Looking for travel advice - BVI bareboat

David in Sandusky · Jan 31, 2013

Moorings

Moorings is an easy answer. They will meet you at the airport on Tortola, and have a hotel if you need to spend the night before or after your charter. I don't see the need for another agent.

rfrye1 · Jan 31, 2013

I have used TMM twice. Smaller company and what I thought was great service. I will always use them when I can. Also used Sunsail around the world with good results.

But BVI's I'll use TMM.

Good luck. Have fun.
Bob.

Steve L22188 · Jan 31, 2013

Try Horizon Yacht Charters

Used Moorings the first time we went to the BVIs. They were fine. Good base. No major problems (had to replace a dinghy - they delivered a new one on time at the designated place).

Then rented from Horizon Yacht Charters last year. About 15-20% cheaper than the Moorings. Good people. Good base. Grocery store at the base.
Excellent service. Would rent from them again.

We rented in February both years. Both Moorings and Horizon were OK. But we'll likely go with Horizon again. Same quality boat as the Moorings. As good - maybe better people and service - and cheaper.

Have fun. The BVIs are terrific.

JK_Boston_Catalina310 · Feb 1, 2013

Hannah Quinn said:
Looking to book a bareboat charter in the BVI Christmas this year. Figured try to book now. Looking for recommendations on charter service, etc. possible travel agents that help make arrangements, etc? Just my wife, teenage daughter and I.

Thanks

We used sun sails. Same base as moorings and a little cheaper (not much but a little). With most charter companies you can stay aboard the night of your arrival to Tortola. You will have to do the briefings in the morning before you can cast off.

We flew into St. Thomas and took the ferry to Tortola. That was the cheapest way to get there from the states. All of the charter companies had vans at the ferry terminal to take you back to the base.

We found the grocery store at Spanish Town to be better than Bobby's in Road Town and would go there to provision the first day. You can stay at the marina for 1/2 hour for free and then $10 an hour after that to provision. We also heard that Soper's Hole has a good grocery store for provisioning. If you want to try your luck with provisioning in road town, Bobby's will pick you up and drop you back off if you spend more than $100.

The sailing down there is really easy. It is all line of sight and deep until you get right up to the beach. All of the charter companies will give you charts and a cruising guide. The boats will also have chart plotters.

It's a great trip. Hope you make it.

Fair winds.

SamLust · Feb 1, 2013

Suggest you aviod Conch Charters. My experience was ill prepared, poorly maintained, tired boats, ill prepared people, a poorly maintained, ragged facility and a generaly bad attitude. Other than those minor concerns it was truly mediocre.

Tim R. · Feb 1, 2013

I always use Ed Hamilton charter service. They will find you the best deal with the best outfit. They act as a travel agent and it is usually cheaper going through them. They have also vetted all the companies they work with and will help you if you have any issues. I have booked through them twice. And one other time they told me it would be cheaper for me to use a WM discount instead of using them as it would save me a couple hundred dollars.

http://www.ed-hamilton.com/

Winkfish · Feb 1, 2013

We used Sunsail years ago and they were fine.

Close Call · Feb 1, 2013

The office staff at Conch generally lacks people skills. If you just want to get a boat and go sailing while saving maybe a few thousand bucks, they are o.k. Just don't expect them to babysit you. Probably not the best company to go to for your first charter experience.

That said, we have used them at least four times. Some people never learn.

chp · Feb 2, 2013

I'm leaving next Friday for a week bareboat with BVI Yacht charters just me and my wife. We have a 34' Bennateau rented. I'll let you know how it goes. This is my first bareboat. We got a 20% discount when we booked at the Annapolis boatshow.

Winkfish · Feb 2, 2013

We want stories!!! Have a great time.

JRacer · Feb 2, 2013

We have had good experiences with Horizon Yacht Charters out of Nanny Cay too. Good service, good people, good equipment. Never chartered from anyone else so have no basis for comparison to others.

Ducati · Feb 3, 2013

Chartered 3 times with Sunsail and found that their vessels were not properly maintained. Had real problems with the heads leaking (piss everywhere), running rigging needing repair (topping lift snapped) and a dingy motor that had to be rebuilt on the 2nd day (lost 1/2 day sailing). Upon our return I sent two complaint emails to their head office...no reply. They have lost my business and I will move on to the Moorings.

Bobbys is good and Sopers Hole looked to have very good provisions too. If you have the charter company provision be prepared for a possible surprises as some of their food was close to expiration especially early season sailing (November-December). Although a day lost sailing getting food seemed to be wasting sail time selecting your own food in my opinion is the way to go.

Anegada is not as difficult to navigate to as they say so go. It was the highlight of our last trip and spend a couple of days there. Visit Cow Wreck Beach Bar.

bobnpaula · Feb 6, 2013

We have used Sunsail twice in the BVI, and had good experiences, but really liked Horizon for our latest charters (St. Maarten and Antigua) and so, this year are going with Horizon out of Nanny Cay. You can easily book a flight from the US to St. Thomas, and take a ferry over to Tortola, which we have found to be cheaper than flying directly to Tortola... depends on where you are coming from. As others have said, the BVI is probably the easiest cruising grounds you will find. Line of sight, deep water, Francis Drake Channel more protected than open waters. Highlights for us include Cooper Island, Jost Van Dyke, Cane Garden Bay, the beach along the outer side of Prickly Pear Island, adjacent to Gorda Sound. Anchor off and dinghy ashore... never crowded! Have a wonderful time.

FourPoints · Feb 6, 2013

Close Call said:
The office staff at Conch generally lacks people skills. If you just want to get a boat and go sailing while saving maybe a few thousand bucks, they are o.k. Just don't expect them to babysit you. Probably not the best company to go to for your first charter experience.

That said, we have used them at least four times. Some people never learn.

I would agree with this. I have chartered with Conch 2 times, no hand holding, but affordable boats that get you where you want to go. The staff is friendly, but not anxious to go that extra mile for you. I would go with them again.

IslandDreamer · Feb 7, 2013

BVI Yacht charters is great! We used them in September and again in November last year. Stateside booking was very easy, staff was friendly and follow up was amazing. Once we arrived at Tortola they had transportation waiting at the airport and took us directly to Port Purcell. Office staff was nice and very accommodating. But the real thing that sets these guys apart is the dock staff. Anthony and his guys are very knowledgable and helpful. Both boats were clean and well maintained. We will Definitely use them on all of our return trips.
If you are looking for a large monohull with ALL the bells and whistles, Dee Dee and Zeus is an amazing boat.

chp · Feb 9, 2013

Well. Here it is day one of my vacation and looking out at 2' of snow. We were supposed to be in St Thomas waiting for a ferry to get to Totolla. Flights were cancelled. I emailed BVI Yacht charters we would be 1 day late. They emailed me back to say they could move the charter back 1 day. We were able to readjust our return dates and will now get our whole charter dates. So far I'm very impressed. I'll post how the rest of the trip goes.