What
is this charter boat thing all about?
For
those of you who have fantasized about sailing in the tropical paradise of
the Caribbean waters, but
are not sure what is really going on... this page is for you! There's a lot
of info on this page, but if you read it through, I think it will clear a
few things up.
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What are the different types
of charters?
Well... it seems a little confusing at first, because there
several types of charter businesses that you keep stumbling over as you read
your way through the chartering and cruising WEB sites. Here are the FOUR
common, charter arrangements :
- Day sailing or chartering: This is just what it sounds like. It always
includes a crew and necessary amenities, depending on the length of the sail.
It is usually offered as either a half day or full day sail, and almost always
includes snorkeling stops. Commercial outfits that offer this experience may
have a relatively small boat accommodating 6-8 people, or a large yacht taking
on 50 people. You can often reserve an entire boat for you and your friends,
or just join in with an existing, scheduled trip. It can be a pleasant and
inexpensive way for folks new to boating to get a sense of whether they like
being out on the water. This is a "must" activity for those staying
on land for their stay in the BVI. Although this site doesn't deal directly
with this kind of arrangement, you can Click
here for a list of BVI day sail companies.
- Crewed charter: This is a big business in the Caribbean, and, in
fact, around the world. It is usually a man and woman who often crew their
own boat as a business. They usually have extensive sailing experience and
impressive licenses and credentials. They act as skipper, mate, cook, tour
guide, diving instructor... the whole ball of wax. Some folks charter with
people whom they've never met, but often a group of friends will charter the
entire yacht and crew just for themselves. This latter scenario is obviously
preferable, since there is no risk of sharing a boat with people you don't
like. Cost can range from quite inexpensive to very pricey, depending on the
size and age of the yacht, the amenities included, and the number of people
who are sharing the weekly cost. Generally, the crew is a married couple who
are very friendly and accommodating, and the food is a major highlight of
the trip. There are hundreds of web sites depicting these businesses, however,
as with "bareboat" charters, most are arranged through booking agents..
- Bareboat chartering : This is probably the most common type of sail
boat charter. The term "bareboat" is a bit deceiving, because it
implies "minimally appointed." This is far from the case. "Bareboat"
simply designates a charterboat that does not include a skipper, crew,
or food as part of the basic package. I used to think all the yachts I
saw cruising around the Virgin Islands were a bunch of rich people who owned
boats, living the life of leisure. In fact, most of the yachts you see are
folks like you and me who are merely renting a charter boat for a week. In
many instances, there is really just one person in the group of chartering
folks who is the experienced sailor. The rest are just helping out. "Angelina,"
the yacht described on this Web site, is a bareboat charter. As described
below, she can be rented with or without a skipper.
- Bareboat charter WITH Skipper: This is an option people
often forget. It can be a nice compromise between a Crewed and Bareboat charter,
both for cost and independence. For total "non-sailors" as well
as people who have sailed, but lack the confidence or experience to go it
alone, hiring a skipper can make all the difference. It allows you to call
your own shots, yet have the security of an excellent sailor who knows the
local waters. There is also the option of hiring an instructional skipper
for a small additional charge. Charterers can even arrange to receive certification
for ASA (American Sailing Association) courses, Certified Diver training,
and more. The good news is that skippers are very affordable, usually about
$100 or so per day plus food. Divided by 6 people in your charter group makes
this a fairly modest expenditure. Other crew, like cooks, are available for
hire as well.
There are a few things to remember when considering bareboat charters and add-on-skippers:
(a) The skipper is just a boat captain, not servant crew, or an official
tour guide. Although most skippers are very friendly and obliging, they are
not paid to perform the services expected on a Crewed Charter.
(b) There is always the issue of where the skipper sleeps. If you have an unused
cabin, this is an obvious solution. On nights when you're anchored in a Tortolan
cove, the skipper may be able to go home for the night, and come back in the
morning. On other islands, alternative accommodations may need to be found.
Most people anchor at the end of a sailing day by 3:00 PM when cruising in season,
so there is usually plenty of time to decide any variations in night arrangements.
Needless to say, this is a discussion to have with your skipper before you negotiate
the fee. With charterers who are inexperienced sailors, it is expected that
they leave a cabin free where the skipper can sleep.
(c) When comparing costs, make sure you are considering all a` la carte fees
and taxes. Some things that are already included in a Crewed Charter may arise
as extra charges on a bareboat rental with skipper.
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Who are all of these charterboat
companies?
This is another area that may require clarification. Who are these
companies advertising yacht charters? Essentially, there are two services being
offered in this industry. There are charterboat booking agents and yacht/charter
management companies.
- Booking agents are people who arrange charters for people.
A company like this can be an office located anywhere, that knows what boats
are available in what location. They will book and arrange the deal for you,
and generally require no fee. They are basically the "travel agents"
of the charter industry. There is no cost to you when you book through a booking
agent. Nor is there any cost incurred by the management company that serves
you during your charter. The commission costs are incurred by the owner of
the boat. An honest, conscientious agent can often find you the best deals.
Agents make money by repeat business, so they should be motivated to find
you discounts and make you happy. A $500 savings means a lot to you, but very
little to the booking agent's commission, in the long run. The term "broker"
is sometimes used in lieu of the title, "booking agent",
but this can be confusing because a yacht "brokerage" usually refers
to companies selling and purchasing yachts.
- Management companies are typically the people who keep and
manage the yacht in a specific location. They are the ones who greet you at
your charter destination and support you during your charter experience. In
many instances, the management companies have in-house booking agents who
book charters for yachts in their own fleets. This is pretty standard, however
it goes without saying that they are motivated to book a yacht for you only
from their fleet. Many of these management companies are also yacht brokers
who would love to sell you a yacht and place in their charter fleet. This
is subject would require a web site of its own!
The sailboat "Angelina" now named
"RW Mist",
for example is kept at Tortola Marine Management (TMM). They keep a fleet
of yachts in several locations owned by various people from all over the world.
As the owner of Angelina, I feel TMM is one of the finest management companies
in the yachting industry. That is why I have hired them to manage my boat. I
feel they are the perfect size company. They are big and experienced enough
to provide the best support for you during your glorious charter, yet they are
small enough to provide very personalized service. Their management of "Angelina"
includes keeping her at their marina, meticulous maintenance, and full service
and support to those of you chartering this yacht.
If you want to charter "RW
Mist," or another charterboat, I can
personally arrange (book) the charter for you, and TMM will take care of all
of the details from the moment they pick you up at the airport or ferry dock.
I offer some discount as an incentive, but mostly I love helping folks arrange
a charter. No matter how you want to proceed, or even if you're not sure what
you want to do, please fell free to email me with any questions you might have.
I also book other boats, both monohulls and cats, for people with a variety
of charter companies. I would be happy to share my enthusiasm toward this absolutely
wonderful world of chartering, so PLEASE don't hesitate to email or phone me
with inquiries of any kind.
|
|
 Go
to "Angelina" home page to learn about a fantastic charterboat,
and for more great links. Or for lots more hot tips for the BVI sailor
click
here. |
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