Everything you need to know about Fabulous Yachting Holidays
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harter yachts gather annually on four different islands for the purpose of being inspected by charter yacht brokers and agents. This gives the brokers up to date information about the yachts, their captains and crews as well as the latest need to know information about the eastern Caribbean islands. BVI Charter Yacht Show: 1st. week, November Virgin Islands Charter Yacht League Show: USVI, 2nd week November St. Maarten MYBA Charter Yacht Show: 1st. week, December Antigua Charter Yacht Show: 2nd week, December
CARIBBEAN LANDFALLS Photo: Charter Yacht Show, Falmouth Harbour, Antigua, West Indies
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From the Editor
W
hen the winter tourist season starts in the islands a beehive of activity starts after a sleepy summer season. Charter yachts from all parts of the globe arrive at their Caribbean base camps in the Virgin Islands, St. Maarten and Antigua. Glinting pristine vessels gleam under the Caribbean sun, many of the world’s most magnificent yachts await their charter guests. Crews race around provisioning, polishing and partying hard at the end of the day. The local waterfront bars and restaurants are happy to see their friends back. More big yachts than ever are coming to the Caribbean. Clearly, Charter Yachting is all the rage these days! It wasn’t too long ago that the only people who chartered yachts were sailing enthusiasts and all the boats for charter were only sailboats. What was considered a small niche business has grown in the last few years. What was talked about as the Caribbean’s best kept vacation secret is getting known by more vacationers. This issue of Ca-
ribbean Landfalls is all about Charter Yachting. If you don’t know much about charter yachting or think boats are not for you I suggest you still have a look, because charter yachting is the ultimate way to discover the Caribbean and to do it you don’t need to know how to sail a boat. Let me explain: Many nonmariner types view boating as something that other people do; non-sailors see boats as complicated and confusing things that bob around at will and are tipsy and unpredictable. I came from a sailing family but not all of us liked sailing. My mother, was the odd one out of our nautical family. She just didn’t like bouncy boats! If my mother were alive today, I am sure I could have changed her attitude about boats. She loved traveling, and staying in hotels and chatting with a friendly staff. Today yachts are bigger, more comfortable and more stable. They are extremely luxurious, often with more creature comforts than deluxe hotels. Very much unlike our 42 foot family cutter. Russ Tatham
Published by IVY Communications 750 CR 346 Rifle, Colorado 81650 USA
Executive Publisher Kathryn Seri Erickson
Editor in Chief Russ Tatham landfalls@cmac.com
Production Manager Patrisha Stubblefield
Caribbean Regional Ad Sales Sales & Marketing Russ Tatham landfalls@mac.com
Note: This Magazine is now available online through www.issuu.com ISSUU is an online service that allows for realistic and customizable viewing of digitally uploaded material, such as magazines, newspapers, and other print media. It integrates with social networking sites to promote uploaded material. While the documents are meant to be viewed online, they can be downloaded and saved as well. Uploaded print material is viewed through a web browser and is made to look like a printed publication with an animated page flip options. Issuu was selected as one of TIME’s 50 Best Websites 2009 and was a 2009 Webby Awards Honoree. Caribbean Landfalls is distributed free of charge throughout the major tourist islands of the Eastern Caribbean. All rights reserved©. No part of this publication may be reproduced unless written consent is given by IVY Communications. Every effort for accuracy of the contents of this magazine has been made, however, the publisher and editor do not accept responsibility for the views and opinions of contributors. Cover: Sandy Island, Carriacou, Grenada
Contents:
4 The fabulous world of Caribbean Charter Yachting. Want to see the exoctic Caribbean in style, away from the cruise ship crowds and hustle bustle? Learn how you can charter a yacht – the ulitmate Caribbean holiday!
9
A Caribbean cook off on boats.
Charter yacht chefs get creative in a cooking competition. It was a culinary West Indian Adventure.
Volume 2 Number 3
10 Caribbean Charter Yachting How it all started. How a casual request to go sailing started the first charter center in the Caribbean.
16 Super Yachts, Mega Yachts for Charter.
For the well heeled large motors yachts are all the rage. A luxury Motor Yacht is like a luxurious villa that moves around. It’s the ultimate way to discover all the exotic Caribbean islands.
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Fabulous Caribbean Charter Yacht Vacations
Everything you need to know about yacht charter vacations and more!
