The Charter Connection Blog

With spring tides of over 20 feet (40′ tides and 9 kt currents are possible in the popular Channel Islands), steep seas, changeable weather and busy shipping lanes, chartering off the south west coast of England is not for the average Caribbean bareboat charterer. For the experienced sailor with plenty of offshore sailing time, this can however be a truly rewarding cruising ground.

The best time to charter is June through August. The coast is somewhat similar to Maine, with pretty fishing villages and beautiful English countryside, although the temperatures are far less extreme. Summer temperatures are around 65 to 75 degrees, but because of the Gulf Stream, winter temperatures rarely drop below freezing, so visitors are often surprised to see palm trees growing on the waterfront. All this in a country considerably further north than any part of the US! Plan to bring plenty of sunscreen, because even on overcast days, sunburn can be a problem due to the clear air.

Bareboat charter companies tend to be small and informal. Be prepared to be asked for documentation of your experience - ask us for guidelines if you are unsure if you would qualify. Yachts tend to be in the 30 to 47 foot range. Unless you plan to explore one area, allow plenty of time so you can wait for a suitable wind direction etc. The Isles of Scilly, off the extreme western tip of Cornwall are a popular destination (we took these pictures in the islands, in early June).
Private yacht charters with a crew are possible, as in the Caribbean or Mediterranean, but most crewed charters in this area tend to be headboats or more casual style yachts where everyone lends a hand. Except for localized charters, almost all are sailboats as the seas tend to be uncomfortable for any motor yachts under 100′.

If we have piqued your interest, contact us at Ed Hamilton & Co for more information. This is not for everyone, but if you love to sail and don’t need the warm Caribbean water, it might just be what you are looking for.

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This entry was posted on Monday, June 16th, 2008 at 11:27 am and is filed under Yacht Charter, Private Yacht Charters, Bareboat Charter Companies. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.