new to charter

mdsdurango

mdsdurango

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Apr 7, 2013
33
Montgomery 15 15' Jerry Montgomery design Durango
I have completed classes and passed all test through advanced coastal cruising with both ASA and US Sailing. I would like to plan my first solo charter in safe, clear, warm, waters with reliable winds through a quality yet reasonable charter company.
Quite honestly, being a land locked Coloradoan I don't know where to start. East? West? Gulf? BVI? Sea of Cortez?
I need some suggestions. Where would be a great place to start?
Or am I asking to much?

Mike
 
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Pat

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Jun 7, 2004
1,250
Oday 272LE Ninnescah Yacht Club, Wichita, Ks.
I concur with BVI...been there 9 times....although you can have a squall, you can see them coming for 30 minutes so getting ready to motor thru them is easy....we've chartered from good and bad charter companies, several of which are no longer around...the good ones survive...we even had friends charter a Catalina 30 one year....they wanted to be by themselves at night, but followed us from island to island. It's a great vacation and with no tidal issues to worry about... also, you can almost always see your destination. have fun!
 
M

markwbird

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Nov 26, 2012
1,654
C&C 40-2 Berkeley
Without question Conch Charters BVI. Best deal around. The boats are about 10 years old but they are half the cost of the Moorings. Good times.
 
Jeff

Jeff

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Sep 29, 2008
195
Hunter 33.5 Carlyle Lake in Central Illinois
I'll have to agree with the BVI as your first experience chartering. We are about to make our 9th trip. Our first trip was with sailors that had made the trip a few times. I would suggest this. It will help to make your first (of many) charters a much more enjoyable time. Navigation isn't to tough down there but having competent sailors aboard that have been there a few times alleviates a lot of the potential nervousness with a first charter.
 
mdsdurango

mdsdurango

.
Apr 7, 2013
33
Montgomery 15 15' Jerry Montgomery design Durango
thanks

Seems a consensus - BVI!
I will start looking now.
Thanks for the direction. Truly much appreciated!
 
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markwbird

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Nov 26, 2012
1,654
C&C 40-2 Berkeley
If you have taken classes you are already ahead of the game. The charter companies try to make the whole thing as idiot proof as they can. For example: the boats do not have running lights so that you cannot sail at night. If you use common sense and listen to the advice they give you at the initiation, you will find the whole thing to be pretty easy. They will tell you not to go to Anegada but I recommend Anegada. Just follow the channel markers and know the depth. I always go to Anegada and never had a problem. Also, if you go with Conch ask for the Beneteau 473. Best boat they have.
 
Terry Cox

Terry Cox

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Dec 25, 2000
6,052
Hunter Passage 42 Shelter Bay, WA
BVIs

Ditto the BVIs. Never been there, but you would not like the PNW. It always rains, sun never shines, cloudy every day, no wind, hateful people, nothing to see, etc., etc., etc.
 
Scott

Scott

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Sep 24, 1997
242
Hunter 31_83-87 Middle River, Md
BVI's

Been there several times. Anagada is great. Kinda funny, I never noticed an absence of running lights. Have fun! :D
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,759
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
markwbird said:
For example: the boats do not have running lights so that you cannot sail at night.
Click to expand

????? I am sitting in the BVI right now, on a TMM charter vessel, and the Nav lights work perfectly... Seen many charter boats coming and going all week with Nav lights.. Any charter company that sends customers out on boats with no Nav lights is probably not a company I would personally want to charter through...?

Since I began typing I just saw two Moorings, one Sunsail and one TMM boat all go by with running lights on..

I suppose that maybe used to happen but today the boats are pretty well equipped..

As for where to charter the BVI's are absolutely simple, easy and no stress.. Moor-Secure has moorings everywhere you'd likely vist so you don't even need to drop the hook if you don't want to...

The only issues we had all week were my iPad and iPhone over heating in the sun and needing to be shut down to cool three to four times per day... Luckily my Garmin hand held worked like a charm and never over heated...
 
M

MSter

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Apr 12, 2010
131
Sabre 38' MK II Oriental, NC
An alternate consideration, Marsh Harbor in the Bahamas. Both Moorings and Sunsail operate here. Depending on when you plan on going, may not be as hot but may also be a little less $. Very easy sailing also. We loved it 3 years ago.
Mster
 
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Steve L22188

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Apr 28, 2005
274
Oday 302 Lake Perry, KS
BVIs!!!

First charter we did was the BVIs....by day two we were very comfortable.

Take a look at Horizon for a charter - we've had good luck with them. Moorings was fine...but expensive.

All line of sight navigation. Plenty of places to go. Moorings are available if you get to your destination by early afternoon...then time to relax, snorkle, visit ashore, have a cold one, etc.

Plenty of advice on the net on how to do this. Half the fun is getting ready and doing some homework.

You'll have fun. We've been three times and are starting to plan our fourth visit!
 
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