The Charter Connection Blog

Anyone looking for a vacation on a crewed catamaran in the British Virgin Islands this month (July) can take advantage of a spectacular special. The popular Voyage 58, ‘Bliss’ has dropped her rate from $21,000 to $15,000 for any number of people (she carries up to 8 adults, 10 max), including all meals and open bar.

Bliss is a beautiful 8-10 passenger catamaran.  The decks offer lots of space to sunbathe and the cockpit is roomy and well shaded.  The bow features a stairway between the hulls for easy access to the water - particularly convenient for less mobile guests, small children and scuba divers (scuba diving is available).

The salon is spacious and light with neutral colors. An extensive entertainment center includes Bose surround sound, a flat screen TV and a large DVD/video library.  The huge galley and bar are on the same level as the cockpit.

There are 5 staterooms; four have queen size berths and ensuite heads with separate showers.  The fifth cabin is smaller with a combined head/shower.  Each stateroom has a flat screen TV/DVD/gaming system which is interfaced with others for room to room play. ‘Bliss’ also carries a wide range of water toys. We feel she’s one of the best Voyage 58’s in charter.

We would love to tell you more about ‘Bliss’, and the other great boats we offer. You can reach us at 800 621 7855 or email us. You can also tell us about your plans on the Ed Hamilton & Co site.

Rather than hauling out in Virgin Gorda, in The British Virgin Islands, Drumbeat is moving to Bonaire for this summer, which is below the normal hurricane route. They plan to be there from mid August through October. Very few private yacht charters visit this exciting destination, so this is an excellent opportunity. Bonaire has been consistently ranked as one of the world’s top five scuba diving destinations. You can just walk off the beach and within 50′ ft. you are in 100+ ft of water!
Since the shore drops off so quickly there is little anchoring.  The boat would stay at a marina every night and sail during the day. Divers would take the dinghy or drive to the numerous dive spots by land.

There’s plenty to do besides sailing and scuba. The area is one of the premier kite surfing and windsurfing destinations. There are land-sail buggies on the salt flats, and lots of mountain biking.  You can also rent Harley Davidsons, and other cycles to tour the island. 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.

Details still have to be worked out, but since the boat would be docked at a luxury resort marina every night, all dinners will be on shore, with breakfasts and lunches on the boat. Dinners would not be included but this would be reflected in the charter fee.

If you would like to know more about Drumbeat or Bonaire, call us at 800 621 7855, email us, or contact us through the Ed Hamilton & Co site and tell us about your plans.

‘Pas De Deux’ is one of our favorite Fontaine-Pajot 60s. She has three guest cabins, all accessed from the saloon. The master cabin is in the port hull and features a walk around queen size bed, desk with laptop computer and internet access. Two identical double cabins are forward, with queen size beds that taper at the foot. Each cabin has luxurious 1200 count Egyptian cotton sheets, true mattresses, individual air conditioning, an ensuite head, attractive portholes, DVD players and original oil paintings. The crew take the starboard aft cabin.

The decks are wide and uncluttered, and large trampolines and bow seats forward are great for sun seekers. Scuba diving is available and access to and from the dinghy is very easy with large, wide transom steps leading to the modern open cockpit. A center oval cockpit table easily accommodates 6 guests. Lovely china and table settings make both interior and outside dining a luxurious experience. The comfortable saloon has two large, soft leather settees and is separated from the fully equipped galley and dining area by a bar.

The boat is of course only half the story. Harvey and Tracy are a first class English crew.

Before he was 18, Harvey had raced J24s along the coast of England, delivered yachts for the Moorings worldwide  and passed his Yacht Master Certificate.  He used to be a competitive swimmer and enjoys skiing, bicycling and all other sports.

Tracy is a fun, energetic hostess. She was involved in competitive dancing for six years, from Disco Freestyle to Rock and Roll. She originally trained to be an air hostess and loves to travel.

Young and enthusiastic, they offer a high level of service to their charter guests. They work very well together and are a wonderful charter team.

‘Pas De Deux’s regular charter fee in the British Virgin Islands, is $3,250 per person for 7 nights, including first class meals, wines and open bar. Up until December 14th you can enjoy the same standard of luxury and service for just $2,600. This is a special worth noting!

If you would like to charter ‘Pas De Deux’ or would like information on other similar catamaran 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.

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.

‘The Big Kat’, a 78 foot Hatteras will be in The Bahamas in March and is offering 25% off her regular rate for charters starting soon after March 21st. She won’t be in The Bahamas long, but this is a great opportunity to save on both the charter fee and delivery costs.

She can accommodate 6 guests in 3 cabins, and offers scuba diving.
The discounted price is $12,500, plus expenses, for 7 nights.

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

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!