already included in the Vessel’s price; and optional extras (section 5).

We reserve the right to correct obvious price mistakes (for example technical or input errors) even after a booking has been initiated. In such a case the Client may accept the corrected price or cancel the booking with a full refund of any amounts paid.

Our commission for agency services is normally included in the charter price and is paid by the Charter-Operator; the Client does not pay an additional booking fee to Blackbird One Ltd. What the Client does pay us on top of the charter price is shown before they pay: the card surcharge if they pay by card (3.2), and our skipper or cook if they add them (6.1).

Additional services and extra equipment for which an extra payment is due according to the Charter-Operator’s effective price list (for example an outboard engine, gennaker, Wi-Fi, early check-in, one-way fee or transfers; hereinafter: Extras) are chosen when booking, or requested in writing before the charter. They are subject to availability and to the Charter-Operator’s confirmation.

Some Extras are confirmed by the Charter-Operator only on request – for example equipment it keeps in limited stock, or an early check-in. Such an Extra is a request, not an order: it is charged only once the Charter-Operator has confirmed it in writing.

The Client may ask for Extras after the booking is confirmed. We will make a reasonable effort to arrange them and will inform the Client whether this is possible, but we cannot guarantee newly requested Extras. We recommend requesting all Extras at least 10 days before the start of the charter.

Where a Brand offers its own professional skipper or cook, the Client can add them to the booking. They are booked by the whole charter week, at the price shown before booking, and their fee is paid to Blackbird One Ltd. together with the charter payments. Our cook provides half board for the guests, charged per guest at the price shown. Our skipper and cook each need a cabin of their own, so they are offered only on bareboat charters where the Vessel has room for the Client’s party and the crew.

A skipper, hostess, cook or other crew that the Charter-Operator itself provides must be requested when the booking is made, and is priced according to the Charter-Operator’s valid price list.

If the Client does not book a professional skipper, the Charter-Operator checks the skipper’s licence and VHF/SRC certificate at check-in; the Client may send us copies beforehand and we will look at them. If the Charter-Operator does not accept the licence, the Client must hire a professional skipper at their own cost.

For some Vessels the Charter-Operator may require a professional skipper and/or other professional crew regardless of the Client’s licences. This is indicated when the booking is arranged.

The Client and their guests should treat the crew with proper professional respect and allow them a proper amount of daily rest. The crew’s food during the charter is provided by the guests, according to usual charter standards: the skipper usually eats with the guests, or receives a food allowance.

The Client must provide a complete and correct crew list and the personal documents required (passports or IDs) within the deadline set by the Charter-Operator, which we state in the booking emails. The Client is the main contracting party for the charter and is responsible for the other guests on board.

We recommend sending an estimated time of arrival at least 10 days before the first day of the charter, so the base staff can organise the check-in as smoothly as possible. If the Client has booked a transfer (for example from the airport), detailed arrival and departure information is obligatory at least 10 days in advance.

The Client is responsible for the accuracy of the crew list information and for the validity of all passports, visas, licences and other identification documents. The Client and their guests are responsible for obtaining the visas required for every country they travel to, and for complying with local entry, customs and health regulations.

The sailing licence is a very important document on board, and the Client is legally responsible for its accuracy and authenticity.

If the Client needs to cancel a booked charter, for whatever reason, they must inform us in writing without delay – by email, or with the “Request cancellation” button on their booking page where one is available. The date on which we receive the written cancellation is the basis for calculating the cancellation fee.

Unless the offer, the booking documents or the Charter-Operator’s terms state otherwise, the usual industry cancellation rules apply (two months counted as 60 days, one month as 30):

• cancellation more than 2 months before the charter: up to 50 % of the charter price,
• cancellation between 1 and 2 months before the charter: typically 50 % of the charter price,
• cancellation less than 1 month before the charter, a no-show at check-in, or leaving the Vessel before the contracted check-out: 100 % of the charter price (no refund).

Where the Charter-Operator’s valid terms require a higher cancellation fee, the Charter-Operator’s fee applies.

