Bareboat Hotline

Bahamas Backs off on Cruising Tax Increases
January 20th, 2004

According to the Boat Owners Association of the United States The Bahamian Government has decided to modify the controversial increase in cruising permit fees introduced last summer.

BoatU.S. announced today that the fee structure introduced last July 1 remains in place at $150 for boats up to 35 feet and $300 for boats over that size. However, two entries will be permitted during a 90-day period instead of one. This effectively cuts in half the entry cost for those who want to visit the Bahamas more than once in a 90-day period, but does not reduce the cost for bareboaters who only intend to enter once.

Keith Gomez, representing the Bahamas Tourism Centre, admits that complaints from boaters and the boating industry are "having an impact." But many boaters feel that the rollbacks so far have not gone far enough. If you object to the increased cost to visit the Bahamas and feel that it will influence your decision whether or not to sail to the Bahamas from Florida, we suggest that you e-mail Gomez at kgomez@bahamas.com and Bahamas comptroller of customs John Rolle at cofrolle@batelnet.bs to protest the current fee schedule.

Record Cold Snap in Northern USA and Canada Keeps Phones Ringing
January 17th, 2004

Near-record bookings have been flowing in to Caribbean-based bareboat companies over the past week, due to the cold weather in the Northern USA and Canada. Seems that the colder the weather gets up north, the hotter the phone lines become. If you still haven't booked your spring bareboat charter, better hurry!

Don't Forget St Thomas when planning a Virgin Islands Bareboat Charter
January 11th, 2004

When you think of chartering in the Virgin Islands, do you look at the whole picture, or just those bareboat companies that charter out of Tortola in the British Virgins? There are several companies based in St Thomas, and several reasons to consider them as well. Not only are there more flights to St Thomas (many of them on larger jets), but airfares are less, and frequent flier miles can often get you there as well.

In addition, chartering from St Thomas provides you with an opportunity to visit St John, often less crowded than the BVI anchorages and with a lot to offer. For more information we suggest that you click on VIP's website, then select "About VIP" and "Articles" to read an informative article about St John.

Susan Robinson Wins our Final Prize Drawing
January 6th 2004

Susan Robinson of Thousand Oaks CA has claimed her prize as the winner of our December drawing for a pair of waterproof, hand-bearing binoculars with a built-in handbearing compass. This is the last drawing that we will be holding, due to continuing disappointment in the number of entries received - less than 100 people have entered each of our monthly drawings over the past year. Do you have a suggestion of another contest to replace it? Let us know, and if we use your idea you will receive a nice prize from eBare! Write to us at

An Offer Too Good to Refuse from VIP Yacht Charters
December 18th, 2003

Let VIP Yacht Charters quote you for your next vacation and they'll send you a FREE Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands - even if you don't book Call 1-866-VIP-YACHTS (1-866-847-9224) Outside US: 1-340-774-9224 or click here to request more information about these or other special internet offers. (Offer current as of December 18th, 2003 - may be rescinded at any time)

New Years in the Seychelles! Last Minute offer from Dream Yacht Charters
December 12th, 2003

Dream Yacht Charters in the Seychelle Islands is offering fights from Paris to Mahe and return for just $599 Euros, with departure on December 31st or January 1st and return no later than January 12th. In addition, they are offering a 25% discount on the daily rate of their popular Beneteau Oceanis 411 or Leopard 45 Catamaran! For more information, contact Dream Yacht Charters through the link we provide, and don't forget to mention that you saw this offer on eBare.

Kiteboarding Offered In British Virgin Islands
December 7th, 2003

Carib Kiteboarding has opened up shop at the Bitter End Resort in Virgin Gorda. The Virgins are a great location for kiteboarding due to the steady tradewinds and warm waters, however due to the forces generated by the kite and the tricky nature of kiteboarding in general, this is not a sport that should be attempted without proper instruction as serious injury can result if attempted by beginners on their own. Two rather than on instructors are needed to teach the sport. The cost is $100 per hour and 4 hours are recommended to get a good start on this exciting new sport.

eMail Scam Masquerades as Notice from eBay
December 3rd, 2003

For anyone who uses things like PayPal, eBay, or other online services / shops, be aware of a common theft technique. Customers receive an email supposedly from PayPal or one of these online companies, asking to verify the account. If you click on the link in the email, you are taken to a site where you are prompted to re-enter credit card and checking account information. The site looks EXACTLY like the legitimate site; however, these are fake sites, and are intended to steal credit card, PIN, and/or checking account data.

The tip offs are:
1. It uses an IP address (i.e. 66.185.25.36) instead of a URL (i.e., www.ebare.com).
2. It does not use https:// (note the "s" after the usual http, indicating a secure connection).
3. It does not ask you to log in.
4. It asks you for your pin number.
5. The subject of the email is close BUT NOT EXACTLY RIGHT (i.e. "PayPaI official notice", with the small "L" changed to "I").

These bogus sites look very real, and it appears be easy to be duped by them, so be constantly on guard. And, if you get an email such as this, delete it. Also, if you get an email supposedly containing a Microsoft Windows update patch, instead of clicking on it, go to the Microsoft website to see if there really is such a download and if there is, download it directly from the Microsoft site and not from an email link.

Hope this helps someone out there!!

Jim Myers is our November 2003 Winner
December 2nd, 2003

Jim Meyers of Gulf Breeze, FL has been drawn as our November Winner, and has claimed his prize, a pair of Sperry Topsider shoes from the West Marine catalogue. Jim won our October 2000 drawing as well - a 300 watt inverter that converts 12v DC to 120v AC, providing AC power for laptop computers or battery chargers. For December we'll be giving away a pair of waterproof binoculars with built-in handbearing compass.

Tortola Fast Ferry Starts Service Between Charlotte Amalie and Road Town
November 25th, 2003

The Tortola Fast Ferry started service between St Thomas and Tortola recently. A high speed catamaran, it boasts a 50-minute connection time between island center and island center and avoids a stop at Cruz Bay on the return trip, proceeding instead directly to the customs dock in Charlotte Amalie. For more information on this new service, visit tortolafastferry.com, the company's informative website.

Record Rains in the Virgin Islands
November 21st, 2003

A low-pressure system, traveling slowly through the area over the past two weeks, stalled and then turned back over the Virgin Islands producing record rainfall in excess of 20 inches. The unprecedented amount of rain cause over $7 million dollars damage in the US islands of St Thomas, St John and St Croix and additional, lesser damage in the British Virgins, causing floods, sinkholes and landslides. Many trees are down and retain walls have collapsed. During the height of the rain many businesses (including the Motor Vehicle Bureau in St Thomas) had to close and schools were closed due to the danger of traveling the roadways. Phone service, not the most reliable in the world, was thankfully more resilient than might be expected, with a few brief outages repaired more speedily than anticipated

Bacteria counts in the waters surrounding the islands were unusually high due to storm runoff and the overflowing of many septic systems. The beaches area strewn with coconuts, tree branches and other flotsam and the waters, usually crystal clear, have turned a chocolate brown color which is slowly precipitating out. There may be some long-term negative impact to coral and sea life, though historically one-time occurrences such as this can usually be overcome by the Caribbean ecosystem.

Those who chartered during the past two weeks have not been happy campers, but sailors starting their charters later this week and next should find conditions returning to normal, with typical weather conditions - clear and sunny most of the time - returning to the area.

Problems Reported at Cane Garden Bay
November 13th, 2003

The BVI Beacon, a local newspaper published in Tortola, has reported that there were recent burglaries of yachts moored in Cane Garden Bay. Three were broken into on October 17th, three on the 25th and two more on the 28th. Also disturbing are recent reports of "land sharks" and aggressive gangs of dreadlocked youths hassling tourists. To make things worse, the BVI government is considering allowing jet ski rentals in Cane Garden Bay, which will generate a great deal of noise and danger for swimmers. Until this matter is resolved, you may wish to consider bypassing this popular overnight anchorage. For more information you can visit Travel Talk on Line, a popular chat forum targeting Caribbean Tourism

Ann McMilliam wins our October Drawing
November 2nd, 2003

Ann McMilliam of Saint Pauls NC has been named the winner of our October drawing for a boxed set of Weems and Plath Navigation Tools, having contacted us to claim her prize. We hope that she finds her prize useful on her next bareboat charter.

NauticBlue Moving from St Thomas to Tortola
October 24th, 2003

NauticBlue will be locating their base from St Thomas in the US Virgins to Tortola in the British Virgins. The Moorings, which owns NauticBlue, announced the move recently, claiming that combining facilities in Road Town makes more sense, and eliminates the need to go through customs and immigration while on charter. The move is effective November 1st, 2003. NauticBlue, which specializes in renting powerboats exclusively, is also adding a new model to their fleet. Named the NauticBlue 382, it is built by Carver.

Bargain Airfares are Elusive
October 14th, 2003

Pittsburg to Seattle - $99 round-trip. Newark to LA - $89 round-trip. These are examples or real airfares, available for a few quick hours on the Internet for no apparent reason. Each day, the airlines play a game of brinkmanship and without warning will announce a few - or a lot - of special low fares - targeting a competing airline's routes. The targeted airline then retaliates by slashing its fares. This goes on until one airline gives up, then the fares quickly evaporate. The challenge is to find such fares while they are offered. Here are three websites you might check in an effort to find them. airfare.com, bestfares.com (click on snooze you lose), and cheapseats.com. As fares can charge by the hour, you should check routes three or four times a day. Some of the lowest pricing often appears over weekends. Good luck!

Kenneth Gum Claims his Prize
October 10th, 2003

Kenneth Gum of Springfield TN has claimed his September prize. Congratulations, Ken! By contacting us in time you have been named the winner of our September drawing for a Humminbird VHF handheld transceiver. Ken does most of his sailing on lakes in Tennessee with occasional trips to Florida. He's looking forward to chartering a catamaran in the Virgin Islands some time in the future.

