Caribbean Charter

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SpaceCygnet

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We are thinking of chartering a yacht in Caribbean next January. Two people so looking in 35 foot range for 10 to 14 days. Any recommendations for particular islands to visit, good companies to charter from, ones to avoid? Thanks.
 
BVI is the classic Caribbean charter and theere is plenty to see and do All sails are short, Not very challenging and there is no direct flight from the UK as far as I know.

St Lucia to Grenada more challenging sailing. Islands are more diverse. Tobago Cays are outstanding. Direct flights to St Lucia and Grenada.

Do be aware that at that time of year you may get sustained winds of 25 knots. No real probs just reef and go but it freaks out some people.

Consider a one way charter St Lucia or St Vincent down to Grenada.

Can't go wrong with Moorings and their boats will be newer than most co.s.

Barefoot charter co will be cheaper say 1/2
 
Your main issue will be finding a boat that small - most companies seem to start at around 40'. This will constrain your choice of cruising area. We have done the BVI's twice in smallish charter yachts (32-36'), once with Sunsail and more recently with the Moorings, both were fine, although the 4 year old Moorings boat was starting to look tired - far more so than our charter yacht in Turkey. You could also look at Horizon in the BVI's, which are a smaller operator and I believe have a pretty good reputation, although we've not used them ourselves.

It's a fantastic cruising ground, well worth the rather long flight via Antigua.

Neil
 
TQA

Agreed, but unless things have changed over the last 18 months, many locations do not have the smaller boats - we could not find any 35' boats in Antigua or further south in the Caribbean - it was only really in the BVIs. Just because Sunsail or The Moorings offer smaller boats in one base, there is no guarentee they do them somewhere else - which is annoying.

Regards

Neil
 
neil1967 said:
TQA

Agreed, but unless things have changed over the last 18 months, many locations do not have the smaller boats - we could not find any 35' boats in Antigua or further south in the Caribbean - it was only really in the BVIs. Just because Sunsail or The Moorings offer smaller boats in one base, there is no guarentee they do them somewhere else - which is annoying.

Regards

Neil
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This was why I included Barefoot they go down to 32/31 feet. OK not in the first flush of youth but if price is a factor then the sunsets look just the same regardless of boat.

I think TUI Moorings/Sunsail have 37 footers in the BVI but 41 footers in St Lucia/Canouan,
 
Barefoot very good prices but hopeless maintenance so even with a few days to spare you can find yourself stuck in an idyllic island waiting for a plane to fly down spare parts.

The windward islands are my preference with strong inter island winds and waves but lots of good anchorages. When Moorings moved their base from Grenada to Canouan they did a good thing. It's the only repellant island in the chain but perfectly situated to start and end from. Roundabout reef in Union Island, Saltwhistle Bay in Mayreau and between the Pitons in St Lucia appeal most to me, although Tobago Keys have to be visited at least once just so you can say you've done it. It's a two hundred boat bleak and windy anchorage packed with boat boys but, though I've never seen it quiet, you can imagine what it must have felt like a couple of decades ago.
 
We did a two-week 'flotilla' out of St Vincent on a Jeanneau SO 36 last December with Sunsail, and the same boats were available for charter. I say 'flotilla' as there were oly two customer boats and the lead boat. Great sailing area with generally good breezes. Just trying to find the cash for another visit.
 
I grew up sailing in the Grenadines for Easter/Summer holidays; we split between Barefoot out of Blue Lagoon, and a yacht that we had a share in (we'd sail across from Barbados in 12 hours). Never had an issue with the Barefoot yachts, other than a catamaran that we got one year because the boat we were meant to charter was run aground on a reef by the previous people... at 10 in the morning no less.

Anyway, to the subject I wanted to address :) I *love* the Tobago Cays. Time stands still, so if all you want to do is stare out to sea, have a few small lumps of rock nearby, and do some snorkeling/diving, the Cays are a lovely spot for it. Nothing between you and Africa, other than Sail Rock. Good documentary channel on the TV too, depending on the nationalities of the boats that are anchored (the government put down moorings, but last I heard they weren't maintained).

If you want to wonder if you have enough anchors out (let alone enough rode), go to the back of Union Island; Chatham Bay has katabatic winds. The fish used to bite bare hooks there. Nice snorkeling on the north side of the bay, and round the headland. Also has a small shack serving freshly cooked fish etc.

Canouan.. eh, not my cup of tea, and as I recall the anchorage can be quite uncomfortable. Mayreau's southern+western anchorage can be ok, though the salt flats can pong a bit (but they're a slightly interesting walk). We usually skip Union's main harbour unless we desperately need supplies; the round-a-bout reef in the middle can make life interesting. PSV can be a windy anchorage; seem to remember the entire place is a private resort.

