SAILING VACATIONS 2018
French Polynesia Bareboat Flotilla Study materials are provided and Bob Diamond will lead a study session for Bareboat students in time for students to get the written exam completed before the cruise. Students who want to obtain Bareboat Charter Certification must charter at the Basic Coastal Cruising level at least three times before the cruise. Activities in Tahiti There s plenty to do and see on the islands of Tahiti. Snorkeling is always a popular activity on our bareboat cruises. The coral reefs are spectacular as they rise from 80 feet or more to just a few feet deep. SCUBA tours and lessons are also available. There are van tours and rentals of cars and jeeps ashore where ancient Polynesian temples and other structures can be seen. Everyone should plan to arrive in Raiatea by mid morning, Tuesday April 19th. International Carrriers fly from California (LAX) to Papeete, Tahiti. Air Tahiti (a local carrier), flies between Tahiti and Raiatea. Those with more time (and money) can stay in a Hotel on either island prior to the charter. June 6th - June 16th TAHITI, RAIATEA, TAHAA, HUAHINE, BORA BORA Here at last is paradise on earth. Visitors who fly into the islands and stay at hotels can experience only a part of the magic of these islands. It is only in sailing between blue ocean and turquoise lagoons in the shadow of majestic volcanic peaks, as the ancient Polynesians did in their outrigger canoes, that one realizes the full majesty of Tahiti. Our cruising area encompasses the Leeward Islands of Tahiti: Raiatea, Tahaa, Huahine and Bora Bora. There is more open water sailing here than most of our other cruises. Steady trade winds provide fast reaches of about 5 hours between the islands. The four major islands have ancient volcanic centers which rise from lovely calm lagoons ringed by outlying reefs. Passes in the reefs allow safe access in and out of the smooth sailing lagoons to blue water sailing in the tradewinds. Good anchorages are abundant among the central islands as well as on the motus, lushly vegetated islets that have evolved on the encircling barrier reefs. These coral atolls have sandy beaches and offer a stunning view back toward those volcanic ranges. The Boats We have reserved 5-44 foot Catamarans for this trip. These are Sunsaill 444 s with 4 double cabins, each with it s own private head and shower. Dining Each crew will get together by March 1st to custom order provisions and supplies online with the charter company. Cost will be split among the crew. Bareboat and Cruising Catamaran Certification Certification is available to Basic Coastal Cruising graduates who have done at least 3 charters as skipper on a BCC boat such as a Merit 25 and have passed the Docking Endorsement class. The cost is $400.00 for non members & $300.00 members. Cruising Catamaran is also available for those sailing on catamarans. First Day - Chart and boat briefings. After briefing we start checking out the boats with equipment familiarization and do our inventories, etc. We ll sail to Tahaa after completing the boat checkouts. This is a short and easy sail since Tahaa is inside the same barrier reef with Raiatea. Day 2 - Leave early for a 5 hour reach to spectacular Bora Bora. Head for the East Lagoon to anchor off Motu Tupe. Day 3 - Take a morning snorkel with rays, sharks and other fish at the Lagoonarium on Motu Tupe. Head back around to moor at Bloody Mary s on Povai Bay or Bora Bora Yacht Club. Day 4 - Visit the village, Vaitape. There s a grocery store and other shopping there. Have dinner at Bloody Mary s, the actual establishment modeled in South Pacific. Day 5 - Sail back to Tahaa for the night. There s a black pearl farm and a vanilla plantation. Day 6 - Back to The Moorings to refill water, ice, fuel and refresh provisions. Continue on to Faaroa Bay for the night. According to the ancient Polynesians, this is where mankind was first put on earth. It s certainly beautiful enough. Day 7 - Depart for Huanine and anchor near the village, Fare. Exlore. Day 8 - Hang around Huahine. Go diving or a day tour on the island. Dinner ashore. Day 9 - Head down to Bay d Avea for the night. Great Snorkeling. Day 10 - Sail back to Faaroa Bay on Raiatea. Explore the Aoppamao by dinghy. It s the only navigable river in French Polynesia. Day 11 - Return Boats to base by 12:00 a.m. There is a flight back to Tahiti in the afternoon and flights from Tahiti to California late in the evening. Spend a few hours in Tahiti while waiting for your connection or stay an extra night on Tahiti and fly home the next night. Flights from Tahiti to LAX arrive mid morning. (Those flying straight home arrive April 30th.) Consult with Bob Diamond regarding places to stay for extra nights in Raiatea and or Tahiti. Reservation and Payment Information Cost per Cabin $4000 on a Sunsail 444 Catamaran $100 non refundable deposit 1/3 due December 1st, 2017 1/3 due Feb.1st 2018 Balance due April 1, 2018
