We're considering chartering a crewed yacht for a vacation in the Caribbean. Does anyone have any direct experience? Suggestions? Warnings? Recommendations?

I do not have direct experience myself, but I have a couple of suggestions.

Friends used The Moorings in the British Virgin Islands and were very pleased.

The BVI's are PERFECT for cruising because there are lots of islands within an easy day sail, and the waters are almost always very calm. Lots of dining choices and good snorkeling/SCUBA.

They have a lot of different sizes of boats and cats, ergo a lot of accommodation options.

We were just there in November and saw MANY boats from the Moorings around.

Check out their website:

moorings.com

I've been on 3 crewed charters - 1 in the BVI and 2 in the Grenadines - and am also an old hand at bareboating. This bad, bad vacation habit of sailing (our 12th sail is coming up) started ever-so-innocently with a crewed Moorings charter in the BVI about 10 years ago. A crewed yacht vacation is a transforming experience -- be warned that you will never look at the islands in quite the same way.

I'll start with a warning first: be careful of who you choose to accompany you. The crews of the yachts are almost uniformly gracious, entertaining and competent, but your fellow guests can be another story altogether, and can make or break your trip. Take a peek at this website to see what I mean: http://www.homestead.com/crewfromhell/intro.html

Beyond that, I too second the recommendation for the BVI. It's a great destination for newbies, and offers a taste of everything that Caribbean sailing has to offer: lots of islands to hop to and from, great beaches, great beach bars, good sailing conditions almost year round.

As the most popular sailing destination in the Caribbean, the BVI also offer the greatest variety of crewed boats from which to choose. While all of my crewed charters have been with the Moorings (and have gone off wonderfully), there are dozens of highly regarded independent boats out there as well, many of them specializing in different types of trips (e.g. a trip with kids, a trip focused on diving, etc.). If you don't choose a company like the Moorings, use a broker like Sherry Yates or Ed Hamilton to help you sort through them all (no cost to you).

There is a TON of advice I can give, but the best advice I can give you is to hit www.traveltalkonline.com -- go to the BVI Board and you will find more information about chartering (crewed and bareboat) than you ever imagined.

In St. Vincent and the Grenadines there is lots of choice.

To start with, here are two international companies with Grenadines locations:

- Trade Winds Cruise Club in Bequia. This outfit offers shared cruise charters and I have met very satisfied customers(email: [email protected]; website: http://www.tradewindscruiseclub.com)

- Moorings in Canouan: moorings.com

Alternately, independent crewed yachts which I have used and recommend are Pelangi (skipper Bamo), through the Frangipani Hotel on Bequia, Quest (skipper Johnny Ollivierre).

Visit http://www.bequiatourism.com/sailcharter.htm for info on these two as well as others.

For general up to date advice, experience and warnings on sailing the waters from St. Lucia through to Venezuela, and including the BVI"s anad Grenadines. visit www.caribbeancompass.com

Fair winds!

Thank you alll for the info. Very helpful!

in addition to good BVI info, www.traveltalkonline.com also has info on sailing in the Grenadines - go to both the Afloat and Southern Caribbean boards. Look for posts by Prime Suspect, Stinky and Seth. Also visit the Ususal Suspects website - comprehensive info about Grenadines sailing based on personal experience and more.

Sorry to tag on but if I wanted to join a flotilla in BVI, and it is only my wife and I, is there a way to find another couple('s) to share expense of crewed sail.

Any advice on the advisability of this.

I can get along with anyone but the wife forms quick impressions.

Scott