Virgin Islands Chartering UPDATE, Summer 2009

Summertime--Hot, so hot....in so many places, there is little wind and in other places way too much wind. Sometimes it feels like a blast furnace, doesn't it? Humid, sticky summer, a time for recreation for the whole family but it's also time to start.....

PLANNING YOUR CHARTER FOR THE FALL, WINTER AND SPRING BREAK!

Yes, there are still spaces open for Holiday charters, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Hanukkah and the very busy vacation time called the annual Spring Break. Seems people are taking their time to decide on when they would like to come on down to the Virgin Islands so, spaces are open.

Excluding the year end Holidays, I have tons of specials to offer families, groups of friends, couples...Once we have a chance to meet on the phone or via email, I will interview you to find the perfect match for your party. Of course, with an eye to the best value offered.

And what about all those regattas lined up for the Spring?? Visit the BVI Spring Regatta!! Normally this exciting race is scheduled to run from around mid-March into maybe April. Dates are being finalized now. I have been in the Drake Channel for many years and saw this competition up close and personal. So beautiful and exciting!

And the famous Rolex Regatta, staged out of St Thomas Yacht Club. Every year there is some spine-tingling racing going on both in the US and British Virgin Islands' waters.

Take a look at this yacht close hauled and hauling you know what! (Picture compliments of the Rolex Regatta management)

I have many new yachts which have joined the fleet, several showcased at the Spring Charteryacht shows in the US and British Virgin Islands.

Aren't they pretty?

Beautiful yachts, spiffed up and shiny, just waiting for you to step aboard and start the party! Motoryachts, sailing yachts and Catamarans galore!

Here's a new yacht, one of many. Just ask me about this one: Souls Calling, 50 feet of beauty and 28 feet across. Is this a platform for fun? I think so. Take a tour and make sure you click on the the whale video!

And how about this one?? Catamaran Tonina.

Lovely and new staffed by great owner/operators Karen and Pete who will tend to your every wish with charm and delight. They were voted the best Catamaran under 57' at the annual Tortola Charteryacht Show in 2008. Well deserved. She is beautiful.

To boot, their rates are rolled back to 2007 rates PLUS an additional $1000 your week on board.

So, folks, in your best interests, there has NEVER been a better time to charter a yacht in the Caribbean, especially in the Virgin Islands a noted world-class destination for holidays to beat them all!

I look forward to your comments, and your contact. Let's put something together.

DON'T YOU THINK YOU'D LIKE TO LEAVE THE WORLD'S NEWS AT LEAST FOR A LITTLE WHILE RIGHT ABOUT NOW?

You know, it will be there when you get back (if you choose to leave of course....)

:)

HAPPY VIRGIN ISLANDS CHARTERS!!

Yacht Catalyst, all alove in a quiet cove.....ahh!

Here are some reports from recently completed charters. Boy, they were having a whale of a good time!

Hello my friends, it's time for an update on chartering in the Virgin Islands, aka

Paradise at Latitude 18

Spring is one of the best times of the year to visit the Virgin Islands.

Kick off your WINTERTIME BLUES (and leave the television!!) --- jump on a plane and come on down to play!

BRRRRR!

Read the Trip Reports from a couple of families below:

Margo: I am not sure where to begin. First thank you for all you did to find us the perfect yacht and for giving us all of the information we needed for a perfect trip. From the beginning everything was well organized. Randy met us at the airport and took us to Red Hook. Randy then came and took us to the ferry to Roadtown. We enjoyed breakfast at Village Cay while the kids did some swimming and then Simeon met us at noon to take us to the Promenade to begin our adventure. Kerry had lunch waiting with fresh baked rolls, cold cuts and salad. She and Baza made us feel welcome right away and let the kids take some time to explore onboard before setting sail. We were pleasantly surprised to hear that diving was an option on the first afternoon. From first to last dives we had a great time. We explored several wrecks including the Rhone (3x) and even were able to do a night dive on the Rhone. I have always been too scared to try a night dive but Simeon gave me the confidence to give it a try and I am so glad I did. Brent was fantastic with the kids all week, from beachcombing for shells to riding the banana boat with them to teaching them how to wake board and knee board. Baza was great with helping with the fishing each night and I think the men will be talking about the one that got away on the first night for some time. Baza and Kerry both were able to give us so much information about the islands and the history. Kids and adults alike had a great time at the Michael Beans show on Marina Cay and also loved our overnight in the Mangroves taking a guided tour with Baza and then snorkeling with the baby fish. Kerry's meals were delicious and plentiful. My kids are going to be pretty disappointed with my cooking now and I am going to eat salad for a week before stepping on a scale! We can't wait to go back! Please feel free to use me for a reference for Promenade. I can't say enough good things about our adventure! (From Lisa Schmidt)

