In the U.S., the Coast Guard requires would-be sailors to complete certifications in boating, cruising, and bare-boat cruising. Not so at most Caribbean charter companies, many of which brag that a "valid sailing resume" may serve as adequate documentation to charter. This arrangement proves positive for sailors without sailing certifications, but problematic for islanders sailing alongside inexperienced boaters.
Curt and Victoria Dieterle, licensed captains and charter brokers at Discount Yacht Charters in St. Thomas, confirmed this problem. "We're constantly jumping into our dinghy to help out an inexperienced boater in trouble," said Victoria in a 2010 interview. The Dieterles recommend carefully assessing your experience and abilities before taking on a bare-boat charter.
Anyone can charter a sailboat in the Caribbean by hiring a licensed, qualified captain. You need not have stepped foot on a boat before to go this route; you'll just have to spend a little more money for the captain.
Many companies offer an online qualification form. This allows you to find out if your experience is likely to qualify for bare-boat chartering, although the final decision will be made by your charter company; upon your arrival and demonstration of your skills. Boating qualification forms are likely to request information about your history of captaining or skippering, experience docking, anchoring and mooring, and the type of vessel you have operated. If you have owned and sailed your own boat, you're likely to meet chartering criteria.
If you've never owned a boat and your sailing experience is limited, completing sailing certificate courses provided by the American Sailing Association (ASA) will go a long way toward helping you qualify. Courses are available in Basic Keel boat , Basic Coastal Cruising, and Bare-boat Chartering. Because each of these courses requires a prerequisite -- except Basic Keel boat -- it's wise to take these courses well in advance of your departure date.
