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Re: One aduly and five or six teenagers?
[Re: snmhanson]
#102196
07/06/2016 03:28 PM
07/06/2016 03:28 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,018 annap, MD/BVI-Nanny Cay
hallucination
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,018
annap, MD/BVI-Nanny Cay
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Do you have a credit card? It is amazing what the charter companies will do. A lot depends on the individual charter company. I would say the only impediment to you doing this is: Are you in a boat of a significantly larger class than what you have done in the past? and Do you feel comfortable personally about the situation you are putting yourself into?
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Re: One aduly and five or six teenagers?
[Re: hallucination]
#102197
07/06/2016 04:26 PM
07/06/2016 04:26 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,953 St. John, USVI
RickG
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,953
St. John, USVI
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I'd hire a captain and make life more fun and safer for everyone. Five or six fifteen year old boys are going to take a lot of wrangling.
Cheers, RickG
S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423 Grenada
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Re: One aduly and five or six teenagers?
[Re: hallucination]
#102198
07/06/2016 04:27 PM
07/06/2016 04:27 PM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999 Macon, Georgia
GlennA
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999
Macon, Georgia
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No problem! Do IT! I started out with my son and his Cub Scout friends on a 503 from BVIYC. It got to be a tradition and a lot more fun for me than driving a boat load of adults around the islands. Over the next 10 years the waiting list got so long my son took the ASA courses and we started chartering a pair of 523s from Horizon. (Interesting that he was old enough to charter a boat but was not old enough to rent a car.) Then everybody got married and we had one last cruise before everybody started having babys.
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. - Mark Twain
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Re: One aduly and five or six teenagers?
[Re: GlennA]
#102199
07/06/2016 04:39 PM
07/06/2016 04:39 PM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,018 annap, MD/BVI-Nanny Cay
hallucination
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,018
annap, MD/BVI-Nanny Cay
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One thing I heard a charter operator counseling a person in your position is.... You should rent the boat, but place your son as "Captain" of record, so when he wanted to solo, he could with his friends. Yes, I too was dumbfounded when I heard this advise. Again, the charter companies are the least of your worries. Kids come in all shapes. Some are content with doing "bible study" all night, others are interested in other things In my little clutch I have one content with word search on the boat, the other is more interested in "other things"
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Re: One aduly and five or six teenagers?
[Re: hallucination]
#102200
07/06/2016 04:49 PM
07/06/2016 04:49 PM
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Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999 Macon, Georgia
GlennA
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 10,999
Macon, Georgia
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I was pleasantly supprised of the change that came over a half dozen 13-14 year old boys once they saw the boat. The same herd of cats that I lost control of in the Atlanta airport suddenly got very responsible when they realized they were going to be the ones sailing that massive 50' boat in the real ocean. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />
Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. - Mark Twain
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Re: One aduly and five or six teenagers?
[Re: GlennA]
#102201
07/06/2016 04:53 PM
07/06/2016 04:53 PM
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Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 381
dayhiker
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 381
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GlennA said: I was pleasantly supprised of the change that came over a half dozen 13-14 year old boys once they saw the boat. The same herd of cats that I lost control of in the Atlanta airport suddenly got very responsible when they realized they were going to be the ones sailing that massive 50' boat in the real ocean. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" /> Both of those posts are awesome. THat is so cool.
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Re: One aduly and five or six teenagers?
[Re: captmonk]
#102206
07/07/2016 06:41 PM
07/07/2016 06:41 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 399 Pacific NW
snmhanson
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 399
Pacific NW
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Thanks for all of the replies. Yes, I've got a credit card so I guess all is good. However, I would prefer to be addressed as a debit card captain - just sounds more respectable <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" />. In all seriousness, sounds like finding a boat to charter shouldn't be an issue. I am fully comfortable in my own abilities and I've sailed cats up to 50' and monos up to about the same so I guess that box is checked.
Being responsible for the kids is another issue that I need to give a lot of thought to. I think part of what inspired this is seeing the Broadreach and Outwardbound boats on our last charter. My son liked the idea of being on a boat filled with his peers. On the flip side, I remember taking him and his friends to a Great Wolf Lodge for his 10th or 11th birthday. Man was that an adventure. The drive there was a bit out of control, and once we got there thing seemed to get even crazier. Of course they are four years older now and presumably a little more mature. And being in the BVIs on a boat is a completely different environment than being at the Great Wolf insane asylum. Plus, maybe being surrounded by a bunch of 15 y/o kids will bring out a bit of the kid that still lives somewhere inside me. And let's be honest, taking them on this trip would probably move me up a few notches in the cool dad contest.
Matt
Last edited by snmhanson; 07/07/2016 06:44 PM.
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Re: One aduly and five or six teenagers?
