In the BVIs there are 2 major companies for charters. Are we taking a risk with those other smaller companies? We are looking for a 40' sailboat for 4 people in May/06. Also, is May a good time to go to the BVI's?
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one company, sunsail just bought moorings
and as far as may goes, i went the first week of may and it couldnt have been better!!!! fair winds mike
and as far as may goes, i went the first week of may and it couldnt have been better!!!! fair winds mike
No risk with Horizons
We really had a great charter with Horizons. The Bavaria boats are great. I think you are less at risk with them than S or M, but you may pay a premium for the personal service. Andrew and Henry take care of their customers
We really had a great charter with Horizons. The Bavaria boats are great. I think you are less at risk with them than S or M, but you may pay a premium for the personal service. Andrew and Henry take care of their customers
The Moorings
We chartered from the Moorings back in mid-May, 2000, in the BVI and had a great time. I thought they did an excellent job and the weather was perfect. The boat was new that year. No complaints from us. Some of the other charter companies have cheaper rates and older boats but they looked OK from what I could see. Do it. Chuck
We chartered from the Moorings back in mid-May, 2000, in the BVI and had a great time. I thought they did an excellent job and the weather was perfect. The boat was new that year. No complaints from us. Some of the other charter companies have cheaper rates and older boats but they looked OK from what I could see. Do it. Chuck
Strange? Mike?
I just recieved a brochure from the Moorings yesterday. No mention of a Sunsail deal. I just checked both of their web sites and there is no mention there, either. So I can't verify any merger. Mike, where did you hear of this? We are heading down to the BVI in April. Chartering 5 boats . We are chartering for the second time with TMM (Tortola Marine Management). They have a wonderful choice of boats of all ages. Some are brand new, ours is a 2000 B40cc. Good prices. Two others who are chartering boats with us have chartered with them before (cats & monohulls). I'd give them a look (see link). http://www.sailtmm.com
I just recieved a brochure from the Moorings yesterday. No mention of a Sunsail deal. I just checked both of their web sites and there is no mention there, either. So I can't verify any merger. Mike, where did you hear of this? We are heading down to the BVI in April. Chartering 5 boats . We are chartering for the second time with TMM (Tortola Marine Management). They have a wonderful choice of boats of all ages. Some are brand new, ours is a 2000 B40cc. Good prices. Two others who are chartering boats with us have chartered with them before (cats & monohulls). I'd give them a look (see link). http://www.sailtmm.com
BVI Yacht Charters
We will be going for our second trip to the BVI this March this time chartering from BVI Yacht Charters. The boat is a 2003 H 426 DS. Hopefully all will go well. First charter with a Moorings boat in November 2003 did not work out well. Weather was bad but the boat made it horrible. The four year old Beneteau 40 CC was very tired with 2800 hours on the engine and the interior was trashed. The boat leaked terrible at every possible location. At times we had waterfalls through the galley cabinets. Had to empty the bilge several times a day by manually turning on the second bilge pump. Several repairs had to be made prior to our departure including changing out the mattress which was soaked when we inspected the boat. All these things delayed us several hours. Where this is probably not typical it has soured me from chartering with them anytime soon. We did try to get them to give us another boat prior to departure but they insisted they did not have anything else available. I found that very hard to believe. When we complained upon our return they reluctantly gave us a one day credit for a future charter.
We will be going for our second trip to the BVI this March this time chartering from BVI Yacht Charters. The boat is a 2003 H 426 DS. Hopefully all will go well. First charter with a Moorings boat in November 2003 did not work out well. Weather was bad but the boat made it horrible. The four year old Beneteau 40 CC was very tired with 2800 hours on the engine and the interior was trashed. The boat leaked terrible at every possible location. At times we had waterfalls through the galley cabinets. Had to empty the bilge several times a day by manually turning on the second bilge pump. Several repairs had to be made prior to our departure including changing out the mattress which was soaked when we inspected the boat. All these things delayed us several hours. Where this is probably not typical it has soured me from chartering with them anytime soon. We did try to get them to give us another boat prior to departure but they insisted they did not have anything else available. I found that very hard to believe. When we complained upon our return they reluctantly gave us a one day credit for a future charter.
