Hi,
I've been reading through some of the threads about bareboating in the BVI's. It's something my wife and I, along with our 11 year old son would absolutely love to do when he gets out of school in June 2015. We've heard so many great things about the area for sailing (Sailor's Paradise, etc.!).
Okay, so here is my very humble admittance to our lesser experience level. Wife and I are both ASA 101 certified as of September of this year. Since then, we've sailed only about 30 hours on a Catalina 22, in winds ranging from almost nothing to 18kts gusting to 25 on a choppy bay. My son also loves being on the boat and working/learning as crew and would love to spend a week out on a nice 30 something sized boat. We'll continue sailing the 22 a few more times before next summer, but that's the largest boat that's available to us for now. Prior to learning to sail, I've got several hundred hours in mid 30's motor cruisers. My wife and I are also both 20+ year airline pilots - which means nothing except that we have a very healthy respect and an understanding of changing winds and weather patterns. Also, that I'd like to think it makes us more conservative in our approach (pardon the pun) to this.
So while I don't mind having a hired Captain for a day or so, we really don't want to spend a week with someone else on the boat. Am I being unrealistic to expect a charter company to give us a boat for a week at this experience level? Is it even smart? How else can I get the experience, if I don't charter?
Sunsail and Conch are two names of charter companies I've been down there. Any opinions on these or others would great be appreciated.
Thanks!
Chris
I've been reading through some of the threads about bareboating in the BVI's. It's something my wife and I, along with our 11 year old son would absolutely love to do when he gets out of school in June 2015. We've heard so many great things about the area for sailing (Sailor's Paradise, etc.!).
Okay, so here is my very humble admittance to our lesser experience level. Wife and I are both ASA 101 certified as of September of this year. Since then, we've sailed only about 30 hours on a Catalina 22, in winds ranging from almost nothing to 18kts gusting to 25 on a choppy bay. My son also loves being on the boat and working/learning as crew and would love to spend a week out on a nice 30 something sized boat. We'll continue sailing the 22 a few more times before next summer, but that's the largest boat that's available to us for now. Prior to learning to sail, I've got several hundred hours in mid 30's motor cruisers. My wife and I are also both 20+ year airline pilots - which means nothing except that we have a very healthy respect and an understanding of changing winds and weather patterns. Also, that I'd like to think it makes us more conservative in our approach (pardon the pun) to this.
So while I don't mind having a hired Captain for a day or so, we really don't want to spend a week with someone else on the boat. Am I being unrealistic to expect a charter company to give us a boat for a week at this experience level? Is it even smart? How else can I get the experience, if I don't charter?
Sunsail and Conch are two names of charter companies I've been down there. Any opinions on these or others would great be appreciated.
Thanks!
Chris