Large, aggressive, prolific, ravenous Asian Carp are disrupting the food chain in the Great Lakes and could destroy the tourism and recreational value of the area.

So many of our bareboat charter customers hail from the Great Lakes region. While many choose to arrange Caribbean bareboat charter vacations in the winter and spring, the great lakes are filled with yachting enthusiasts all summer long.
 
This great natural resource is the playground for people from many states, including New York, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Ohio and Pennsylvania. However, bareboat charter lovers as well as recreational fishermen and anyone who enjoys the region need to take immediate notice of a long-term threat to this area’s economy and environment: the invasion of Asian Carp.
 
Last Friday, the freshman Senator from New York, Kirsten Gillibrand, demanded that the Army Corps of Engineers close off all of the Asian Carp-infested waterways leading to Lake Michigan. Ms. Gillibrand is the
first Senator to take a strong position and offer a realistic solution to this growing problem.
 
As boat lovers, we need to speak up and support any and all efforts to save this incredible natural resource.  

Following is a press release issued by Senator Gillibrand. After you read the release, please contact your own congressional representatives, and urge them to join the fight to protect the Great Lakes.
 
December 11, 2009 – Washington, D.C. “The Asian Carp pose a traumatic and long term threat to the Great Lakes and the enormous economic benefit the lakes provide to New York and the nation,” Senator Gillibrand. “The lakes help drive our economy, draw tourism, offer endless recreation and provide drinking water for millions of families. The Asian Carp could potentially destroy all of that, disrupting the food chain and disturbing the natural ecosystem permanently. We need to take aggressive action now to stop the spread of Asian Carp and establish a long term solution that will keep New York’s waterways and natural habitats free from invasive species.”
 
Senator Gillibrand called on the federal government to take immediate and bold action to stop this mounting threat. In her letter to the Department of the Army, Environmental Protection Agency, Coast Guard, and Fish and Wildlife Services, Senator Gillibrand wrote, “I encourage you to exercise all available options to ensure this threat is muted.
 
Close Those Locks!
I urge you to close the O’Brian and Chicago Locks if there is reasonable evidence that Asian Carp have migrated above the barrier, continue the application of fish poison as a temporary management solution, and consider the possibility of permanent hydrological separation of the Great Lakes and the Canal. At a minimum, these efforts should include increased monitoring and sampling to map where Asian Carp are present, continued strategic application of rotenone as a short term management strategy, and changes in
the way the locks at CSSC are operated. I believe that temporarily sealing this waterway as we analyze the situation at hand and decide on a long term management strategy is a reasonable course of action.”
 
Asian Carp are large, prolific and consume vast amounts of food – weighing up to 100 pounds and ranging as long as four feet – disrupting the food chain that supports native fish. Their large size, ravenous appetites, and rapid rate of reproduction pose a significant threat to New York’s ecosystem. This aggressive invasive species could destroy the Great Lakes fish populations, devastating the $7 billion recreational fishing industry, tourism industry and the general economic well being of the entire region.
 
Ecosystem at Risk
The economy and the ecosystem of the entire Great Lakes region are at risk because of the imminent threat of the invasive Asian Carp. Current efforts to control the spread of Asian Carp include two electrical barriers around Chicago where the Mississippi River links to the Great Lakes.
 
However, these efforts have fallen short, as illustrated by evidence indicating that Asian Carp may have migrated past the electrical barrier. The DNA evidence found implies that the Asian Carp may now be as close as 6 miles from Lake Michigan, 20 miles closer than previously thought. The invasion of Asian Carp into Lake Michigan is significant, since at that point they will have the ability to migrate to all of the Great Lakes. 
 
In addition, Senator Gillibrand announced that the bipartisan Asian Carp Prevention and Control Act, passed the EPW Committee today. This legislation would crack down on the importation and shipment of the bighead species of carp to help stop their spread throughout New York waterways, and help restore the natural order of our ecosystem.”

Thinking of chartering a bareboat yacht in the Caribbean, Florida Keys, Bahamas, South Pacific, Mediterranean, or elsewhere in the world?  We’d be honored to plan your trip for you! 

