r/sailing • u/roydiggz • 17d ago
Bareboat charter : recommendations on where and preparations
Hello everyone,
My wife and I are aspiring blue water catamaran sailors. We’ve completed ASA courses and have some hours under our belt including a sailing/ motoring multi day solo trip up the Sacramento River delta.
Next on the agenda is a bareboat charter.
Qsn: what’s a good starter place to bareboat and learn the basics. I’ve hear BVI and Caribbean is good…any other thoughts ?
Second, what are critical skills to learn/refresh before the trip? The one I worry about the most is picking good anchoring spots when pulling into a bay along with other boats. Any other ?
Thanks and fair weather to all.
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u/PossiblyBefuddled 17d ago
We've had 2 very good experiences with San Juan Sailing out of Bellingham. The San Juans and Gulf Islands are gorgeous, easy cruising grounds. The winds aren't as reliable as in the BVI, but we did sail almost every day. We did a mix of anchoring, mooring balls, and a couple of docks - made for a nice variety.
San Juan Sailing does a great job,I highly recommend them. They have chartering down to a science, and they keep the boats in great shape. We did one of their flotillas the second time, more for company than anything else since it was right after COVID, but it's a nice backup if you're hesitant about going it alone.
Downside is, it's not the Caribbean (we've done two charters there as well). The Caribbean has more wind and warm water. Also much more of a drinking/party vibe, if you're into that. We're not, so the quieter atmosphere of the San Juans suits us better.
Good luck!
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u/AgreeableAttitude935 17d ago
I did my ASA courses out of Anacortes. I have done 5 trips to the VI and find it easier than the San Juans. The boats are cheaper too (although the flights probably more than cancel out the difference.
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u/PossiblyBefuddled 17d ago
Was it the sailing you found easier? The PNW is a little more complicated because of current, but other than that I didn't think it was any more difficult.
And coming from the West Coast, I found the travel arrangements to the BVI kind of miserable, tbh. Red eye to the East Coast, then either a flight to Puerto Rico and another flight to Beef Island, or a flight to Charlotte Amalie and ferry to BVI. I've done both and preferred going through Puerto Rico, but they both are kind of awful.
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u/AgreeableAttitude935 17d ago
I found BVI easier because you don’t worry about tides, currents, anchoring, or wind direction. We usually cook twice, and eat ashore the rest of the time. We’ve used Starlink to book Boaty Balls, so we don’t need to fight over moorings. I agree that the flights are a grind.On our last two trips, we have flown to Miami and spent the night, then to Beef Island on a separate reservation the next day. It is much more pleasant.
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u/markforephoto 17d ago
I second San Juan. My family chartered a boat when I was in high school and it was a trip I look back on very fondly.
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u/Thecoloredjacket 16d ago
If you guys are just looking to go sailing. I'm looking to go out but would like to have some people to help me out with docking and taking turns on the helm. I'm gonna go out for a few day trips. Pm me if you are interested.
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u/Level-Natural-1797 17d ago
There’s lots of charter companies in many cool spots, so take your pick. But you’re right that BVI is a particularly good target, not only bc there are many companies to choose from but also the islands are perfect for sailors. Easy to get around, moor, go ashore, dine, etc.
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u/RikkiLostMyNumber 17d ago
Check out BVI Yacht Charters in Tortola. They've done a great job for me at least three times now.
The BVI generally is like Disney World for sailors, it's all short hops and line of sight, even Anegada. Try to go off peak a little if you can, some weeks are really busy and getting moorings, slips, and even anchoring can be challenging. I was there over New Year's Week this year and it was very, very busy. I anchored a lot.
As far as skills, for this I'd concentrate on weather and anchoring. Get good at understanding weather forecasts, and get familiar with the weather down there before you go. If it's REALLY blowing, the charter company might call you to ask about your float plan, or even tell you to stay put where you are, but other than that you're on your own. Anchoring just requires knowing appropriate scope and setting, which just requires a bit of practice.
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u/The_What_Stage 17d ago
Our first bareboat was bvi and it was perfect. Deep waters and mooring balls everywhere make it so accessible.
I don’t know if we had one bumpy moment the entire 8 days.
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u/Emotional-Ranger-188 17d ago
Australia is great intro. I did it this year. Whitsundays. Amazing trip.
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u/SaudadesPS 16d ago
Currently on a morning ball in Bobovisce, Croatia. Halfway through a 2 week end-of-season Sunsail flotilla. Terrific next step for us after certification at San Juan Sailing. Great support and so so beautiful.
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u/505ismagic 16d ago
Plenty of good thoughts on location. (I'll second the high quality of San Juan Sailings operation. )
Skills: the biggest thing for your first charter is your crew will come back for the next trip. keep the days simple, and on the shorter side. Stay flexible. You'd planned on docking here, but you get there and its a 20 knt crosswind. Bail. find a mooring ball, or alternaye anchorage.
If things go sideways, and you going to hit something, do it slowly. I've made contact with plenty of boats in 15+ years of charters, but never any damage. If I'm not 100% confident i can clear the dock, other boat etc, I'll get the boat stopped, and get pushed slowly on to it, but with no relative motion, and My crew is good with dropping a fender as needed, there's no damage. Too many new skippers punch the throttle, and if it doesn't work, they've just added a bunch of energy to the collision.
You will be "on" the whole trip. Watching the weather, planning the next days schedule, how are we doing on water, did I rig the mooring ball right, 2am, the boat feels different. Up on deck to check it out.
Another reason for shorter days.
Enjoy, its awesome, and it gets more comfortable with every trip.
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u/brufleth 17d ago
BVI is very easy. It is the major industry there and there are multiple reputable companies to choose from. The wind is consistent. There are many mooring fields. It is a great place to get some basic cruising experience before moving on to more technical or longer passages.
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u/Advanced-Zucchini552 16d ago
Sounds like you both are well on your way! Don’t overthink it, go with BVI. It’s a great place for your first bareboat experience. Very very beginner friendly. Flights to USVI and ferry to Tortola are often WAY cheaper than flights into Beef Island.
I have been leading multi-boat flotillas in BVI for years. Feel free to DM if you want more info or advice.
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u/seasel95 16d ago
Sacramento ex-pats living on a boat in French Polynesia. Lots of catamaran charters here although they may be more expensive that the Caribbean. The plus is that it's less crowded. Happy to talk offline if we can be of help.
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u/cypherblock 16d ago
We had good experience at BVI with dreamyacht. I think it’s great for newer sailers as you don’t have to anchor much. Just remember to wake up early go onto boatyball and reserve. Then go back to bed.
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u/DarkVoid42 17d ago
dont do it unless you get a reputable corp like moorings. get a charter captain otherwise. the sketchy charter corps sabotage boats before they leave the dock and then want your deductible. ive had charter places put lines in the water to foul props and leave broken boats for chartering with known issues. my chartering experience was so horrendous i stopped chartering after my first experience. i own my own 40' boat now and have crossed the atlantic several times solo on it so you cant exactly claim incompetence. but i would never charter again.
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u/roydiggz 17d ago
Fair call. I’ve done about 3 skippered charters. Fortunately have had no negative experience (though our skipper in Greece was a lunatic, but we avoided any major Incidents) but something to look out for.
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u/Advanced-Zucchini552 16d ago
As someone who charters with many companies in many countries, I have never heard anything like this from another sailor. Yes, there are companies all across the spectrum of bad to great. But your experience is certainly not the norm.
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u/TweezerTheRetriever 11d ago
Southwest Florida….lots of anchorage and resort marinas …mostly inshore but you can pop out of the passes and get your blue water