I'm curious as to whether/how anyone has shipped gear to Tortola? (In particular, for a sail charter.)

Certainly thats possible but I've just never done this on many trips to Tortola. If so, how have you done that (USPS, UPS, etc) and any commentary on cost/delivery time? I will be on a 8 week sail charter beginning this May in Tortola.

Consequently, I will have more gear aboard than ever before (to name just some of the gear: kiteboarding equipment, fishing gear, high end snorkel gear, inflatable SUP's, navigation equipment, etc. etc.) I'm beginning to think about how to get all of this to Tortola with me and somewhat concerned about traveling the gear with me on airflight (lost/seriously delayed baggage possiblity for very valuable items which if lost would really screw my trip up - in other words, not concerned about clothes, only gear/equipment). I could pack multiple large bags/boxes as luggage (just a guess would be 4 - 5 oversized bags), but then there's also the hassle of moving all of that around at airports, not to mention the loss/delay issue.

Thanks for any advice, thoughts, comments!!!

Less is more. We once carried all kinds of stuff. We no longer even carry dive gear. Maybe bring your own mask. In the BVI you can truly leave all the other stuff behind. Been there done that, not doing it again.

Shipping stuff is not any option using any of the normal services. You can always call a freight forwarder and ship your own container or crate. Good luck finding a spot to secure and store the container.

One additional item - I've not yet discussed this with the local charter fleet team but will - would prefer some personal experience/thoughts at this point. Thanks.

Thanks StormJib - Generally, less is more. But this is an 8 week sail trip through the Antilles (BVI to Antigua) so this a very different trip and this gear is going to be with me. As example, I'm going to rent all dive gear (so agree with you there), but I'm going to want my own top of the line snorkel equipment for this trip. It doesn't appear that its going to be easy or moderately expensive!

One other item to emphasize. I have ZERO concern about airline extra bag fees - that's free in my book ($35 - 75/bag is irrelevant). What I am concerned about is the liklihood of it showing up (since the gear inside is so important for the trip, and very valuable.) That's why I'm interested in at least evaluating a shipping option. One other individual has suggested possibly shipping to STT and ferry over myself - that's certainly an option/thought.

With our own boats. The gear and dinghy goes in a container to St. Martin. With the increase in the cost and issues with modern shipping. I do not think we will ever ship stuff like that again. Racing sails being the exception. Good Luck. If you really think about it and must have that stuff. I doubt it?. Maybe consider traveling with a young male on scholarship to schlep stuff and help set the boat up for at least the first leg? That is one of the way I got my start in college.

If you really believe you must have it. Call your airline and determine the cost to ship the items. You can declare the proper value. The airlines move very valuable materials everyday. What do you think the value is for a pallet of iPhones or Macs that are coming from China? All that stuff comes by air. Explore the checked baggage limits and the counter to counter options. We move sails(very heavy sails) worth many thousands of dollars that way all the time.

I would really rethink what you need. Getting it there all clean and neatly packed is one thing. If the stuff is "valuable" you may think you have to bring it back at the end of the trip. We learned all this the hard way. We do not do it anymore. Our list of foolishness once included hydrophones to listen for the whales.

We limit ourselves to what we can carry ourselves in one trip from the car to the counter. Any you are correct the heavy and odd sized stuff is the bits that get left behind when they are trying to stuff the belly of the aircraft. I stopped carrying fishing poles when I saw the second one go back in the airport in New Orleans while sitting in my seat waiting to depart.

I think you should consider bringing your mother. I am willing to be checked in a bag as well. Whatever happened to minimalism?

Agree Less is better. But we have taken down several large duffle bags with "stuff" to leave on our boat/ at base. Snorkel gear can go with all your clothing as well as inflatable PFDs in 1 appropriate duffle bag. Perhaps a second duffle. Carry on any electronics. Good luck... If needing more, charter a plane... put it on with you and it rides with you.


I am flying to Tortola in March and again May in my airplane.

FedEx is reliable and fast but very expensive. A 50 pound suitcase sent overnight is roughly $500. 4 day service is about $400.

