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Late Season Charter Observations #287109
08/09/2022 09:29 AM
08/09/2022 09:29 AM
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 117
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Rush Offline OP
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Rush  Offline OP
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Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 117
We just returned from a charter (7/30-8/7) through Dream Yacht on a Lagoon 46 (Aren't We Lucky) and thought I would post a few observations. It was a great trip and we were pleasantly surprised for several reasons.

Weather was very comfortable. Good sailing conditions - brisk wind (15-25) all week with moderate swells (4.5-5.5 ft). Very little rain, althought islands need it.

All restaurants/bars were open, except Pirates Bight (they are redoing restrooms and adding showers). We did not go to Anegada.

Saba Rock and Bitterend had good crowds, Leverick was exceptionally quiet.

Sargassum was a non-issue. It was certainly visible while sailing or on some lee shores, but never an issue at anchorages in terms of smell or clogging the intakes.

There definitely was Sahara dust, but it was just a little hazy sky, depending upon the direction you were looking. Was hoping for one of those dramatic Sahara dust sunsets, but did not get one - still enjoyable though.

A reasonable amount of boats out sailing. Several kid's sailing camps. There appeared to be more captained boats vs. bareboats than I typically notice as well.

No issue getting a ball of course, but most anchorages had a reasonable crowd. White Bay (Jost) was packed. We were moored on the Ivan's side. A Moorings Power Cat lost an engine in front of Hendos and temporarily beached. Several captains with powerful dinghy's helped steer it out of the anchorage, but was very dicey.

We had a great experience with Dream Yacht. The boat was newer and in excellent condition - no issues. All of the folks at the base were very helpful and Teka who checked us out was thorough and delightful. The only complaint was having to head up to Spanish Town to refuel the morning we returned - they said that is the closest fuel dock and the only way to return the boat full without a penalty. Trellis Bay is too shallow to fuel there. Dream Yacht will be moving from Scrub to Hodges Creek in the near future.

My big takeaway was that the BVI were still busy, beautiful, and fun in early August and we would visit again that late in the season (understanding there is a a higher risk of storms). I do think the locals were pleased with the crowds as well. But many are also looking forward to some deserved vacation time.

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Re: Late Season Charter Observations [Re: Rush] #287111
08/09/2022 09:55 AM
08/09/2022 09:55 AM
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 6,993
GA/NC
GeorgeC1 Offline
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GeorgeC1  Offline
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Weird on the powercat beaching because they lost a engine. Most handle ok on one engine. I did a entire weeks charter on a sailing cat with one engine.

Re: Late Season Charter Observations [Re: Rush] #287113
08/09/2022 10:29 AM
08/09/2022 10:29 AM
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 117
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Rush Offline OP
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Rush  Offline OP
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Not sure of the details. But it was crowded and their anchor was partially down. And the skipper seemed to have significant control issues. We heard folks say one engine was out, but could have been more. I have spent a few days on one engine on a sailing cat and found it challenging anchoring in a moderately crowded anchorage. Maybe you can get the scoop from Moorings? This was last Wednesday.

Re: Late Season Charter Observations [Re: Rush] #287117
08/09/2022 10:54 AM
08/09/2022 10:54 AM
Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 1,647
Memphis, BVI, CT
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RatmansWife Offline
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RatmansWife  Offline
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Memphis, BVI, CT
How much does that boat draw that you can't get into Loose Mongoose?

Re: Late Season Charter Observations [Re: Rush] #287119
08/09/2022 11:39 AM
08/09/2022 11:39 AM
Joined: Jun 2017
Posts: 117
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Rush Offline OP
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Rush  Offline OP
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Four and a half feet. Perhaps it is not an issue, but the base told me not to try, so I abided.

Re: Late Season Charter Observations [Re: Rush] #287153
08/10/2022 09:46 AM
08/10/2022 09:46 AM
Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 207
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Kegoangoango Offline
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Kegoangoango  Offline
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Originally Posted by Rush
Dream Yacht will be moving from Scrub to Hodges Creek in the near future.


Nice report and sounds like a nice trip.

Isn't Hodges Creek where DYC was before moving to Scrub? We picked up a DYC boat a few years ago during the week of the move. It was after Irma (2018 or 19 maybe?) and it was the week they were moving. We dropped the boat at Scrub and Marina Cay still had the fuel dock running. Guess that's closed now. Hodges Creek was is really bad shape from Irma and it didn't look like they were doing much at the time. Glad it's back up and running, as we prefer not having to shuttle from Scrub on the way out.

Re: Late Season Charter Observations [Re: Rush] #287154
08/10/2022 10:17 AM
08/10/2022 10:17 AM
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,490
Grenada
Zanshin Offline
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Zanshin  Offline
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Posts: 2,490
Grenada
Hodges Creek used to be the Sunsail base, too. I've spent many an afternoon at the bar watching charter guests attempt to leave the docks over the reef. Those were some of the shortest charter trips ever smile My first boat in the BVI was from Sunsail there and I got a year's free dockage in the deal.


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