Traveltalkonline.com Forums


BVI Cruise Schedule TTOL Sponsors BVI Travel Calendar
Forum Statistics
Forums39
Topics38,428
Posts310,026
Members26,538
Most Online2,218
Jan 21st, 2020
Top Posters(30 Days)
RonDon 114
pat 43
jazzgal 41
Todd 40
Member Spotlight
Southshore
Southshore
Mississauga, ON, Canada
Posts: 865
Joined: January 2004
Show All Member Profiles 
Today's Birthdays
ecco, OceanDrop, vincent
Who's Online Now
28 registered members (ChiTownHarry, IWIWSE, WWII, Billtjw, Kennys, Fran, cabokid, SteveH, lcote, eightzerobits, Leagle49, fabila, MKGrey, timnboston, jenniboston, deputydog1157, Jaybird, KC2SXM, steve74, Zanshin, Tom, boucharda, 6 invisible), 944 guests, and 77 spiders.
Key: Admin, Global Mod, Mod
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Print Thread
Rate Thread
What Day to Start Charter #197294
06/10/2019 03:46 PM
06/10/2019 03:46 PM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 89
Mebane, NC
mriley4955 Offline OP
Traveler
mriley4955  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 89
Mebane, NC
Ok everyone, I need some local perspectives on when to start a charter.

I have done over 7 bareboat charters over the years and for some reason, I always started on a Sunday. Fly down, stay onboard first night then strike off Sunday morning.
But this time CAN be different.
If you could start from Nanny Cay any day of the week, what day would you start?
Thanks
RedBeard


I spent all my money on "Boats", "Broads", and "Booze"; the rest I wasted!


[Linked Image]
BVI Sponsors
Re: What Day to Start Charter [Re: mriley4955] #197305
06/10/2019 05:42 PM
06/10/2019 05:42 PM
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,390
Ill, USA
Will_L Offline
Traveler
Will_L  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 2,390
Ill, USA
Avoiding the sa answer about picking any day ending in “y” or recommending this time of year when more ten days for the price of 7 are available, I don’t think it makes a lot of difference. An advantage of a midweek start that come to mind. Not as many boats wanting to get off the dock “early” and you might just do it. If Anegada is on the itinerary, with the preponderance of boats getting turned in on Sat or Sunday, bu hitting Anegada on a Friday, Saturday, there will be fewer boats vying for balls and likely less crowded. But again with the increasing numbers doing ten days or two weeks in the lower rate seasons, that might not be as noticeable as high season.

Last edited by Will_L; 06/10/2019 05:42 PM.
Re: What Day to Start Charter [Re: mriley4955] #197308
06/10/2019 06:01 PM
06/10/2019 06:01 PM
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 251
Okla
ScurvyD Offline
Traveler
ScurvyD  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2016
Posts: 251
Okla
We started on Wednesday because it's cheaper for us to fly in onTuesday and leave on Thursday. No other reason.


I'd like to be a jelly fish, cause jelly fish don't pay rent.
Re: What Day to Start Charter [Re: mriley4955] #197341
06/11/2019 09:40 AM
06/11/2019 09:40 AM
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 89
Mebane, NC
mriley4955 Offline OP
Traveler
mriley4955  Offline OP
Traveler
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 89
Mebane, NC
Great input guys and thanks. It's kinda what I was thinking but wanted to hear others thoughts.


I spent all my money on "Boats", "Broads", and "Booze"; the rest I wasted!


[Linked Image]
Re: What Day to Start Charter [Re: mriley4955] #197342
06/11/2019 09:42 AM
06/11/2019 09:42 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
GeorgeC1 Offline
Traveler
GeorgeC1  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
Tuesday or Wednesday keeps you out of the main charter boat flow.

Re: What Day to Start Charter [Re: mriley4955] #197348
06/11/2019 10:18 AM
06/11/2019 10:18 AM
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 9
Cincinnati, Ohio
DSpeer Offline
Traveler
DSpeer  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 9
Cincinnati, Ohio
We always try and start mid-week for the same reason above.
1. cheaper flights
2. less crowded anchorages - The charter boat flow is very predictable and pretty much do the same counter clockwise loop. starting mid-week means you're not bunched up with the majority of people starting on the weekend.
3. much better ratio of Charter company dock-hands, service people etc. to patron

Re: What Day to Start Charter [Re: mriley4955] #197349
06/11/2019 10:21 AM
06/11/2019 10:21 AM
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 229
West Chester, PA
ligot Offline
Traveler
ligot  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 229
West Chester, PA
We're like Scurvyd in that we scour the flight prices first and pic our start day. Also, we like 10 days so a Tuesday flight/Wed start uses 2 weekends and fewer days out of the office. We really do like not being on the Sat/Sat schedule that many use.


S/V Tortuga
Lagoon 46
[Linked Image]
Re: What Day to Start Charter [Re: mriley4955] #197352
06/11/2019 10:28 AM
06/11/2019 10:28 AM
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,392
Maryland
Kirk Offline
Traveler
Kirk  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 1,392
Maryland
I think every trip I've done has been a Friday sleep aboard and hit Drakes Lake on Saturday (simply because we always have gone down based on starting Super Bowl Weekend.) Not doing that this coming trip...sleep aboard Sunday and head out on Monday...it'll be interesting to see if it's any different.


