Forums39
Topics38,639
Posts312,216
Members26,564
|
Most Online2,218 Jan 21st, 2020
|
|
38 registered members (JAQ, SXMNAN, hokiesailor, nevar37, xrayman67, timnboston, NumberCruncher, Beansbbq, 706jim, steve74, SXMBND, marybeth, MamaB, GeorgeC1, CaribbeanCanadians, Jerry_R, SXMScubaman, Alecs, BHK, Kevin_B, KC2SXM, Kegoangoango, davidandsusannj, BillB42, JeanneB, socamon, deliveryskipper, ChuckG, 10 invisible),
996
guests, and 139
spiders. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
|
Re: Large (50'+) Cat Charter Questions
[Re: BreckSailor]
#285820
07/08/2022 12:07 PM
07/08/2022 12:07 PM
|
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 162 Southeast of Disorder
Time Will Tell
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: May 2019
Posts: 162
Southeast of Disorder
|
I own a boat in TMM's fleet (L42), and would definitely bias my search toward their fleet. They take fabulous care of their boats, and I have seen a few too many stories about DYC for me to take those sort of chances. I have done the provisioning ahead thing to my boat (for 8) a couple of times, and it worked out great (TMM received the order, and it was waiting for me when we arrived on the boat) - and the little Rite Way store next to the marina makes filling in stuff that you forgot to order, or just decided you wanted (cookies, beer, etc.) incredibly easy.
Also, I tend to bring a couple of sleeves of burgers, a bag of chicken breasts and some packages of hot dogs (usually from Costco) frozen in a cooler buried in my luggage - just to have a base of grilling foods. Its convenient, and a lot cheaper, and I know what I have got when I step aboard.
I have never done 10 on a trip, but I have been amazed how well 8 did on my L42. I wouldn't hesitate to do 10+ on a 50!
Have fun!
Peter s/y Time Will Tell (2019 Lagoon 42) peter@syTimeWillTell.com
|
|
|
Re: Large (50'+) Cat Charter Questions
[Re: BreckSailor]
#285823
07/08/2022 01:02 PM
07/08/2022 01:02 PM
|
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720 Massachusetts
maytrix
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 5,720
Massachusetts
|
We've been on the Moorings 5800. If you were on that or a similar boat, I think one boat would be fine. There is plenty of space to spread out and there was a lot of storage for food, although I am sure you'd need to re-provision during the trip. The challenge with that many is the food - I'd see if you can find one willing to handle the majority of it and put together a shopping list. My wife always does it for our trips based on feedback from the group, typically planning out dinners/lunches ahead of time.
Matt
|
|
|
Re: Large (50'+) Cat Charter Questions
[Re: BreckSailor]
#285830
07/08/2022 04:47 PM
07/08/2022 04:47 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,162
MIDiver
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 1,162
|
Second Time Will Tell’s comment. We may be biased as we are also TMM owners - the boats are fabulous and customer service outstanding. Lone Star Lagoon their 50 is a great boat.
Do your due diligence with DYC - a quick read of the BVI Cather Chat on Facebook may give you some insight. Enough said.
Good luck!
Last edited by MIDiver; 07/08/2022 07:16 PM.
|
|
|
Re: Large (50'+) Cat Charter Questions
[Re: BreckSailor]
#285849
07/09/2022 12:50 PM
07/09/2022 12:50 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,901 Maine
Breeze
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 1,901
Maine
|
Breck, you know that 12 in a dinghy is going to require forethought What's the old saw ?? Take two, they're small.
As far as provisioning, make sure you go heavy on good snacks. 6 kids can be awesome one minute and hangry -fighting the next. Avoid that. Beef Jerky, Slim Jims, fruit leather, cheese sticks, Go-gurt, tasty granola bars. No galley work required, those are grab and go. PBJ's at will.
Restaurants ashore; my opinion is a party of 12 strains most dining rooms in the BVI. Relieve some of that pressure for them and go early. Reserve ahead of time. Don't push the 7 pm "witching hour". In by 5:30 or 6 and out. Another thought is splitting up the group into 2 or 3 smaller parties. Smaller parties are quicker than 1 large group.