Kenneth Gum replaces Stephen Gates as September winner
October 7th, 2003

Stephen Gates of Bend, OR, failed to claim his September prize award in time, and so the runner up, Kenneth Gum of Springfield TN gets his chance to claim it. Ken must contact us no later than 9 am on October 17th or yet another runner up will get a chance. Over the past few months, this has happened three times. We suspect that the huge amounts of spam that people receive are interfering with our prize notification. To make sure you don't miss out on a prize by failing to claim it, check our website often for the name of the monthly winner.

Stepen Gates chosen to Win our September Prize
September 30th, 2003

Stephen Gates of Bend, OR, has been selected as our September Prizewinner. Steve will win a new Humminbird VHF radio IF he contacts us no later than 9 AM on October 7th to claim his prize. Otherwise, it will go to our first runner-up. Last month there were less than 75 entries in our drawing! It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure out that your odds of winning a prize are pretty good. In fact, we have already had a two-time winner in our drawing, so sign up for this month's prize, a handsome boxed set of navigation tools from Weems & Plath. You will NOT be added to ANY mailing lists by entering our drawing! It's our way of thanking you for visiting our website.

CYOA Price Guarantee
September 21st, 2003

CYOA is offering price protection on their 2003-04 charter rates. If you book a charter now, and their 2003-04 rate sheet has a change in the price for your yacht you can have your cake and eat it too. If they raised the price you are protected at the old price, but if they lowered the price they'll lower your price to match.

Tropical Storm Isabel Continues Inland
September 18th, 2003

As of 9 p.m. EDT, Isabel was downgraded to a tropical storm and was about 30 miles northwest of Emporia, Virginia. Maximum sustained winds are now below 70 mph, and the storm is moving northwest at 20 mph. Tropical storm force winds extend outward up to 345 miles from the center. Isabel is expected to continue in a northwesterly direction. While winds will continue to decrease, high winds and flooding are expected as far north as Pennsylvania and New York State. Damage caused by Isabel is yet to be determined. When she came ashore in North Carolina, maximum sustained winds had dropped to 80 mph and the highest reported guests were 105 mph.

Isabel Now A Category 2 Hurricane
September 16th, 2003

This evening, it appears nearly certain that Isabel will hit the outer banks of North Carolina onThrusday, making landfall somewhere around Kill Devil Hills. Current sustained winds have dropped to 105 mph and may decrease further. Most tourists have evacuated the area, but many locals are staying on, having survived several storms of this strength before.

Hurricane Isabel Headed to Mid-Atlantic region
September 15th, 2003

At 5 AM AST this morning, Hurricane Isabel was located about 800 miles SSE of Cape Hatteras, NC. Isabel is still a dangerous category 4 hurricane. She is moving WNW at 10 mph and is expected to turn in a northwesterly direction within the next two days. Presently it appears that landfall will occur somewhere between North Carolina and New Jersey, with the most likely target being the Washington-Baltimore area late Thursday or early Friday. The storm is expected to weaken by then, but will probably still be a dangerous category 2 or 3 hurricane with sustained winds of up to 130 mph.

Hurricane Isabel now Category 4
September 11th, 2003

Hurricane Isabel continues to move westward across the Atlantic at 10 mph as a category 4 hurricane, with maximum sustained winds of up to145 mph. The lowest central pressure is 936 mb (27.64 inches), and at 5 AM AST this morning it was centered at 21.3 north, 53.7 west, about 650 miles east-northeast of the northern Leeward Islands. Isabel may reach category 5 status in the near future and is expected to pass north of the Leeward Islands later tomorrow and tomorrow night. Next Tuesday it will be nearing the Bahamas. Whether she will continue on track and threaten the US coast is uncertain at this time.

John Roschella is our August Prizewinner
September 5th, 2003

John Roschella of Cooksville MD has claimed his prize in our September drawing for another VHF handheld radio. John and his family currently live near, and sail on, the Chesapeake Bay . He has used eBare in helping to choose his bareboat several times in his past four charters in the Virgin Islands and expects to use eBare on his next sailing vacation as well. John is looking forward to using his new VHF at home, and on his next trip to the islands, too.

Fabian Misses the Caribbean
September 2nd, 2003

Fabian, a dangerous category 4 hurrican, has fortunately bypassed the Caribbean islands, harmlessly passing to the north of them. While it is possible that Fabian could reach the Bahamas, it is more likely that it will curve northward, possibly endangering Bermuda later this week.

Fabian Now a Hurricane
August 31st, 2003

Fabian is now a category 3 hurricane, with sustained winds of 125 mph and further strengthening expected. At 7 am EDT she is 600 miles east of the Leeward Islands, moving in a West-Northwesterly direction at 13 mph. If it continues its present direction Fabian will pass to the North of the Caribbean Islands and might threaten the Bahamas and the eastern coast of the USA late next week.

Tropical storm Grace will reach the Texas coast this afternoon with winds of 40 mph. Heavy rainfall is quite possible but serious flooding is not expected.

Tropical Storm development in the Caribbean
August 29th, 2003

As of this morning, Tropical Storm Fabian was 1200 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. It has maximum sustained winds of 60 mph and is expected to strengthen and turn to the west-northwest through the Labor Day weekend. Fabian should pass by north of the northeast Caribbean islands on Monday, and may miss landfall altogether, but we should continue to watch it's progress. An area of strong thunderstorms in the northwest Caribbean is getting better organized and will probably enter the Gulf of Mexico in the next 24 hours, and head for the Texas or Louisiana coastline on Sunday. This system has the potential to become a strong tropical storm, or even a hurricane.

Weather in the Caribbean Uneventful so far
August 24th, 2003

So far this year there has been very little tropicl storm development in the Caribbean, despite our dire prediction that there would be more activity than usual. While September is still to come (historically the peak period for hurrican development), there's hope that we were wrong this time. Wouldn't THAT be great!!

Don Peterson Wins the Radio!
August 14th, 2003

At long last, we have a winner for our July drawing for a handheld VHF Marine Radio. Don Peterson of Houston TX has claimed the prize. Thank you Don, we hope that you find it useful on your next bareboat charter, and throughout the sailing season, too.

First Prizewinner AND Runner-up Fail to Claim Radio
August 14th, 2003

For the very first time, we've had to go to our second runner-up to award our July prize of a portable VHF radio. Lots of people signed up for this drawing, so we thought we'd selected a pretty good prize for the month. But now, we're having a hard time giving it away. We announded the prizewinner on August 1st but she failed to claim her prize, so we announced the runner-up, be he didn't claim it either. We're now waiting for our second runner-up, Don Peterson of Houston Texas, to come forward and claim it. Sure hope that we hear from him!!

First Annual Foxy's Wooden Boat Regatta - North
August 5th, 2003

Sandy Spit and its parent, Green Cay, have been offered for sale at $1.7 million, and there is concern that they could be developed. These pristine uninhabited islands have long been a favorite for locals and visiting yachtsman alike. The Jost Van Dyke Preservation Society is raising funds to purchase the land and turn it into a marine park, open to the public for generations to come. To this end, Foxy Callwood has announced the first annual Foxy's Wooden Boat Regatta-North, to help the fund-raising effort. It will be held at the Corinthian YC of Marblehead MA on August 30th and 31st. Open to any wooden yachts, there are not ratings. Instead, boats will be grouped by size. Click here for more information about this regatta.

Cynthia Leggett Drawn as Winner of our July Drawing
August 1st, 2003

Cynthia Leggett of Jackson MS has been drawn as the winner of our July prize - a portable VHF Marine Radio - providing that she contacts us no later than 9 AM on August 7th. Otherwise, the prize will be awarded to our runner-up for the month, Bob Huskisson of Colchester VT.

Bahamas Raises Cruising Fees
July 26th, 2003

On July 1st the Bahamas raised the cost of a cruising permit to $150 for all vessels under 35 feet and $300 for those over 35 feet. While cruising permits are good for up to 12 months they may not be used for multiple entries - a new one must be purchased each visit. The permit covers the captain plus three crew members. Additional crew members over the age of six must pay an additional charge of $15 per person.

This permit is proving particularly unpopular with yachts wishing to make a short visit to the Bahamas from Florida.

American Airlines Offers 25% Discount to Caribbean
July 20th, 2003

American Airlines has announced special rates to the Caribbean for travel between now and December 14th with savings of up to 25% off. Other carriers may match pricing.

Tickets must be purchased by Aug 8th and as rates are subject to availability, the earlier you book your flights, the better!

Vieto Sur Announces Naples base
July 16th, 2003

Viento Sur has reached an agreement with an Italian Partner and will add them to their network of bareboat bases. This newest addition is in Naples at Molosiglio Harbor, just 10 minutes from the railway station and 15 minutes from the airport. Viento Sur has another Italian base in the Vibo Balentia marina, very near to Lamezia Terme airport. The company does not require a sailing license in order to charter a yacht from these locations - you need only to show your sailing proficiency.

Claudette a Hurricane
July 15th, 2003

Claudette has finally reached hurricane status after a number of false starts. This one-again, off-again storm has grown and diminished several times over the past few days but is now expected to continue as a level-one hurricane until reaching the coast of Texas near Port O'Conner later today, after which she will quickly break apart.

Claudette Misses Belize
July 11th, 2003

Claudette tracked slightly more to the north than expected, sparing Belize and passing just to the north of Cozumel. At 5 am AST this morning she was about 30 miles N of Cozumel with maximum sustained winds of under 50 knots and weakening. However her NW progress has slowed to 15 mph and after she passes over the Yukatan Peninsula late today or early tomorrow she will begin to strengthen again due to favorable upper-level winds, and should reach hurricane strength in the next 48 hours, before making landfall again in N Mexico or S Texas early next week.

Claudette Has Not Strengthened
July 10th, 2003

So far, Claudette remains a Tropical Storm, with maximum sustained winds of 60 knots and gusts to 75 knots. At 11 AM EDT the storm was centered at 17.8 N, 83.6 W moving in a West- Northwesterly direction. There is a Tropical Storm Watch in effect for Belize and a Hurricane Watch further north in Mexico. She has been weakened by a wind shear but could reach hurricane force by tomorrow, when she is expected to reach land.

Tropical Storm Claudette
July 9th, 2003

Tropical Storm Claudette may grow into a hurricane later today, and could threaten Belize within the next few days. After that, Claudette may reform and head towards the Texas/Louisiana coast. Check here for daily updates.

