David Burgess says he grew up with a fishing rod in his hand on forays with his dad to North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Over the years, he’s owned a variety of vessels from builders including Carolina, SeaCraft and Fountain. As an equity-fund manager, he can work from anywhere. These days, he keeps his 30-foot center-console on a river near his home off Chesapeake Bay, and his 26-foot twin V-drive cat at his Florida condo. But the jewel of his current fleet, for rambling through the British Virgin Islands with family and friends several times each year, is his Moorings 464PC My Wish Too. It’s at the charter company’s base on Tortola.

The 464PC is the second power catamaran from South African builder Robertson & Caine that Burgess has purchased through The Moorings’ yacht-management program. He’s happy to rattle off several of the program’s benefits: Dockage, maintenance and insurance are all covered; he receives a monthly check from The Moorings, which charters the vessel when he’s not aboard, giving him guaranteed revenue that exceeds his regular finance payment and puts cash in his pocket; and he can enjoy a number of cruises each year while having access to charter vacations on power cats (and sailboats, for that matter) at any Moorings destination. For Burgess, this way of owning a power cat is a win-win-win.

There is, however, one caveat that he wishes to make clear: “If you’re just going to go once a year, or every other year, just charter a boat, don’t buy it. But if you’re going to go three or four times every year, on trips that can cost up to $25,000 apiece, this is a great program.”

The program has been around for a long time, initially with sailboats, says Franck Bauguil, senior vice president of yacht ownership and product development at The Moorings. “We first started getting involved with powerboats around 2003,” he says. “Some private owners buy a boat and put it in charter for a few weeks to offset expenses. That’s not what we do. We’re an established company with multiple bases globally, and we operate out of fully staffed bases with mechanics, technicians and boatbuilders. As with our sailboats, we offer bareboat charters where you drive your own boat, but we also have fully crewed options with a skipper and chef.

“Our fleet of boats, including the three power catamarans in the program, are all privately owned, but we take care of operations and management,” he adds. “You buy the boat, you own it and name it; it’s very much a regular purchase. But with that purchase comes a management agreement where we maintain the boat on behalf of the owner and charter it to a third party when they’re not using it. We take all the issues out of the owner’s hands and incur most of the expenses. We make sure the maintenance is done, the warranties are checked, the vessels are clean, the batteries are topped off—there’s nothing for owners to do except enjoy it when they’re aboard.”

As with any boat purchase, owners can lay down the cash or go the finance route. According to the boat-show special at last fall’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, when it comes to the Moorings 403PC, most owners put down 20 to 25 percent of the cost of the yacht (about $1 million). The down payment is just shy of $200,000. At an 8.25 percent interest rate on a 20-year loan, the monthly payment of about $6,700 is offset by a guaranteed income of just under $7,500.

Bauguil says The Moorings continued those guaranteed payments after Hurricane Irma decimated the fleet in 2017, and during the height of the pandemic, when chartering essentially ceased. Management contracts generally run five to six years, after which the owner can keep the boat, trade it in, or have The Moorings’ brokerage operation place it for sale.

As far as usage is concerned, owners receive 84 points per year, with the cost of trips equating to two points per day. Of those 84 points, 42 can be used to reserve trips in advance, and 42 can be employed on short notice. (Owners can’t sublease their vessels, but they can offer them to friends or donate the time.) Generally, this breaks down to four to six weeks per year of in-season cruising, or up to 12 weeks per year in the offseason. Yachts are standardized across the company’s destinations, with identical engines, watermakers, electronics and so on, so if an owner chooses to charter a boat in a distant location, no surprises await.

Burgess generally divvies up his journeys among his pals, his family or other couples. With his retirement on the not-too-distant horizon, as well as that of one of his boating friends, he’s gone in half on a partnership for the new boat. And while he’s always used his boat in the BVI, for the first time he’s planned his next adventure on a sistership in the Bahamas.

It’s always good to have options, and with The Moorings’ yacht-management program, he’s found plenty.  