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oday yachts are bigger, more comfortable and more stable than yachts have ever been before. Some are extremely luxurious, often with more comforts than deluxe hotels. Organizing a vacation on a charter yacht is as easy as booking a resort hotel or villa. The big difference between a Caribbean land vacation and a charter yacht vacation is the superior level of service you will experience. One might say “But the cost is a lot more!” For some yachts, yes, the cost is more. But for the majority of charter yachts available in the Caribbean, the cost is comparable to luxury land-based accommodation. To get an idea of the costs look at the side bar on page 18. The choice of charter yachts is vast and more varied than land accommodations. Travel Agents & Charter Yacht Brokers are very different.
Travel agents organize most people’s land vacations, be it the big travel
wholesalers or your neighborhood travel agent. Charter yacht agents called charter brokers normally, work for you basically in the same way as a travel agent. The difference is that charter brokers are experienced in yachting. Most have worked on boats as crew members and have sailed through the Caribbean visiting the islands, as well as other popular yachting destinations in the world. This experience is an absolute must for charter brokers. A general travel agent can book a cruise ship for you with no problems, but there is no way they can organize a charter yachting holiday for you. What exactly is a Yacht Charter?
A yacht charter is a short term rental agreement. If the agreement is for the yacht only, without crew services or provisioning, it is called a “bareboat” charter. If the agreement includes the services of a Captain, chef and perhaps additional mates, it is termed a “crewed ” charter. It also may be
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called a “term” charter which refers to a specified time commitment. Truly see the Caribbean in all its splendor
Cruise ship ports have become a mecca of touristic sameness. When you charter a yacht you can visit places off the beaten path, small seaside villages and secluded beaches not even accessible by land. You go where you want to go. You set the pace and style you want. If you like snorkeling your captain can take you to places no one else can get to. Just about anything you can think of is available to you on a charter yachting holiday. Charter yachts range in price from $4,000 a week for two to $500,000, a half of a million dollars a week! But you can share the cost with 12 friends, that’s only$ 83,300 per couple. A yacht that goes for $20,000 for two will cost only a bit more for six, say, $24,000, so the cost per person can go from $10,000 to as little as $4,000 a week.
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n the eastern Caribbean today there are approximately 700 yachts available for charter during the winter months. The selection of yachts is highly diversified. The size of yachts range from 38 ft. sailboats to 279 ft. super motor yachts. Types of boats available for charter. Charter yachts in a category named “Bareboats” are chartered to people experienced in handling yachts. Yachts in the category of “Crewed Yachts” do not require the guests to have any nautical skills or knowledge. Sailing yachts (single hull boats
two. A yacht charter for two persons on a small 38 ft.. sailboat can cost as little as $3,800 a week. On the opulent end of the spectrum, a 279 ft. mega yacht can cost $840,000 for a week’s charter. Most charters take place in the Virgin Islands; 32% of all yacht charters cruise the British Virgin Islands. Other popular charter regions are St.Maarten, Antigua, Guadeloupe, Martinique, St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Grenada. Virtually the entire eastern Caribbean can be cruised on a charter yacht vacation. What islands are the charter yachts located. The popular islands for a charter
SAILING CHARTER
and catamarans two hulls) and power yachts are available. As for the cost of a charter vacation, the size of the yacht usually reflects the price of the charter. Sailboats at an average length of about 65 feet are the most popular in crewed charters. The cost of the vacation is based on the number of people going on the yacht. On average, four to six persons charter a yacht. Most yacht charter vacations cost about $10,000 per week on a 65’ boat with a crew of
YACHTS
base are: USVI, BVI, St. Maarten, and Antigua. Smaller numbers of charter yachts base in St. Lucia, St. Vincent & the Grenadines and Grenada. The French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique are almost exclusively used by European charter yachts. The choice of the winter base is often determined by the facilities available for the yachts. Antigua traditionally has been the base for large sailboats and large motor boats. St. Maarten has now become the port of choice for mega motor yachts averaging in length from 100 to 270 feet. Can a yacht based in the Northern islands charter in the Southern islands. Some but not all. In general smaller yachts stay within their base group of islands but some will travel to far away islands from their base. This is the captains choice and is usually outlined in their online brochures. A good charter broker knows which yachts will will travel to a clients choice of a Caribbean charter destination. In general finding the yacht type you want
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The 79’ Luxury Sloop Y Not from Select Yachts
that is based in or near your destination of choice is better as the captain and crew have a deeper knowledge of the area. There are several yacht captains that know the entire eastern Caribbean region intimately so again the importance of an experienced charter broker is advisable.
