Good Day, We have chartered a Beneteau 31 Oceanis out of Tortola for 11 days, July 11 to July 22, and now seek an instructional captain for at least the first week of that time period. If you are an experienced instructor and can serve as a great guide for the BVI, please contact us! Your "significant other" would be welcome on the trip, if that helps in the decision. Sailors, feel free to forward this message to others who may be interested.

Thanks,
Maureen & Mike

OK guys, you need to specify what you are willing to "pay" the "captain." Air fare? Lodging coming and going? Or, just a week on a yacht in the BVI? I've been sailing since 1979, and bare boating in the BVI since 1989. Been there, done that, instructed many newbies, and know what to do, when to do it, and why. Oh, and Nick at Leverick owes me...guitar strings...lol... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" /> And, a 31 footer is much smaller than I'm used to chartering, so no probs on this end...but, I do know others that may be interested as well, just let us know what you are most interested in doing, ie: dining and drinking, snorkeling, sight seeing, exploring other islands, such at Jost or Anegada, must see's such as the Baths on Virgin Gorda, or a wild party Jumbie show at Leverick. Hmmm, if you are hard core Christians, Sunday on Virgin Gorda is your home. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Groovin.gif" alt="" /> Or, as I said at the top, more personal info and interests... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Grin.gif" alt="" />

seriously dude, airfare? It is not a transatlantic transport, it's a week in BVI.

assuming you do have your STCW and TWIT card which are required to Captain in foreign waters

That should read TWIC <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/toast.gif" alt="" />

very true, maybe it was a Freudian twit <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />

You'd also probably need a work permit to work in the bvi.

if the goal is to hire a captain, probably best done with a local captain.

Call your charter company and use their guy. This thread will turn into a crackpot magnet. Given your lack of experience you need a real captain with real experience training sailors, local knowledge will also be a benefit. You don't want to spend your time with a Captain Ron wanna be looking for a free week in the BVI's.

Jay

^^^^^^^^ Excellent advice there, from one who knows. ^^^^^^^^

I disagree a Capt Ron is what they need to experience a wild week.
Especially on a 31 footer. Arrh!
But if not Capt Jay's got a good point... <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/Cheers.gif" alt="" />

CaptainJay, Thanks for the advice. Charter co. said "You pay us and we pay the captain." We've always done private/independent travel. Personally, I'd like to hire my own guy/girl, but we'll see.

Advantage of hiring through the charter company would be liability and also they would be responsible for replacing the captain if he's suddenly unavailable. We chartered our 1st time in 2008 and the captain had a last minute family emergency but a replacement was immediately arranged.

You might want to ask the charter company to send a list of available Captains along with photo and brief history

if OP wants to go Rogue, walk into any yachty dockside bar, pretty sure you'll trip over a Captain or 2. <img src="http://www.traveltalkonline.com/forums/images/graemlins/jester.gif" alt="" />