Caribbean/Bahamas Bareboat Charter Companies 2007/8

The tropical and subtropical cruising grounds most easily accessible to North American charterers—these include the Virgin, Windward, and Leeward islands, Florida, the Bahamas, Belize, and Mexico—are, for the most part, year-round destinations, but it's undeniably satisfying to escape unpleasant weather back home.

The usual PR might lead you to think that all seasons are equal in the tropics, but that's not really true. Time of year affects costs and sailing conditions. In the Caribbean chain, for example, costs are highest in the high (price and volume) season, which typically includes the Christmas, New Year's, and Easter, plus the major school vacations—in other words, part of December/January and February through April. Winter also brings the blustery Christmas winds to the Caribbean, typically for a couple of weeks, and occasional northers to the other charter areas. It's something to think about if you're a novice charterer or have nonsailors aboard.

Then there's summer, the least costly charter season. The trade winds calm down in the Caribbean, but they continue to provide cooling (and sailing) breezes. Elsewhere it can be just plain hot and less reliably windy—another thing to think about if you're planning to do some land travel too (this is a shouldn't-miss if you're going to Belize).

Where to go. Do some research. The Web sites of the charter companies listed below have useful information about each of their locations as well as suggested itineraries. If you're new to chartering and/or sailing outside of your comfortable home waters, you can't beat the Virgin Islands for easy sailing (this doesn't translate into a license for poor seamanship). The components: reliable winds, short distances between anchorages, line-of-sight navigation, a choice of picking up a mooring (for a fee) or anchoring in most anchorages, deep waters.

Costs. It goes without saying that the newer and bigger the boat, the higher the cost. The list below shows high- and low-season rates for a 40-foot monohull and a 38-foot cat. Check company Web sites for complete information by season and for summer and last-minute specials. Factor in a refundable deposit and nonrefundable daily insurance (to cover the owner's deductible). Factor in food and drink and airfare, of course.

Monohull or multihull? You can't beat a multihull for space, privacy, and appropriateness for sailing with children or new sailors. In the Bahamas and Florida, their shallow draft is a plus. But, having just chartered a 46-foot Beneteau sloop, I have to say that the four of us rattled around; we'd have been just as comfortable with six or eight.

Provisioning. All charter companies have a variety of provisioning plans ranging from partial (usually breakfast, lunch, and some dinners) to full; many allow you to order from a list. It's certainly a convenience. Shopping locally can be fun, but it takes time and taxi rides (I wouldn't miss it in the French islands). Before you decide to self-provision, check with your charter company about the location and stocking of local markets.

Captains and cooks. You can hire a skipper and get instruction too for an average of around $150/day; hiring a cook averages around $125/day. You'll have to provide a cabin and food. Many companies offer fully crewed boats, and you won't have to lift anything heavier than a cold drink unless you want to.

Other services. Most charter companies work with an in-house or affiliated travel agency. This has two benefits. First, you can coordinate your charter dates and air reservations; second, these agencies often buy bulk tickets, giving both increased availability and good prices.

Hotels in resort areas often have a minimum-stay requirement when all you want is a room for the night before your charter starts. Your charter company may have a hotel on site or be able to help you with local accommodations. Some companies offer night-before sleepaboards on an as-available basis; this allows you to spend the night on your boat, usually at a reduced rate.

How bare is a bareboat? Your boat will be stocked with everything you need to sail it and live on it, including charts and a cruising guide, bedding and towels, cooking and eating implements, basic cleaning materials, snorkel gear, and often a cell phone that connects you to the charter base. A dinghy and motor are included. Fishing gear, kayaks, and windsurfers can be rented for you. You can probably figure out a way to dive on your own, but rendezvous diving is preferred.

Problems? Use the cell phone or VHF to call the base. If something breaks on the boat, if you have an accident or someone gets sick, rescue will be on the way soon.

There's more information and a collection of charter-related articles on sailmagazine.com, as well as an expanded version of the list of charter companies; you can link from there to the company Web sites.

Here's some basic information to help you plan your charter. The prices shown are for a 40-foot monohull and 38-foot catamaran (or the company's nearest equivalent) in high and low seasons. You'll find much more information on the company Web sites, and you can link directly to them from this list. In many cases you can book your charter, fill out your sailing resume, and order your provisions on line. If you have questions, call the company; the booking agents know (almost) everything.

Abaco Bahamas Charters
800-626-5690; info@abacocharters.com; www.abacocharters.com. Charter base/boats: Hope Town, Abaco (16 boats). Offers monohulls 28'–46' (43' monohull, $3,900–$3,250), catamarans 38' –44'($4,500–$4,500). Services: Hotel nearby.

