Bareboat Hotline

Ivan Causes Severe Damage to the Grenadines
September 12th, 2004

The Grenadines and especially Grenada have been hard hit by Hurricane Ivan. St Vincent, Bequie and islands North were spared the brunt of the storm and experienced little damage, but Union, Palm Island, Cannouan, Carriacou and other islands further south were not as fortunate, with much shore damage and missing roofs. In Grenada proper, there was widespread devastation with reports of over 35 dead.over 50% of the island leveled, and uncontrolled looting taking place. Troops and police from nearby islands are being rushed to Grenada to assist the local government in restoring order. With nearly all power and telephone poles down on the island, expect recovery to take many months.

31 out of 170 yachts out of the water at Grenada Yacht Services were blown over, and nearly all of the boats hauled at Spice Island Marine were blown over. Most Yachts in hurricane holes managed well, and while there was some damage, few were lost. Many of those that were beached and could have been relatively easily salvaged were brutally looted and suffered far more damage than they would have otherwise.

The Barefoot fleet stayed in Blue Lagoon, St Vincent, and are reported OK, but TYS moved their fleet to Grenada, and we do not have a report on how well they, Horizon or The Moorings yachts have fared.

Passports recommended for Caribbean including BVI
August 11th, 2004

Passports are strongly recommended for any foreign destination these days. While many Caribbean countries including the BVI will generally accept a birth certificate with raised seal and a photo ID if you are a US or Canadian citizen, there is no assurance that this will continue with increased security, and we have heard of a few very limited instances where entry to the BVI was refused for those on a yacht who did not have passports.

Make Sure You Have Good Trip Insurance Coverage During Hurricane Season
July 19th, 2004

As the peak period for hurricane activity in the Caribbean approaches, it would be wise for anyone planning a charter during this period to carry trip cancellation insurance. But, not all trip cancellation insurance is alike, and some do not cover a refund of your payments if your trip is canceled due to a tropical storm.

You have to read the coverages carefully. One policy from sold by a large bareboat company covers damage to your home due to tropical storm activity, but does not provide you with a refund of your charter payments if your trip is canceled! Be aware that there are several different providers of trip insurance, some of them better than others. You can link to one of the best through our website.

Caribbean Bareboat Bookings are Up for the Winter 2005 Season
July 8th, 2004

In an informal poll of several bareboat companies in the Caribbean, we have learned that bookings for the 2004-2005 Winter Season are running ahead of expectations, and higher than in any year since 9/11. This certainly speaks well for the health of the industry, but also will most likely result in shortages, particularly during the holidays and the busy months of February, March and April

We suggest that you book your trip as early as possible, if you have not already done so. Those who have grown accustomed to waiting until the last minute for bargain pricing may well find themselves without a boat or an airplane to fly on this coming season.

Look Ahead to the Future When Choosing a Bareboat Company
June 30th, 2004

When considering which bareboat company to charter from, consider not only the yacht, the company's reputation and pricing, but their customer loyalty program (if any) as well. For example, you might pay the same or a little less by chartering with company "A" rather than company "B", but if "B" offers a repeat discount and "A" doesn't, then perhaps you might be better off in the long run by choosing to charter with "B". Both Horizon and Conch offer such programs - how does the company you're looking at stack up?

Airlines Extend Fall Specials to the Caribbean
June 22nd, 2004

American Airlines has extended sale pricing on some Caribbean flights from August 16th until December 14th, 2004. Other carriers such as US-Air and Delta have followed their lead and held their special pricing as well. Some specials are only available through bareboat companies or the specialty travel agents they work with, while others are Internet-based, so we suggest that you check all available sources for the best pricing. In some cases, you must book your flights by June 24th, while in other cases it doesn't matter when you book.

Do Your Part to Preserve Island Ecology
June 10th, 2004

On a recent visit to the British Virgin Islands, we couldn't help but compare the present condition of the coral and the number of fish to the same areas 10 and 20 years ago. Unfortunately, while the area still offers great snorkeling, the coral and fish population have suffered considerably over time and are not nearly as plentiful as in years past.

While we watched, a dinghy from a crewed yacht unloaded about 10 neophyte snorkelers into shallow water near the beach where the formed a circle around their guide and received a briefing on the snorkel tour about to take place, all the while beating the little coral that was left under them to pieces with their fins! No wonder the coral is dying.

Please do your part to preserve the coral: Don't touch it in any way - even a light touch will kill the fragile organisms. And, don't feed the fish either, as they'll eat your food before they'll eat the algae on the coral, which if not removed, will also kill it. The ecology is easily affected and unfortunately, usually for the worst, whenever people get involved with it. Try to leave the reefs as you find them so that we can continue to enjoy them in the years to come.

