charter in Carribbean

[kynaston]

I am considering chartering a boat in the Virgin Islands for my honeymoon. For various reasons this will have to be in September - right in the middle of the hurricane season. I would therefore like to be able to make a reasonable assessment of the risk of being caught out. Can anyone reccommend some good resources. I have already looked at our Met Office and NOAA but I wondered if anyone knew of any others.

Also general comments on the suitability of the area for a honemoon for someone who has never sailed in the tropics before. My Fiance is relatively inexperienced though keen.

Thankyou
R

 

[bedouin]

I couldn't think of a better place for a honeymoon than BVIs, in the right season.

September of course is not the right season. Even if you don't actually experience a hurricane, tropical depressions and tropical storms can disrupt the weather around the BVIs.

Probably the best source of information about the weather in the Carribean is

http://www.caribwx.com

run by the inimicable David Jones

 

[Guest]

Try www.stormcarib.com. Lot's of useful information on hurricanes in the carribbean. We had a charter in November 2000 and the weather was wonderful. However in November 1999 the area was hit by a biggie. September could be a bit risky.

 

[tony_brighton]

Absolutely fabulous place for a honeymoon. The sailing isn't very demanding but is very pleasurable, its line of site nav and there are mooring buoys everywhere so no worries about marina bashing. To see the whole of the BVIs is a 2 week trip - 3 weeks would have you starting to go around again; expect to sail for a couple of hours in the morning, pick up a buoy for a lunch stop (snorkelling on stunning reefs etc) and then a couple of hours to the evening stop of your choice. Its reasonably priced - expect to pay $20 for an overnight stop on a mooring buoy. Plenty of restaurants and bars on the harbour's edge (who run the mooring buoys); great drinks but the food can be slightly limited - chicken, fish, lobster or steak is the staple everywhere.

The other skipper and I went a year ago in November - no problem with the weather although the direction was occasionally anomolous. Chartered a Sunsail 331 which was OK for a couple with mixed experience. Friend of mine went the year before with a charter through Sunsail- they had the hurricane mentioned elsewhere so Sunsail diverted them to a couple of weeks in Mexico.

 

[bedouin]

Re: Hurricane Lenny

I was chartering with Sunsail in BVIs when Lenny hit in Nov 1999 - certainly an experience I won't forget!

It was certainly an exceptional event but it showed up just how poor Sunsail is. In comparison with all the other charter fleets they were much less well prepared and handled the situtation very badly.

<P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by kimhollamby on Tue Jan 29 16:42:43 2002 (server time).</FONT></P>

 

[summerwind]

I am not an over-cautious person and am quite happy to give a hard time to people more risk averse than myself. However, September is a very high-risk time for tropical storms in the BVIs. In view of your level of experience, is it really worth risking your necks at the very time when the odds are stacked against you.

Another consideration is continuing sailing with your new wife during the rest of your life. Even if you are only on the edge of a tropical storm, you will frighten her off sailing for the rest of your lives. Many other members of the forum will confirm how difficult the sailing life is if the Second Skipper is not enthusiastic.

Best wishes, whatever you decide.

 

[wishbone]

Hi We did the BVI's a couple of years ago, even during the summer the winds can be very strong, my wife was very inexperianced and it was too much for her. some of the legs we sailed were too long for her, BUT what a beautifull place, Sandy cay! a paradise little island can be very romantic, do lots of barby's on the boat, I think this was the best way we ate!

All the best and good luck

 

[Budgie]

BVI is great, but I remember recently seeing a graph of the number of hurricanes against date, and there was a very steep peak in the middle of September. I would strongly suggest postponing the honeymoon until November when the weather prospects are much better, and the rates are still fairly low.