Hello And Yacht Charter In Maldives

[DavidS]

Hi

First of all hello! I don't own a yacht or anything although I'd like to.. Do you call them yachts or is there a better term that's more correct in sailing chat? :-)

Basically I'm trying to find out a bit as I need to use sailing craft in a venture I'm looking at and my only experience has been being sailed around the Seychelles and also once on a very small sail type boat in Durban Harbour that kept capsizing and dumping me into the zambezi shark rich water!

So.. A question..

Does anyone know of a decent sailing cat charter in the Maldives? Preferably one you've dealt with before as I've had run ins with some unscrupulous types in the past!

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Cheers

David

[MMNETSEA]

Hello David,

Suggest you contact AMSCO in Male -- here is their Website with email address :-

CLICK

[DavidS]

Hi

Thanks for that I will.

I'm struggling to find ways of speaking directly to the guys who charter the cats and seem to always come up with various agents who are no doubting taking a nice cut of whatever charters they arrange.. I'm trying to get in touch with owners direct if possible.

What do AMSCO do? Sorry but I'm new to this.. Are they ship owners or an agent?

Thanks again

David

[MMNETSEA]

David,

Amsco have a very good reputation for really looking after cruisers - if you take the time to visit their website and then email them with your specific needs, it is very likely that they alone will be able to point you in the right direction.

There are a number of charter companies in the Maldives - some better than others

Here are just 3 :-

http://www.yachtcharter-connection.com/Yac...tml?language=SE

http://www.interyachtcharter.com/maldives.htm

http://www.multihulls-world.com/us/catamar...harter,284.html

David, it would be useful in your search, if you could specify the type,size of Catamaran and what/where you would like to visit. Also give an indication of the budget you have in mind for the charter.

[DavidS]

Hi there

Thanks so much for all the links.

I'm looking to charter a yacht to Chagos.. I just want to see the place before it gets shut off to visitors or whatever plans are passed. This may or may not happen but I'm just so intrigued by these specks in the ocean..

I think we're looking at a 40-50' cat. Similar to that which we used in Sey. There will be approximately 6-8 passengers and the quotes I'm looking at currently are around 13000 EURO per week.

If we were to fly to Gan in Maldives and meet the boat there how long roughly would the sail to Chagos be? My understanding is around three days each way? What are your thoughts?

Again, thanks!

David

[MMNETSEA]

Firstly, one cannot just go to the Chagos Archipelago. There are very strict rules pertaining to any yachts wishing to visit. The BIOT (British Indian Ocean Territory) is administered by Great Britain's Foreign and Commonwealth Office, to whom application must be made. Suggest that you read up on our Cruising Wiki :- HERE for INFO

As far taking a boat from Gan, that would be difficult as most charter operations are based in Male.

Again because special conditions are applied to visiting yacht in terms who is the skipper, who are the crew and who are the passengers. This would require everything to have been approved in advance of arrival in Male.

How long would it take to get from Male to Chagos ? Well it is some 600nm there and 600nm back, and because the passage is across the equatorial belt - there is often very little wind. Another problem is a very strong current on the journey down. In all probability this adds up to at least 6 days down and 6 days return. Another factor is that in Chagos there no facilities of ANY kind whatsoever. Any visiting yacht is required to be totally self sufficient.