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New to chartering!! #65199
08/19/2015 04:27 PM
08/19/2015 04:27 PM
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 14
Philly
M
mgeatens Offline OP
Traveler
mgeatens  Offline OP
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M
Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 14
Philly
Hi everyone! This forum has been very helpful!! We are long time visitors to STJ and now have decided to pursue a long time bucket list dream! We just booked our first charter. We are so excited!! Wanted to see if anyone has checklists, pointers or any other great advice for us newbies? There will be 6 of us. Landing on STT and doing a sleep aboard the first day--any advice or taxis or should we just rent a car for the day and go do our provisioning at Cost U less or somewhere similar?

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Re: New to chartering!! [Re: mgeatens] #65200
08/19/2015 05:14 PM
08/19/2015 05:14 PM
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,100
Maryland
Twanger Offline
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Twanger  Offline
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,100
Maryland
Congratulations! There are lots of checklists and tips in the forums if you do some searches... weather resources, what to bring on the charter, clearing customs, etc., etc.

I recommend having intentions not itineraries. Itineraries can be stressy for a new captain.

As far as provisioning, where are you chartering from?

We charter from CYOA and usually just get their provisions. I'm not into paying several hundred dollars a day in a tropical paradise to go food shopping. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Re: New to chartering!! [Re: Twanger] #65201
08/19/2015 08:09 PM
08/19/2015 08:09 PM
Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,018
annap, MD/BVI-Nanny Cay
hallucination Offline
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hallucination  Offline
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 1,018
annap, MD/BVI-Nanny Cay
glad to hear. first question, do you know how to sail a boat? a big boat?

above mentions intentions, not itineraries...that is relevant

Re: New to chartering!! [Re: hallucination] #65202
08/19/2015 10:51 PM
08/19/2015 10:51 PM
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969
NC, USA
capndar Offline
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capndar  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 969
NC, USA
Sailors should have intentions, not plans!


Capndar
Masters 50 GT Sail/Power/Towing
3rd generation sailor
Re: New to chartering!! [Re: mgeatens] #65203
08/20/2015 12:29 PM
08/20/2015 12:29 PM
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 32
R
RJC86 Offline
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RJC86  Offline
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R
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 32
If chartering with CYOA, Pueblo Supermarket is down the street. Walking distance there, but cab back with food.

Re: New to chartering!! [Re: mgeatens] #65204
08/25/2015 09:21 PM
08/25/2015 09:21 PM
Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559
Apex, NC
agrimsrud Offline
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agrimsrud  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2012
Posts: 559
Apex, NC
Sounds like you will be picking up the boat on STT. We've chartered with CYOA several times and have found it very cost effective and convenient to pick up an Avis car at the airport. We then pick up provisions at Plaza Extra. You will pass Cost U Less on the way and could certainly stop there as well. Stick all the provisions on the boat and the next day return the rental car at the float plane dock and walk the 50 100 yards back to the charter base.

We have also provisioned at Pueblo which is a moderately long hot walk and a "taxi" coming back. The provisions you can get to with the rental car are in my opinion much better. And essentially for the cost of the taxi ride from the airport to the charter base plus the taxi cost from the Pueblo market back to base you will have paid for the rental car (I think in June the rental car including insurance was something like $85). So why not? Just make sure you think clearly at every intersection 'cause you're driving on the wrong (sorry my British friends...) side of the road. It's about the only place I ever pay for the optional insurance on the rental car just to make sure.


Life's short - sail more!
Re: New to chartering!! [Re: agrimsrud] #65205
08/25/2015 09:57 PM
08/25/2015 09:57 PM
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
RickG Offline
Traveler
RickG  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,951
St. John, USVI
Hi there, good to see you on TTOL. There are some checklists in the Charter Boat Reviews & Questions forum http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/postlist.php?Cat=0&Board=charter

Cheers, RickG


S/V Echoes, 2003 Beneteau 423
Grenada
Re: New to chartering!! [Re: RickG] #65206
09/04/2015 08:29 AM
09/04/2015 08:29 AM
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1
B
bentley Offline
Member
bentley  Offline
Member
B
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 1
Can anyone tell me about the water in the BVI? I am concerned about getting seasick as I have experienced this during any boating outings. We are chartering a catamaran end of May and would like to know your experience with sea sickness at that time of year. Thank you.

Re: New to chartering!! [Re: bentley] #65207
09/04/2015 09:13 AM
09/04/2015 09:13 AM
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,100
Maryland
Twanger Offline
Traveler
Twanger  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 6,100
Maryland
The roughest part of your trip will be the 90-minutes getting from the South side of St. Thomas into Pillsbury Sound. After that you can hide in the lee of the islands. Drake Channel is pretty moderate. May is a relatively calm time to sail there.

Re: New to chartering!! [Re: Twanger] #65208
09/04/2015 11:09 AM
09/04/2015 11:09 AM
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
maytrix Offline
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maytrix  Offline
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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
See your doctor. Get the patch. As you said, you experience it during any boating outings, so you will experience it in the BVI as well. Get the patch and you should be free of any seasickness. It's recommended to try it before you leave just to see if you have any side effects from it.


Matt
Re: New to chartering!! [Re: maytrix] #65209
09/10/2015 07:40 PM
09/10/2015 07:40 PM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 252
Chicago, IL
Showdavid Offline
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Showdavid  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 252
Chicago, IL
The patch (scopolamine) works! It may make you a bit drowsy, but you'll sleep we'll the first night and by the third day, you can take it off and you will find you probably have you're sea legs. Getting back on land after a week on board, that's another question....


