Returned Sunday from Grenada where I chartered a Jeanneau 50 DS to the Grenadines for 10 days from Horizon Yacht Charters Grenada.
Beware. Be very aware.
Superficially, the boat was beautiful. She sailed great to 11.1 knts.
Over the course of the charter the full extent of the boat's deficiencies (running rigging, refrigerator, dinghy leak, broken paddles, inoperable cell phone, chain to rope rode knotted with monkey fist sized knot which jammed the windlass after 60 m of chain had been put out, and a myriad of minor others) became evident.
As we began Day 8, the company failed to warn me of severe pending weather conditions and left my crew (wife, daughter) and me to deal with 36 hours of squalls with gale force gusts in 6-8 foot seas.
One hour from True Blue Bay home port, while furling all sails before yet another squall, smoke billowed from the companionway and quarter birth side ports, and 60 feet of topping lift whipped overhead (cheap shackle).
The impeller was trashed, the motor's exhaust was destroyed, there had been no engine overheating alarms/panel lights.
We were adrift in the water in high winds and rough seas, hove to 1000 yds from Pt. Saline shoals.
Huey, Dewey, and Louie were dispatched to assist via another sailboat and transferred vessel to vessel, only to demonstrate their lack of seamanship skills on the water.
It was surreal.
Then, the charter company attempted to blame me for all issues once in port, including tampering with the cell phone (Why would I remove a battery pack from our sole source of communications?), ignoring motor overheating alarms (none, nada, nil), and stealing the spare impeller from the Kit Bag (What???).
Not one utterance of concern for my wife and daughter's safety and well being was ever offered by owner/manager, James Pascall, nor did he assume any responsibility on the company's part for the peril he place my crew in.
My crew sure learned to sail though....for their lives! We walked away though with some amazing stories.
Be very aware of Horizon Yacht Charters LTD.
Beware. Be very aware.
Superficially, the boat was beautiful. She sailed great to 11.1 knts.
Over the course of the charter the full extent of the boat's deficiencies (running rigging, refrigerator, dinghy leak, broken paddles, inoperable cell phone, chain to rope rode knotted with monkey fist sized knot which jammed the windlass after 60 m of chain had been put out, and a myriad of minor others) became evident.
As we began Day 8, the company failed to warn me of severe pending weather conditions and left my crew (wife, daughter) and me to deal with 36 hours of squalls with gale force gusts in 6-8 foot seas.
One hour from True Blue Bay home port, while furling all sails before yet another squall, smoke billowed from the companionway and quarter birth side ports, and 60 feet of topping lift whipped overhead (cheap shackle).
The impeller was trashed, the motor's exhaust was destroyed, there had been no engine overheating alarms/panel lights.
We were adrift in the water in high winds and rough seas, hove to 1000 yds from Pt. Saline shoals.
Huey, Dewey, and Louie were dispatched to assist via another sailboat and transferred vessel to vessel, only to demonstrate their lack of seamanship skills on the water.
It was surreal.
Then, the charter company attempted to blame me for all issues once in port, including tampering with the cell phone (Why would I remove a battery pack from our sole source of communications?), ignoring motor overheating alarms (none, nada, nil), and stealing the spare impeller from the Kit Bag (What???).
Not one utterance of concern for my wife and daughter's safety and well being was ever offered by owner/manager, James Pascall, nor did he assume any responsibility on the company's part for the peril he place my crew in.
My crew sure learned to sail though....for their lives! We walked away though with some amazing stories.
Be very aware of Horizon Yacht Charters LTD.
