New Member - New Sailor

[whiteyaw]

My husband and I are dreaming of cruising in the Cariibean to escape our Newfoundland winters. We're taking a boating course from Canadian Power and Sail Squadron and hoping to charter a catamaran in the carribean or Florida for a week in April. Anybody have any advice, contacts;etc.? We're new sailors in our late 50's with only power boating experience on a large lake.

Mary

[GordMay]

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Mary.

[offline]

Welcome.

You'll have a blast. No lack of resources for chartering. Given your lack of sailing resumes you may want to consider splitting a charter with another couple with more miles under their keels.

[Unicorn Dreams]

Welcome Aboard Cruisers Forum

[Spcharby]

Originally Posted by whiteyaw

My husband and I are dreaming of cruising in the Cariibean to escape our Newfoundland winters. We're taking a boating course from Canadian Power and Sail Squadron and hoping to charter a catamaran in the carribean or Florida for a week in April. Anybody have any advice, contacts;etc.? We're new sailors in our late 50's with only power boating experience on a large lake.

Mary

Hey there Mary,

Keep the dream alive, lots of maritimers have taken the leap and are out there on the water. I'm just waiting to get rid of the "job", f'ing thing that it is.

Good luck,

Steve from NB

[SkiprJohn]

Aloha and welcome aboard!
Good to have you here.
kind regards,

[Vasco]

Originally Posted by whiteyaw

My husband and I are dreaming of cruising in the Cariibean to escape our Newfoundland winters. We're taking a boating course from Canadian Power and Sail Squadron and hoping to charter a catamaran in the carribean or Florida for a week in April. Anybody have any advice, contacts;etc.? We're new sailors in our late 50's with only power boating experience on a large lake.

Mary

Most first time charterers start in the BVI. It's an excellent area with all eyeball navigation and short distances to the various anchorages. If you have little sailing experience the charter company might put a skipper on the boat with you for a few days. Good luck.