Well fellow cruisers, it is important to settle all of the important issues early on in our planning of our epic vacation. Eight couples – sixteen individuals with different wants, needs and desires. Every one of us will need to make compromises, some small, some large. In the end we will all achieve our major goal, to have a wonderful time on a private yacht with great people in the best (and most popular) cruising area in the world.
I believe we will each need to come to the table with the smallest list of “must haves” to achieve a successful compromise for all.
The issues that have been settled so far are:
Where: The US and British Virgin Islands
Which charter company: VIP Charters
Which boat: A Tarquin 59’ Four stateroom vessel
When: November 2007
Start sailing day: Sunday November 11, 2007.
Cost: Posted rates ($1150 + insurance per day per boat) except VIP has offered us 11 days for the price of nine. A seven day charter is at the posted rate.
The difficult issues to be settled are:
Who: We currently have seven couples that have indicated a desire to participate in the cruise. Barbara and I “PB” were with Todd and Lysa “TL” in the US Virgin Islands in the spring of 2005. We found a boat and decided we (the two couples) wanted to find two more couples that would like to share this dream with us. Soon after we came back home Barbara’s son and daughter in-law Rick and Amy “RA” asked to join the cruise. TL agreed and we only needed a fourth couple. Next we heard from TL their friends Greg and Darcy “GD” were interested. Then “RA” announced their friends Mike and Sara “MS” were interested. PB and TL agreed and MS were added. Barbara’s sister Patti indicated a desire to go but there were impediments. Patti’s friends Rick and Kathy “RK” asked to go. This made six couples and obviously we needed a second boat. In October Barbara and Patti’s cousins Stu and Peggy “they don’t get an abbreviation” indicated a desire to go that was later rescinded. Then Scott, Patti’s mate announced He and Patti would like to go on the trip as a 60th birthday present. “SP” made seven couples. This is where we are as of this posting. So… the difficult part is #1 we need an eighth couple, #2 we need to decide who will be on which boat, and #3 we know boat #1 (unnamed) is definitely going to sail for at least 11 days and maybe one or two more. SP have a problem with a cruise of longer than seven days. We have thought about booking the 2nd boat for a seven day sail. This creates problems with who will be on which boat. At this time it is my belief that the best solution to this problem is to have both boats for the same length of time. Then if one or more couples need to leave early we can drop people in a port with a ferry back to Saint Thomas. ( I believe the cost of this ferry trip is around $35 per person). I will admit to a bias, November 11 was chosen to accommodate a number of our mates that enjoy a day off on Columbus Day November 12, 2007 (wasn’t he a sailor?) . This made the first week only cost four vacation days for some. The next week is Thanksgiving. This week would only cost three vacation days for most if not all. The thought was this would allow us to enjoy a two week - - three weekend trip. We could leave home on Friday night the 9th or Saturday morning the 10th and sail on Sunday afternoon. At this time I do want to mention the offer to us of 11 days for the price of 9 for the both boats. This makes a tempting offer. Also, if a couple leaves after 7 days they would only have to pay for two days they don’t use instead of four. The approximate cost of the boat and insurance per day per couple is $300. Well anyway, you can see the challenge. TL & PB & RA & GD & MS are definitely on board for the full 11 or more days starting on 11/11/2007. I am sure we can find a solution to our problem. When we do this will help us to decide who will be on which boat.
Concerning the eighth couple, there has been discussion about the virtues of a smaller cheaper boat. After looking into this I believe the cost outweighs the benefit. I believe an eighth couple will appear. If not we can move to a smaller boat if we develop the need.
Clearly, we have a number of issues to resolve before we get to the fun problems (like how much booze we need to buy). So lets have a meeting. I believe we need to pick a day soon. Please email me if you can meet on Saturday the 6th of January. I suggest TL’s home. Only MS who live in Spokane will have a problem for sure. We can share with them on a speakerphone.
I suggest the topics for our first meeting should be:
Pat Cattin
I believe we will each need to come to the table with the smallest list of “must haves” to achieve a successful compromise for all.
