BVI charter

[choppy]

Greetings,
Have some friends looking to charter in BVI next year, not an area I know any experiences or recommendations would be gratefully received.
Thanks as always

 

[mjcoon]

Greetings,
Have some friends looking to charter in BVI next year, not an area I know any experiences or recommendations would be gratefully received.
Thanks as always

Since you're not getting a response I can say we sailed there for a fortnight in 2001. Some detail at http://www.mjcoon.plus.com/page34.htm. I have no idea whether 17 years on anything similar is still available. It was only a "flotilla" for the 1st week, the 2nd was effectively bareboat. We chose to visit the American VIs then for the excitement of "going foreign", but it was a hassle getting visas in advance because no waiver applied.

Mike.

 

[TQA]

It is cruising 101 for numpties. In a week you do a circumnavigation of the main island. The only real decision is clockwise or anticlockwise. All the main stopping places are well supplied with moorings so no anchoring anxiety. The navigation is all eyeball but I would expect a chartplotter. Easy sailing with reliable winds and no need to worry about tides. The charter company will most likely have a flying squad of waterborne repair men if you manage to break something.

If there for two weeks you can go for a more adventurous sail up to Anegada.

They got clobbered by Irma but most things are back in action. Sadly those two extremes Bombas shack source of magic mushroom tea and the Bitterend Yacht Club are not. ALso the Willy T is still on the beach so no naked diving [ in the past that earned the diver a free drink. ] The snorkeling is excellent with clear warm water. The best spots will , most likely , be indicated at the chart briefing but the Rhone, the Indians and the hundreds of wrecks that litter the reefs of Anegada are just a few.

If you are there when there is a full moon the Trellis Bay full moon parties used to be an epic event.

Many people return year after year.

The Moorings will be the most expensive but the boats will be newish cleanish and shiny. If you block the toilet a man will be on call to clear it.. Conch Charters will be about 50% cheaper but the boats older not so clean and not so shiny and will carry a DIY toilet plunger.

NB If you are a British passport holder and you want to sail over to the USVI while on charter you have to have a B1/B2 visa or better, a visa waiver is not good enough.

 

[RobF]

I've use BVIYachtCharters.com a couple of times. I found them helpful and very good value. There are a couple of good pilot guides available and if they are looking for ideas (or just to whet their sailing appetite), they could do well to buy and read one of these.

The Baths at Gorda gets packed early, but is great if a mooring can be had. No night time sailing which can cause a bit of anxiety if not on a mooring buoy or anchored by 5pm. If they are into their sailing and like to navigate properly, they may like to take their own charts and handheld compass as I've had poor charts (and no handheld compass) on both charters.

 

[Bobc]

The one thing that will spoil your holiday is an old, smelly, unreliable boat. My suggestion would be t use Horizon Yacht Charters. Not the cheapest but a good company and a well maintained fleet.

 

[KellysEye]

Go to www.latesail.com they are the world's largest discounted yacht charter company with 700 companies and typically 7,000 boats you will the charter cheaper than direct from the company. It is possible to make a price offer and it is often accepted but don't go over 20%.

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

It’s a long way to go for a sail though! Any flight delay becomes a nightmare. Don’t ask me how I know! 24 hours late with BA and LIAT jointly responsible.

 

[Bobc]

It’s a long way to go for a sail though! Any flight delay becomes a nightmare. Don’t ask me how I know! 24 hours late with BA and LIAT jointly responsible.

British Apologies and Liat (called that because they are always liat (to be said in a caribbean accent)).

 

[Kurrawong_Kid]

British Apologies and Liat (called that because they are always liat (to be said in a caribbean accent)).

LIAT “land island any time”.

 

[choppy]

It’s a long way to go for a sail though! Any flight delay becomes a nightmare. Don’t ask me how I know! 24 hours late with BA and LIAT jointly responsible.

Also :
“Luggage in another terminal”

Thanks everyone certainly take a look at horizon and Bvi

Much appreciated

 

[Cheery]

My son lived there for a few years and we actually got married off Scrub island on a yacht. Willy T is now a new boat and has been moved to Peter Island. Bitter End looks like the after effects of a war film and is desperately sad. Cooper Island is fully open and has about 30 mooring balls. Soper's Hole ahs about 2 outlets open and no facility to accept ferries or sailors. Lots of my son's friends have not got work yet but things are improving. We had a great 2 weeks out there and will return again one day.

 

[capnsensible]

It’s a long way to go for a sail though! Any flight delay becomes a nightmare. Don’t ask me how I know! 24 hours late with BA and LIAT jointly responsible.

There again, a few weeks ago I went Virgin Atlantic to Barbados followed by a connecting flight to Antigua. Excellent all the way.

 

[john_q]

Liat (called that because they are always liat (to be said in a caribbean accent)).

LIAT Also known as Luggage In Another Terminal

 

[lydiamight]

LIAT = Late Invariably All of the Time

 

[TQA]

Leave Islands Any Time.

 

[Trident]

I have to say that having returned from the BVI in Feb 18 (not chartering) I was very unimpressed - I know they've suffered hugely from Irma and Maria and there are lots of very friendly people but also some real issues. I needed a new starter battery and had to pay 3 times the UK rate and buy the wrong size because it was one of the last on the island. I could not buy epoxy for any price because they've run out. I had a mechanic try to charge $75 for an outboard fuel priming bulb (you know the ones that are $5) as well as ask for 34 hours labour for a job despite the fact that the boat was only tied up for 48 hours total and he did nothing like 17 hour days - I'd guess 12 hours tops and the job should have take 2. And its the blatant attitude that annoys me - he knows that I know what a bulb costs and that I can count hours but just hands me a bill anyway. Meanwhile AVIS give me a car with two tyres off the rims and a third flat and say its all we have take it or leave it - they did at least pay for the new tyre I had to put on after 2 miles but sent no one to help and there was no jack or spare in the car. Now a nice local tyre guy helped me, drove me to get a new one as he couldn't fix it, brought out tools and put it on for me and asked for $20 - a real prince, but those used to dealing with "rich white tourists and charterers " will gouge every penny they can without a second thought. I guess in some ways they have to - coffee at a small coffee shop (not a Starbucks type) is $4.50 a cup, a pizza even where the locals eat was $20. Afloat its very pretty and easy sailing but ashore is still mostly wrecked and the most expensive island I've ever been to. (Amazing good deals on Digicell sim cards though) If you're set on the BVI take plenty of money and go with a full service charter company as anything you have to pay for yourself will cost the earth.

 

[Greg2]

Chartered there in 2012 and had a great time. Hurricane Sandy, which thankfully went north, meant that the wind was not as steady as expected but no real drama. Thoroughly enjoyed the sailing on a two week charter with Sunsail - small flotilla that effectively let you sail independently during the day and gave free nights to go anywhere towards the end. Mooring bouys everywhere are a bonus. It is expensive ashore, which is a downside.

Obviously it was different back then given the recent hurricane damage - had been thinking of going back but having read some of the reports in current situation out there will maybe give it a miss for the time being.