The Charter Connection Blog

New customs clearance procedures will be implemented from this Friday, in The British Virgin Island Government’s ongoing quest to strengthen its effort to mitigate the impact of the dreaded Swine Flu (H1N1) virus on the Territory.

The advisory states that all customs clearance procedures for charter yachts will only be processed through three designated ports of entry. They are the Road Town and West End Ferry Terminals in Tortola and the Spanish Town Ferry Dock in Virgin Gorda.

Yachts wishing to dock on Jost Van Dyke, Anegada, or any other sister island are advised that they must clear customs at one of the designated locations. Comptroller of Her Majesty’s Customs Mr. Wade Smith said those precautionary measures will be in place until further notice.

Bareboat or crewed yacht charter visitors coming from St. Thomas or The US Virgin Islands to check in correctly to avoid be charged with illegal entry into the Territory.

For more information, call us at 800 621 7855, or email us. For charter information, contact us through the Ed Hamilton & Co site and tell us about your plans.

We introduced Dream Yacht Charters nearly a year ago as a new addition to the bareboat charter companies in The Caribbean. At the time, Dream Yacht, a company that started in the Seychelles and quickly grew to several Mediterranean locations, only operated bases in Martinique and Guadeloupe.

In November, Dream Yacht opened operations in the British Virgin Islands. They have taken over the Sunsail base at Hodges Creek Marina, (also sometimes called Maya Cove). Sunsail left this marina when they moved their operations to Wickham’s Cay II, next to The Moorings, in Road Town. Dream Yacht has now also opened a base on the Dutch side of St. Martin.

Many cat sailors noticed that Dream Yacht provides an interesting new option in performance catamarans, as they primarily use Catanas in their multihull fleet. What many sailors on this side of the pond aren’t aware of, is the performance that can be expected from their monohull line of Harmony yachts.

Harmony are built by Groupe Poncin, the same builder responsible for Catana catamarans. A Harmony 52 and Harmony 47, both chartered from Dream Yacht Charters, won their respective classes at the St. Martin Heineken Regatta, beating 19 other competitors to win all three races in the series. The performance Catanas are so well known for, carries over!

For more information on Dream Yacht Charters, or any other bareboat companies, call us at 800 621 7855, email us, or contact us through the Ed Hamilton & Co site, and tell us about your plans. We would be happy to tell you how each company compares and make some suggestions for your group.

Texas Star, a popular powerboat based in Tortola, in The British Virgin Islands, has announced a low price for charters taken by August 1st. At $29,000 per week, plus expenses, she offers incredible value for this size of boat and standard of service. Unlike many boats of this type, she has 5 cabins so can accommodate up to 10 guests, making her ideal (and economical) for a larger group. This yacht normally charters for $53,500 inclusive for 10 guests.

She is decorated in an African Colonial style with walnut veneer and black trim. Her main deck master cabin is airy and has a queen size bed and en-suite head. Her VIP cabin immediately below it is very similar and just as nice. There are two additional double cabins and one twin cabin. Her spacious salon has large settees and a dining area. Her flybridge has a nice bar and seating area and there is also a bar on the aft deck.

She also has an exceptional crew. Marco and Robin have done some excellent charters for us and are ideally suited to this yacht. Very professional, yet with a relaxed air that guests enjoy, they will appeal to a wide range of families, couples or business charters.

If you would like to take advantage of this great opportunity or would like information on other luxury motor yacht charters, call us at 800 621 7855, email us, or contact us through the Ed Hamilton & Co site, and tell us about your plans.

Virgin Traders, the popular crewed and bareboat charter company, is offering free flights from San Juan or Antigua when 6 or 8 guests charter one of their boats in Tortola. As we mentioned in a previous post, they have an arrangement with the charter airline, Del Airways. The charter has to be booked this month (January), for a charter in April and represents a saving of roughly $333 a person. Virgin Traders offers a full range of motoryachts from bareboat power boats to midrange luxury motor yacht charters.

If you think you might be able to take advantage of this great special, call us today at 800 621 7855, email us, or contact us through the Ed Hamilton & Co site, and tell us about your plans.