ABOUT OUR COMPANY
We're the oldest charter company in the Abacos; we've been here since 1968 and are dedicated to giving you a wonderful charter here in the gorgeous Abacos."

Barecat Charters
800-296-5287; 610-458-1550; lynne@barecat.com; www.barecat.com. Charter base/boats: Sea Cow's Bay—Manuel Reef Marina, Tortola (8 boats). Offers catamarans 38'–46' (40' cat, $5,800–$4,000/10 d). Services: Affiliated travel agency; hotel nearby.

Barefoot Yacht Charters
784-456-9526; barebum@caribsurf.com; www.barefootyachts.com. Charter base/boats: Blue Lagoon, St. Vincent (25 boats). Offers monohulls 32'–52' ($2,975–$1,785), catamarans 38'–45' ($4,200–$2,520). Services: Affiliated travel agency; apartments on site, hotel nearby; Internet cafe. ASA sailing instruction, fully crewed charters. Flotillas.

ABOUT OUR COMPANY
Barefoot Yacht Charters is the longest-established bareboat charter company in St. Vincent and the Grenadines; we operate from our own custom-built marina at Blue Lagoon. The business is family owned and operated and has established a reputation for highly personalized service. We have a PADI dive shop and a surf shop and water-sports center, along with apartments and a new restaurant and bar.

BVI Yacht Charters
888-615-4006; charters@bviyc.com; www.sailinthebvi.com. Charter base/boats: Port Purcell, Tortola (45 boats). Offers monohulls 31'–52' ($5,850–$2,150), catamarans 36'–45' ($6,595–$3,500). Services: Affiliated travel agency; hotel nearby. ASA sailing instruction.

ABOUT OUR COMPANY
Established in 1974, BVI Yacht Charters offers personal service to their guests. (Check www.caribbeancruisingvacation.com for information on crewed charters.) We recently relocated from Road Town to a new, fully equipped marina at Port Purcell. It's a nice, quiet, breezy location in walking distance of two of the largest supermarkets on Tortola and two great restaurants.

The Catamaran Company
800-262-0308; info@catamarans.com; www.catamarans.com. Charter base/boats: Nanny Cay, Tortola (28 boats); St. Martin and Guadeloupe (3 boats). Offers catamarans 38'–50' (38' cat, $5,795–$3,500). Services: Affiliated travel agency; hotel on site.

Conch Charters
800-521-8939 (U.S.A); 800-463-6625 (Canada) sailing@conchcharters.com; www.conchcharters.com. Charter base: Fort Burt Marina, Tortola (46 boats). Offers monohulls 32'–52' ($2,999–$2,099), catamarans 37'–47' ($4,599–$2,099). Services: Affiliated travel agency; hotel on site. Flotillas, regattas. ASA sailing instruction.

ABOUT OUR COMPANY
Conch Charters has one of the most diversified selections of charter yachts in the Caribbean. We have recently renovated their offices and base at Fort Burt Marina and incorporated an in-house yacht brokerage at www.chartersales.com.

CYOA Yacht Charters
800-944-2962; info@cyoacharters.com; www.cyoacharters.com. Charter base: Frenchtown Marina, St. Thomas (20 boats). Offers monohulls 37'–47' ($5,250–$1,695), catamarans 36'–46' ($8,995–$3,100). Services: Affiliated travel agency; hotel nearby, free WiFi. ASA sailing instruction.

ABOUT OUR COMPANY
CYOA Yacht Charters is located in Frenchtown, the historic fishing village on the west shore of Charlotte Amalie's main harbor. Frenchtown is home to all of the top restaurants and nightlife in St. Thomas, all within walking distance of your boat. CYOA is a small company with the owner on site. We emphasize vessel maintenance and customer service and offers boat in all varieties at sensible prices. We also offer free WiFi at our base.

Florida Yacht Charters
800-537-0050; charter@floridayacht.com; www.floridayacht.com. Charter base/boats: Marsh Harbour, Abaco (10 boats). Offers monohulls 42'–46' (42', $5,145–$4,200), catamarans 38'–45' ($5,460–$4,410). Services: Hotel and restaurant on site. ASA sailing instruction. Regattas. Flotillas.

ABOUT OUR COMPANY
Florida Yacht Charters offers bareboat and crewed charters from our locations, in Miami Beach, Key West, St. Petersburg and Marsh Harbour. The popular ASA Cruising Couples Courses are available in the Florida Keys and Bahamas.

