Yacht Charterers St Vincent/Grenada

[Tomaret]

A little late in the day, I am trying to find a sub 40' yacht to charter for 10 days in Jan/Feb/March 2019.

The yacht brokers seem to pitch the same yacht to multiple clients and twice now by the time I've got flights lined up the yachts have gone. Instead of using brokers I've decided to go straight to the local companies themselves and wondered if anybody had any recommendations, or more importantly, thoughts about ones to avoid.

Many thanks

 

[DJE]

Used this company a few years ago and they were good.

www.sailgrenadines.com

 

[Graham_Wright]

I used Latesail who were very attentive. However, how do you discover the quality and fitness for purpose of the boat?

I chartered a Harmony 42 and after, several requests, obtained details of the sailing equipment on board.

When we arrived at the marina (after a very stressful flight) we discovered we had been "upgraded". The substitute was an almost new Dufour. Very posh, very plush but not, in my opinion, fit for sailing.

The Harmony was still available, not new but preferable in terms of equipment (e.g. a chart table!). It turned out to be a good choice.

We would like to charter in the area again this winter but now I am hesitant.

 

[KellysEye]

Use LateSail they are the only company offering discounted yachts, 700 companies and typically about 7,000 yachts. It is still a buyers market so offer a price but not more than20%.

 

[RichardS]

Have you tried Sunsail/The Moorings? If they have boats available they will do the entire package including all discount flights so there's no wasted effort on your part.

Richard

 

[RupertW]

Have you tried Sunsail/The Moorings? If they have boats available they will do the entire package including all discount flights so there's no wasted effort on your part.

Richard

They do but I've spent an extra couple of days in St Vincent once as they had overbooked a plane and had no space for the crews of 3 boats out of the 12 they'd rented out that week, and in Grenada and Canouan had boats which were very badly maintained though less than 2 years old with broken catches, jagged edges on ladders, completely snarled chain and sheets back to front, with my snagging list at the end of the trip actually thrown away as I left ( I was very polite but I guess it was embarrassing for them to report upwards).

In Croatia and Greece I've found them totally professional and fine.

 

[TQA]

Sub 40 ft monos are a disappearing breed in the Caribbean charter fleets.

However AFAIK Sunsail have at least two and so do Barefoot who operate out of Blue Lagoon St Vincent still have at least two. Do be aware that Barefoot is a second tier charter operation running a varied selection of older boats However the rum punch will taste as good and the Caribbean sunsets will be just as spectacular.

 

[RupertW]

Sub 40 ft monos are a disappearing breed in the Caribbean charter fleets.

However AFAIK Sunsail have at least two and so do Barefoot who operate out of Blue Lagoon St Vincent still have at least two. Do be aware that Barefoot is a second tier charter operation running a varied selection of older boats However the rum punch will taste as good and the Caribbean sunsets will be just as spectacular.

Good call on Barefoot - not everything on board will work and nothing will be gleaming but at their prices and the weather it really doesn't seem to matter.

 

[Tomaret]

Thanks for all the responses,

Mark

 

[Bellacruiser]

We're chartering in March with Dream Yacht in Grenada. I got prices from Sailogy but then also spoke directly to Dream Yacht and haggled a bit. Another charter co out there is North Sardinia Sail (poorly branded for expansion!). Not sure on their fleet and would caution that in June this year we were in Sardinia/Corsica with another charter co, but out of the same marina/bumped into many of their charterers and boats in our week, their boats were notably not very well maintained, certainly cosmetically.

 

[Graham_Wright]

We're chartering in March with Dream Yacht in Grenada. I got prices from Sailogy but then also spoke directly to Dream Yacht and haggled a bit. Another charter co out there is North Sardinia Sail (poorly branded for expansion!). Not sure on their fleet and would caution that in June this year we were in Sardinia/Corsica with another charter co, but out of the same marina/bumped into many of their charterers and boats in our week, their boats were notably not very well maintained, certainly cosmetically.

My charter was with Dream Yacht. Read #3.

 

[Bellacruiser]

My charter was with Dream Yacht. Read #3.

Thanks. We insisted on reviewing a full spec and inventory direct from Dream before booking, and are happy with what's on there so fingers crossed!

 

[Graham_Wright]

Thanks. We insisted on reviewing a full spec and inventory direct from Dream before booking, and are happy with what's on there so fingers crossed!

So did I but when, we arrived, we were presented with a different boat! (………and that had a poor inventory).