Location scouts surely had a field day in the Florida Keys sightseeing and frequenting bars and restaurants while finding suitable filming locations for Bloodline, the wildly successful Netflix series that filmed three seasons in the Upper Keys. From scenic beaches, boardwalks and mangroves in a state park at mile marker (MM) 68 to the waterfront…
There are many opportunities to work on yachts in the Caribbean. What is key is to be prepared.
Several classes were too close to call going into the final day of racing at the 44th St. Thomas International Regatta (STIR), held March 24 to 26 out of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The reason? A mix of STIR-signature round-the-island courses combined with conditions that ranged from near breathless calm to blustery gusts over…
What’s hot when it comes to the Caribbean’s charter industry? All At Sea asked over half-a-dozen companies from South Florida to Grenada to share their thoughts on ten topics. 1. Everyone Charters – Seriously “The most exciting trend to me is that today’s charter guests come from all over the world and from all walks…
The Caribbean’s charter yacht industry certainly boasts iconic pioneers such as Commander V.E.B. Nicholson in Antigua, of Nicholson Yacht Charters fame, and Charlie and Ginny Cary, who founded The Moorings in the British Virgin Islands. Equally among these pioneers is the Barnard Family whose Barefoot Yacht Charters in Blue Lagoon, St. Vincent & the Grenadines,…
The Moorings Adds New Models To Its Charter Fleet Heading south to sail in the Caribbean? The Moorings, headquartered in Clearwater, Florida, has added two brand new monohulls to its island fleets. Charter a Beneteau-built Moorings 48.4 in the British Virgin Islands, St. Martin and St. Lucia and by December, The Moorings 42.1, also made…
The Caribbean is one of the best-kept secrets in terms of charter destinations come the summer. That’s because while many folks head to perennially favorite spots like the Mediterranean or New England, there are unique advantages to chartering in the Caribbean this time of year – for clients and crews alike. “The Caribbean is definitely…
There’s something about the sea air that revs an appetite. No wonder one of the most common questions when booking a bareboat charter is about provisioning. There are two ways to stock the galley. Do the shopping yourself. Purchase a provisioning package. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, yet both assure you’ll never go hungry….
The heart of summer is a perfect time to charter a yacht and explore along the U.S. southeast coast. From the Chesapeake Bay to the Carolinas, Florida and Bahamas, there are some fantastic itineraries that will lead you to hot spots and hidden gems ripe for discovery by sea and shore. Chesapeake Bay “There are…
A trip to summer sailing camps takes on a whole new tack when it’s in the Caribbean. Each summer, several adventure operators host boat-based programs for young people on islands spanning from Tortola to the Tobago Cays and beyond. Jason Buchheim, founding program director of Tarpon Springs, Florida-based Odyssey Expeditions, which operates camps in the…
Sailing vacations can be some of the best additions to a family’s life experiences. Ann-Wallis White, owner of Annapolis, Md. based Ann-Wallis White Yacht Charters, explains that careful planning is key. “Be patient, be logical. Do not expect too much of yourself or your child, and sailing will become more a part of your life…
Two hulls are better than one. This thinking has launched the tremendous popularity of catamarans for charter over the last decade. But why? “Space,” answers Ann Wallis-White, owner of Annapolis-based Ann Wallis-White Yacht Charters. “Clients choose catamarans for the same reason they drive minivans. There’s more room. Unlike monohulls, there’s the ability to have children,…
On a powerboat, it’s ‘when will we get there?’ On a sailing yacht, you’re already there — Ami Ira There’s a great saying that aptly describes the difference between power versus sail. That is, “On a powerboat, it’s ‘when will we get there?’ On a sailing yacht, you’re already there,” shares Ami Ira, managing director…
“There are so many factors in every charter trip,” says Ann Wallis-White, owner of Annapolis-based Ann-Wallis White Yacht Charters, who advises clients and answers these questions daily. The points to consider when organizing a yacht charter are much the same as when planning any other vacation, adds Ian Pedersen, assistant marketing manager at The Moorings,…
British Virgin Islands Team victorious in Caribbean Dinghy Championships The Caribbean Sailing Association (CSA) sanctioned Caribbean Dinghy Championships hosted jointly by Antigua Yacht Club and Antigua’s National Sailing Academy took place in November. Barbados, the British Virgin Islands (BVI), Trinidad and Tobago, St. Maarten and Antigua and Barbuda participated. The Zoom 8 class was won by…
An early morning rain shower served as the wake-up call for the ninth edition of the Golden Rock Regatta (GRR) held November 13 to 18. Although the skies had cleared in time for the start of the first race – an exhilarating 19-mile beat from Philipsburg, St. Maarten to Gustavia, St. Barths – some of…
From a distance, from my perspective grinding winches during a Heineken Regatta years ago, Anguilla didn’t look like much. Quiet, gently sloping and lacking the drama of the hump-backed mountains of St. Martin off our starboard beam as we sliced the surface of the Anguilla Channel on a broad reach. But then I got a…
So you’ve finally decided to cast off, tired of prowling Caribbean docks with a bad case of nautical envy. You haven’t sold the house to sail into the sunset but at least you’ve committed both time and budget to a charter. Now where do you go? Who do you book it with? Do you have…
A sampling of the responses from crewed brokerages and bareboat companies provides a peek at the hot trends in the Caribbean charter yacht industry. 1. Business is Looking Up for Charters! Business seems better, says Ann McHorney, founder and director of Select Yachts, in St. Maarten. “More repeats are popping up.” Dick Schoonover, manager of…
When three couples from New Jersey chartered out of Tortola they chose to provision themselves rather than ask an on-island provisioner or select a package from their bareboat company. Why? “Ease and expense”, explains Jack Edwards, who planned the charter. “We flew in the day before, stayed in a hotel, and went to the boat…