A different type of cruising...private sailing charter

[MamaTene]

Our best friends along with ourselves are celebrating our 25th wedding anniversaries in April/May of 07. Both couples are avid experienced cruisers with at least 12-15 cruises each. We wanted to try something a little different for this special occasion and have chartered a private sailing yacht namely The Sandcastle which is a 72 ft Ketch. Our embarkation point is St Maartin and a few of the islands we will be visiting are St Bart and Anguilla. We chartered the yacht to include a captain and mate/chef. We are presently in process of corresponding with them to advise food and alcohol preferences as well chart our route. My question is has anyone done something similar? Care to share your experience?

[spongerob]

Not personally, but I have a co-worker who does this regularly. The first couple of times he did as you will do, charter a provisioned boat with crew. Since then, he's done a couple bare-boat charters.

 

He married money, he can get away with that sort of thing! :) I think it would be a fabulous way to spend a vacation.

[Coral]

I meet some people in Virgin Gorda who did this and they loved it.

 

I would love to be able to do this one day. Please let us know how it works out when you return.

[GloriaF]

We always dreamed of doing this - we would read the ads in the back of the sailing magazines.

 

We owned a 22ft O'day sailboat and took it on some trips closer to home.

 

It sounds like a perfect way to celebrate your 25th anniversary!!

 

Please report back to us when you return. :)

[camNaud]

Sounds like a great trip you have planned.

 

I was part of a group who chartered 2 Yacht's back in July 1999. We sailed up the West coast of Scotland and out past the Hebrides to the remote St Kilda Island Group in the North Atlantic. This trip was one of the best experiences I have had in my life.

 

here are a share of our experiences.

 

www.ben-nevis.co.uk/kilda.htm

[MamaTene]

Flying out tomorrow to St Maarten. Spending the night at the Holland House Beach Hotel then boarding Sandcastle on Tuesday.

Will try to post here to update those of you interested.

[Coral]

Have a great time!

[Whimsy]

Sounds great! I will be looking forward to reading about your trip.

 

Happy Anniversary!!

[janetz]

That is what our son does out of St.Thomas! :)

[CateW]

My husband did this back before we were married with a bunch of friends. They loved it; you get to to go islands that the bigger ships can't get into. Don't miss Yost Van Dyke (or Foxy's) - I was there when we sailded the Radisson Diamond. Back in the day, they had a blackboard in there and you just wrote your name on the board and the number of beers you took and then you settled up with Foxy at night. You'll have a great time - enjoy.

[MamaTene]

Have had such a marvelous time that it is truly beyond description. Waters as VIVID blue and turquoise all the way to the ocean floor. Snorkeling as you have never known. Didnt have to do swim with the dolphins as we were up close and personal with everything from little bitty fish to Nurse Sharks! Turtles SOOOO big that they had to weight 50lbs! Barracuda's that looked right at you, checked you out and went on their mery little way. Stingrays that swam together with their babies in tow!

Lots to see in St Maarten when not having to rush back to a ship. Casino's are jumping and the hot jewelry now is blue diamonds.

Rooms here at Holland House are very nice. Great view! 1 or 2 ships due in today. None here yesterday which made shopping and checking out things very nice indeed!

Today we plan on heading to Marigot and Simpson Bay perhaps to simply be out of here while the throngs of ship folks invade Phillipsburg.

More later..