charter expectations

[bogie123]

Thank you everyone for the input! I believe we have settled on the BVI's. One small problem; the number of couples that want to go has increased to a total of 5 couples (that number does not include the skipper we are going to hire and his wife) What are my options? (2) boats and (2) skippers? A couple of the guys going have considerable experience on the water, should we go with (2) boats and one skipper? Or is there a boat that will carry 6 couples total?

[Maytrix]

If you could go with 2 boats and 1 skipper, that would mean someone from your group would be skippering the 2nd boat.

So why not go with 1 boat and no skipper?

This way you'd only need a boat that could handle 5 couples. The only options I could think of would be a large Cat from Voyage (I think they have one with 5 cabins) or a 4 cabin Cat with a couple sleeping in the saloon. To keep it fair, they could either pay a little less or you could rotate sleeping areas during the week.

Certainly the more comfortable and spacious option would be 2 boats. Since you say a couple of the guys have considerable experience, it seems you could still skip the captain maybe?

[bacampbe]

That depends on the nature of the "considerable experience". A 5 couple boat is a lot of boat.

OTOH, our first charter without an instructor on board was a Moorings 4000 (Leopard 40) Catamaran with 4 couples, and we did fine with it. But that was tight with 8 people--you'd probably want a bigger one.

Our biggest issue was dinghy size. We had to make too trips everywhere. Two boats would give you two dinghies. Not only could you take everyone in one trip, you get more flexibility if your group splits up for shore trips.

Have you looked into flotillas? Or maybe a hired captain would be willing to act as a mini-flotilla leader?

[captbones]

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