SV Dauntless at the Moorings in Road Town, Tortola, BVI

There are pros and cons to chartering with both large and small companies. It’s crucial to weigh what matters most to you, as there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer in yacht chartering, which is contrary to what many may say. ⛵

Since the late 1980s, we’ve been chartering with the Moorings throughout the Caribbean. In fact, we’ve been on 4 two-week trips already with them over the last 12 months, as well as another planned in November. We’ve used them many times in the BVI, St Martin, and St Lucia. Also, we have trips scheduled in Greece and Croatia. Our consistently positive experiences led us to a significant decision and put our money where our mouth is: we recently took delivery of a Leopard 42 catamaran, which joined their yacht management program. 🌊

What stands out about the Moorings is their extensive fleet, boasting more than 250 yachts in the BVI alone plus more than 20 other destinations around the world. This diversity offers peace of mind; if there’s an issue with our boat that can’t be fixed immediately, there’s a good chance another vessel will be available. Their pricing structure is transparent, based on the yacht’s size, type, and age, with categories for boats less than a year old, 1-3 years, and 3-5 years. After five years, these boats are phased out – either sold or transitioned to other use such as another charter company that accepts older boats. ⚓

One thing to remember is that these are boats … and they’re in saltwater – if you haven’t found something broken yet, you probably just haven’t noticed it. Saltwater is tough on vessels, and maintenance is a continuous part of the sailing experience. In all our years with the Moorings, we’ve encountered minor issues, but these were always resolved efficiently while we enjoyed our time ashore. Let’s talk numbers for a moment. Assuming a default/problem rate of about 5%, in a fleet of:

• 10 yachts, you’d expect 0.5 issues.
• 40 yachts, that’s 2 issues.
• 250 yachts, it’s 12.5 issues.

Even with a 100% booking rate and 7-day charters, this translates to different probabilities of hearing about problems based on fleet size – 26 stories per year for a 10-boat fleet, 104 for 40 boats, and 650 for a fleet of 250. This is a simplistic calculation, but it illustrates how visibility and perceived reliability can vary with fleet size.

Seeing these boats in an anchorage also varies by company size. You’re less likely to spot a boat from a 10-yacht fleet than from one 25 times larger. 🛥️