Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP
Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site pyuxhh.UUCP
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!gamma!pyuxww!pyuxhh!dxp
From: dxp@pyuxhh.UUCP (D Peak)
Newsgroups: net.travel,net.rec.boat,net.rec.scuba
Subject: Re: Sailing in the Caribbean
Message-ID: <673@pyuxhh.UUCP>
Date: Tue, 10-Jul-84 10:35:57 EDT
Article-I.D.: pyuxhh.673
Posted: Tue Jul 10 10:35:57 1984
Date-Received: Wed, 11-Jul-84 01:12:26 EDT
References: <1368@sun.uucp>
Organization: Bell Communications Research, Piscataway N.J.
Lines: 91


-->1)  We are currently planning on spending Thanksgiving week
--> in the Caribbean.  What kind of weather can we expect?
--> How much rain? Will there be good wind?
   You'll be in the charterers high season rate is the first thing
   you want to be aware of.The hurricane season will have just ended
   so you can expect pretty clear weather with sporadic and short
   rain storms.Anywhere south of the Vigin Isles you have a fairly
   constant 15-20 Trade wind from the northeast but the westward
   side of some islands (the ones with tall mountains) can be
   flukey and tricky (you'll be okay about 2 miles off though).

-->2)  Most of the bareboat charter companies will arrange to
--> provision the boat for you. Is this a good idea or can
--> we save some money and have more control over things
--> if we do it ourselves?
    When we chartered in '75 we did all our own provisioning
    and things worked out pretty well.HOWEVER MY BROTHER WAS
    WORKING THERE AT THE TIME AT TOOK CARE OF THE ORIGINAL 
    PROVISIONING !!!!! 
    I would suggest arranging 2-3 days of provisioning ,that
    is if the charterer will do this and then take it from 
    there. You can also stock up on some of the basics like
    stuff for breakfast and wing it from that point.If you
    try and do it all for yourself you may find it costing you 
    more (especially the first couple of days when you don't
    know where to shop and don't know what things are negotiable).


-->3)  What are the ten things that we are absolutely going to
--> have to have that we should plan on bringing with us?
    1) A very casual approach to service - no one is in a hurry 
       down there.
    2) Water proof cameras
    3) Water resistant watches
    4) A fatalistic approach - anything that can go wrong   MIGHT
       [We couldn't douse the roller furling genny on our first day
        out when the wind came up . So we had to take down the mizzen
        and the main. A 44 footer is a strange beast to sail when all
        you have up is a 150% genoa. We eventually got into the lee
        of the island and got the roller furling to furl.
       Make sure you have one or more experienced sailors if you are
       going to bare-boat.
    5) I'll mail any other things I think of .

-->4)  Will we need to convert U.S. $ into local currency and/or
--> do most places accept credit cards such as Mastercard,
--> Visa and American Express?
    Depends where you go . The standard is the East Caribbean Dollar
    in the ex-British Islands which is approx 50cUS and can be easily
    exchanged at most large marinas or hotels $1US gets you $2EC.
    In some of the bars that are frequented by a lot of Americans 
    prices may be listed in US $ beware of this as you dont usually
    find out about until its time to pay and you can end up paying double
    the norm.Credit cards OK for larger restuarants,hotels ,marinas etc
    however you'll miss a lot of the atmosphere if you don't get off the
    beaten track a bit.

-->5)  Can you from personal experience recommend a particular
--> charter company that has clean, well maintained, well
--> equipped boats?
   CSY(Caribbean Sailing Yaghts ) are the standard by which most
   others are gauged , I may be a little predjudiced as the manager
   of the St Vincent fleet was my brothers' next door neighbour and
   close friend.CSY didn't have a boat available(we booked with les
   than a weeks notice) and Stevens Yachts was the one we took.

-->6)  Most charter companies seem to be based on St. Thomas,
--> St. Maarten or Tortola, which is the preferred area
--> and why? (ie. good snorkeling, beaches, etc...)
    Another reason is its a US possession so there's more stability.
    Generally speaking first time charterers should charter in the
    Bahamas,then the Virgins and then onto the Windward Isles due
    to the increasing demands on sailing ability.
    
-->Jon Lancaster
-->{decwrl|ucbvax}!sun!jonl

  Pick up the July 1984 edition of Cruising World for their 1985
Guide to chartering.
 



-- 
   
     Dave Peak (pyuxhh!dxp)

     " Don't forget, Lady Godiva put everything SHE had on a horse ! "
     - W.C. Fields