Hazel Salazar Wins our June Drawing
July 5th, 2003

Hazel Salazar of Blaine, WA has been confirmed as the winner of our June 2003 prize of a radio-controlled wather forecaster that receives information from the U.S. atomic clock to set its own day, date and year - reven resetting itself automatically for daylight savings time. The jumbo-sized display showns indoor temperature and one of three remove temperature signals, accessible at the touch of a button. Includes one remote sensor and batteries. Mounts on a wall or on your desk. Hazel contacted us this past week to claim her prize and it will be shipped to her within the next few days.

More Last-Minute Discounts
June 26th, 2003

Lots of bareboat companies are offering last-minute specials this season. The Moorings has announced 30% off on Moorings 332, 362, 413 and 463 club-line yachts in the BVI this summer, and Argus Marina is offering a whopping 45% off on their entire fleet for charters taking place between now and July 19th at their base in Croatia. Most other companies are offering similar savings and it is truly a buyer's market this summer, no matter where you want to sail!

Horizon Adds a New Base in Antigua
June 18th, 2003

Horizon Yacht Charters, headquartered in Tortola BVI has announced the planned opening of a new based in historic Nelson's Dockyard, English Harbour Antigua, in time for the winter 2003-2004 yachting season. Antigua and nearby Barbuda are prime cruising destinations in the Caribbean and the island hosts The Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta and Antigua Sailing Week.

The Government of Antigua recently completed a survey which showed that yachting provides the island with half again as much revenue as do cruising ships, and has taken bold steps to encourage more yachting activity including bigger and better yachting facilities, increased security, the placement of many aids to navigation throughout the area, and duty-free yachting supplies and parts. With the Virgin Islands becoming more crowded each year, and with a major airport able to support direct flights from the continental USA, Antigua appears poised to become an alternative destination for more and more bareboaters in the coming years.

El Nino Weakens According to NOAA
June 9th, 2003

NOAS's Climate Prediction Center has reported that the current El Nino is rapidly dissapating. Historically it has been noted that El Nino tends to surpress the development of tropical storms in the Caribbean. This tends to affirm our prediciton of May 22nd that there are likely to be more storms than normal this season.

Ruth Bousquet Named as our May Winner.
June 3rd, 2003

Ruth Bousquet of Winchester, VA has been named as the winner of our May drawing for a West Marine sailing vest. She says that she will be giving it to her Marine son who is currently serving at Whidbey Island, WA. Flying and sailing are his two loves. (Picture shown of her son.)

More Hurricanes Predicted This Year
May 22nd, 2003

With the potential for more tropical storms this year than is usual, it would be a good idea to take out trip cancellation, especially if you are chartering in the Caribbean from mid-July to mid-October, when the majority of such storms occur. Not all trip insurance policies cover cancellation due to tropical storms! Some cover damage to your home from a tropical storm while you're on charter, but not the cancellation of your charter, so read the terms carefully! Click here for information about trip cancellation from Travel-Guard International, a highly rated independent provider.

Water's Getting Warm in the Caribbean
May 12th, 2003

We've received reports that the water is a little warmer than usual in the Virgin Islands this year. This could mean that we may see jellyfish earlier than usual this summer. There could also be algae blooms in late summer and possibly a more active storm season than last year. We'd suggest taking out trip cancellation insurance for late-summer charters in the Caribbean, particularly between August and early October. Make sure that the policy you select includes coverage for tropical storms.

David Marxen wins our April Drawing
May 11th, 2003

David Marxen of Morris Plains NJ has contacted us to claim his Offshore Medical Kit, the prize in our April drawing. Congratulations, David. Hope you never need to use it!

Winner Fails to Claim Prize, New Winner Announced
May 9th, 2003

Jon Aswad of Burlington, VT failed to claim his Offshore Medical Kit within the time allowed, and so the runner-up, David Marxen of Morris Plains NJ will get it instead - providing of course, that we hear from him within the next week! We suspect that these days with so much spam email going around, messages tend to get overlooked more often than they used to. Sorry Jon, we tried to reach you and your name was posted for a week. Hope that David gets in touch with us. This is a really nice medical kit that anyone would be happy to receive.

Satellite Phones available for Bareboats
May 7th, 2003

The Moorings and Footloose are now offering satellite phones to their charter clients. You sign up in advance and a phone is sent to you before the charter begins. Take it with you, make your calls (it works anywhere) and then mail it back when you return. It's that easy! For the rest of you, there are many companies advertising satphone rentals on the internet with rental prices starting at $25 per week and calls costing under $1 per minute. Just log on to Google.com or your favorite search engine and type in "satellite phone rentals" or a similar search phrase.

Jon Aswad picked in April Drawing
May 1st, 2003

Jon Aswad of Burlington, Vermont has been selected as the winner of our April drawing for an Offshore Medical Kit from West Marine, providing that he contacts us no later than May 9th at 9 am Florida time. (We've extended his deadline as we were late posting his name to our website.) Otherwise the prize will be awarded to our runner up instead. This month's prize is a sailing vest. Good luck!

News From the Whitsunday Islands
April 28th, 2003

The Charter Fleet in the Whitsunday Islands in Australia continues to grow. Whitsunday Rent A Yacht has added a new luxury Beneteau 50 and will be adding a Seawind 1200, a luxury Beneteau 47.7 and a standard Beneteau Oceanis 500 next month. For more information go to their website at http://www.rentayacht.com.au

A New Flight to the Whitsunday Islands
April 28th, 2003

Virgin Blue has just started non-stop flights from Sydney to the Whitsunday Coast Airport on Saturdays. The cost is $199 each way.

Offshore Passage Opportunities
April 22nd, 2003

We've come across a website that lists yachts looking for crews to assist in offshore passages. In many cases the passage is free - you just pay your way to and from the boat. In other cases you help with expenses or pay a small daily charge. Either way you pick up valuable offshore experience. As we know nothing about the yachts seeking crew, we caution you to investigate the yacht and especially the captain carefully before signing on! For more information go to Offshore Passage Opportunities (www.sailopo.com).

The Moorings has Repeat Discount program
April 16th, 2003

Around three years ago The Moorings discontinued their "Admiral's Club", a repeat charterer program which required five charters to earn, but which provided a 15% discount on repeat charters. Now, they have announced their replacement program, called the "Captain's Reward Program" it only requires a first charter to join but provides a lesser discount of 5%. There are other benefits however, including discounts on merchandise, food and drinks in the BVI and even sailing programs for the kids. For more information visit The Moorings website.

Victoria Thomas our March 2003 Prizewinner
April 7th, 2003

Vicky Thomas of Manassas VA has been declaired our April prizewinner. She's won a cordless blender which will come in handy on her next bareboat charter. Imagine all the great frozen drinks she'll be able to whip up!

The Moorings Offers Summer Savings
March 25th, 2003

The Moorings is offering discounts in The Caribbean, The Bahamas and Mexico this summer. You'll get a 15% price reduction if you charter for 5 to 13 days, and a 25% price reduction if you charter for 14 or more days. This is a significant departure from the policy of previous years where, if you chartered for 15 days you'd pay full rate for that extra day. Alternatively, if you pay full rate for your charter and purchase your airline tickets through The Moorings' travel service, your companion flys free. Certain restrictions and travel dates apply to all specials and a few yachts are restricted from the money-off offer. Visit The Moorings website for further details.

CYOA Announces Price Guarantee
March 19th, 2003

CYOA is offering price protection on fall 2003 and winter 2004 charters. If you reserve your charter now, you get a 15% discount from the listed prices. Should CYOA raise their prices later, your price remains the same. But, should CYOA lower their prices later on, you'll get the lower price. We particularly like this offer, as in the past most bareboat companies have advertised higher prices early on and lowered them later, charging those who booked ahead of time the original, higher price. This seems like a lot fairer way of doing business to us. However, we do caution you to examine the offer in writing to make sure that you understand exactly what CYOA is promising you.

Dan Merriman Declared our February Prizewinner
March 12th, 2003

Dan Merriman of Sandy UT is our official prizewinner after the initial winner drawn failed to claim her prize. Dan had his choice of his choice of prizes from West Marine catalogue up to a value of $100 and elected to take a cash prize of $75 instead. Dan races a J92 on the Great Salt Lake and plans to move his family to Florida in four years after retirement. He's looking forward to spending lots of time cruising Florida, the Bahamas and the Caribbean after that. Congratulations, Dan!

Winner Fails to claim February's Prize.
March 7th, 2003

It's even getting hard to give money away these days! February's prize drawing was for a $100 credit towards a single purchase from West Marine's catalogue or $75 cash. But despite posting the winner's name on our website and even sending her an email, she failed to claim her prize by 9 AM this morning. Consequently the runner-up will get the prize instead. So, Janice Williamson loses her chance to claim a great prize and it goes to Dan Merriman of Sandy Utah instead. Congratulations Dan! There were only a disappointing 61 entries last month. Hard to believe, considering the volume of visitors that we get on our website each month. Those of you reading this - take our advice and enter. Your odds of winning are pretty darned good.

The Moorings is adding another base
March 7th 2003

The Moorings announced today that they are opening another new base, this time in Trogir, Croatia. It will start operations in May but reservations are already being accepted for its fleet of monohulls and catamarans ranging from 33 to 41 feet in length. This is the fifth new base that The Moorings has opened during the past twelve months.

Lots of Free Days in the Caribbean
February 25th 2003

We're seeing more "free days" offers than usual this year, as bareboat companies scramble to keep their fleets busy with the threat of war overshadowing us. Visit the various company websites for more information. There are links to all of them on eBare.

VIP Adds 58 foot Motor Yacht to Fleet
February 18th 2003

VIP Yacht Charters in St Thomas, USVI, recently received their first Tarquin Trader 585 Motor Yacht. It offers unparalleled accommodation for up to four couples in four equal staterooms with private en-suite heads and separate shower area. Those arranging their charter by February 28th for charters taking place between July 12 and November 14th 2003 will get 8 days for the price of 7. Other special internet-only pricing is also being offered on other yachts in their fleet. Click on the link to VIP's site for more information.

