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Thursday
Aug222013

Southwest Florida Yacht Charters To Gorgeous New Base!

Southwest Florida Yacht Charters (SWFYC), one of Florida’s most popular power and sail charter firms, along with its power/sail school and brokerage are moving to Tarpon Point Marina, near Mile Marker 92 and the Caloosahatchee River in Cape Coral.

The SWFYC fleet had previously been split, with powerboats in Fort Myers and sailboats at Burnt Store Marina on Charlotte Harbor.  The new location brings all SWFYC bareboats together in one place which is close to the prime charter grounds of Pine Island Sound and Sanibel/Captiva Islands.

The new location is also home to the Westin Cape Coral Hotel, a luxury resort with shopping, dining, a ship’s store, and full amenities.  The marina will have facilities totally dedicated to SWFYC, and the move will be completed by November 1 in time for the Florida cruising season through the winter.

In addition to celebrating their new location, SWFYC is commemorating their 30th anniversary with free cruising days on all boats through 2014.  Three-day charters get one extra day, while longer charters get two extra days at no charge.

Southwest Florida Yacht Charters, www.swfyachts.com, 800-262-7939.

Wednesday
Aug212013

Conch Charters: Great Deals & New Boats!

Conch Charters, the family-run business in the British Virgins, has great news on two fronts: first, a new boat in their fleet and, second, a great offer for CharterSavvy readers.

The boat first.  It’s a Leopard 4600 with four staterooms and four heads, full air-conditioning with generator for at-anchor use, and a raised helm that seats three.  There’s great seating for alfresco meals under the sun-protecting hardtop, but our favorite spot is the huge relaxation nets between the bows forward.  Perfect to sprawl while under sail, but even better for watching the stars at night. 

Now the deal.  From November 7th to December 7th, Conch is offering CharterSavvy readers nine days for the price of the usual seven-day week.

We’ll have news about new boats, both cats and monohulls, shortly.  But don’t miss out on this great deal.

Conch Charters, www.conchcharters.com, toll-free (800) 521-8939.

Monday
Jul292013

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.

 

Friday
Jun142013

New Cats At TMM Charters

It’s going to be an exciting summer and fall at TMM Yacht Charters in the British Virgin Islands, with no fewer than four new catamarans joining their fleet of cats, monohulls and powerboats!

Already arrived and in service is a Helia 44 cat from Fountaine Pajot, a brand-new four-cabin version with four ensuite heads with separate showers. 

Arriving in October for the start of the winter season are a new Lagoon 39 (left) featuring four queen-berth cabins plus two singles for kids and a new Lipari 41 that joins the two already in the fleet with three cabins and two heads.  Also growing the TMM fleet in October is a new Lagoon 380 (below) with four cabins and two heads.

TMM is based in Roadtown and also has fleets in the Grenadines and Belize.  TMM is also the only charter service with free wifi on all their boats in the BVIs.  For more details and to look at their fleet, go to sailtmm.com or call 800-633-0155.

Tuesday
Jun042013

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!

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