Posted By: jbuch02
Trip Report - BVI 7/16 - 8/1. Quick Thoughts. - 08/01/2015 04:14 PM
Just back from a two week charter out of Hodges Creek on a Beneteau Oceanis 41. Some quick thoughts.
It's hot in late July. If chartering then with no AC, cabins without good ventilation aft are going to be hot. The forward cabin was fine but it has a big hatch and the cool air streams in ...... as long as you choose your anchorages carefully. The salon is also fairly comfortable, with a breeze chute on that large hatch but it gets hot if cooking and we cooked most of our meals. Not for everyone but we had some great chefs aboard, including Russell Bertrand, our real Captain, who either offered to cook a meal, clean up afterward or pitched in whenever asked.
Thanks to Russell Bertrand who accompanied the 4 of us on this charter. I learned a ton. I'm a good skipper. I'm a raw, novice captain. Russell is a licensed Captain who has his own charter service aboard a Beneteau 473 (letsgosailing.com). He agreed to join us on our boat and was with us for 12 of the 14 days.
Too many things to mention that I learned about safety, navigation in the BVI, efficient sailing and most importantly, operate the boat to the lowest common denominator of your crew. I had three inexperienced sailors aboard. My wife and another couple who have never sailed. Went in understanding this but Russell helped me put it into practice. One of the best learning experiences I have had in a high performance environment.
I also learned to "cruise." Those of you here who have cruised the BVI extensively know this so the following is for the "lurkers" here who may be first orsecond time charterers.
What "cruising" the BVIs means is don't be in a hurry. Went in knowing this too but knowing about it and putting it into practice is not easy. In my early conversations with Russell about an itinerary, his response was, make a list of where you want to go and what you want to see and we'll see what fits in. Initially planned to go to St John USVI. We never went. We hung out on anchorages a lot, swam and snorkeled, sailed for a couple of hours a day, maybe just under jib, then we're on an anchor or a ball by 3 at the latest. We spent two days in Leverick, two days in Anegada, two days at Scrub Island on the dock and the rest of the time hung out around Norman, Peter and Cooper islands.
Our last few days without Russell were spent, on his advise, at Marina Cay, an easy reach to Peter Island on jib only and not until we got well around Beef Island and into Drake Channel, then an easy close reach back to Hodges Creek to turn the boat in. If we'd gone to JVD or Soper's late in our charter, we'd been faced with beating into 17-20kt winds and choppy waters east bound back to Hodges Creek.
No stress, I had nothing to prove and an inexperienced crew to take care of. In the Chanel entrance, I called DYC to bring the boat into a slip. I'm perfectly capable of doing it but why deal with the potential stress. Turned out to be an excellent choice as the place was a mad house of meandering cats and monos, in a small turning space, waiting for a space at the fuel dock. Oh, and Russell had already planned a stop for us at Spanish Town to top of the Diesel and Water before he left us on a quick stop at Trellis to get him to the airport. We didn't have to deal with that last day like the rest of the mob returning boats.
Bottom line, maybe one of the least stress free and enjoyable sailing adventures I've had. Thanks Russell. If you are new to chartering, cat or mono, I highly recommend you bury your ego, get humble with Russell as he shows you gently how little you really know, put inexperienced or unsure guests at complete ease while aboard and bring his wit and humor to your voyage.
It's hot in late July. If chartering then with no AC, cabins without good ventilation aft are going to be hot. The forward cabin was fine but it has a big hatch and the cool air streams in ...... as long as you choose your anchorages carefully. The salon is also fairly comfortable, with a breeze chute on that large hatch but it gets hot if cooking and we cooked most of our meals. Not for everyone but we had some great chefs aboard, including Russell Bertrand, our real Captain, who either offered to cook a meal, clean up afterward or pitched in whenever asked.
Thanks to Russell Bertrand who accompanied the 4 of us on this charter. I learned a ton. I'm a good skipper. I'm a raw, novice captain. Russell is a licensed Captain who has his own charter service aboard a Beneteau 473 (letsgosailing.com). He agreed to join us on our boat and was with us for 12 of the 14 days.
Too many things to mention that I learned about safety, navigation in the BVI, efficient sailing and most importantly, operate the boat to the lowest common denominator of your crew. I had three inexperienced sailors aboard. My wife and another couple who have never sailed. Went in understanding this but Russell helped me put it into practice. One of the best learning experiences I have had in a high performance environment.
I also learned to "cruise." Those of you here who have cruised the BVI extensively know this so the following is for the "lurkers" here who may be first orsecond time charterers.
What "cruising" the BVIs means is don't be in a hurry. Went in knowing this too but knowing about it and putting it into practice is not easy. In my early conversations with Russell about an itinerary, his response was, make a list of where you want to go and what you want to see and we'll see what fits in. Initially planned to go to St John USVI. We never went. We hung out on anchorages a lot, swam and snorkeled, sailed for a couple of hours a day, maybe just under jib, then we're on an anchor or a ball by 3 at the latest. We spent two days in Leverick, two days in Anegada, two days at Scrub Island on the dock and the rest of the time hung out around Norman, Peter and Cooper islands.
Our last few days without Russell were spent, on his advise, at Marina Cay, an easy reach to Peter Island on jib only and not until we got well around Beef Island and into Drake Channel, then an easy close reach back to Hodges Creek to turn the boat in. If we'd gone to JVD or Soper's late in our charter, we'd been faced with beating into 17-20kt winds and choppy waters east bound back to Hodges Creek.
No stress, I had nothing to prove and an inexperienced crew to take care of. In the Chanel entrance, I called DYC to bring the boat into a slip. I'm perfectly capable of doing it but why deal with the potential stress. Turned out to be an excellent choice as the place was a mad house of meandering cats and monos, in a small turning space, waiting for a space at the fuel dock. Oh, and Russell had already planned a stop for us at Spanish Town to top of the Diesel and Water before he left us on a quick stop at Trellis to get him to the airport. We didn't have to deal with that last day like the rest of the mob returning boats.
Bottom line, maybe one of the least stress free and enjoyable sailing adventures I've had. Thanks Russell. If you are new to chartering, cat or mono, I highly recommend you bury your ego, get humble with Russell as he shows you gently how little you really know, put inexperienced or unsure guests at complete ease while aboard and bring his wit and humor to your voyage.