The Destinations

The Moorings has 18 worldwide destinations, including six islands in the Caribbean, a trio of bases in the Mediterranean, and locations in the Seychelles, Tahiti and Thailand. The 403PC and the 464PC are available at the Bahamian bases in the Exumas and the Abacos, as well as the BVI, Greece and Croatia. In addition, the 403PC is available in the Seychelles. 

The Alluring British Virgins

Perhaps the most popular of all of The Moorings’ cruising bases is the original location on Tortola, where the bareboat charter industry was basically launched in 1969. With Tortola’s easy navigation and protected anchorages, this spot remains the company’s crown jewel. Currently, there are seven 403PCs and two dozen 464PCs in the BVI charter fleet.

The Boats

As of this writing, The Moorings has a pair of flybridge power catamarans available in its yacht-management program, both built in South Africa by Robertson & Caine, which also produces the Leopard line of sail and power cats. The Moorings 403PC is powered by a pair of 320 hp Yanmar diesels with a cruising speed of 15 knots and a top hop of 17-plus knots. The Moorings 464PC is also powered with a pair of twin Yanmars and has a four-stateroom, four-head configuration. 

Take the next step: moorings.com

The post Cruising Made Easy with The Moorings appeared first on Yachting.

It was a sensational day for sailing, with a solid southwesterly breeze pumping over the aft quarter of our 42-footer, just ideal for a downwind romp under a spinnaker. I was even heading north on the Intracoastal Waterway with my sailing mentor, Dan Spurr, who enjoys a good sail as much as I do. But as I wafted on about how perfect it was for a kite, he helpfully pointed out one very important thing: There was no mast on his Grand Banks trawler. I was a sailor without a stick.

I was confronted with what is or isn’t “sailing” years ago while covering a long-distance single handed yacht race. A famous solo sailor had just completed his offshore qualifying sail in impossible fashion, as I was well aware he hadn’t had enough breeze to knock off so many miles in such a quick time. He had to have kicked on the engine. When I confronted him, he quickly pooh-poohed me with a comment that still resonates today: “Well, the Queen Mary ‘sails’ without a mast, doesn’t it?” I failed to come up with a witty retort.

I consider myself an all-around waterman and have always contended that it didn’t matter the conveyance, as long as it got you afloat. My personal fleet these days is certainly eclectic: two surfboards, three kayaks, a good rowboat, an inflatable dinghy and two sailboats—a 23-foot one-design racer and a 36-foot cruising boat. They all get plenty of use. But note what’s missing in my nautical quiver: a powerboat.

Read More from Herb McCormick: And The US Sailing Capital Is?

The sailing-without-a-stick matter came to a head recently on a cruise through the British Virgin Islands. It was December, and the so-called “Christmas trade winds” were roaring on a daily basis, ideal conditions for windy reaches under sail across the Sir Francis Drake Channel. The only problem? I was once again without a rig.

Amazingly enough, I did not have a problem with it. Quite the opposite. It was fantastic.

The humor columnist Dave Barry came up with a pretty good summation of how to operate a sailboat: “1. Figure out which way you want to go. 2. Whichever way it is, do not aim the boat in that direction. 3. Aim the sailboat in some other direction. 4. Trust me, this is the way sailboaters do it. 5. They are heavy drinkers.”

The drinking part is debatable; otherwise, Barry pretty much nailed it. You cannot sail directly into the breeze. You need to tack the boat to make progress to windward. I was reminded of this point on my BVI charter with friends and colleagues on a couple of power cats from The Moorings. Everywhere we wished to go—first to Virgin Gorda, then onward to low-lying Anegada— was directly upwind. That was not the least bit of a problem on the twin-engine cats. We just leaned on the throttles, and away we went. And all I could think was, I could get very used to this.

Ironically, on a couple of days when the trades kicked in at a solid 25-plus knots, there was actually too much wind for comfortable sailing, and the sailboats underway were doing so in the same manner as us: under power. The big difference was in horsepower. With their smaller engines, they struggled to make 8 knots, while we zipped here and there at an easy 15 knots. Guess who got to their respective destinations quicker, thus scoring the better mooring balls in each anchorage?