Argus Marine offering 50% discounts in April & May
February 14th 2003

Argus Marine in Groatia has emailed us that they are offering a 50% discount on April and May pricing. This company offers boat power and sailboats up to 50 feet in length. Contact this company through the link on our website for more information about this offer.

Miami Boat Show Feb 14-18 - Free Tickets
February 8th 2003

Florida Yacht Charters and Sales is offering 2 free tickets to boating enthusiasts who wish to attend the Miami Boat Show this coming week. Stop by their office at the Miami Beach Marina, 1290 5th Street, Miami Beach (corner of S Alton and 5th Street in front of Pier A) to pick up 2 complimentary boat show tickets. Office hours are 9am to 5 pm. Florida Yacht Charters and other companies are offering charter discounts to those attending the show.

Jeremy Roberts our January 2003 Winner
February 4th 2003

Jeremy Roberts of Riverside Drive, New York City, is the winner of our January drawing for a pair of Nikon binoculars, having contacted us to claim his prize. February's drawing will be for your choice of any one item from the Boat US catalogue up to a value of $100 including shipping.

Bargains Galore on Bareboat Charters
January 20th 2003

Throughout the world, companies are offering deep discounts on bareboat charters as the economy shows little sign of picking up anytime soon. There are bargains in the Caribbean through next fall. In the Mediterranean you can find discounts for the upcoming season and in Australia, most companies are giving discounts and/or free days through Easter.

Upcoming Lunar Eclipse in the Caribbean
January 15th 2003

Jeannie Kuich, author of "Soap Operas of the Sky" and long-time stargazer, reports that there will be a total eclipse of the moon on May 16-17. While you can see this in your own back yard it would be far more spectacular to view it in the clear Caribbean sky from the deck of your own yacht! Stargazing adds another dimension to your Caribbean sailing vacation and can be a great family project. We recommend that you pick up a copy of Jeannie's fascinating book before your next trip south.

Big Savings on Airfare
January 5th 2003

There are currently savings on leasure travel throughout the airline industry. Of the most interest to those seeking travel to the Caribbean this winter will be American's present sale, which offers round-trip off-peak flights flying down to the Caribbean after March 6th and back until April 21st as low as $329 from New York, $411 from Boston and $491 from San Francisco. Of course, many flights cost MUCH more than this, depending on the day and load factor of the aircraft. You'll have to shop around to find the lowest fares. Tickets must be purchased no later than January 20th.

Jet Blue is offering travel from $99 one-way from New York to San Juan, Puerto Rico. There are other specials out there if you check around, so get cracking and find that bargain air to make your vacation this winter a most affordable one.

Joe Chriest wins December Prize Drawing
January 3rd 2003

Congratulations to Joe Chriest of Conneaut Lake PA, who has been declared the winner of our December 2002 drawing for a Wichard rigging knife.

Our prize for the January 2003 drawing is a pair of 7x50 Nikon binoculars. Your chances of winning are estimated to be better than 1 in 100, so we urge you to enter. You will not be added to any mailing lists by doing so.

Full Moon Party at Trellis Bay in the BVI
December 17th 2002

Aragon has starting holding a full moon party in Trellis Bay each month. He's promised a big bonfire, food and drink. He also has his Carib artwork and crafts for sale. The next party takes place December 19th.

Many people plan their charter to coincide with the full moon. While this gives visibility at night, there's also something to say about chartering on a new moon, when you'll see the milky way clearly, and thousands more stars than you'd probably see in the sky at home. You can look up the phases of the moon for any time period by clicking on "Full Moon" under "Trip Planning" on our menu bar.

The Moorings Expands Again
December 10th 2002

The Moorings has announced that they will be opening a base in the Seychelle Islands (Indian Ocean) in late summer 2003.

Featured yachts will include the Moorings 4700 and 3800 catamarans as well as the popular 433 monohulls with 3/4 cabin configurations. Docks and facilities will be new construction and will include a dive shop.

Currently Sunsail, Voyage Yacht Charters, Dream Yacht and VPM have bases in these islands.

Entries in our Drawing are Still Disappointing
December 9th 2002

Have you entered our drawing this month for a sailing knife? If not, you're missing out on some great odds! Last month there were less than 50 entries for a Weems and Plath weather station worth around $160!

We don't harvest email addresses for ANY mailing list. So, what have you got to lose? If we don't get more participation in the next few months, these drawings will end.

Nat Howe a Two-Time Prizewinner
December 2nd 2002

Nat Howe of Jackson NH has been declared the winner of our monthly prize drawing for the second time. As our November 2002 prize winner he has won a great Weems & Plath weather station that can be wall mounted either horizontally or vertically.

Exactly one year ago, Nat was the November 2001 winner of a pair of 7x50 Tasco waterproof binoculars.

Even through our website continues to grow and get more visitors each month, entries in our monthly drawing have been disappointingly small - only once in the past year have we had more than 100 entries. This explains why we have had two double winners in the past two years. If you're not entering our drawing each month, perhaps you should be!

Help Get JetBlue Service to St Thomas
November 18th 2002

JetBlue Airways, a low-cost carrier flying new planes with leather seating and live satellite TV in each seat are currently offering service from New York to Puerto Rico with currently as low as $124 each way.

The Virgin Islands Charteryacht League has started a write-in campaign to encourage this airline to offer service into St Thomas as well.

If you plan to charter anywhere in the Virgin Islands, having JetBlu service would certainly make flights affordable again! We encourage you to send a message to JetBlue and tell them you want them to fly to St Thomas and would use them if they did.

Airline Prices On Sale till December 2nd
November 13th 2002

American Airlines, United and some other carriers have announced sale pricing which includes the Caribbean. Tickets must in most cases be purchased no later than December 2nd and travel must occur before April 15th.

If you wish to charter this winter and don't have tickets yet, hurry up and get them as the number of seats available are limited and will fill up quickly. By December 2nd there may be very little left!

Sam Leming drawn as October Winner
November 1st 2002

Congratulations to Sam Leming of Indianapolis IN, who has been confirmed as the winner of our October drawing for a relief band electronic motion sickness device valued at approximately $100. The prize in our November drawing is a Weather Station by Weems & Plath, which would look great in your home, office or on board your yacht. Be sure to sign up for this valuable prize!

Airline Prices May Fall in November
October 29th 2002

Rumor has it that some new winter sale fares to the Caribbean may be announced on or about November 10th due to slow sales so far this fall.

Unless you are planning to travel over the Christmas holidays, President's Week or Spring Break, it may pay you to wait and see what happens before purchasing your airline tickets. (Make the reservations but don't pay for them yet, if possible).

CYOA Adds Air Conditioned Yachts
October 24th 2002

CYOA Yacht Charters, based in St Thomas USVI, has added a number of new yachts to their fleet this year, most of them air-conditioned. The air-conditioned models include Hunter 460's (both 3 and 4 cabin versions), A Maryland 37 trawler-cat and some Belize 43 and Bahia 46 catamarans, both 4 cabin models.

Annapolis Sailboat Show Has Light Turnout
October 15th 2002

The Annapolis Sailboat Show drew to a close yesterday afternoon at 5pm and before dark, all of the hundreds of yachts on display along with many floating barge exhibits had all been disassembled! It's quite a sight to see the fleet leaving the docks practically bow to stern, as the dock attendants walk down the dock casting off bow and stern lines, ready or not, with 100s of powerboats circling around waiting to move in behind them!

There was relatively light attendance at the show this year, due in part to constant rain for the first two days and high winds on Monday, in part to the general state of the economy, and in part due to apprehension with respect to the nearby sniper attacks, but nevertheless the mood was upbeat and those that did come were in a buying mood.

George Yessaian declared our September Winner
October 3rd 2002

Congratulations to George Yessaian of North Hollywood CA, who won our September drawing for a Plastimo hand-bearing compass. George has a Catalina 30 that he sails out of Marina del Rey. We understand that place is so large that the compass may come in handy finding his slip!

Annapolis Sailboat Show Oct 10-14
October 8th 2002

The Annapolis Sailboat Show starts later this week and eBare will be in attendance. We'll report on the latest news from the bareboat fleets next week.

Bareboat Companies often offer show specials as an inducement to sign up for your charter while you're at the show. By attending one of the fall shows and making your charter arrangements while you are there you may save money on your next charter.

St Vincent & The Grenadines impose fees, taxes.
October 4th 2002

A few months ago St Vincent started charging a cruising tax of US$2 per person for charters in their waters, which include most of the Grenadine Islands. Unlike the BVI where only charterers pay this tax, it applies to both charterers and any crewmembers.

The Island of Mustique has instituted a charge of US$30 for any yachts visiting the island. You may stay there for up to three days without paying any additional charge. Young Island has installed moorings and is charging for them, too. No other such charges have as yet been reported but its probably only a matter of time before you'll pay to visit the Tobago Cays, too.

George Yessaian wins August Drawing
October 1st 2002

Our congratulations go out to George Yessaian from West Hollywood CA, the winner of our August drawing for a Plastimo Hand-bearing compass. We had 116 entries in this drawing, the first time we have had over 100 participants. Thanks to all of you for entering and better luck in our next drawing - this time for a ReliefBand device that sends user-controlled electric impulses that interrupt communication between your brain and stomach, supressing nausia.

TMM Opening New Base in Belize
September 25th 2002

TMM is opening a new charter base in Placentia, located south of their original base at San Pedro (which will remain open). The Placentia facility will be operational early next month and will enable one-way charters between bases without a drop-off fee. It will also offer more experienced sailors the opportunity to explore Southern Belize and for the more adventurous, perhaps even Guademala and Honduras! For less experienced charter skippers or for those seeking an alternative Belezian venue, San Pedro in Ambergris Cay will remain the preferred choice.

Hurricane Isidore Spares Belize
September 25th 2002

Hurricane Isidore passed north of Belize, hammering the Yukatan Penninsula but sparing Belize the full brunt of its fury. It did bring heavy winds and rain, producing some minor damage but nothing serious. TMM did not have any yachts at its base in San Pedro, having sent them to the Rio Dulce in Guatemala for the hurricane season, during which time they will have their annual haulouts and maintenance performed. In mid-October, the yachts will return to their bases in San Pedro and Placentia.