[Re: Carol_Hill]
#102210
07/08/2016 01:58 PM
07/08/2016 01:58 PM
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Joined: May 2010
Posts: 399 Pacific NW
snmhanson
OP
Traveler
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OP
Traveler
Joined: May 2010
Posts: 399
Pacific NW
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Thanks again for the advice. Yes, Local Sailor, those are all things I am thinking about and are generally checks in the "am I crazy?" category. I know full well some of the ideas that these kids think up and how cavalier and/or secretive they can be about their plans. What might be a practical joke or prank in their eyes is sometimes a reckless act of immaturity in reality. Mildly dangerous on land, but potentially life threatening on a boat. Also, it is scary how invincible they think they are and disappointing at how narcissistic they can be at times. Before putting this plan into motion I would have to have a sit down with the kids and parents and make it clear what is expected of them. I'd also let them know that my last resort would be to end the trip early if I feel their behavior is threatening the safety of them or anyone else - or if they can't maintain a basic level of respect for me and others. Maybe I could sail to St. Thomas and put the offending character(s) on a plane home so that it wouldn't ruin the trip for the rest of the crew. Not sure, but there would have to be some sort of contingency plan. Good point about me having to be their mother for a week. That is one perspective I didn't really think about too much, and I know they all rely on their mothers quite a bit for the bulk of their needs. Maybe it will be good for them to have to tough it out for a week without the indulgences that they receive at home.
That said, giving them the the opportunity to experience sailing in the BVIs and letting them see a life from a different perspective without constant electronics and social media is a pretty powerful argument in the "screw it, let's go" category. If there is one thing I hate it is complacency and I think getting them away from the comfort of their home could be enlightening. It seems that at this age they think that they know everything, when in reality what they know is based mostly on media and their peer group. It would be very satisfying to give them just a glimpse of what else is out there. I really think they'd be able to get it together for the most part and be a functioning part of the crew. Keeping them busy sailing the boat and with shore based activities might keep them from getting too preoccupied and engaged in non-constructive behavior. It's a gamble and it could be a miserable week for me, but it also could be a very rewarding week for both them and myself.
Matt
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Re: One aduly and five or six teenagers?
[Re: snmhanson]
#102211
07/08/2016 03:52 PM
07/08/2016 03:52 PM
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Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,390 Ill, USA
Will_L
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,390
Ill, USA
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When I was a kid, I'd always want some friends over to help with a chore or when the parents were gone. Dad had a good way of explaining how those things go. "No son! A boy is a boy. Two boys are half a boy..and three boys are no boy at all" He was pretty much correct. Getting of the plane last night there were a number of about 14-15 yr old Boy Scouts . A half a dozen were setting two rows behind us. They were quite "uninhibited" . When getting ready to deplane two of them came charging past us bulling their way down the aisle, ran into a lady holding an infant a few aisles up. There were parents outside with a sign welcoming back troop such and such. Not sure I'd want that bunch back. . Capt Monk, has a system of dealing with this taxing bunch. Saw them at Savannah bay a couple times during our trip. kids were learning scuba diving, paying attention and respecting the instructors. It helps a lot I'm sure not being related to any of them and they not being quite sure if they won't be set home or denied participation in events if they don't behave.
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Re: One aduly and five or six teenagers?
[Re: snmhanson]
#102212
07/08/2016 04:56 PM
07/08/2016 04:56 PM
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 646 MD, USA
polaris
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 646
MD, USA
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I wouldn't be as worried about the charter company as about the safety of you, your crew and the boat. I recall a post about a charter where the single experienced person onboard was suddenly disabled and the boat sailed itself into the Atlantic because no one else onboard could take down the sails, start the engine, turnaround, etc. (He eventually came to and gave directions)
I have chartered with many newbies BUT ALWAYS with at least a first mate completely capable of taking the boat back to base.
Polaris
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Re: One aduly and five or six teenagers?
[Re: snmhanson]
#102214
07/08/2016 08:04 PM
07/08/2016 08:04 PM
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559 Apex, NC
agrimsrud
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559
Apex, NC
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I don't think you're crazy at all. Sounds like you've thought through it pretty carefully and the boys have some ok past experiences. If you teach them how to take down the sails, start the engine and use the VHF I think your're good to go. Sounds like a great experience for those boys and I'm sure they will have fond memories for a lifetime. I would do it.
Life's short - sail more!
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Re: One aduly and five or six teenagers?
[Re: agrimsrud]
#102215
07/10/2016 09:57 AM
07/10/2016 09:57 AM
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Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,347 USVI
LocalSailor
Traveler
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Traveler
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 1,347
USVI
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If anyone hasn't read my previous post above it is the background for my thought here.
I would have felt confident my crew of teenagers could have done quite well by themselves solving the problem and operating all aspects of the vessel if I had become incapacitated or even just fell overboard BUT I probably would have drowned or died of old age before the argument among them about who would be the designated Captain in charge was resolved.
Last edited by LocalSailor; 07/10/2016 10:00 AM.
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