and

Hi Margo,
We had a fantastic vacation on Free Ingwe! It was definitely all we wanted it to be and more. Matt and Mel are a wonderful couple, very easy going and fun to be with. We had all confidence in Matt as both a sailing captain and divemaster. He is very capable and we always felt we were in good hands. Mel is an excellent first mate and gourmet chef. We had fabulous food all week (to quote my daughter). My college age children loved the whole trip and both said it is the best vacation they had ever been on. Matt and Mel are very organized and made everything easy, including arrangements for Leigh Anne's certification dive.

We will have wonderful memories of this trip. Now it is back to reality!

Sincerely, Stephanie Reid

The Bagshaw Crewe at Michael Beans on Marina Cay, BVI .....Ya think they were having the time of their life??

ON TO THE BAHAMAS!! SPRINGTIME IN NASSAU!!

Snowbound Northerners likely don't know that the Bahamas are a bit cold in the Winter. BUT, Springtime is gorgeous. The waters are gin clear and warm, with tons of sealife to play with. A perfect early Summer escape.

And the fishing is world class!!

I have a new motoryacht to announce. DOUBLE D'S CHARTERS!! Perfect size for friends and/or family up to six passengers. Please inquire for 7 day charters or less. All charter terms are considered. Home base: Nassau, Bahamas

.

Double D's underway in the Bahamas

Motoryacht Double D's--Horizon 56

Breaking News!!

Got Snow??? Got Cold??? Leave it!!!
(These Special prices are only a sampling. There are many more to choose from)

(Please note: These rates can be subject to dates available for specials. Rates are based on 7 night/8 day charters except where noted. Please call or email info@yachtchartersusvi.com for details. No special offers will be offered during the year-end Holiday seasons.)
Catamarans and more Catamarans!And a traditional sailing yacht special for 2!
• Spacious Cat Aldebaran, 57’ feet! “One of the brightest stars in the Heavens”....Charter Aldebaran for one full week and take $1000 off!(Take another $300 off if not diving from the yacht)Comes with private yoga instructor to soothe your Bailout worries away....ahhhhhh. Now, only about $2915/per person/per week, all inclusive, at the six passenger rate .
• Two Big Cats, both 57’ feet, St. Francis, South African made, Quest and Breanker Famous yachts in the Virgin Islands. Evenly matched, same owners. Perfect for tandem or chartered indivdually. Imagine match racing each other in the famous Sir Francis Drake Channel! Take a whopping 15% off ! (Prize to the winner??)This means that you pay only $2196 per person all inclusive at the six passenger rate—Perfect for three couples, and only $1859 per person all inclusive at the 8 passenger rate!! And diving from either one is an option! *(*This offer must book in to complete the charter before the last day of August)
And Finally, The Perfect One Couple cruise on Yacht Corus
Join Bill and Ann on Corus, the ideal sailing yacht for two. Honeymoon, or have your Anniversary aboard this lovely yacht owned and operated by two of the nicest people on the planet. Ann’s cooking will make memories for sure.
“Our Captain, Bill Hasted, exhibited such expertise that we felt extremely safe and thoroughly enjoyed both his company and that of his wife, Ann. ...Fabulous gourmet dishes...Thank you, again, Margo, for the most fabulous vacation yet!”DF, Conn. USA
Winter 2009 $4800 for 2, 7 nights all inclusive (including diving, except tank refills)Summer 2009 $4800 for 2, 7 nights all inclusive (including diving, except tank refills)Special note: Single young child free using navigators berth and parents bathroom.No 10% surcharge for less than 5 nights. Captain Only and Half Board rates also, please inquire.
Catamaran Double Feature 57’ LagoonUp to 8 guests: Take 5% off all charters confirmed by Feb. 28, 2009 and occurring before Jun. 1, 2009.
Catamaran Sea Chateau 50’ VoyageUp to 6 guests: AIRLINE TICKET INSTANT DISCOUNT: Take $1000 off for weeklong charters ending on or before July 1, 2009
Catamaran Viking Dream 47’ LeopardUp to 6 guests: Offering “Buy 7 days and get 8 DAYS!” plus take an additional 5% off your weeklong charter. No weekend starts.(Note: Inquire for charters in the Grenadines from mid-April to mid-July 2009 for Special Offers)
So grab your family members, or get your friends together and come celebrate in the Virgins!It’s time to take a break!
ven more new charter specials have been rolling in daily. A sampling is below:

Charteryacht Shows "Stress Busters" Extravaganza!

Read on for some real fun in the sun!

Catamaran Felicia

It's that time of year again. The Fall Charteryacht shows have just ended and yours truly has a "boatload" of treasures to unveil for you.
I guess it's no secret. Our world has become a bit more complicated, more challenging and certainly more stressful. On a positive note, finally, the election is over and we have a new president waiting in the wings. Wherever your support was placed, it is a relief to have it done.
I would venture a guess that if anyone needs a Stress Buster charter, after this campaign, it would be both President Elect Obama, and Senator John McCain! But I haven't heard from them yet.
So, folks, this one's for you....The yachts of the Virgin Islands have responded to your need for a break by offering so many options for "just getting out of Dodge" for a while!
There are new yachts, new crews, new cruising areas, new toys, new chartering terms for 5 days (no additional charge) and new Special offers (up to 10% off selected yachts and more!) to make it even easier to climb on that plane with your frequent flyer miles and just leave it all behind for a while. And you can look at it this way: When you are gone you won't be driving those expensive gasoline miles, you won't be burning as much energy in your home and, when you return, you will have a whole fresh outlook on life!
Visit with some of my favorites below. There's plenty more where these came from. All ya gotta do is call, and I'll be right there, with even more Special pricing and options for the weary charter client.








Here's Capt. Chris and Julie Bennett aboard their new acquisition, Catamaran Felicia. This cat is just plain gorgeous. 65' HUGE and magnificently appointed. This yacht carries 8 in supreme comfort and style. You can visit her at www.yachtfelicia.com. Ask me about special offers on this extraordinary yacht. For as little as $5875 per couple (based on 4 couples) you can join Felicia on her cruise of the Virgin Islands while treated to gourmet feasts and fine wines.
Make sure you take a look right up top of this Blog! She's lovely!


From Swan Victoria:
To the left is a magnificent example of a winning appetizer. Every Charteryacht show would not be complete without a judging of the cuisine in all categories of a beautiful and satisfying meal.
Chef Martha, aboard the beautiful Swan, Victoria, and voted Best Over-all Chef at the show created the winning masterpiece. It is Tangled Shrimp with Pineapple Chili-garlic sauce, served on a Pineapple wheel with avocado and baby green salad. Yum!
View this extraordinary yacht at www.charterbrochure.com/victoria for more information. She is fast, sleek with a consumately professional (and did I say "fun") crew?



Boys (and Girls) with their toys! And there was no shortage of them at this year's show. Here is Capt. Jonny and 1st mate and Chef Kelly of Catamaran Double Feature posing next to their Guitar Man Wii game. It is fun for everyone! It is one of the few toys that do not float on this terrific cat.
You can visit them up close and personal at their lovely website: www.doublefeaturecharters.com.

OFF THE BEATEN TRACK: BOCAS DEL TORO, PANAMA!! OLE!

Familiar faces in exciting new places!!