Revised Hurricane Predictions are Good News
September 17th 2002

Hurricane Forecasters have downgraded the threat of Hurricanes in the Carribean and and now forecasting only eight named storms, three of them being hurricanes and only one of these being category three or higher. This is a dramatic difference from their earlier forecasts (which suggested higher than average hurricane activity) and in line with what we predicted in our June 1st announcement (pat pat).

Any of you who are planning a charter in the next two or three months should keep abreast of any storm threats, however, as late-season activity could be possible this year.

Trade Wind Opens Base in Florida Keys
September 10th 2002

Trade Wind continues to expand. After opening bases in The Grenadeins as well as Annapolis, they have now announced a new base in Marathon, Florida. Marathon is in the heart of the Florida Keys, with commuter flights connecting from Miami and other Florida locations.

Important Information regarding Melanoma.
August 30th 2002

Sally Welsh, who has a family history of Melanoma and who herself suffers from it, has published an extremely informative website that only takes a few minutes to read.

Often, suspected cancers are removed before they are diagnosed. This procedure eliminates a window of opportunity that may allow your doctor to determine how far the cancer has spread and what treatment is required. Click here to visit her website. It might just save your life!

Participation in our Monthly Drawings Disappointing.
August 27th 2002

Up until today we have had less than 75 entries in our monthly drawing. The prize this month is a pair of Nikon binoculars. Over the past year and a half we have given away many great prizes including portable GPS units, binoculars worth up to $300, VHF radios, boat shoes and more. There have never been more than 100 entries in our monthly drawing. Unless participation increases within the next few months, we will discontinue it at the end of this year.

Unlike most drawings, those who enter are not added to any mailing list (unless they choose to be and manually select that option) and the only time we will ever contact them is if they are a winner.

Late-Season Storms Likely This Year
August 21st 2002

So far this season there has been very little in the way of tropical storm development. We went into the summer months with relatively cool sea temperatures. However temperatures have been building, which may encourage storm development later in the Summer and early Fall. We have a link to Caribbean weather on our home page, and links to other weather sites on our Links page. If you are planning a charter in the next few months, we urge you to use these links to keep current on any storm threats.

Ciguatera Fist Testing Kit
August 15th 2002

Oceanit Test Systems, Inc. claims to have a test kit that will easily test the fish you catch for Ciquatera poisioning. Fish that are infected with Ciguatera, if eaten, can produce painful and serious effects in the unfortunate diner, sometimes lasting for months.

While we cannot attest to the effectiveness of this test kit, we do feel that it should be brought to your attention. Hopefully, independent testing will be performed which will let us all know if it works or not. Click here To learn more about this kit and claims made by the manufacturer.

Virgin Traders Opens New Base
August 8th 2002

Virgin Traders is opening a base in Puerto Rico that will feature the same fine line of powerboats that they offer for charter in the British Virgin Islands. Powerboats are more popular than sailboats in Puerto Rico and we suspect that this base will be a great success. It offers another alternative to chartering powerboats in the BVI as the islands lying east of Puerto Rico - the Spanish Virgins - are an untapped cruising area.

Robin Stewart is our July Winner
August 4th 2002

Robin Stewart of Spring, TX is the winner of our July drawing for a Wichard sailing knife with shackle opener and marlinspike. Congratulations Robin - we hope that you enjoy this finely crafted knife!

The Moorings offering Discounts
July 30th 2002

The Moorings has announced discounts of up to 25% on most of their yachts in the Caribbean, Bahamas and Mexico this summer/early fall with the exception of their newer catamarans. American has teamed with them to offer up to 25% off on airfare, so together these specials make taking a trip now quite an attractive proposition. Trade Wind Yachts and other companies are also offering similar specials, so it may pay you to shop around a little.

Airfare War Beginning
July 25th 2002

We recently learned that American and some other carriers have started a price war which has substantially lowered the cost of flying to many destinations this summer and early fall

If you are considering a charter and have not already paid for your airline tickets, we suggest that you check pricing from your bareboat company and on-line as well, as often the on-line internet pricing is lower these days. We have provided you with a link to Orbitz on our website. The reason that we are using this site is that we have found that they often let you know when special fares are available directly from the airline, while other sites do not appear to do this.

Many Improvements Taking Place at eBare.com
July 17th 2002

Over the past week we've brought our brand-new website on line. The look is the same, much of the content remains the same, but the database is much faster and more powerful. We also have moved to a new more reliable internet service provider which we expect will greatly reduce the problems that we have had in the past with site speed and website outages.

One of the major changes you'll see on eBare is that we have changed the featured (paid) company listings to a bid-per-click format. Instead of arbitrarily being listed in alphabetical order, these listings now appear with the highest bidder at the top. (When you click on that listing, the company pays us the bid amount). We have not opened the bidding up yet - expect to see bids changing in the next few days.

We chose a bid format for a number of reasons. It's simple to administer and the advertiser only pay us when you visit their website. More importantly, we reason that a company will not bid very much money to get you as a visitor unless it has something to offer that you will really be interested in learning about. These market dynamics will make the top positions sites that you'll want to pay particular attention to.

In the past, featured (paid) listings appeared at the top of the page and all other companies appeared under them, except for those featured companies. Now, featured companies appear at the top of the page AND are included in the alphabetical listings as well.

In the next few weeks expect to see a lot of additional content on ebare describing charter destinations throughout the world. You'll be able to review this information on the page that comes up right after you click on the world map to select a charter area. You can either click through to the area listings or else scroll down the page first, to read about the different destinations available to you.

Other changes and upgrades are planned in the months ahead. As always, we welcome your comments and suggestions. Simply send us an email by clicking on an email link anywhere on this website. And, thanks for listening!

Moorings Opens Base in Grenadines
July 9th 2002

The Moorings has announced plans to open its 25th charter base at the Tamarind Hotel in Charlestown Bay, Canouan this November.

The new base is conveniently located in the heart of the Grenadines. American Eagle operates several flights a week to Canouan from San Juan, Puerto Rico. For the first time, Moorings clients can sail the Grenadines without the need to sail for a day or more to get into this prime cruising area! The fleet will consisst of monohulls and catamarans from 38 to 52 feet.

First Drawn Fails to Claim June Prize
July 8th 2002

For the second time in as many months, the first person drawn as winner for our monthly drawing failed to claim her prize by the deadline. The cordless blender now goes to the runner up, Amy Terry of East Patchogue NY providing that she contacts us by 9 am on Sunday, July 15th.

Voyage Yachts Ramps Up Production Schedule
June24th 2002

Voyage Yachts, builder of the Voyage 440 that won Cruising World's Catamaran of the Year and also Cruising Boat of the Year for 2002 (The first time a cat ever won this prestigious award!) has increased production and a new 440 cat is rolling out of the factory every 6 weeks. These seagoing yachts are delivered to their new owners on their own bottoms, most of them destined for the British Virgin Islands or the USA, as well as Europe and the Indian Ocean.

Many will enter Voyage Yacht Charters' bareboat charter fleets where there is unprecedented demand for them.

Voyage just launched their first 580 catamaran, a huge 58 foot cat with a 31 foot beam that will enter their luxury (crewed) charter fleet in Tortola. Named Fantasy Island, she'll accommodate up to 10 guests in 5 air-conditioned cabins with queen beds, with room left over for 3 crew in 2 additional cabins. This yacht is will be shown at the Annapolis Sailboat Show this fall.

Mike Zines wins May Prize Drawing
June 18th 2002

Because the first person drawn as winner in our May Drawing did not respond to her prize notification in time, runner-up Mike Zines of Carlsbad CA was declared the winner of the waterproof VHF Marine radio. Mike says it will come in real handy next month when he's flying to the BVI for his first visit, sailing with The Moorings.

eBare will Not Be Updated Again until June 17th
June1st 2002

Because our staff will be travelling on business, this website will not be updated again until June 17th. Any emails we receive will be responded to at that time as well.

Hurricane Season begins
June 1st 2002

Hurricane season has officially started and many experts have predicted a higher than average number of storms for this year. Click on the "Caribbean Weather" link on our home page and then on the "hurricanes" link for more information and predictions.

Over the past few years we've noticed that the experts are often wrong. And this year, there have been unusually high winds throughout the spring, which has resulted in somewhat cooler sea water temperatures. Should water temperatures remain lower than normal, this could change the picture and result in a decrease rather than an increase in hurricane activity, at least in the Caribbean. Let's all hope so!

Those of you planning to charter this summer should pay particular attention to the different bareboat company policies with respect to cancellations in case of a storm. Some companies will give you credit towards a future charter while others will not. Also, some trip cancellation policies cover hurricanes while others don't. (Beware - at least one policy covers hurricanes that hit your home while you're away, but not cancellation of your trip due to a hurricane at the base!)

The trip cancellation offered through our website link does include hurricanes, as well as terrorist activity.

New Marina Facilities Under Construction in Thailand
May 23rd 2002

Plans are in place to build one of Asia's largest and best-equipped marinas yet in Phuket. To be called the Royal Phuket Marina, this marina will include 418 wet berths including facilities for megayachts as well as smaller sail and power yachts. This is yet one more indication that Phuket is becoming an internationally popular yachting destination, with a government increasingly aware of the potential that yachting can have on their economy.

Trade Wind offers up to 50% Off!
May 22nd 2002

Trade Wind Yachts is currently offering 50% off on remaining yachts available from August 15th to October 15th and guaranteeing full credit towards a future charter should your trip be interrumpted by a named windstorm. For more information contact Trade Wind at 800-825-7245

Last month, Footloose announced that they would beat any Trade Wind offer by 10% on a comparable yacht - it might be worth checking with Footloose to see if this offer is still in effect!

Karen Cameron wins April 2002 drawing.
May 1st 2002

Karen Cameron has responded and has been declared the winner of her choice of deckshoes from Boat-US. Next month's prize is a waterproof VHF radio from Uniden.