Have a great time !
|
|
|
Re: Large (50'+) Cat Charter Questions
[Re: BreckSailor]
#285891
07/11/2022 07:59 AM
07/11/2022 07:59 AM
|
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 78 Winter Park, FL
MKGrey
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 78
Winter Park, FL
|
Just got back last night from a 12 day trip with a group of 16 aboard two boats from TMM. One of the boats was a 5 cabin Saona 47 that had two families totaling 10 people. The rest were aboard a L42. We had a fantastic experience, however, the following are my takeaways regarding a group that large:
1) As mentioned above, restaurant logistics are significantly more difficult. We were patient, and knew going in that there would be challenges. Most places really did pretty well with it. That said, as suggested, plan for early dinners, break up the group into smaller tables when possible, and be prepared for LONG wait times for food.
2) Provisioning was actually a success story for us this trip. It was hard to get the order sorted out before placing it online, but once done, Riteway delivered most everything we ordered before we arrived.
3) I have chartered with Dream out of the new Scrub base (June 2021). There are certainly pluses and minuses.....but provisioning wasn't really one of them. Riteway delivered there the same as they do anywhere else on Tortola. I would say make your charter company decision based on the myriad of other things one normally considers when making this selection.
4) It probably goes without saying, but plan on multiple dinghy trips everywhere you go. With 10+, there really is no safe way to make single trips.
I hope to get a trip report out that covers some of the details of our trip. It was another fantastic TMM experience that I hope can be helpful / informative / entertaining for others.
|
|
|
Re: Large (50'+) Cat Charter Questions
[Re: BreckSailor]
#285911
07/11/2022 02:08 PM
07/11/2022 02:08 PM
|
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 78 Winter Park, FL
MKGrey
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Oct 2019
Posts: 78
Winter Park, FL
|
BreckSailor:
Meal planning was a bit of a challenge. Part of that was what I was referring to in regards to the original provisioning order, because we had to split the order between two boats and make sure that we had adequate refrigerator capacity, etc. The other part of that was to try to figure out cooking rotations, as Deepcut mentions. Only a couple of times did we attempt to get the whole group of sixteen aboard the FP 47 to eat together. That required cooking some of the items aboard the L42 and dinghying them over along with crew to the FP 47.
To answer your question more directly.....preparing meals aboard for a group of 12+, even on a larger 50' or 52' boat still presents its challenges. We prepped and froze several meals ahead of time before we left home and brought them down in coolers. That certainly helped. It depends on what you make, but stove top space and grill space have their limitations. Lunches (like sandwiches and salads) were no problem at all.
Deepcut, there was a bit of a performance difference to contend with, for sure. I captained the 47, and my brother the 42, so there was already a natural rivalry (all in good fun). We gave the L42 a bit of a head start on the longer legs (North Sound to Anegada, Anegada to Guana). Even still, the 47 closed the gap....and then some. All-in-all, most of the sails were short enough so as to make the performance difference not that big of a deal. In other sailing grounds with longer passages, I could see this being more of an issue. We also had strong winds (20+) the first part of the trip where 2 reefs and crew comfort took precedence to everything else, and made performance difference a bit less noticeable.
As always, the composition of your crew will have more to say about how "doable" or enjoyable the trip will be than anything else. I would not hesitate to do it again with a group that size, if the mix of people was right. In the same breath, however, my guys trip of 3 in early June was a breeze by comparison.
Happy to help with any other questions that you have. Feel free to PM me.
Last edited by MKGrey; 07/11/2022 02:33 PM. Reason: correction
|
|
|
Re: Large (50'+) Cat Charter Questions
[Re: BreckSailor]
#285998
07/13/2022 06:57 PM
07/13/2022 06:57 PM
|
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 38
SkipperChip
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Jun 2010
Posts: 38
|
Kevin, I have skippered groups on 50+ ft. cats in the BVIs numerous times, and you are correct tp be concerned about the provisioning. Feel free to PM me and we can have a chat. Also, stay away from Owners Time charters with DYC. Just sayin'.
Last edited by SkipperChip; 07/13/2022 07:00 PM.
|
|
|
Re: Large (50'+) Cat Charter Questions
[Re: BreckSailor]
#286218
07/17/2022 05:44 PM
07/17/2022 05:44 PM
|
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 193
pl3
Traveler
|
Traveler
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 193
|
|
|
|
|