Why not try a charter during the St Barts Music Festival which occurs January 11-18 2008. This music festival brings world-class classical and jazz musicians to perform in quaint churches and meeting halls in and around Gustavia, St Barts. (See www.stbartsmusicfestival.org for more information about the festival.)

Another jumping time this winter — St Barths Carnival takes place on Fat Tuesday (Mardi Gras), 5 February and Ash Wednesday, 6 February in Gustavia, St Barts.

Tuesday’s activities include a carnival parade in the afternoon and party until the wee hours of the morning. Wednesday’s activities include sleeping late and the burning of Vival, the King of Carnival, at Shell Beach in the evening.

Clients may want to fly into St. Maarten and cruise the Leewards while participating in these activites in St. Barths. There are a number of yachts available for charter, from smaller catamrans to the largest of mega yachts.

Come have fun in the Caribbean!

Next week is Thanksgiving and charter crew are busy with preperations for families coming to celebrate their time together. Traditional turkey dinner with all the trimmings will be burned off by plenty of snorkeling, tubing & kayaking. Football on the sat TV. Room for one more piece of pumpkin pie anyone?

It has started to turn cold on many parts of the US, but many clients still think of the Caribbean as ‘hot, hot, hot!”. The fall months see good winds, uncrowded anchorages, crystal clear waters for diving or snorkeling and friendly locals ready to say ‘Irie!”.

Charter yachts have shown brokers their wares and are polished and ready for clients, so take advantage of the fall rates which extend until December 14th and charter a yacht — power or sail!

I’ve been out pounding the docks looking at yachts, chatting with their crew learning who is shining bright & ready to go for this winter deason. Greg & Lana on the sailing yacht La Dolce Vita are an example of a yacht & crew I’ll recommend. The interior sports new upholstry and lots of special decorating touches that show attention to deyaiol. Greg & Lana’s relaxed southern charm comes across easily and they are happy to be flexible on schedules & itineray — the guests get plenty of opportunity for input on this Irwin 52. Great for a couple’s last minute get away, or a family ‘quality time’ vacation, this is one sweet charter yacht.

EWveryone here is gearing up for the annual charter yacht show held at Village Cay Marina on Tortola. This is where brokers come to inspect the yachts, meet the crew and form opinions on what to recommend to their clients. So the level of frantic energy is high as boats look for the new linens they ordered months ago in between finishing off that last coat of glossy varnish. Can’t wait to hit the docks tomorrow to see all these shiny charter yachts!!!

I have been amazed how charter chefs on quite small yachts can produce fine dining for their guests. Plus they put a lot of thought & attention into diets in planning their menus. Although the menu is ‘family style’ in that everyone does not order something different all sorts of restrictions can be accomodated. Charter chefs are matsers of being able to produce wonderful for that a vegetarian loves with tender filets that keep the rest of the group satisfied. Low Carbs? Atkins? South Beach No problem for these charter yacht wizards!