2010 PSC CARIBBEAN TRIP
Once Again we are headed back to the BVI!! Click here for pictures from our 2008 and previous years trips.
Greetings PSC Sailors,
For many years, members of the Pentagon Sailing Club and their friends have traveled to the British Virgin Islands to sail in one of the finest and most beautiful sailing areas in the world. In 2010 we will do it again.
BVI 2010 flyer (2007 PowerPoint)
Winnie O'Connor is coordinating the 2010 trip. The
dates are 10 to 20 July 2010 and there is no restriction on who can go; all PSC Members,
their families, and guests will be welcome, but there are
only spaces available.
If you haven’t been to the BVI before and wish to know more about this
destination, take a look at
http://www.bviwelcome.com/. If you want to see how much fun PSC has
had there in the past, check out the photo gallery on our website (www.pentagonsailing.org/photos.htm/)
for a little taste.
WHAT: As in past years, the trip will focus on introducing PSC members, their families, and their friends to the wonders of the Caribbean with over a week of sailing in the British Virgin Islands -- truly one of the most beautiful sailing (and diving/snorkeling) experiences in the world!
WHO: Anyone may go: all PSC Members,
their families, and guests are welcome. For insurance reasons, this is an "official" PSC event; it's being arranged as a private charter.
PLEASE NOTE: A VALID
PASSPORT is required for travel to BVI.
WHERE: Bareboat charter out of
Tortola, British Virgin Islands.
WHEN: July 10th through July 20th,
2010. That’s right, this year we are getting a full 11 days on the water
for the price of only 7 days (we will be able to accommodate those who
can’t take off more than a week).
CHARTER COMPANY:
Horizon Yacht
Charters, located at the
Nanny Cay Marina on Tortola
in the BVI.
BOATS: We have reserved two
Bavaria
46 foot yachts, each with three cabins and two heads,
and one
Lagoon 420 catamarans with four
cabins and four heads. We MAY be able to
add additional boats, depending on the number of people who want to
participate, the number of qualified skippers, and boats available.
ITINERARY: Includes visits to most of the
major islands in the BVI: Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Jost Van Dyke, Norman
Island, Peter Island, Cooper Island, and Anegada. Most legs of the trip
are relatively short and allow ample time to stop for lunch and snorkel
or sightsee. Our boats will often spend the night at the same anchorage,
which allows crews to eat together ashore. There will also be scuba
diving opportunities for any interested divers.
ONE WEEK TRAVELERS: Although we have the boats for 11 days, some
people may not be able to take off more than a week. We will try to put
those people on the same boat/boats so they can return to the marina at
the end of one week (there is no penalty for early return of the boats).
If only one or two people must leave early from any boat, they can be
dropped off on their departure day at a ferry dock (Road Town or Soper’s
Hole) for departures from St. Thomas or at the dinghy dock in Trellis
Bay (only a short walk from the airport) for departures from Tortola.
Please arrange your departure details with your skipper. The trip cost
is the same for 7 or 11 days.
FLIGHT ARRANGEMENTS: Participants will be responsible for
booking their own flights. You can fly to Beef Island Airport (EIS) on
Tortola in the BVI. Alternatively, you can get a flight into St.
Thomas (STT) in the U.S. Virgin Islands and take a ferry to Tortola (for
about $50 round trip). Right now (Jan 2010), airlines departing
the Washington, DC (WAS) area for Tortola have fares less then $700
(including taxes and fees). Airlines departing the Washington, DC
area to St. Thomas have fares less of than $400 (including taxes and
fees).
ARRIVAL PLAN: Whether you are arriving in Tortola, BVI, or St.
Thomas, USVI, please make every effort to arrive at the Horizon Yacht
Charter Base at the Nanny Cay Marina on (or before) July 9th. Last year
most of our crewmembers arrived the day before our charters started
allowing almost all of our boats to depart on the first charter day.
Picking up the boat requires time to complete such items as the
skipper’s chart briefing, the boat briefing & checkout, crew briefings,
provisioning, etc. so it helps to have everybody there. If you are
unable to arrive July 9th, you will need to be at the Horizon Yacht
Charter Base by 3:00 PM on Friday July 10th. For those sailing for the full
11 days, please schedule your return home NO EARLIER THAN 3:00 PM,
Tuesday, July 20th. The
Nanny Cay Hotel
offers very convenient lodging at the marina and reasonable rates.
http://www.nannycay.com/hotel-rates/. If you would like to spend
some extra time in the islands, arrive earlier than July 10th or stay
after July 20th. A wide variety of lodging/resorts are readily available
in the BVI and the USVI.
SAILING EXPERIENCE: No sailing experience is necessary; we
expect enough participation by veteran PSC sailors so that every boat
will be sufficiently crewed.
CHARTER RATES: As you may know, cats command a premium over monohulls.
The advantages of a cat are minimal heeling, speed, space and privacy
(separate head access). The advantages of a monohull are tacking, points
higher under sail, and less cost. For the cats, the cost per person is $722 and for the monohulls, the cost per person is $522.
The charter companies have slightly increased their rates this year, but
remember that we are getting 11 days on the water so the cost per day is
still very reasonable. The price includes hull damage waiver, BVI
cruising taxes, and BVI National Park fees. It does not include taxi
fares to and from the airport/ferry dock or ferry tickets for those
flying into St. Thomas. PLEASE NOTE: These prices are based on 22 people
sailing on three boats. If more crew and/or boats are added, the price
per person could decrease. If the price does decrease, either the final
payment amount will be adjusted or the difference will be refunded after
the trip.
OTHER COSTS: There are some other costs that are shared by each
boat’s crew. Provisions (about $150/pp) are
purchased by each crew upon arrival or ordered prior to arrival. Each
crew determines what meals they eat aboard/ashore. Meals ashore are
about $15-$30. Mooring fees are normally $25 per boat. You will also
need to purchase ice almost every day and fuel and water when you return
the boat at the end of the charter. Groceries are expensive.
TOTAL COST: Estimate ~$1,500-$1,600 for everything (flight, taxis,
charter, provisions, fuel, incidentals).
TRIP INSURANCE: Things happen, so most charter companies
strongly recommend travel insurance. Horizon Yacht Charters recommends
CSA
Travel Protection. For past trips, some of our members have used
AMEX’s
Global Travel Shield. While your BVI trip coordinator doesn’t
recommend any particular company or policy, we do recommend that you
seriously consider getting travel insurance for your trip. Travel
insurance policies that cover trip cancellation, trip interruption,
medical, etc., start at about $35 and go up to $100 or more for
comprehensive policies.
CANCELLATIONS: In the event you need to cancel, we will make
every attempt to fill your slot; however, we can’t guarantee that we’ll
be able to provide a refund. Again, we strongly recommend you consider
trip insurance.
SIGN UPS & PAYMENTS: To reserve your space contact BVI trip
coordinator Winnie O'Connor AND make your
$522 monohull payment or $722 catamaran payment with at least 50% deposit due by March 1, 2010 with your registration.
SIGN UP NOW: There are only 22 crew slots available, so act now!! Sign up by contacting Winnie O'Connor at BVICoordinator@pentagonsailing.org with your intent and she will tell you where to mail your deposit check or bring your deposit check to the next PSC membership meeting:
Winnie O'Connor
2010 BVI Trip Coordinator