Philippine Yacht Charter FAQs

As a general rule yacht charter in the Philippines restricts sailing to the period from 8:00 to 16:00 daily. This is a safety measure as the islands of the Philippines have many uncharted reefs that are a challenge to identify when the sun is low at the horizon. There are selected passages where there are no Sailing Hours Restrictions and these are indicated on the charts and cruising route information provided with S/Y Naya.

Port charges vary from location to location and not included in the yacht charter fee unless stated. Additional fees may include: anchorage/mooring fee (per boat); landing fee (per person); and, Environmental Usage Fee (“EUF”: per person). Typically port charges are small – US$1-10 per boat or per person. In almost all cases these fees are paid at the time of arrival in a port but receipts are not always available; if a receipt for payment is required then a visit to the local municipal office will be required.

In most cases the answer is yes, unless you are passing through a Marine Protected Area in which case restrictions may apply. Most known Marine Protected Areas are indicated on the charts and route information provided with S/Y Naya.

You cannot find fresher seafood than that offered by local fishermen, we recommend buying directly from the fishermen. Prices are negotiable but expect to pay seasonal prices, which may vary considerably from place to place. Handle negotiations boat to boat, there is no need to invite the fishermen aboard S/Y Naya.

There are no no-go cruising destinations in the Philippines however, the islands off the West coast of Mindanao are not currently recommended as cruising destinations. If you happen to find yourself in the vicinity of visiting military ships of foreign nations at anchor then you will typically find that a patrol boat will approach you and request that you keep an appropriate distance.

The speed of response to a medical emergency depends on the travel / medical insurance coverage you currently subscribe to and whether or not it includes medevac response in the Philippines during yacht charter. Please check with your travel / medical insurance provider.

The speed of coastguard response depends on the method of emergency declaration and the yacht's location. If you are in collision with another vessel and are forced to deploy an EPIRB then the response should be within 12-24 hours unless adverse weather conditions prevent Coastguard vessels and aircraft being deployed.