How many boating enthusiasts have dreamed of renting a boat and navigating the turquoise waters of the Caribbean sea? Imagine navigating a luxury boat anywhere you please, diving into crystal waters and admiring the sunset as you throw down the anchor in a picturesque bay, which you will call home for the night. This dream has been accessible to sailboaters for some time and – although many people don’t know it – it’s now possible to rent power boats and make this dream come true for a reasonable price. 

The Moorings is a company that specializes in renting sailboats (with or without crew). And for the last two years they have also offered a selection of powered catamarans, allowing people with little or no sailing experience to get a taste of boater’s paradise, which includes the British Virgin Islands. Anyone who has been there knows that this is an ideal place for a first trip, as navigating the area is both safe and easy.

Accommodating your party
The first decision you will have to make is regarding the model. The Moorings has three powered catamaran models available, accommodating anywhere from 2 to 12 passengers. The smallest is the Moorings 372 PC, which measures 37 feet in length and includes two cabins and two bathrooms. It’s ideal for small families or close friends. The mid-range model is the all-new Moorings 393 PC, which comes with three cabins and two baths. It can comfortably accommodate six or seven passengers – and even up to nine if you’re willing to squeeze in tight.  Finally, the top of the line is the Moorings 474 which, at 47 feet long and 24 feet wide, is a veritable floating palace. With four cabins and baths, it can carry a large group of people in a luxurious and very comfortable environment. So, it’s up to you: an intimate affair or a big party?

What about price?
Before you live the dream, you have to start by having your feet firmly on the ground and doing some proper planning. When people ask me about the price, I tell them that it will cost a little more than an all-inclusive holiday in a luxury hotel – but the experience will be beyond compare. You can expect to pay between $1,500 and $2,000 per person (air included) for a six-day rental. 

Rental package costs are listed on the company’s website. You just have to answer a few questions (selecting the model, dates, length of time and destination) to get an online quote, which includes the various insurances and permits needed. Here’s a tip: Prices vary greatly per season. A summer getaway is a lot cheaper and just as interesting as one in winter!

In addition, you’ll have to add the cost of groceries, mooring ($25-$30 per night) and fuel. The Moorings’ catamarans are equipped with two diesel engines, therefore they are fairly inexpensive to fill up – expect to spend a few hundred dollars per week. Next up: reserving your flight. Several websites offer cheap tickets, but here’s a tip: Fly into St. Thomas then take the ferry to Tortola. It’s faster, as the ferry comes in very close to the marina, and cheaper than flying into Tortola directly.

Let the adventure begin!
Once you’ve settled all the technical details, you can start planning your trip. An internet search will help you figure out which islands you should visit and the spots you don’t want to miss. The people at The Moorings can also help you plan your itinerary. Once you have arrived, you will find that Tortola’s charm alone is something worth writing home about. Then there’s the multitude of rental boats at the marina. The Moorings is surprisingly classy and exclusive – you’d think you were at a five-star establishment. It features an outdoor pool, restaurant and rooms where you can spend the night before setting out to sea.  You can also spend the first night aboard your boat, if you prefer to get yourself settled in and ready for an early departure the next day.

When you first climb aboard your boat, you will notice the many little details that the company has thought of, including a sign welcoming the captain and crew aboard. Our powered catamaran, a Moorings 393 PC, was incredibly clean (and practically new!), and its layout was very practical. The dining area in the rear is well protected from sun and rain by a hard roof. There’s also a dinghy on all boats, which can be easily raised using an electric winch. The front of the catamaran has a large area on which you can stretch out to soak in the sun. It’s sure to be the most popular hang-out during your trip! However, we would have liked it to come with a trampoline, as is the case on sailpowered catamarans.

The helm is located on the upper deck, where there is also a U-shaped bench and table. From there, you get an unobstructed view of where you’re going – and it’s a great spot to enjoy the sunset with a glass of wine.

A large glass door leads inside, where the kitchenette takes up most of the space with its U-shaped table. Large windows offer a spectacular view. It is stocked with all kinds of handy equipment, such as a good size fridge/freezer, a microwave, a gas stove, and most importantly a blender to mix your favourite drinks. On either side of the kitchen are steps leading to the cabins and bathrooms. There is plenty of space for everyone to feel comfortable. Plus, to ensure comfort during the hottest days, the boat is equipped with two air conditioners and a generator to ensure there is always enough power.

On the water
Once you are familiar with all the boat’s features, it’s time to head out. As you untie the catamaran and start up the engine, a true sense of freedom sets in. Oh, what a feeling you get from being on the turquoise water with spectacular views all around! Day after day, it’s hard to believe that you are actually the master of your own adventure aboard your very own boat. Our first destination brought us into a breath-taking bay of an uninhabited island. As soon as we moored, we jumped into the water for some snorkeling in the warm crystal water. A ray passed under the boat and, for a moment, I felt like I was in a Cousteau documentary!

Every day brought new, awe-inspiring places, each picture-perfect. Normand Island and its caves, The Bath and its rocky bays, Bitter End with its luxury amenities, and Sand Spit, a tiny sand island in the middle of nowhere. We spent the week discovering these locales, which were sometimes wild and remote, and sometimes surprisingly comfortable and luxurious. Navigating was made easy thanks to an onboard GPS, though each of the islands was practically within sight anyways. And our catamaran was perfectly suited for this type of trip. Its superior width made it very comfortable on the water, even in the waves. Plus, its configuration tempered any rocking when moored, which was much appreciated by our more delicate passengers.

Back at the marina, we all lamented that the trip had been too short and agreed that we would come back with other friends, so that they, too, could discover the splendour of the British Virgin Islands and everything the area had to offer.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.moorings.com/