Thursday, May 21. 2009Sea Chateau offers 7 nights for 6 guests for $10,000, in the Virgin Islands, summer 2009
This special offer is available for charters occurring before November 15th, 2009 and DOES NOT include, cruising taxes, wine and SCUBA Diving at $25.00 per dive!
  Additional information on Sea Chateau on our web page!Saturday, May 9. 2009Tuesday, April 21. 2009American Airlines at St Thomas requiring 4 hours advance arrival??
I have a whole bunch of bits and pieces on my computer that I am going to put up and then I can delete them off my email. I believe this is my new filing system, I put them on the blog then they are always there. I was surprised to see this following announcement from AA at the St Thomas airport. If you read through it, you will see they want you to be at the airport 4 hours in advance among other things. Yes, you read that correctly! We all know the line ups at STT airport have really gotten bad. With all the Homeland Security rules, the ferry is taking much longer as well. Many citizens (non US) now have to have their pictures and fingerprints done going into the USVI, which can slow down the line. I have heard guests tell me that they have heard people ask customs or immigration if they can go to the front of the line as they have planes to catch, and the agent telling them "Then I suggest you get to the USVI 24 hours in advance, get back in line"
Sometimes the ferries circle for quite awhile waiting to get on dock, and it is taking a long time. What does the person do who has a 800 AM flight? I am not sure that I see too many ticket agents being at the airport at 4 AM. It does bear some checking out though, and I have recently been recommending that guests take earlier ferries to catch their flights back from STT. I received this email a few days ago from a girl last week, who NORMALLY I would have recommended that the 10 AM ferry would be fine, but cutting it close on her flight, but we sent her on the early ferry at 7 AM. "Hi, Kerry, Bazz and crew! Thanks for the great week with Swim Vacation. I just wanted you to know that the ferry connection from Roadtown to the STT airport took me 2 hours, so Kerry you were right to insist that I take the early ferry. Being an American, I got through the STT customs quickly, but all other nationalities were lined up for fingerprinting and photos, so it could've taken them 2 - 3 hours."  Moving on: Brandywine Bay has now been "officially" announced and opened up for cruise ships guests. It will be interesting to see how a "cruise ship beach" right off the main road goes.  This is the Press Release from the Government that goes with the picture above: BRANDYWINE BAY BEACH OPEN TO CRUISE PASSENGERS Thursday, April 16 – Government has made good on its promise to open the Brandywine Bay Beach for use by cruise passengers. The beach is now open for use and an official opening is being planned for the near future. Earlier this year Government announced its intention to develop the beach to offset over-crowding at Cane Garden Bay and to provide an alternative to north shore beaches during periods of heavy sea swells. Minister for Natural Resources and Labour Hon. Omar W. Hodge told the Department of Information and Public Relations that the opening ceremony will signify Government’s commitment to the sustainable management and preservation of the Territory’s natural resources. “The unique ecological features found at Brandywine Bay as well as the considerable upgrades made during the last few months will provide an added benefit for beach visitors. We are now finalizing the remaining components in order to have the opening ceremony shortly,” Hon. Hodge said. The beach is currently open with vendors on site to provide snacks, drinks, non-motorized water-sport rentals and other necessities to visitors. Bathroom facilities have been upgraded to a tertiary sewage treatment system and road signs have been installed to inform the motoring public as they approach the entrance and exit to the beach. The Brandywine Bay Beach Development Project commenced in 2004 with the aim of providing an alternate beach site for the over 500,000 cruise passengers who visit the Territory annually. Next on the list is Bitter End Yacht Club and their press release:  Earth Day April 22, is “BEACH PATROL DAY” At the beautiful Bitter End Yacht Club! On the heels of our recent and very successful St. Patrick’s Day “Go Green” North Sound Beach Clean Up, We are Celebrating Earth Day in Much the Same Way, With a Shoreline “Flotsam and Jetsam” Patrol. We’ve planned an Eco-Adventure for all Boat Visitors, and resort guests, big and small. On the evening of April 21st, and morning of the 22nd, litter bags will be distributed to boats on our moorings and on our docks. Then, from 2 pm to 4:30 pm, bags of “Beach Rubbish” delivered to our docks can be exchanged for drink coupons, redeemable at the Bitter End Sports Pub—one drink per bag. Our goal is 100 bags of Bona Fide Flotsam and Jetsam. (recent galley trash not redeemable—trash czars will be inspecting) The beaches, shoreline, and mangroves surrounding North Sound and Eustatia Sound are the boundaries (use your dinghy, or walk the shore). An Earth Day Pub Party is scheduled for 5:30 pm to celebrate the day’s efforts. Friday, April 10. 2009Charter Yacht Glory, and long term owner/captain David announces a marriage and going out of charter!
