bargain hunting

Bargain hunting is the new pastime in America. Everybody is complaining about the bad shape the economy is in and therefore nobody wants to pay the regular price for any product, including yacht charters. Lower prices for almost all products and specials everywhere seam like a great deal, but a deflationary scenario is the worst economic situation we could be in.
Lower prices lead to lower profit margins for companies, this leads to pressure to cut cost, this leads to switching to lower cost suppliers in countries like communist China, cutting quality and services, all that leads to further job losses in America and therefor the economy loses even more potential buyers of goods.
"Live and let live" is now more important then ever or the recovery will be very slow or we will even slip into a depression.
Putting the blame on "the others" or the government is easy but I think we create the world we live in ourselves and therefor it is time to take on responsibilities in our own lives.
So, America, go and change your light bulbs to fluorescent to solve our energy crisis, buy that reusable bag in your supermarket and stop using plastic bags to solve our waste crisis, turn off the water when you brush your teeth and cut your shower time to solve our water crisis and stop asking for specials to solve our economic crisis.
Or the next time you want to book a charter yacht and pick up the phone you might hear:
"for yacht charters in the Virgin Islands, please press 1"

Anegada and the Lobster Season

On our last visit to the BVI's in August we finally found the anchorages empty, the way we like it.

One of the highlights was a visit to Anegada and a planed lobster dinner at the Anegada Reef Hotel, our choice for the best lobster in the VI since more then 10 years. We knew about "lobster season", but so far this rule wasn't enforced here. After the new government in the BVI took over, a lot of things changed and this is one of them. So, no lobster in the Anegada Reef Hotel from August 15 - November 31. They still have fish, chicken and steaks.

Anegada is the only, non vulcanic, coral island in the VI with the highest point at around 8 feet. If you really want to experience Anegada fully, you need more then just a few hours in the afternoon after your sail from Virgin Gorda.

Our suggestion: Stay the night before you want to sail to Anegada in the North Sound in Virgin Gorda. Grab a mooring from Saba Rock (says: "pay at Saba Rock"), so you can get up to 250 gallons of water and 1 bag of ice for free, in the morning, before you sail to Anegada. This makes it a great deal and saves you at least $30.

If you approach Anegada look out for 2 pairs of red and green buys and head for the left pair, to avoid coral heads and shallow areas right in front of the entrance to the anchorage. If your yacht draws more then 6,5 feet, be very careful and don't go too far into the anchorage.

That afternoon have a walk on the beach and dine this night at the Anegada Reef Hotel. Make your reservation for this dinner before 3.30 via VHF.

The next day take a safari taxi to the other side of the islands. Take your snorkel equipment, sunscreen, a good book and a towel and tell the driver to drop you off at "Flash of Beauty" (and pick you up at "Big Bamboo"), one of the best snorkel places if the weather is not too rough. Beware of currents! This is not a spot for snorkel beginners!

After you snorkeled here walk to the west to the next bar and restaurant called "Big Bamboo". Here you get drinks and lunch and you can always ask if they have Anegada Lobster. Take a nap in one of the hammocks under the trees in front of the restaurant or take a walk on the endless beach. The last pick up is at 5.00

Have a happy hour drink at the bar at the Anegada Reef Hotel and enjoy the spectacular sunset.

Just another day in paradise!

Kenny Chesney - somewhere in the sun - revealed

As a real Kenny Chesney fan you saw the TV show "somewhere in the sun". Did you feel the urge to walk in his footsteps, to visit the places he was talking about, to experience the sunsets he showed you?
We can get you there - on a Caribbean sailing vacation.
Start your Virgin Islands yacht charter in St. Thomas in the Marina American Yacht Harbor in Red Hook, where Kenny keeps his motor yacht. Cruise to St. John and have a burger at his favorite beach bar "Woody's". Make a tour over the island and see the gorgeous views from the hilltops. Anchor in front of palm fringed beaches like Cannel Bay or Trunk Bay and dive into the turquoise waters for a swim or snorkel trip. Have a drink in the cockpit of your crewed charter yacht "when the sun goes down" and get blown away by an indescribable sunset. Sail the BVI and visit one of his featured restaurants at Jost van Dyke, "Sydney's love and peace" and have a delicious lobster meal. Swing in the hammock at "White Bay" and experience yourself the feeling of "living a different pace".
No shoes, no shirt, no problem!

