We have all heard about “Boy Trips” to the Caribbean, but who says the guys should have the monopoly on fun getaways? If your life is so busy you cannot find time to squeeze in lunch with your favorite girlfriend; taking care of your own needs is taken off the to-do list; it has been a while since you laughed at yourself or maybe you are reaching that certain birthday milestone, isn’t it time to find your groove again on a “chick” trip? Whether it is a group of friends with a past history together, sisters, mothers and daughters, or other women relations, a chick trip is the time to get together and leave all the annoyances and stress of your daily lives at home. It is a chance to get away, let down your hair, and just enjoy yourself and each other, without having to worry about your husband or boyfriend, the kids, the house, the car, your job or any other responsibilities. There is no better place to get away from the daily grind and have a chance to bond, reconnect and rejuvenate than on a girls-only BVI yacht charter. Even if you

you can just jump overboard and swim to shore. In addition,if you are looking for onshore adventure, there is plenty to do in the BVI. Think of it as a floating pajama party or a girls’ night out-only longer! It is about friendship, connecting and support without competition. It is a time to truly be yourself – to laugh, cry, hoot and holler, sing, relax and just be girls again all with the incredible adventure of exploring the BVI by sea on a chartered yacht. There are many options for booking yacht charters in the BVI. If someone in your group is an experienced boater, a bareboat yacht charter is the ideal adventure where you captain your own boat and visit the islands at your leisure. If no one knows how to sail, or you simply want to experience a life of luxury as you are pampered aboard a private yacht – no worries. Try a crewed yacht, in which you are looked after by a captain and crew, and where your wishes are their commands. Whether you choose to laze about all day onboard or engage in some exciting activities, you will not be disappointed with your time spent on either type of BVI yacht charter.

So, what is a girl to do on a BVI yacht charter other than just hang out with the girls? If you do not know how to sail – learn. Many captains on crewed yachts are more than willing to share their knowledge. Otherwise, there are plenty of other activities sure to be fun, including snorkeling and scuba diving; windsurfing and kite surfing; shopping; hiking; yoga and holistic activities; spas; and of course lots of music, dining and dancing. To learn more about these “girly” activities, read our article, “Women Only! Chick Trips On A BVI Yacht Charter.”

So, if a BVI yacht charter sounds like the perfect paradise for you and your girlfriends, just do it! If you share expenses, a yacht charter vacation can be surprisingly affordable. To make the most of your girlfriend getaway, follow these tips:

1. Book your charter now. Agree on a date and put it in your planner right away. It is hard to back out of something you have already paid for.

2. Create a kitty for shared expenses like meals, taxis, etc. It saves the group from figuring out each person’s share without arguing.

3. Bring old photos. Girls always reminisce so it is fun to have the pictures.

4. Take lots of photos of each other, but decide in advance whether swimsuit pictures are allowed.

5. Try new things. It is impossible to be embarrassed in front of a close girlfriend. After all, she has seen you at your best and worst.

6. Stand up for yourself. If part of the group wants to snorkel and you just want to hang our and read that trashy romance novel, it is okay.

7. Leave behind the blackberries, pagers, laptops, kids, and men.

A girlfriend getaway on a BVI yacht charter provides a great opportunity for laughing, swapping stories, shopping, exercising, exploring beautiful scenery, learning new skills and relaxing all while on a Caribbean venture that is out of the ordinary. There is no where else you will find the tremendous support, encouragement and bonding that occurs on a sailing chick trip. So, if you are looking for a unique way to recharge your batteries and stay connected with your gal pals, climb aboard with the girls, cast off and throw all of your cares to the wind!

It seems that summer just flew by this year. Many of the yachts’ calendars are closed until November. During this time, the crews are busy getting the yachts ready for next season by doing maintenance, refitting, and redecorating. There are, however, quite a few great yachts and crews that are still available for a last minute charter, so call me and I will be happy to help you plan a wonderful sailing vacation.

Lately, I have had several requests for different types of sailing trips, such as an all girls’ trip; all boys’ trips; corporate team building trips and corporate incentive trips. Crewed yacht charters are a great idea for groups of people to reunite old friendships, build on employee/employer relationships, or as a great reward for a job well done. There are many yachts that are perfect for this type of sailing adventure!

