I sail on the Great Lakes and have just put the boat away for the season. Several sailing friends and I are considering doing a bareboat charter in March. We are thinking St. Lucia. We are looking to charter a 40ft.+ monohull. The Moorings has a boat available for $6125.00. Another company, Windward Islands, has a similar boat for about $2800.00 less. Has anyone have any experience with Windward Islands?
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I can't answer about Windward, but I can give....
you my expereince with some of the second line companies. We've chartered about 6 or 7 times over the past 15 years, twice with Sunsail, several times with local high-end companies and a couple of times with "discount" charter companies. In 1993 we chartered for six weeks with North/South in the BVI. Their rates were on the same scale of what you describe, about half the price of Moorings and Sunsail. We were on a 41 foot C&C which was barely OK, but considering what we saved, was probably reasonable. The boat was back to the charter base several times during our stay for repairs, including a never successful effort to install a working depth sounder, which at the time ultimately kept us from going down island - our original plan. We still had a great time, but not what we expected, and with quite a bit more aggravation than I would have liked. I've learned to ask carefully about the age, condition, accessories, etc., of the boats I was going to be chartering, if there were off-limits areas for them, and how far their support extended. This past March we chartered for a week through Sunsail in Antigua, and their support was phenominal, and condition of the boat was great. Their base operation was top notch. We've also chartered with small local companies (in Maine and the San Juan's for example) which gave great service, but at not-killer rates. Hopefully someone here will have personal experience with Windward.
you my expereince with some of the second line companies. We've chartered about 6 or 7 times over the past 15 years, twice with Sunsail, several times with local high-end companies and a couple of times with "discount" charter companies. In 1993 we chartered for six weeks with North/South in the BVI. Their rates were on the same scale of what you describe, about half the price of Moorings and Sunsail. We were on a 41 foot C&C which was barely OK, but considering what we saved, was probably reasonable. The boat was back to the charter base several times during our stay for repairs, including a never successful effort to install a working depth sounder, which at the time ultimately kept us from going down island - our original plan. We still had a great time, but not what we expected, and with quite a bit more aggravation than I would have liked. I've learned to ask carefully about the age, condition, accessories, etc., of the boats I was going to be chartering, if there were off-limits areas for them, and how far their support extended. This past March we chartered for a week through Sunsail in Antigua, and their support was phenominal, and condition of the boat was great. Their base operation was top notch. We've also chartered with small local companies (in Maine and the San Juan's for example) which gave great service, but at not-killer rates. Hopefully someone here will have personal experience with Windward.
BVI charters
THe best charter boat Co in the BVI is TMM out of Roadtown Prices are good equipment is superior and service is outstanding
THe best charter boat Co in the BVI is TMM out of Roadtown Prices are good equipment is superior and service is outstanding
Charter Rates
Have chartered in the Caribbean several times over the years. Not recently as I now prefer to sail my own boat. Have always found the Moorings to be vastly over-priced and they seem to have a snobbish opinion that their boats are the best. Their pricing is based on cramming as many crew as you can on a boat. The per-person rates are then not that bad. Not my idea of cruising. Low or shoulder-season rates are way better and second-tier companies are a good bet. The boat you end up with and it's age is still important to the enjoyment of that vacation.
Have chartered in the Caribbean several times over the years. Not recently as I now prefer to sail my own boat. Have always found the Moorings to be vastly over-priced and they seem to have a snobbish opinion that their boats are the best. Their pricing is based on cramming as many crew as you can on a boat. The per-person rates are then not that bad. Not my idea of cruising. Low or shoulder-season rates are way better and second-tier companies are a good bet. The boat you end up with and it's age is still important to the enjoyment of that vacation.
First rate company for first time charter
If things go bad on the second, third or fourth charter-well thats life. But as noted above, second rate charter is just that. If this is your first charter go first class unless the rest of your crew is well experienced. If you are going to be the skipper you will want support! Mutiny is not fun-especially if its your family! And if you go first class and something goes wrong (something preventable or fixable, not like weather) be sure and tell company first class you paid top dollar and you expect top service. BTW, my experience with Horizon was very good.
If things go bad on the second, third or fourth charter-well thats life. But as noted above, second rate charter is just that. If this is your first charter go first class unless the rest of your crew is well experienced. If you are going to be the skipper you will want support! Mutiny is not fun-especially if its your family! And if you go first class and something goes wrong (something preventable or fixable, not like weather) be sure and tell company first class you paid top dollar and you expect top service. BTW, my experience with Horizon was very good.
mixed experiences with TMM
our Hunter club chartered out of TMM last spring and we were not very happy-all five of our boats had issues that should not have occurred if the boats were properly maintained. I think you may get what you pay for-be sure to ask the detailed questions Lou spelled out, and more
our Hunter club chartered out of TMM last spring and we were not very happy-all five of our boats had issues that should not have occurred if the boats were properly maintained. I think you may get what you pay for-be sure to ask the detailed questions Lou spelled out, and more
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