We received this information today from David, informing us all that Glory was going out of charter and he was getting mmmmmaaaarrrriiiieeeedddd! Congratulations to them both, but it is always a bit of a sad feeling when you see one of the long term good boats and captains leave the fleet!
I am posting a bit of the info to give you an idea of one directions Charter Boats and Captains retire for...  After 18 years, 500 charters, 10,000 charter meals....only 73 of which were eaten below, 50-70% annual repeats and an all time high of one guest returning 10 times, another 9 times, others 8 and 7, too, never mind the 4s and 3s......I am retiring from the business. I've had wonderful times mostly, but of course, a few "charters from hell." Only 5 guests would never be allowed aboard again, which is only one in a hundred. I laughed like hell two years ago with the fifth, saying, "great, with this horse's ass outta here, I've got 99 more good ones coming! Hot damn!!" I've had wonderfully appreciative guests, the highest gratuity of $1500...nearly 50% of the fee in those days about 8 years ago, and the poorest one, zero. They all got the same service, the same energy, the same enthusiasm. For the years before 911, I was always one of the three top-booked boats in the fleet. It was exhilerating....and produced three magazine articles. I've kept in contact with many, and know the tremendous impact I've had on their lives, as boat owners, cruisers, sailing instructors, bareboaters, and professional captains, too. It is wonderful to know how many I have touched in that way. Some have been flying me around the country so as to help them with their knotty boat problems on-site. I've made wonderful friends, had memorable moments, but the time has come. In November, I am getting married to an old old friend....my best friend of some 22 years, who sailed into Christiansted with her husband on their Southern Cross 31, about the time I ws getting divorced and living on my little race-boat in Christiansted Harbor before I bought Glory, before I starting chartering. Debbie's husband, Art, has since died, but our close friendship continued, and now has blossomed to "something more than friends." It's very exciting, as well as freightening! This season has again, been slow, and discussions with collegues shows that they on the whole, the benchmark-boats, are not doing well either. This, in a way is fine and perhaps makes this decision easier. I am back in St. Croix with Deb, and have blocked out my calendar for the future. Why St.Croix when I could do so many other "day" boat jobs in St. Thomas? Because St. Croix has been my home for 43 years, it is the land that I love and the land of my children's birth. The land of friends and roots. And Debbie's, too, for 22 years. While her house is 300' up on a lovely hill overlooking Christiansted Harbor's entry channel, offering million-dollar unobstructable sea views from there to east of Buck Island and miles of countryside, and we will be living there, I do not intend to sell the old girl. A friend of her's asked her, "Oh, God, if David is going to live with you, is he going to sell the boat?" She replied, "If he sells that boat, I won't marry him!" For the time being, I am going to continue and finish the "replace the external teak" project, as well as some other things to make Ole Fatso more of a longer range cruising boat than a charter vessel. We plan to see many of the islands neither of us did in our earlier cruising days. She'd sailed from CT to the Chesepeke, up and down the east coast and back and forth to both sides of FL, to the DR, PR, the ABCs and Venezuela, and simply by chance, stopped off in St.Croix while en-route to PR again, "for a few weeks" to visit one of Art's old friends from his aerospace days. That was the 22 years ago. St. Croix has a way about her. Why not have her join me chartering? A number of reasons, really, but.... one is that the boat simply can not command enough money for two. When the boat projects are done, there are ideas for her house that she's wanted to impliment for years. I have the skills to do that instead of hiring a contractor or $50-120/hr. tradespeople. After that, well, I'll look for something else or we'll just bag it and go sailing. I want to thank you and those who came before and are now retired, for your trusting me with your clients and the business you have sent me over the years, or in some cases, "almost" sent. And for stopping bye at the boat shows even if just to chat, as friends. Because of the broker efforts, with the number of charter guests I've had aboard, I have often said I can travel across the country for months at a time and never pay for a hotel room. And traveling the country is something else we want to do. So little time! Best of luck in the future David! Back to our Main Site!Wednesday, April 8. 