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COUPLE’S SAILING CHARTER GONE WRONG Thirteen DOs and DON’Ts #241800
12/22/11 07:10 PM
12/22/11 07:10 PM
Joined: Dec 2011
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paul harrison Offline OP
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paul harrison  Offline OP
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Joined: Dec 2011
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We were so excited to start our honeymoon in the beautiful British Virgin Islands. My wife and I both had some sailing experience, but never sailed together, although we did take a Coast Guard 3-day navigation course together. We booked a 10-day sailing trip on a Beneteau 463 with a local chartering company called Caribbean Sailing BVI, aka Caribbean Yacht Charters BVI. The it went wrong, so we compiled this list for others. For full story, see: http://www.icontact-archive.com/AJ_21ttHYGwiCT6IWeY8w0vge571xfWb?w=4

DOs AND DON’Ts WHEN HIRING A CHARTER COMPANY:

1. Make sure you know exactly the year and condition of the boat. Have it in writing and make sure it’s clear in your contract. Add a clause that allows you to decline the boat or switch to another comparable boat the meets your approval. In the case of Caribbean Sailing BVI, there were no other boats that were ready or better.
2. Steer clear of small chartering companies with low inventory. Ask how many boats are available before agreeing to charter. As we noticed on the water, over 90% of the other chartered boats we came into contact with were newer, nicer, better equipped boats. Moorings, Sunsail, and Footloose appeared to be the best choices.
3. Get a list of equipment in writing and approve the list prior to chartering. We were promised air conditioning and a dodger that we ended up needing desperately, were promised, but didn’t get it.
4. Make sure you get a boat that’s easy to sail. Make sure the boat comes with electric winches, auto-pilot, GPS and Chart Plotter at the helm (not in the cabin). Our auto-pilot did not work! Sails were old and sticky and with no electric winches, difficult to hoist.
5. When you do a check out, make sure you go through each item and test it. If it does not work, make sure they fix it or give you another boat. Again, always make sure there are other boats, unless you completely trust the chartering company to deliver the boat you agreed upon. Be careful and thorough as it often takes a few days to notice the problems. We did not have steaming lights, anchor lights, deck lights, **** lights, stove was not lighting properly, GPS was useless, inverter worked haphazardly, refrigerator not working, get a sailing guide, one water tank cracked, water tank and gas tank gauges not working. The gauges alone could have saved us over $120 in gas and water we did not need.
6. Make sure your chartering contract covers you if the boat needs repairs. The company should either exchange the boat within 24 hours and, at their expense, put you up at an “equivalent to the boat rate” hotel. Most sailing charters can run $280 to $500 a day, so make sure you have a reimbursement agreement.
7. Try to pay by credit card so you have a least some leverage to dispute or partially dispute the charges. If your chartering company does not accept credit cards—and preferably American Express, as they are the best at disputes—you should steer clear of them and find another company.


DOs AND DON’Ts WHEN HIRING A CAPTAIN:

1. When you hire a captain for a few days or your entire trip, make sure you provide ONLY onboard provisions for him or her or agree on a per diem. You are only required to make sure they have food onboard, otherwise they can go anywhere they wish to eat or drink. You DO NOT have to entertain or have them come with you when you leave the boat. Your captain is a service professional who is there to navigate and drive the boat. You are not responsible to take him or her to dinner if you do not wish to do so.
2. If you want to provide drinks, like beer, onboard for your captain, then be clear as to how much you are comfortable with them drinking.
3. Make sure your charter company provides a free check out with a captain or charter employee. All reputable chartering companies include a basic check out with your chartering package.
4. You should interview your captain by phone and ask him/her pertinent questions to qualify them as someone you want to spend time with. When you are on a boat, it’s close quarters and everyone need to get along. Take your time and interview the captain. Make sure the chartering company is finding the right person for you. The owner led us to believe it was a honeymoon gift when actually he wasn’t being charged at all by the captain.
5. Get your exact costs for your captain and usual tipping schedule (if any) in writing. Know with whom you are dealing and what it will cost you.
6. Make sure the chartering company provides a proper sailing guide. The captain should take time to go over the hazards as well as popular destinations. Make sure you understand the buoys, signage, mooring colors, dingy mooring, reefs, and so on. You should spend at least an hour with the captain and plot a course that you feel comfortable with. The captain should also review the beach flag colors in the area you will be sailing. For instance, a purple flag in the BVI’s means marine sea life —which in our case really meant jellyfish. We swam into the beach at The Baths in Virgin Gorda under a red flag not knowing that this is dangerous and swimming is not advised. It was a good hard swim back to the dingy.

-- Have You Seen This? --
Re: COUPLE’S SAILING CHARTER GONE WRONG Thirteen DOs and DON’Ts [Re: paul harrison] #241801
12/22/11 07:14 PM
12/22/11 07:14 PM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,582
“an island in the Pacifi...
hobie1616 Offline
Carpal Tunnel
hobie1616  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,582
“an island in the Pacifi...
Was your captain's name Ron?