If a skipper or cook has been booked and is later cancelled by the Client, their fee may still be payable according to the same cancellation percentages, even if the Vessel booking itself remains. Provisioning (food) we arranged is refunded in full until it has been bought.

When the Client cancels, Blackbird One Ltd. keeps an administration fee of 5 % of the booking total, deducted from any refund. The 5 % card surcharge on card payments is not refunded, and any bank charges for sending a refund are deducted from it.

Amounts already paid on to the Charter-Operator are refunded only as far as its terms return them, and only once it has returned them to us. We then refund the Client the same way they paid where possible – to the card, or by bank transfer – and send the amount line by line.

From the date we receive the cancellation, the Vessel may be released for booking by other clients, and we have no further obligations towards the Client related to the cancelled booking other than the refund set out above.

Change requests (for example new dates, a different Vessel or base, or a change of name) are treated as booking modifications and depend on availability and on the Charter-Operator’s approval. If the Charter-Operator charges for a change, we tell the Client the cost before the change is made.

Major changes may be treated as a cancellation of the original booking (section 8) plus a new booking.

If the Charter-Operator must cancel the booking – for example because of serious damage to the Vessel in a previous charter, technical issues or other justified circumstances – the Client is compensated by the Charter-Operator according to its valid terms and conditions. Most Charter-Operators will offer:

• a replacement Vessel of similar size and standard, from the same or another fleet, if available, or
• a refund of all amounts paid for the Vessel.

We will assist the Client as their agent in communicating with the Charter-Operator and in trying to secure a fair solution. The Client acknowledges that when a Vessel was seriously damaged in a previous charter, or in force majeure events, neither Blackbird One Ltd. nor the Charter-Operator is at fault, and will cooperate in finding an appropriate alternative.

Events such as natural disasters, war, strikes, pandemics, government restrictions or other force majeure circumstances are handled according to the Charter-Operator’s policies and the prevailing law.

Before taking over the Vessel, the Client must pay a refundable security deposit (hereinafter: Deposit) directly to the Charter-Operator, in the amount stated in its valid price list – usually by credit card pre-authorisation or in cash, following the procedures of the Charter-Operator’s base – unless deposit insurance has lowered it (11.5).

The Deposit covers potential damage to the Vessel, loss of equipment, late return, or failure to follow these Terms or the Charter-Operator’s rules. If no such issue occurs, the Deposit is refunded in full after check-out.

If damage or a breach has occurred, the Deposit is retained in part or in full, depending on the size of the damage or breach and on the Charter-Operator’s policy. Typical industry practice is:

• for larger damage or a serious breach, the Deposit is kept in full;
• for smaller damage, the Charter-Operator keeps the amount needed for repairs, replacement of damaged or lost equipment, intervention and handling costs, and refunds the rest;
• if the Vessel cannot go on its next charter because of the damage, the full Deposit is kept, because the Charter-Operator must compensate the next client.

The Deposit is obligatory also when the Client hires a professional skipper. In that case the Deposit cannot be used to cover costs caused by the skipper’s negligence or bad handling of the Vessel or its equipment. If damage is caused by the Client’s gross negligence – such as sailing under the influence of alcohol or illegal drugs, sailing single-handed, sailing at forbidden times or outside approved areas, or racing without the Charter-Operator’s written approval – the Client is typically liable even beyond the Deposit, including repair costs and lost charter income for the following weeks.

Where the Charter-Operator offers deposit insurance (a damage waiver), it is a non-refundable charge that lowers the Deposit, in some cases to nothing. What it does not cover is set by the Charter-Operator’s own terms.

According to industry standards, charter Vessels are insured, with a deductible. This insurance usually does not cover the personal belongings of guests or property brought on board, deliberately caused damage, damage caused by a lack of diligence, or travel and health issues.

We strongly recommend that, when booking, the Client and all guests take out adequate travel and health insurance, and that the skipper takes out skipper liability insurance.

