Liveaboard in BVIs vs Med

[Anonymous]

I was reading the Sailnet Jeanneau email correspondence and one person suggested buying their boat from a US dealer for delivery in the BVI, ex sales tax and VAT. They were suggesting sailing back to the UK in due course and paying the VAT. But here is the reply someone posted..........

"Of course, once you start sailing in the BVI's, you will realize only an act of complete and utter madness would ever find you sailing back to Europe. If you are so afflicted, VAT is the least of your troubles and will pale compared to your psychiatric bills."

I'd appreciate others' opinions - we could easily arrange our affairs to do the BVIs instead of the Med but I've never even been there, let alone sailed there! Is it worth a bareboat charter for a look, perhaps, or are there other downsides in any case?


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[goupil]

Have your boat delivered near the factory in France.
Pity not to sail her overseas(shipping is not cheap) and you'll enjoy Madeira and Canary islands on your way.
I lived aboard in West Indies 4 years : a perfect cruising ground for sure, you spent most of the year at anchor in wonderful spots & due to the trade winds sailing is great...
But one day or another you miss "Old Europe", its seasons and the family.
+ There's a lot to discover an enjoy in Med too (US sailors cross to cruise there) !
As for myself : it is on my next agenda...

<hr width=100% size=1>Brittany Yacht Assistance

 

[Ric]

For every person who swears that the Caribbean is better than the Med, there is another who prefers the Med. It depends on your personal tastes and priorities. For me, I like cruising the Med. I like the weather - rarely too hot, usually good sailing, and occasionally nicely challenging, but rarely outright dangerous (Caribbean often too hot, and sometimes dangerous). I like the food - super restaurants, nice wine, easily available fresh produce in markets (try getting fresh milk, or nice wine in the Caribbean). I like the spectacular scenery (Caribbean also has great scenery but not so varied as the Med IMO). I like the fascinating history - sail into Mahón or Porto Ferraio, or any of the other astonishing natural harbour-forts in the Med, and you can almost live the battles fought over them (the Caribbean also has a rich history I'd admit). I like the security in the Med - you really don't have to worry about piracy and can leave your boat at anchor for a shore trip without concern. I find the Caribbean rather dominated by Americans and their culture, of which I am not a fan, whereas I enjoy the cultural and linguistic variety in the Med. Lastly, I like the fact that I can jump in the water without having to worry (even slightly) about getting my toes nibbled by a shark!

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[ccscott49]

I like the meddy, much more diverse cultures and scenery, I also like the Caribean, but I wouldnt want to leave my boat too long with nobody aboard, plus its expensive and the locals are not that friendly, they prefer your money, not your company. IT`s the meddy for me, until I retire anyway.

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[AndrewB]

Are you seriously rich?

The BVI's have to be the finest cruising ground in the world. But if there is a more expensive spot to be a liveaboard, I've yet to find it. And, regrettably, its getting to be as overcrowded as the Solent.

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[kesey]

I have not been to the BVIs yet, but have been to the Grenadines many times.

I've sailed from St. Lucia to Grenada, and the whole area is absolutely fabulous. Many people liveaboard there, wintering in places like Secret Harbour, Grenada, or down in Trinidad or Tobago.

If it suits you to have your boat there, then you can sail it for a number of years there..then bring it back to Europe and pay VAT on the residual value.

If you consider doing a charter over in the Caribbean, consider doing the Moorings out of Canouan. It puts you right in the middle of the Grenadines, and in paradise.

The Caribbean is not a cheap area to live...unless you dine aboard a lot, particularly on fish which you have caught. Restaurants generally are pretty expensive. The best value I've found is Firefly on Mustique, and Frangipani on Bequia. There the quality and service are very impressive, so the bills are fair.

The quality and freshness of the seafood all around is superb. Water and diesel are easily obtainable. Boat repairs in eg Bequia are very good, professional and reasonable.

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[Jeannius]

I purchased my boat new in 2002 in France (vat free under the export rules) and then sailed her first to the Canaries, then with the ARC to St. Lucia, then on to the BVI where she is now on charter.

The BVI is great for holiday charter but is not a liveaboard destination at all.

Don't think I'll ever bring the boat back to Europe... all that nasty vat would have to be paid!

<hr width=100% size=1>Mike

<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.sailbvi.net>www.sailbvi.net</A>

 

[irishmark]

just to add my bit to the pile..having sailed in the bvi and in the windward ils. I found it was much less expensive from st lucia down. ok the facilities etc might not be there but i tended to pay in EC rather than with the US dollar. THe USD is 2.5/1 against the EC Dollar yet price seemed not be much more expensive.. also i found that there are tons of fantastic places to anchor in the windward ils whereas in the BVI i tended to end up on one of theses $20 a night moorning bouys....but then again if someone offered me aboat to live aboard in either spot i'd be there tomorrow...well finances allowing......

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