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The 116 foot Luxury Sloop, Whisper
Photo: Onne van der Wal
United States & British Virgin Islands
Puerto Rico 2
Anguilla St. Maarten
1
St. Barth
Charter yachts are available in these eight cruising destinations 1. The Spanish Virgins 2. USVI & BVI 3. St. Maarten, St. Barts, St. Kitts, Nevis and Anguilla 4. Antigua Barbuda 5. Guadalope, Ilse de Saints, Marie Gallant and Dominica 6. Martinique, Dominica, St.Lucia 7. St. Lucia, St. Vincent, Grenadines 8. Grenada, Grenadines Winter Bases for Crewed Yachts St. Thomas VI (Large Sail & Motor Yachts) BVI (Medium Sailboats & Motor Yachts) St. Maarten (Large Sail & Motor Yachts) Antigua (Large Sail & Motor Yachts) Guadalope (Medium Sailboats) Martinique (Large & Medium Sailboats) St. Lucia (Medium Sailboats & Motor Yachts) Grenadines (Medium Sailboats) Grenada (Large & Medium Sailboats)
Statia Barbuda St. Kitts Antigua
Nevis 3
4 5 Guadalope
Dominica
6
Martinique
7
8
St. Lucia
St. Vincent & The Grenadines
Grenada & Grenadines
The 56 foot Safari, available for charter: Nicholson Yachts.
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Isle Fourche, an uninhabbitted island only an hour sail from the hustle and bustle of St. Maarten Most distances between islands are short and it takes only a few hours sailing time to arrive at the next charming Caribbean port.
“Getting there is as much fun as being there.� On a crewed sailing charter vacation, the voyage from one port to the next landfalls is pure pleasure. On a luxury sailboat, the thrill starts as the crew sets the sails and you put to sea, leaving the busy harbour to the cruise ship crowds.
There is nothing else like the feeling one gets on a big sailing yacht when the sails are trimmed and you feel the power of the wind propelling you forward through the clear blue seas of the Caribbean. The magical sound of the water being cut by the hull and the feel of the wind on your face are reasons why so many become obsessed with sailing. With the hustle-bustle of hundreds of tourists only two hours behind, you sail into the quiet waters of a small island. This one is uninhabited and its small bay is yours alone. Your crew
Whisper, Churchill Yacht Partners.
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Photos Onne van der Wal
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CHARTER YACHT CHEFS COMPETITION
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he Concours de Chefs is no ordinary cook off. It’s a serious affair for all. The food served on Charter yacht must be of the highest standard. “Yacht Cuisine” (a term getting known more in culinary circles these days) requires special talent. Unlike landbased chefs that have their dedicated purveyors for fresh ingredients on call, yacht chefs often have to improvise and be more resourceful than cooks in restaurants. Yacht chefs can find themselves in desolated places. Paradise for their charter guests but for the chef... “Where am I going to find romaine lettuce in the Tobago Cays?” These out of the way destinations that yachts go to can be a real challenge for their onboard chefs. Chefs in the competition were asked to utilize Caribbean indigenous spices, fruit, vegetables and seafood products. They were free to interpret their creative visions traditionally or with a contemChef Erik Jansson gets excited about his Caribbean Expresión menu. porary style. The concept: Take the judges on a West Indian Adventure. The judging system was devised by the Event Coordinator John Jackson, himself a seasoned chef and fourth generation restaurateur. The six judges were from the St. Maarten area. All own or manage businesses in the fine food and hospitality business. The competition is divided into two divisions by yacht size: Motor yachts 125 ft. and over and motor & sailing yachts under 125 feet. Chefs are asked Judges awarding points to prepare two courses: appetizer below: The scoring system and main course, or a main 100 Points Maximum course and dessert. They were asked 20 Presentation to describe their background and talk 20 Originality and degree of difficulty about their recipes, as well as taking the 20 Variance of textures and flavors Chutney glazed grouper with coconut & judges on a brief visit to their galleys. stuffed mini tomato, citrus and star anis 20 Harmony with Theme The results of the event demonstrated broth, mango risotto with lobster fritter. 10 Impression, crew hospitality, galley/interview they are as good as many top chefs Chef: Erik Jansson M/Y CHARISMA wowing their clients with great food. 10 Overall impression - table and menu
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CARIBBEAN YACHT CHARTERING HOW IT ALL STARTED IN 1949
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s it is often in life, some things happen which were not intended to happen, or even thought of to happen. In some cases these events change people’s lives dramatically. This was the case for young Desmond Nicholson, his brother Rodney, his Mother Emma and Father Vernon Edward Barling Nicholson, OBE Royal Navy retired. I had the opportunity recently to spend two mornings with Desmond Nicholson of Nicholson’s Yacht Charters out of Antigua. The Nicholson family, in fact,
the constant trade wind, saying it was possible to get to cocktail parties on time to any island! I said ‘Come on, Dad, you’re always talking and we never do anything!’ That was it! We soon set sail from Cork, where we happened to be, and calling at Cascais, Gibraltar, Tangier, the Canaries, we arrived in Barbados seven weeks later on January 1, 1949. “We then sailed up the islands to Antigua arriving at St. John’s on Feb 8th. Here we spent a month, my father interviewing big time businessmen hoping to find jobs for his sons. They were very pessimistic, as the sugar industry had started to run down, the workers beginning to realize they were being exploited too much. There was even a year’s series of strikes. “So on March 9th at 4:30 p.m. we first came alongside the inner wharf at the old 1745 Naval Dockyard, (Nelson’s Dockyard, English Harbour) little knowing we would be spending the rest of our lives there!