When taking over the Vessel, the Client gives the Charter-Operator’s representative the booking voucher with the Client’s details and charter dates, and shows the original skipper’s licence. The identification documents (for example passports) of all guests on board must be provided so that the crew list can be checked.

The Client checks the inventory list and the instruments on board with the Charter-Operator’s representative and confirms the condition of the Vessel by signing the hand-over protocol. Later complaints about items confirmed as complete and in order are not accepted, except for hidden defects.

If parts of the Vessel were damaged or lost during previous charters and cannot be replaced before the charter starts, and this does not seriously affect the safety of navigation, the Client cannot withdraw from the charter or demand a price reduction. Such situations are caused by a previous client and are beyond the control of both Blackbird One Ltd. and the Charter-Operator.

As is usual in yacht charter, the Vessel is delivered with full fuel and water tanks and must be returned to the base with full fuel and water tanks.

Because Vessels are valuable and need a certain level of skill to operate, the Charter-Operator may ask the Client (or their skipper) to demonstrate their navigation skills in the presence of its representative. Any cost of this demonstration is paid by the Client, and the time it takes counts as part of the charter. If the Client’s skipper is not considered skilled enough, the Charter-Operator will assign a professional skipper at the Client’s cost according to its price list. If the Client refuses the assigned skipper, they will not be allowed to sail out, the charter contract ends immediately and the amount paid is kept without refund.

At check-out the Charter-Operator inspects the Vessel, its equipment according to the inventory list, and the fuel level. If the fuel tank is not full, the Charter-Operator typically charges for the missing fuel (calculated from the maximum engine consumption for the engine hours used) plus a service fee. Damage found during the inspection is charged as described in section 11. If the Vessel is returned in good condition with full fuel and water tanks, the whole Deposit is returned.

The Vessel must be returned at the agreed time and base. If the Client returns it to a port other than the one stated in the contract, the Client pays all costs of bringing the Vessel to the agreed port, including compensation for the Vessel’s next client, plus any penalty set by the Charter-Operator. A late return is charged according to the Charter-Operator’s policy.

Delays caused by weather are not an excuse for a late return: the Vessel must be kept within a safe distance of the charter base during the last 48 hours of the charter.

If the Client wishes to extend the charter, they should inform us immediately. We will tell the Client whether the extension is possible and, once it is confirmed and paid, arrange all necessary paperwork (extension of the booking, the crew list and so on).

The basic sailing area of the Vessel is stated in its registration documents.

If the Client wants to sail outside this basic sailing area, they must tell us before the booking is confirmed, so that the Vessel can be insured and registered for it. The Client pays the additional insurance and registration costs and any other extra costs this causes for Blackbird One Ltd. or the Charter-Operator. The Charter-Operator may also ask for a higher Deposit.

When sailing outside the basic sailing area, the Client should be prepared to organise any maintenance and repairs of the Vessel themselves and at their own cost, as the Charter-Operator’s maintenance and intervention services usually do not cover those areas. The Charter-Operator will advise the Client on its procedures for such cases.

If damage occurs during the charter through normal wear of the Vessel’s materials or ageing of equipment, the Client should inform the Charter-Operator without delay.

In case of serious damage, engine trouble, loss of the Vessel, personal injury or a similar incident, the Client must inform the Charter-Operator and us without delay, and obtain an official record of the incident from the relevant parties (for example the port authority, a physician or an authorised expert). The further procedure follows the processes and the terms and conditions of the Charter-Operator.

Damage that was not reported and has no official record is considered to have been caused by the Client’s negligence and must be paid by the Client.

The Charter-Operator is responsible for the Vessel – its condition, investment and current maintenance, and its preparation for the charter – and for organising and carrying out check-in and check-out at the base.

The Charter-Operator may try to meet special or additional requests of the Client (for example an earlier check-in, a longer briefing at check-in or special needs), but this is not its obligation, and the Client cannot claim compensation if such requests are not met or only partly met. If the Charter-Operator fails to meet its obligations, it compensates the Client according to its valid terms and conditions.