Foxy Builds a Micro-Brewery on Jost Van Dyke!
May 31st, 2004

Foxy recently completed a state-of-the-art micro-brewery on Jost, which will product "Bahn Heah Beer" (Born Here Beer, for the uninitiated). Any number of special brews, including Leeward Island Light, Yellow Tail Ail, Great Harbour Lager, Sunset Amber and others will be produced depending on the whim of the brewmaster. The brewery is located just behind the restaurant. It takes about two weeks to produce each brew,and when it is ready to drink the beer will be run directly from the cooling vats to taps on the bar and served at 36 degrees F.

CYOA Adds New Air-Conditioned Models to its Fleet
May 24th, 2004

CYOA continues to upgrade its fleet of yachts with new air-conditioned models. Joining last year's extremely popular air-conditioned Hunter 430 and 450 models are new Hunter 460's, a Maryland 37 trawler-cat, and new Athena 38, Belize 43 and Bahia 46 cats, all of them equipped with state of the art air conditioning.

Palm Island Withdraws Proposal to Privatise the Tobago Cays
May 5th, 2004

Robert Barrett of Palm Island Resorts Ltd, announced today that his company is withdrawing its controversial proposal to convert the Tobago Cays, currently a National Marine Park, into a for-profit operation.

The precedent of letting a private company manage a national marine park raised warning bells throughout the marine community and opposition came strong and fast from all sides. Barrett cited the number of messages they had received from tour operators and travel agents as one of the main reasons that they were dropping their plans to develop the area.

Consider the Seychelles For Your Last-Minute Charter
April 28th, 2004

June is considered low season in the Seychelles, even though the wind and weather conditions are near-perfect. Dream Yachts is offering a 20 discount on many of their yachts, and Air Seychelles a 10 discount when you book through Dream. Contact Dream Yachts for more information.

More Amenities Offered on Today's Bareboats
April 21st, 2004

More and more, companies are adding additional features to their bareboats, as asked for by an ever-more-demanding clientle. Features like generators and air-conditioning may be nice, but the are costly and add yet another layer of maintenance, and potential problems, to the yacht you may be thinking of chartering. Ask yourself if you want to deal with this additional compexity, and be responsible for potential problems that you might cause by improper operation of the generator? Mistakes can be annoying, time consuming, and in some cases, costly, and a generator running overnight can be annoying and in some cases, hazardous. Do you really need this? The KISS principle may still be your best option (Keep It Simple, Stupid!)

Horizon Adds Another Base, this time Antigua
April 15th, 2004

Jackie and Alastair Ashford are the proud owners of Horizon Yacht Charter's latest Caribbean base, located at the luxurious Jolly Harbour Marina in Antigua. They are now in their third month of management and are very pleased with the popularity of their new base. All of the yachts are reported as booking very well (110% occupancy for Classic and Antigua Sailing Weeks - they have additional boats coming over from the BVI to accommodate demand), and are already increasing the size of their fleet to satisfy the unexpected enthusiasm for this new base.

For more information, click on Horizon Yacht Charters in our Caribbean section.

Tobago Cays Could be Privatized by For-Profit Corporation
April 8th, 2004

The Tobago Cays, considered by many the most beautiful islands in the entire Caribbean, uninhabited until now and a National Park belonging to the country of St Vincent, are in danger of becoming privatized.

The Government of St Vincent is considering a proposal to hand over the management of the area to Palm Island Resorts Ltd, which wishes to develop them for financial gain. Concern has been mounting that not only would such a move endanger the environment but also threaten the liveihood of many who depend on the Tobago Cays to attract marine tourism.

An organization has been formed to oppose this proposal and to assure that the Tobago Cays will remain in public hands for future generations. For more information regarding "The Friends of the Tobago Cays" and to support their efforts, write to info@tobagocays.net

Tradewinds Yachts Closes its Doors
April 2nd, 2004

Citing financial difficulty since 911 caused by a slump in tourism, price wars and general economic conditions, Tradewinds was eventually forced to close down on March 31st, 2004, after the BVI government closed their local base on March 30th for unpaid back taxes.

The following companies have offered to assist those who had unfulfilled charter bookings with Tradewinds: Sunsail: 800-327-2276 or 410-280-2553, The Moorings: 888-952-8420 or 727-530-5424, CYOA: 800-944-2962 or 340-777-9690, Footloose: 727-524-1074, and VIP Yacht Charters: (866) VIP Yachts {847 9224}

Active Hurricane Season Predicted for 2004
March 31st, 2004

Dr. William Gray's storm forecasting team at Colorado State University are calling for a more active than usual storm season in the Atlantic this coming summer. Dr Gray stated "We estimate that 2004 will have about 7 hurricanes (average is 5.9), 13 named storms (average is 9.6), 55 named storm days (average is 49), 30 hurricane days (average is 24.5), 3 intense (category 3-4-5) hurricanes (average is 2.3), 6 intense hurricane days (average is 5.0) and a Hurricane Destruction Potential (HDP) of 85 (average is 71). The probability of U.S. major hurricane landfall is estimated to be 30 percent above the long-period average".