Kirk in Maryland
Re: What Day to Start Charter [Re: mriley4955] #197364
06/11/2019 11:16 AM
06/11/2019 11:16 AM
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 216
Dana Point
C
captdennyj Offline
Traveler
captdennyj  Offline
Traveler
C
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 216
Dana Point
Many people fly in on a friday or saturday, and start on a sunday. Due to available vacation times from work. .

Possibly that makes for a lot of starts for the charter companies, weekend days , which can slow things up for getting out of the docks after the provisioning, any pre inspection of the vessel on your own , filling the water tanks,
checking the dink and outboard motor, getting the chart brief, and the systems check out, etc.

We chose WEDNESDAY, but we all have our own individual procedures as to how we handle our personal bare boat charters and have things run smoothly, and avoid problems that can arise not of our doing.

Two week sailing vacation. We add in some additional wiggle room with a hotel prior and post charter. Just in case of airline or weather problems, or other travel situations.
No rushing madly about with tight schedules. This was our First time via St. Thomas.

The only problem that we had was the absolute mess at St. Thomas Airport, when heading back to MIA, to LAX. We were advised to get there THREE HOURS AHEAD OF TIME, That was good advice.
From the checking in at the terminal desk...American....and large groups of six to eight people ahead of us. Then the customs / imigration line, and the deposit baggage check inspection line, and the TSA line,
it was about two hours until we cleared that mess. That gave us some time to belly up to the terminal pub for a couple of relaxing drinks before boarding. Of course, everyone is totally free to handle that situation in their own way.

Bare Boat Charter:

With Conch , We do get the early 4:30 pm boarding and spending the night before departure on the boat, and this allows us to stow our gear, and get our own provisions ourselves and stow them. We also go thru much of the systems,
and rigging and vessel inventory after the 4:30 pm boarding. An hour and half to two hours later, we take a well earned break for drinks and dinner ashore and hit the rack . We finish our own personal pre sailing check of the vessel
the next morning, and are all ready for the chart brief and boat system brief. Out of the docks on on our way by 11:00 am. Sailing. Hello, Willy T.

Reason we leave the docks on Wednesday....very few other starts. This year there was one other start. Same for returning the boat and getting the post sailing check done in short order. This was Conch Charters/ They were great..

We understand that this is from a retired lifestyle, and most people are still hard at work with major career and family responsibilities and they are constrained by vacation and school schedules.

P,S. for the OP.....

this trip for the fist time, we stayed at Nanny Cay for a couple of days, and absolutely loved it, We had November 5 in the new Marina, great slip neighbors, helpful and friendly staff, and many new acquaintances, plus Peg Legs, the Beach, and
and the swimming pool. Good choice of departure point or replenishment stop .

Have fun!




.

Last edited by captdennyj; 06/11/2019 11:22 AM.
Re: What Day to Start Charter [Re: Kirk] #197366
06/11/2019 11:35 AM
06/11/2019 11:35 AM
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,343
Washington DC
B
bailau Offline
Traveler
bailau  Offline
Traveler
B
Joined: Dec 2018
Posts: 1,343
Washington DC
Originally Posted by Kirk
I think every trip I've done has been a Friday sleep aboard and hit Drakes Lake on Saturday (simply because we always have gone down based on starting Super Bowl Weekend.) Not doing that this coming trip...sleep aboard Sunday and head out on Monday...it'll be interesting to see if it's any different.


we actually did that in May...overnight Sunday and then leave Monday and return Monday. We unexpectedly got out Sunday night (thanks to being less crowded) but really like that slot of Sunday/Monday to Monday or even Tuesday to Tuesday and hit Anegada towards the end of week. We also go clockwise and avoid cruise ships

Re: What Day to Start Charter [Re: mriley4955] #197490
06/12/2019 07:31 PM
06/12/2019 07:31 PM
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 322
C
Christo Offline
Traveler
Christo  Offline
Traveler
C
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 322
This year, for a change we arrived Thursday. Off the dock from Sunsail/Moorings at 9.30am Friday.

It seemed like we spent our entire 4 weeks out of sync with everyone else! It was fabulous!

Maybe we were just lucky...who knows.

Re: What Day to Start Charter [Re: mriley4955] #197578
06/13/2019 09:40 PM
06/13/2019 09:40 PM
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 850
Manhattan Beach, CA
calsail Offline
Traveler
calsail  Offline
Traveler
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 850
Manhattan Beach, CA
The day after you arrive.

Re: What Day to Start Charter [Re: Christo] #198381
06/22/2019 06:20 PM
06/22/2019 06:20 PM
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 80
Seattle, WA
mattt Offline
Traveler
mattt  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2014
Posts: 80
Seattle, WA
Originally Posted by Christo
This year, for a change we arrived Thursday. Off the dock from Sunsail/Moorings at 9.30am Friday.

It seemed like we spent our entire 4 weeks out of sync with everyone else! It was fabulous!

Maybe we were just lucky...who knows.


This is the best, being out of sync with others. We usually try to start on Wednesdays. We've had some really atrocious experiences at Cow Wreck when its at its peak. People being completely rude, making inappropriate comments to the women on the boat, bordering on sexual harassment.

Y'all can take it, I'll arrive when the crowds are gone.


Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.6.1