I’m not quite ready to ditch my sailboats, but I certainly experienced a revelation in the BVI. For charter vacations, power may be the way to go. At the end of the day, you skip all of Barry’s annoying details. But you can still have a drink.

The post The Powerboat Experiment appeared first on Yachting.

Join Herb McCormick as he unveils the highlights of this remarkable charter experience aboard the Moorings’ 464 PC. With an open layout and an efficient use of space, the 464PC offers abundant storage options and panoramic views throughout the interior, ensuring a homely ambiance amidst the stunning scenery. Boasting four private staterooms, each with its own en-suite bathroom, it provides ample comfort for all onboard. The flybridge beckons as the ultimate social hub, featuring the main helm station, generous seating, sun beds, and a fully equipped wet bar complete with an electric grill. Don’t hesitate to explore the wonders of the world in unparalleled comfort and style aboard the 464PC.

Key Features:

• Bow Thrusters
• Solar Panels
• Domestic Fridge
• Underwater Lights
• Electric Grill
• Water Maker
• Water Purifier
• Generator and Air Conditioning
• Convertible Saloon 

Specs at a Glance:

• Max Passengers: 8
• Toilets: 4
• Showers: 4
• Cabins: 4
• Length Overall: 46’
• Beams: 24
• Draft: 3
• Water Capacity: 174 gal.
• Engine: Twin 320hp Yanmar Diesel
• Fuel Capacity: 475 gal.

The post Yachting On Board: The Moorings 464PC appeared first on Yachting.

The 403PC has been rightfully awarded as the 2024 European Powerboat of the Year, and it’s no surprise why. This latest offering from The Moorings is tailor-made to accommodate families or smaller groups without sacrificing the elegance found in larger yachts within the fleet. With its efficient use of space, it boasts a luxurious master stateroom complete with an en-suite bathroom, along with two additional guest staterooms sharing a bathroom. Ample living space ensures plenty of room for relaxation, highlighted by the contemporary design that seamlessly integrates the most spacious flybridge ever seen on a 40-footer.

Key Features:

• Domestic Fridge
• Electric Grill
• Solar Panels
• Underwater Lights
• Generator Air Conditioning
• Shore Powered Air Conditioning
• Water Maker
• Water Purifier

Specs at a Glance:

• Max Passengers: 6
• Toilets: 2
• Showers: 2
• Cabins: 3
• Length Overall: 40’
• Beams: 21’8”
• Draft: 3’7”
• Water Capacity: 170 gal.
• Engine: 2xYanmar 320
• Fuel Capacity: 370 gal.
• Air conditioning: This yacht has generator-powered A/C

The post Yachting On Board: The Moorings 403PC appeared first on Yachting.

In the winter months of December through April, the high season of Caribbean bareboat chartering, the Sir Francis Drake Channel that courses through the cruising paradise known as the British Virgin Islands is surely one of the world’s busiest, most picturesque yachting destinations. Named after yet another pioneering British seafarer, the thoroughfare bisects the main island of Tortola, to the north, with a series of popular smaller isles (Norman, Peter, Salt, Cooper) to the south. In the busy weeks and months starting around Christmas, the channel is trafficked by an astounding number of chartered boats, ferries, inter-island traders and private cruising craft. It’s quite the scene to swallow.

I’d been to the BVI on multiple occasions over the years, always during busy season. These islands have been referred to as a “nautical theme park,” and with good reason; such is the wealth of fine trade-wind sailing; taut anchorages; great snorkeling; countless beach bars; and all the related waterfront attractions on which the reputation has been built. Still, I’d always wondered what these islands were like in the offseason, the summer months during hurricane season when activity crawls to a standstill.

Last August, while on a fingers-crossed journey to Tortola to shoot a series of videos for The Moorings (one of the BVI’s most popular charter outfits), I got my answer. What, exactly, is happening in the BVI in the summertime? A whole lot of not much.

