I'm an intermediate-plus sailer, primarily self-trained, with about 24 years experience sailing various vessels on mostly calm inland waters. Im interested in bareboat chartering in the Caribbean. I note that both ASA and USSailing offer certification programs. Which school's certificates are most readily accepted by the chartering companies? Which is better? I'd be particularly interested in one that will give me credit for my previous experience so that I don't have to pay someone to teach me the difference between the bow and stern. Any comments will be appreciated.
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Rich Stidger
United States Power Squadron courses
We have many of our own squadron members that charter boats and are cheerfully handed the boat upon presentation of their certificates of completion of our advanced courses. I have no personal experience with chartering, but I have never heard of any USPS member with the Advance Piloting course under their belt being refused. To find a squadron near you go to the attached link.
We have many of our own squadron members that charter boats and are cheerfully handed the boat upon presentation of their certificates of completion of our advanced courses. I have no personal experience with chartering, but I have never heard of any USPS member with the Advance Piloting course under their belt being refused. To find a squadron near you go to the attached link.
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Steve Kamp
Which Schools
ASA will allow sailors with experience to "challenge the standard" by paying a reduced fee and taking the test. Not sure about USS. From their ads, both ASA and USSailing have relationships with charter companies.
ASA will allow sailors with experience to "challenge the standard" by paying a reduced fee and taking the test. Not sure about USS. From their ads, both ASA and USSailing have relationships with charter companies.
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Gregg
Certification
It sounds as though you have a lot of experience. All of the charters will ask you for a sailing resume and they will most likely happily allow you to take the boat with 24 years of experience. A charter company should always "check you out" on the boat. This allows you to be oriented to the systems on the vessel and also allows them to gauge your ablility level i.e. whether your knowledge and skill match your stated experience on the resume. Worst case is that they will want you to take a captain for a day or two to help orient you to larger boat sailing. If you have trepidation with a new boat or new waters, taking a captain along for a couple of days really will build your confidence and at the same time give you local knowledge that may enhance your vacation. I also was a very experienced small boat sailor and this is how I moved up. I took my family on vacation to the Bitter End Yacht Club in the BVI. There I took a one hour checkout lesson where Tony, an unbelievable instructor had me buzzing through the anchorage in a Freedom 30 in 20 knot winds. My heart was in my throat but he was just proving to me that the sailing principles are no different. My family then took the boat out alone for 3days and had a blast. Later I chartered a boat with captain in the San Juan Islands. It was really like getting private lessons but he told me that I absolutely did not need to waste the money on a certification course with my skill level. I bet you would fall into the same category. Good luck and have fun!
It sounds as though you have a lot of experience. All of the charters will ask you for a sailing resume and they will most likely happily allow you to take the boat with 24 years of experience. A charter company should always "check you out" on the boat. This allows you to be oriented to the systems on the vessel and also allows them to gauge your ablility level i.e. whether your knowledge and skill match your stated experience on the resume. Worst case is that they will want you to take a captain for a day or two to help orient you to larger boat sailing. If you have trepidation with a new boat or new waters, taking a captain along for a couple of days really will build your confidence and at the same time give you local knowledge that may enhance your vacation. I also was a very experienced small boat sailor and this is how I moved up. I took my family on vacation to the Bitter End Yacht Club in the BVI. There I took a one hour checkout lesson where Tony, an unbelievable instructor had me buzzing through the anchorage in a Freedom 30 in 20 knot winds. My heart was in my throat but he was just proving to me that the sailing principles are no different. My family then took the boat out alone for 3days and had a blast. Later I chartered a boat with captain in the San Juan Islands. It was really like getting private lessons but he told me that I absolutely did not need to waste the money on a certification course with my skill level. I bet you would fall into the same category. Good luck and have fun!
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Frank Walker
No Sweat
Kozmo, Based on my experience in the Virgin Islands you should have no problems with your experience. Most charter companies will provide you with a skipper for a day or so if you or they are nor confortable. If you can pick up a mooring pendant with a boat hook, ease along side a dock one time for water, and not blind in both eyes the the VI bareboat charter is a cake walk. We have had great experience going out of St Thomas, and the BVI customs is no big deal, not a lot else to do anyway. We have spend 9 weeks down there in the last 9 years and probably 7 of those were anchored around St Johns.
Kozmo, Based on my experience in the Virgin Islands you should have no problems with your experience. Most charter companies will provide you with a skipper for a day or so if you or they are nor confortable. If you can pick up a mooring pendant with a boat hook, ease along side a dock one time for water, and not blind in both eyes the the VI bareboat charter is a cake walk. We have had great experience going out of St Thomas, and the BVI customs is no big deal, not a lot else to do anyway. We have spend 9 weeks down there in the last 9 years and probably 7 of those were anchored around St Johns.
