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19-10-2017, 05:36
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Falls Church, VA
Posts: 96
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Ideas for Charter if BVIs don't work out
We (wife and I) are looking for Plans B options if a BVI charter doesn't work out this year. I currently have a reservation for a charter out of Tortola for mid-March, 2018, but have not been able to find out if there will still be a boat. If it works out we will still go to the BVIs.
Could folks give suggestions for other options for second time charterers in Caribbean locations this winter?
Our experience level is somewhat low. Me: ASA 101, 103, and 104 in 2016, plus lots of day sails and low key club regattas at Annapolis. The 104 class was mostly in a gale, so I probably got more than my money's worth. My wife took ASA101 class but not the test and is good crew. We chartered out of Tortola last winter and had a blast and felt more than comfortable on a 34 foot Benne.
I appreciate all thoughts.
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19-10-2017, 05:44
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: W Carib
Boat: Wildcat 35, Hobie 33
Posts: 13,480
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Re: Ideas for Charter if BVIs don't work out
Look further south. Martinique is quite nice for example and not a radical change to your travel plans. Navigation in the area is also straight forward.
However, I suspect an issue thats going to crop up soon is alternative destinations are going to book up fast. So, I would move early.
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19-10-2017, 21:10
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2011
Boat: Lagoon 400
Posts: 183
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Re: Ideas for Charter if BVIs don't work out
Grenada or Antigua are also good choices. As previously mentioned they will likely book quickly.
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20-10-2017, 05:50
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Falls Church, VA
Posts: 96
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Re: Ideas for Charter if BVIs don't work out
Thanks for the suggestions. I feel Ike I should wait a couple of months to see whether the charter company has a boat. Timing is tricky. You mentioned Grenada, which I like a lot. Any thoughts on the Grendines?
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20-10-2017, 07:34
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Annapolis
Boat: Hylas 49
Posts: 1,121
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Re: Ideas for Charter if BVIs don't work out
+1 on Martinique. From there you can go to St Lucia or just explore. Great locals, inexpensive food. Euros.
We chartered from punch-croisieres.
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20-10-2017, 07:34
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2014
Location: Wolverine Country
Boat: Lagoon 42
Posts: 325
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Re: Ideas for Charter if BVIs don't work out
Quote:
Originally Posted by fahtcha
Thanks for the suggestions. I feel Ike I should wait a couple of months to see whether the charter company has a boat. Timing is tricky. You mentioned Grenada, which I like a lot. Any thoughts on the Grendines?
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Grenadines are gorgeous. But they are definitely a bit of a step up from BVIs in terms of navigation difficulty. The passage from Grenada is long but pretty simple. You will be anchoring every night, so it's will require you to practice your anchoring skills. Passages are not always line of sight, the wind is variable in between islands, and channels not as well marked, so it requires more attention and planning than in the BVIs. Definitely, something you can do if you have already one charter under your belt but it is not like the BVIs, which is call sailing on training wheels :-).
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20-10-2017, 08:40
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2015
Location: San Francisco, CA
Boat: Lagoon 450S
Posts: 182
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Re: Ideas for Charter if BVIs don't work out
Croatia - we did a week charter there out of Pula and it was fantastic.
Gary
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20-10-2017, 08:56
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: May 2014
Location: So Cal
Boat: Beneteau 38 Nordlund 72, Marquess 55, Jenneau 49
Posts: 541
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Re: Ideas for Charter if BVIs don't work out
Here is an good overview and update on Charter companies in Caribbean. Surprisingly it sounds like most will be up and running well before the end of the year.
https://www.cruisingworld.com/caribb...E0MjQ1OTU2OAS2
If the link doesn't work search article on Cruising world website
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20-10-2017, 09:35
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#9
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Sep 2012
Location: Virgin Islands
Boat: PDQ 36, 36'5", previously Leopard 45 cat and Hunter 33 mono
Posts: 1,345
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Re: Ideas for Charter if BVIs don't work out
Quote:
Originally Posted by Valmika
Here is an good overview and update on Charter companies in Caribbean. Surprisingly it sounds like most will be up and running well before the end of the year.
https://www.cruisingworld.com/caribb...E0MjQ1OTU2OAS2
If the link doesn't work search article on Cruising world website
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Yes, I wouldn't give up on the BVI, just yet, in fact it should be used as a case study in how to recover from a disaster. It's been a fine collaboration of government, private sector, non-profits, individuals and outside aid. Environmental considerations are high (after all, our businesses depend upon the environmnent) and are blended with the reality that our jobs depend upon tourism. So, the governmental processes are more about removing bureaucratic road blocks than creating them, managing creatively with the input from the private sector.. The change in the six weeks since Irma is absolutely remarkable. Clearing and rebuilding and repairing are a constant. Food is in the stores. Gas is in the pumps.
The Premier has declared the BVI open for tourism on November 1. The Charter Yacht Society holds its charter boat show from November 7 - 10, although it will be a much smaller version than usual. Moorings/Sunsail are taking bookings starting in early December and will have a minimum of 120 boats by late November. Other charter companies are doing similar. New boats are already arriving and others will move here from other Caribbean bases.
It will be a different type of charter season. There will be restaurants and bars that aren't open, to be sure, but others will be. Best of all, the BVI will be relatively unspoiled and uncrowded, harking back to times, a couple of decades ago, that many will recall as being the best.
So, don't give up on that booking, just yet!
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20-10-2017, 09:44
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Bellingham, WA
Boat: Bruce Roberts 44' Steel Mauritius
Posts: 919
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Re: Ideas for Charter if BVIs don't work out
I think, in many ways, you will find the BVI better than ever and they need the biz.
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20-10-2017, 09:57
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2017
Location: Falls Church, VA
Posts: 96
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Re: Ideas for Charter if BVIs don't work out
Thanks everyone for lots of helpful insight.
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20-10-2017, 10:45
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2015
Location: San Francisco Bay area
Boat: Condor Trimaran 30 foot
Posts: 1,501
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Re: Ideas for Charter if BVIs don't work out
I also second the Sea of Cortez as a possible choice. I think if you can find a boat in the BVI they need that tourist dollar big time.
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20-10-2017, 10:53
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2013
Location: Bellingham, WA
Boat: Bruce Roberts 44' Steel Mauritius
Posts: 919
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Re: Ideas for Charter if BVIs don't work out
You might also consider the San Juan Islands but in July or August. Definitely not March.
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20-10-2017, 11:07
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#14
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Marine Service Provider
Join Date: Dec 2011
Posts: 1,538
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Re: Ideas for Charter if BVIs don't work out
The latest Moorings advisory says they are booking charters for Dec 9th and beyond. They are bringing in many new boats and, in the case of their R&C cats, they are bringing production workers for Cape Town to do repairs.
My boat is in Nanny Cay and is also supposed to be ready for charter in a month or so.
The BVI needs the money. It's pretty devastated but my intel says many bars and restaurants are open. Maybe the only tourist attraction completely unscathed is The Baths but let's help those people out. They don't have a US Government printing press that spits out $100 bills to jump-start their economy.
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20-10-2017, 11:42
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Dec 2014
Location: the Med
Boat: Nauta 54' by Scott Kaufman/S&S - 1989
Posts: 1,180
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Re: Ideas for Charter if BVIs don't work out
Puerto Rico, with a genny for shorepower to the local community
(Yes, feeling really sorry for the damage and the outage still going harsh.... Yet this Stupid joke grabbed my mind....)
Please do excuse me, and forgive/forget me.
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