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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

Bare or crewed charter?

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Waterboy
Navigator

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USA
204 Posts

Initially Posted - 12/08/2004 : 12:40:21

So, as I'm listeneing to the slush come down against the windows last night, I look over to see my First Mate longingly persusing vacation web pages on ...

... Tahiti ...

My Mother told me
'get her something special for Christmas this year' (she meant jewelry)

but now we've both got Tahiti on the brain ...

of course visiting such a paradise and NOT sailing would be not only torture to myself, but I'm sure you, my peers would hold me in much lower esteeem (a la un poseur). I figure it's my duty to sail if I visit Tahiti.

Anyway, it's always a good idea to ask here - has anyone chartered in Tahiti? How much of a sailing resume' do I really need to go bareboat? What about crewed boats? With my limited experience, the idea of being on a large (40'-50') crewed boat is interesting - certainly sounds easier - has anyone been on crewed boats (IE do they actually sail 'em or just motorputter between moorings)?

Any suggestions for links, threads here, must do/see, caveats etc?

We only live once, so, hrm ... Tahiti ...

Greg
C250 Sabrosa
KF, Oregon

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 12/08/2004 : 14:47:19

I am clueless but I would guess the easy no brainer is rent a Hobie, buzz around and have fun close to land.

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Steve Milby
Past Commodore

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USA
5909 Posts

Response Posted - 12/08/2004 : 16:51:12

I haven't chartered in Tahiti, but have bareboat chartered elsewhere. Charter companies aren't overly picky about a charterer's sailing experience. They send a charter captain out with you, usually for about an hour, to see if they can trust you to bring their boat back intact. Although the practices of charter companies probably differ, I never had a checkout skipper ask me to raise the sails to see if I actually knew how to sail. Their main concern is whether you know how to motor around the docks, because that's where damage is most likely to happen. If you don't know how to maneuver a fixed-prop auxiliary, they'll teach you.

If you are really unsure of your ability to handle a bareboat charter, why don't you forego the Tahiti cruise this year, and instead take about a 5 day cruising course from one of the good sailing schools? When I took one, years ago, each couple sailed a boat, and there were about 13 couples in our "cruise." We were led by an experienced cruise captain, who taught us some basic navigation and chart reading, and showed us how to enter a marina, check in and tie up, and do everything in a way so that you don't embarrass yourself or *iss anyone off.

In other words, they taught us the really important stuff about cruising. Sailing from one resort to another in a fleet like that is a lot of fun. Everyone eats and drinks together and chats about the days events. After you have taken a course like that, you'll know enough to bareboat charter on your own, in Tahiti or elsewhere.

Edited by - on

ddlyle
Captain

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302 Posts

Response Posted - 12/11/2004 : 23:28:16

Having just come back from a bareboat in the BVI ...
and contemplating a charter in the mediterranean (-10 Sp.?)

I say rent a capatin if you are unsure about the waters, weather conditions etc. I'd probably use a captain in the Med 'cause of language, other boat traffic and waters.

I chose to bareboat in the BVI because the charter trade there is SO prevalent and the conditions there are fairly static.
That and I wanted to sail a Catalina 42.

Yes a crewed charter will let you sail as much or as little as you want.

Finally in an unsure area, use an international outfit like Sunsail, Moorings, or there are probably another 3 or 4 companies like them.

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cathluk
Admiral

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USA
513 Posts

Response Posted - 12/13/2004 : 21:25:57

Is BVIs sailing as easy as its made out to be? I've never picked up a mooring & have only run an inboard during my Coastal Cruising class. Moorings okayed me for bareboat charter in BVI based on the online resume I filled out. Oddly enough they didn't okay me for the Chesapeake - which is where I sail all the time.

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oldsalt
Admiral

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USA
578 Posts

Response Posted - 12/14/2004 : 07:23:59

Sailing in the BVI is as easy as they say it is.

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jsummerfield
1st Mate

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USA
96 Posts

Response Posted - 12/17/2004 : 17:39:49

Buy all of the cruising guides and charts for the area. Plan each likely leg of your trip, especially planning to avoid hazardous reefs, etc. Chart your course, speed and distances. Write it all on a sailing plan. Plan to execute about half of your initial plan. Bring your pocket GPS. If you have a spouse and teens that can help with the sails then the bareboat is a great idea. Practice some of the needed skills such as anchoring. Get a boat big enough to accommodate the captain in the unlikely event that you want to keep her aboard.

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ddlyle
Captain

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302 Posts

Response Posted - 12/17/2004 : 18:17:55

You don't really need the GPS, it's all line of sight.
You'll use the chart (that they provide) to visually determine which island is which,
but it comes easily.

Dec. or Jan is not necessarily the time to go (I just got back) 'cause the winds average 20 knots and the seas are a little rough.

Don't use BVI Yacht Charters. The boat was okay but they were a little slack on maintenance and some other things.

I'd use SunSail next time.

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Notice: The advice given on this site is based upon individual or quoted experience, yours may differ.
The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.