It might be cheaper to buy some of the items down there rather than ship them. Seems like a lot of stuff to bring. YMMV.

Hmmm. Sorry, not a very helpful crowd tonight. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duel.gif" alt="" />

Sounds like you are planning something quite different from the typical 7-10 day circumnavigation of Tortola. And I don't think you asked for a lecture on minimalism. Try these folks. Crowley

I would look at shipping via Tropical to STT via Miami. Pick it up there. To forward it to BVI costs a small fortune.

Thanks for the thoughts and recommendations thus far! I recognize that my trip - and the need to carry extra gear - is unique.

As HillsideView said... If you really want to ship all that stuff then send it to St Thomas or, my preference, Sint Maarten. I had loads of stuff delivered from the U.S. to St Maarten (watermaker for instance)and nothing ever got lost or significantly delayed. No customs duty there so less excuse to delay!

Getting anything to Tortola though was usually a nightmare.

I have to assume you are doing this for a longer than one week trip. You can contact St Thomas Cargo St Thomas Cargo Web Page

They handle these kind of shipments for yachts all the time.

Jay

Plus you have to pay duty! I used a Spinnaker to move a boat up to the US. The chute had been in the BVI for years. Had to pay duty when I shipped it back down.
G

St Thomas or St Maarten as noted. And did you ask for lectures on what to bring? If you have the time, Crowley or Tropical will add it to a container. You'll need a broker at your end to handle it. Masterpiece in Newport RI does it for a living Lots of locations worldwide

Get it sent sooner than later and the agent in the islands will have it cleared before your arrival. STT and SXM are both duty free ports so less paperwork than if you tried to send it to Tortola

Your question regarding "Will it show up?" using the airline is very likely a yes, in time. The small planes get full so some bags don't always make that flight. Typically on the next one or the one after.

I always had the luxury of sending my kite, scuba and SUP gear in our own containers. So nice having your own kit.

Hope this is helpful

Hello:
You can ship via Tamarind Consolidated in Fort Lauderdale Florida. They send a container to Virgin Gorda every week. $6.35 per cuft. Reliable service. Just send you stuff to them, they put in a container with other persons stuff and off it goes. Pick up a week later. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

Thanks for the suggestions and answers provided.

I'll say it again, though, for some for which it wasn't clear:

I am sailing for 8 weeks through 20+ islands - its almost a mini-sabbatical rather than a simple week or 2 trip. This is the only reason I'm bringing (not considering to bring, but absolutely bringing, additional equipment.) I am amused at some of the comments about what I should and shouldn't bring! It's simply not a matter of if, but how, I should do this.

In the end, I may simply revert to checked luggage, though, generally a 3rd checked item is $150 and 4th item is $200 so I do really appreciate the alternatives suggested! And the issue is not the cost as much as the risk of it being on hand when I get to my boat. I am taking 2 days of my trip simply to prep the boat. So, please keep the ideas coming - thanks!

(Did I make it clear that I am living aboard for 8 weeks and that I'm bringing certain gear??) Thanks!

I heard it. I have also done all three steps. Carted the stuff to a boat, struggled to find places to store the stuff and suffered the loss of performance with too much weight on the boat, then the challenge of getting it cleaned, packed, and carted home. For a "big" trip where freight must be shipped with use St. Martin as the base. If you are going to travel from the BVI to St. Martin crossing Anegada Passage. You are going to want a boat set up to sail that is properly loaded. If the trades are up that is a very hardy uphill sail. My point consider the space you will be taking up on your living space for eight weeks and the total weight your are expecting on the boat during the passages where you may actually have to sail. Lastly we do not want to be concerned with the loss of anything of value to us when we leave the boat each day to enjoy the area. Have a great trip. I am sure we are all envious. You are just at the beginning. I look forward to hearing the middle and the end of the book.

Each airline is different. They are all constantly changing their rules. i just looked up two United and JetBlue. For a Kite Board less than 100 pounds the cost is $50 each way. Cape Air has their own very lengthy carribean rules on their website. Here is what United has to say on the subject: