Best place to charter as newbie Caribbean sailors

Hi, we've charter yachts in the Med but want to come to Caribbean next July (mid to end of the month). BUT we're not sure whether to sail around Antigua, St Lucia, Grenadines or BVIs.

We'd like a cat (not really available in the med), my Hubby is the sailor but we've all helped out ok. We are Hubby, Wife, Son of 19, his g/f 19 and our Daughter of 14 so ideally would like 3 or 4 cabins with 2 or 3 heads. Son is 6ft 3" so would prefer extra space a Cat gives.

The flights are cheapest to Antigua, then St Lucia, then Grenada and BVIs look more plus have 2 flights required from UK which is a pain.

Can anyone help us out please? Have got a few mixed messages <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/duh.gif" alt="" />

Thanks. hopefully
Ju

BVI is far and away the easiest place to sail in the Caribbean.

Yes flights are more complicated from the UK but everything else is far easier.

I have been based in both BVI and Antigua running charters, so I have some insight.

BVI is certainly the easiest, but Antigua is pretty easy also. horizonyachtcharters.com run a great operation in Jolly Harbour. Very easy provisioning, they have a few cats. The Caveat with Antigua is you most likely will not see another boat as yachting season is dead after about May 15th. BVI still is more active until about August 1st. BVI has more places to eat/drink ashore than Antigua so you need to provision accordingly. Liat does have one direct ANU-BVI flight daily, but depending on the size of your group an aircharter could be cheaper.

I've chartered in all of the places you're considering, and would offer an additional thought: the Abacos (Bahamas). Beautiful sailing, amazing clear waters, stunning beaches, and charming settlements. The area is well charted, with a cruising guide which is updated every year, so the sailing is easy. You anchor in firm sand, and you can see your anchor as you drop it. The entire region is geared to boaters/sailors, as that is how the islanders get around, as well as many visitors (even land-based ones). The Abacos may not have the yachtie party scene of the BVI, but there are plenty of beach bars and restaurants where you can find activity. You can get there via Miami (MIA) to Marsh Harbour (MHH). Moorings/Sunsail are there, as are a few local charter companies -- with plenty of catamarans from which to choose.

Roger that on Abacos, we had a fantastic charter and really liked everything aboout it.
We keep returning to BVI's but will get back to Abacos for another charter before long.

Both BVI's and Abacos are great for the less experienced charter people, Abacos being a bit more involved with navigation and knowing where you are.

Have fun!

Thank you everyone.

We've researched a bit more and although BVIs seem to look more "yachty" the extra £1000 (based on £200 each for the Liat flight) could pay our food etc for the 10 ~ 14 days. As it's going to be an expensive holiday every penny counts.

We're not that fussed about night life as we're quite a quiet family and are thinking maybe the BVIs will be too busy, so maybe Antigua would suit us?

Our daughter's a bit wary of snorkeling off the boat so would prefer to walk from the beach - would the Antigua beaches be better for these, or elsewhere?

Thanks again
Ju

Generally snorkeling off the beach isn't always the best, but there are always things to see. BVI has the advantage here as there are moorings at places you might like to snorkel. ANU has many more beaches than BVI and less bluffs and islands to snorkle, but no matter where you jump in there is always stuff to see. Give my friends Al and Jackie an email at Horizon Antigua, Jolly Harbour is a great spot to provision and hang out, but it is more South Florida feeling than the Caribbean.

There are also options in ANU to hit other islands, but unless you have a long charter, I would stick with Antigua and Barbuda.

Another way to help reduce costs and likely save enough to make BVI more feasible would be to look for time through an owner. You can often save up to 30%.

Check discount charters at www.sailonline.com. Time sells fast though, so contact any owners who's boats you are interested in asap. There's a handful of Cat's listed that would probably all work out for you.

Mmmm, thanks again. Only thinking of snorkeling off the beach as our daughter didn't like it the last time when we went to Florida Keys - off the boat, although it was a day trip and lots of people and a big boat. This time we'll ease her into the wonderful world of snorkeling.

Now I'm swaying back to BVIs - oh dear what a dilema!

Yes Mike, Jackie from Horizon has been really helpful and we may well hire one of their boats because she's been helpful and the price is comparable with others.

Really need to decide soon and book our flights - yippee <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Clapping.gif" alt="" />
Thanks again
Ju

If you do end up in the BVI the snorkeling is great off the shore at Norman to the left of the swim area in front of pirates, lots of schools of fish and interesting rocks and coral. My daughter (14 till the end of this month) is also hesitant snorkeling off the boat and she loved the spot I'm talking about. She will go off the boat but it's not her favorite thing. Snorkeling off the shore at The Baths is good too. And I've heard at Mahoe on Virgin Gorda, we were hoping to do that but on the day we were there there was lots of wind and a larger swell than normal and we skipped the snorkel but flew the kite!

Another place it's easy to snorkel off the boat (in the BVI) is Monkey Point, Guana Island. There are moorings very close to the good snorkeling and the water is generally very calm.

Agreed, my daughter didn't mind the swim from the boat to snorkeling at Monkey Point. That also reminded me that another thing that helped my daughter was to swim along behind the kayak when we went snorkeling from the boat. She'd hold onto the handle on the back of the kayak and her dad would paddle around. Wherever you end up I'm sure you'll all have a great time!

As far as snorkeling goes, I've been lots of places in the BVI. My favorite two places are along the shore of Great Caminoe right "behind" the moorings of Marina Cay. There is even a spot to moor you dinghy.

Then, there is a new-ish place along the shoreline of little yost while moored at Diamond cay.

I thought the Indians were so-so, the caves at norman were so-so (some some squid there), the snorkeling at Anegada was terrible (coral damage). Monkey Point was pretty fun. Once it was calm and millions of minnows and that drew other fish. The other time the wind was out of the wrong place and it was really choppy in there. Was still worth going.

I used CatCo twice and had a good experience both times. Provisioning is easy on Tortola with Bobby's. You can pre-order or just go there and figure out what you want and have them deliver it to your boat.

Glad to answer any questions I can answer. We did three bareboat trips in the BVIs.

Rich

My first and only (but not the last!) bareboat trip was to the BVI's. It was dead easy. Snorkelling was good at the Indians, so so at Norman and great at the Baths. Unfortunately we ran out of time and didn't get to Monkey Point. I found the restaurants to be a bit pricey, with our cheapest meal fish and chips on the Willie T at around $25 US each - fun, fun place but maybe not where you'd want to take younguns unless you want them to experience a little bit of hedonism - if you go early you'll miss most of that. Stock up on dinner provisions (meat) on Tortola, I didn't see much else available on any of our other stops. We went with TMM, nice boat with a problem or 2 but that seems like the norm with boats. Have a great trip!

How crowded?
Problem finding mooring buoys?

Where?? If your questions have to do with the BVI, the best place to post those questions is in the BVI forum.