US Sail Level 2 Instructor
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Re: COUPLE’S SAILING CHARTER GONE WRONG Thirteen DOs and DON’Ts [Re: paul harrison] #241805
12/22/11 09:52 PM
12/22/11 09:52 PM
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,049
Sebring, Florida.
Timbo Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Timbo  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 6,049
Sebring, Florida.
That's funny, I don't care who you are!

But he lost me at:
"We were so excited to start our honeymoon in the beautiful British Virgin Islands. My wife and I both had some sailing experience, but never sailed together, although we did take a Coast Guard 3-day navigation course together."


Blade F16
#777
Re: COUPLE’S SAILING CHARTER GONE WRONG Thirteen DOs and DON’Ts [Re: hobie1616] #241806
12/23/11 04:35 AM
12/23/11 04:35 AM
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,584
+31NL
Tony_F18 Offline
Carpal Tunnel
Tony_F18  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 2,584
+31NL

"4. Make sure you get a boat that’s easy to sail. Make sure the boat comes with electric winches, auto-pilot, GPS and Chart Plotter at the helm (not in the cabin). Our auto-pilot did not work! Sails were old and sticky and with no electric winches, difficult to hoist."

"2. If you want to provide drinks, like beer, onboard for your captain, then be clear as to how much you are comfortable with them drinking. "

Captain J.Daniels?
But really, electric winches on a 43ft boat? HTFU!

Re: COUPLE’S SAILING CHARTER GONE WRONG Thirteen DOs and DON’Ts [Re: paul harrison] #241808
12/23/11 07:30 AM
12/23/11 07:30 AM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 431
Netherlands
DennisMe Offline
addict
DennisMe  Offline
addict

Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 431
Netherlands
All I can say is, hope the marriage holds up better!

Re: COUPLE’S SAILING CHARTER GONE WRONG Thirteen DOs and DON’Ts [Re: Tony_F18] #241812
12/23/11 10:02 AM
12/23/11 10:02 AM
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,658
Florida Suncoast, Dunedin Caus...
catman Offline
Pooh-Bah
catman  Offline
Pooh-Bah

Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 1,658
Florida Suncoast, Dunedin Caus...
Originally Posted by Tony_F18

"4. Make sure you get a boat that’s easy to sail. Make sure the boat comes with electric winches, auto-pilot, GPS and Chart Plotter at the helm (not in the cabin). Our auto-pilot did not work! Sails were old and sticky and with no electric winches, difficult to hoist."

"2. If you want to provide drinks, like beer, onboard for your captain, then be clear as to how much you are comfortable with them drinking. "

Captain J.Daniels?
But really, electric winches on a 43ft boat? HTFU!


It's a 46' boat. A friend Captains one. I've spent some time on it. This one has 1 electric winch with all haylards and sail controls led to it. That winch makes it very easy for one person to run the boat, stowaway main, furling jib and the reacher.

When your on a honeymoon being a slave to the boat is kind of counter productive.


Have Fun
Re: COUPLE’S SAILING CHARTER GONE WRONG Thirteen DOs and DON’Ts [Re: catman] #241814
12/23/11 10:21 AM
12/23/11 10:21 AM
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,582
“an island in the Pacifi...
hobie1616 Offline
Carpal Tunnel
hobie1616  Offline
Carpal Tunnel

Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 5,582
“an island in the Pacifi...
Originally Posted by catman
When your on a honeymoon being a slave to the boat is kind of counter productive.

One word. Sandals.


US Sail Level 2 Instructor
US Sail Level 3 Coach
Re: COUPLE’S SAILING CHARTER GONE WRONG Thirteen DOs and DON’Ts [Re: hobie1616] #241815
12/23/11 11:00 AM
12/23/11 11:00 AM
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 139
Hernando, Florida
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Mlcreek Offline
member
Mlcreek  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 139
Hernando, Florida
Originally Posted by hobie1616
Originally Posted by catman
When your on a honeymoon being a slave to the boat is kind of counter productive.

One word. Sandals.


Or prepares him for marriage!


Forrest
I-20
USA 645

" There ain't enough rum in the drum!"
Re: COUPLE’S SAILING CHARTER GONE WRONG Thirteen DOs and DON’Ts [Re: paul harrison] #241819
12/23/11 12:41 PM
12/23/11 12:41 PM
Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 975
South Louisiana, USA
Clayton Offline
old hand
Clayton  Offline
old hand

Joined: Jun 2001
Posts: 975
South Louisiana, USA
First time sailing together on your honeymoon? In a place you've never been, with company you are not familiar with, didn't check out? I'd almost buy tickets to that show. So many things with this scenario. But number 1: Research the company you are dealing with! These issues can't hide now days.

Just sayin'

Re: COUPLE’S SAILING CHARTER GONE WRONG Thirteen DOs and DON’Ts [Re: paul harrison] #241904
12/29/11 11:46 AM
12/29/11 11:46 AM
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 35
Lake Norman. NC
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Matt_Z Offline
newbie
Matt_Z  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 35
Lake Norman. NC
You probably should have asked for advice before the trip, from people who have chartered there in the past.
First time sailing together and bringing a 3rd wheel on your honeymoon? Sounds doomed from the start.


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