The Charter Connection Blog

It was great to see Charlie and Ginny Cary named one the ‘Top 40 Sailors Who Made A Difference’ in SAIL magazine’s 40th anniversary issue. I knew them well.

Charlie and Ginny first came to the Virgin Islands in the late 60’s to retire. To keep busy, they bought four Pearson 35’s with Tony Reynold and some other friends from the oil industry back home in New Orleans, with the idea of starting a bareboat charter company.

They called their company The Moorings.

I first met them in 1972, when I had just sailed in to Road Town, Tortola from England. I was a young man of 25 and was desperately looking for a job. Charlie had just taken delivery of 15 Morgan Out Island 41s. I eventually convinced him to hire me and I worked for him for just over a year, before running another bareboat charter company and eventually starting my own in 1975. Ed Hamilton & Co came in 1982.

Charlie and Ginny were a wonderful team. Ginny was the one that always seemed to get everything done, but Charlie was the soft spoken boss! Looking at The Moorings empire today, with 32 bases worldwide, in every conceivable cruising ground from New Zealand to The Pacific North West, it is easy to forget how this company began.

In the early 70s they rented an office and dock space in front of the ‘new’ Waterfront Condominiums in Road Town, next to the Francis Drake Pub. This was a smart move, as it looked like they owned the whole complex, as the above picture shows. Charlie always did have big ideas! Having such a small staff, he and Ginny were very much involved in the day to day activities.

In the bareboat business, you learn to expect the unexpected, but I remember them being so disappointed when two of their brand new boats collided – they were the only two boats sailing that afternoon in the whole of the Drakes Channel and they managed to hit each other! If I remember correctly, one was being delivered from the US, with the delivery crew still on board. We could all fill books with stories like these!

On a personal note, I owe an enormous amount to Charlie and Ginny, as do many of their early staff.

Charlie never seemed to mind that his managers moved on to other bareboat charter companies. In the mid ’70s, when the industry was less competitive than today, the heads of all the BVI companies used to meet for lunch at the Treasure Isle Hotel, to share stories and supposedly discuss policy, etc. I remember Charlie looking round the table and realizing that he had employed and trained every single manager except one! It was to his credit that he accepted this as an enormous compliment!

Charlie and Ginny always owned a boat in their fleet, which they named ‘Flying Ginny’. It was always the best kept and had the top crew. Their last boat, ‘Flying Ginny VII’ is indeed still chartering (privately). She’s a very popular Lagoon 55, run by an English couple, Tom and Gemma.

Charlie also enjoyed fast powerboats and it was no accident that The Moorings chase boat (‘Windchaser’) was a nice new Bertram 28. On my weekly trips to St. Thomas to pick up supplies, I was always instructed to cruise at the rated rpm, but when Charlie was aboard he loved to ‘red line’ it. The two of us had some thrilling rides together!

The Moorings was eventually sold to a European travel group – a fact that was not widely broadcast in the US. For most people chartering in the Caribbean, The Moorings was as American as apple pie.

Later a group of American investors bought the company back and Charlie, once again, became a figurehead. While not as involved in the day-to-day business, it was great to see him at boat shows and Moorings events. Ginny’s health failed and he retired (once more) in The Bahamas and Florida. He died June 14th, 2007 at Vero Beach, Florida.

Ed

The Cooper Island Beach Club has been a popular BVI destination for both bareboats and crewed charter guests from the early 1970s when it began. Back then, one small building housed a restaurant where Jan Short cooked great meals and her husband Tim entertained with stories of his travels. Chartering had barely started and they were lucky if more than two boats anchored there overnight in high season. Tim would row out to each boat, to invite them ashore. I’m not sure if it was the pirate image with his beard and pipe, or the Cornish accent, but they invariably joined him.

In conjunction with Long Bay Hotel, the club expanded enormously. The new bar, now out on the beach and the enlarged restaurant, became incredibly popular. A dive shop opened up, so charterers wanting to dive the Rhone and other nearby spots could do so, while the rest of their party relaxed or partied on the beach. Even in the early days ferries came from Tortola, particularly on the weekend, so many families made a day of it (it originally was a club that members could join).

The name has never changed, but the club now has new owners, who have added and upgraded cottages, building on the resort concept. Their new restaurant opened last month and the reports we have received have been good. We would love to hear from any charterers who have had a meal, or spent time there recently. How did you enjoy the atmosphere, the facility and the food? Send us an email or use our new Facebook page which is an excellent place to pass on comments and share views. Visit the Ed Hamilton & Co site for information on other popular stops in the British Virgin Islands.

