First timer - BVI charter.

ChattingLil

ChattingLil

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some may recall I asked for advice on booking a charter in the BVI - well we are going on 1st Feb for two weeks. :D

Will join a flotilla for the first week due to nerves in handling a bigger boat than am used to, then bare-boat for week two.

Have not chartered for nearly 10 years and have never chartered overseas. Please advise on what I should think about in advance. Are there any things I should be particularly aware of when taking the boat (vis a vis checking it over/damage).

Have been sent the provisioning order form - will order a few basics, but get the rest there and we will take our own Earl Grey teabags (at $5 for 25 bags, I think so!).

Have noticed that LJs on board are bouyancy aid type, rather than what we are used to - would you recommend taking own LJs or any other gear? or just rely on what is provided. Would be nice to take just hand-baggage and can do so if not taking other sailing gubbings.

thanks for all advice!

Can't wait!
 
Life Jackets in the BVI are solid foam type (US Goastguard Regs). I doubt you'll ever want to use them, but if you like wearing a LJ, take your own with you.

As far as provisioning is concrned, when you get there, just take a taxi to the big supermarket in Road Town and get everything there (much cheaper).

Take twice the money that you think you'll need, and half the clothes (shorts, T shirts, and swimmies pretty-much sets the tone).

Buy plenty of "OFF" mozy spray at the supermarket and put it on everywhere, every evening before the sun goes down (or you'll get bitten to death).

Take snorkel gear (quite expensive to buy it out there).

Don't bother taking your wets, as it's too hot to wear them, and when it rains it's warm and you dry off quickly anyway.

Take some CDs for music on-board, and take a car charger for your phone if you have one.

I think that covers it.

Have fun and give my regards to Foxy...
 
ChattingLil said:
Have noticed that LJs on board are bouyancy aid type, rather than what we are used to - would you recommend taking own LJs or any other gear?
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Those buoyancy aid thingies are unusable: take your own but read the many threads on here about flying with lifejackets and get confirmation in writing from the airline and details of how/where it should be carried (probably checked baggage with cylinders detached)

Check if the charter company provides an up to date pilot book and which one it is, then visit the publisher's site and download and print off the updates. My first charter in croatia they didn't and there were none for sale that I could find. Next charter in Turkey I took a new (and heavy) Heikell book and the exact same was on the boat. At least I had a few pages of new updates though.

I normally pack my hand bearing compass and a handheld VHF (print off your licence and keep it with the radio). The former should be unnecessary but is light. The latter more of a hassle but might come in handy for communicating with the beach landing party, as a backup, and if you're the only one who will helm in a stressful situation where you might also need to be using the radio.

These days I'd probably also download the navionics area for my phone.

Oh and those boats never have motoring cones and only occasionally anchor balls :-)
 
As you mention, lifejackets on many charters are often huge foam buoyancy aids - totally unsuitable to wear whilst doing any form of deck work - so only really any good for abandoning ship. Plus they don't have an integral harness. Total PITA.

Last year we chartered in the Dodecanese (looking for wind) and on four days we got it - F5-6, gusting 7 - with two children on board it was definitely LJ time, as well as when using the dinghy at night. Hence we took our own.

There were envious looks from several other boats who were clearly underwhelmed by the LJs provided.

As stated, make sure you have written permission from the airline to carry them - also it is useful to have a copy of the IATA carriage regulations, which clearly state that they can be carried in hand baggage, just in case you meet a jobs worth. Obviously any airline can also set its own regulations and not allow carriage in hand baggage, so again worth having a copy of their regs as well. Leaving a £200 lifejacket at the airport would rather spoil the start of your holiday.
 
I have flown out with AA, Virgin and BA with my life jacket (Spinlock) i disconnect the cylinders and shove them in the bag. I always bring a spare too.

BVI great sailing ground I did 4 weeks of charter out there onboard a 65ft CAT lots of fun. My advice is bring scuba gear :-) makes Barracuda swimming more fun :-) dont want to have that shallow water blackout when you turn around and one is face to face with it. This ofcourse means bringing a wetsuit. Honestly for 2 weeks i would bring hold luggage. You have to anyway if you want to bring your life jackets or check ahead and possibly buy them out there if you want to carry on your LJ.

Bottom line,

Enjoy the week. Bitter end and the island restaurant opposite were highlights!
 
Who you chartered with?

We went some time ago with Sunsail.

We ended up with a 42 footer after two free upgrades...:) It was easy to handle even though I was more used to something much smaller.

Your first week will be easy if you use the help and follow the advice from the lead Skipper.

Plan your second week with their help..

BVIs cater for the Septics mainly so all the restauraunts have oversized plates and oversized customers... We ended up ordering one meal to share between two of us.