The Client cannot expect refunds for delays or issues caused by force majeure (for example earthquakes, floods, storms, fire and other natural disasters, war, civil war, terrorism or strikes).

The Client acknowledges that the Charter-Operator is a legal entity fully separate from Blackbird One Ltd., and that the role of Blackbird One Ltd. in the booking process is that of mediator only, as described in section 18.

Blackbird One Ltd. works with a large international database of Vessels and has business partnerships with many Charter-Operators. As Agency-Mediator between the Client and the Charter-Operator, we inform the Client about the Vessel, its accommodation and equipment and possible additional costs (such as a skipper), help the Client find the offers that best meet their needs, and assist them throughout the booking process.

We answer the Client’s questions and provide the information they need to prepare for the charter. We pass the booking information to the Charter-Operator, collect documents from the Client (for example the crew list), make payments to the Charter-Operator and carry out all other agency duties under our cooperation agreement with the Charter-Operator.

In any dispute between the Client and the Charter-Operator before, during or after the charter, we will do our best to help the Client and protect their interests as far as possible. If the Charter-Operator fails to meet its obligations towards the Client, we will support the Client in obtaining an appropriate refund from the Charter-Operator. In the extreme and very rare case that a Charter-Operator fails completely (for example bankruptcy or loss of its Vessels), we will make every effort to help the Client find the best possible alternative with the least possible cost or loss.

Blackbird One Ltd. is not the owner or operator of the Vessel. To the maximum extent permitted by law, we are not liable for the operational performance of the Vessel and the services of the Charter-Operator; for inaccurate or incomplete information provided by the Charter-Operator; for injury, damage, loss, delay or additional cost caused by Charter-Operators, crews, marinas or other third parties; or for force majeure events. In particular, we are not liable to refund the Client for a Charter-Operator’s failure to meet its obligations where we have made the corresponding payments to the Charter-Operator – although we will still assist the Client as set out in 18.3.

If Blackbird One Ltd. is found liable for a direct loss arising from our own error, our total liability is limited to our agency commission or, at most, to the total charter price the Client paid for the booking in question, excluding additional travel and arrangement costs, unless mandatory law requires otherwise. We are in no case liable for indirect or consequential damages, including loss of profit, loss of enjoyment, or additional travel or accommodation expenses, except where such a limitation is prohibited by mandatory law.

In addition to what is stated elsewhere in these Terms, the Client is obliged:

• to be nautically and navigationally skilled for the charter, or else to accept a skipper according to the Charter-Operator’s price list,
• to hold all licences required to operate the Vessel on a bareboat charter,
• not to hand over the Vessel to a third party,
• not to carry persons or goods for commercial purposes, or use the Vessel commercially in any other way,
• to have on board exactly the persons, and the number of persons, stated on the crew list,
• to keep the crew list and the confirmation of residence registration with the ship’s documents for the whole charter,
• to inform the Charter-Operator promptly of any change in the crew or passengers,
• to fully respect the laws and regulations of the host country,
• not to take part in competitions or regattas without the Charter-Operator’s consent,
• to observe the obligatory control intervals during the cruise,
• in case of towing, to agree the salvage terms before accepting help, unless the Charter-Operator prescribes otherwise,
• to take all safety precautions to keep the Vessel in good condition and avoid damage or towing,
• not to leave port when the forecast wind is stronger than 25 knots, or when the port authority has prohibited leaving port, without the Charter-Operator’s prior consent,
• to avoid unnecessary strain on the mast, sails and ropes, sailing according to the weather conditions,
• to plan the route carefully, so that two days before the end of the charter the Vessel is no more than about 40 NM from the check-out base,
• not to sail at night without the Charter-Operator’s prior consent,
• not to sail single-handed without the Charter-Operator’s prior consent,
• to tell the base manager the Vessel’s exact location in severe weather (gale-force wind), to avoid an unnecessary and expensive search,
• not to operate the Vessel under the influence of alcohol or drugs, and not to use or have any illegal drugs on board,
• not to make excessive noise in marinas, harbours and other moorings, and to respect the privacy and night rest of neighbouring boats and houses,
• not to fish or carry out any underwater activity without a valid licence for it,
• not to bring pets on board without the Charter-Operator’s written consent,
• to respect all other provisions of the Charter-Operator’s valid terms and conditions.

