GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

1. PAYMENT

The Client is obliged to pay the full Charter Fee to ABA VELA in accordance with the amounts and payment terms stated in the Booking Confirmation/Invoice. The Charter Fee may be paid in cash, by credit card, or by bank transfer. All bank transfer fees shall be borne by the Client. ABA VELA reserves the right to cancel the booking if the initial deposit is not received within 15 days of the Booking Confirmation and/or if the full payment is not received no later than 15 days prior to the Charter Start Date. The Client is required to complete the online Crew List no later than 7 days prior to the Charter Start Date and to send by email a copy of a valid skipper’s license and VHF (Radio Telephone) Operator Certificate, clearly showing license numbers and photographs.

2. CHARTER FEE

The Charter Fee includes the use of the Vessel only. It does not include a skipper, fuel costs, or mooring fees in other marinas during the Charter Period. ABA VELA shall deliver the Vessel to the Client in seaworthy condition, clean, with full fuel and water tanks, gas for cooking, bed linen and towels for all people listed on the Crew List. The Client must return the Vessel in the same condition as it was received. All monohulls have annual berths in ACI Marina Split. Catamarans have daily mooring paid for the Check-in Day (Saturday afternoon until Sunday 12:00) and for the Check-out Day (Friday afternoon until Saturday 12:00).

3. TAKEOVER

ABA VELA shall deliver the Vessel in seaworthy condition, equipped as listed in the Check-in document, clean and ready for charter on the date specified in the Booking Confirmation document. If ABA VELA is unable to provide the booked Vessel at the agreed time, it shall provide a suitable alternative Vessel with similar or superior characteristics within 24 hours. If no suitable alternative is provided within this period, the Client may terminate the contract and claim a full refund of the Charter Fee. For the Saturday-Saturday charter, Check-in procedure starts after 17:00. In the event of a major malfunction during the Charter Period, the Client must immediately inform ABA VELA. ABA VELA shall remedy the malfunction within 24 hours, provided the Vessel is within Croatian territorial waters. If the malfunction is not resolved within 24 hours, the Client may claim a refund equal to the daily Charter Fee for each additional 24-hour period of lost use. No further compensation is possible.At the time of the takeover, the Client must check the seaworthiness of the Vessel and all items listed in the Check-in List. Should the Client have any complaints, such complaints must be recorded in the Check-in List before signing. The Client must return the Vessel to ABA VELA on the date stated in the Booking Confirmation. For the charter Saturday-Saturday, the Vessel must be returned in the base on Friday afternoon before 17:00, with a full fuel tank. The Client shall vacate the Vessel by 09:00 on Saturday.If the Vessel is returned late, the Client shall be charged the daily Charter Fee for delays up to 3 hours. For delays exceeding 3 hours, the Client shall be charged triple the daily Charter Fee, in addition to any commercial losses or expenses incurred by ABA VELA as a result of the delay.

4. DEPOSIT

Prior to Check-in, the Client shall provide a refundable security deposit (in cash or by VISA or MasterCard pre-authorization) at the ABA VELA marina office. The refundable security deposit for bareboat charters is EUR 1,000, EUR 2,000, or EUR 2,500, depending on the Vessel type. An additional refundable deposit of EUR 1,000 applies for regattas. Nonrefundable deposit insurance (damage waiver) is also possible. The security deposit covers all possible damages, losses, and/or defects to the Vessel occurring during the Charter Period. If the Vessel is returned on time, undamaged, fully equipped, and with a full fuel tank, the security deposit shall be refunded after underwater inspection, no later than Saturday at 09:00.

5. INSURANCE

The Vessel is insured under a full hull (Kasko) policy covering risks and damages exceeding the security deposit amount up to the full value of the Vessel. The policy includes Compulsory Passenger Insurance and Compulsory Third-Party Liability Insurance, in accordance with the Crew List. Any damage or accident not immediately reported to the nearest Harbor Office and to ABA VELA shall not be covered by insurance, and the Client shall bear full responsibility. Personal belongings of passengers are not covered by the Vessel’s insurance.

6. RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CLIENT

The Client is responsible for the seizure of the Vessel by authorities due to illegal acts (e.g. professional fishing or unauthorized removal of underwater antiquities, etc.). In case of a collision with another boat or land, yacht or equipment theft, the Client must, at the earliest opportunity, report such occurrence to the Harbor Office or Police station and request a written copy of the report. The Client is obliged to inform ABA VELA of all types of accidents. The Client may navigate to other Schengen member states (e.g., Italy, Slovenia, Greece) without additional border procedures. Navigation to non-Schengen countries (e.g., Montenegro or Albania) requires compliance with applicable legal procedures. The Client must have a valid navigation/skipper license and VHF license, or the Client must assign command of the Vessel to a crew member holding the required licenses. Client will not allow any other person who is not listed on the Crew List to operate the Vessel, or to use the Vessel for any commercial purpose. Moreover, the Client shall sail under safe weather conditions and shall not participate in regattas without a prior consent of ABA VELA. The Client is responsible for regularly checking the engine oil level during the Charter Period and shall be liable for any engine damage resulting from insufficient oil. The underwater portion of the Vessel will be inspected by a diver at the end of each charter. The Client is responsible for all damages, losses, or defects occurring to the Vessel during the Charter Period.

7. CHARTER TERMINATION

If, whatever the reason, the Client cannot take over the booked Vessel, the Client may (with prior consent of ABA VELA) find another client who will enter the contract with ABA VELA for the same Vessel and period. If the Client cancels the booking, ABA VELA shall retain:
- 20% of the Charter Fee for cancellations 60 days or more prior to the Charter Start Date
- 50% for cancellations between 30 and 59 days prior to the Charter Start Date
- 100% for cancellations less than 30 days prior to the Charter Start Date
If the Client does not show up on the Check-in day and did not inform ABA VELA of the delay, ABA VELA will treat booking as canceled.

8. COMPLAINTS

ABA VELA shall consider only complaints submitted in writing and signed by the Client during the Check-out procedure and recorded in the Check-out document.

9. JURISDICTION

Any dispute arising between the parties shall be settled amicably. Failing such settlement, the court of competent jurisdiction in Split, Croatia, shall have exclusive jurisdiction.