I'm often surprised by when and where I hear about great charter vacations. During the long Memorial Day weekend touring Washington State wine country, I joined a few folks on a 42 mile bike ride through the country side around Walla Walla. A fantastic ride! (except for the reminder that a 15kt wind on the nose is not only tough when trying to sail from one place to another... it's very tough on a bike).

One of the other riders and I started chatting and he mentioned that he and his wife had a fantastic charter in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) a few years back. He had some limited sailing experience but his wife was an absolute novice. They had been considering trips to some rather exotic locations but in the end, they selected a crewed charter and couldn't believe what a fantastic experience they had. By the end, they had learned a bunch about how to sail and had made great friends with the skipper and his wife (the chef).

I of course asked many of questions and and came away with some interesting observations  including a couple good tips for first time charterers:

• Crewed charters are a great way to go for first time charterers. But, it's probably worth thinking about how much you might want to get involved with operating the boat before you plan your trip. This couple is quite active and really appreciated the skipper's willingness to let them "run the boat" as much as they wanted. Assessing charter party interests around this can help the skipper (and you) plan accordingly and afford good opportunities to learn how to sail, anchor, etc. It also helps locate the right skipper and crew to match your overall interests.
• After chartering for a few weeks, too much time in a resort can be a letdown. He mentioned was that being on a boat provided so much unexpected seclusion and flexibility that they felt very spoiled. They could go where they wanted and see places few on shore ever see. The downside of this incredible experience? Being landlocked in a room for too many days after the charter was boring and offered too many limitations.

I could tell they now have seen a glimpse of what many of us that have chartered know: it's hard to beat chartering in beautiful places. The flexibility, the seclusion, and the immersive experience that chartering provides is second to none.

Tags: sailing, crewed+charter, bvi, yacht+charter, bvi+charter, british+virgin+islands, walla+walla, wine

Last spring while in the Grenadines, my wife and I bumped into a group while touring Mustique that suggested we "must charter in Croatia". Well, we chalked the testimonial purely up to enthusiasm about the last charter (it's understandable, we're still talking about the Grenadines!).

It was fascinating to me that they strongly recommended a charter skipper. Between new waters and language barriers for English-speaking bareboat groups, it sounded like these salty charter experts were very happy they had gone with a skipper despite their preference to skipper themselves.

Fast-forward to the recent Strictly Sail event last month it sounds like Croatia has really become the HOT charter spot this season. According to folks from Kiriacoulis and Moorings, many people are booking their charters for Croatia this summer and beyond.

It sounds incredible, with over 700 islands, historic villages, and national parks such as the Kornati Islands, this has quickly climbed the priority list for our next charter.

Photo coutesy of Kiriacoulis Charters (www.kiriacoulis.com)

When it comes to May in the Pacific Northwest, the weather is a complete crapshoot. But, here at the Charter Island base, we've had an incredibly nice week. High 60s and even cracking the 70s which I'll take on any May day. For most "normal people", that tells enough of a story. But, here's how I can tell the weather is nice...

As I was starting the day (around 6am), I stepped outside onto the backporch. The sun, while still low in the sky, provided enough light to see everything outside. As with most sunrises, the cool blue tone of the dawning light was crisp and clean with just a wee bit of a chill to it even though the full force of the sun was hitting me directly.

I scanned the area - instictly as if to determine what may have changed through the night - with my first cup of coffee in-hand. I began to turn back inside when I realized... the light, the moment, everything (despite the missing boat!) felt just like the many days I've experienced waking up while anchored on a boat. There's something about staring the new day straight into the eyes, taking a sip of strong coffee, preparing mentally for the day, and getting on with it, all while bobbing a little bit in a slight swell and and listening to the lap of small waves against the hull.

I think it's the still of the morning combined with the color of the new daylight that reminds me of waking up on a boat (the sun doesn't hurt either!). Whether it's been sitting off Raitea, Mayreau, Jost van Dyke, or Orcas Island, the feeling is the same. A precious time when the day and it's stories have yet to be written.

Seize the day. Write interesting stories with your actions. The oppportunity is yours. Get out and do it. And, see you at sunset over drinks in the cockpit.

What's your favorite place to wake up at anchor? The Caribbean? The Med? That one particular harbor, as Captain Jimmy would say?

Tags: sailing, cruising, anchoring, yacht+charter, jimmy+buffet, one+particular+harbor

I'm just back after attending the Strictly Sail 2006 event in Oakland, CA. I spent half a day there on Friday and it was pretty impressive. The weather was great, there was a large selection of sailboats in the water to look at, and it appeared that many attendees were having a great time as they prepare for the upcoming sailing season.

I had the opportunity to talk with a number of charter companies and get the latest details about the hot charter areas, great deals, and more. It was particularly interesting to see how different charter companies approach a show like this. While most were there providing general info and brochures, Moorings had travel planners on-site with laptops ready to book charter vacations. A subtle yet telling difference.

I'll be posting some of the info over the coming week so be sure to check back daily for more news and details.

Tags: sailing, strictlysail, yacht+charter, moorings

I read an interesting story this week from the great folks at Latitude 38 that raises an important topic when it comes to planning a charter. Apparently, small airline "Aero California" has been shut down by the Mexican Civil Aviation Department due to safety concerns. So what, you ask?