It is always prudent to take out trip cancellation insurance, especially during storm season. While most bareboat companies offer some form of trip cancellation insurance, check your coverage carefully to make sure that it covers refund of your charter payments should a named storm occur. You should also compare coverage with that offered by Travel-Guard, a highly rated trip cancellation insurance company which you can access through links on eBare.

Airline Ticket Savings Continue
March 25th, 2004

Today fares were scheduled to increase, but still remain at rock-bottom levels. How long this will last is anyone's guess, but certainly good news for anyone wishing to purchase tickets to the Caribbean, South America or domestic travel, as savings are significant.

American Announces Sale on Flights to the Caribbean and South America
March 10th, 2004

Today through March 24th you can purchase deeply discounted flights on American for travel to the Caribbean or South America, with travel completed by June 15th. This sale is particularly welcome as regular prices were recently raised by about $20 due to a fuel surcharge. We're seeing less bargain fares this year than last, so you might want to take advantage of this sale while it lasts! Sample fares found today on American's website included New York to St Thomas for $317, Chicago to St Thomas for $399, Washington DC to St Martin for $419 and LAX to St Thomas for just $466. Happy hunting!

(By the way, don't blame us if you don't find the fare you want for the dates that you want. Last time we announced a fare like this we got a letter from a very disgruntled visitor who tried to find the fare we mentioned on a particular date, couldn't, and got really angry at us!! We don't sell tickets, and we don't make a penny on any flights that you may or may not decide to purchase.)

Find Great Special Offers on eBare
March 4th, 2004

Click "Special Offers" on our menu bar to go view current special offers from those companies advertising on eBare. These companies are willing to pay us for you to view their websites, so they obviously feel that they have something to offer that you are going to be interested in. Check them out!

VIP Offers Internet Specials
February 28th, 2004

If you check VIP's website on a regular basis, you'll find an Internet-Only Specials page that changes frequently. Currently the company is offering a FREE Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands just for requesting a quote on one of their bareboat charters! VIP features a fine fleet of late-model Hylas and Jeanneau sailboats, and Tarquin motor yachts. Click here to go to their Internet Specials page, or phone the company at 9-866-847-9224. Please mention that you saw this offer on eBare! Outside the USA, call ++ 340-774-9224.

The Moorings Adds New 40-Ft Catamaran
February 20th, 2004

The Moorings is introducing a new 40-ft cat, the Moorings 4000. Built in Cape Town SA, it sports a large cockpit and salon with galley-up, four staterooms, two heads and two additional berths in the forepeaks. The new yacht will soon be available in Tortola, Belize, the Bahamas and Australia.

Cuba as a Bareboat Destination?
February 17th, 2004

While the U.S. Government continues to boycott Cuba and to ban most citizens from visiting this close Caribbean neighbor, the rest of the world has embraced the island as an important tourist destination. In fact, one in nine visitors to the Caribbean go to Cuba these days, even though one-half of all Caribbean tourists are Americans.

Cuba is a huge island. Located just south of the Florida Keys, it is so large that one end of the island has different weather from the other. Canadian, Japanese and other investors have been developing the tourist industry there for well over a decade, and there are modern marinas and the infrastructure needed to support American visitors.

The reasons given by the U.S. Government for boycotting Cuba are weak, particularly in light of the fact that this same government has given preferential trade status to China, and we feel that the political climate is such that trade with Cuba will open up within the next few years. When that happens, expect an explosion of bareboating in this very reachable and enticing destination.

Cuba to Key West by Buick?
February 8th, 2004

Last Week Marciel Basanta Lopez and Luis Grass Rodriguez tried again to reach the USA. In their initial attempt last year they used a converted 1951 Chevy pickup truck with pontoons made from 55-gallon oil drums. This time they upgraded to a 1959 Buick for their second attempt. Floatation was added to the underside of the car and the body sealed so that it was water-tight. The original V-8 engine was used, connected to a propeller on the end of the drive shaft that reportedly propelled the car at 6 to 8 mph in calm water. Unfortunately this attempt was also unsuccessful,the car being turned back by the US Coast Guard when only half-way to Florida. Reports are unclear, but the car may have sunk. For more information and photos, Click here .

Dream Charters Opens Caribbean Base
January 29th, 2004

Dream Charters has opened a base at Le Marin in Martinique, featuring the Catana 43 and 47-foot catamarans. These catamarans feature excellent sailing performance, strong yet light weight construction, and are spec'd out to high standards, including autopilots. The 47-footer also has a generator and air-conditioning. For more information, access Dream's website through the links we provide.

Labor Problems at United Airliness
January 25th, 2004

According to recent reports United's flight attendants, who belong to AFA, the Association of Flight Attendants, are upset by Management's recent statements that they are cutting medical benefits to retirees. The union sees these cutbacks as illegal. Because of a letter of agreement signed last May, over 2500 attendants took early retirement at that time, based on promises made by management with respect to healthcare benefits. Click here for information about other airlines that are having labor problems as well.

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.

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