Footloose Sailing Charters
800-814-7245; yacht@footloosecharters.com; www.footloosecharters.com. Charter base: Wickham's Cay II, Tortola (35 boats); St. Vincent (6); Tonga (8); New Zealand, Bay of Islands (9) and Auckland (6). Offers monohulls 33'–50' ($3,220–$1,750), catamarans 38'–47' ($4,515–$3,010). Services: Affiliated travel agency; hotel on site.

ABOUT OUR COMPANY
Footloose Charters is ideal for the budget-conscious sailor, offering great sailing vacations for incredible value. The Footloose fleet consists of well-maintained and fully equipped former Moorings and Sunsail yachts for great vacations in the Caribbean and South Pacific. Our base in St. Vincent offers easy access to the Grenadines, where sailors can enjoy exhilarating sailing in steady breezes, with line-of-sight navigation and stunning palm-fringed beaches. An in-house travel agency helps sailors plan and prepare their trips, while a friendly base staff of local experts can guarantee great service at low rates.

Horizon Yacht Charters
877-494-8787; info@horizonyachtcharters.com; www.horizonyachtcharters.com. Charter base: Nanny Cay Marina, Tortola (35 boats); Jolly Harbour, Antigua (12); True Blue Bay, Grenada (13); Simpson Bay Lagoon, St. Martin (4). Offers monohulls 31'–54' ($3,795–$2,495), catamarans 38'–46' ($5,395–$3,295). Services: Affiliated travel agency; hotel on site. ASA sailing instruction.

Island Yacht Charters
800-524-2019; sailing@iyc.vi; www.iyc.vi. Charter base: Red Hook, St. Thomas (17 boats). Offers monohulls 32'–50' (42', $4,515–$3,160/10 d). Services: Affiliated travel agency, hotel nearby.

The Moorings
800-535-7289; yacht@moorings.com; www.moorings.com. Charter bases/boats: Abaco, Bahamas (22 boats); Canouan (25); Martinique (30); St. Lucia (31); St. Martin (35); Wickham's Cay II, Tortola (225); Placencia, Belize (30); Baja, Mexico (15). Offers monohulls 32'–52' ($4,725–$2,345), catamarans 38'–47' ($6,440–$3,605). Services: Affiliated travel agency; call for hotel information. Sailing instruction.

North South Yacht Vacations
800-387-4964; northsouth@nsyv.com; www.nsyv.com. Charter bases/boats: Inner Harbor Marina, Tortola (32 boats). Offers monohulls 35'–50' ($3,220–$2,625), catamarans 37'–45' (37' cat, $4,900–$4,025). Services: Affiliated travel agency; hotel on site. Sailing instruction.

ABOUT OUR COMPANY
We are located in the heart of Road Town, just three blocks from the ferry dock. Our base is near everything, including the bakery, the banks, midnight provisioning, shopping, and a plethora of restaurants and bars. Wireless Internet available at the dock.

Sunsail
800-327-2276; sunsailusa@sunsail.com; www.sunsail.com. Charter bases/boats: Antigua (18 boats); Guadeloupe (28); Martinique (13); St. Martin (54); St. Vincent (34); Wickham's Cay II, Tortola (178). Offers monohulls 30'–52' ($4,355–$1,625), catamarans 38'–46' ($6,305–$2,875). Services: Affiliated travel agency; hotel on site. Sailing school instruction, flotillas, one-way charters.

TMM Bareboat Vacations
800-633-0155; charter@sailtmm.com; www.sailtmm.com. Charter bases: Road Town, Tortola (42 boats); Blue Lagoon, St. Vincent (13); San Pedro and Placencia, Belize (14). Offers monohulls 37'–52' ($3,750–$2,440), catamarans 36'–47' ($5,400–$3,600). Services: Affiliated travel agency. ASA instruction (BVI). Regattas.

ABOUT OUR COMPANY
TMM Yacht Charters has been in operation on Tortola since 1980. With an eye for quality service and unique yachts, we have expanded to offer charters from four beautiful locations in the Caribbean and our fleet has grown to over 70. Check our Web site for complete information on all our boats and charter bases.

ABOUT OUR COMPANY
VIP offers air-conditioned monohulls and multihulls. Our base offers easy access to the waters of the U.S., British, and Spanish Virgin Islands. Our experienced and committed staff are always at your service.

Voyage Charters
888-869-2436; info@voyagecharters.com; www.voyagecharters.com. Charter base/boats: Soper's Hole, Tortola (22 boats). Offers exclusive premier catamarans 38'–50' ($11,450–$3,250). Services: Hotel on site; WiFi; 15% discount available for 10+ nights.

ABOUT OUR COMPANY
Voyage Charters offer an exclusive fleet of large premier catamarans built by award-winning Voyage Yachts for crewed and bareboat charter in the BVI.

Updated: October 2007

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