of 1903 vintage. We didn’t want the yacht, nobody did in wartime, but this lovely one, the Mollihawk, was lying in a mud berth on the Dart and she was FURNISHED! We bought the yacht just for the knives, forks and spoons, linen and blankets - all the things that were impossible to find, for one needed ration books to buy them in the shops if one could. So we bought the yacht to furnish a house near Plymouth, Devon, England. “After the war, when we two lads came out of the services, the Commander had
The 72’ schooner Mollihawk. This photo was taken the day the Nichcolson family arrived at Nelson’s Dockyard, March 9th 1949 was the first Yacht Charter company in the Caribbean. It started in 1949in English Harbour, Antigua. In Desmond’s words this is how it all started. “Well you see my father, the Commander, was in the Royal Navy and the family followed his appointments, when feasible, to be near him. In wartime, it was possible to rent unfurnished houses, but impossible to find furnished houses. So what did we do? Well we bought a yacht, cheap - a beautiful 70 ft. schooner
already started refitting Mollihawk with an idea of going back to the West Indies where he had once patrolled the islands during the war, just as Nelson once did. At the time, Dad was based in Bermuda and we had braved the Battle of the Atlantic to join him there. It was amongst those islands we learned our first seamanship when going shopping across the Sound. “The Commander had always wanted to return to the West Indies because of
The Nicholson family squatted in this building, the old Dockyard Pay Office, after re-attaching its shingles.
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The first thing we did was a big refit on the grassy deserted wharfs. Then we picked up shingles wind strewn over the dockyard to fix the roof of the old Commissioner’s Room & Paymaster’s House in which we squatted to make a shore side home. The people were very poor and later at English Harbour Mrs. Nicholson gave bread to hungry children. She became very popular and even to this day the Nicholson family are still thought well of in English Harbour. I suppose also because we had created a new industry for Antigua, thus creating new jobs after the demise of sugar. One day, when refitting after the ocean voyage alongside the deserted wharfs, where there were only goats grazing amongst the ruins, a rich American from the newly
In the early years, the Mollihawk cruised with charter guests for several weeks at a time, island hopping down to Dominica then Bequia and on to Grenada. plantation on the island of Dominica because air connections were difficult. He enjoyed the passage so much he told his friends and soon passages turned into cruises to several Caribbean islands. Well, that’s how it all started. From then on, charters snowballed. First Dad and then my brother or I went along leaving the other to look after Mum in the Pay Office, then the day came when Rodney and I went sailing alone.”
If it were not for the man from Chicago John Archabald asking to make passage to Dominica the Nicholson family could of have been bound for the Panama Canal and on to Australia. Antigua and the rest of the eastern Caribbean had a little to offer for employment. In fact in the 1950’s half the Caribbean’s population were leaving to find work overseas.
Commander Nicholson and sons set sail with an enthusiastic guest. established Mill Reef Club said “Gee, what a lovely schooner, you wouldn’t take us for a sail down island, would you?” As it turned out the first charter the Nicholson’s made was not a cruise but a passage for one man. John Archabald the passenger wanted to get to his
Patrons of Antigua’s Mill Reef Club in the early 1950’s experience ‘Molli-rum’ as charter guests aboard the Mollihawk.
