Hi Reader, In my last dispatch, I recapped the last-minute by-the-cabin charter we were invited to check out. Today, let's dive into the pros and cons of this type of voyage and whether it might be a good fit for you. First a quick note on Hurricane Beryl. This powerful Category 4 hurricane took a direct hit on the Grenadines, a popular charter and cruising destination. In particular, the island of Carricaou, was hard hit by the eye of the storm. If you'd like to donate to the relief efforts,...
17 days ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, In a recent newsletter, we touched on the era of piracy in the British Virgin Islands. Today, we will dive deeper into the mysterious and captivating stories of Norman Island. First, a quick tip on using credit cards while traveling on your charter trips: I had a card compromised two weeks ago, and I traced it back to two transactions I had to make in advance using a paper form. To safeguard against such risks, consider these tips: Use a One-Time Virtual Card Number: For risky...
about 1 month ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Over the weekend, I returned from a last-minute invite to check out a BVI by-the-cabin charter. This trip was special because I had the joy of bringing along two first-timers: my 7-year-old son, experiencing his first charter, and Emilia from our Yacht Warriors team, enjoying her inaugural BVI adventure. My recount of the trip is the focus of today's newsletter. A lunch stop at White Bay, Guana was one of the highlights for me Before we jump in, a couple quick notes: BVI mooring...
about 1 month ago • 4 min read
Hi Reader, Summer is well underway, with kids wrapping up school for the season, and with that, summer vacations begin. To help build your summer reading list for those relaxing moments on the beach, I’d like to share some books I highly recommend that I’ve read in the past year—sailing and adventure related, of course! But first, a couple of weather notes: NOAA’s Aggressive Atlantic Hurricane Outlook: NOAA has released its most aggressive hurricane outlook on record. If you are planning...
about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, I recently returned from a week-long BVI bareboat charter aboard a brand new, Lagoon 51, christened the Golden Hind. Having previously chartered the underwhelming Lagoon 50 and Lagoon 52, I was eager to see what treasures this new model had in store.The verdict? I was thoroughly impressed. For larger crews needing 5+ cabins, the Lagoon 51 should definitely be on your radar. If you're curious about why I prefer catamarans for our bareboat charter adventures, give my catamaran vs...
2 months ago • 5 min read
Hi Reader, We just returned from a lively Spring couples trip to the BVI, the busiest we’ve seen it during this season! Expect more tales and tips from our adventure in upcoming newsletters. For now, enjoy some teaser snapshots at the bottom of this email. It was a full house in White Bay! This trip wasn't without its excitement, particularly concerning a recent hot topic: mooring balls. We have had a slew of recent incidents, most of them skipper error, including the boat that grounded on...
3 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Before we hoist sails on today's journey, let's navigate through a couple of recent news items: Last week the Baths bore witness to a charter grounding on the rocks amidst Red Flag conditions. This incident mirrors the lee shore grounding of the Hillbilly a few weeks ago. Takeaways: monitor weather resources vigilantly, respect Red Flag warnings, and steer clear of anchorages that test fate (lee shores). There have been recent reports of multiple stolen dinghies at JVD, BVI. Raise...
4 months ago • 3 min read
Hi Reader, Reports are in: the BVI is buzzing with activity, reaching its peak around the Easter weekend. As the Yacht Warriors crew gears up for our BVI next adventure next month aboard a Lagoon 51, I’m hopeful the crowds will thin a bit. Meanwhile, I kicked off the provisioning for our journey, stowing away those essential hot sauces that no sailing trip can do without. Matouk's and Marie Sharp's are my two favorite hot sauces Safety update: recent groundings in BVI A quick note on safety,...
4 months ago • 5 min read
Hi Reader, We just returned from an amazing land-based trip to St. Thomas for Spring Break. We stayed on the north shore, close to Magens Bay, and enjoyed wonderful vistas stretching all the way to the palm tree-lined shore of White Bay, Jost Van Dyke. Though our sea legs took a brief hiatus, our spirit for exploration remained as we ventured into locales beloved by bareboat charter crews. Here are the pearls of wisdom we unearthed during our visit that might help you on your next USVI or BVI...
4 months ago • 3 min read