Less is More
If you’re looking for a Caribbean sailing vacation with more bang for the buck, summer is when you’ll find it. In June, many important elements—charter rates, airfares, crowds in anchorages, wind velocity—show a welcome downward trend. What’s more, the usually north-of-east trade winds shift to the south of east, so north-facing anchorages that are subject to northerly swells in winter become accessible for done-it-all-already charterers.
Here’s a summary of the charter summer specials that go above and beyond the low-season rates. As always, check company Web sites or call for more information about additional discounts (for repeat clients, referrals, and the like).
Abaco Bahamas Charters (Hope Town): 2 weeks for the price of 1 (high-season rates), August 1–31 and October 1–November 15. 800-626-5690; www.abacocharters.com
Barecat Charters (Tortola): 10 days for the price of 7, July 6–October 15. 800-296-5287; www.barecat.com
Barefoot Yacht Charters (Blue Lagoon, St. Vincent): 10 days for the price of 7, July1–November 15, and 9 days for the price of 7, November 16–December 17. 784-456-9526; www.bare
footyachts.com
BVI Yacht Charters (Tortola): 10 days for the price of 7,
August 1–October 31. 888-615-4006; www.bviyachtscharters.com
The Catamaran Company (Tortola): 9 days for the price of 7 at a reduced rate, May 20–July 28, and 10 days for the price of 7, July 29–October 24. 800-262-0308; www.catamarans.com
Conch Charters(Tortola): 2 weeks for the price of 1 (mid-season rates), starting June 16. 800-521-8939 (U.S.), 800-463-6625 (Can.); www.conchcharters.com
CYOA Yacht Charters (St. Thomas): A 10 percent discount on Belize 43 and 46 cats for unsold dates through December 19. 800-944-2962; www.cyoacharters.com
Florida Yacht Charters (Abacos): 10 days for the price of 7, August 15–October 31. 800-537-0050; www.floridayacht.com
Footloose Sailing Charters (Tortola): Save 15 percent on a 5–13 day charter or 25 percent for 14 days plus; book by June 30.
800-814-7245; www.footloosecharters.com
Horizon Yacht Charters: 10 days for the price of 7, May 1–October 1 (Tortola); 10 days for the price of 7, plus other
special offers, July 9–October 31 (Antigua); 10 days for the price of 7 and other specials, July 1–October 31 (Grenadines).
877-494-8787; www.horizonyachtcharters.com
Island Yacht Charters (St. Thomas): 10 days for the price of 7, through December 14. 800-524-2019; www.iyc.vi
The Moorings (Tortola, St. Martin, Martinique, St. Lucia, Canouan, Belize, Baja, Bahamas): Save 15 percent on a 5–13 day charter or 25 percent on 14 days plus, July 1–November 11; book by June 30. 800-535-7289; www.moorings.com
North South Yacht Vacations (Tortola): Pay for 7 days and get up to 7 extra days (July 7–October 14) depending on dates.
800-387-4964; www.nsyv.com
Sunsail: Save 25 percent on select boats and dates; check with company for specifics. 800-797-5310; www.sunsail.com
TMM Yacht Charters (BVI, St. Vincent, Belize): 10 days for the price of 7, June 5–October 31. 800-633-0155; www.sailtmm.com
VIP Yacht Charters (St. Thomas): 9 days for the price of 7.
866-847-9224; www. vipyachts.com
Voyage Charters (Tortola): 25 percent discount off 10-plus-day charters. 888-869-2436; www.voyagecharters.com
Amy Ullrich
Sail Away Archive
Summer in the Islands (May 2006)
Caribbean Notes (April 2006)
Where to Go Now (March 2006)
Wedding Bells (February 2006)
Charter Cats (January 2006)
