| T.R | Title | User | Personal
Name | Date | Lines |
|---|
| 1944.1 | Try a broker | DPDMAI::CARRERAG | | Fri Oct 09 1992 12:45 | 3 |
| I would suggest contact a brocker such as Ed Hamilton in Maine or
Regency in St. Thomas. They would have better information on what's
available and when.
|
| 1944.2 | Consider Belize | ASDG::ANTONIADIS | | Mon Oct 12 1992 15:14 | 17 |
| If you would like a true sailing/cruising adventure try Belize. I
chartered twice an Irwin 52 with captain/divemaster and gourmet
cook from Sail Belize. That was back in 1985 and 1986. I dont know
if they are still in business. The diving and fishing in that area
along the offshore atolls and the barrier reef are the best I have
seen anywhere. The Irwins were very well fitted out with six tanks,
compressor etc, plus water skis and windsurfers.
Belize was (still is?) well out of the beaten path. We rarely saw
another yacht, but local knowledge ans shallow draft (5.5 ft) is
essential. The only caveat with this whole region of Central America
is that it is prone to the continental cold fronts. One of the times
we lost almost three days hiding from a vicious norther that blew
steady 30-35 kts. Other than those aberrations, region is bathed
in the same balmy trades as the rest of the Caribbean.
/Dimitri
|
| 1944.3 | Consider the Windwards | GIAMEM::SEUFFERT | | Mon Oct 26 1992 16:31 | 10 |
| If you want to all of the things you have listed, particularly trolling
for Dorado (aka Dolphin) don't go to the Virgins. I would suggest you
try sailing out of the Windward Islands. Take in the lower part of the
French West Indies like Martinique, then on to St. Lucia and St.
Vincent and on to the Grenadines. All have a different flavor, not like
the Virgins, all are on a reach, not like the Virgins, all are blue
water sailing, not like the Virgins and lots and lots of clean, clear
water. See if you can arrange a one way charter so you don't waste time
going back, but if you can't there are lots of places to stop so it
will not feel like duplication.
|
| 1944.4 | perhaps the weather would be a factor... | POWDML::SPENCER_J | Commuter from the Other Cape | Mon Nov 02 1992 11:57 | 16 |
| Mid-winter trade wind blows stronger the further south you go, and
obviously the inter-island distances and fetch increase as well. Last
year, apparently, the Grenadines saw weeks on end of 30+ kt winds --
some charter companies were refusing to send out anything smaller than
35', leaving the 30'ers at the dock. One group on a 35'er reported
they sailed for two weeks with a double reef in, wet weather gear on,
and a rail under; waves were 8'-12' on inter- island passages. Not
everyone's idea of a relaxing holiday sail.
The BVI's are considered the most benign winter wind area of the major
chartering locations. Further south the trades are more intense;
further north in the Bahamas you risk the seasonal northers which can
push temps into the low 60's (high 50's at worst) as well as blow 25-35
kts for a couple days or three.
John.
|
| 1944.5 | Dream Cruise En Route! | MR4DEC::PWILSON | PHILIP WILSON, DTN 297-2789, MRO4-2E/C18 | Mon Nov 23 1992 09:47 | 28 |
| Our party of 4 contacted Ed Hamilton Yacht Charter Agents P.O. Box 430
N. Whitefield, Me. 04353 and he has been extremely helpful and
professional. You can contact him at (800)621-7855 or (207)549-7855.
He helped us through the boat selection process which was a lot of fun.
We have settled on a brand-spanking new 55' catamaran called "Breanker"
which is docked at Yacht Haven Marina in St. Thomas. The Captain's name
is Brett Pollack and the boat, Captain, and crew are out of Cape Town,
South Africa. The boat was built in 1991 and has accomodations for 4
couples. The price for 4 people (we may add some more) is $8,500 with
50% due upon booking the boat. The price includes diving and that was
an important factor in yacht selection. The boat has an air compressor
aboard, as well as 2 windsurfers.
At this point we've put down our deposit, and booked our airline
flights (also through Ed Hamilton as he had great rates $400 from
Boston!), now we're working on meal selection.
We're going to make it easy on the cook by putting on the menu form:
" GOURMET HAUTE CUISINE WITH SOME BAR-B-QUE MIXED IN "
We'll report back on our "Dream Cruise" experience.
P.S. We will be going March 1-8 1993.
|
| 1944.6 | Final DREAM CRUISE Report | MR4DEC::PWILSON | PHILIP WILSON, DTN 297-2789, MRO4-2E/C18 | Mon Mar 22 1993 17:30 | 26 |
| Well, we must say that we had an UN-BELIVE-ABLE TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
My thanks to you all for your great advice.
The boat selection, a 55' cat named "BREANKER", proved to be one of our
major delights. It was so spacious, and bran-spanking new! The layout
and appointments were second-to-none.
The second major delight was the young, South African crew. Captain
Brett, 1st Mate Pierre, and Kim and Anne. All about 24 years of age.
Extremely polite, personable, informative, interested in the U.S.,
willing to please, and NEVER running out of energy that we could tell.
We can't say enough about them!!!!
Very good food.
Great diving both day and night.
Great weather.
Almost caught a tuna.
Made it to Anegada as well which was a plus.
Many, many, memories! Maybe we'll somehow find the money to do it again
someday.
|