Jim Walberg will again be providing the internet reporting to the Virgin Island Charter League Fall Boat Show at Yacht Haven Grande next week.  Below is the Show’s schedule and all of the sponsors and event participants.  Check in each day for the Show’s updates.  It is always an unforgettable event.  Until next time…fair winds!!!

St Thomas Fall Yacht Show – November 10^th-12^th – Yacht Haven Grande Marina

Monday November 9^th

Check-In: Noon – 6pm Pool Side – YHG

Dress is casual and swim wear is encouraged.  After a long day of preparing your boat for the show, cool off with your fellow yacht crews and catch up on off-season exploits while enjoying cocktails and appetizers around the pool. Sponsored by Hooters of St Thomas, Wikked,  Budget Marine,  and Bellows International Read the rest of this entry »

The BVI Boat Show opens next month at Village Cay Marina on Tortola, BVI November 5th – 8th.  This is one of my favorite Charter Vacation Yacht events of the year and I will be doing the internet reporting during the show.  The Charter Yacht Boat Shows allows the Vacation Yacht Brokers from all over the world to view the Caribbean charter fleet at one location the week before their charter season officially begins mid-November.  The Charter Yacht Society was founded in 1982 by the owners of crewed yachts in the BVI.  Charter Yacht Society is the education arm, and advocate for the issues facing the charter industry within the BVI.  Crewed chartered vacations in the BVI serve clients from around the world, and the member-yachts of CSY are viewed as the best of the charter industry.  Janet Oliver is the Executive Director of BVI Charter Yacht Society, and is the hardest working advocate for the industry that you will ever meet.  Her efforts increase dramatically during all the planning for the Boat Show each November. Read the rest of this entry »

The Caribbean Charter fleet is getting polished and varnished  for the 35^th Annual Charter Boat Show hosted by the Virgin Island Charter League  November 10^th to 12^th in St. Thomas.  The location will be the beautiful Yacht Haven Grande Marina  which is one of the headquarters for the maxi-yachts in the Caribbean.  This is THE event of the year for the Charter Yacht fleet.  It is four days of having the Charter Yacht brokers from all over the world coming to St. Thomas to preview the yachts and crews that are the floating “Bed & Breakfasts” of the Caribbean.  The charter vacation yacht brokers will be selecting the yachts and crews they will be promoting to their clients for the upcoming season.  All of the yachts and crew will be at their sparkling best! Read the rest of this entry »

When a yacht leaves the docks for sailing adventure, the family and friends of the crew are standing on the dock waving your hands goodbye, and shouting “Do not be fearful!”  This well known sailor’s mantra is because the crew have no idea what is going to happen during their voyage. 

This phrase, “Do not be fearful,”  is in many aspects of my life, not just sailing.  How about real estate today.  It is the phrase that is used by both the crew and the family and friends staying behind.  My experience with this mantra is based on the fact that no one knows what will ever happen on a sailing adventure.  The only certainty this is known by the crew and their family and friends is the latitude and longitude of the destination of the voyage.  What happens from the moment you set sail to the moment you drop anchor at your destination is what is called “a sailing adventure”,  or maybe we could substitute it with a business phrase – “a real estate adventure.” Read the rest of this entry »

There is a very BIG disappointment In the sighting of your home port in the Caribbean islands after a week of decadence on a chartered yacht vacation!

It is always a challenge to end a crewed charter sailing vacation in the Caribbean.  It is when you know you are going back to the mainland.

Usually on the third or fourth day of a charter vacation in the Caribbean the watches seem to disappear, the conversation slows down, and books seem to be read at galactic speed in between the snorkeling and SCUBA diving. There is an amazing transformation that happens when you are in a tropical paradise on a yacht while being pampered 24 hours a day by your captain and 1st Mate, and 5-star chef.

Mark Twain was on a Caribbean voyage a 75 years ago and had a similar experience. This is how he described the moment when the yacht was coming into port:

“There is no unhappiness like the misery of sighting land after a cheerful and carefree voyage.”