2009Monohull Charter Yacht Silent Partner 2 unveils new website!  Ralph and Celeste took "best monohull" award at the November 2008 BVI Charter Yacht Society Boat show after going through a refit including new paint on the hull and deck, a new generator, new batteries, complete interior varnish, new ultra-leather “ivory” interior – just to name a few of the upgrades. Their rates for two people on a special honeymoon for 7 nights start at $6775.00 Sail Silent Partner new website Our web page on Silent Partner 2 Back to our Main Site!Wednesday, April 8. 2009Peter Island NEW SPA MENU
For those of you who love to schedule in SPA activities on your charter yacht vacation, Peter Island has put out new SPA services and menu.
Here is a link to the PDF of it!  Sunday, March 8. 2009Indigo Lady offers a 15% discount on Captain only charters this spring Received a note from Captain Ken that he is offering a further 15% discount on captain only charters this spring and early summer. Indigo Lady was already one of the least expensive catamarans for a quality boat around, going out for somewhere between $5000. and $5900. for 7 nights depending on the number of guests you have. I had a successful charter on Indigo in the last fall, and Ken and Bernice are eager to transition into doing full time crewed charters down here, and continue the life that they have come to love. Indigo is available at these special rates between April and July 2009, pending availability. Our page on Indigo Lady Back to our Main Site!Sunday, March 8. 2009Sailing Yacht Pacific Wave
Just had an email from Pacific Wave that they will be in the area for the next 6 weeks. I will be getting on board to take some pictures, and I look forward to reporting back with my thoughts on the yacht. Pacific Wave is 72 feel long and takes a maximum of 6 guests, with her top rate for 6 guests being $15,500.
You can see an online brochure for the yacht here Pacific Waves own Website: Sunday, March 8. 2009Friday, February 27. 2009Notes on the Tourist Board presentation to local businesses this past Wednesday even from the BVICCHA
For those who have an interest, this is the very short form of the Tourist Board presentation kindly passed around by the BVICCHA from the presentation that was held Wednesday evening at the college.
Good to see that the cruise ship dock is not being extended. And it would be wonderful to have published taxi rates!!! These are totally taken from the notes, except for leaving out a couple tidbits that I thought I would not broadcast!  For the benefit of those of you who could not attend the 2009 Tourism Industry Action Plan Meeting on February 25, 2009, and have asked what was presented, at the risk of not having captured everything, I will try to highlight some of the points below: Tourist Board. Announcement of new appointees to the Tourist Board: Ajit George of Nail Bay, Michael Rowe of Sail Caribbean Divers, and Alan Rhymer of Round Hill Villa. Budget. Premier promised a budget increase. The Tourist Board Act will also be revised. Goals 1) Promote heritage tourism and begin an "adoption of sites" campaign. 2) Assist TAP with marketing, revise the standards program, provide office space for the organization, etc. 3) Promote tourism in the schools. Cruise Ships. Lead the cruise ship industry, as opposed to taking a back seat to agents; convert cruise ship visitors to long-term overnight visitors Taxi Drivers. Ameliorate inconsistency in fares; publish fares; develop a pocket handbook for taxi drivers; establish a dispatcher system that is similar to San Juan's. Ports. Improve the quality of service at sea ports and airports; entertain visitors with steel pan music, and treat them to a rum punch Problem Solving. Establish a Visitor Intervention Service to assist visitors having difficulties Visitor Satisfaction Survey. Administer an electronic exit survey at