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Bob
Experience
Hi Captian Kozmo, Check with the charter company. They will want a resume of experience. They have an option to put a captian on board. My experience was similar to yours with USPS courses through Navigation and Sail on my firest charter. Passed the checkout at the dock. Have since got my USCG Mater's with Sail option. That's accepted but they can still put a captian on board. Don't know if there is a preference with where certified. They are looking to protect thier investment and that's determine during checkout. Sure they like to see previous charters - and how they worked out. Go for it!! Bob
Hi Captian Kozmo, Check with the charter company. They will want a resume of experience. They have an option to put a captian on board. My experience was similar to yours with USPS courses through Navigation and Sail on my firest charter. Passed the checkout at the dock. Have since got my USCG Mater's with Sail option. That's accepted but they can still put a captian on board. Don't know if there is a preference with where certified. They are looking to protect thier investment and that's determine during checkout. Sure they like to see previous charters - and how they worked out. Go for it!! Bob
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Walt Allensworth
No Formal Requirements
As far as I know there are no formal requirements for bareboating the Carribean from the major companies. I've rented from CYOA, The Moorings, and Sunsail, and while all required a resume, none required formal quals. Sounds like you know plenty to sail the BVI. Very sheltered, all point-to-point, and with reasonable care, very safe. Just stay away from the places they tell you to stay away from. Every company will have a set of verboten zones for your cruising area. We just g ot back from St. Martin, and it upped the ante a little from the BVI. Open ocean sailing, few moorings, some tricky bays. The upside is that there are not nearly as many charter boats competing for scarce mooring bouys, like the BVI. One piece of advice - get to your anchorage EARLY! The BVI is fun, and easy - Have a great time!
As far as I know there are no formal requirements for bareboating the Carribean from the major companies. I've rented from CYOA, The Moorings, and Sunsail, and while all required a resume, none required formal quals. Sounds like you know plenty to sail the BVI. Very sheltered, all point-to-point, and with reasonable care, very safe. Just stay away from the places they tell you to stay away from. Every company will have a set of verboten zones for your cruising area. We just g ot back from St. Martin, and it upped the ante a little from the BVI. Open ocean sailing, few moorings, some tricky bays. The upside is that there are not nearly as many charter boats competing for scarce mooring bouys, like the BVI. One piece of advice - get to your anchorage EARLY! The BVI is fun, and easy - Have a great time!
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Tim
Walt
What do you mean by a "resume"? Is this actually a written list of quals and exp? Or do you just say "yeah, I've sailed everything forever" and they hand you the krys(helm?) I am looking into a bareboat with the Moorings in the Abacos next winter. Tim
What do you mean by a "resume"? Is this actually a written list of quals and exp? Or do you just say "yeah, I've sailed everything forever" and they hand you the krys(helm?) I am looking into a bareboat with the Moorings in the Abacos next winter. Tim
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Bill O'Donovan
J World
Try J World in Key West, a five-day gig on several levels that can also get you certified. Nearly all the instruction is on the water, and what water! I've been to two schools and will go again.
Try J World in Key West, a five-day gig on several levels that can also get you certified. Nearly all the instruction is on the water, and what water! I've been to two schools and will go again.
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Walt Allensworth
Resume details
Tim - Yes, they have a form-letter that they expect you to fill out. Example questions: What kind of boat do you own (or sail on), and where do you sail? How many days per year as Captain? As Crew? Any formal sailing training? If yes, where, when, transcripts, etc? How many times have you sailed a boat the size you are expecting to rent. As Captain? As Crew? How many times have you anchored said boat? How many times have you docked said boat? Are you familiar with principles of coastal / line-of-sight navigation? Any formal training? Where/when/how-much? Have you rented before? What type boat, for how long, and when? Any "whoopsies" we should know about? What are the qualifications of your crew? Years experience, boat types, etc. (I.E. they don't want JUST YOU to be the only one with a clue) Be honest on the resume, talk nautical to them at the dock, and you should be OK. The most important thing: YOUR DEPOSIT CHECK MUST NOT BOUNCE. :^) Once you've rented once without scratch or dent you are on everybody's A-list.
Tim - Yes, they have a form-letter that they expect you to fill out. Example questions: What kind of boat do you own (or sail on), and where do you sail? How many days per year as Captain? As Crew? Any formal sailing training? If yes, where, when, transcripts, etc? How many times have you sailed a boat the size you are expecting to rent. As Captain? As Crew? How many times have you anchored said boat? How many times have you docked said boat? Are you familiar with principles of coastal / line-of-sight navigation? Any formal training? Where/when/how-much? Have you rented before? What type boat, for how long, and when? Any "whoopsies" we should know about? What are the qualifications of your crew? Years experience, boat types, etc. (I.E. they don't want JUST YOU to be the only one with a clue) Be honest on the resume, talk nautical to them at the dock, and you should be OK. The most important thing: YOUR DEPOSIT CHECK MUST NOT BOUNCE. :^) Once you've rented once without scratch or dent you are on everybody's A-list.
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