Bareboating was started in the Virgin Islands to allow sailors who had their own boats or extensive sailing experience the chance to use another sailors vessel to enjoy a week or two of Caribbean sailing. So instead of sailing their own boat down here or chartering a crewed vessel , sailors embraced the concept and now we see the unbelievable results today.
Forward thinking folks like Dick Avery in STT and Charlie and Ginny Cary in Tortola and some others started with simple boats - 35' Pearsons etc., -- iceboxes, 12 volt lighting , alcohol stoves, Atomic 4 engines, rowing dinghys, paper charts, --- things every captain was familiar with -- and anchoring was the only way, no mooring fields.
The demands and expectation of todays charterer, the worldwide marketing, the boat show salesmanship of the financial buying advantages, the Corporate ownership of the charter companies, etc. have all changed the Bareboat Charter Industry into the maintenance, engineering complication of vessels today and the financial pressures have changed the demographics of charter guests and allowed the vessels often to be operated by less qualified rental captains -- a far different scenario from the original idea.
Quite a change in my 45 years of Virgin Island sailing!
that idea of online videos presenting basic boating to prospective charter operators is hilarious!!
I used to charter from Avery’s Boathouse in the early 70’s they had Pearson’s without roller furlings.
Mooring balls didn’t exist, no GPS only charts and a depth sounder were used to navigate.
Cooper Island was crowded if it had two boats at anchor the owners would would row out to your boat and ask if you wanted to make dinner reservations.
Saba Rock was just a rock and the BEYC was under construction with a bar on shore that was made out of a sunken sloop, the female cigar smoking bartender served Beer and rum drinks, for lunch or dinner your only option was Hot Dogs.
