Conference unifix::sailing

    Brian,
    
    Check 397 for details on other companies.  I would say that 2K for a
    30', boat only is rather steep.  Definitely check around and do not
    hesitate to use a charter broker for comparisons.
    
    Brian

    Don't forget that UK prices might include airfares, which were in the
    region of �500 return, per person.
    
    Sun Sail were not the cheapest ( by quite a long way ) when we went, but
    we did book with them.
    
    Unfortunately they couldn't provide us with the right size boat in the
    end, so we cancelled the charter, and went with Go Vacations instead,
    through a British company whose name escapes me right now.
    
    Warning - Direct flights to San Juan and/or Antigua from UK got booked
    up VERY early ( one February 90 flight was fully booked in July 89 ),
    and there aren't that many of them. Things may be different now, and
    Feb was High season.
    
    If I remember the UK agents name, I will post it here,
    
    Chris - Wishing that he could swap the English winter for a Virgin
    Islands one again this year.
    

And flights from the UK would be no good to me anyway!

Reading the small print, the cheapest deal is around $1000 a week, off-season,
for a 30' Oceanis.  There are much better available from this side.  Wonder
how come Sunsail are SO much more expensive?  They are quite competitive on
their European prices (vis a vis Falcon for example).

On the other hand.....

Couple of thousand for boat charter, air fares, provisioning, etc. = buy a
small boat and keep it on the Bay!  Cogs are starting to whirr ....

Brian

    Definately keep looking around for a good price.  We just came back
    from a week in the B.V.I., on a C&C 34+ (great boat!) for $1500 US.
    That was with North-South charters.  We tried GO last year and were
    also pleased, although they were just a wee bit more expensive (and
    had Irwin's (slow) as opposed to C&C's)
    
    This did not include airfare.  I believe both are based out of Toronto,
    Canada, but I think they have several offices in the States.
    
    Bob Halsey

Re .2 >    If I remember the UK agents name, I will post it here,
    
    Their name was TropicSail based near Plymouth, Devon (Yealmpton?? -
    Something like that ). The number's in the book.
    
    Chris
    
    

    Has anyone any experience with Misty Isle Charters out of Gorda?  We've
    chartered in the BVI's and USVI's a number of times, but 
    never made it upwind that far.  Always start with big plans, then
    settle into island life mon.  
    
    Based on a number of calls yesterday to get rates, theirs are the best.  
    Just wondering if it is too good to be true.  Mostly concerned w/boat
    condition and maintenance.   We had one bad experience from a private 
    charterer in this area.  Atomic 4, became Atomic 3, and finally
    Atomic 0.  No problem, afterall its a sailboat mon, but it certainly is
    more fun when stuff works.  Thank you for any info
    
    Gary   

    
    Has anyone heard of any problems with drug runners or other types of
    "pirates" in the carribean area?
    
    There have been articles in various publications, and a few novels
    about the subject, and I always wondered if the problem was overblown
    or not.
    
    Dick

    Piracy in the caribbean, when it occurs is mostly limited to the Bahamas, 
    Southern and Western Caribbean.  The areas most of the charter companies 
    operate out of are safe, BVI/USVI, down island etc.  You are more likely 
    to get something stolen in the USVI than in the BVI especially true with 
    St. Thomas.  The closer you get to the Central or South American coasts 
    the higher the risks are as well.  This is all relative as the incidence 
    of piracy in the area is relatively minute.  Common sense will generally 
    keep you out of trouble.  The more remote the area you are in, the
    higher the likelyhood of trouble.  The Bahamas are attractive for
    clandestine activities because there are so many islands over such a wide 
    area, it is hard to patrol it all.  Not to mention it is on the way to
    the mainland on the major drug routes.  Be careful along well known
    contraband routes such as the straights of Florida.  You are more
    likely to be accosted by the coast guard for suspicion than you are to
    be bothered by someone looking to do you harm.  This is a major route
    and is heavily partolled as such.  For more details, it may be wise to
    contact the state department for warnings or other cautionary statements. 
    
    All in all, the area is still safe to cruise in but as in any
    unfamiliar area, pay attention to your surroundings and remove yourself
    from any uncomfortable situations before they become dangerous. 

    My wife and I chartered a boat from SunSail Stevens last march for our
    honeymoon out of Tortolla. The Charter company and boat were first
    rate. We paid winter rates, which I believe was something around
    $1800 US for 7 days, fully provisioned, on a 32.5 foot Beneteau. If you
    go off winter your rates will be substantially less, about half. We
    have talked about going back and would have no problem using Sunsail
    Stevens again. 
    
    One thing they did that several other companies wanted to charge extra
    for was allowing us to sleep on-board the night before our charter was
    to begin. Since we were arriving late, they unlocked the boat for us,
    left the light on, and had a fruit basket waiting for us. A nice and
    thoughtful touch. Since it was our honeymoon, they also threw in two
    very expensive bottles of french champagnie that was MOST appreciated.
    
    They went over the boat thoroughly with us the next morning. Answered
    all our questions, and insured we knew and understood how to contact
    them if we had ANY questions or problems. We had no problems, but did
    call once for information, of which they provided immediately.
    