The top picture is of the new bar / restaurant, but we couldn’t resist adding Ed’s pictures of Cooper Island in 1974. Tim and Jan are the couple in the center and Miles Cortner is on the left. Miles worked for the then largest bareboat company, CSY. In the mid 70s he sailed off on his beautiful yacht ‘Sea Swan’ (which he built with his wife, Betty Lou) and cruised for the rest of his life. The bottom picture shows the empty bay and the Wharram cat that Tim and Jan sailed from England. We really have been there since chartering in the BVI began!

For the full list you should go to our Crewed Yacht Specials pages, but here are a few examples. All prices and specials are for 7 nights, 8 days:

‘Spirit’, 46′ Hunter. A good example of how a crew can make the difference! One of the stand outs among the bargain priced boats. $5,500 for two, including all meals and reasonable bar. Current Special: $500 ‘Give Us A Reason’ discount.

‘Hypnautic’, 44′ Lagoon 440 cat. Popular boat with the new flybridge design and a nice master cabin. $9,900 for 2, $12,500 for 6, including all meals and reasonable bar. Current Special: Honeymoon Special - $9500 for 2, includes any romantic getaways!

‘Crystal Clear’ 54′ CT. Full of old world charm. Romantic ‘great cabin’ aft, with transom windows. Charly is a showman - prepare to be pampered. $8,250 for 2, $9,950 for 4, including meals and reasonable bar. Current Specials: Valentine’s Special - all inclusive for 2 people, open bar including champagne, chocolates, flowers & gifts $5950 for 7 nights. Good for all of February 2010! Book for 2010 before March 15, 2010 and save 10% on the listed rate!

‘Tonina’, 51′ Lagoon. One of the best of the 500s, particularly well run and nicely decorated. $15,990 for 6, including meals and reasonable bar. Current Specials: $1000 discount from regular price for charters 7 nights or more, for early 2010 (excluding holidays).

All the above are based in the Virgin Islands. For a charter in the Grenadines, try:

‘Sudiki’, 62′ Gulfstar. Roomy, comfortable monohull with a large master aft. Duff and Christine have lived in the Grenadines for many years and can provide a truly ‘local’ experience. $6,500 for 2, $8,500 for 4 including all meals, ex bar. Current Special: Honeymoon Special! $4950 for two, inclusive except 3 dinners ashore and bar.

‘Akasha’, 76′ Matrix cat. Top of the line in her class. $48,000 for 10, including meals and reasonable bar. British Virgin Islands to Grenada. Current Special: Two 40-minute complimentary massages per charter and 5 complimentary dives per week. This boat doesn’t need to offer specials to keep a full calendar. If you can afford her, book her - you won’t be disappointed.

You can find more specials on the Ed Hamilton & Co website. These are great examples but relatively few boats are offering specials and your best choice might not be on this list. They might already be priced right or perhaps offer more (remember, a good crew is more important than the yacht). With or without specials, the boats that have full calendars generally have them for a reason.

We have been personally selecting the best boats for our clients for 28 years and not only do we know these boats and crews particularly well, we have the experience to successfully match crews and guests, and to determine what really does represent good value. Email us or ask us to suggest some suitable yachts. All our advice and services are free, yet helping you choose the right boat and crew could make all the difference to your vacation.

Congratulations Liara on being selected as a finalist in the “Best Sailing Yacht in 30m to 44m size range” and also for a special “Technology Award” in the prestigious Boat International Media 2010 World Superyacht Awards.

I particularly enjoyed seeing all the revolutionary design features of this unique yacht in Antigua. From the way the bulkheads/wall panels are fitted to the hull, to the construction of the cabinets, everything has a solid feel, yet is incredibly light weight. What a thrill she must be to sail, yet she is no stripped out racing boat. The cockpit is spacious and there’s acres of flat deck space. Below she is sensibly laid out with the comfort and feel of the high end charter yacht that she is.

Captain Ross Appleby is justifiably proud of his new yacht. He ran the previous Liara and was involved in the building of Liara 2. With the talented Rosie Danby as chef, this is a first rate crew and a winning combination. Her high price tag is fully justified and we can think of several clients who would love this boat and crew.