It’s understandable. The last truly vicious storm to rake these islands—Hurricane Irma in 2017—was named a tropical storm on August 30 and spent the next couple of weeks wreaking major Caribbean havoc. It’s no wonder that many charter operators haul or stash much of their fleet in hurricane holes for the summer’s last weeks. But the summer months of 2022 were odd indeed; in fact, it was the first August in 25 years that the Atlantic basin did not generate a single named storm. One theory for this was that the dry Sahara air and dust that permeated the Eastern Atlantic for months tamped down the formation of tropical systems.

So, we proceeded cautiously with our video plans and, save for an occasional quick squall, were rewarded with fantastic weather. Which actually made the entire trip even stranger. Why were we the only ones enjoying it?

The Soggy Dollar Bar in Jost Van Dyke happened to be doing brisk bit business on the afternoon we visited, but not for long: The beach umbrellas were yanked by 5 p.m., and the bar closed down soon after. On Norman Island, another popular watering hole called Pirates Bight was completely closed, and nary an inebriated soul stumbled across the infamous deck of the nearby floating bar known as the Willy T. On the beach and grottoes known as The Baths on Virgin Gorda, the few people in attendance were locals. Everywhere, in every harbor, empty mooring balls bobbed in the waters as far as the eye could see.

That even included the Indians, a set of four rocky islets near Norman where every vacationing sailor worth his swim fins must enjoy a snorkel. Sometimes in the high season, boats jockey for hours to pick up a mooring. We nailed the closest one to the cliffs and had our choice of several more. It was fantastic. Yet eerie.

So too was our last day in the BVI, when we took a cat out on the Sir Francis Drake for one final sail and some drone shots. There, smack-dab in the middle of the whitecap-flecked waters, we were the sole vessel underway, our wake the only one in sight. As souvenirs of sailing trips go, I’ll take that one every time.

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A trip to the beautiful British Virgin Islands is incomplete without going for a cruise. On our trip to visit The Moorings at their base on Tortola, we had the chance to step onboard the new Moorings 534PC – that stands for power cat – and boy were we impressed. Check out the video to see for yourself, and see even more information (or book a charter!) at The Moorings’ website.

Specs at a Glance:

• Max Passengers: 9
• Toilets: 5
• Showers: 5
• Length Overall: 53’1″
• Beam: 25’2″
• Draft: 3’2″
• Sail Area:
• Water Capacity: 185 gal.
• Engine: 2 x Yanmar 350 hp
• Fuel Capacity: 581 gal.

The post Yachting On board: The Moorings 534PC appeared first on Yachting.

As restrictions on travel continue to ease worldwide (we all hope), planning a bareboat getaway of friends and family will be a great socially distanced vacation. For those in colder climes, bareboating is a chance to find warm water and palms blowing in tropical breezes. For others, bareboating can be an escape from local waters.

Bareboating means that the boat is supplied sans captain or crew. The bareboater handles everything, including anchoring, cooking and planning the itinerary. In terms of dollars and cents, a bareboat charter competes favorably with a vacation at a good resort hotel, especially when all those shoreside extras such as resort fees and room service are factored into the cost equation. Aboard a bareboat, all meals come with a view, as do watery delights such as snorkeling on coral reefs or exploring sandy beaches.

Like everything, a bareboat charter is going to be what boaters make of it. I know people who have gone off to exotic locales with incredible scenery and then returned complaining about high humidity. On the other hand, I enjoyed a delightful charter in Scotland where wind and rain were the one constant. My memories are of a warm cabin with friends and of shrugging off my foulies by the roaring fire in a pub. Those who get the most out of bareboating are those who are flexible, willing to adjust their plans, and believe the important thing is to enjoy the journey.

Relatively benign areas to try bareboating are in the British Virgin Islands, the Bahamas and the San Juan Islands. These locations have protected waters, short runs between harbors, well-marked aids to navigation and predictable weather forecasting. Skip the swirling Hebrides off Scotland until some miles are under the hull, and remember that foreign waters mean unfamiliar navigation aids as well as foreign languages.

Location should also be dictated by the time of year, as well as the desired cruising climate. Winter eliminates much of Europe and parts of North America, while the midsummer Caribbean can be downright steamy. The Pacific Northwest is temperate in summer, cool in spring and fall, and wet in winter.