Fran and Steuart Rattle of Catamaran Two If By Sea Present:

I wonder how many of you ever thought about a dream vacation in Panama!! Yes, Bocas del Toro (Mouth of the Bull), Panama, to be exact. This is an ideal cruising area for Summertime chartering. The wind always blows and there are NO HURRICANES! I have spent several summers at that Latitude (or close to it in Venezuela). No Visas needed for US Citizens. I guarantee you that will be greeted often during your cruise aboard these waters that you will be met my dolphins without number. They will surround your yacht and make you laugh! The reefs are pristine, the water clear and warm, and the crowds, NONE! Most Panamanians speak some English, and are charming. This will be a special time aboard this lovely, spacious catamaran with a wonderful, expert crew who have traveled the world together. Now is the time to explore this fabulous area as it won't be a secret for very long.
Getting there: I just did a quick search on www.kayak.com (using PTY-Panama City, as a destination from Chicago O'Hare). My search brought up very inexpensive air fares, all under $400 round trip! WOW!
Blogspot of their adventures to be announced!



Check out the area...I would love to stowaway!
Note: This new adventure will be available for around $2333/per person/with 6 passengers traveling and which includes all meals and standard bar. This is a very reasonable price especially when the low airfare is considered.
This excellent tour will be available starting July 2009.

"Feasting On Waves", Alton Brown on the Food Network

http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_ab

If you haven't been watching the Food Network's Feasting on Waves with Alton Brown on Sunday nights, you have been missing a terrific opportunity to view the Eyelands of the Caribbee from the deck of a fabulous charter catamaran; two 50' chartered catamarans, in fact.

One cat was Chef de Mer, a fabulous platform for fun you can visit at www.viewyacht.com/chefdemer/.

There are 4 episodes, the first one exploring St. Kitt's and many other nearby eyelands. After visiting a vast luscious hydroponic garden on the island of Anguilla, last night we found AB sailing from Anguilla up through the Anegada Passage to end in, you guessed it, Anegada.

The Whispering Pines restaurant and watering hole served as a venue to a sumptuous Anegada eyeland-style barbeque featuring loads of lobster, baby back ribs, shrimp, mahi mahi and all the trimmings. If you haven't experienced a local barbeque in de eyelands, mon, you haven't seen barbeque!

Of course while the fire is heating up, you will be required to drink rum and then, maybe, some more rum!

The final episode will take place next Sunday night Sept. 28, 2008. Be sure to be there. Put on your pirate hat, eye patch, cutoffs and t-shirt, slather yourself with sunscreen and uncork your favorite brand of Caribbean rum to ease yourself into the picture.

Of course, you can experience all this yourself by visiting our favorite choices on board your own charter yacht at http://www.yachtchartersusvi.com/! Happy Feasting!

American Airlines Resumes Full Seasonal Schedule

Hoooray! Now coming to the Virgin Islands will be the same as always. Thank you, American Airlines!!
Aug. 20, 2008 -- As the winter tourism season nears, American Airlines will restore flights it's putting on hold for the fall season, Tourism Commissioner Beverly Nicholson-Doty said Wednesday. Initially the scenario didn't look so rosy. "They weren't making a commitment to reinstate the flights come winter," Nicholson-Doty said. This prompted Nicholson-Doty and members of Gov. John deJongh Jr.'s Public/Private Sector Airline Committee to fly to Miami to speak personally with American's senior vice president for the Caribbean and Latin America regions, Peter Dolara, in hopes of convincing American to reinstate the winter flights. On Thursday American will cut one of its two daily flights from Miami to St. Thomas, but both will resume Dec.18.
American's once-a-day flight between Miami and St. Croix will resume Nov. 2. The daily flight between New York's JFK Airport and St. Thomas will resume Nov. 20 after running once a week for the fall. A second flight will be added on Fridays starting Dec. 18. American's flight between Boston and St. Thomas will run on a twice-weekly schedule starting Nov. 2. On Dec. 18, it will run five days a week. While the picture looks better with American Airlines, American Eagle isn't following suit with its flights between the territory and San Juan. "We are looking at various options," Nicholson-Doty said, declining to be specific because of ongoing negotiations. On Friday American Eagle is cutting its eight daily flights between St. Thomas and San Juan to three. This will remain the same throughout the winter season. American Eagle is also eliminating five of its eight daily flights between San Juan and St. Croix. No increases are expected for the winter season. The Tourism Department is putting $1.5 million of its money into partnering with American, Delta and, "to a lesser degree," Spirit Airlines to advertise the territory and the airlines. The ads include radio and newspaper advertisements, billboards and airport signage. Additionally, in Atlanta buses were wrapped with ads touting the U.S. Virgin Islands and a tag line to call Delta Vacations. In return, Nicholson-Doty said, the airlines provided complimentary airplane seats for travel agents, travel writers and sweepstakes winners. In Charlotte, N.C., Tourism is spending $375,000 to advertise St. Croix in radio, newspaper and Internet ads, Nicholson-Doty said. U.S. Airways flies to St. Croix from this Southeast city on Saturdays. "The ads encourage early bookings," Nicholson-Doty said. Other deals, including one to entice Jet Blue to fly to the territory, haven't worked out because the airlines wanted revenue guarantees. In the case of Jet Blue, the airline wanted $1.5 million in a monthly revenue guarantee, Nicholson-Doty said. "That's not within the scope of possibility," she said. Revenue guarantees could result in the territory paying for empty seats, Nicholson-Doty said. "We worked at developing marketing relationships that were a win-win for us," she said.