The Client is responsible both for their own behaviour and for that of all guests on board. All consequences of the Client, their crew or guests not respecting the obligations above are the joint and several responsibility of the Client and the crew and guests on board. In case of such a breach, or of any other breach of contract, the Charter-Operator may take compensation from the Deposit and/or claim indemnity for the full damage incurred.

Any problem with the Vessel found at check-in, and any technical problem or complaint during the charter, must be reported immediately to the Charter-Operator’s base, so that it can try to resolve it within a reasonable time. A complaint at check-in is made in writing and signed by the Client and the Charter-Operator’s representative.

Complaints are typically resolved as follows, depending on the Charter-Operator:

• a justified cleanliness complaint is corrected by additional cleaning; there is no financial refund;
• smaller shortcomings or damage that do not seriously affect the safety of navigation are corrected with all reasonable effort, though objective reasons may sometimes prevent a correction in the given time; generally there is no financial refund;
• larger shortcomings or damage that seriously affect the safety of navigation are corrected as quickly as possible, and depending on the time needed the Client is compensated by the Charter-Operator according to its terms and conditions.

For serious issues that could not have been noticed at check-in but were reported as described in section 16, the Client may claim compensation at the latest at check-out, with a written complaint signed by both parties and all relevant documentation (photos, reports, invoices).

A complaint that could not be resolved at check-out must be sent in writing, with evidence, within the deadline set by the Charter-Operator’s terms; where they set none, within 14 days after the charter.

If the Client files the complaint through us, we analyse it, collect information from the Charter-Operator, advise the Client on industry practice in such cases, and mediate between the two parties to resolve the complaint in a timely and fair way. We give the Client an official answer as soon as possible, and at the latest within 7 days of receiving the Charter-Operator’s answer. We cannot guarantee a specific outcome.

The charter itself (the Vessel’s condition, check-in and check-out, technical issues on board, local charges, the Deposit and so on) is governed primarily by the Charter-Operator’s terms and conditions. Where they set different requirements or conditions for chartering the Vessel than these Terms, the Charter-Operator’s terms apply to the Client’s obligations towards the Charter-Operator. By making the first payment, the Client also accepts the Charter-Operator’s terms and conditions applicable to their booking.

To process an inquiry and a booking, we must collect some personal data of the Client and their guests (for example contact details, the crew list and licence details) and share it with the relevant Charter-Operator – through the charter booking system it uses – and, where necessary, with authorities and the service providers named in our privacy policy.

How we collect, use and protect personal data is described in our Data Confidentiality Statement and Data Privacy Policy, which forms an integral part of these Terms.

These Terms and our agency services are governed by the laws of Gibraltar, where Blackbird One Ltd. is registered. If the Client is a consumer, this choice does not deprive them of the protection of the mandatory consumer laws of the country where they live.

The parties will strive to resolve any dispute amicably. If this is not possible, the courts of Gibraltar have jurisdiction. A Client who is a consumer may also bring proceedings in the courts of the country where they live, where mandatory consumer protection rules allow it.

Our Brands publish shorter, easier-to-read booking terms on their own websites – for SkipperCity, the SkipperCity Booking Terms & Conditions. Those terms and these Terms together form the contractual framework of a booking made through that Brand. Where they differ, the Brand’s booking terms prevail.

These Terms apply from 7 October 2026 and replace the General Terms and Conditions for Yacht Charter of 21 January 2015.

We may update these Terms from time to time. The version published on this website at the moment of booking applies to that booking. This page always shows the current version and the date it was last updated; in case of significant changes affecting existing bookings, we will notify the affected Clients by email where reasonably possible.