The Charter Connection Blog

We occasionally hear from clients interested in exploring the Turks & Caicos. This beautiful cruising ground, just a short 2 hour flight from Fort Lauderdale, consists of 8 main islands and more than 20 smaller islands, with over 230 miles of beach front. The area has also been rated by some, as one of the top 10 Scuba diving destinations in the world.

There are relatively few yachts who charter here, but Arabella, the 160 schooner has added another trip to this destination after their first cabin-charter cruise to the Turks & Caicos sold out!  This trip will be held from May 30th - June 5th. She books charters by the cabin and rates for staterooms vary from $1050 - $1750 per person (based on double occupancy).

If you are interested in getting more information on this chance to charter in a new 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. .

ALOHA MALOLO, the 65 foot custom crewed charter yacht, is joining the Green Movement and offering a low ecological impact charter.  Guests looking for a more planet friendly cruise, without the sound of a generator, will be impressed that Eric and Evelin power their batteries with solar panels and wind. All produce and meats are bought from local sources when possible and they double filter their water so that guests do not feel they have to drink from disposable plastic bottles.

Unlike many US or British Virgin Islands based boats, Aloha Malolo spent the summer chartering in The San Blas Islands, off Panama. Their guests enjoyed plenty of live lobster and crab, deserted palm fringed islands with picture perfect white sandy beaches and lots of smiling faces!
They have made many improvements to the boat, including three additional opening hatches in the staterooms, new upholstery, new canvas, new dinghy, a new tapered queen bed in the forward stateroom (she has four queen beds now), newly painted decks, new over-sized fishing gear, bigger TV, 70 more DVD movies (almost 600 DVD’s total), new sound system, which is ipod compatible, new hammock and sun awning, 8 sets of new gear for scuba diving, new watermaker and a lot more.

Ask us for details of this and other fine charter yachts. We’ll help you find the one that’s right for you. Call us at 800 621 7855, email us, or contact us through the Ed Hamilton & Co site, and tell us about your plans.

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.

If you’re looking for a getaway that’s not too far away and offers some spectacular scuba diving, why not consider Bermuda? Only 2 hours from most East Coast hubs, Bermuda features beautiful beaches and healthy reefs. The 96 foot luxury motor yacht Bermuda IV charters for less than many of the hotels on the island and is the perfect place to stay. Let native Captain Mike Davis show you the sites and take advantage of scuba dive instructor Christine East’s Underwater photography courses. This luxury yacht offers several different ways to charter, be it 5 day SCUBA charters, weekend getaways, honeymoon yacht charters, day cruises or week long private charters.

For more information and pricing, email or call us (800 621 7855), or use our request literature format (please mention ‘Bermuda IV’ when requesting literature).

Many larger power yachts reposition for the spring and summer months to New England and the Mediterranean, leaving a shortage of luxury motor yachts for charter in The Caribbean. This year, SHALIMAR, a 118′ Benetti Tri Deck will be remaining in the Caribbean, taking advantage of the calm waters, sunny skies and minimal crowds. Based in Tortola, in The British Virgin Islands, she can also charter in St. Martin and any islands further south, as far as The Grenadines.

She is able to accommodate 10 guests in her 5 cabins and charters for $60,000 per week, plus expenses. Shalimar is also one of the few power yachts offering scuba diving directly from the boat, carrying 8 full sets of dive gear, a dive compressor and a nitrox mixer.

Call or email us if you would like more information on Shalimar (800-621-7855). If you would like more information on other motor yachts or crewed sailing charters, just let us know the type of private yacht charter you are looking for.

Most people tend to avoid taking a Caribbean yacht charter in the fall due to the hurricane season, but this coming September and October, there is a yacht moving to an exciting destination that is below the normal hurricane route. ‘Sublime’, a popular crewed sailing yacht generally based in the Virgin Islands, is heading to Bonaire, in the south western Caribbean. Very few private yacht charters visit this exciting destination, but it is one of Captain Brian’s favorite islands. Bonaire has been consistently ranked as one of the world’s top five scuba diving destinations. The yacht would be used for daysails and a ‘floating hotel’ as they are not allowed to anchor and are too large for the moorings. There are no charter fleets, due to the strict regulations imposed by the government of Bonaire, which means the coral is undamaged and the snorkeling and diving are truly spectacular.

Brian is offering special lower rates that are competitive with the local accommodations. Breakfast, lunch, appetizers and reasonable bar are included, as well as diving. Dinners would be taken ashore and air refills would be additional. Please request literature, email or call us (800 621 7855) if you are interested in joining Sublime in Bonaire.