NO NEW FEES!!!

Not long ago, we were met with the news that the government of the British Virgin Islands were about to impose some hefty fees for charter yachts entering their waters. For the average charter yacht these fees would have topped $250 just to visit and stay for a while. We are very happy to report that with great effort on the part of our collective charter yacht organizations and many other entities involved with marine-based tourism, those fees have been tabled, at least for now. So, the Virgin Islands is still one of the most affordable places to cruise. Read below and Come on Down! (Lovely table setting presented by Motor Yacht Starfire www.mystarfire.com available for charter in the Virgin Islands and other Caribbean locales)

"BREAKING NEWS: Cabinet indefinitely defers implementation of harbour fees

Government Information Service Cabinet has decided to indefinitely defer the implementations of harbour fees for vessels entering or remaining in Territorial waters or those using a BVI Ports Authority facility.In a statement today, Premier Honourable Ralph T. O'Neal, OBE revealed that the decision was taken at a specially convened sitting of the Cabinet on Monday. It was previously announced that the new fee structure would have taken effect on July 1st but was subsequently deferred until July 15th. However, the Premier explained that based on representations made to Government by local associations, maritime agents and others involved in the yachting industry both locally and abroad, the decision was taken to defer the introduction of fees in an attempt to protect the Territory's competitive edge as a yachting destination."After all the BVI has been known as the sailing capital of the Western Hemisphere, if not of the world, and therefore it was extremely important for Cabinet to consider the representations that were made, as the Cabinet will do for any representation that the people will make," the Premier stated. He added: "It must be remembered that the yachting industry contributes to the economy of the Territory and the yachtsmen enjoy our waters from Anegada to Jost Van Dyke." The Premier further explained that the yachting industry is a significant contributor to the local economy and as such the sector must be safe-guarded against adverse impacts. "Cabinet reviewed the new fee structure and also we considered the cost implications of the charges when compared to the rising cost of fuel," the Premier said. He added that "In addition, Cabinet determined that if the BVI were to implement this new fee structure, the Territory may have become the most expensive destination in the world for mariners and yachts." In addition to indefinitely deferring the introduction of harbour fees, the BVI Cabinet has agreed to establish a seven-member focus group to review the said fees.This group will be chaired by Mr. Peter Haycraft and will include local agent, Mrs. Francis David, Acting Chairman of the BVI Tourist Board, Mr. Terrance Ford; Managing Director of the BVI Ports Authority, Mr. Vincent O'Neal; Comptroller of Customs, Mr. Wade Smith; Ms. Lorraine Stoutt of Caribbean Transport and a representative from the BVI Chamber of Commerce and Hotel Association. The group is expected to submit its report to Cabinet by September, 2008.The Government is committed to ensuring maximum economic development for the Territory and providing the necessary protections for the sectors that propel this growth."