To arrange your next vacation on a chartered bareboat sail or motoryacht, contact your charter specialists at www.bareboat.com through our website at
http://bareboat.com/contact_us.html
by email via info@bareboat.com 
by phone via 1-800-BAREBOAT (227-3262) or 305-720-7245
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Caribbean yacht charter clients, especially bareboat charter families, have long been sailing the turquoise waters surrounding the British Virgin Islands, drawn to the sheltered anchorages, white-sand beaches, and easygoing lifestyle of these islands.

Once a hideaway for pirates and brigands, the BVI’s have only 17,000 residents – in contrast to the 100,000 people living in the American Virgin Islands (often referred to as the United States Virgin Islands, or USVI). Caribbean yacht charter customers won’t find highrises or fast food on any of these islands, and they’ll find only a few posh resorts mingling with the more casual villas, family-owned inns, and funky beachfront bars and restaurants.

Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke are the most developed and most visited islands. Cooper Island, Peter Island, Norman Island, Marina Cay, and Sandy Cay are less developed but are popular with day-trippers. Most of the islands are close to each other and close to the USVI, making island-hopping the mode for the BVI.

Tortola (Spanish for turtle dove) is the capital of the British Virgin Islands (or BVI).  Road Town, on the southern coast, is Tortola’s capital. The entire island centers around Road Town and its beautiful harbor-businesses, luxury yacht charter marinas, restaurants, shops, pubs, and hotels.

Some fairly celebrated establishments like Pusser’s Road Town Pub grace the streets.   A favorite watering hole for thirsty barefoot sailors, Pusser’s pours English Ale on draft and mixes up some tasty concoctions with its famous Pusser’s Rum.

Pusser's Landing - a must see on your British Virgin Island bareboat yacht charter vacation

On Tortola’s north shore is the busy but laid-back Cane Garden Bay. This popular anchorage with its crescent-shaped beach has seen increasing crowds but has managed to hold onto its tradition of family-run inns, bars, and restaurants. Music is an integral part of Cane Garden Bay, and the friendly, open-air bars that line the water’s edge host local musicians whose island tunes can be heard floating across the bay.

Five miles from Tortola is Jost Van Dyke Island. Known as “the party island” of the BVI, “Jost” has only 150 residents, but it has six bars! Life on Jost Van Dyke has been described as “one long island-style happy hour” – with pig roasts, beach bars, and dancing in the sand. Foxy’s Tamarind Bar, an open-air ramshackle restaurant and bar has become a landmark and is undisputedly the most “happening” gathering spot for boaters in the BVI. Owner Foxy Caldwood is famous for his parties, none moreso than his annual New Year’s Eve party, which made Time magazine’s list of “Top 5 Places to Spend New Year’s.”

Norman Island is the largest uninhabited island in the British Virgin Islands and is steeped in pirate legend. Locals call it Treasure Island because of age-old stories of buried pirates’ loot. Blackbeard, one of the most famous and feared pirates of all time hung out here between raids.

At the western tip of Norman Island you will discover, “The Caves” – a popular spot with snorkelers and swimmers. The far northern cave is the most incredible, extending 70 feet into the mountainside.

Virgin Gorda is home to one of the Caribbean’s most amazing sights – exotic pools and grottos formed by gigantic granite boulders strewn across white-sand beaches. Known as “The Baths,” this surreal natural wonder (and snorkeler’s dream) is one of the most visited spots in the BVI.

The Baths of Virgin Gorda in the British Virgin Islands

Nature Little Secrets are a secret no more!

If you are a bareboat charter enthusiast, you will marvel at the 2009 Cruising World Boat of the Year.  The US-based yachting magazine CRUISING WORLD has announced the winners of the Cruising World Boat of the Year 2009. Dufour Yachts, a perennial favorite among Mediterranean yacht charter customers has been rewarded twice!

The Dufour 40 Performance bareboat charter yacht won the prize for “Best Midsize Cruiser,”  while the Dufour 525 Grandlarge is the overall winner in the category, “Best Full Size Cruiser.”