    Upon booking the charter, they sent a cruising guide and chart to us to
    begin studying and dreaming. The booking center also answered all
    questions anytime we had one. I'd recommend at least calling and
    getting more info. 
    
    Their number is US and Canada is 800-327-2276 (toll free)
    Regular number is 305-484-5246
    Fax is 	      305-485-5073
    Address:  Sunsail
              2 Prospect Park
              3347 N.W. 55th st.
              Ft. Lauderdale, Fl 33309.
    
    PS- We stayed in the BVI's and never went into the USVI's. Having been
    to St. Thomas before, I wasn't inclined to go through the immigration
    and customs hassles. We had no problem with theft or harrassment. I
    too, have heard you need to be a bit more wary of that in the USVI.
    Sad commentary.
    
    Robert

    Re. the question of Misty Isles, although I have not chartered from
    them, I read a very good report on them by Bob Lush in Sailing Canada. 
    I think Bob had a C&C 35R from them and he was quite enthusiastic.
    
    I have been in the BVI's twice, first with GO vacations (Fat Hog's Bay)
    which was great and second with another Canadian group called Conch
    charters.  I know that I am not allowed to say anything derogatory here
    in the notes file so I will say no more about Conch.
    
    When I was there last, I spent a couple of evenings in Leverick Bay in
    Gorda sound.  North/South were the operator there and they had a lovely
    facility there with pool and free moorings.  That was 1989 and since
    then (courtesy of Hugo) I believe that North/South have gone under. 
    When I start planning for my next trip I will find out who has taken
    over that facility and give serious consideration as they had a good
    fleet of C&C boats as well as a very efficient, clean and friendly
    operation.  Even for people who had made the mistake of chartering from
    those I cannot mention (above!)

    North/South is still operating but they have moved out of the Leverick
    Bay facility.  I believe they are on Tortola now, possibly out of Nanny
    Cay.  All new boats according to the ads.  When we were down last,
    their fleet looked sort of tired.  Well maintained but tired.  
    
    Brian 

    I chartered a 38' C&C from Misty Isle in November.
    
    I had a terrible time. Almost everything went wrong with the boat, and
    although I returned the vessel in a better shape than I got it, it
    still took them about 6 weeks before they returned my $500 deposit.
    They flatly refused, at first, to return a pre-cancelled provisioning
    charge, despite the fact that they had agreed earlier to do so.
    
    A very shady outfit indeed. I do not recommend them. I will be glad to
    give more details by e-mail.
    
    Ray

    I just got back from ten days in the BVI on a private boat, berthed in
    Nanny Cay.
    
    North/South now has a large base of operations at Nanny Cay.   I spoke
    to a couple of people who were chartering from N/S, and they were
    pleased with their arrangements.
    
    Other highlights:
    
    It was the least crowded I've ever seen it.  I believe it was due to
    some cancellations from the Gulf War, and also due to the fact that Jan
    17-29 (our period) corresponded to no school vacations or holidays. 
    Most of the places we went to only had 1/3 to 1/2 the number of boats
    I've been accustomed to seeing.  For example,  at sunset in Little
    Harbor Jost vanDyke, 8 moorings were still untaken.  Likewise there
    were still moorings available at Manchioneel bay (cooper Isl), Drakes
    Anchorage, and Marina Cay, at sunset.  Many of the smaller restaurants
    simply closed down withouth serving dinner since there were so few
    customers (this was in places like Little Harbor and Great Harbor jvd,
    where there were multiple restaurants)..
    
    Don                                   
    
    
    
    

Over the past year, SunSail has expanded considerably by buying small chartering
companies around the world.  They look to be setting up as a mini Moorings, 
although you wouldn't know it by their advertisements.   Bit of a cash
crunch after all the expansion?

Anyway, we chartered with them out of Marsh Harbor, Great Abaco, Bahamas
over Christmas.  No significant problems.  I don't want to comment
too much on maintenance/service since it appeared like they were in 
the process of turning over the old fleet from BYS (bought out by them) and
instituting new management procedures. BYS was well-regarded and their
personnel are still in-place.

IMHO, the Bahamas are a great place to go.  The hassle and cost of getting 
there from the states is much less relative to the B/US VIs, the water
is just as blue, the sun as nice, the wind as constant (in all but deep summer),
and it appeared to be less crowded.  You got your rum, your sun, your wind,
your white sandy beaches, your turquoise water...!

I'm planning to charter a Sailboat (30-35') sometime 
during the September/October timeframe.

I want to charter either from/to Antigua, or 
from/to Miami.

Unfortunately, I can't find any charterer in Europe,
covering these 2 areas.

Is anybody aware of chartercompanies who are covering 
either Antigua or Miami (or both) ?

Regards, Chris van Heeswijk @RTO

    
    	Try Ed Hamilton in the U.S. many folks that read this file have
    used him before.  His U.S. number is 207-549-7855, if you can figure
    out how to dial out through the swithcboard in the U.S. 800-621-7855. 
    He is located on the East Coast of the U.S. to give you some idea of
    when to call.
    
    Forrest