BVI Sailing Vacation Itinerary BVI December 2018 451 Seaport Court Redwood City, CA 94063 (650) 363-1390 www.spinnakersailing.com British Virgin Islands December 6th - December 16, 2018 The unspoiled islands of the British Virgins are renowned as one of the finest cruising locations in the world. Warm moderate trade winds, tranquil bays and beautiful clear water, make the BVI s an unbelievable sailing destination. There are over 20 islands in the BVI s. Most of them offer good harbors and anchorages, restaurants and shops, places to visit, great diving and snorkeling, and all are rich with history and friendly people. Sailing in Paradise is a dream of most sailors, yet most never get around to it. Spinnaker not only makes it possible but makes it easy. We help take care of all arrangements including, boat charter, transfers, provisions, accommodations and will help with travel arrangements. We have been making the dream come true in B.V.I. for over 30 years. We make it safe, easy, affordable and memorable. Join us as an individual, couple or cobble together a group of friends or family to fill a boat of your own. If you have your own group and can act as skipper, you may charter your own boat and join the flotilla instead of joining individually or as a couple. This gives you the option to choose boat, provisioning package and other options. Contact Bob at for information about cost and availability. If December is not a good time to get away, you can book your own private bareboat or crewed charter any time of your choosing. Contact office for more info. Depart SFO or SJC by Thursday evening, Dec. 6th, arrive Tortola friday afternoon after transferring either from St. Thomas or San Juan. Chart briefing 4 pm. Friday or 8:00 am Saturday morning. Saturday - Take care of any remaining items having to do with checking out the boats and sail to first night s anchorage at Marina Cay. There s great snorkeling across the anchorage at Great Camanoe Island and a nice look-out at the top of the Cay. Sunday - Get over to The Baths early enough to catch a mooring buoy in the morning. Then sail to Cooper Island for the night. Cooper is a great spot to set up for a dive on The H.M.S. Rhone in the morning. There s good snorkeling at Cistern Point. Monday - Scuba divers can dive The Rhone in the morning. Sail to The Bitter End Yacht Club in Gorda Sound in the afternoon. This is a 3+ hour sail. Tuesday - At BEYC you can rent dinghies and small cats to play with or go on a dive trip in the morning. There are many shops and boutiques here. Wednesday - Sail up to Anegada. The Anegada Reef Hotel has the best lobsters in the Caribbean and a great beach at Loblolly Bay. Thursday - It s a nice long reach to Cane Garden Bay or Jost Van Dyke for the night. There s a party at Foxy s on Thursday night. Friday - Stop at Soper s Hole for lunch or at The Indians for snorkeling along the way to Norman Island for the night. Norman Island is the place that inspired Robert Louis Stevenson s Treasure Island. Saturday - Return boats to The Moorings by 11 a.m. Check in the boats and have lunch. Then fly home, ferry to St. Thomas or stay the night with a Sunday morning flight out.
Dining The food order is customized for each boat. Crew will get together and choose their own provisions. This includes breakfasts, lunches, snacks and any dinners that would be cooked aboard the boat. Members will get together before the trip to fill out the order forms. Each boat will be responsible for their food and beverage cost. A transom barbecue and a fully equipped galley are provided for cooking aboard although most dinners will be had ashore. Crew Meetings Oct. 1th, 2018 Each crew should meet to complete their provision and beverage orders by Oct. 1st. (There s nothing like doing a beverage order to help people get to know each other.) Reservation and Payment Information Cost per Cabin $3700 on Sunsail 444 4 cabin 4 head Catamaran The Boats Our group will use late model 51 sloops and 43 Catamarans. These yachts are equipped with 4 double staterooms and 4 heads for up to 10 passengers. But we ll limit the number of people to keep it extra comfortable for everybody. Bareboat Charter Certification Certification is available to Basic Coastal Cruising graduates who have done at least 3 charters as skipper on a BCC boat such as a Merit 25 or Catalina 27 and have passed the Docking Endorsement class. The cost is $400.00 for non members & $300.00 for members. Cruising Catamaran is also available for those sailing on catamarans. Study materials are provided and Bob Diamond will lead a study session for Bareboat students in time for students to get the written exam completed before the cruise. Diving in the BVI s Beautiful diving spots abound in the British Virgin Islands and getting to them couldn t be easier. The dive store at the Moorings provides rental equipment for those who want to be able to dive all week. Refills are available at many harbors. Dive boats also come out to any location by request. The most famous diving spot is the wreck of Royal Mail Packet Steamer Rhone. It lies in 30 to 80 feet of water after sinking in a hurricane in 1867. This wreck was used in filming The Deep. A famous snorkeling spot is at Treasure Point at Norman Island. This place has the submerged caves that inspired Robert Louis Stevenson in writing Treasure Island. There are many beautiful reefs too, each unique and waiting to be explored. Experienced snorkelers who aren t certified for diving can take an introductory course. This short course includes instruction and a supervised dive. Although you don t get regular certification, you can dive at other sites during the remainder of the cruise. Student divers (from home) may do their open water certification during the cruise. $3200 on Sunsail 51-4 cabin 4 head monohull Payments: $200 non refundable deposit 1/3 due June 1, 2018. 1/3 due Aug. 1, 2018. Balance due Sept. 15, 2018. Airfare is not included but we ll help you to get the right flights. price subject to change The Baths - Virgin Gorda
The Greatest Sailing Vacations in the World Start Here! Henry Ford Spinnaker Sailing has been running flotilla sailing vacations around the world since 1986. Join us for an unforgettable sailing vacation in some of the best sailing destinations around the world. Spinnaker Sailing also offers charter brokerage services for Moorings, Sunsail and Footloose Charters. Let us help you plan your next charter! www.spinnakersailing.com (650) 363-1390