BENEATH THE SURFACE B Y H E AT H E R S T E I N B E R G E R
The Perfect Vacation
O
ver the last few months, we’ve used this column to explore the impact of the ongoing novel coronavirus pandemic on recreational boating. We’ve looked at how companies adapted to public health guidelines and found innovative solutions to engage with boaters; how Millennials quickly discovered boating in massive numbers; and how the surge in new boaters affected summertime service and towing. Now, as winter arrives in the Great Lakes, we’re turning our attention to an offseason pursuit loved by so many in our community: Chartering. With the rolling thunder of COVID-19 still very much part of daily lives, what does that mean for the charter industry — and for those boaters who seek respite in the lower latitudes when the water gets hard? Reopening in the islands COVID has been brutal for the charter industry. When the pandemic exploded in mid-March, charter companies embarked on a painful, lengthy shutdown. For example, The Moorings stayed shuttered for more than six months, a first in its 50-year history. British Virgin Islands
20
NOV E M B E R / D E C E M B E R 2020
|
LAKELANDBOATING.COM
Even as destinations like Greece, Croatia, Spain and Italy partially reopened in an attempt to salvage the summer season, access was patchy. Americans were able to book charters for about a week, but that ended when U.S. cases spiked. It hurt the newly reopened Bahamas as well. According to Ian Pederson, senior marketing manager for The Moorings and Sunsail, a month’s worth of charters quickly sold out, then the Bahamas shut the doors to Americans again. “People clearly still have an appetite for chartering, even with [the pandemic],” Pederson says. “That’s good news, because a lot will change in the next six to eight weeks, and for the better. The mood feels very different now. There’s optimism.” The first inkling of that temperature change came with the British Virgin Islands’ announcement that it will open its borders to international visitors on December 1. Andrew A. Fahie, premier and minister of finance, shared the news during the launch of the new “BVILOVE” tourism campaign September 21. “Right after that press conference, our phones were ringing off the hook,” Pederson says. “The BVI is our most popular destination, and we think it will be the first domino. Others will follow. Our Bahamian base that serves the Exumas is on our radar to open soon, as is St. Martin.” As destinations open their floodgates to the American market, insiders predict a major shift toward chartering. Those who otherwise might have spent their valuable vacation time at all-inclusive resorts or on cruise ships are recognizing that a private yacht offers a perfect, flexible solution for a much-needed getaway. “A charter vacation is the best social-distance vacation solution,” Pederson says. “You can be as isolated as you wish, and you get to choose if and when you engage with others. That appeals to people right now.” In response to this new trend, The Moorings formed a partnership with CRUISE.COM in August. Website visitors are able to view yacht charter options under “Specialty Cruises,” and travel agents who might have been unfamiliar with chartering now have that information at their fingertips. This isn’t the only trend Pederson and
PHOTO COURTESY OF THE MOORINGS
Despite COVID’s challenges, boaters can still find adventure, relaxation and escape through chartering.
