Posted on February 12 2018.
We often get inquiries for a crewed all-inclusive charter for a large group. With more than 10 guests (12 with families) it is very hard to fit everybody on one crewed yacht. Many of our clients with larger groups choose a tandem yacht charter instead, which means two or more yachts are chartered together throughout the week. These yachts will sail together, anchor within a short distance of one another, and provide some casual get-togethers throughout the charter week, based on your preferences.
On tandem charters, the yachts will sail the same itinerary and can “race” with each other to get to the next anchorage. This truly allows for double the fun! At stops, guests can switch yachts to enjoy all of the amenities of both vessels. Two chefs, mean a wider variety of delicious cuisine and 2 charter yachts mean double the available water toys and sports. Tandem charters allow you even one more option for customizing your vacation.
Perhaps the group would like to split up for the day, allowing the women to head out shopping before sunbathing on one of the BVI’s famous white sand beaches. Meanwhile, the men may choose to do some extra sailing or watersports. The group can meet back up for dinner and choose where to eat: For the adults to dine on one boat while the children gather for a kids-only menu on the other yacht. The two (or more) chefs can combine their cooking efforts into one buffet style dinner or they can make sure that each yacht has a similar sit-down dinner for their guests.
Most yachts are little companies on their own, so most likely you will be chartering 2 or more yachts that have different owners and have their own budget.
It is important to divide all the costs equally between the yachts when on a tandem charter. The crew will help you with this and let you know what is and is not possible.
Large groups enjoy the options that are only available to them on tandem charters, where twice the fun ensures that your vacation is an adventure to remember!
Contact Els for more information: abbie@bviyc.com
FAMILY OF 12 CHARTERED 2 CATAMARANS
Two years ago, we started planning a family trip of 3 brothers, each with a family of 4 making a grand total of 12 people ! Ages 16 to 65….
What to do, when and how… The idea took shape with unanimous agreement that a sailing vacation in the BVI would suit everybody’s taste ! With Els at BVI Yacht Charters we made an initial attempt at booking one big cat for all, but they were hard to come by after the hurricanes, so we finally settled for two crewed six passengers each catamarans as a tandem charter. What a pleasure it turned out to be !.
Capt. Ryan and Chef Jill on the White House tending to the “older” party and Capt. John and Chef Alysse on the Sweetest Thing tending to the youngsters, we ALL had the BEST holiday ever. Both Cat crews got on and coordinated perfectly and seamlessly. As the two cats were 60 tons there was no way to anchor together. On every sail, stop and overnight anchorage the crews where always helping to maintain the idea they this was a family trip. All the pre-charter purchases were made together so as not to bother if food or beverage was on one cat or the other.
On each cat we had a requirement for one gluten free menu. So as not to have any problem the full menu was gluten free on both cats for the full week… and it was delicious !. Having dealt with gluten free menus all our family lives it is till unbelievable what this team put together !. Sailing, Snorkeling, Scuba diving, Fishing, Relaxing, Beaching, Island touring, Beach bars, Dinning out, Sand fights (!), Caving, etc.. everything was done as a group and worked fine thanks to the incredible crew. We even got an offshore photo of both cats sailing together by an intrepid dinghy photographer in the middle of nowhere !.
Every evening the chefs of each cat took turns at preparing sundowners and dinner.. (in a galley for 6) for the full party of 12 ! Sundowners where served on one cat and dinner on the other with the crew shuttling everybody from one to the other and always ready to help, get the cocktails going or fixing whatever had become unfixed without the rest of us even noticing!
In short.. we made the memories for a lifetime… and thereafter.