For the experienced helmsman, everything is explained during a comprehensive pre-charter briefing that used to be done entirely at the bareboat hub, but that is now becoming a social-distancing-friendly hybrid of at-home learning and in-person checkout. When clients leave the dock, they have a good understanding of the boat, its systems, and everything from hazards to restaurants on local charts.

And for clients who need a little more help to feel comfortable, Ian Pedersen of The Moorings says, “If desired, we offer a friendly skipper at no charge for a half day to provide one-on-one instruction to familiarize yourself with your yacht or brush up on your skills.”

A skipper can also stay aboard for the duration, and this can be a good thing. The skipper will take one of the staterooms and will need to be fed, but clients will save on the cost of an insurance waiver for damage. The skipper also knows the best anchorages, beaches, reefs for snorkeling and small bistros.

Packing for a bareboat or skippered charter should be light; some bareboaters get by for a week with a bathing suit, two shirts and a pair of shorts. Realistically, and depending on the area, take foul-weather jackets, comfy clothes for the boat, and dressier clothes for going ashore for dinners (even in the casual Caribbean). It all goes into a duffel bag, which can be stowed on board. Some charter companies will store a hard suitcase ashore, while charter guests can repack into a duffel before the trip starts.

In fact, charter companies come in all shapes and sizes, including international corporations and mom and pop bases. The larger companies have the advantage shared by car-rental companies: They standardize their fleets and often have boats built specifically for their needs. Larger companies tend to have stockpiles of equipment for repairs, while smaller companies have more-eclectic offerings, making them perfect for anyone wanting to try out a boat model before purchasing.

Raul Bermudez of MarineMax Vacations, for instance, says the company’s Aquila powercats are available for charter in the BVI and for sale through MarineMax dealerships.

Deciding whom to bring along on the boat is another consideration. Guests should be people who can live together for a week or so in close quarters. Family is one thing, but consider personal habits such as smoking or drinking, as well as common interests.

Deciding on the boat can mean all kinds of options. Catamarans have swept the bareboat-charter industry, offering voluminous accommodations with separation (no shared bulkheads to hear anyone snoring), plus open salons, cockpits and flybridge areas. Cats and monohulls are available in all shapes and sizes, in both power and sail. When looking at accommodations plans, note that using convertible dinettes for sleeping is a pain of making and remaking beds daily, so try to get a stateroom for all aboard.

Whatever the platform and wherever the destination, remember that taking a bareboat charter is all about attitude. Go into it expecting fun, relaxation and excitement, and that’s exactly where the trip will lead.

Read the Contract

Before signing on the dotted line, understand all the fine print of a bareboat contract. How much is the deposit, and when is it refundable? What is your liability, and how much is indemnity insurance through the charter company? What if your boat has a problem? When is the boat available to you, and when do you have to return it?

Coronavirus Protocols

Charter companies have always faced the challenge of cleaning returned boats and preparing them for new guests, but COVID-19 has amplified the issue. Ask what the company’s protocols are to ensure a hospital- style scouring. “We had a head start at MarineMax Vacations since we always spaced our returns and departures at least a day apart,” says Raul Bermudez, vice president of charters. “That gives us more than enough time to thoroughly sanitize our boats before handing them to new guests.”

Need a License?

For all destinations, guests submit a résumé of boating experience to the charter company before booking. That résumé should show not only the client’s time on the water but also their familiarity with similar boats. In many bareboat destinations in Europe, clients need a formal license such as the International Certificate of Competence. Americans can get an International Proficiency Certificate from the American Sailing Association or an Inshore Powerboat Cruising card from US Powerboating. A VHF radio operator’s license is also required in many areas.

Take the next step: marinemax.com/vacations; moorings.com

The post Bareboating Basics appeared first on Yachting.

The Moorings, which operates 20 charter-yacht bases worldwide, has announced reopening steps that it plans to implement as various regions reopen during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Staff will adhere to 6-foot social distancing, wear masks and gloves, and have temperatures checked daily. Additional hand-washing and sanitizing procedures have been put in place.