Known among bareboat charter yacht fans everywhere as the Rolls Royce of sailing yachts, the Dufour 525 combines sleek, elegant European styling by French and Italian designers with stiff, strong construction – making her a safe and fast blue water cruiser.

The topsides feature a low coach roof, uncluttered teak decks, dual wheels, a German mainsheeting system operated at the helm, wide transom, and electrically operated swim platform.

Below decks, the mood is light and airy with a mix of mahogany and lighter textures illuminated by multiple ports and hatches. The owner can choose from 8 different layouts that include three to five cabins with either a longitudinal or u-shaped galley.   We feel the yacht charter marketplace will favor the 3 and 4 cabin layouts, as most yacht charter vacations are booked for 6 to 8 passengers.

On the water, a deep V’d hull design delivers a favorable compromise between sea kindliness and speed while electric winches let the crew trim the sails with the touch of a button.

The Dufour 525 is a sleek, classy vessel that can transport its passengers in safety and comfort anywhere its skipper chooses to sail, whether a Mediterranean yacht charter holiday or a Caribbean yacht charter vacation.

Dufour Yachts is a French sailboat manufacturer founded in 1964 by designer Michael Dufour.  2009 finds the builder fully commited to environmentally-friendly building practices:

* IROKO FSC wood: the company has chosen this wood for a healthy and durable forest management. By using FSC certified wood (Forest Stewardship Council), the builder supports a sustainable forest management to satisfy environmental, social and economic standards.

* New generation Volvo engine: the company installs latest technology engines which reduce emission of particles by 50%, while noise is being limited providing pleasure to everybody.

* Strong power alternator: the builder installs 115-140 amp service, to limit the time for batteries to refill and, consequently, to reduce the consumption of energy.

* LED Navigation lights with low energy consumption: to provide a luminous output (much higher than the traditional sources) that generates huge energy saving. (These navigation lights use less than 10% of the necessary energy to light a traditional source of 25W).

* Sea Water Foot Pump: to save fresh water resources on board.

* Injection/infusion Decks: the builder manufactures decks through injection/infusion to limit the emissions of VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and to reduce air pollution.

* System carburizing anti-overflow: to prevent spilling when filling in cooperation with the French Marine Federation (FIN).

* Holding tanks with a large capacity: to limit rejections and to preserve our maritime environment.

* Kit of biodegradable hygiene products: for a first gesture towards an eco-responsible behaviour.

Thousands of Caribbean bareboat yacht charter travelers are at risk, including those planning a bareboat yacht charter in Florida or the Bahamas, as many clients pass through US airports on their way to their destination.  Even luxury yacht charter customers flying direct to St. Thomas in the Virgin Islands are affected, as St. Thomas is considered a US port of call for bareboats, as well as superyachts and mega yachts.

The introduction of the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) means visitors from 27 Visa Waiver Program (VWP) countries — including most of Western Europe, New Zealand, Japan and Australia — must now register their details online at least three days before departure.

ESTA — which came into effect earlier this month — replaces the written green I-94 form and allows travelers under the VWP to enter the U.S. without a visa and stay for up to 90 days.  The measure is designed to tighten security and make it harder for terrorists who are citizens of the participating countries to easily obtain entry to the U.S.

ESTA logo

Critics fear the new rule will be an inconvenience for business and leisure travelers, and the British Foreign Office is concerned that travelers who have not heard about the new rules may be caught off guard. A British Foreign Office report on travel trends for 2009 predicted a 13 percent increase of British travelers visiting or passing through the United States this year. “The consequences of not registering through ESTA could therefore be far reaching,” says the Foreign Office.

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security has assured travelers that the system can handle last minute and emergency requests.

ESTA has been operating on a voluntary basis since 1 August 2008 and is compulsory from 12 January 2009.

Applications can be made at any time, even if travelers have no specific travel plans. If itineraries change, information can be easily updated on the ESTA Web site. Once travelers are authorized, they can travel for up to two years or until their passport expires, whichever comes first.