Senior Travel Can Save You Big Bucks!
April 26th 2002

Are you 62 years of age or older? If so, you should definitely look into travel savings offered to seniors by many airlines.

American Airlines is in most cases the airline of choice for travel to the Caribbean, as they have the most flights and serve the most areas. American offers a 10% senior discount (does not apply to all fares) and you can bring along one companion of any age, also at a 10% discount.

American also offers a booklet of four coupons for Seniors, costing $676. You must use the coupons within one year, and they cannot be used for a companion. Each coupon is good for a one-way coach ticket within the 48 contiguous United States, Puerto Rico or US Virgin Islands, and two of the coupons may also be used for travel to or from Alaska or Hawaii. When you consider that just one round-trip to St Thomas can cost as much or more than the coupon book depending on your departure city, purchasing one of these booklets makes a lot of sense. Call 1-800-237-7981 for more information.

Many Last-Minute Discounts This Season
April 16th 2002

This year there are more last-minute discounts than ever! The average discount ranges from 10% to 40% or more depending on the exact time period, the model of boat and of course the company offering it.

Smart shoppers can really save on their bareboat vacation this year, so if you've been waiting on the sidelines, now is the time to make your move.

Please remember - eBare does not arrange bareboat charters so don't call or write us. In order to book a yacht you need to contact the bareboat company directly, or through one of the many independent agents that advertise on our website using the links that we provide.

eBare Now Listing Bareboat Companies Worldwide
April 1st 2002

eBare is pleased to announce that we have now reached our goal of providing worldwide bareboat company and bareboat agent listings. We will continue to add more listings in our effort to locate each and every bareboat company that's on the internet and published in English.

If you know of a company that isn't yet listed on eBare, please let us know and we will be happy to add them.

Winner of our March 2002 Drawing Announced
March 31st 2002

Theodore Bilecky of Long Island City, NY, is the winner of our March drawing for a cordless Blender providing he contacts eBare no later than 9AM on April 7th, 2002. Should he fail to do so, this prize will instead be awarded to the runner up.

Trade Wind responds to Footloose Challenge
March 23rd 2002

Trade Wind Yachts is offering 50% off on remaining charter slots in April 2002. They are also offering a 35% discount on their remaining Premier Fleet availabilities through August 2002 (must order by the end of this month.

Other specials include up to 35% off on American Airlines tickets to the Caribbean, and a 15% early booking discount for charters booked more than 9 months ahead of time. Offers cannot be combined (other than airfare) and some restrictions apply. Contact Trade Wind for more details using the links on eBare.

Footloose Throws Down the Gauntlet
March 14th 2002

Today Footloose announced that they are offering $100 off any current Trade Wind Yachts' rate, when you book with Footloose to sail between June 1 and December 15, 2002. This applies to new bookings only, is not combinable with other offers and is based on availability. You must place your deposit by April 15, 2002 and the offer is only valid on similar model yachts.

This is an unusual position for Footloose to take. Seldom have we seen one bareboat company offer to best another company's pricing by a fixed dollar amount. Are we breaking new ground here, and will see more of this agressive pricing during the coming months? Stay tuned to eBare to find out!

American Announces Airfare Sale
March 11th 2002

Today American Airlines announced special promotional prices for air travel this spring and summer. As this special pricing is limited and may not be available on flights that are already heavily booked, you should check alternate dates, and especially weekday travel, in an attempt to find the best prices. You should also avoid delay in purchasing such fares, which could sell out quickly, especially on weekend travel. In the next few days it is likely that other carriers will also announce sales on routes that compete with American.

Special Prices on Airfare Expected
March 8th 2002

Early next week, American Airlines is expected to announce special promotional airfares for travel to the Caribbean this Spring and early Summer. Savings of up to 35% or more are anticipated, so don't buy that ticket quite yet!

Carol Conway is our February Prizewinner
March 7th 2002

Carol Conway of Philadelphia PA has been declared the winner of our February 2002 drawing for a Garmin eTrex portable GPS. This water resistant unit will come in handy on her next bareboat charter.

Last-Minute Specials for This Winter
February 14th 2002

While charter bookings for the winter season are getting tight, companies are still offering excellent specials to entice you to charter their yachts. Here are a few examples:

TMM is offering 25% off on all remaining yachts in both February and March 2002.

Tradewind is offering 45% off remaining February charters, 30% off remaining March charters and 20% off in April 2002.

Horizon offers 15% off any remaining high season charters in 2002.

Sunsail's providing a 10% discount on any Platinum luxury bareboat booked before March 31st for a charter between now and October 31st 2002.

For other specials, contact the bareboat charter company of your choice through the links we provide you with, or ask an independent charter agent to review them with you.

10 Years of Free Charters from The Moorings!
January 19th 2002

The lucky winner of The Moorings current drawing, taking place through the end of March, will be a free week of bareboat sailing every year for the next 10 years at any Moorings base in the Caribbean! Other prizes include a week's sailing in the BVI, a week in Belize, a week in Turkey or a one-week BVI flotilla vacation.

Click Here for additional information about this contest and how to enter it.

Tom Crittenden Wins December Drawing
January 12th 2002

Congratulations to Tom Crittenden who has been declared the winner of our December drawing for a Henri Lloyd wet and dry duffle bag from Boat US. He and his wife Babette sail "Escape" (a Hunter 290) on Lake Champlain and we have chartered in Florida and Antigua. Future plans include additional charters and at some point either a sabbitacal or early-retirement to cruise the islands.

Still Some Great Airfares
January 11th 2002

We've been monitoring the price of airfare to the Caribbean for the past several weeks and are still finding some GREAT travel bargains, the best prices we've seen in years! Most of these specials are only available on the internet, but always check with the bareboat company or bareboat agent that you are dealing with to see if they can do better.

Trade Wind Specials
January 7th 2002

Tradewind is raising the bar with specials: 40% off on remaining January availabilities. Also, a special $500 on-time discount for former Moorings or Sunsail charters on any Trade Wind charter. Many other companies are offering great bargains this year as well. Spend some time using the links on eBare to investigate them!

TMM Offers Outstanding Specials
January 7th 2002

TMM is currently offering exceptional pricing on remaining January charters and 25% off on all remaining February charters at all three of their bases, located in the BVI, St Vincent and Belize. For more information, click on the "specials" link in eBare's listings.

No News Postings on eBare until January 7th
December 24th 2001

eBare will be closed over the holidays and will reopen on January 7th 2002. During this period there will be no news postings or changes in the website.

Nautic Blue offering Powerboats in St Thomas & Bahamas
December 18th 2001

Nautic Blue is a new bareboat company based in St Thomas and the Abacos, specializing in new monohull and catamaran motor yachts from 34 to 45 feet. This company, like Footloose, is a separate division of The Moorings. For more information, contact them through the links provided on our website.

Spam routed through eBare's e-mail address
December 14th 2001

This afternoon we received a spam mailing about credit cards - and to our dismay saw that it came from our own e-mail address! We have contacted our service provider to see how this could have happened and sincerely apologize to anyone who received spam from our email address. If you did, please forward a copy of it to us so that we can attempt to take legal action against the spammer.

The e-mail that we received was advertising that they could set up a new (fraudulent) credit history for individuals with new social security numbers etc. The company advertising this was listed as American Financial Services Inc. of Beverly Hills, CA and we would certainly not recommend that anyone deal with this company.

Low Cost Airfare to the Caribbean - Again
December 9th 2001

Once again we've received reports of people finding some really good airfares to the Caribbean. Last time, they only lasted for a few days. This time, who knows!! If you want to take advantage of them you should probably hurry.

The following fares have been reported today (December 9th): Portland ME to St Thomas $425, Newark NJ to Tortola $443 and Buffalo to St Thomas $447.50. Apparently you won't find these and other low fares from all cities or for all travel dates. As we've reported before, if you don't find what you like, keep checking every day or so. Most good fares are specials that are only available on the internet.

Nat Howe wins our November Drawing
December 3rd 2001

Nat Howe of Jackson NH was declared the winner of our November drawing for a pair of waterproof 7x50 TASCO binoculars. We're sure he'll put them to good use. Once again, there were less than 100 entries in this drawing. We encourage everyone to participate as the prizes are certainly worth the entry fee, which is nothing, and the chances of winning are excellent. When you enter our drawings, you are NOT signed up for any mailing lists including our own!

TMM Adds New Power Boats to their Fleet
November 23rd 2001

Tortola Marine Management's bases in Tortola and Belize have now taken delivery of Trader 485 power boats. According to the company, the 485's offer superb accommodation and three double cabins with two additional singles in the crews quarters.

The Totola base is also taking delivery of a smaller Heritage 36 trawler which is set up for two couples. All of these powerboats have air conditioning, generator, wet bar and flybridge controls. The Heritage even has a bow thruster for easy maneuverability.

Companies Face Financial Difficulties
November 14th 2001

Due to the unprecedented drop in charter bookings throughout the Caribbean this winter, some companies are cutting back on personnel and fleet sizes in an effort to maintain financial stability. Bases have been closed and new boat orders cancelled.

Larger bareboat operators that guarantee a return on investment must continue to pay their owners even if the yachts remain at the dock, a worrisome situation. Those companies that are managing to keep their fleets fairly busy over the winter months are generally achieving this by deep discounting during the winter period when most of the profits are usually earned. Many smaller bareboat companies may be able to weather the storm better than their larger cousins, as they typically have an arrangement with their owners where the owner pays all maintenance costs and charter revenues are split between them.

Does this mean that we suggest you not charter this winter? Absolutely not! In fact we feel that this winter will be a great time to go sailing, with lower prices and less crowded anchorages. However we would strongly advise you to make sure that all charter payments are made by credit card and to take out a trip insurance policy, making sure that it covers default of the bareboat company due to business closure, as these two actions will give you additional layers of protection should the company you have chosen to charter with fail - a possibility that is unlikely but which cannot be overlooked in today's charter environment.

The winter months will probably be the most difficult. This summer we think that the charter fleets may be back to "business as usual" as many families cancel plans to travel to Europe and stay closer to home in the Caribbean, an area considered safe from terrorist acts by most people, or in the USA or Canada.