Yachts in The Moorings fleet will be disinfected via fogging when they return to the dock. They will then be cleaned, sanitized and disinfected again prior to the next charter group’s arrival. Galley provisions will be in a sealed box that is labeled and dated, and linens will be provided in a sealed bag. Clients will receive a care pack containing disinfectant spray, hand wipes and sanitizing products.

Charter clients will now be required to provide their own snorkeling gear. The Moorings will no longer provide complimentary snorkeling gear, but will have it available for purchase. All payments will be made via debit or credit card, to reduce the handling of cash.

Are charter clients of The Moorings being asked to wear masks? Yes, when they are at The Moorings base or interacting with staff in a location where local policy urges the wearing of masks.

For more information, visit: moorings.com

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Hull No. 1 of this model — the smallest from Johnson Yachts — is now in build. Owners can choose three or four staterooms, with an enclosed skylounge or a flybridge and fishing-ready cockpit. Bill Dixon at Dixon Yacht Design drew the exterior that’s shown in the rendering below, with a goal of providing “much of the superyacht experience in a manageable LOA.” Interiors are by Design Unlimited, with a focus on medium-tone woodwork and contrasting light fabrics. Options are available inside the yacht too, with a goal of tailoring each vessel to the owners’ cruising plans. In the galley, for instance, Johnson is offering extra wine chillers and refrigerators for entertaining, or additional pantry space for long-range cruising.

Take the next step: johnson-yachts.com

Palm Beach GT50 Open

This 40-knot yacht made her debut at the Miami Yacht Show in February. She’s an evolution of Palm Beach’s GT50 Salon Express model, using the same hull and 600 hp Volvo Penta IPS800 engines as her sistership while adding more of a connection to nature through the open top. The ­windscreen shown in the image below is made of carbon fiber, and is designed at a height to keep guests in the seating area comfortable, even when the yacht is cruising at speed. A portable awning can be raised if the sun gets too blisteringly hot. The yacht’s deck and superstructure are also carbon fiber, to keep weight down; the hull is built using vinylester-infused, cored E-glass for strength in rougher seas.

Take the next step: palmbeachmotoryachts.com

The Moorings 433PC

Robertson and Caine builds The Moorings 433PC, a three-stateroom powercat whose en suite master fills the starboard hull. Two guest staterooms to port share a head, and the forepeak area can be used for luggage or as a sleeping space for a child. The salon has a convertible area that can be set up as a double berth at night, bringing the total adult guest capacity to eight. Raymarine electronics are standard at the helm, with Cruisair air ­conditioning throughout the boat. A wet bar and guest seating are up on the flybridge, where the skipper has 360-degree views. The boat is available for bareboat charters as well as for bookings with a skipper or cook; in the latter case, the crew takes over one of the interior cabins.

Take the next step: moorings.com

Vicem 67 Cruiser

Construction is underway on the first 67 Cruiser from Vicem Yachts. She’s spec’d with twin 600 hp Volvo Penta D8 diesels for a top-end of 22 ­knots. Optional engines from Volvo Penta are 725 hp D11s and 900 hp D13s. The design includes a lower helm to starboard as well as a station for ­steering on the flybridge, sheltered beneath the hardtop that is shown in the rendering below. Note the sun pads on the trunk cabin at the bow in addition to the guest seating aft on the flybridge; the latter space can be retooled to include movable chaises or loose chairs when the tender is in the water. Look for this yacht to make her debut at the Newport International Boat Show in September.

Take the next step: vicemyachts.com

The post New and Noteworthy Yachts for Spring appeared first on Yachting.

The Moorings has expanded its charter operations to the Caribbean island of Martinique.

A fleet of sailing monohulls and catamarans, as well as powercatamarans (including the flagship 514 powercat), will be based at La Marina du Marin. It’s a facility that has 830 berths and is the largest marina on the island. Shops, bars and restaurants are on site, including a supermarket, bakery, laundry, post office, tobacco shop, currency exchange, medical center and car rental.

The Moorings is accepting bookings now for charters out of Martinique starting in December 2019.

How long has The Moorings been operating? Since 1969. The company has grown to offer bareboat and crewed charters in multiple locations worldwide.

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