I can’t tell you how many times this has been my experience.  Have you had a similar experience when you have ended your charter yacht vacation, or, really, any unforgettable vacation? Let me know your thoughts… Again, if you are on-island in St. Thomas the first week or so of November, look me up at Yacht Haven Grande during the VICL Caribbean Charter Boat Show.  I have done the internet reporting for this amazing week of previewing the most luxurious charter vacation yachts in the Caribbean.  And…I we would be glad to be your guide in setting up your Caribbean charter yacht vacation.

In the midst of one of the world’s worst economic crisis, the ultra-luxury super yachts are not only thriving, they are flourishing!  Here is Jim Walberg’s 2009 update on this necessary item for the truly wealthy.

OK, so the venue was St. Bart’s “Bucket Regatta” last March.  The scene is one that would take the breath away of any sailor worth his/her salt – there was not enough room in the massive marina of Gustavia Harbor to dock just 35 super yachts!!!  The St. Bart’s Bucket Cup is the time each year for the super rich to keep things in perspective – SPEND. Read the rest of this entry »

Jim Walberg  has just discovered one of the most decadent and luxurious chartered sailing vacations in the Caribbean – just for two people in Paradise!

So, I was having a discussion last week with Chris and Julie, who own s/y Felicia - the Privilege 65 catamaran based in the BVI.  They told me about their dear friends, Ed and Natalie who have been sailing the Caribbean since 1994, and have created an ultra-luxury chartered sailing vacation experience in the Las Aves – an eight island chain just off of Bonaire , on their 52′ high-performance sloop, s/y Safari.  I LOVE new sailing adventures so my curiosity got the best of me.  I called Ed and Natalie up on Skype  and began an amazing series of conversations about what they have created for their very discerning guests.  What I discovered was SO exciting that I needed to share it with all of you immediately.  Here goes… Read the rest of this entry »

The St. Thomas Ritz-Carlton just completed the entire re-design of 81 of their 105 two and three bedroom two residences!

As you may recall, the Ritz at Red Hook, St. Thomas is one of my favorite elegant places to stay in the Virgin Islands.  This particular Ritz-Carlton was the beta test site for the Deeded Fractional Ownership  concept for the Marriott Corporation  over ten years ago.  The outstanding results created at this Ritz-Carlton with the sellout of their initial fractional ownership opportunities launched the development of deeded fractional ownership within the Ritz organization worldwide.  They have now expanded luxury villas at their Red Hook, St. Thomas location as part of their deeded fractional ownership product.  Their success with this concept has now swept over the entire Caribbean. Read the rest of this entry »

Given that I have sailed all my life, it is an eye-opener to be introduced to a Classic Motor Yacht as an option for a Caribbean charter vacation.

I was introduced to Wayne and Barbara  two weeks ago, and their Yacht Flame  - a classic motor yacht built by Feadship  in 1956 – a Dutch ship builder that started in 1949.  This is the yacht and owners, Wayne and Barbara Elsworth, that stepped up two weeks ago to see if they could assist my clients whose charter yacht cancelled on them just five days from their week long charter vacation in the British Virgin Islands.  They are also great friends with the owners of Yacht Felicia , Chris and Julie Bennett, who I have featured on several of my past articles about the charter yacht industry. Read the rest of this entry »

Twice now, in my long crewed charter yacht brokerage history a yacht and crew canceled at the last minute leaving my clients high and dry a week before their charter vacation.  The charter industry always rises to support such a moment.

Yesterday I received the most dreaded call before a crewed charter vacation booking, “The yacht and crew scheduled to host your guests has decided to not charter anymore this year.”   This is a very rare moment, because the charter industry is one of the most professional and proud group of business people you will ever meet.  However, apparently this crew and yacht were not a part of this esteemed group.  Their yacht management company – Tachyon Yachting  owned by Jacque and Eric Stahl were at the top of their game by keeping me posted on every detail that was unfolding to see if a quick solution could be arranged. Read the rest of this entry »