No more news until November 14th
November 2nd 2001

We will be away from our office until November 12th, on an annual visit to the Virgin Islands to see various boats and bareboat companies. eBare will not be making any additions or modifications to this website until we return.

Voyage Wins Cruising World Competition
November 1st 2001

Cruising World announced today named the Voyage 440 "Best Cruising Multihull" and "Best Overall Boat" for 2002. The South African Manufacturer sells their yachts through a sales office in Annapolis where they also run a small bareboat charter operation, with bases in Annapolis, The British Virgin Islands and The Seychelles. Voyage also supplies bareboats to Sunsail.

It's the first time in the contest's nine year history that the overall boat of the year award went to a multihull. We congratulate the folks at Voyage Yachts on this honor. For a complete report and winners in other categories click here.

Eileen Bussinger is our October Winner
October 31st, 2001

Congratulations to Eileen Bussinger of Enola PA, who won our October drawing for a sailing knife that can be opened with one hand. This great knife has a suggested retail price of $110 and we hope that she enjoys it. There were 99 entries in this month's drawing.

North South Continues Popular Contests
October 27th, 2001

Due to their popularity, North South is continuing their policy of having contests on their website. Each contest has a different prize. This month, you can win two free air tickets to Tortola (maximum value $500 each) on American Airlines, to be used in conjunction with the booking of any one week charter between the dates of February 1st through March 31st, 2001. Some restrictions apply. For more information, use our link to connect to their website.

A Sailing Knife You Can Open with One Hand!
October 27th, 2001

A more useful gizmo would be hard to find. How many times have you wished you had three hands? This high-quality sailing knife is this month's prize on eBare. All you have to do to enter is click on the prize box and follow the directions. This knife has a suggested retail price of $110 and so far, we have less than 100 entries in our drawing, which ends in the next few days!

Footloose Introduces their Web Site
October 26th, 2001

Footloose, one of the last large bareboat companies to open a website, has finally done so! You can find it through the links provided on eBare. Simply click on "Bareboat Companies" and then "Caribbean". Footloose is located next door to The Moorings in Tortola, BVI.

Hurricane Damage Delays Moorings Base Opening
October 22nd, 2001

The Moorings has announced that their new base located at Placentia in Belize will not open in November as originally planned. Hurricane Iris caused severe damage to this area earlier this month and docks and buildings that were nearing completion were destroyed and construction must start over again.

The new target date for opening this base is some time in December. The Moorings is assessing whether or not this will affect future bookings, but is unlikely that this will be the case. For more information, contact the company directly.

Airfares Increase Again
October 20th, 2001

It has been brought to our attention that low-cost airfares, reported in our last email alert and also in the eBare Hotline Update of October 15th, have since been rescinded. This stresses the importance of acting on such airfare sales immediately, as they are often here today, gone tomorrow. We received many emails from people that were delighted to have saved a lot of money on their airline reservations, and one from someone who was very annoyed when, after waiting a few days, was unable to find any bargains!

Sailing School Listings Have Been Completed
October 13th, 2001

Over the past month we've been busy compiling the most complete list of (North American) sailing schools available anywhere. If you need to improve your sailing skills, you can now find a school near you by visiting our website and clicking on "Sailing Schools" in our navigation bar on the left side of your screen.

We invite your help in updating and adding to this list. If you know of any schools not listed, or any errors in the present listings, please send us an email.

Placentia Suffered Extensive Damage from Iris
October 11th, 2001

We heard today that all the docks in Placentia are totally destroyed and that the village is devastated. While we have not received a damage assessment from The Moorings yet, it appears doubtful that they will be able to open in November as planned. However, with such a basic infrastructure and very resourceful people, we have no doubt that Placentia will bounce back strong and will be operational again within a surprisingly short period of time.

TMM's Belize Base Undamaged
October 10th, 2001

We have received great news from TMM - their base at San Pedro on Ambergris Caye was not affected at all by hurricane Iris. Docks and yachts are ready to charter.

Hurricane Iris Hammers Belize
October 9th, 2001

Belize, an area not usually visited by hurricanes, was hammered for the second year in a row when hurricane Iris came ashore around 7pm near Placencia on Monday evening packing winds over 145 mph and a sea surge of 15 feet above normal water levels.

Placencia is where The Moorings just opened their new base. The road to Placencia is damaged and phone and power lines are down. There is some cellular contact but batteries are running low, so it is difficult to maintain contact. According to "The Belize Report" published by Belize Tourism, 90% of all structures in the area have been damaged or destroyed, but there has been no loss of life. Surrounding towns also report damage with hundreds of inhabitants homeless, but no reported loss of life.

Wave Dancer, a dive boat taking shelter in Big Creek with 20 vacationers from Virginia on board, capsized during the height of the storm when a surge caused the moorings to snap forcing all 28 passengers and crew into the water. So far, eight survivors have been confirmed and eleven bodies recovered.

Further north, most tourist facilities were untouched or reported much lighter damage, including Belize City, Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker. We are awaiting word from TMM, who bases their fleet of catamarans at Ambergris Caye.

Stay tuned for more news as it is received.

Nigel Newing wins our September drawing
October 2nd, 2001

Nigel Newing of Barry's Bay, Ontario Canada has won our September drawing for a two million candlepower hand-held spotlight. This powerful spotlight will come in handy on his next bareboat charter. It comes complete with a rechargeable battery and an adaptor and is probably one of the most useful prizes we've ever awarded.

Noonsite.com - A Website of Interest
September 27th 2001

We've just added a link to noonsite.com from our links page, located under "Armchair Sailing". This website is a font of information for cruising sailors and for those who dream of world cruising some day. It currently lists information about 1162 ports in 190 countries, and is still growing! Visit our website for many othere great links besides this one.

CYOA has added several new yachts to their fleet this year, including a Bahia 46 and a Belize 43 catamaran, both with generators and air conditioning, and an Athena 38 cat as well. In addition, they have a new Maryland 37 trawler catamaran, also with generator and AC, and a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 45. All area equipped with RIB tenders with 15hp outboards.

The company is offering a 10% winter special on all boats in the fleet except for the catamarans. Contact CYOA for more information.

Horizon Offers New Specials
September 18th 2001

Horizon Yacht Charters will give you a 15% discount on high season rates, or 9 days for the price of 7 during mid season, if you book your charter before the end of September!

The Moorings Announces Discounts
September 18th 2001

The Moorings is currently offering a 15% discount for new fall charter bookings for trips taking place through December 15th 2001. Deposits must be received by Sept 30th and the M4200, M4500 and M4700 cats are excluded from this offer.

The company has already announced their usual free days special of next summer. Normally, these specials are not offered until later in the year. As 50 foot yachts are in great demand by summer youth camps, we recommend booking these boats as soon as possible.

Stardust and Sunsail Merge, Offer New Luxury Bareboats
September 17th 2001

Sunsail has announced today the official merger of Sunsail and Stardust. First Choice, one of the largest European Tour Operators, has owned both companies for over a year. Following a careful review, it was decided that joining the two companies would best serve their customer base. Stardust customers will receive a 10% discount when booking Sunsail yachts, but only until October 31st, so don't delay!

Sunsail also announced the addition of a new range of 43 to 52 ft bareboats in their new Platinum line. The will feature air conditioning, satellite phones, large RIB dinghies, complete electronics package, and upgraded galleys including larger ovens and blenders. Each cabin has it's own head and shower and even hairdryers are included! For more information contact the company directly and please mention that you heard this on eBare.

Erin Spares Bermuda - Heads Out to Sea
September 10th 2001

We are pleased to report that Erin passed close by to Bermuda without causing any significant damage to the island and is continuing northward. As she heads into colder waters she is expected to lose strength. No further reports are expected.

Erin Regains Strength, Threatens Bermuda
September 8th 2001

An 8 PM AST report by the National Hurricane Center advised that Erin is getting better organized while approaching Bermuda. The government of Bermuda has issued a Hurricane Warning for the islands. The center was located near latitude 29.6 north/longitude 60.3 west or about 325 miles southeast of Bermuda.

Erin is moving toward the north-northwest at around 15 mph and is expected to approach Bermuda within the next 24 hours. Maximum sustained winds were near 75 mph with higher gusts. Erin was forming an eye and further strengthening is forecast during the next 24 hours.

Peter Perkins is our August Prizewinner
September 4th 2001

Peter Perkins of Richmond Hill, Ontario Canada won our August drawing for a great tool kit from Boat-US. It comes in it's own gray plastic case and can be used both afloat and ashore. Next month's prize is a 2 million candlepower hand-held spotlight. Don't forget to sign up for this great prize - you could be the lucky winner!

New Airfare Search Tool
September 1st 2001

ITA Software has introduced a new site that claims to provide significantly more information, better choices and lower costs when searching for the best air travel prices. The website is www.itasoftware.com. We tried it and it does appear to deliver on its promise to provide more choices. Specifically, it lets you shop for senior or child fares as well as regular adults, and by fare class as well. So far, this new site can only be used to search fares from the USA to destinations in the US, Canada, or the US Virgin Islands. Hopefully this will be expanded to include other popular charter destinations soon.

Chantal Spares Belize Her Worst
August 21st 2001

A hurricane watch for Belize has been lifted as Chantal has come ashore with sustained winds of just 40 mph, considerably less than feared earlier. This is good news for TMM, which lost the majority of their fleet in an unusual and large hurricane last year (hurricanes are a rarity in Belize). Winds are even less in Placentia, where the new Moorings base is under development.

North/South Talks Turkey for Thanksgiving
August 14th 2001

North/South is offering a free day on any new charters booked over the Thanksgiving holiday. Both the Thanksgivings (US and Canadian) are included in this special offer! For more information, contact the company directly at 1-800-387-4964 and tell them you saw this special on eBare!

Lots of Bargains
August 10th 2001

The Moorings is offering savings of up to 50% on American Airline fares this fall when you book a charter from them before August 24th and depart between August 18th and December 14th, 2001. Sample rates include $350 from New York to Tortola, or $400 from Chicago to Tortola. This company is also offering 15% off or extra free days for bookings made now. Certain limitations apply. Contact the company for more information.