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After two devastating hurricanes a ‘Ray of Hope’ is envisioned Two hurricanes in 1950 could have put a dampener on the Nicholson’s new enterprise. Homeless Antigans moved into the Dockyard for shelter as their wooden homes had been blown away. The British Governor of the Leeward Islands, visiting his people in the Dockyard, saw firsthand their despair. At the same time he discovered the lovely
entirely on voluntary donations. The first contributor was the famed novelist C.S. Forrester, creator of the character “Horatio Hornblower” of which his top selling series of books and a major motion picture made in 1951 (with Gregory Peck starring as Captain Horatio Hornblower) was based. C.S. Forrester at that time had just cruised the Caribbean aboard the Mollihawk. In 1953 a “Caribbean Yacht Cruise” was organized by The Society to at-
Today, Nelson’s Dockyard is a living historic site serving as a yachting centre and a tourist attraction. All of the buildings have been restored and are used for: a museum, an inn, a sail loft, apartments, two restaurants, a marine store, a yacht sales & charter office, and a repair shop. schooner Mollihawk and the Nicholson family squatting in the abandoned Pay Office. Governor Kenneth Blackburne then saw a Ray of Hope. It was to restore Nelson’s Dockyard as a historical site, but not just an idle museum of British Naval history. Knowing the Nicholsons used the facility as a their charter base, Governor Kenneth Blackburne declared... “Why should the old buildings not be used again for sailing ships - though for yachts rather than men-o’-war? Why should the Dockyard not become a memorial to the great deeds of the Royal Navy in the wars of the 18th century? And why should it not become a tourist resort?” The Governor saw the opportunity for improving Antigua’s economic state of affairs with jobs tending the yachtsmen’s needs. Shortly, The Society of the Friends of English Harbour was formed. Commander V.E.B. Nicholson was employed as the first supervisor of the project. The Society depended
The Dockyard as it is today. Photo was taken during the 2004 Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta.
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English Harbour looking South.
The lawn on the waterfront of the Admiral’s Inn.
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for the Dockyard both as a historic monument and as a yachting center. This effort later brought the assistance of Lady Churchill who hosted a fund raising luncheon at No.10 Downing Street in London. With the word getting around about Nelsons Dockyard and chartering sailing yachts out of Antigua the Nichcolsons needed more boats. Commander Nicholson started a yacht recruiting program with a small ad in the London Times. This sparked the imagination of owners and skippers of boats which had yet to venture out of Europe. The idea of actually making money with a yacht prompted response. One particular captain telephoned Commander Nicholson on this Caribbean charter business to find out more. The Commander told him. “ It’s a great way of life but you’ll never get rich doing it.” That skipper, Jolyon Byerly is still living and working in English Harbour today. In December 1955, Desmond Nicholson returned to English Harbour as Master of the 86’ schooner Freelance. Desmond sailed from the Mediterranean to fulfill the increased demand for charters. From this time onwards a steady increase of yacht arrivals made landfall in Antigua. The once forgotten Harbour and Dockyard was now a gathering place for Royalty, Adventurers, Tycoons and Heads of State. In 1960, ten VIPs visited the Dockyard. Aristotle Onassis’ yacht Christina anchored off English Harbour on March 2, 1960. On board was Sir Winston Churchill, Lady Churchill and party. Princess Margaret visited on her honeymoon and cruised on the yacht Maiti to Barbuda. By 1963 over 120 yachts flagged by many nations were visiting English Harbour every winter. All this action kept the Nicholson family busy, and not just organizing yacht charters. The needs of so many yachts arriving required additional facilities. Desmond Nicholson opened a marine store named Carib Marine. The store was not really done for profit, but as a convenience and encouragement for yachts to stay in English Harbour. Little did Desmond know at the time this small shop would become a Limited Company and provide a lifetime of
income for himself and his family. To encourage tourism the Nicholson family became involved in more new ventures. Rodney Nicholson started a
F
rom a request asked by a passing tourist to Commander V. E. B. Nicholson to go sailing back in 1949, a new industry was born in the Caribbean. Today 90,000 people cruise the islands on yachts. Visitors that have chartered discovered for themselves cruising the islands on a yacht is absolutely the ultimate way to enjoy several islands of the Caribbean. Charter agents inspecting yachts travel agency. The Society of Friends of English Harbour wanted to convert the Dockyard’s old Pitch ‘n Tar Store and Officers Quarters into a hotel. Desmond formed a company to do the work. Rodney’s wife, Julie, and investors provided the funds and know-how to make it happen. Another building, the Copper & Lumber Store was renovated and made into a full service hotel. Next, through the Nicholson’s Travel Agency, overseas travel brokers were invited to Antigua to look at their charter fleet. This was soon known as The Nicholson Charter Yacht Show.
Desmond Nicholson died on the 24th of January, 2006. Desmond had written many publications about Antigua. In his late 70’s he created the website Antigua Museums. There really is no better source of information about the history of of Antigua and Barbuda than this website. www.antiguamuseums.org
Nicholson’s charter yacht fleet has a variety of boats from 47 to 250 feet, power and sail, both modern and classic yachts as well as catamarans.
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Each year in early December the finest yachts in the world assemble in English and Falmouth Harbours. Several hundred charter agents and people in the yachting business from all points of the globe arrive to inspect these yachts with the intention of selling first class charter vacations.
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At the turn of the century, 384 charter yacht brokers inspected 120 of the finest yachts assembled in English and Falmouth Harbours.