The issues that have been settled so far are:
Where: The US and British Virgin Islands
Which charter company: VIP Charters
Which boat: A Tarquin 59’ Four stateroom vessel
When: November 2007
Start sailing day: Sunday November 11, 2007.
Cost: Posted rates ($1150 + insurance per day per boat) except VIP has offered us 11 days for the price of nine. A seven day charter is at the posted rate.
The difficult issues to be settled are:
Who: We currently have seven couples that have indicated a desire to participate in the cruise. Barbara and I “PB” were with Todd and Lysa “TL” in the US Virgin Islands in the spring of 2005. We found a boat and decided we (the two couples) wanted to find two more couples that would like to share this dream with us. Soon after we came back home Barbara’s son and daughter in-law Rick and Amy “RA” asked to join the cruise. TL agreed and we only needed a fourth couple. Next we heard from TL their friends Greg and Darcy “GD” were interested. Then “RA” announced their friends Mike and Sara “MS” were interested. PB and TL agreed and MS were added. Barbara’s sister Patti indicated a desire to go but there were impediments. Patti’s friends Rick and Kathy “RK” asked to go. This made six couples and obviously we needed a second boat. In October Barbara and Patti’s cousins Stu and Peggy “they don’t get an abbreviation” indicated a desire to go that was later rescinded. Then Scott, Patti’s mate announced He and Patti would like to go on the trip as a 60th birthday present. “SP” made seven couples. This is where we are as of this posting. So… the difficult part is #1 we need an eighth couple, #2 we need to decide who will be on which boat, and #3 we know boat #1 (unnamed) is definitely going to sail for at least 11 days and maybe one or two more. SP have a problem with a cruise of longer than seven days. We have thought about booking the 2nd boat for a seven day sail. This creates problems with who will be on which boat. At this time it is my belief that the best solution to this problem is to have both boats for the same length of time. Then if one or more couples need to leave early we can drop people in a port with a ferry back to Saint Thomas. ( I believe the cost of this ferry trip is around $35 per person). I will admit to a bias, November 11 was chosen to accommodate a number of our mates that enjoy a day off on Columbus Day November 12, 2007 (wasn’t he a sailor?) . This made the first week only cost four vacation days for some. The next week is Thanksgiving. This week would only cost three vacation days for most if not all. The thought was this would allow us to enjoy a two week - - three weekend trip. We could leave home on Friday night the 9th or Saturday morning the 10th and sail on Sunday afternoon. At this time I do want to mention the offer to us of 11 days for the price of 9 for the both boats. This makes a tempting offer. Also, if a couple leaves after 7 days they would only have to pay for two days they don’t use instead of four. The approximate cost of the boat and insurance per day per couple is $300. Well anyway, you can see the challenge. TL & PB & RA & GD & MS are definitely on board for the full 11 or more days starting on 11/11/2007. I am sure we can find a solution to our problem. When we do this will help us to decide who will be on which boat.
Concerning the eighth couple, there has been discussion about the virtues of a smaller cheaper boat. After looking into this I believe the cost outweighs the benefit. I believe an eighth couple will appear. If not we can move to a smaller boat if we develop the need.
Clearly, we have a number of issues to resolve before we get to the fun problems (like how much booze we need to buy). So lets have a meeting. I believe we need to pick a day soon. Please email me if you can meet on Saturday the 6th of January. I suggest TL’s home. Only MS who live in Spokane will have a problem for sure. We can share with them on a speakerphone.
I suggest the topics for our first meeting should be:
- Who is going for sure?
- How long will the cruise be?
- Who will be on which boat?
- Elect a purser for each boat.
- Elect a captain for each boat.
- Elect a second mate for each boat.
- Decide on future meeting dates.
- Start thinking of names for the boats.
- Settle up on the deposit. We will need about $725 cash (25%) deposit for the boat per couple.
- Do tasting of at least five different rums. You can't be too careful, this is a big trip- - don't want to make any mistakes.
Please understand that all these words of mine are merely suggestions and subject to negotiation. I just wanna get drunk on a boat in warm water.
Pat Cattin
No comments:
Post a Comment