Once you have made up your mind that a yacht charter is the perfect way to experience a paradise vacation, you still have several decisions to make.
For instance, what incredible worldwide destination do you want to visit; what yacht layout do you need to comfortably accommodate your group; what size vessel will you need, and do you prefer the thrill of sailing a monohull charter, the comfort of a catamaran charter, or the speed of a power catamaran or motor yacht charter.
The Charter Experts at Virgin Island Sailing® can assist you in choosing which yacht best suits you based on the number of people in your party, your budget, your sailing / motoring skills and your desired level of comfort.
Which type of yacht is best?
The answer is that there simply is no such thing as the best boat. The range of available monohull and catamaran charter boats can be mind-boggling. Selecting the right one for you means finding the sailing or motor vessel that can best serve your needs.
Here are some tips to keep in mind and point you in the right direction in order to find the optimal yacht to charter…
Location:
Unless you have unlimited time, most yacht charters last somewhere between one and two weeks. The variety of locations offered in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, South Pacific and Asia offer itineraries to suit every one.
Whether you want an easy island-hopping vacation; long offshore open water passages or something in between, where you intend to cruise may have a strong impact on what yacht you select.
The US and British Virgin Islands are the most popular destinations in the Caribbean. These islands are confined in a 60 square mile area at the northeastern corner of the eastern Caribbean.
The British Virgin Islands are one of the most compactly perfect cruising areas and have thus become the quintessential vacation for North American bareboaters.
The weather varies little year-round in the Virgin Islands, with brisk trade winds mostly from the east.
Much of the sailing area is protected, though the stronger winter breezes can kick up a good sea in the more open stretches of the Sir Frances Drake Channel (the main waterway at the heart of the British Virgin Islands). However a good anchorage is never more than an hour away from any spot in this cruising area.
Enjoying the same wind and weather conditions as the Virgin Islands are the rest of the islands of the Caribbean which string down from Anegada Passage at the eastern end of the BVI to Grenada– 90 miles from the coast of South America.
These islands are rich in history and local color- each with different cultures and physical features. The sparsely inhabited Grenadines, which lie between St. Vincent and Grenada, are close enough together for easy daytime sailing.
There are short stretches of open water and some protected sailing in the lee of the islands.
North of the Grenadines, the islands of St. Vincent, St. Lucia, Martinique, Dominica, Guadeloupe and Antigua are larger, more mountainous and more populated.
The sailing varies from wet, hard fast reaches in the open channels between the islands anywhere from 20-35 miles across, to idle motor sailing in the lee of the high mountains.
Regardless of your destination, you need to consider the conditions and purpose of your charter boat vacation.
- Do you want a vessel for superior sailing or stability and comfort while making a passage?
- Will you be in shallow waters?
- Do you want to minimize any roll while at anchor?
- How experienced a boater are you?
- How experienced is your crew?
- Do you plan to cover as many islands as possible during your vacation or explore hidden coves at a leisurely pace?
Your answer to these questions may mean the difference between selecting a monohull charter or catamaran charter, and might even influence the size boat you select.
If you plan to make longer, open water passages, consider the largest boat your budget will allow and that you can comfortably handle.
Discuss your cruising plans with your Virgin Island Sailing® Charter Expert. They are very familiar with the monohull and catamaran charters in the fleets and are happy to provide specific advice about the type and size of boat that is recommended based on where you are cruising.
Yacht Layout:
Once you have chosen where you want to go, your next choice is selecting the yacht layout. Yacht layout is a balance between the number of people in your party and the comfort level or tolerance you will have spending 7-14 days with those people.
Layout will also determine the size of yacht to charter. If you have a party of 6, you will need at least three cabins.
Many charter boats can accommodate two people sleeping in the main salon on a convertible settee. We rarely recommend using the convertible settee because it may be a rough start to a sailing trip for the person or couple who draws the short straw for sleeping in the salon. They will have no privacy.
Furthermore, the quarters can get rather cramped if you are trying to cook in the galley, plot a course at the navigation station or anything else that might occur in the salon that has now been converted to a “pseudo-cabin”. Sometimes using the salon for sleeping quarters can work out for families.
If you can afford it, it is always nice to charter a boat that has one more cabin than necessary. It serves as a good storage room for all your extra gear and serves as additional sleeping quarters if someone wants to sleep alone during the cruise.
If you have 4 or more people, we also suggest having at least two heads (bathrooms). Otherwise, it can be inconvenient and often frustrating to wait on multiple people just to get in and brush your teeth.
Keep in mind that your layout choice will affect the privacy level of your entire party.
