Hi Brian, My wife and I bareboat chartered a 40' Jeanneau in BVI with another couple a few years back. Each of us had ear-to-ear grins for the entire week. My wife is a fairly accomplished sailor and our friend Rick and I are both ASA bareboat certified, but his girl friend Judy had very little sailing experience. We were all absolutely dazzled by the entire trip. Every inhabited island in the cruising area has a wonderful anchorage with mooring balls and a wooden dock for dinghies. They also have beach bars that served wonderful food. There is plenty of opportunity to get off the boat and stroll the beaches and shop in the small markets. The snorkeling in the harbors and bays is fantastic.
BVI is fabulously beautiful and the people there are exceptionally hospitable. The seas are crystal clear, aqua marine blue with white sand beaches. All of your island sailing destinations are easily navigable point of sight steering and this will help to inspire confidence in your wife. I'm certain that every charter boat has VHF, GPS and detailed charts. You can realize substantial charter savings if you go off-season. Typically the season prices are quoted A, B, C and D. From late April through September or October is D, the lowest price. We went in May. The month of May is very comfortable down there and best of all it is not at all crowded. There is also a deep discount window of opportunity during the first two weeks of December, post Thanksgiving and pre Christmas. When my wife and first started sailing together in the early '70's, she too was very nervous about heeling. After lengthy discussions she agreed to try something. I believe that by purposefully capsizing a small sailboat like a Sunfish or Sweet 16 in a controlled manner, in warm waters, close to shore, with someone who is a confident swimmer, and with PFD's on is one of the best ways to help them overcome the fear of heeling. After a few experiences like this, and by learning the process of recovery, my wife came to realize how anti-climactic and even fun the whole process can be. Best of luck to you on your quest. Mike -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of brian gilbert Sent: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 10:53 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: M_Boats: Baiting the field... slightly OT, but sailing related Hi folks: Here's the situation... I've finally gotten my wife to agree to a bareboat charter in the spring of next year, after our 12-year-old gets off for summer vacation. In general, she doesn't much care for sailboats. She'll indulge me for a quick afternoon on the Monty, IF the wind is blowing (but not too much... she gets very nervous past 15 degrees of heel) and we don't stay out too long. But I was a liveaboard sailor, and if I could talk her into it, I'd buy another large boat for some extended cruising. Karen's never overnighted aboard... my M17 is WAY too small for her. A charter, if everything goes right, is my big chance to get her hooked on the better parts of the sailing lifestyle. I was thinking of the Moorings in the BVI on about a 32 foot Beneteau or similar. I hear that's like deer hunting using a baited field... the Virgins are so pretty and the sailing is short and easy, or so I've heard. I've never chartered a boat before, though, so I need recommendations and advice from any of you who have. Any problems to avoid, things you wish you'd brought, or unexpected surprises? If everything goes just right, I know she'll fall in love with sailing a larger boat. If everything goes just WRONG, as it sometimes can... well, I'll probably never get her on a boat again. Your thoughts will be appreciated. Thanks Brian Gilbert _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats _______________________________________________ http://mailman.xmission.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/montgomery_boats
