The Big Leap

[scooner]

I have just started a life changing exercise, sold the house and business to get away from the stress and strain of a high-pressure job, before it ends me. I have moved to Brittany on the cotes d'amor close to St Malo and my intention is to gain my yacht master qualification for June next year. I am considering buying a Bavaria 50' Cruiser for charter and corporate days/weekends. Has anyone out there had experience with this type of business and is it likely to succeed. The idea is to have a roomy yacht with all the luxuries etc. (Is this the right way to go).

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[robind]

What a fantastic situation to find yourself in!
Have you considered which courses you should take and in what order? it strikes me that (with my total lack of marketing skills) I would go for a marketing course first so I could better understand the market and how to approach it ? then I would get the necessary yachtmaster teaching ones? whilst advertising the service.
Regards
Rob

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[Sea Devil]

Do not want to be a damp squid but.... the main skipper charter business is out of antigua agencies for rich americans and a B50 would probably be too small.

I knew someone quite well who equipped and prepared a very nice 60 ft boat for skippered charter - tried to advertise it himself and find customers himself and in the first year did not get one booking....... In the 2nd year he got one and then gave up.

Having said that I did meet a very succesful 60 ft charter boat in the Greek islands who offered achealogical charters - they had an expert on board to give lectures and they 'toured' the archealogial sites by boat... Worked all summer in the boat and spent all winter selling via internet and magazines bookings for the winter - they had a clever little niche market.

Do folks really want to skipper charter in northern France - I am not sure ... but ...

<hr width=100% size=1>If you have time please visit my web site -
<A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.michaelbriant.com/sailing>http://www.michaelbriant.com/sailing</A>

 

[scooner]

Thanks for your response I have booked a course with Devon Sailing, which takes me stage by stage from competent crew to yacht master. It was always my intention to get a yacht master certificate even if yacht charter is unsuccessful.

I have started a marketing campaigned to see what response I can achieve. I am about to e-mail a targeted audience of around 6000 companies in the south of England and have a web site up and running to back up the campaigne, www.suresail.com The idea was to target corporate weekends and day excursions, have a look at the site, as any constructive criticism is welcome.
I will of course take on board the comments about the chap who tried to gain his own bookings and failed miserably... I try to avoid failure where possible and this is why I am trying the marketing routine first, maybe there isn’t a market for corporates??? I will certainly keep you posted of the responses over the next few months.

Regards
Scooner


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[trouville]

Yes i was going to say your boats to small!! In Cannes places for normal boats 15meters or 60footers have gone to make way for ferries that is luxuary super boats 20/30 meters + really large.
A 601foot motor boat is generaly used by Germans and Italians without consideration for others and has a bad name as a new money tastless snob boat.
Recently we had to leave as "prominent people" were arriving as i was in the harbour(a small miracel as there are noplaces even for me)we went to more between the Islands.
Sunday morning an Italian flaged motor boat went through the Islands without slowing down enough.
That was a 60footer and he decided not to stop.In fact he went on to StTropez where we ummm found him latter

Look for a Bennetti there quite cheap and very very good and charterable conservative. a group of docters (german $1mpa normal) sold there 30meter boat as they couldent use it. so charters great but be sure that you can get into ports with yout guests!

If your wondering im just a tramp no money no hope no nothing 40foot motorsailer --past the sell buy date. liveaboards now have 60foot sail boats and even cats!! just 5 years ago the average livaboard was only up to 50feet and 5 years before that 40 was big--and still comfortable!!! and a good single hand size




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[kds]

Would you have a clear conscience about taking inexperienced clients out on a boat with your experience limited to the training courses you plan to undertake ?
Or are you planning to employ a professional skipper who has the appropriate experience ?
Ken

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