The first yacht I would like to talk to you about is Promenade. I have booked several group trips on this yacht and everyone left with wonderful memories to take home. This yacht has a fun-loving crew that even goes along with the, “theme of the night.” Promenade is a 60’ trimaran that is fully inclusive for 2-12 guests. Imagine your group enjoying a week charter aboard this yacht sailing, snorkeling, scuba diving, kayaking, banana boating, water-skiing, shelling , drinking at beach bars, exploring deserted anchorages, fishing and more! To learn more, CLICK HERE.

and are identical to each other. You can book multiple yachts with anywhere from 3 -10 guests on each yacht. This is a really fun way to sail with a large group of people if you do not want to be all on one yacht. You can have mock races between the yachts and earn bragging rights. Or, how about a progressive dinner at sea? I have had crews arrange for guests to go to one yacht for appetizers, another yacht for salad, a third yacht for the main entrée and another yacht for dessert. How fun is that?!

Whether you are a group of friends looking to reunite because you have lost contact due to everyday life or you have employees that need to be rewarded for a job well done, if personal service, gourmet meals prepared exclusively for your tastes, absolute relaxation, and water sports- all with no worries- sounds like the perfect vacation, then a crewed group yacht charter is for you. Give me a call and I will put my expertise to work for you to plan your perfect sun-filled group adventure!

It is not easy to both live and make a living. Sometimes it is difficult to just balance a checkbook, without juggling family, career, health, finances and fun. No matter if you are a group of friends or a corporate group- sometimes you just have to depart the everyday. As Maya Angelou once said, “Life loves to be taken by the lapel and told: ‘I’m with you kid. Let’s go.’” If your group needs to depart the everyday, then your answer is a Caribbean journey unlike any other. Whether you are trying to reconnect with old friends, build a stronger team or reward hard working employees, or even impress clients, there are some moments that can only be captured aboard a bareboat charter. With many options to choose from in our large fleet, depending upon the size of your group, we can either set you up in a flotilla of similar yachts or book a larger individual charter.



For a group of 6-8, the Jeanneau 54 is a stunning, 54’ luxury yacht. This beautiful, spacious air-conditioned boat offers all the extras amenities that one would expect of a quality luxury yacht. Real teak, wood and leather have been used throughout. Below decks, there is a flexible sleeping arrangement with the ability to sleep 6 in maximum comfort. There is a truly magnificent forward master stateroom with a double “island” bed, ensuite head and shower. Two large double cabins are located aft each with their own head and shower. There is ample locker and hanging space in all of the cabins. The two bunk crew cabin with ensuite head is located in the forepeak and is accessed from the deck. The salon has the look and feel of an elegant lounge with a spaciousness that cannot be found on other yachts of comparable size. Many creature comforts are offered to your guests, including two separate CD players. The galley is a seafaring chef’s dream with all the conveniences one could ask for. The sundeck has an extra large inbuilt cooler on the floor to give your group instant access to cold, refreshing drinks. The Jeanneau 54 is designed for optimum performance on the seas, and she handles as if she were a yacht half her size. Click to learn more about the Jeanneau 54.



Catamarans are very popular in the Caribbean fleets, and there are many selections for larger groups. The Lagoon 57 is particularly bright and airy. With four spacious double ensuite cabins, complete with air conditioning, this is a super comfortable yacht. An additional fifth cabin with a double berth and two V berths without optional air conditioning make this an ideal yacht for a group of 12 people. Click to learn more about the Lagoon 57.

If your group is into speed, than a motor yacht is your choice for a bareboat charter. The Tarquin 59 is the queen of our power fleet. Unrivaled in the Caribbean, this yacht combines spacious comfort, a refined, performance-orientated design, and an ease of handling which will inspire confidence each time you leave port. The aft deck is ideally suited for dining al fresco. With a spacious salon and 5 ensuite cabins, 8-10 people can cruise in luxury and total comfort with all the amenities that could be wished for. Click for more information on the Tarquin 59.

If a bareboat charter sounds like the ideal way to entertain your clients, reward your staff, build better teams, or simply bond with a group of friends, contact us to put our expertise to work for you. Sometimes you just have to separate yourself from the land to re-charge the batteries!

Till next time, keep your sails full!
Melody Delgado and Dennis Lang,
Bareboat Charter Experts

DANCE FESTIVAL- St. Vincent and the Grenadines: Entire month of September
TSchools, community groups and dance companies showcase their talents in modern, traditional, creative fork and ballroom dances. Performances are in solo, duet and group.

LA FESTIVAL DE CAPISTERRE- St. Kitts: September 19
This annual festival is celebrated in the region of Capisterre, St. Kitts. The Capisterre region was the earliest area in St. Kitts to be settled by Europeans and was part of French St. Christophe from 1625 to 1713. The area now holds four main settlements all separated from each other by miles of sugarcane fields. The festival was established in 2001 to foster unity amongst these four villages, often dubbed by locals as “the back of de land” due to them being the furthest locations on the island from the capital city of Basseterre. This is the largest community festival in the federation of St. Kitts and Nevis in terms of both participant population and generated income. The income is used to better the communities of Capisterre.

