While crewed sail boat charters and bareboat charter vacations normally last 5 to 7 nights, not everyone has the time for a multi-night term luxury yacht charter. In this economy, saving up for a special bareboat charter or luxury yacht charter holiday might mean postponing until 2010.
Now for the good news – sailboat charters can be as short as one day and are the perfect compliment to a land-based Caribbean island vacation.
Let’s take a look at a single-day luxury yacht charter escape in the British Virgin Islands (also known as the BVI or BVI’s).
There are four major inhabited islands in the BVI, as well as dozens of (nearly 60) smaller islands, cays, and rocks scattered throughout the archipelago. Of course, the fun way to see these sights is by boat on a luxury sailing charter.
You can rent a small Caribbean yacht charter sailboat or a fast powerboat for the day in Road Town, Nanny Cay, West End, or several other locations. Some experience driving a powerboat or basic chart-reading skills are important to ensure you have a pleasurable day.
A great trip could start from Road Town, Tortola and head south across the Sir Francis Drake Channel to Peter Island. You can tie up to the dock in Sprat Bay, or anchor off the beach in Deadman’s Bay and swim ashore (remember to wear your water socks). Visitors are welcome in the public areas, the boutique, and the beach grill.
From Peter Island, it’s a short boat ride to Norman Island. This is author Robert Louis Stevenson’s legendary Treasure Island, and the source of countless tales of pirates and buried chests of gold. Today, the island is uninhabited except for a small restaurant on the beach in the Bight. Anchored in the bay is the old ship, William Thornton, affectionately known by bareboat charter lovers and the locals as the “Willy T,” a trading vessel converted to a bar and restaurant. It’s a great stop for a little “pirate” ambiance. Be warned – on holiday weekends, the Willy T is not appropriate for kids as it takes on a bawdy “adults only” atmosphere.
Just outside the bay are the Caves. These are more like grottoes and are a true snorkeler’s delight. You can tie up your boat to one of the National Park moorings and swim in. Don’t be surprised if a school of tropical fish swim alongside you, looking for a handout. The locals ask that you resist the temptation to feed the little critters, however. Human food is not healthy for the fish and may do them great harm in the long run.
After snorkeling at the Caves, it is a short boat ride to The Indians. These rock outcroppings are the size of houses and full of nesting seabirds in the summer. The waters around the rocks are teeming with fish of every shape and color. One local describes a swim here as a magical experience: “Floating among the fish, corals and sea fans will make you feel like Peter Pan flying through an enchanted forest.”
If the sun is still high in the sky, and you still feel fresh for more adventure, zip over to Salt Island. You can tie up to the dock and walk around the abandoned houses to the salt pond where workers harvest and sell sea salt. If you still have any get-up-and-go in your tank, hop back on your boat and cruise around the corner to the wreck of the HMS Rhone, the BVI’s first underwater park. Snorkel over the wreck and try to imagine what it looked like before it sank in 1867!
By now, you realize you are on “island time.” There’s little reason to hurry back to Tortola, unless you have an early dinner reservation at your hotel or resort. Assuming you are in the island groove, we suggest a cruise east to Cooper Island. Accessible only by boat, this island has a few rental homes and a tiny resort that’s looks like a vacation postcard from the water – palm trees and long, white sand beach. By now, you must be hungry from a morning/afternoon of exploring. Drop in a local restaurant for a late lunch. With a full belly and a big smile, it’s just a short sail or cruise back to Tortola.
There are many other itineraries for a day trip by boat. Your hotel concierge can recommend the best local boat rental operators and give you some ideas as to where to go and what to see there. You can go fast on a powerboat or slower on a sailboat – the choice is yours. Either way, a day boat trip around the British Virgin Islands will be the highlight of your land-based island holiday!
This entry was posted in Caribbean Destinations and tagged caribbean yacht charter, Norman Island, BVI, The Caves, British Virgin Islands yacht charter, Willy T., barrier reef in the BVI, William Thornton, British Virgin Islands, Treasure Island, yacht charter Caribbean, bareboat, Robert Louis Stevenson, sailing yacht charters, skin dive, grottoes, sailboat charter, snorkel, HMS Rhone, Snorkeling, caribbean reefs, The Indians, sailboat, Sir Francis Drake Channel, Underwater Park, bareboat charter, Peter Island
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For your next vacation, why not book a bareboat charter in Phuket, Thailand on sailing yacht Amaia?
She is a luxurious 47 foot sailing cat that offers variety in charter. For example, if you so desire, you can also have a crewed catamaran charter onboard, as well.
Her abundantly-spacious exterior leads to a spacious cockpit which is perfect for enjoying a lazy lunch, relaxation, and some refreshing cocktails. Lots of options exist for your relaxation enjoyment, for instance, catch up on some reading or sunbathing on the front deck, or even listen to some music under the dazzling cockpit lights.
Amaia can comfortably accommodate up to ten yacht charter guests for a bareboat charter, or 8 up to guests for a crewed catamaran charter.