Passengers must submit the same information that is currently required in the I-94 immigration form. This includes biographical data, travel information as well as questions regarding communicable diseases, arrests and convictions.
Here is a list of VWP countries:

Andorra, France, Luxembourg, Singapore, Czech Republic, Austria, Germany, Monaco, Slovenia, Estonia, Australia, Iceland, Netherlands, Spain, Hungary, Belgium, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden, Latvia, Brunei, Italy, Norway, Switzerland, Lithuania, Denmark, Japan, Portugal, United Kingdom, Slovakia, Finland, Liechtenstein, San Marino, Republic of Malta and South Korea.

Registration is possible through the U.S. government ESTA Web site. In most cases, eligibility for travel will be approved immediately.  Applicants who receive an “Authorization Pending” response will need to check the web site for updates. Applicants whose ESTA applications are denied will be referred to Travel.State.Gov for information on how to apply for a visa.

ESTA does not change the rules for citizens from countries that require visas. That no longer includes travelers from the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, the Republic of Korea, and the Slovak Republic; they joined the VWP in November 2008. Malta became a member the following month.

Travelers are advised that ESTA does not guarantee entry into the United States. The final decision rests with the immigration official at the port of entry.

Caribbean yacht charter clients, especially bareboat charter families, have long been sailing the warm turquoise waters surrounding the British Virgin Islands, drawn to the sheltered anchorages, white sand beaches, and easygoing lifestyle of these islands.

Once a hideaway for pirates and brigands, the BVI have only 17,000 residents – in contrast to the 100,000 people living in the American Virgin Islands (often referred to as the USVI). Caribbean yacht charter customers won’t find highrises or fast food on any of these islands, and they’ll find only a few posh resorts mingling with the more casual villas, family-owned inns, and funky beachfront bars and restaurants.

British Virgin Islands BVI map

Tortola, Virgin Gorda, and Jost Van Dyke are the most developed and most visited islands. Cooper Island, Peter Island, Norman Island, Marina Cay, and Sandy Cay are less developed but are popular with day-trippers.  Most of the islands are all close to each other and close to the USVI, making island-hopping the mode for the BVI.

Tortola (Spanish for turtle dove) is the capital of the BVI.  Road Town, on the southern coast, is Tortola’s capital. The entire island centers around Road Town and its beautiful harbor businesses, luxury yacht charter marinas, restaurants, shops, pubs, and hotels.

Some fairly celebrated establishments such as Pusser’s Road Town Pub grace the streets.   A favorite watering hole for thirsty barefoot sailors, Pusser’s pours English Ale on draft and mixes up some tasty concoctions with its famous Pusser’s Rum.

On Tortola’s north shore is the busy but laid-back, Cane Garden Bay. This popular anchorage with its crescent-shaped beach has seen increasing crowds but has managed to hold onto its tradition of family-run inns, bars, and restaurants. Music is an integral part of Cane Garden Bay, and the friendly, open-air bars that line the water’s edge host local musicians whose island tunes can be heard floating across the bay.

Five miles from Tortola is Jost Van Dyke Island.  Known as the “party island” of the BVI, “Jost” has only 150 residents, but it has six bars! Life on Jost Van Dyke has been described as “one long island-style happy hour” with pig roasts, beach bars, and dancing in the sand. Foxy’s Tamarind Bar, an open-air ramshackle restaurant and bar has become a landmark and is undisputedly the most happenin’ gathering spot for boaters in the BVI. Owner Foxy Caldwood is famous for his parties, none moreso than his annual New Year’s Eve party, which made Time magazine’s list of “Top 5 Places to Spend New Year’s.”

Norman Island is the largest uninhabited island in the British Virgin Islands and is steeped in pirate legend. Locals call it Treasure Island because of age-old stories of buried pirates’ loot. Blackbeard, one of the most famous and feared pirates of all time hung out here between raids.

At the western tip of Norman Island you will discover “The Caves” – a popular spot with snorkelers and swimmers. The far northern cave is the most incredible - extending 70 feet into the mountainside.

Virgin Gorda is home to one of the Caribbean’s most amazing sights – exotic pools and grottos formed by gigantic granite boulders strewn across white sand beaches.  Known as “The Baths,” this surreal natural wonder (and snorkeler’s dream) is one of the most visited spots in the BVI.

Nature’s Little Secrets are a secret no more!!