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What are the top Yachting venues in the Caribbean?

Discussion in 'Marinas & Waypoints' started by visualfxpro, Mar 28, 2011.

  1. visualfxpro, Mar 28, 2011
    #1
    visualfxpro

    visualfxpro New Member

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    Looking for recommendation for yacht charters and other yacht related venues in islands like St.Croix U.S.V.I. and St.Thomas, Anguillla Virgin Gorda. Flying out tomorrow. Thanks!
  2. Capt Bill11, Mar 28, 2011
    #2
    Capt Bill11

    Capt Bill11 Senior Member

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    In regards to what? Chartering a boat? If so what size and type?

    Places to go with a charter boat? Again, what size, what type?

    Power, sail, crewed, bareboat, day, week?

    Are you going to all those islands?

    Do you want to boat to all those islands?
  3. Pascal, Mar 28, 2011
    #3
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    as bills said it's hard to reply to such a wide scope question.

    st Croix is a little bit out of the way and not what i'd call a big yachting venue.

    St Thomas on the other hand has a lot more to offer since it's so close to the BVIs...

    further down, St Maarten is the next important stop with great destinatinos close by, incl. anguilla and St Barths.

    but again, not knowing what you're looking for makes it hard to reply.
  4. visualfxpro, Mar 28, 2011
    #4
    visualfxpro

    visualfxpro New Member

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    private cruise

    Sorry for lack of details. Looking to essentially go on private cruise for a few days. 2 passengers and perhaps visit all of the virgin islands us/bvi. Mainly looking for relaxing sailing and some beach visits.

    As far as size of craft and crew. I would like whatever crew size is required and the size of boat shout be apropriate to acomadate 2 passengers comfortably. Luxury is nice and price is not a huge factor. More interested in having excellent time/experience, so I'm only interested in the very best offerings.
  5. sagharborskip, Mar 28, 2011
    #5
    sagharborskip

    sagharborskip Senior Member

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    Honestly...what kind of pro at anything leaves his homework/research til the night before he "flies out"?

    WTF?

    Research like that and you're going to wind up on a crewed Moorings boat...have fun!
  6. visualfxpro, Mar 28, 2011
    #6
    visualfxpro

    visualfxpro New Member

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    I have nearly a month to sort things out and when dealing with high caliber charters part of what you are paying for is convenience. If I were looking for a last minute bargain then that is another story.

    Also there were some plans that fell through so I have to make some adjustments.

  7. sagharborskip, Mar 28, 2011
    #7
    sagharborskip

    sagharborskip Senior Member

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    Then (and if, as you say, $ not an issue), you should contact a reputable charter broker and lay out all your needs/wants/desires and they'll have no trouble hooking you up in no time at all.

    No matter the feed back you get from YF (lots of it very good), you're going to want to work with a broker who's going to put together a charter agreement that gets into the nitty gritty of $, insurances, cancellations, etc.

    There's a reason they get a fee and it's usually b/c they've visited the boats and vetted both the boat and the crew (the crew make the charter) over several seasons. They'll have the dope on which boats are "fresh", which crews are "not fresh", and what can be accomplished given a specific charter budget.

    When you say "2 people in luxury", "price not a factor", "only interested in the best", you are opening up the door of a VERY EXPENSIVE holiday.

    Consider that the very largest boats (300'+) can only take TWELVE guests and you can easily find yourself on a very large boat w/ just you, your partner, and a buddy or two - if you've got a few hundred thousand to many hundred thousand to spare...

    If you're in that company, you DEFINITELY need a charter broker...

    Also, don't try to do too much - you don't want to spend your entire holiday motoring/sailing from place to place (unless that's what you want your holiday to be about).

    You CAN'T do the US AND BVI in a week; pick one. You CAN do St. Martin, Anguilla, and St. Barths in a week. You can only do a few of the other "down islands" together in a given week; you'll have to do more research to choose which ones (or talk to a charter broker!)
  8. Pascal, Mar 28, 2011
    #8
    Pascal

    Pascal Senior Member

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    i'd do the Exumas out of Nassau... sure, the Carib is very nice (I lived on St Barth for 13 years) but from a boat, the Exumas beat the BVI or SXM/SBH/Anguilla hands down because of the number of anchorages, sand bars and empty cays.
  9. Capt Bill11, Mar 29, 2011
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    Capt Bill11

    Capt Bill11 Senior Member

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    "visit all of the virgin islands us/bvi" in a few days and "relaxing sailing" don't really go hand in hand. At least in my mind.

    But again I ask, do you want power or sail?

    If you want power, luxury and price is truly "not a huge factor" contact my friends Capt. Roy and his wife Steph who run Atlantica.

    http://www.charterbrochure.com/atlantica/

    They would be happy to take you on a cruise if they are still in the area and not booked up.