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SUPER L U X U R Y M O T O R Y A C H T C H A R T E R S
Five star service and quailty is yours, plus more when you charter a luxury motor yacht. Your world is where you want point it.
What you need to know about Luxury Chartering in the islands
Chartering a large luxury yacht for a Caribbean cruise is easy, as there are several specialized charter agents that can handle all the arrangements for you. Large yachts by description are boats over 80ft. That said, this number may change as more bigger yachts are built. What was referred to by most as a “Mega Yacht” ten years ago was an 80 footer. Today that length is not considered “mega”. The term “Super Yacht” refers to yachts over 75ft and up. According to London’s Evening Standard, a new designation for big yachts has been created: “Giga Yacht.” This apparently refers to a size contest between the likes of Paul Allen, Microsoft cofounder and his 413’ yacht Octopus and Larry Ellison of Oracle and his 453’ Rising Sun. Russian oil magnet Roman Abramovich looks as though he is raising the bar with a new boat being built rumored to be 600 feet. Fully crewed motor yachts available
for charter in the Caribbean range from 80’ up to the 350’ Christina O, the yacht that once was owned by Aristotle Onassis, now refurbished. No matter what size you choose you should make sure you are dealing with an agent that understands your life-style. It is important the agent you choose to do business with has attended the Charter Yacht Agents shows in the Caribbean. The Antigua Charter Yacht Meeting and The St. Maarten Charter Yacht Exhibition both take place in early December. Most yachts operating in the Caribbean attend one of these shows. The yachts at the charter shows are inspected by the agents and evaluated on their merits. The shows are quite a “spit and polish” affair and are closed events for agents and the yachting trade only. Boats and brokers of all nationalities attend. At the shows the latest news and information about the Caribbean is discussed with representatives from several islands in the region and yacht industry leaders from the world over. As this business has grown through the years more large luxury motor yachts are chartering the Caribbean. A decade ago this wasn’t the case. Traditionally the Caribbean was dominated by sailboats.
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Several seasoned brokers have adapted to organizing large motor yachts better than others. A sailing enthusiast verses the vacationer on a luxury motor yacht have very different needs. Most charter agents are experienced with chartering large luxury motor yachts and large sailboats. Some have a greater knowledge than others with cruising destinations throughout the island chain. I would advise first timers to browse the internet as there are thousands of yacht charter websites. The Charter Yacht Brokers Association (CYBA.org) is an organization with topnotch charter brokers. This association of charter yacht brokers are independent businesses that network with each other and have a strict code of ethics and standards in which they operate. On their web site the members are listed. Most all have expertise with Caribbean charters plus several years of knowledge about the trusted charter yachts. Surfing the web will get you familiar with the size, style and cost of the yachts. Be prepared to view a few extravagant presentations using Flash Media, music, 360 degree panorama images and video presentations. It’s a lot of fun too.
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A luxury Motor Yacht is like a luxurious villa that moves around. Even better is the high level of superb service. It’s the ultimate way to discover all the exotic Caribbean islands.
Photo N.Trease
It’s also important to know that the service of a charter agent is free of charge to you. They make their money on commissions from the yacht owner. The way this business works is
important to understand. Most large luxury yachts chartering are managed by established yacht brokerages, that is, companies that sell new or used boats. There are also firms that specialize in yacht management only. The larger yacht brokerages usually have a charter division. The yacht management company manages the calendar of the yacht on behalf of its owner. The
yacht’s Central Agent can be a yacht broker or a charter management company or both. The central agent markets the yacht to hundreds of charter brokers world wide. They organize the yacht’s calendar and set the charter fees on behalf of the yacht owner. It’s important to know that all yachts chartering can be booked by any broker. Saying that, there are exceptions! Like all businesses there is the good, bad and the ugly. Robert Morgan, of the highly respected Morgan Yacht & Ship Group in Fort Lauderdale, comments about a few bad apples in the bunch. “These hypocrites, once they become the management company or listing agent for a yacht, act as if they are the owner of the vessel and place obstacles at every opportunity in the way of other brokerage com-panies selling or chartering these yachts. As an example, it is not uncommon for these companies to block out prime dates for the yachts they represent and refuse to accept charter contracts during these periods, in their selfish hope that they will be able to produce charter clients of their own and by doing so keep the commission fee. He further adds, This tactic is a blatant abuse of fiscal responsibility by the management company.” Source (The Yacht Report, issue 57, 2004) Charter brokers split their commission
