We're planning a bareboat charter in BVI. We're in the early planning
phases. Tentatively we'll charter a monohull in mid-January for one week.
We also plan on diving.

Does anyone have a good recommendation for a cruising guide?

Only one worth getting "Cruising Guide to theVirgin Islands" by Scott. That
is the book that will be on every bareboat. For charts, the best is Imray-
Iolaire A233 has A231 on one side and A232 on the other.

But the sailing is only half the trip. If you want the best advice on
charter boats, resturants, provisioning and partying check out the TTOL BVI
forum at: http://www.traveltalkonline.com/foru...s.php?Cat=&C=1

I deliver boats for Moorings but I charter with BVI Yacht Charters and use
Bobby's Market for provisioning. Saves about 30% on the total trip cost.
Downloade the Excel spred sheet from Bobby's at:
http://www.islandsonline.com/bobbysm...3/BobQtPl8.xls
and set up your order. They deliver anywhere on Tortola for free and give a
5% discount for large orders.


"Brien Alkire" wrote in message
...
We're planning a bareboat charter in BVI. We're in the early planning
phases. Tentatively we'll charter a monohull in mid-January for one week.
We also plan on diving.

Does anyone have a good recommendation for a cruising guide?

"Brien Alkire" wrote in message
...
We're planning a bareboat charter in BVI. We're in the early planning
phases. Tentatively we'll charter a monohull in mid-January for one week.
We also plan on diving.

Does anyone have a good recommendation for a cruising guide?


In article sx%ad.41038$tU4.5734@okepread06,
"Glenn Ashmore" wrote:

Only one worth getting "Cruising Guide to the Virgin Islands" by Scott. That
is the book that will be on every bareboat. For charts, the best is Imray-
Iolaire A233 has A231 on one side and A232 on the other.

But the sailing is only half the trip. If you want the best advice on
charter boats, resturants, provisioning and partying check out the TTOL BVI
forum at: http://www.traveltalkonline.com/foru...s.php?Cat=&C=1

I deliver boats for Moorings but I charter with BVI Yacht Charters and use
Bobby's Market for provisioning. Saves about 30% on the total trip cost.
Downloade the Excel spred sheet from Bobby's at:
http://www.islandsonline.com/bobbysm...v%202003/BobQt
Pl8.xls
and set up your order. They deliver anywhere on Tortola for free and give a
5% discount for large orders.

Complete agreement with Glenn. As you can see from my sig, we have done
the trip a few times. Another good guide is "Virgin Anchorages". The
pictures are worth the cost by themselves.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/

Thanks Glenn. I ordered the cruising guide. I have electronic charts and
will also obtain a paper copy of A233. I've been using the TTOL BVI site
and Bobby's looks perfect. Also, I'm leaning towards BVI Yacht Charters.


"Glenn Ashmore" wrote in message
news:sx%ad.41038$tU4.5734@okepread06...
Only one worth getting "Cruising Guide to theVirgin Islands" by Scott.
That
is the book that will be on every bareboat. For charts, the best is
Imray-
Iolaire A233 has A231 on one side and A232 on the other.

But the sailing is only half the trip. If you want the best advice on
charter boats, resturants, provisioning and partying check out the TTOL
BVI
forum at: http://www.traveltalkonline.com/foru...s.php?Cat=&C=1

I deliver boats for Moorings but I charter with BVI Yacht Charters and use
Bobby's Market for provisioning. Saves about 30% on the total trip cost.
Downloade the Excel spred sheet from Bobby's at:

http://www.islandsonline.com/bobbysm...3/BobQtPl8.xls
and set up your order. They deliver anywhere on Tortola for free and give
a
5% discount for large orders.


"Brien Alkire" wrote in message
...
We're planning a bareboat charter in BVI. We're in the early planning
phases. Tentatively we'll charter a monohull in mid-January for one
week.
We also plan on diving.

Does anyone have a good recommendation for a cruising guide?

"Brien Alkire" wrote in message
...
Thanks Glenn. I ordered the cruising guide. I have electronic charts and
will also obtain a paper copy of A233. I've been using the TTOL BVI site
and Bobby's looks perfect. Also, I'm leaning towards BVI Yacht Charters.

Be aware that January is high season. Not as crowded as Christmas/New Years
but still a lot of boats. Plan to get to your next anchorage by 2PM at the
latest in order to get a mooring or find a decent place to drop the hook.
It is likely that you will be in for some rather boisterous sailing so
practice your reefing skills.

It is likely that you will be in for some rather boisterous sailing so
practice your reefing skills.


We're not super experienced but everyone aboard is a sailor and most of us
are racers, so I think we'll be fine.

Should we bring our foulies on this trip?

Is this a bad time of year for scuba diving because of the "Christmas
winds?"

"Brien Alkire" wrote in message
...
We're not super experienced but everyone aboard is a sailor and most of us
are racers, so I think we'll be fine.

Should we bring our foulies on this trip?

Is this a bad time of year for scuba diving because of the "Christmas
winds?"

I am not a diver so I can't say for sure. Mid January is the height of the
Christmas winds so mooring over the Rhone might be a little rough. West of
Guana Cay should be comfortable

As I said, expect maybe 20 minutes of showers a day but beating to windward
that time of year can be a bit wet.

Best foulies for the BVI is skin. Fast drying, breathable and takes up
little space in your luggage. :-) Actually it can get a little chilly
during the showers so I pack a light weight Mustag dinghy jacket. Anything
heavier and you will be wetter on the inside than the outside.
OTOH, if you are from some place North of the Mason Dixon Line you might
need them on the way home. Flying into O'Hare in February I always get a
kick out of those passengers comming home from the ilons in shorts and tank
tops. By the time they get to their cars their great tans are purple. :-)

In article ,
"Brien Alkire" wrote:

It is likely that you will be in for some rather boisterous sailing so
practice your reefing skills.


We're not super experienced but everyone aboard is a sailor and most of us
are racers, so I think we'll be fine.

Should we bring our foulies on this trip?

Is this a bad time of year for scuba diving because of the "Christmas
winds?"



That's our usual time down.

I "layer" on the way down: light water resistant jacket, sweat shirt,
long sleeve shirt, "T". We strip (or don) as necessary. I believe most
boats have a set or two of foulies, but we've used "ours" about once in
about 20 charter weeks. Showers/squalls generally last about 15 minutes,
so skin is almost always most appropriate. At a minimum, it conserves
onboard water.

SCUBA: Generally, "bad" conditions mean 20-30' visability instead of
100+. As it happens, that's about the best you'll get at the Rhone if
you're not the first group down. I did a half-dozen of the best
locations on a "resort course", so those without their C-card need not
be left out; Almost always will be great snorkeling nearby, too.

--
Jere Lull
Xan-a-Deux ('73 Tanzer 28 #4 out of Tolchester, MD)
Xan's Pages: http://members.dca.net/jerelull/X-Main.html
Our BVI FAQs (290+ pics) http://homepage.mac.com/jerelull/BVI/