ports of departure with a small hand-held touch screen device that will gather information in real time including demographic information, contact information, monies spent, what they did, etc. etc. Fiscal Responsibility. Exercise greater fiscal responsibility Data Gathering. Gathering visitor information from immigration cards to make timely decisions Contact. You can communicate with the Board at bvipatriots@bvitourism.com IFC. Conduct joint marketing with the International Financial Center Cruise Ship Pier. Will be repaired, not extended. Ferry Terminals. Will be significantly upgraded Gun Creek. Establish a visitor center at Gun Creek Niche Marketing. Promote weddings and honeymoons, as well as faith-based tourism New York. the first Open House in New York is forthcoming Canada. In the Canadian market, boat shows and other shows are utilized to market the Territory Business Development 1) Workshop Training (beginning with Customs,Immigration, and Ports); cross-training; internships at different Marriott locations in the U.S.; "know your product" training; on-site training; series of standards workshops for the various sectors. 2) Measurements. Mystery shopper; exit survey; comment boxes; monthly inspections. Product Development 1) Appointed a taxi liaison 2) Appointed a Roaming Office for Road Town on heavy cruise ship days 3) Working with the Ministry of Natural Resources to divert some of the cruise ship traffic from Cane Garden Bay to Brandywine Bay 4) Going Green. Establish a Carbon Footprint Reduction Program; Green Globe International Certification; Blue Flag Marinas and Boats; Clean up and beautification program; and recycling program. 5) Establish a comprehensive tourism education program to include school presentations; Day as a Tourist program; Tourism work experience; and competitions. Online Marketing 1) Utilize various online social networks 2) Upgrade the content of the website 3) Make branding consistent across geographic regions 4) Develop an interactive destination map to help visitors get here Please keep in mind that the aforementioned items are just highlights that I recorded in my notes, and are not intended to represent the entire presentation. I trust that you will find it useful. You will no doubt agree that the Tourist Board has a very impressive agenda. In addition, the same BVICCHA sent around this info the other day on an increase of flights into Beef Island in May... GOOD NEWS!! As many of you know, both meetings with BVICCHA members at Rosewood Little Dix Bay and Treasure Isle, respectively, just over a week ago echoed a common and urgent refrain: WE NEED MORE AIRLIFT! Well, this is the moment you've been waiting for..... The Honorable Premier has announced that, with effect from May 1, 2009, we will have: SIX DAILY AMERICAN EAGLE FLIGHTS SEVEN DAYS A WEEK INCLUDING AN EARLY FLIGHT FROM BEEF ISLAND AT 7:20 A.M., AND A LATE NIGHT FLIGHT FROM SAN JUAN TO BEEF ISLAND AT 9:25 P.M. The full details of the Honorable Premier's announcement are attached. I know that you join me in applauding the persistent and diplomatic efforts of the Honorable Premier along with his Airlift Task Force on this important achievement. Saturday, January 31. 2009Thursday, January 29. 2009Catamaran Charter Yacht Felicia is now offering a 9 and 10 pack guest rate for families only. The forward port bunkbed cabin is ideal for children, has a separate entrance, contains ample storage space, has A/C and has a wash basin, shower and electric toilet. Chris and Julie have just refit this cabin with new varnish, mattresses, linens, and head/shower fixtures. 9 guests $29,500 (families only) 10 guests $30,500 (families only)  Additional changes to their rates include the following: 10% off for last minute bookings within 3 weeks of the charter start date 5% off for non-diving groups Online brochure Back to our Main Site!Thursday, January 29. 2009Charter Catamaran Zingara offers last minute special for Feb 8th to 15th, 2009 I have mentioned several times how many of the charter yachts are offering specials in this economic crisis we find ourselves in. Zingara is a 76' catamaran, which normally charters for 7 nights at a price of $45,800. For the week of Feb 8th to 15th, 2009 you can charter Zingara for up to 10 guests at a very low rate of $30,000. These are spectacular prices that you will not see happen for long!  