The Charter Connection Blog

With American Airlines cutting flights to The Caribbean, yacht charter guests are often having to find alternative carriers. Small companies, such as Cape Air, are becoming popular for short inter-island flights. In a trip to St Thomas and The British Virgin Islands last week, we decided to try them out.

Cape Air uses 9 passenger, Cessna 402s. These are small planes, so anyone particularly afraid of flying, even in the larger jets, might consider staying with the major airlines. Having said that, the pilots are personable and the flight can indeed be a fun experience - a great start to your Caribbean vacation.

When arriving in San Juan, the transfer is not quite as convenient as using the larger airlines, as Cape Air’s desk is hidden away and quite a hike from the AA terminal. The gate number is not marked on the AA monitors, so just ask.

When the plane is full, it often cannot carry all the heavier luggage, so try to travel light. Both Emily (flying the previous day) and myself lost bags, but they were delivered to the boat show the next day at no charge.

Avoid tight connections because, like most Caribbean carriers, things run on island time and flights can be delayed, sometimes through no fault of the airline. Smaller planes are also more effected by weather, which can also cause delays.

Seats are assigned as you board the plane, to distribute the weight evenly. If you are tall, as I am, the best seat is by the door. One lucky passenger gets to sit by the pilot.

The plane often flies lower than a jet so the views are spectacular.

If you need advice on getting to your yacht charter, email or call Ed Hamilton & Co at 800 621 7855. It’s all part of the service when you charter through us.

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.

The British Virgin Island Port Tax, which has been causing so much heated debate, has been shelved, at least for now. Crewed yacht charters on compliant BVI based boats would not have been affected, but charter yachts sailing in The BVI but based in other areas, such as St. Thomas and St. Martin could have been faced with substantial additional costs, which probably would have been passed on to the charterer, possibly retroactively!

In a statement released today in Tortola, The Chief Minister, The Honourable Ralph O’Neal, said that the Government had received considerable representations by local associations, maritime agents and others, both locally and abroad, and had reversed the decision ‘in an attempt to protect the Territory’s competitive edge as a yachting destination.’ Just shows that voicing one’s concerns can make a difference!

The Chief Minister also announced a 7 member focus group, which includes some local mariners, so the yachting industry is represented.

At Ed Hamilton & Co, we are of course very relieved that this crisis has been averted, at least for now. We were not looking forward to making all those phone calls to existing clients, informing them their vacation would suddenly cost several hundred dollars more! Many thanks to all those involved.

The 56′ Sea Ray ‘CENTRE COURT’ is offering a super discount from April - June 2008. 2 guests will charter for $10,800 (down from $12,000) and 4 guests are $12,800 (down from $14,000)! She can start a charter in St Thomas, US Virgin Islands or Tortola, British Virgin Islands and even St Martin in The Leeward Islands, by special arrangement. This crew is known for their hospitality and Petra’s culinary skills - even offering a menu a’la carte! Call or email us for availability (800-621-7855).

If you’ve been considering a yacht charter, but high airfares have been holding you back, now may be the time to take another look. American Airlines has launched a spring sale on flights to the Caribbean. As airline sales often are, the exact details are a bit vague, but it appears that tickets must be booked by March 31st for departure by May 30th.

Despite the seemingly nebulous details, a check of midweek airfares this spring yields some prices that are simply too good to pass up:

Non-stop New York to St. Thomas - $287

Non-stop Miami to St. Thomas - $257

With Tortola and the wonders of the British Virgin Islands cruising ground a 40 minute ferry ride away, flying into St. Thomas is a completely viable option. When planning your flights, remember to factor in that the ferry stops running around 5pm, so it’s best to land by 3:30 or so.

Remember to reserve soon, airfares like this won’t last long!

If you can go this month (March) and are considering a luxury motor yacht, NSS Pattam has the deal you have been looking for! Six guests can cruise for 7 nights on this beautiful 84′ classic DeFever for $2250 per person, including meals and bar. If you’re looking for a super private getaway, she can be chartered for $5,250 per person for just the two of you - that’s a saving of $2,125 a person! This offer is only good for March. Check with us for available dates. She’s based in St. Thomas, US Virgin Islands so getting there is easy, but like all private crewed yacht charters, she can also cruise in The British Virgin Islands which are only an hour or two away. Email us, fill out a booking form or call us now - the clock is ticking!