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A comprehensive list of downloadable ebooks available from Caribpro. Titles include:

Retire In Mexico: Live Better For Less. Live in Mexico and join the many other retires who have done their homework, which resulted in mexico where you can live better for less.

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C A R I B B E A N P R O P E R T Y M A G A Z I N E

Living, Working and Investing in the Caribbean.

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Chosen the British Virgin Islands? Now Choose your Charter Boat.
by Kate Johnston

So you’ve chosen the BVI? It can’t have been a difficult decision - picture perfect beaches, crystal clear waters and a laid back lifestyle. This area is world renowned for its near perfect sailing conditions – steady winds, warm waters and an abundance of secluded islands to hop between. So the obvious choice is to explore under sail, but choosing who to charter with isn’t always so simple.

Welcome to one of the finest and most protected sailing areas on the planet. The Virgin Islands in the Lesser Antilles is a well-known and much-loved ‘sailor's playground’. It's the ultimate Caribbean yachting destination for those who know how to sail and anyone who has yet to try.

These islands have everything you could wish for in a sailing holiday. All year round, you can enjoy short hops from one blissful anchorage to another with easy line-of-sight cruising in steady, comfortable trade winds. Sailing here is a great choice for people of all ages and abilities, families or groups of friends and couples looking for a romantic getaway. If sailing isn't a passion already, you will fall in love with it by the time the BVI has finished with you!

But where to start when thinking about casting off and exploring this spectacular area by yacht? Firstly ask around. Word of mouth is by far the most reliable way of finding a reputable charter company. You might be seduced by that pristine 70 footer moored in the harbour, but the service might be incredibly impersonal. Or you could be drawn to the local on the dock who knows the area inside out, but you could end up spending a week on board a tatty catamaran with no air conditioning and only one working head!

Does size matter?
There are advantages of both options and alongside these, disadvantages. Charter companies with a large fleet of yachts are more likely to have newer yachts with state of the art equipment and a strong network of support to come and solve any problems you might encounter. Smaller companies on the other hand can be more flexible in their dates and prices. Or if you’re lucky you’ll find a company that is both! Worldwide companies such as Sunsail and Moorings have the industry support of First Choice behind them, but employ local people in their bases so you still get those friendly Caribbean touches.


Choose your charter
If you’re thinking of taking your family, speak to other families who have been out sailing. Likewise if you’re a couple speak to other couples. What you want from a charter company differs completely depending on who you are planning to sail with. Do you want to go it alone on an independent charter? Join others on a By the Cabin? Relax on a fully crewed yacht? Discover the best of the BVI under the watchful eye of a skipper, or set sail with like minded sailors on a flotilla? There is a huge choice of local companies who specialise in one type of charter and there are those that can offer everything.

Independent cruising is ideal for sailors who want to head off the beaten track, set their own itineraries and make their decisions day to day. You can moor up one morning in a bustling harbour for breakfast, head to a stunning coral reef for an afternoon snorkel and drop anchor in a deserted bay to watch the sun set. You will be required to provide suitable evidence that you are of Day Skipper level before a company will let you charter a yacht independently. If they feel that you don’t have the necessary experience then they will suggest that you take a skipper with you.

Skippered charter is very similar to independent cruising, but by using the services of a skipper you can let them do the leg work while using their insider knowledge to discover some of the hidden gems in the area. Ideal for both novices and experienced sailors who want to take it easy for a change.

Flotilla is a popular choice by sailors finding their sea legs and old hands who love the social side. Charter companies organise group sailing trips where anything from two to twelve yachts cast off and set sail together. Most follow a set route with everyone being kept in tow with a lead crew of skipper, hostess and engineer. They offer the support and experience of other sailors, yet still let you head off and explore on your own, meeting up at night for dinner together and the chance to swap the day’s sailing tales!

By the Cabin / Share a Yacht is an excellent choice for singles or couples who want to try sailing for the first time or just want to let someone else do all the hard work. Normally all inclusive, you have a skipper and hostess on board to sail the yacht and keep you comfortably fed and watered. The duration of trips can vary from just a couple of taster days to longer adventurous holidays.