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with the Central Agent. In cases where a central agent books a charter through their internal charter department that company gets the full commission. In house charter brokers usually work on commission only, without this incentive their service to clients could deteriorate. The commission percentage is usually 15% of the charter fee. The charter fee for a large luxury motor yacht (over 80 feet) is generally listed for a week’s charter, yet you can charter for any duration of time. You can charter a few days, two weeks or a few months. The rate includes the use of the yacht, its equipment on board and its crew. Fuel, food, drinks and berthing the yacht while on charter are added costs. These extras are charged to the charterer. Expect to pay 25-30% of the gross charter fee. This is an estimated average amount and is a rule of thumb practiced by the major players in the business, it’s called Advanced Provisioning Allowance (A.P.A.) Also a gratuity of 15%-20% of the charter fee is expected for the captain and crew. This is not a required cost but is considered the norm. The captain is usually the receiver of the tip which is distributed amongst the crew. So when you see the net charter fee advertised in listings against a particular yacht, add 45% to that fee to determine what the actual cost of the charter will be. It doesn’t matter if you organize your charter with one of the many Charter Brokers or with the company that is the Central agent for the yacht. The cost will be the same. What matters most is the broker’s service, experience and knowledge. The Caribbean is a very different place than the Mediterranean and the United States. A broker with several years experience with Caribbean chartering will insure your expectations are better fulfilled as they know the strengths and weaknesses of the several destinations throughout the islands. They also know the captains that are experienced in the area well. This is your best combination for a truly fantastic vacation. Once you are satisfied you found the right broker for you, the fun begins in choosing where you want to go. A good broker will provide you with destination information and work with you to set up your cruise schedule. They will first ask you to provide a broad outline of details such as how many days,
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number of people in your group, how many couples, children, size of motor yacht, preferred destination and things you would like to do on the charter. Your broker will get back with several choices via the internet or by FedEx to you. Once you have perused the glossy brochures, your next step is to call your broker with your choice.
Now it’s time to fine tune your charter. More detail is covered such as the type of food and drinks you want, specific places you want to go and what you would like to do there. Keep in mind just about anything is possible on a luxury yacht charter from lavish on board parties in St. Barth to helicopter tours. Some charter yachts even have small
submarines for people who want to dive without getting their hair wet. On board spas are popular these days with crew that has the expertise in Aromatherapy, Reflexology and other wonderful techniques for self indulgence Once you’ve picked your yacht you will then be required to sign the charter agreement and pay a deposit of 50% of the charter fee to book the yacht. The broker then contacts the yacht’s captain to detail the charter and costs associated with your requests. The balance of costs will be presented to you by the broker and you will pay prior to the charter date. The captain is responsible for the accounting of the A.P.A. Often the captain will want to speak to you directly in order to make sure your requests are understood. Some brokers try to avoid this connection with the captain, for whatever reason I do not know. After all, the captain is your host for the duration of your charter. Your charter broker’s job is to make sure all your expectations are fulfilled. Speaking to your captain prior to the charter makes sense, for without him, there is no yachting vacation!
Types, sizes and prices of charter yachts Prices are based for a week charter
Mega Motor Yachts 150ft.-300ft. $100,000 -$500,000+ APA expenses
Motor Yachts 115ft.-150 ft. $23,000 -$100,000+ APA expenses
Motor Yachts 50ft.-115ft. $4,500 -$23,000+ APA expenses
Charter yacht interiors range from opulent to cozy offering you a wide variety of choice.
Mono-hull Sailing Yachts 100ft.-150ft. $15,000 -$65,000+ APA expenses
Mono-hull Sailing Yachts 70ft.-100ft. $15,000 -$40,000 all inclusive APA expenses
Multi-hull Sailing Yachts 50ft.-70ft. $7,000 -$35,000 all inclusive APA expenses
Multi-hull Sailing Yachts 38ft.-50ft. $7,000 -$15,000 all inclusive APA expenses
Mono-hull Sailing Yachts 37ft.-50ft. $4,000 -$8,000 all inclusive APA expenses
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Get your toes wet
Photo Courtesy of Azimut
If you’ve never chartered a yacht before try out a 4 day 3 night discovery trip For those who have the urge to do it now, you can get a four day, three night charter in St. Maarten, BVI and Antigua. Charter brokers that are based in the Caribbean are the best ones to contact for short term charters. Ann E McHorney owner of Select Yachts in St. Maarten knows the movements of the charter yachts in the Leeward islands and can quickly find out what boats are available. This is a great way to get your feet wet if you’ve never chartered a yacht before. Select Yachts has set up a fun three island adventure and it’s geared for 4 to
5 persons. It’s a fast power boat charter that starts in Simpson Bay. You’ll be
Blasting across the Caribbean blue onboard LADY KELZIE in the BVI
be served at sunset before going to dine ashore at one of Select Yachts’ choice restaurants. Day 2 will be breakfast aboard, then an exciting fast ride over to Anguilla. You’ll arrive in Road Bay early afternoon or if you wish you can ask your captain to stop at Sandy Island for a swim and snorkeling stop for a couple of hours. You’ll spend the night in Road Bay and it’s dinner onboard under the stars. Sandy Island Road Bay Anguilla Grand Case
Tintamarre Island
St. Martin St. Maarten Simpson Bay
off to St. Barth which will take a little over an hour to get to. Your captain will anchor in the lovely Anse de Colombier for an afternoon of snorkeling and lunch served by your onboard crew. Before the sun sets you will be off around the corner to Gustavia Harbour. Cocktails will
Similar agendas can be done in the BVI and Antigua. In the BVI the 61ft Sunseeker Lady Kelzie charters for two. In St. Maarten the 63 footer charters for 4 to 5 with two double staterooms. Charter prices start at $7,300. For larger groups some bigger yachts are available for a minimum of 3 nights on board.