Bequia is also be a nice place; Admiralty is a bit busy sometimes, and you can find yourself a long way out from the main jetties. Holding varies, east side of the bay is better than west; some sand is like rock, other sand buries your anchor to the point the chain vanishes into ground. Good place to watch fools in inflatables go too fast into the wind, and then learn about physics. Decent Internet access in the cafes too, plus decent grocery stores (for the area).
 
Lots of great info here - we're looking to bareboat charter somewhere in the Caribbean so will be investigating further, following the comments posted. Thanks! :-)
 
We did a Sunsail flotilla in BVI's and whilst we enjoyed it we felt that it was a bit like a Disney set - and very expensive to eat out.

Then did a bareboat charter with Horizon out of Grenada, up into the Grenadines as far as Becquai - and found the real caribbean! Our friends (who enjoyed the BVI's wher we met) felt a little intimidated in the small towns - Hillsborough, Clifton and Admiralty bay, but we spent hours in them, chatting to and drinking with locals and eating at the reasonably priced restaurants. We went back to base early and had a night in Port Louis Marina on the way back down (visiting the capital, St Georges) followed by a full day tour around Grenanda and had a wonderful 2 days on Grenada.

So if your choice is between these 2 make your decision based upon whether you want to sample Caribbean culture and good beaches etc or whether you want to just enjoy sailing, better snorkeling and beaches and overpriced restaurants (some of which are in such stunning locations that the price was worth paying (typically £40 a head for an average meal when we got $2 to £1 a few years ago!!)). There will undoubtedly be those who will prefer the BVI's.

I was not impressed with Sunsail's care of the boats in their care - I felt they were roughly handled by staff who were squeezing them into gaps into which they would not fit on changeover day. One yacht had a prop fall off and I heard from someone on the flotilla that their friends had our yacht on flotilla the following fortnight and the prop shaft came loose!

From Grenada we chartered with Horizon. I think it is a franchise business (?) and certainly their care of yachts seemed excellent. A good handover brief and well equipped boat. I would certainly not hesitate to recomend them based upon our experience. At that time (2010 and maybe still now) their base was the True Blue Bay resort, which was a pleasant spot with good restaurant. We took a 39' Bavaria but paid rock bottom price as we took the decision to charter in hurricane season! We got used to sweating in the higher humidity at that time of year, but enjoyed quieter anchorages and lighter winds. We went prepared to risk having to return to base, hand over keys and book into a concrete hotel if a storm looked like coming through!

Whatever you do - do go as it is an experience not to be missed! :)
 
I've said this many times look at ww.latesail.com they guarantee not to be beaten on price and they have a 'name your price' if you are on a budget. The site gives details of the Caribbean areas, suggested routes and boats are listed by size.
 
I grew up sailing in the Grenadines for Easter/Summer holidays; we split between Barefoot out of Blue Lagoon, and a yacht that we had a share in (we'd sail across from Barbados in 12 hours). Never had an issue with the Barefoot yachts, other than a catamaran that we got one year because the boat we were meant to charter was run aground on a reef by the previous people... at 10 in the morning no less.
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Hi Cricalix,

This is a dumb-ass question, which part of the Carribean islands Are not worth visiting? Are the windward islands nicer than the leeward ? Hoping to ship out my Mobo end of this year (DV), and was wondering whether to start in the north of the chain, or the south?

The Grenadines looks gorgeous on google Earth, would you recommend this area as the best place to start?
 
rustybarge said:
Hi Cricalix,

This is a dumb-ass question, which part of the Carribean islands Are not worth visiting? Are the windward islands nicer than the leeward ? Hoping to ship out my Mobo end of this year (DV), and was wondering whether to start in the north of the chain, or the south?

The Grenadines looks gorgeous on google Earth, would you recommend this area as the best place to start?
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Assuming you are talking about the area between Trinidad and the USVI then al the islands are worth a visit with my least favourite being St Marten but even there you have Tintamarre and Anguilla If you visit the latter find a local to tell the story of the 'war' with St Kitts.

With a Mobo it really doesn't matter but I would start in Trinidad or Grenada and work my way North.
 
TQA said:
Assuming you are talking about the area between Trinidad and the USVI then al the islands are worth a visit with my least favourite being St Marten but even there you have Tintamarre and Anguilla If you visit the latter find a local to tell the story of the 'war' with St Kitts.

With a Mobo it really doesn't matter but I would start in Trinidad or Grenada and work my way North.
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Thanks TQA,

I'm going to commit a heresy, please God it never happens; if you didn't have a boat and you had to live on a Caribbean island, which one would it be?
 
TQA said:
Guadeloupe, no brainer, most diverse of the lesser antilles
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I've been going to France on and off for many many many years ( quote: Police Academy), and still after this time I still can't figure out a French man thinks.

Before you say anything, yes I can speak, well sort off in a very basic way.

>live on a Caribbean island, which one would it be?

Antigua.
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Aha, they speak Spenglish. (pidgin English).
 
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