We just got back from the SVI on CYOA's Big Papa Lulu, a FP Helia 44, the biggest yacht I've ever chartered.

Last week my business partner said he had six people interested in going to the USVI/BVI in 2016 and it would be nice to have a little more room than the Lipari 41 that we were in last year.

So a few phone calls and emails later I have discovered that we now have a deposit down on CYOA's brand-new 2015 FP Saba 50 called Cuvee. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Yikes.gif" alt="" /> Whoa! That happened fast! The gravity of this was slow to hit me. No longer are we chartering the smallest monohull's from CYOA. Suddenly we're chartering their flagship yacht, the biggest thing in their fleet! I'm beginning to think I should have my head examined! This thing is huge! I'm (pretty) sure I can handle it, after all, the difference between a 44-foot cat and a 50 foot cat isn't all that much (I keep telling myself). <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> Now we can't wait until next June!!!

Here's a stock photo of SABA50. CYOA's come's with a bimini top and a dingy on the davits. The boat has every possible amenity.. Gen/AC, water-maker, ice-maker, cockpit-fridge, chaise-lounges for 4 on the bow... I really can't even begin to list all of the cool stuff here.

Lordy, what have I done!?



see: CYOA's SABA 50

Keep increasing 6 feet a year, it will not take long until you will be a Clipper Capt!

How big can you get before you have to move up with licensure? It is done in tonnage correct?

Walt, shouldn't be a problem with your skipper-tise. My problem (meaning stress level) with the bigger boats like the 58's and 60's is the beam. Looks like only a 2-ft wider beam from the 44 to the 50. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

Tom, you do not need a license unless you are taking people out for money. The 6 pack is for up to 6 guests, next would be the 50 ton masters.

Tom - tacking this beast will be a challenge. Fortunately my biz partner is 6-6, goes about 280lb, and is an athelete. I think he will be able to grind that jib sheet home.

I don't know what the requirement is before you need a captains license. This boat lists as 34,000 lb, if memory serves.

I would have thought at some point the charter company would require something more than a check ride.

I guess I now know why I was so busy in my CG days in PR. We flew a lot of missions looking for lost and overdue snowbird sailboats. I always assumed once the reached a certain size they were under the command of Captains with some kind of credentials.

I suspect that CYOA would not have allowed me to charter the boat if I had failed to bring one or two back in the last 31 years. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Wink.gif" alt="" /> <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

Twanger you will be fine. When I had Cuv�e out on her maiden charter over NYE I was single handing her for the first 3 days until one of the charter guests asked if it would be helpful if he grabbed a mooring. They noticed that we were the only boat that had a guy walking from the helm to the bow to grab the painter to tie the boat up. None of them had any sailing experience, nor apparently any interest, so I was raising and unfurling sails and tacking alone (relying heavily on the autopilot). By the end of the ten days there were eager helpers for most tasks.

Thanks Kimber!
Crazy that people would charter a beautiful boat like that and not want to help!

My biz partner is going to take a sailing course and wants to spend a lot more time behind the wheel. He's been bitten by the sailing bug!

I guess that's what they pay me for! My biggest challenge was solo anchoring in a really tight spot with stiff winds in North Sound for NYE. Fortunately Cuvee has a very large Rocna anchor that sets instantly. Kudos to the owner for spending $$$'s on that. A boring subject when threads get excited about water and ice makers but the ground tackle on that Saba is VERY comforting when I'm responsible.

Kimber - Love it, and glad to hear it! I much prefer to anchor vs. picking up a mooring. Who knows what the state of the moorings are these days? A well-set anchor is peace of mind.

So how do you determine who will get that gorgouse master suite? It's a beautiful boat!

Well, we've talked about that... normally I would get it, as captain.

However, we have one couple who is quite well off, and another couple that is not so well off. So, we're thinking the 'richer' couple will pay a couple of hundred bucks extra for the big suite in the port hull, and the other couple will pay a couple of hundred bucks less for the smaller suite in that hull. The suites in the starboard hull appear comparable, so no price differential for them - straight 1/4 of the charter fee.

I'm easy. This is a huge boat.

You'll love it, I've worked my way up through Moorings and then Voyage's fleets, did the 58' last time, and have one of their 60 footers chartered for March. It will feel like you're sailing your house across the water the first few hours, but becomes "normal" surprisingly quickly.

I will however confess to sweating little green balls of putty when Nick asked me to back the 580 into the double deep slip beside the office at Leverick. As luck had it, I nailed it, got to spend the next 15 minutes pretending it was no big deal. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cool.gif" alt="" />

If you aren't careful this is how I started out 25 years ago, a hobby turned into a business and not trying to turn it back to a hobby.

With a boat that size, there has to be room for one more. . Where to email my sailing resume?

I've been getting a few offers like this... :-)

What are your dates? There will be a bunch of TTOLers around the first week of June after the Poker Run....

End of June

I would think a boat that size will have electric winches, no need to grind <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />

There's a downside to electric winches... they are very powerful and can break stuff.
I don't want newbie sailors and greenhorns having that much power at their fingertip!
With 8 people aboard we can sheet in a jib or main without the power winch.

If they let me, I'll use it to raise the main, but only I will operate it.

The electric winch on the main is actually more trouble some as you can easily catch battens in the lazy jacks and the electric won't stop as quick. Make sure you have 1 or 2 spotters for the lazy jacks.

Electric winch works great on furling main. Also helps hauling the dinghy up on the spare halyard.

Yes... I have the T-shirt on this one. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />
On the Helia 44, Big Papa Lulu it's pretty easy to see the lazy-jacks and main from the power winch.
The dingy has it's own power winch. Sweet. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />

<img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Laugh.gif" alt="" /> we got the t-shirt on our last trip!

That sounds fair to me. I once was on a ski trip in which we shared a lodge with a cousin who had it in her head since she was bringing the most kids she should get the master. However we had divided the costs up per adult not per head. Her 5 to my 1 made us quickly rethink how to divide expenses. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" /> Have a great time and thank you for the response <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Joy.gif" alt="" />