Well, apparently, some folks from the San Francisco Bay area were planning a charter in the Sea of Cortez (out of La Paz) and relying upon Aero California to get them there. With little time to make alternate flight arrangements, the charter group was forced to abandon their charter vacation until a later date. Fortunately, Moorings is allowing the group to reschedule their charter for a later date at any of their charter bases worldwide. (Good on ya, Moorings - very nice gesture).

But, this does bring up the question of if a.) you can't find time in the next year or so to take a trip, or b.) the charter company you signed on with doesn't make such a generous offer, how do you recoup your lost charter deposits/funds?

Many of the large companies have an in-house charter protection program for their clients. But, for smaller, lesser-resourced companies, here are just a couple options that some companies recommend for travel insurance:

• www.travelproservices.com
• www.accessamerica.com

(Note: we have not used either of these services so we cannot speak to their prices, quality, etc.)

Have you used one of these services? Or, do you have any experiences with insurance packages - often referred to as "Charter Protection Plans" - offered by some companies? Let us know and we'll combine the information as part of a general tips article.

Tags: sailing, travel+insurance, aero+california, yacht+charter, moorings, latitude+38, charter+protection+plan

 With spring come a number of events worth checking out. Here are just a couple upcoming events - both of which we're planning to attend.

• Bellhaven Charters
• Bellingham Yachts
• Northwest Explorations
• Par Yacht Charters
• San Juan Sailing
• San Juan Yachting

Finding time for classes and hobbies can be a challenge - particularly if you have limited vacation time and a family life to balance with career. So, here's an interesting option for anyone interested in learning how to sail or simply becoming a better sailor and obtaining certification to add to your bareboat charter resume. Or, it might be a great way to accomodate the group that has people that want to sail all day while others prefer lounging on the beach!

An article from InsideBayArea.com mentions the American Sailing Association's (ASA) "Sailing Week 2006" hosted by Sunsail at their Club Colonna Resort in Antigua. For an incredibly low price of $890 (US) per person, you get an all-inclusive (meals, etc.) holiday with access to the daysailors as well as a couple Sunsail Beneteau 473 yachts for use during your stay.

In addition to plenty of sailing time and an opportunity to tap into some of the ASA certification programs, this might be your ticket to a great getaway. Here are some details and pics from the last event.

One thing to keep in mind though is that this is June in the Caribbean. Chances are it will be plenty warm and a fair bit humid. But, if you're willing to trade that for a lower price, you might want to consider this.

Tags: sailing, antigua, asa, caribbean, sunsail, beneteau

Let's face it - while places like the BVI are beautiful, some folks prefer chartering in locations well off the beaten path. As an alternative to the more common charter locations (which, by the way, are well documented and offer a very approachable charter experience), many countries in the Asia-Pacific region are beginning to host charter operations that may be a good fit for the more adventurous charter enthusiast.

Take, for example, Gulf Yacht Charters in Thailand. I haven't chartered with them but from what I know about Thailand, it's people, and traveling there, this option looks incredibly interesting. Chances are that there fewer charter guides and sketch charts (I'll admit this is my assumption and very possibly wrong...) which means it could be quite the adventure navigating new and exotic islands. The advantage is that you're likely to see very few other boats meaning you'll have paradise to yourself.

It's very intriguing to see these companies developing new areas. Not only is it good for the more experienced charter enthusiast that has done the "usual" trips, it also stands to help the local community as long as charterers respect the environment and leave it in better shape the when they arrive.

Tags: Thailand, yacht+charter, sailing, boats

I heard a rather interesting piece from the BBC's "Sport International" (via satellite on XM Radio) about next year's ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 that will be played at a variety of new or remodeled venues across the West Indies. A couple thoughts...

1. I don't know much about cricket other than that it is huge in a number of countries around the world. I've watched it and admittedly, I always try to apply my knowledge of American baseball with little success. I shouldn't be surprised! I would like to spend some time learning it and thought, "what better way to learn cricket than to attend the world cup? Even better, do it aboard a charter boat and hopefully find a couple venues on neighboring islands that would allow sailing to different matches on different days!
2. Given the devastation many of the West Indies experienced with Hurricane Ivan and others is rapid succession, many of the islands are behind in their preparations for the event. In addition to building the infrastructure to support an international sporting event, many are still busy trying to regain their pre-hurricane standard of living. The area where some islands are struggling (particularly Grenada) is on the hotel front. There is some concern that there will be enough hotels to support the volume of tourists. Dramatic measures, such as chartering cruise ships to serve as floating hotels, are being considered.

All of this made me wonder why the charter industry is not trying to do more to attract this audience? This would be a great way to attract new charter clients and help address the challenges these areas face as the address the demand for lodging to accomodate this infux of tourists.

I read a great story earlier this week on 'Lectronic Latitude (published by the folks at the Bay Area's Latitude 38) about a charter client bumping into Richard Branson at Anegada's Cow Wreck Restaurant and Bar. For those that have been living under a rock, Sir Richard is the outspoken founder of Virgin (you know - the airline, the media, the telecom, etc.) and apparently he enjoys Anegada in the British Virgin Islands.

It just goes to show that you never know who you might meet while sailing through paradise on a charter boat.

Have you bumped into any interesting characters while sailing the islands? Come on - tell us the story! Send me an email or post your comments below...