Conference unifix::sailing

This note has not seen ANY activity so I don't feel too bad about asking
a simpler set of questions.

I am planning to charter a Morgan Out Island 41 from Hirsh Yacht Charters
this coming summer (August) from Fort Lauderdale.  Has anyone had any
experience with Hirsh?  Things to watch out for or were they good to deal
with?  Note 359.1 mentions a Morgan very briefly, not much info ... have
any of you sailed the Out Island 41?  What were/are your thoughts?

Looking forward to less than a year for the next reply to this note!

Carl

The Morgan OI41 has the reputation of being a very poor sailing boat.

    ditto on .2
    
    We chartered an OI28 and found it to be a poor sailing boat.
    
    I think the design philosophy on the OI class placed a low priority
    on sailing ability and appearance and high priority on lots of room
    below.
    
    Can you get one of the Morgan 38/36(?)'s? They would appear to be
    better sailing boats.
    
    Ed
    

The IO41 is a pig. It can't get out of its own way. It is, however, an
excellent chartering yacht with excellent accomadations.

I chartered one from Block Island for 10 days once. We presented the owner
with our qualifications, and stated our destination as Cape Henry, NJ 
'cause we wanted to SAIL somewhere, not hang around RI sound. He just kinda
smiled. The third day out, having watched Montauk point on the horizon for
over 36 hours and often not sailing (to use the term loosely) faster than the
current, we decided to turn mother's picture to the wall and powersail to the
Cape where we spent a delightful vacation swimming off the beaches and using
some of the 200 gal. of water for hot showers in the evening. 

Unless you'r set on "performance sailing", an OI41 is an excellent charter
boat. Just crack the sheets, and in the trades she'll do 8+ knots. Count on 
powering up wind, however (you have to heat the water up somehow).

good luck

paul 

    I'm a novice/fanatic to bareboating (not to sailing) and wonder
    if anyone has comments/advice on charter locations in the Carib.
    I've bareboated in the VI's and am looking for something new - the
    Grenadines, St. Kitts?  One blasphemous sounding requirement for a 
    winter vacationis that I want to spend more time with the hook out 
    at gorgeous anchorages than doing day sails between islands.  Also, 
    in waters where islands are fairly far apart, do charter companies
    allow pickup in one location and drop-off in another?  Any personal
    recommendations would be appreciated. 

    re: < Note 178.5 by HAMSTR::PACL > -< Carribean Bareboating?? >-
                                       
    I, too, am starting to look into the down-islands for chartering
    next Christmas (1990).  Doesn't anyone have any experiences to share?

Last spring five of us chartered in the Grenadines with the Moorings.  We sailed
south from St.Lucia, to Bequia and the Tobago Keys.

I thought the Grenadines much nicer than the BVI.  It's less touristy and *much*
less crowded.  I like to escape New England in March, and the crowded BVI
anchorages always made me nervous (for good reason - I went out to dinner
and came back to find that someone had anchored too close and then gone
out to dinner themselves, and we were about to collide). 

Back to the Grenadines: it is much rougher than the BVI, particularly the
passage between St. Lucia and St. Vincent.  There are lots of countries 
amoung those itty bitty islands, and some of them require visas from 
non-us citizens.  You can't figure on eating out every night, because there
are not restaurants at every anchorage.  The local kids will pester you 
constantly to buy stuff if you show any wish-washyness at all.

The upside is much prettier scenery, lots of elbow room, and real sailing.
You can buy fresh fish and fruit from local boats.  The tobago keys are
gorgeous.

One way charters are available from the Moorings, but it costs money. 

I like the Moorings.  They may be expensive, but they have extra boats
(in case something breaks, but we've never had a problem), in the Grenadines
they have a floating repair boat that will come to you if you are too far
from their substation and have a problem.  I've hung around their yard
and have a warm fuzzy feeling about their maintainance.  They do not 
turn the boats around in one day, like some other companies do.  After
a disasterous charter with TYC, I will shell out for a boat that is well
maintained.

    10 of us chartered in the Grenadines from the Moorings in April'89.I
    agree with most of note 178.7.THe islands are much further apart than
    in BVI.It is very usual to see white caps and lots of wind.It took us
    around 10 hours to get from St Lucia to Bequia (south of St Vincent).I
    liked the area better than BVI because it was much less
    crowded,beautiful scenery,it was funny to see an elephant on the beach
    and very friendly natives selling anything from fish to jewelry.
    We also did the St Martin/Anguilla/St Barth area.I would definitely
    recommend St Barth.
    HAs anyone sailed from St Barth to Statia or ST Kitts?If so, how far
    apart are the islands?WHat are some good places to eat at or see on
    either one?Any info appreciated.
    karen