New Passport rules for Caribbean sailing Vacations

Beginning Jan. 1. U.S. citizens will no longer be able to cruise through the Caribbean and then re-enter the United States with only a driver's license or voter's registration card as identification. A passport will be required. The office of Homeland Security initiated this new policy due to heightened concerns that terrorists could smuggle equipment or operatives into the United States from neighboring countries. This doesn't apply if you're only making stops in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. These islands fly the U.S. flag, thus no passport is needed. However, if you cruise over to the British Virgin Islands or down to Sint Maarten, for example, U.S. immigration officials will insist on seeing a passport before they'll let you back in the country.

Jost van Dyke, BVI updated information

Jost van Dyke is one of the must see islands to visit during a BVI sailing charter. The world famous beach bar Foxy's attracts thousands of sailors every year. The only downside is the poor anchorage at Great Harbor. The available anchor space now even got smaller since the authorities installed buoys to mark the access channel for ferries. A good alternative for safe anchoring is Little Harbor where you can find overnight moorings and even some great lobster restaurants that refund your mooring fee if you eat there. Take a short taxi ride to Great Harbor to visit Foxy's and you do not need to worry about your anchor at night. Good news: At the right side after the reef entrance at White Bay there are now also overnight moorings available, which make this beautiful but tricky and narrow anchorage now easier to visit. For a fun ride ashore try the new ATV rental at White Bay. You will always get the latest information from us for crewed yachts and bareboat charters at www.sailingyachtvacation.com

St. Thomas Yacht Charter Brokerage - EXPERT ADVISE

'Not just another yacht charter company'; you might say, but we offer you something really valuable - Real sailors on the other side of the phoneline. For more than 20 years sailing has been and still is our passion.
We started sailing in the Mediterranean Sea, including Corsica and the Spanish Balearic Islands, explored parts of Africa and the Canary Islands.
In 1994 we crossed the Atlantic with our own 42' Jeanneau and visited every island in the Caribbean including Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela and the ABC Islands. For several years now the Virgin Islands have become our cruising ground of choice and home.
We've settled in St. Thomas and operate a crewed charter yacht. By booking a charter through our new company Discount Yacht Charters you can take advantage of our extensive knowledge of the local charter companies and their yachts and additionally we always offer exceptional rates.
We take the time to find out the special offers and will find the right yacht for your needs and budget.

Get more expert advice at www.discountyachtcharters.com and jumpstart your charter yacht vacation planning today.

We are looking forward to welcoming you aboard!

pick up a mooring - tips from the pro

You can see it at every anchorage on a Caribbean sailing vacation in the Virgin Islands: Charter yacht crews try to pick up a painter (the line which is connected to the mooring ball) of a mooring and need several attempts before they succeed.

Here are some tips from the experts how to do it right.
If you approach an anchorage always be on the lookout for swimmers and snorkerlers. Sailing into an anchorage may look very spectacular but is not advisable. The sails are blocking your view and your speed and direction of the boat is not that easy to adjust to a sudden upcoming situation. So take your sail down in a not crowded area of the anchorage and prepare your boat and crew for the upcoming mooring maneuver.

1.Make sure they have the boat hook handy.
2.Some moorings require that you use a rope from your yacht through the eye of the painter and back to your boat. Make sure this line is fixed on one side at the cleat, and then go through the eye and over the railing back on to your deck. This end will be the end you use to go through the eye of the painter.
3.Use hand signals to communicate the distance and direction of the mooring ball and the speed for the approach back to the guy at the wheel.
4.Most boats approach the mooring too fast, so slow down. Your boat should be almost at a stop at the mooring without using the reverse gear. You can not be too slow, but very often boats shoot far over the mooring. Only if you have a lot of wind you will need a little more speed.
5.Approach the mooring in an angle exactly into the wind direction.
6.Have a look out where the painter is floating. If the painter is not floating directly behind the mooring in the lee of the mooring you can expect some current, that also will influence the move of your boat.
7.As the guy at the helm check your speed by making a bearing to the side.
8.If possible, have two crew members on the foredeck (and only two - too many spectators are only in the way) One picks up the painter with the boat hook, after that the other one takes the boat hook and puts it in a safe place, then helps with fixing the line that you hopefully prepared on your foredeck to fix it back on the cleat.

Think and talk the maneuver through with your crew and have an anchor beer only after you did it successfully. Good luck.