The Charter Connection Blog

Islands Magazine named the ‘best’ beaches in the world in their current issue (October). They used 10 categories and no less than 3 of the best picks were in The Caribbean/Bahamas. One was in New England. Most of the others were in the Pacific Islands or Indian Ocean.

The best ‘all-to-yourself’ beach was Sandy Spit, British Virgin Islands, not to be confused with Sandy Cay - both are off Little Jost Van Dyke. They do admit that to have the island to yourself you should go early, but yes, both Sandy Spit and the Rockefeller protected Sandy Cay are beautiful spots.

The best ‘all-day-long’ beach was Pigeon Point, Tobago, because of its amenities, and the best ‘hard-to-find’ beach was Lighthouse Point, Eleuthera. In New England, Block Island’s Crescent Beach was voted ‘best-beach-for-families’.

For the truly exotic, Matira Beach, Bora Bora and Dhigufinolhu, Maldives were both considered the best beach for ‘luxury’ and Champagne Beach, Vanuatu was the ‘best-swimming-beach’.

Whether you are looking for the ultimate honeymoon or a family vacation, we would be happy to arrange a private yacht charter to any one of them. Call us at 800 621 7855, email us, or contact us through the Ed Hamilton & Co site and tell us about the type of holiday you have in mind.

Bold Island was just as beautiful in the morning! We motored through the Thorofare, past Stonington, which is a busy fishing harbor and not a good choice for an overnight - the lobster boats will have you awake before dawn!

The coast of Maine is a perfect cruising ground as it is possible to choose a number of relatively sheltered passages between the huge number of islands, without entering the ocean. From Deer Isle, we headed across to the narrow Fox Isle Thorofare, which divides Vinalhaven and North Haven, two lovely islands with all kinds of anchorages if you have time to linger. We stopped briefly at the yard in North Haven for fuel, then on to Muscle Ridge Channel.

There’s an anchorage either side of Birch Island just east of the channel, with more beaches and an old granite quarry. The kids loved to collect sea urchins and sing to the shells of snails and crabs to get them to come out. Yes, it does work! They also enjoyed hunting for small pieces of granite worn into the shape of a heart and came back with a bag full.

The weather again co-operated for our last night and we enjoyed a wonderful steak dinner under the stars. A perfect night.

Next day, the wind freshened slightly from the SW, but it was a relatively smooth ride offshore in 4′ seas and brilliant sunshine. We were back in Wiscasset by mid afternoon.

A yacht charter is a wonderful way to see the Maine coast, because so many of the attractions are offshore. We were on a fast motor yacht, but it would be perfectly possible to do a one way charter covering the same area in 7 nights on a sailboat.

Late August and September are the best months to cruise in Maine. Call us at 800 621 7855, email us, or contact us through the Ed Hamilton & Co site and tell us about your plans.

See also ‘Day 1 and 2′ and ‘Day 3 and 4′.

Bucks Harbor is a pretty, well protected cove. It has an active sailing club with a popular kids program. Bucks Harbor Marine have several moorings (the $30 charge includes the use of a welcome shower), as well as fuel and friendly staff.

The weather was again calm and we enjoyed the shear beauty of Maine as we motored down Eggemoggin Reach and past Swan Island. As we rounded Great Gott Island, the hills of Mount Desert came into view and we headed up to Southwest Harbor, home of Hinckley Yachts.

Even with the slowdown of the boat building industry, there were plenty of spectacular yachts in every harbor we visited. We anchored in Valley Cove, a short distance up Somes Sound, for lunch. This Sound is the closest thing to a Fjord that we have on the East Coast and is worth the detour.

After looking at more beautiful yachts in Northeast Harbor, we headed out to sea, and motored up the eastern side of the island to Bar Harbor for the night.

This touristy town has it’s own charm. There are plenty of interesting stores that stay busy even late in the evening, and a wide variety of restaurants, bars and nightlife.

The next day we explored the town but by mid afternoon were ready to head to a quieter anchorage for the night. Bold Island, just off the Deer Island Thoroughfare was perfect, and the grandchildren particularly enjoyed the beautiful shell beaches on the small islands that surround this lovely spot.