Isle Fourchue
If you and your group are up to it, the Pumphouse Bar ashore in Road Bay is one of Anguilla’s top party spots. If you want to rock the night away you needn’t worry, your crew will get you
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back to the boat safely and if everyone sleeps late that’s no problem. When you charter, you can change the agenda at will, of course within reason. Day 3 you are off to French St. Martin. Tintamarre Island is your lunch stop with exploration ashore. Before sunset you are off again to Grand Case to anchor for the night. Dinner onboard or onshore, it’s your choice! Grand Case is St. Martin’s Gourmet capital with a wide selection of great places to dine. Day 4: It’s breakfast on board and back to Simpson Bay. Sound like fun? Contact Ann E at Select Yachts.net Tel: + 599.523.7375
Anse de Colombier Gustavia
St. Barths
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T
he Virgin Islands Charter League is a non profit professional association representing charter yachts. For 35 years the VICL has been the driving force behind the Caribbean crewed charter Industry. Our board of directors and all our members are all actively involved in crewed charter yachting in the Virgin Islands. When you choose a VICL yacht to charter you can be assured a VICL member boat maintains the highest standards. With four decades of knowledge our quality of service and safety record is proof you’ll have a fabulous charter yachting vacation. Contact your charter broker about booking a VICL member yacht.
Attention! Charter yacht owners and captains. Find out all the advantages the VICL can offer you. Tel: 340.774.5630 www.vicl.org
S/V BLU MOON is a 51’ sloop designed with two ‘master’ suites. She can accomadate four guests in comfort. Captain Chris Bennett loves sailing and teaching guests the basics of helmsmanship. Chef/First Mate Julie Bennett puts her culinary talents to work in a variety of ways from the exotic to nouvelle cuisine, as well as good old-fashioned American dishes. Chris and Julie are fun to be with and will find special spots for guests can explore.
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M/Y RUNAWAY Run away in luxury and comfort aboard this 79 foot ‘AZIMUT with a top speed of 22 knots. Runaway’s three well-appointed luxury staterooms will cradle you in comfort. All staterooms have ensuite head with enclosed shower stall, flat screen television with dvd/ cd/mp3 player and individual climate controls. Runaway’s crew can take you on a variety of adventures on land and under the sea throughout all the Virgin islands.
S/Y ANTIQUITY Captain David DeCuir is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. He has sailed the Caribbean, searching out
“VICL yachts are too Cool !” S/V PALM COASTER
This 41 foot luxury catamaran has two
ancient ruins, magical rain forests, and studying Caribbean history. David also cooks fabulous original Cajun food. Chef Claudia Borowski also prepares healthy meals
comfortable guest staterooms. Captain Peter Stevens has chartered
according to the guest needs and desires. Antiquity is a
in the Caribbean over 16 years. With a “yes we can” attitude Peter
comfortable 41 foot Morgan ketch and David Decuir has
makes all the difference for a fabulous layed back charter vacation.
thrilled his guests with fascinating adventures for 26 years.
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Making landfall on charter yacht...
CHARTER YACHT BROKERS ASSOCIATION The Proven Professionals The most important step in planning your charter vacation is choosing a reputable and trustworthy broker to help you. Always look for the CYBA logo, which identifies those brokers who are active members of the professional Charter Yacht Brokers Association. CYBA members are required to: * Meet extensive requirements to qualify for membership * Subscribe to CYBA’s strict code of ethics * Inspect yachts and interview crews regularly Your best insurance is an involved, experienced and professional yacht charter broker.
www.cyba.net
There’s nothing else like it.
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