Anchor off as much as possible as cooler and cheaper than in Marinas..

Line of sight navigation except Aneghada

Enjoy....


It is not cheap!

Oh if you are short sighted get prescription goggles for snorkelling now.
 
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marklucas said:
also it is useful to have a copy of the IATA carriage regulations, which clearly state that they can be carried in hand baggage, just in case you meet a jobs worth.
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Agreed, although first time I took a printed copy of the IATA regs, the guy at stansted security who I showed it to had me detained for 20 minutes for being in possession of "restricted information" (I was being super-polite, he just thought I had somehow got hold of a secret document and apparently hadn't heard of this "Internet" thing in 2008).

The IATA regs do say IIRC that the airline's approval is needed, so I'd stick with that being your primary documentation. Moreover, the airlines should tell you where to carry them (hand/checked baggage).

My mistake at Stansted was volunteering more information than needed. The airline had told me (verbally at check in) to take the lifejacket in hand luggage. My bag went through security with no problem but then I did stupidly say to the security guy "Oh: you didn't pick up these CO2 cylinders on your scanner, but the airline told me to take them in checked baggage and here's the IATA regs about them". That's when it kicked off...
 
Be prepared for airline delays! D'ont forget you will have to transfer to LIAT and they may not know the regulations re lifejackets. If you wish, PM and I can loan you a chart for preplanning (only 2 years old!). Agree with advice to take a taxi to Roadtown Supermarket.
Expect a "laid back" attitude to settling in at base-no hurry!. Treat it as a holiday, very easy sailing , if crowded. Dinghy and outboard essential. Make sure you get a securing device and lock from charterer to stop dinghy being "borrowed".
Very different from East Coast!
 
There are plenty of pre-charter check lists on the internet or I can PM you a copy of one I use.

Do check the hull/main components for obvious signs of damage/wear and point thm out to the person doing the briefing you don't want to be struggling with broken kit part way through your holiday.

Check that the anchor windlass works down and up and where the breaker is.

Check that the roller reefing works ok and that the mainsail runs easily in the mast track by running out a few feet whilst in the marina.

Make sure you include all the high spots in your itinerary (The Baths on Virgin Gorda, Anagada, White Bay on Jost van Dyke) and get to the mooring fields early by 3pm especially in February as the bouys get taken quickly.

The snorkelling at Monkey Point on Guana Island is one of the best as are "The Indians" off Pelican Island.
 
I had a great time there about 6-7 yrs ago.
Things to check onboard;
THAT THERE IS NO COCKROACH INFESTATION. Guess how I know.:(
The windlass works as already mentioned.
The radio works
The dinghy painter is not worn and do check you are still towing it.
Is there a wind scoop.

Also as mentioned I took my nav tools, inc hand bear compass.
You will love it. Its usually great sailing.
 
Be prepared to change you idea of time
It's like somebody switches the sun on about 6am -and off at 6pm the moon will make a difference if it's full etc
The first week should let you work out what you want to do the second week
Allow for plenty of ice and keep a locker of cold drinks up top
Drink bottled water only and watch out for painkillers (local drink)
Bread and crackers don't seem to keep that well
Taking your own charts on phone or tablet will also allow you to keep a record if you are using an iPad get an "anker battery pack " many cigar sockets will not not charge an iPad .
Twice the money and half the clothes seems right but don't forget long sleeved lightweights for sun and beasties crocs for footwear are great both on and off boat beaches etc

Enjoy and tells us about it when you get back
 
Beverley has just reminded me....

One of the benefits of BVIs

Apparently I stopped snoring for the first time in our married life for the whole of the 2 week holiday.:D
 
ChattingLil said:
yes please, very helpful. Thanks. Have send PM.
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I've sent a reply...I forgot to mention the supermarket in Sopers Hole, West End was doing a special offer on Pussers rum when we were there...6 bottles for the price of 5... it worked out about 9USD per bottle!

It might have been 9GBP per bottle (either way it was cheap!) :)
 
FistralG said:
I've sent a reply...I forgot to mention the supermarket in Sopers Hole, West End was doing a special offer on Pussers rum when we were there...6 bottles for the price of 5... it worked out about 9USD per bottle!

It might have been 9GBP per bottle (either way it was cheap!) :)
Click to expand...

now I have some news for you, and this may send some of you into apoplectic fits... hwmo is completely tee-total and I hardly bothered one way or the other. I am however, rather partial to rum cocktails.... :cool:
 
Although I religiously wear a lifejacket in UK waters, I never do in the Caribbean. This is partly because I would look overdressed, but mainly because the water temperature is such that anyone capable of keeping themseves afloat would be able to survive for days in the event of falling in.
 
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