We know the coast of Maine well and can help you explore this beautiful cruising ground. Call us at 800 621 7855, email us, or contact us through the Ed Hamilton & Co site and tell us about your plans.

See also ‘Day 1 and 2′ and ‘Day 5 and 6′.

Friday afternoon, we left Wiscasset for a 5 night mini vacation on the Maine Coast.

Motoring down the beautiful Sheepscot River, we passed through the busy swing bridge to Southport Island and headed out past Boothbay Harbor. Our destination that night was Christmas Cove, on the next peninsula. We took a mooring and enjoyed a delicious dinner at the Coveside Restaurant.

In the 1980/90s we based our Norrad Sailing School at Coveside. Ed and his instructors spent many hours sailing daysailers in this area, in all kinds of conditions. I remember one group of students who arrived in thick fog. We spent the day sailing around the inner harbor and it was only when the fog lifted that afternoon that they realized they had spent the day cris-crossing such a tiny area - they thought they had sailed miles!

It was wonderful to see the restaurant flourishing and that so many of the dinner guests were from boats cruising the area. This is definitely a popular hang out, so you do need reservations.

Saturday was calm. We wanted to spend as much time as possible Down East, so we headed offshore, missing Muscongus Bay, although you could spend a couple of days exploring the islands and harbors in this bay.

After passing through Muscle Ridge Channel, we headed up to Camden, where we were lucky enough to find a dock close to the popular Waterfront Restaurant. After a delicious lunch, we walked around the town. Later that afternoon, we headed up to Islesboro, with its beautiful mansions and spectacular yachts. Penobscot Bay is a fabulous place to sail, with plenty of wide open water, yet is relatively protected from ocean swells. The cruising yachtsman has some interesting harbors to visit, both on the mainland and the islands. After passing historic Castine, we entered Eggemoggin Reach and moored for the night at Bucks Harbor.

The coast of Maine is our back yard, so if you are considering a yacht charter to explore this beautiful cruising ground, call us at 800 621 7855, email us, or contact us through the Ed Hamilton & Co site and tell us about your plans.

See also ‘Day 3 and 4′ and ‘Day 5 and 6′.

Drag map or use controls to see the whole area.

We told readers how to use an iPhone as a GPS/Chart plotter in our recent newsletter, but have just learned that it’s not just us that think this is a great idea!  Navionics, the people who make these iPhone charts, has won an NMMA Innovation Award at the Marine Aftermarket Accessories Trade Show in Orlando. One judge commented that ‘nowhere is the convergence of traditional boat/plotter navigation, water based outdoor activities and various online communities coming together more visibly than with Navionics Mobile for the iPhone’ (quoted from ‘The Cruising Compass’).

The other great news is that Navionics has announced that they will continue to offer these charts, via Apple iTunes, at the original low price, starting at $4.99! The charts are incredibly high quality - we even use them on the Maine Coast! We don’t substitute the iPhone for our main plotter, but we do find it amazingly helpful when off the boat or in the dinghy, and the price cannot be beaten! It could also be an emergency backup if the boat system went down.

There is much more to this application than charts. Navionics Mobile 2.2 can tie in photos of your Caribbean yacht charter, and can upload everything, including your route and special highlights to Facebook etc. Endless possibilities.

Read the original article in our Newsletter (subscribe while you’re there!). For more information, call us at 800 621 7855, email us, or visit the Ed Hamilton & Co site.

If sailing a 35′ classic wooden Hinckley around the coast of Maine is your idea of heaven, take a look at Huntress. She is the first Hinckley Pilot - hull #1, lovingly maintained by her owner. Naturally she has far less space below than a modern 35′ sloop, but sailors used to this type of yacht will appreciate and enjoy her. Technically she can sleep 4 guests, but she is far more practical for 2. The captain sleeps forward and guests take the single pilot berths in the salon. There is one head amidships for guests and crew and a galley in the companionway. Based in Robinhood Marina, a few miles from Bath, she is ideally suited to cruising Down East Maine.