Here's the Sunsail/Moorings Story
I finally found it at: http://www.sea-dreamer.com/newspage.asp?storyid=365
I finally found it at: http://www.sea-dreamer.com/newspage.asp?storyid=365
Smaller is not bad, just different
Our first trip to BVI was with Moorings. The day we left was a very busy day at the Moorings base, our departure as a little late, but everything worked out fine. Moorings and Sunsail have large fleets of boats and employees and are able to provide service well. Our second trip was with Island Yachts in St. Thomas. This is a much smaller operation. The difference in service was a combination of laid-back, but close contact with the staff, including the owners of the company. Our buddies on the same trip used TMM in Tortola. Again, a smaller operation, but they were satisfied with the boat and the service. Since there are so many operators in USVI & BVI, you have the opportunity to make cost savings with smaller companies and you may be satisfied. For fist timers, going with Moorings or Sunsail is a good route.
Our first trip to BVI was with Moorings. The day we left was a very busy day at the Moorings base, our departure as a little late, but everything worked out fine. Moorings and Sunsail have large fleets of boats and employees and are able to provide service well. Our second trip was with Island Yachts in St. Thomas. This is a much smaller operation. The difference in service was a combination of laid-back, but close contact with the staff, including the owners of the company. Our buddies on the same trip used TMM in Tortola. Again, a smaller operation, but they were satisfied with the boat and the service. Since there are so many operators in USVI & BVI, you have the opportunity to make cost savings with smaller companies and you may be satisfied. For fist timers, going with Moorings or Sunsail is a good route.
Paul
We had a B40CC from TMM last October. Is your boat "Tradewinds of Emsworth"? If it is, the boat is great but the cockpit instrument cluster malfunctioned the whole time. No big deal for the most part but would sure have liked a depth gage that worked properly. I have friends that have chartered from TMM for the past 5 years and have had no complaints Have fun Bill
We had a B40CC from TMM last October. Is your boat "Tradewinds of Emsworth"? If it is, the boat is great but the cockpit instrument cluster malfunctioned the whole time. No big deal for the most part but would sure have liked a depth gage that worked properly. I have friends that have chartered from TMM for the past 5 years and have had no complaints Have fun Bill
Sunsail
I went to the BVI for two weeks June 2005 and chartered with Sunsail, They were first class. I have chartered with the Moorings for years, I will now charter with SunSail. Sunsail also has newer, nicer, cleaner boat's Katie Enjoy your trip!
I went to the BVI for two weeks June 2005 and chartered with Sunsail, They were first class. I have chartered with the Moorings for years, I will now charter with SunSail. Sunsail also has newer, nicer, cleaner boat's Katie Enjoy your trip!
TMM and Sunsail are now one
The Morrings and Sunsail have merged operations. Happened around Christmas time. It has been all over the trades and some low key announcements. I always have checked out the charter list at: SailMagazine.com http://www.sailmag.com/chartercruising/ Listed by Bareboat, crewed, sailing resorts etc.. at the bottom of the article
The Morrings and Sunsail have merged operations. Happened around Christmas time. It has been all over the trades and some low key announcements. I always have checked out the charter list at: SailMagazine.com http://www.sailmag.com/chartercruising/ Listed by Bareboat, crewed, sailing resorts etc.. at the bottom of the article
Bill,...
...that is the boat. So thanks for the heads up and I'll pass the word on to my charter agent. This will be my second time with them. I hope that I will have some clout. We will have 5 boats chartering out of TMM in April. Three of us have been with them before.
...that is the boat. So thanks for the heads up and I'll pass the word on to my charter agent. This will be my second time with them. I hope that I will have some clout. We will have 5 boats chartering out of TMM in April. Three of us have been with them before.
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