Online brochure Back to our Main Site!Thursday, January 29. 2009Winter Sailing Vacations from as low as $1648. pp from Festiva SAVE ON AN ALL-INCLUSIVE, CREWED STATEROOM PACKAGE FOR TWO! With travelers seeking the best value for their vacationing dollar, never has there been a better time to consider a cabin cruise for two! Festiva Sailing Vacations offers an incredible island experience on a crewed Lagoon 440 by the stateroom. Each of our beautiful catamarans features a charter version layout offering three guest cabins and one crew cabin. You can reserve a stateroom package for two for 7 nights while our captain and chef take care of your every need. To ensure the best possible experience, each of our guests fill out a pre-boarding preference sheet which we use to match up couples of similar interests, age and expectations. Reserve a sailing date inside 45 days from departure for only $1,648/person! Stateroom Packages for Two Include: 7 days and 7 nights , Air-Conditioned Cabin with private bathroom on a Lagoon 440, All meals (with the exception of two dinners ashore) prepared by onboard chef, All beverages including open bar, Water Toys: Sea Kayak, Snorkeling Gear, Fishing Gear and more! , Cruising Permits , National Park Fees, Taxes The following is a list of available dates in the British Virgin Islands for the winter and spring months. LAST MINUTE SPECIAL! February 1- 8 LAST MINUTE SPECIAL! February 8 – 15 LAST MINUTE SPECIAL! March 1 – 8 April 4 – 11 May 10 – 17 June 6- 13  Back to our Main Site!Thursday, January 29. 2009Time for another monthly newsletter from Liberte Yacht Charters
Always informative, Gordon has sent around this months newsletter, so these are all his words and pictures, not mine.
 Liberte' has obtained seasonal dockage in West End Tortola and will be based in Sopers Hole for the full duration of the season. This little Port is the perfect place for a charter yacht to be situated. Our dock is directly opposite the main West End Ferry dock. We are docked in Frenchmans Cay Marina on The T-head, very accessible and easy to spot. West End is one of the main stops for ferries traveling over from St Thomas and St John, making it very easy for the Liberte' crew to pick up any guests coming from the USVI with very little hassle or bother. Although we may be far away from Beef Island Airport, West End is a great place to travel to and from the airport in a taxi. This little trip gives our clients a full tour of Tortola's North or South coast by land giving them a very good idea of the layout and the beauty of all the islands they will be visiting in the next week aboard Liberte'. The views and picture opportunities are endless along the drive from the Airport. Sopers Hole has a number of gift shops, two restaraunts and bars , a Coffee shop, Dive Shop and two Super Markets. Giving any guest arriving on Liberte plenty of places to explore and sit down for a refreshing Pina Colada while still having easy access to their yacht berthed on the dock. This has to be the best pick up and drop off location for anyone coming for a week of charter in the BVI's on board Liberte'.  Some Interesting History About our New Home. Christopher Columbus named and discovered the British Virgin Islands in 1493 on his second voyage to the Americas. The Spanish claimed the Islands by original discovery, but did nothing to enforce their claims, and never settled in the territory. They say this was because they could not find Gold on the Islands.There is however evidence to suggest that there may have been a Spanish emplacement to protect their Copper Mine interests on Virgin Gorda. It was a Dutch Privateer named Joost Van Dyke who organised the first permanant settlements in the territory in Sopers Hole West End. It is not known exactly when Joost arrived in the British Virgin Islands but by 1615 there was Spanish records of his settlement in the Territory. By 1625 Joost Van Dyk was recognized by the Dutch West India Company and named 'Patron' of Tortola. Much of the settlement in West End moved to Road Town. Joost Van Dyk made enemies with the Spanish after supplying some military support to the Dutch Admiral who managed to sack San Juan , Puerto Rico. The Spanish wanted revenge and were soon on their way back to these Islands to look for Joost and his army. In 1625 the Spanish lay waste to Road town Tortola destroying