Crewed yachts are the more luxurious end of the charter market. You and your guests will be the only people on board and will be pampered by a skipper, hostess and chef. The yachts are normally well over 60 foot and fully kitted with the latest luxuries – it’s like staying in a floating five star hotel! Your week is still your own as all you need do is tell your skipper where you’d like to go and what you’d like to do. If you fancy a morning on a beach they’ll search out the most stunning, or if you want to spend the day testing out the on board watersports equipment, they will take you a quite bay where you can fall off your water-skis to your hearts content!

Your yacht!
Your yacht is going to be your home from home so you have to make the right decision! If you’ve never been on board before it’s well worth seeing if you can have a wander round a friends boat or ask one of the charter companies if you can have a quick look at the fleet. A three cabin 34 footer might sound appealing, but once you’ve been on board for three nights you might begin to wish that you’d gone for the 42 footer with spacious saloon and en suite heads!

Larger yachts will cost more for a charter, but the more in your group, the more room you’ll need. It also means there’ll be more people to split the costs with! If you’re going for a larger yacht carefully consider the sailability of the yacht and the skills of the crew on board. If you only have one qualified Day Skipper who will be expected to manage a yacht full of novices you don’t want a yacht that’s difficult to handle under sail.

The decision between monohull and catamaran is something to consider seriously. For first time sailors and families, catamarans can be the best choice as they offer easy upright sailing with more room on deck and spacious living quarters below. This also suits large groups of friends, but so do monohulls. Monohulls are often seen as more traditional sailing boats and popular with charterers looking for an ‘authentic’ sailing experience. As you speak to sailors you’ll find a strong division between those who charter cats and those who favour monohulls!

So how many are in your group? Comfort is a must and you’ll need to consider whether you can cope with sharing one head or en suite is essential! Monohulls tend to have very thin partition walls so they may not be the best choice for groups looking for privacy or families with young children. Also don’t always rely on the saloon as a berth. It may seem like the ideal solution, but it can often be worth getting the next size yacht so that everyone has their own bit of space. It makes life a lot easier when you can use the saloon as a communal area rather than having to shift everything around at night to make room for the bed!

Head room is also quite a key factor. If one or more of your party is taller than the average sailor it would be wise to check out the standing height on the yachts you are considering. If you’re 6’3” those extra inches really do count!

And don’t forget the extras. With many of the larger charter companies, features like GPS, electric windlass and auto pilot come as standard, but on the smaller more local companies they might not. If you’re with your family you also need to ensure that your yacht has a bimini to escape the sun and watersports equipment to keep the kids (and big kids) entertained! Snorkelling gear is normally included but you may have to pay extras for luxuries such as a kayak or windsurf. And make sure your yacht comes with a RIB – vital for getting the picnic to shore!

Money matters
Chartering a yacht will cost you more during the high season than off peak, but even in high season it can be considerably cheaper than staying in a comfortable resort ashore. And you get to see much, much more than you would being land based!

Beware of extras. The price you are initially quoted might seem attractive but if you then have to pay for a skipper, provisioning, RIB, watersports equipment etc the cost can quickly accumulate. Crewed yachts are more than bareboats (don’t forget to tip the crew!) but they can often be worth the expense. With more added extras, more room on board and the comforts of a hostess and chef, the extra expense can often take the hassle out of the experience.

Many charter companies offer a provisioning service and although this means that when you arrive at your yacht your food is already aboard, you can sometime end up paying more than you need to. It’s often better to order a couple of day’s provisioning and then stock up on one of the islands locally.

It’s good to talk!
Probably the most useful thing you could do when thinking about taking a charter is to talk! Ask questions. If you have concerns about something on the yacht – ask. If you want to know what’s included and what’s not – ask. If you want to know which is the best place to grab a bite to eat – ask.

If a charter company is worth their weight they’ll be able to guide you through everything and recommend the best charter to suit you. But most of all have fun!

The BVI is a collection of some of the most stunning islands in the world, fat ones, thin ones, long and short, and some just a rock in the Caribbean sea.

Whether your exploring them from the deck of your 70 foot luxury catamaran or diving off the bow of a 34 ft monohull, nothing can compare to the beauty that’s on your doorstep!

Hodges Creek Marina	Yacht At Anchor	Sailing In The BVI

Author : Kate Johnston

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Information not readily available to the 'ordinary tourist' is detailed, along with a real sense of how it is to live on the 'Nature Island'. Details of cost of living, finding a house and deciding where to live on the island are all discussed in depth. You will also learn the steps of how to manage (and not mismanage!) a move to the island, including important pitfalls to avoid.

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