We have known her owner/captain, Kevin, since the early 1980’s, when he helped Ed teach at our sailing school, in Robinhood. We can therefore personally confirm that he is a patient, highly qualified, dedicated instructor. A boat surveyor by trade, he has a broad knowledge of a wide range of boats, power and sail, old and new.

You can charter Huntress for the low rate of $450 per day, for two or four guests. Kevin is also happy to teach sailing and can tailor classes to any level of experience.

He is a capable cook and for an additional $30 per person, per day, can offer full provisioning. A week’s charter with all meals for two would therefore cost just $3570 and a four day weekend just $2,040. No, there’s no ice maker or waterskis - just a lovely traditional yacht to bring old memories alive.

For the right guests, she’s the best value around. For more information, call us at 800 621 7855, email us, or visit the Ed Hamilton & Co site.

The owner of Victorian Rose (ex Idyl) has spent the last 8 years rebuilding this beautiful 1963 Burger. He is a cabinet maker and his love of fine craftsmanship and beautiful woodwork shows everywhere. Furthermore, at 63 feet and carrying just 4 guests, she is very affordable.

The lovely traditional master cabin is aft and has a queen size bed. The head is en-suite (the door arrangement is a little tricky). The second cabin is quite a bit smaller but very comfortable, with twin beds and a private head across the passageway.

We liked the way the whole aft deck salon could be opened up in nice weather and the open feel looking forward through the wheelhouse. The exposed galley and a second sitting/dining area are just ahead of the helm, down a couple of steps. For those that like more sun, there is a full flybridge, and flat decks with a settee forward.

This is a great choice for both New England and warmer climates. In cooler weather, guests can enjoy beautiful views in sheltered comfort, yet the whole aft deck can be air conditioned or open to the fresh air.

The crew are well known in the industry. Captain Bob Davidson has run a variety of sailboats and catamarans. Sharon Munroe is an excellent chef. She has taken several Cordon Bleu classes and can cook in a wide variety of styles, including Mexican, Italian, Thai, and Indian. She enjoys creating a dinner from a different culture every night. Before living on a boat for the past 15 years, she owned a hair salon. She and Bob have been together since 1989.

At $13,000 per week, plus expenses, we feel this boat is good value.

We would be happy to tell you more. Email us, call us (800 621 7855) or visit the Ed Hamilton & Co site and tell us about your plans.

Ask any cruising sailor from the 70’s and 80’s about a Bowman - they were one of the great world cruisers we all dreamed of owning back then. ‘Elysian’ is an 84′ Bowman, built in 1984 and in great condition for her year. Owners have thankfully resisted the temptation of changing her 80’s styling below, which is a combination of metal and fine woodwork that was fashionable at that time. This is an incredibly strong boat, built to cruise any ocean at respectable speeds. Typical of most private cruising boats, there’s a fine master cabin with a centerline queen berth, a settee and plenty of storage for the owner. The other two cabins are smaller, one with a double berth and one with over/under singles (the top bunk is smaller than the lower). Each cabin has an en-suite head.

The salon is attractive, with red accents, a large table for formal dining and a periwinkle ultrasuede settee that comfortably seats six. There is air conditioning throughout the boat. The spacious cockpit is particularly comfortable, with large, royal blue settees and nice cushions. There is a table for outside dining and the large bimini provides ample shade. Her teak decks, nice sun mats forward and sundeck on top of the pilothouse, provide additional space for lounging. Elysian offers scuba diving for those certified.

She will be cruising New England this summer, from Newport to Maine. She is not as flashy as some more modern yachts, but for someone who values the fine sea keeping qualities of a great cruising design, this might be a perfect choice for cruising this area. She’ll fit right in with the lovely traditional yachts that congregate here in the summer.

Regular readers will know we try to pick specials that we find interesting rather than quote every special that comes along (see our crewed and bareboat specials pages if you need the full list). Her regular rate is $20,000 plus expenses. At $12,000 plus expenses she’s a steal, but you need to book her before June 1st to get that price!

We are based on the Maine Coast and know New England well. If you are planning on chartering in this area, call us at 800 621 7855, email us, or contact us through the Ed Hamilton & Co site, and tell us about your plans. We can offer you a wide range of yachts, from smaller crewed sailing charters to the largest luxury motor yachts.