Dave
Re: New to chartering!! [Re: Showdavid] #65210
10/02/2015 02:43 PM
10/02/2015 02:43 PM
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 253
42.77N 76.14W
jmon Offline
Traveler
jmon  Offline
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Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 253
42.77N 76.14W
WE have chartered over 20 x's and only had one experience with a member of our crew getting seasick. We sailed around the south side of St John on our way back to St Thomas and it was pretty rough. Other than that we have not had problems. Patch is a good idea.


Jeff

Tug William B
Re: New to chartering!! [Re: jmon] #65211
10/02/2015 04:14 PM
10/02/2015 04:14 PM
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 200
Oklahoma
LivinLarge Offline
Traveler
LivinLarge  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 200
Oklahoma
On a trip to Grenada, we discovered Meclizine for seasickness. Trust me !!! One pill a day is all that is needed. This stuff works -- no drowsiness at all and it works fast !!! I have tried Dramamine in the past and it was ineffective on me and made me really drowsy to boot.


Allan
Re: New to chartering!! [Re: LivinLarge] #65212
10/02/2015 05:11 PM
10/02/2015 05:11 PM
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,040
Charlotte, NC
N
NCSailor Offline
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NCSailor  Offline
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Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 2,040
Charlotte, NC
The leg that seems to always get someone in my crew sick is the run from Anegada to JVD. The following sea and rollers hitting on the beam while not necessarily rough create a motion that turns them green.

Re: New to chartering!! [Re: bentley] #65213
10/04/2015 10:22 AM
10/04/2015 10:22 AM
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 209
Indiana,USA
tfath Offline
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tfath  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 209
Indiana,USA
Seasickness
1) Watch what you eat; light breakfast, no grease.
2) Stay on deck, eyes on the horizon.
3) Drug of choice. I use meclizine.
4) Avoid sailing hung over (good luck with this!)



[Linked Image]
Re: New to chartering!! [Re: bentley] #65214
10/04/2015 11:10 AM
10/04/2015 11:10 AM
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 225
Dallas
C
camelot Offline
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camelot  Offline
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 225
Dallas
The key is use whatever you will use before getting seasick -- would recommend even starting during the sleep aboard -- there is a little motion just at the dock which helps acclimate and minimize the seasickness your first day out -- but if really prone to car-sickness may still have trouble the first few days. Have always recommended for crew and used myself the non-drowsy formula dramamine -- nonprescription -- works for us and no visual difficulties or possible urinary retention sometimes seen with scopolamine patch.
There is no person that has not/cannot have seasickness with big enough seas...

Re: New to chartering!! [Re: camelot] #65215
10/04/2015 11:22 AM
10/04/2015 11:22 AM
Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
S
StormJib Offline
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StormJib  Offline
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Joined: Nov 2014
Posts: 1,049
This is the hardest lesson for many crews to learn:

"I recommend having intentions not itineraries. Itineraries can be stressy for a new captain."

If you are going to use something for seasickness. Use it for a week at home first. Start using it again the night before you get on the airplane.

There is no magic instant pill or device. Find what works for you and start using it in advance of any motion.

The latest "magic" is an earplug in only one ear.

Re: New to chartering!! [Re: StormJib] #65216
10/04/2015 07:13 PM
10/04/2015 07:13 PM
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,901
Maine
Breeze Offline
Traveler
Breeze  Offline
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Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,901
Maine
Bonine/Meclizine is good stuff. OTC Bonine has always worked for me.

Start using it 24-48 hours before you board your initial flight.

Take it every morning for the first 2 or 3 days of your charter, and if you have trouble with boat motion in your cabin, take it again at night. Eat SOMETHING for breakfast every morning, try to snack frequently, be sure to stay hydrated and that means keep a water bottle in reach all the time, 24/7.

You can get de-hydrated really easily early on a charter, with sun and wind , exposed skin, and in many cases warmer temperatures than you are used to. Alcohol makes you pee. De-hydration leads to electrolyte imbalance, which in itself leads to nausea , and thats pretty much a half-steppin, boot shufflin line dance right to Sea sick.
Being scared of being seasick is also halfway to being seasick. If you are scared of feeling ill, you can easily not eat, not stay hydrated, and put yourself right into the position you don't want.

Frankly, being sea-sick will be a lot easier, if you have something in your stomach to give up to Neptune. You will recover faster if you don't start from a position of weakness. Should you get to that point of "chumming over the rail," MAKE yourself keep sipping water, even if you keep tossing it. Have someone sit with you, and give them the responsibility of helping you remember to sip, sip sip. The absolute worst side effect of being seasick, is having no hydration to aid recovery.

It happens. It isn't anyone's idea of a good vacation experience, but one can actually do a lot to prevent it, and also to get over it.

Stay focusd on the things you can see and watch and participate in around you. Sit by the helmsperson, try to identify your course and your surroundings, get involved.

Re: New to chartering!! [Re: StormJib] #65217
10/05/2015 11:59 AM
10/05/2015 11:59 AM
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 308
Tampa, FL
denverd0n Offline
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denverd0n  Offline
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 308
Tampa, FL
Quote
StormJib said:
There is no magic instant pill or device. Find what works for you and start using it in advance of any motion.

This is the main thing to realize. There is no magic pill. What works for one person may--or may not--work for another. Anyone who tells you "this is what I take and it is guaranteed to work" is simply wrong. It works for them. Great. Does not guarantee that it will work for you.

The good news is that pharmacies in the islands can generally sell you a variety of things that would require a prescription in the United States. Pick one of the suggestions here and try it out (meclizine works for me). If it works for you, wonderful. If it doesn't, stop in at a pharmacy and talk to the pharmacists. Tell them what you have tried and they will probably be able to suggest something else that might work better.

Good luck!


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