This entry was posted in Yacht Charter Destinations Yacht of the Week and tagged yacht charter Thailand, bareboat charter, crewed yacht charter, bareboat, thailand yacht charter, catamaran sailboat, multihull, Amaia, yacht charter with crew, yacht detail
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It’s hard to beat the outright indulgence of a Virgin Islands crewed yacht charter. Every detail is managed by a trained crew. From operating the yacht, to preparing your customized meals, you are covered. From keeping the vessel tidy and shipshape, to reading charts, all is done for you.
But what about those times you feel the need to escape? To be alone with loved ones? Have a chance to trade polite intrusiveness with no-frills quality family time?
Families who routinely enjoy luxury yacht charter vacations with a full-crew compliment can now opt to go boating in total privacy. They can choose a bareboat yacht charter.
What is bareboating? The concept is simple – just as you would rent a car to drive yourself, with some basic training, you can rent a bareboat and take the helm yourself!
A “bareboat” is just as the name sounds. It is a boat with just the bare essentials onboard. It comes with no food, no beverages, and most noticeably, no crew. You do your own cooking and cleaning. You operate and sail the yacht, yourself.
Fleets of bareboats can be found in nearly every location you would expect to find a fully-crewed yacht charter vessel. Virgin Islands bareboat vacations are perhaps the most common. There are hundreds of boats available for rent in both St. Thomas, USVI, and Tortola, BVI.
Other top-rated destinations include Bahamas bareboat vacations in the Abaco island chain. In addition, Florida yacht charter holidays are available primarily in the Florida Keys.
Both sail yachts and motor yachts can be rented. They accommodate 2 to 8 passengers. A few bareboat catamaran yachts can even accommodate up to 10 passengers.
Companies such as 1-800-BAREBOAT, the Moorings, and Sunsail specialize in arranging self-skippered charters in destinations around the world; for example, Bahamas, Florida Keys, Greece, Corsica, Sardinia, France, Cote d’azur, Tortola, Tortolla, St. Thomas, Tahiti, Bora Bora, Tonga, Miami and South Florida.
Customers can choose from a global network of monohull sailboats with brands like Beneteau, Sun Odyssey, Dufour, or Jeanneau – and multihull catamarans with brands like Fountaine Pajot, Lagoon, and Sunreef.
Basic rental prices tend to be less much expensive than those of luxury crewed yacht charter vessels, but customers need to remember they are responsible to purchase and prepare their own meals. The cost to provision the yacht must be considered when comparing this bare bones charter option to the price of a crewed yacht.
Another important factor – the customer’s qualification to operate a boat.
Just as it takes skill and normally a license to operate a motor vehicle, similar rules apply to bareboats. While formal licenses are not usually necessary, a solid level of competency is necessary. The ability to read basic charts, navigate, and to set the anchor are the most important skills required to rent a bareboat.
Luckily, these skills can easily be mastered, either through formal boating courses, or simply by garnering casual boating experience with your own boat or the boat of a friend or neighbor.
Popular ideas for bareboat yacht charter vacations are anniversary celebrations, family reunions (with boats sailing in tandem), couples getaways, and snorkeling adventures.
So before you plan your next tropical odyssey, give some thought and compare bareboat vacations to crewed charters – one of them will surely be the right choice for you, your family, and friends!
Ready to become the master of your destiny, or at least your sailing journey? Taking the helm as the skipper of your own bareboat yacht charter is truly a rewarding experience for anyone who wants the challenge of guiding your own vessel in the world’s most exotic island destinations. To charter a bareboat sailboat or powerboat, contact 1-800 Yacht Charters at https://1800yachtcharters.com/book-now-contact-us/ TODAY!
This entry was posted in Caribbean Destinations News Educational and tagged bareboat, bareboat yacht charter, skipper only boat rental, self-drive sailboat, yacht charter tahiti, rent a bareboat, what is involved in bareboating, do i qualify to rent a boat
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Corporate Sailing – Team Building
There is nothing more adventurous than sailing in the open water, and many destinations around the world offer the best conditions for sailing and other water activities. Since not many people own a boat or a yacht, there are some certain arrangements you can opt for if you want to go sailing in Solent for example. One of the most popular arrangements is bareboat charters.
This type of agreement means that the owner will allow the use of the boat without providing any crew or provisions to the person chartering it. There are bareboat charters that can only be for a specific period of time, while there are some charters where the person obtains full control of the vessel and the owner will not provide any administration or technical maintenance. In Solent (a strait separating the Isle of Wight from the mainland of England), there are many established companies that offer charters for people who want to experience life on the open ocean for less.
Sailing is a popular activity that is best enjoyed with a group of people. These days, sailing has become one of the ways to improve team performance and as a form of work incentive. Corporate sailing can be for fun or for experiential learning for employees. This activity is highly participatory and challenging. It encourages everyone to participate and enjoy the activity while breaking down barriers in communication. There is no wonder why many companies enjoy sailing in Solent as a great team building effort. To make the yacht charter activity fun, safe, and engaging however, you must hire a sailing company that can provide all the needed provisions during the charter. Hire a professional that will guide inexperienced members of the group to become familiar with the basics of sailing.