everything in their path. Joost Van Dyke managed to escape from Tortola and hid on the Island which would later bear his name, "Jost Van Dyke". Not withstanding the Spanish Hostility the Dutch West India Company took over Road Town once again and built warehouses to store cargo. In the 1640's the Spaniards decided to attack the Dutch. They sailed a warship into Sopers Hole West End and ferried men ashore, another Spanish ship blocked the escape path of the Dutch by sailing into Road Town, the Spanish attacked the Dutch overland on foot. The Dutch in Sopers Hole were massacred and the Spanish continued on to Road Town killing everyone and destroying the settlement. Some settlements on the far coast of Tortola survived and lived on. Shortly afterwards the Dutch West India Company failed in the territory as they deemed it to be non-profitable. In 1665 an English Privateer attacked the Island and took 67 slaves with him. The Island fell under British Rule. By 1666 nearly all the Dutch were forced off the Island after a huge influx of British 'brigands and pirates'. Buccaneers (a.k.a. pirates) were attracted to the Islands as their hidden coves and complex reef systems made them the ideal spot for ravaging passing ships transporting riches from the New World back to Europe. They would use the remote bays like Sopers Hole to 'careen' their ships. It was important to keep their hulls clean, so that they would be able to sail fast in order to catch their prey. They weighted the end of the mast, pulling it down to expose the hull on the other side, which they would then scrub of barnacles and clinging weeds. And of course they would carouse there.... One of the most infamous buccaneers in Virgin Islands History was Edward Teach (or Thatch... nobody knows his last name for certain), who became better known as Blackbeard. By all reports, his very long and unruly beard covered the most of his face. Somewhere around 1715 to 1718, Blackbeard and his mob made Soper's Hole (west end of Tortola) their base of operations.Soper's Hole provided both an excellent haven for this band of thieves and an advantageous spot from which to keep watch along the Sir Francis Drake Channel for any ships ripe for plunder. Blackbeard's favorite targets were Spanish Galleons; although he did not seem to be too terribly picky about whom he murdered, robbed or raped. Blackbeard and his buccaneers would lay in wait for unsuspecting trade ships to approach and then pounce as swiftly as a scorpion's sting! They would systematically kill the crew without a second thought, steal the cargo and claim the ship as part of Blackbeard's growing fleet of pirate ships. There are many stories regarding the days of these rogues, some of which would curl your hair. The Island Opposite West End Tortola is named Little Thatch, after Edward Teach the Famous Pirate.     recipe for mango fritters: This is a recipe from Anguilla, these are absolutely delicious easy to do and go down well as an appetizer or a dessert. Ingredients: 1 1/4 Cup Sugar 1 1/4 Cups all-purpose baking powder 1 1/4 teaspoons Baking Powder 1/2 teaspoon Salt 1/2 teaspoon Cinnamon 1/2 teaspoon Nutmeg Dash allspice 1 Egg 1 teaspoon Vanilla 1/4 Cup Water 2 Cups Finely chopped Mango 1/2 teaspoon freshly grated Ginger Vegetable oil for frying Granulated sugar for topping Method: The amount of water has been reduced by 1/2 in this recipe to account for the plentiful juice from the Mango. If additional water in necessary, add by the tablespoon. Sift the dry ingredients together. Whisk together the egg, vanilla and water and add to the dry ingredients. Fold in Mango and ginger until well moistened. Drop by large spoonfuls into the hot fat, frying until golden. Drain on paper towels. Dust With Sugar and serve at once.  Liberte` is running very Special short-term Charters off of her dock in WE Tortola, noon to noon. "Zip across on the Ferry to WE from STT and come aboard Liberte` for a great weekday or weekend break".......... Prices are pro-rated on our discounted packages in either 2,3,4,5,6,7,or 8 pack loads. This comes with our normal free drinks and food scheme and could of course be expanded to three days. Liberte is also offering some special discounted weeks with additional savings up to 15% Back to our Main Site!Go to Liberte's page on our site |
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