She is available in The Leeward Islands, Grenadines, or British Virgin Islands this winter, but will be heading to the Western Mediterranean in the spring. For more information, call us at 800 621 7855 or email us. For similar yachts visit the Ed Hamilton & Co site or tell us about your plans and we will send you some suggestions of other private yacht charters.

Scuba Diving Magazine recently announced the results of its annual reader poll, called the ‘Top 100 Readers’ Choice Survey’. In the Caribbean, the British Virgin Islands took first place in the ‘Top Beginner Diving’ category, second place in ‘Top Underwater Photography’ and third in ‘Top Wreck Diving’.

The British Virgins have always been a popular place to dive and there are many well organized dive companies on several of the main islands. Most offer rendezvous dives for crewed charter yachts, when a dive boat meets a yacht and takes those guests that want to dive off to the dive site, returning them later. The dive company supplies all the gear and the group can be as large or as private as you wish. The advantage is that those not interested in diving don’t have to sit over a dive site or listen to a dive compressor filling tanks.

Many bareboat charter companies have dive shops on site or nearby and of course qualified scuba divers can dive from their bareboat.

Serious divers can also select a private crewed yacht that offers diving, so guests can dive at any time and in any location they choose. There are some wonderful yachts and crews to choose from. We would be happy to make some suggestions. Check the scuba box when telling us about your plans, or email us. There is also more information on the Ed Hamilton & Co site.

Promenade, the popular 65 foot trimaran based in Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands, has lowered her summer rates. Between May 15th and September 1st, up to 10 guests can charter her for $17,990 for 7 nights, including all meals and ship’s bar. With approval, she can even carry 12 guests.

Sleek and fast, this older style trimaran was built in 1980, but is in great shape. Three cabins have double berths, the other two have twin beds that can be converted to a king. The pontoons are narrow (quite difficult access) but the accommodations are spacious and comfortable without being fancy. The pontoon cabins have private heads while the three cabins aft share two heads. The shaded cockpit is huge, running the width of the boat and there is unlimited sunning space on the enormous uncluttered flat decks. She carries a particularly wide range of scuba diving, ski and water toys.

If you have a large group, she might be the perfect choice for your summer Caribbean yacht charter. Call us at 800 621 7855 or email us.

Looking for something else? Browse through the Ed Hamilton & Co site or tell us your plans, so we can start selecting a suitable yacht for you.

Several private crewed yachts are offering Caribbean specials this winter season. For example, Stenella, the popular 63′ Richleigh monohull, is offering $1000 off for a 4 Pax, 7 night charter taken in the month of February ($1500 for a 6 pax). This interesting monohull was designed specifically for charter and has three almost equal cabins. She is based in the British Virgin Islands.

Texas Star is again offering an excellent discount for charters taken before March 31st, 2010. Her regular rate of $38,500 is reduced to $29,500 plus expenses for this period, which is an amazing price for a 105′ Azimut. Marco and Robin head this great crew. Wonderful service, fabulous value.

Check out some other discounts on our ’specials page’.

Now’s the time to plan your winter get away. Call us at 800 621 7855, email us, check out the Ed Hamilton & Co site or tell us about your plans and we will send you a selection of crewed yacht charter suggestions.

This picture of the Antigua Show at night, taken by Lucy Tulloch (thank you Jim Long, Caribbean Boating) gives a different view of this incredible show. With enough generating power to light a small town, the yachts illuminated the night Antigua sky and were visible for miles around. Of the almost 100 yachts in the show, more than half were over 100 feet and almost 30% over 150. The largest was 270 feet. This show has always attracted magnificent superyachts, but this year was a record. No hint of recession here.

Our brokers had 5 days to inspect these beautiful yachts and it was hard work. As usual, we all took copious notes on each boat, captain and chef, to try to decide which yachts would be most suitable to present to our clients. These shows are so important to us and we take them seriously, though sampling some of the fabulous meals the chefs offer is a nice bonus.

This was one of the best Antigua shows we have attended, which is very encouraging. The winter Caribbean yacht charter season is shaping up nicely and there is every indication that 2010 will be a big improvement over 2009!

We would like to wish everyone a merry Christmas and all the best for the New Year. Perhaps, while the family is all together, this is also a good time to plan that winter getaway to the British Virgin Islands or the Grenadines, or a summer charter in the Mediterranean - fascinating Turkey, Croatia, the coast of Italy, or maybe the Greek Islands. Email us, call us at 800 621 7855, check out the Ed Hamilton & Co web site or tell us about the holiday you have in mind so we can suggest some yachts. We will be standing by!