Typically, in a monohull charter, the cabins will be contiguous and are only separated by a plywood wall. Almost every sound and word in one cabin will be heard in the next. If you ever saw the sailing scene from the movie, Four Seasons, where Carol Burnett and Alan Alda are trying to tune out the “lovebirds” in the next cabin, you know what I am talking about.
In contrast to a monohull, a catamaran charter is designed to be more spacious and will provide you with considerably more room everywhere on board.
| A typical 38-46 foot catamaran will have three to four large cabins with double or queen-sized beds, each with an en-suite head. For groups larger than 8 guests, a typical 50-58 foot catamaran will have five to six large cabins, also with en-suite heads. Cabins are usually located forward and aft in each hull. This layout configuration gives you full privacy and you do not hear anything from one cabin to the next. The cockpit and salon in a catamaran are on the same level, providing spacious and comfortable gathering areas. The foredeck has a big net between the hulls, also called a trampoline, which makes a great sunbathing area. As a result of this roominess, it is easy to get some seclusion and quiet time away from other members of your party. Many catamarans at least 45 feet in length have a raised flybridge deck which offers additional seating, sometimes a table or a sunpad for lounging, and a fantastic 360 degree view while sailing or for stargazing. Regardless of whether you choose a monohull or catamaran charter, when you visit the Virgin Island Sailing® website, you can review the layouts of the yachts for charter. Everyone has their own tolerance levels for comfort/discomfort, privacy or lack thereof. |
A group of twenty year olds or a group of buddies on a “boys’ trip” will not have the same expectations as a multigenerational family trip or a group of middle-aged couples.
Take your time to determine which layout will be the most comfortable for you and the rest of your party.
Size:
The size of your charter yacht is determined not only by the level of comfort you desire, but also by your budget and sailing / boating experience. As mentioned above, the yacht layout (number of cabins and heads) frequently dictates the size of yacht you charter.
- Monohulls 32-37 feet are usually configured with a 2 cabin/1 head layout.
- Monohulls ranging in size from 38-46 feet often have a layout with 2 or 3 cabins and 2 heads.
- A 4 cabin/3 head layout usually requires at least 47 feet, unless you charter a catamaran.
- A 5 cabin/4 head layout will be around 50 feet or more.
The charter fee is primarily based on the size and layout of the vessel, but is also based on its age. Your Charter Expert will help you find a vessel to fit your layout and budget preferences.
Another factor that influences the size of your chartered yacht is your sailing / boating experience.
Although not technically difficult, sailing a 47 foot boat is entirely different than sailing a 36 foot boat due to the difference in size and displacement, and therefore more difficult to control.
The larger the boat, the more you have to anticipate maneuvers and the sooner you and your crew have to prepare for upcoming squalls, wind direction changes or anything else that might test your sailing skills. Be honest with yourself or you may have to deal with the consequences of too much boat.
Monohull vs. Catamaran Charters:
There is no absolute right answer in choosing a monohull over a catamaran charter. Both have their advantages and disadvantages.
You are now familiar with the advantages of a catamaran charter in terms of its layout configuration for the ultimate in privacy and spaciousness.
Another major advantage of a catamaran charter is its superior stability. Catamarans do not heel (lean to the side) and do not roll at anchor. For those prone to seasickness, this can be the deciding factor in opting for a catamaran charter. Because of their greater stability, a catamaran can also be safer for kids or less sure-footed cruisers.
Depending on the model, a catamaran usually sails faster than a monohull on some points of sail, such as a beam reach and downwind. Finally, catamarans have a shallower draft, allowing you more options for cruising or anchoring in shallow water.
The major disadvantage of a catamaran is that it typically does not sail as well upwind and it may be somewhat more difficult to raise and lower the sails. Also, if you are a hard core, “rail in the water” pure sailing buff, you will not get the same sailing exhilarating feeling as you do with a monohull since catamarans do not heel. In contrast, a monohull will tack easily, it will sail well upwind, and it appeals to sailing traditionalists.
A monohull, however, does heel and will have a tendency to roll at anchor. This may be an issue for those concerned about stability or seasickness.
Again, there is no right answer in selecting a monohull over a catamaran charter. Ultimately, the type of vessel you select will largely depend on your yacht layout preference and who you are sailing with. If you are bringing a party of first time sailors, very young or older people, or people who may feel somewhat apprehensive while at sea, you might be better off chartering a catamaran.
Anticipating your sailing vacation is great fun, yet choosing the right yacht might almost be as difficult as selecting that ideal cruising area. To select that perfect boat, talk to a Virgin Island Sailing® Charter Expert about destinations, yacht layouts and sizes to accommodate your needs, your experience level and your sailing group.
Today there are several options of sailing vessels to match all budgets. Whether you are an experienced “seadog” or a complete novice, you can enjoy all the pleasures of a sailing vacation.
