Bareboat Certification!!

Our mention of a Certificate of Proficiency to show your boating experience, especially if you’ve been sailing for years, raised the ire of some sailing schools and so we are amending our comments.

Over the past year, many CharterSavvy readers who want to bareboat in Europe (or elsewhere) have encountered major headaches because the authorities in several nations are cracking down on how you prove your boating qualifications. 

This is a governmental issue, not an issue with the charter companies.  You may meet all your charter company’s experience requirements but, unless you have a piece of paper called the International Certificate of Proficiency (Certificat International De Conducteur, or ICC), you’ll have to hire a captain for your charter.  This is especially true in Croatia.

To get your ICC, you can take a series of sailing classes that lead to a certification, or you can pay for an extensive “evaluation” by a sailing school.  All of this involves travel and lodgings, adding to your out-of-pocket costs.

But what if you’ve been sailing for years?  What if you’ve chartered many times in the British Virgins or the San Juans or elsewhere that required experience but not a certificate?  Do you really have to have to go back to sailing school? 

Here’s a zinger. The United States is not a part of the European Union and didn’t sign Resolution #40.  And the United States doesn’t issue boating licenses.  And we’ve heard reports of sailing certificates (and even a USCG license, being declined. 

It seems, particularly in Greece and Turkey, that officials are vague on what is required.  Croatia, no, they’re playing hardball.  But for Greece and Turkey (and elsewhere), one charter broker noted, “It’s safe to say that pretty much anything that looks official will work.”

And so we come to the American Yachting Association, a team of licensed captains, who think you should get credit for your knowledge and they offer the AYA International Certificate of Proficiency based on the boating experience you already possess. Fill out their free evaluation form, let their team take a look, and you're on your way.

Here’s the deal they’ve offered to CharterSavvy subscribers.  For just $49.95, you get the AYA International Certificate of Proficiency: a passport-sized folder with your photo and data, written in nine languages to make it easy for local port authorities to understand and approve.  CharterSavvy subscribers also get a hard-laminated ID card for your wallet and you even get free shipping.  And not only is the evaluation free, but they offer a 100% moneyback guarantee!  

Even if you don't plan to charter in Europe, this is a great way to impress your sailing buddies and, besides, it's good for five years. Who knows when you'll need it?

This deal for CharterSavvy readers won’t last forever, so click here for the American Yachting Association website, or email them by clicking here to request your free evaluation form. 

Seems like a pretty cool thing to have, but check with your charter broker to see what is required in each area.

MarineMax Vacations Super Summer Deals!!

MarineMax Vacations has rolled out huge savings on their Dufour 433 and 413 bareboats for the summer season. 

Take 25% (yes, that one-fourth!!!) off a 433 charter between now and Oct. 31 for these three-cabin two-head yachts on a minimum 6-day charter.  You have to book by June 30, so sign up while they’re still available. 

You can get 15% off one of their brand-new MarineMax 413s, which is also a three-cabin two-head yacht.  Same rules apply: book before June 30, sail before October 31. 

These MarineMax yachts are very well-equipped, including such niceties as a watermaker (No hunting for water! Long showers!!), shorepower air conditioning, wifi, masks, fins and snorkels, and even fuel!!

Click MarineMaxVacations.com or call 888-461-5497 but don’t dally!

Favorite Yachting Bar Competition

Wight Vodka and Scuttlebutt Europe, the continental version of the Scuttlebutt daily blog about sailing, have launched the 2012 World's Favorite Yachting Bar competition but you need to hurry: voting ends Dec. 27.

Winners in previous years were the Peter Cafe Sport in the Azores, the Soggy Dollar in the BVIs (shown left), and IYAC in Newport, Rhode Island.  Ten entries are on the ballot, but the only two in serious bareboat charter areas are the Bitter End Yacht Club in the BVIs and Sint Maarten Yacht Club in Sint Maarten.  

To vote, go to:  www.scuttlebutteurope.com/sailors-bars.html

CYOA Gets First Helia 44 In The Islands!

The hot new charter catamaran from Fountaine Pajot is the Helia 44, and the ONLY ONE in the entire Caribbean is available from CYOA Charters. 

This is a BIG cat, with a beam of over 24-feet and four spacious staterooms with queen-sized or larger berths.  Each stateroom has an ensuite head with separate stall shower (ooh, nice!!), plus a transom shower. The saloon is huge, with a large settee and dinette as well as the U-shaped galley with an LPG stove and oven, microwave and big fridge/freezer. 

The tender hangs on davits, and the cockpit features a wrap-around alfresco dining area under the solid hardtop.  All the goodies, too, including full Garmin electronics, generator, air conditioning, electic anchor windlass, and even Sirius satellite radio. 

Need that final push to book?  Check out the Helia 44 video on YouTube by clicking here.  

Rates start at $7500 a week from the CYOA base in St Thomas, USVI. 

For details and bookings, CYOAcharters.com, 800-944-CYOA

New Format & Dates For BVI Regatta

The organizers of the annual BVI Sailing Regatta & Sailing Festival hosted by Nanny Cay have announced changes to both the format and the dates for 2013.  First, the dates have been changed to March 25-31, so mark your calendars.

Second, the Festival program will now include a race around Tortola for the Nanny Cay Cup, a race to Norman Island with beach time planned at Pirates Bar in The Bight, and then a fun day on and off the water at Nanny Cay, followed by the traditional Mt. Gay Rum Welcome Party for the Regatta. 

More than 125 yachts are expected to compete, and there are two classes just for bareboat charters.  The regatta website has a long list of charter companies providing bareboats suitable for racing, but get your reservations in early!

And, if you can beat the 4hr 15min ‘round Tortola record for monohulls, you’ll win a jeroboam of champagne, dinner for 15 at Peg Legs Restaurant, and pretty cool bragging rights.

The regatta website is www.bvispringregatta.org