Trade Wind Yachts can also provide reduced airfare and has several good offers for summer and fall.

Horizon Yacht Charters has some exceptional offers. Click Here and check them out. BVI Yacht Charters has some great offers too. Click Here to see them, and look at Conch Charters' specials by clicking here. For more specials, go to eBare.com and click on "Special Offers" in the menu bar to the left of your screen.

Several Companies Plan Rate Increases Next Month.
August 7th 2001

The Moorings, The Catamaran Company and other charter companies have indicated that they will bring out new prices in early September. You may want to book your charter before then to avoid predicted increases of 5 to 10%.

Support Reef Relief and win a Free Charter!
July 25th 2001

Florida Yacht Charters is raffling off a free 4-day yacht charter in support of Reef Relief, a non-profit organization working on preservation projects to protect reefs in Florida and the Bahamas. All proceeds of the raffle will go to this organization.

A minimum contribution of $30 is requested to enter the raffle. This also provides you with a one-year membership in Reef Relief, including copies of their newsletter. Contributions are tax-deductible. To enter the raffle, send a business card to Florida Yacht Charters, 1290 5th St, Miami Beach FL 33139 with a check made payable to Reef Relief. You can also enter the raffle at FYC's booth at the Annapolis or Ft Lauderdale Boat Shows this fall. Call 800-537-0050 for more information. Drawing will be held on October 28th.

Airlines Offering Specials
July 14th 2001

After five price hikes over the last year or so and a big downturn in business travel, the airlines have backed off and are offering some very good specials, particularly over the internet. Besides regular specials don't overlook senior discounts, if you qualify.

Unless business picks up soon, we may see cost reductions carrying into the winter season. Let's hope so!

Bareboat Companies Scrambling for Business
July 14th 2001

As you can see from some of the articles below, bookings have been below average this summer/fall and companies are discounting more than usual to get your business. If you have been planning a summer trip and have been waiting for good pricing, both on boats and on airline reservations, wait no longer as they are here!

If you are planning on a trip next winter, keep watching eBare and we will let you know as these specials develop. Horizon is already offering a great special and their boats will book quickly. Don't wait too long, however..... if the market continues to recover, these specials may evaporate as quickly as they appeared.

The Moorings Announces Another New Base!
July 13th 2001

The Moorings has announced that they are establishing yet another new base, this time in Gocek, Turkey. Only last month they announced a new Belize location. This brings the number of Moorings destinations worldwide to 25. The base in Turkey will start offering charters as soon as April 2002 and reservations can be made immediately.

The Moorings Offers 15% Discount
July 13th 2001

Charters taking place betwwen November 15th and December 15th in the Caribbean, Miami, Abacos & Baja will be discounted by 15% if you reserve your trip by August 31st! Some catamarans are excluded from this offer and other restrictions apply. Contact The Moorings or your independent bareboat agent for more information, using the links that we provide you with on eBare.

Footloose Offering 10% Off This Fall
July 13th 2001

Footloose is offering 10% off on charters taking place between November 15th and December 15th. Not valid on the M4500 and other restrictions apply. You must place your order by August 31st in order to take advantage of this special.

Horizon Announces New WINTER Specials!
July 11th 2001

Horizon Yacht Charters is offering a 15% reduction on the cost of High Season charters for the coming year. If your deposit is received by September 15th at regular published rates, you can deduct 15% from your final payment. A few yachts are excluded from this special offer and other restrictions apply. Contact Horizon or your independent bareboat agent for more information.

Results of June Survey - Catamarans vs Monohulls
June 30th 2001

In June, we asked our viewers to let us know which type of yacht they chartered last time (monohull or catamaran) and which type they plan to charter this time. The intent of this survey was to see if there was a trend either from monohulls to catamarans or cats to monohulls. 60 people responded to our survey.

While more people chartered monohulls than cats and plan to do so next time as well, considerably more monohull sailors plan to try a cat next time than the other way around. Some monohull sailors were adamant ("Latest Charter- Monohull, Next charter- Monohull, One after that- Monohull; I see a pattern here" and "I would not charter or own a catamaran nor a houseboat with sails"). Catamaran sailors were more mellow in their comments, often justifying their choice in a practical manner ("The couples going with us are not sailors, and we chose a catamaran for their comfort" and "We chartered a catamaran the last time out and are chartering a catamaran again in 2002. Loved this style boat. Tons of room and very comfortable.")

53% of those responding sailed a monohull last time and will again next time.
11% of those responding sailed a monohull last time and will try a cat next time.
32% of those responding sailed a catamaran last time and will do so again next time.
3% of those responding sailed a cat last time and will sail a monohull next time.

If we can draw any conclusions at all from our survey it would be that there is a place for both types of yachts and that it is unlikely that this will change anywhere in the near future. Catamarans are definitely here to stay and their popularity will continue to grow. But from the comments we received, there is a strong group of monohull supporters who will never switch. Fortunately there's a lot of water out there and room for both kinds of yachts.

Larry Lux Wins June Drawing
June 30th 2001

Larry Lux of Windwood MO won our June drawing for two pairs of Sperry Topsiders. He's planning to take his first bareboat charter later this year and we hope the new deck shoes come in handy.

Low Summer Airfares Now Available!
June 26th 2001

After several price hikes over the past year, the airlines have seen much lower load factors recently, and a price war started today providing substantially reduced summer fares. Most of these specials are only available over the internet and some only available directly from the airlines themselves. With a little patience and digging, you should be able to find some real bargains, whether you plan to travel to a charter destination of do something else. Don't overlook the specials being offered for business and first-class travel as well as coach.

Horizon Expands Fleet with New Yachts June 25th 2001

Horizon Yacht Charters of Tortola, BVI, has been appointed the Caribbean dealer for Bavaria Yachts. Many of these fine new yachts will be joining the Horizon fleet over the next few months and some are still available for purchase at substantial discounts. The company will have a nwe Bavaria 42 on display at the Annapolis Boat Show this fall.

Contact the company directly for more information, or to reserve your charter for the coming winter season. And don't forget that for remaining Summer charters, Horizon is offering two weeks for the price of one.

North South Announces New Specials
June 22nd 2001

Book any sailboat 41 feet and under for a charter between Aug 1 and Nov 17 2001 for two weeks for just $1000! This provides a savings of up to $1100 (over 50%!) depending on the yacht you select. There are other specials as well. Use eBare's links to go to their website to see additional offers.

The Moorings Announces Belize Base
June 1st 2001

The Moorings will start offering charters out of Placencia in Belize beginning in November. Belize has the second longest barrier reef in the world, offering world-class sailing in it's shelter. Because of the shallow depth behind the reef, the company has chosen to limit chartering to their 3800 and 4500 catamarans. Placentia is 45 minutes south of Belize City by air. For more information, contact The Moorings through the links we provide you with in eBare.

Patty Bryant A Two-Time Winner! Wins May Drawing
June 1st 2001

We knew that it would happen one of these days, as we've had less than 100 entries in each of our monthly drawings so far! Patty Bryant, the winner of our March drawing, won again in April. This time her prize was a really nice Weems & Plath handbearing compass. Patty, who said when she won the Titanic lamp in March that she'd never won anything before now knows for sure that her luck has changed. Way to go, Patty!

Roy Cannon Wins April 2001 Drawing
April 30th 2001

Roy Cannon was announced the winner of the April drawing for two computer sailing programs from Posey Yacht Design of Haddam, Connecticut, and chose the Sailing Dynamics program and the Coastal Cruising Program. Roy, an RYA Sailing Instructor, plans to use these programs to help train crew for his own sailboat.

BVI Yacht Charters offers Summer Specials
April 30th 2001

BVI Yacht Charters is offering a last minute special for May: 2 weeks for the price of one, or a 25% discount on any new 7 night charters during this time period

During June and July, You can charter two weeks for the price of one mid-season week, and the company is also offering 2 weeks for the price of 1 summer week in August, September and October.

Horizon offering 10 days for 7, Bavaria Wins Regatta
April 19th 2001

Horizon is offering 10 days for the price of 7 at all locations from now through October 31st, 2001. There are still some openings available in May and June, which qualify for this free-days offer.

In other news, Horizon's new Bavaria 37 has proven to be an exciting performer, winning Bareboat Division II of the BVI Spring Regatta with three bullets, beating Olympic gold-medallist Shirley Robertson who was sailing on a Jeanneau 42.

Virgin Traders Adds New Motoryachts
April 10th 2001

Virgin Traders, based out of Nanny Cay in Tortola, has announced the addition of several new yachts to their fleet including "Pussy Galore, a 52' Power Cat, the first of several such yachts entering their fleet.

This powered catamaran can achieve a cruising speed of 20 knots, getting you where you want to go in a hurry! The four cabin, 2 head arrangement sleeps 8 comfortably. Two large forward cabins offer queen sized berths, huge hanging closets and vanity units in each. The starboard aft cabin has a queen berth as well, while the port aft cabin offers a split, double berth with walk through access to the engine room. Each stateroom and the huge main salon are fully air conditioned. For more information on this and other new yachts including new 56 foot cruisers, Click Here to visit their website.

The Moorings Announces New Prices and New Boats
April 8th 2001

The Moorings has published a new price list for their bareboat charters, available from the company by calling 888-952-8402.

There are several new and exciting additions to this fleet, including the Moorings 4700 cat, the newest version of their highly popular 4500 - this time, including air conditioning - a new Moorings 4200 cat that can accommodate up to 12 persons - and a new Moorings 403 with three cabins and three heads, too.

Footloose Adds New Models to Fleet
April 5th 2001

Footloose is adding the Moorings 402 Center Cockpit, the Moorings 463 the Moorings 4500 Catamarans to their fleet effective immediately. The company is also offering 6 days for the price of 5, 10 for the price of 7, or 14 for the price of 10 on new charters booked for departures from July 1st through November 16th. Some restrictions apply. Footloose does not presently have a website, so contact this company at 800-814-7245. Please mention that you heard this from eBare.

Click for past issues of the Bareboat Hotline and The Charter Connection Newsletter