There is some good news for travelers arriving in the USVI too late to make the last 4 pm ferry across to Tortola. The Premier and Minister for Tourism have announced a late ferry from Red Hook, St. Thomas to Road Town, Tortola. The ferry will be offered Thursdays through Sundays at 9 pm with the actual time of departure from Red Hook subject to the arrival time of the last flights out of the US mainland. This action has been taken in an effort to welcome more yacht charter and hotel guests to the BVI in light of the recent cancellation of service by many airline carriers.

The service is offered on a trial basis, but is expected to continue through the duration of high tourism season.

You can view the regular ferry schedule on the Ed Hamilton & Co website.

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

Hurricane Omar tracked slightly east of his projected path, passing through The Anegada Passage between The British Virgin Islands and St Martin last night. Thankful residents and crews in The Virgins billed it as a relative ‘non event’ - more rain than wind. If anything, St Martin was more affected, as the storm was not expected to pass this close and less preparation was done. From the people we have heard from this morning, St. Croix had closed roads and trees down, St. Thomas lost power, Tortola is still without power as of this writing and St. Maarten lost some roofs and trees, although we understand there might be more damage in the marinas in Simpson Bay. The storm came from the ‘wrong’ direction, so much of the southwest of the island was less protected. Some small tornadoes were reported in this area.

One reason for the lack of more wide spread damage was that the storm moved very quickly through the area. After stalling for days further south, it raced past the Virgins at 25 knots and is expected to decrease in intensity as it meets cooler water. Judging from the relatively few precautions some private boat owners took in The Virgins, this is a good thing. The Virgins haven’t had a direct hit from a major hurricane for many years and I wonder if this has made people take them less seriously.

The weather is already back to normal, with light winds and lovely sunshine. Email or call Ed Hamilton & Co at 800 621 7855 if you have any questions about Caribbean weather or bareboat charter bargains during these low season months.

A big thank you to our friends in The Caribbean, for letting us know. Glad you’re all OK.

While Hurricane Gustaf, Hanna and Ike create headlines in The US, it seems that for now, The Virgin Islands and The Eastern Caribbean Islands (St. Martin to The Grenadines) have escaped any major storms. This has been the pattern in recent years, but it is imperative for anyone sailing there in September and October to buy a trip cancellation policy that specifically covers named storms. Ed Hamilton & Co offers their clients two choices of suitable packages.

Weather patterns have certainly changed over the years. When Ed started his bareboat charter company in the 70’s, he could honestly say the last hurricane to hit the British Virgin Islands was in 1927! In the late 70’s a hurricane did approach The BVI, but it conveniently downgraded to a tropical depression as it passed over, so the statement was still true! Incidentally, Ed remembers the eye passing right over Tortola. Suddenly the wind and rain ceased and the whole night sky was full of stars. Like a lunar eclipse, the eye wall then slowly covered the sky again and the rain and wind resumed - from the opposite direction.

All this changed in the 80’s, when some vicious storms hit The Virgins and later Grenada, but recent years have been kinder.

For people willing to put up with the possibility of trip interruption, there are certainly some bareboat bargains out there and the islands are delightfully uncrowded. Winds tend to be much lighter, so the seas are calmer and the water clearer - ideal for snorkelers and scuba diving. Most crewed boats haul out by August and the crews take well deserved vacations, but there are some who charter throughout the summer.

While storms are not impossible in November, this can be a great time to charter, before the winter snow birds arrive and the harbors start filling up

If a charter sounds interesting, we can help you find the right boat. Call us at 800 621 7855, email us, or contact us through the Ed Hamilton & Co site, where you can tell us about your plans.

Thank you Dick for the photograph. It was taken from his house in Tortola a few days ago!

The 96′ luxury motor yacht Bermuda IV has four spaces open on a scuba charter August 9 - 14, 2008, sailing around Bermuda. At this late date, they are willing to reduce the rate by $600 per person for the remaining cabins. The discounted cost of the 5 day charter is $2,400 per person. This is all inclusive - there are no hidden costs (besides airfare and a tip for the crew). Even if you are not keen on scuba diving, there’s plenty to do. See St. Georges, Dockyard, Hamilton and Mangrove Bay. Bermuda is only a two hour flight from the East Coast. We know this luxurious boat and crew well and can certainly recommend her. See Emily’s Tortola charter on her in our newsletter.

Contact us through the Ed Hamilton & Co site or email us if you are interested.