25th ANNIVERSARY OF INDEPENDENCE – St. Kitts and Nevis: September 19
Military parade and horseracing at Indian Castle race track.

MOONLIGHT GOLF – St. Maarten: September 22
Play golf when the full moon reflects off the lagoon adding illumination to the golf course. Players use fluorescent balls that streak across the sky to greens you can barely see. Players carry flashlights as they make their way around the course to avoid stumbling into the lagoon. This tournament is a fun-filled 9 hole scramble format.

DE JAM FESTIVAL – Antigua and Barbuda: September 26-October 3
Events and parties are scheduled every night and day during this festival. Don white t-shirts and dance in the night clubs; dress up for the masquerade ball; party on the beach; take a catamaran cruise; attend a giant pajama party; enjoy pool parties at the hotels and resorts; attend the gala dinner or drink yourself silly at the Last Man Standing Party.

5th ANNUAL SIZZLIN’ SANDS BEACH VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT – Antigua and Barbuda: September 27-28


MARGUERITE DAISY FESTIVAL – St. Lucia: Entire month of October
This flamboyant festival honors the humble marguerite daisy with great pomp and ceremony including a royal kingdom complete with King, Queen, dignitaries and loyal subjects.

8th ANNUAL FASHION CARIBBEAN – St. Vincent: Entire month of October
Started by Image Modeling Agency of St. Vincent. This Fashion Show features designers from throughout the Caribbean. For more information go to www.fashioncaribbean.vc

NATIONAL WARRI FESTIVAL – Antigua: Entire month of October
Warri is Antigua’s national board game, which made its way there from the West Coast of Africa brought by sugar plantation slaves in the 19th century. Like many other slave traditions, the game was seen as a threat and was driven underground by the Europeans. It has proved to be remarkably resilient, however, and was passed on by word of mouth for many years. Warri refers to the hollows in a thick board made from local island wood and carved into the shape of a fish. The pieces or counters (traditionally known as nickars) were small nuts for the Guillandria Bush. Now they are often small identical shells found on local beaches. The game can be played with two or more people and the object is to capture 25 counters using your cunning and mental arithmetic. The game has achieved worldwide popularity and has been included in the Mind Sports Olympics in London. The competition, organized into classes, is stiff!

CRICKET CLASSICS FESTIVAL – Grenada: October 9-16
This annual event has grown in popularity since 2004. The focus of the week is on 2 clashes between cricket legends of England and the West Indies. These great names of the past do battle in two limited overs matches. Other activities include parties in the evening of both matches, traditional beach barbecues, question and answer sessions with the stars, island tours, golf and sailing.

STEELMAN – British Virgin Islands: October 11
Olympic distance triathlon includes a 1.5k swim, a 40k bike and a 10k run. Includes parties, music and food.

11th ANNUAL FOXY’S HALLOWEEN CAT FAT – Jost Van Dyke, BVI: October 24-26
No one throws a party better than Foxy! Hosted by the West End Yacht Club, there are several multi-hulled races followed by a masquerade balls. Wear a costume or come as you are-but show up. Neither rain nor cold nor lack of wind will keep these cats from a good fight!

THANKSGIVING DAY – Grenada: October 25
This public holiday commemorates the anniversary of the 1983 Caribbean and American military intervention in Grenada and the fact that more than 20 years after the event, there is still peace.

WORLD CREOLE MUSIC FESTIVAL – Dominica: October 26-28
The annual World Creole Music Festival in Rouseau brings together musicians, singers and bands from all over the Caribbean and features the unique rhythms of Zouk, Zydeco, Cadence, Compas, and soukous.

INDEPENDENCE DAY CYCLING CLASSIC – St. Vincent and the Grenadines October 26-27
Independence was granted in 1979. It is celebrated with parades through the streets of Kingston, speeches by the Prime Minister, calypso music and food for a week of festivities. A challenging bike race is part of the fun!

WRECK WEEK – British Virgin Islands: October 26-November 1
Organized by the BVI Scuba Organization, Wreck Week coincides with the anniversary of the sinking of the RMS Rhone, one of the island’s most famous wrecks. A variety of fun activities include wreck diving, pumpkin carving contests, treasure hunts and beach barbecues, but the event also addresses several environmental issues like the PADI project AWARE REEF and beach clean-up day. Interested divers can take courses to obtain the wreck diving certificate available from UBS Dive Center in Road Town, Tortola.