Whether you want to enjoy sailing privately or as a company activity, Solent still has some of the best sailing facilities and providers. Whether you prefer a bareboat charter or a private luxury yacht charter, you will find excellent companies like 1-800 Yacht Charters at https://1800yachtcharters.com or Bareboat Depot at http://www.bareboat.com that can cater to everything that you need. You can bring your family aboard and enjoy a few days in the open ocean near Solent. While sailing may not be a cheap hobby, chartering is making this activity more reasonable and accessible for everyone. To provide you with all the resources you need, the internet is complete with details to help you contact a sailing company in Solent, and you will have a choice among many sailing companies depending on the kind of experience you are looking for and your budget.
This entry was posted in Yacht Charter Good Times Special Events Frequently Asked Questions Educational and tagged team building, bareboating, yacht without crew, bareboat, bareboat yacht charter, corporate event, corporate sailing, employee incentive, yacht charter team building
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Bareboat yacht charter
Which Qualifications do you hold?
This entry was posted in Yacht Charter Frequently Asked Questions Educational and tagged what is a bareboat?, what is a yacht charter with crew?, what is a yacht charter broker?, how to book a bareboat yacht charter, bareboat, bareboat yacht charter, what is a yacht charter, catamaran charter
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“My husband and I are thinking about taking the family on a boating vacation. We plan to go to the Florida Keys late Spring/early Summer. I’m assuming it’s more affordable to rent a boat and run it ourselves. Do you agree?”
Pam K, Coral Gables, FL
What a great idea, Pam! Since you live in South Florida, a Florida yacht charter vacation in early summer is a great way to explore your “backyard.” As you know, most tourists have left the area by this time. Fewer crowds equates to quiet anchorages!
As a general rule, it IS more affordable to “DIY” (Do It Yourself) and drive your own bareboat. (A bareboat is a boat that you rent without a hired crew). Affordability, however, is not the only important concern.
Deciding if a Florida Keys #bareboat yacht charter or a crewed Florida yacht charter is your best bet depends upon three primary factors. First, Capability. Second, Responsibility. and Third, Budget.
When you rent a car, you are required to have a driver’s license. No license is required to rent a bareboat, however, you ARE required to demonstrate experience and competency. You initially submit a cruising qualifications resume. Finally, you made be deemed incapable of operating a bareboat, yourself. If so, you are required to retain a professional crew to operate your rental boat.
You are qualified to rent a boat without crew. Next you must decide if you want the responsibility of operating your own yacht. When you rent a bareboat, you do it all. For instance, safe navigation and reading maps, cooking, and cleaning. Some people love the hands-on experience. Of course, this is not for everybody. Some prefer to sit back, relax, and leave all chores and responsibilities to someone else. If this better describes you and your family, then a crewed yacht is the way to go. On a yacht charter with crew, they are fully-responsible for the operation of the yacht. In addition, cleaning/maintaining the yacht and preparing the meals for the guests are their duties.
Like most vacations, your desired budget will often dictate which option is best for you. IF you are capable and enjoy the responsibility of operating a boat on your own, a bareboat #yachtcharter will give you the best bang for your dollar. If you want and can afford more than a “bare bones” vacation, try this. It is one where you are served and #pampered the entire time. A a private luxury crewed yacht charter is the way to go for you.
A 47 foot bareboat power catamaran in #Miami, suitable for 8 passengers, can be rented in the late spring, early summer for under $10,000 per week. In addition, you need to factor in the local tax (about 7%) and mandatory damage insurance (estimated at $50 per day). Of course, don’t forget to consider the cost of food and beverages for your family for the week (or for however long you charter your bareboat).
A similar-sized crewed yacht, such as a 51 foot power catamaran, will cost approximately $21,000 per week, but this rate includes your meals, beverages, and a professional crew of 2. The only “unknown” expenditure is an optional gratuity for your crew.
Here’s the good news! Whichever type of chartering is right for you – with or without crew — there is surely a boat out there within your budget and in line with your qualifications, capabilities, and desires. Let’s go #boating!!!
For price quotes and availability, contact 1-800 BAREBOAT for self-drive, DIY boating options, and 1-800 YACHT CHARTERS for fully-crewed luxury yachts. #1800yachtcharters #1800bareboat
This entry was posted in Yacht Charter Destinations News Frequently Asked Questions and tagged can i rent a bareboat without license, Miami, is there a bareboat license, bareboat, what if i don't know how to sail, yachtcharter, pampered, boating, bareboat yacht charter, 1-800 Yacht Charters, self-drive, Best Price Guarantee, 1-800 Bareboat, capability, responsibility, cruising resume, sailboat charter, budget, do i have to know how to sail, crewed yacht charter
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