Dalia's first overnight charter

[George.]

Finally!!

After seven years and three months, Dalia is finally finished!

Well, sort of. The interior is "done," we have hot water and a functioning galley and no more bald spots. But you never really finish a wooden boat - you give up. ;)

Today, Sil put in the remaining upholstery, sheets, and towels, and I finished the cabinet doors, and donned mask and fins to scrape the bottom to make sure she's clean - because tomorrow at noon arrive our first overnight charter guests!

We have chartered before, fortunately (otherwise she might not be finished yet ;) ). But it was day-sails, or cruises sleeping in pousadas on Ilha Grande. Now we have a honeymoon couple, married yesterday - a Brit and an Argentinian, so much for the Falkland/Malvinas war :D - who will be staying with us for three days.

Hopefully, this will work out - it better, there are more bills to pay than I care to think about. We have a number of travel agents lined up for fam tours. We also have a 110V inverter set up for the computer. If we can work out the Internet on board, we are set...

Someone in the bilge today (Ian, actually) pointed out that one rarely starts a war, or a wooden boat, with a complete understanding of what it will take to finish. Wise words. I would not have started Dalia had I known how long it would take, how much it would cost, and how much of a headache it would be. Hell, we once imagined that we would inaugurate her for New Year's Day, 2000! :D

But once she's done, it feels GOOD!

Follow your dreams, and don't try to work out the budget - at least until you are too far into it to give up. :cool:

[Kim Whitmyre]

Here, here!! :D I will drink a glass of rose for the occassion!

Fair Winds,

Kim

[Ross M]

Congratulations, George. I do not think the sucess rate is very high for undertakings on the scale of Dalia. And the end product, well, it really is beautiful!

Ross

[Ken Hutchins]

Congratulations, smile.gif but Oh it does take time, money, inspiration, etc, etc. :( How well I know. :rolleyes:

[PeterSibley]

George ....you're an inspiration! smile.gif You mean they DO get finished ?

[carioca1232001]

Congratulations on finally attaining your goal. :cool:
However, do not be overly optimistic about this particular British-Argentinian peace initiative, as they will be looking out for Dalia not long from now, in the hope of hammering out a new truce ;)

[George.]

Well, get this: he (British) apparently didn't tell her (Argentinian) that part of their honeymoon will be on board a wooden sailboat! It is to be a big surprise. They arrived in Rio yesterday, and are coming out by bus this morning.

I hope she is the easy-going, adventurous type. Because if all she packs is dresses and high heels... :eek:

At least the weather is glorious - not a cloud in the sky, unseasonably warm, almost no swell. And the forecast is for some wind - light, but fair. NE force 3, and for today, we are planning an 8 mile passage on a heading of S by E, to Palmas and Lopes Mendes. :cool:

[Ian McColgin]

Back when I chartered Goblin (and Alden 43) I specialized in honeymoon couples. I never had a bad experience.

Folk who charter such a boat are not expecting Med style catering to their every whim. All my newly weds very happily turned to, making the best of vacations by being part of the boat. I never had to ask for help with sailing, cleaning and cooking.

It helps to know how to vanish after dinner. If your berths are good and the anchorage suitable, a stealth getting underweigh under sail, so they awaken to movement and the smell of coffee is a nice touch.

Once I was sure they could row, I'd make sure the dink was in the water with some champaign on ice in the stern sheets. Nothing says romance more than a lazy row up a quiet tickle in the sunset.

My honeymoon parties liked the remote anchorages and especially liked that for such charters my partner and I could repair to the fo'c'sle with galley, head and saloon between us and them in the aft stateroom.

Usually the next to last day I'd try to hit a port with a good resteraunt and I would take them out to dinner, my dime. This was mid-80's when my term charter rate for a couple was $200/day so I felt I could afford the gesture and, believe me, it's a small touch that come back in wonderful ways.

Have fun.

[carioca1232001]

Your services - plus Dalia´s gracious lines and etiquette - are destined for flying colours on this inaugural charter. :cool:

[Hwyl]

Remember George. No politics!!!

[carioca1232001]

Everything going as scheduled, including wife Sylvania who is adding that special touch to see the inaugural charter through...to flying colours :cool:

[Alan D. Hyde]

Fair winds & following seas to you all!

And congratulations.

We need photos posted here, of course... :D

Alan

[THX712517]

Just a question, but how did you go about getting Dalia into the charter business? Did you have to go through the Coast Guard, tax IDs, etc? I'm curious about the whole matter because I'm considering something along similar lines.

[George.]

Well, we are back. A little overwhelmed by the news that greeted us - New Orleans :( . We had no idea till last night when we got home.

But it went well. Nice young couple - not too athletic, but contemplative, and the scenery around here is certainly worth contemplating. We think they loved it.

On Monday, we set sail around 2 PM. I say "set sail" in a figurative way, because there was no wind at all. We set the awning over the foreboom and motored out to Ilha Grande, serving sandwiches with mimosas on the way. We anchored in Palmas around 4 PM - enough time for them ti land, hike the short trail to Lopes Mendes, one of the most beautiful beaches in Brazil, and have the 4 km of white sand all to themselves for sunset.

After more champagne, dinner on deck, under the stars - Silvana made a seafood salad and I prepared penne with salmon and pear sauce. And you are right, Carioca, Sil really knows how to produce - the candlelit table could have been in a very fine restaurant.

The night was rocky. A stiff NE wind hit us, coming straight from seaward, and Dalia rolled and groaned all night - I even went up on deck twice to check the anchor. But they slept well enough. Breakfast on deck, and then we tried to go sailing, as the wind was still on. We set all sail and started to beat laboriously out of the narrow cove. As soon as we hit open water and could ease the sheets, wouldn't you know it - the wind died down, leaving us wallowing in the swell. Next scene - the new husband is seasick, and we are motoring at 3500 rpm to find calm water.

But we entered another bay, and soon the couple was swimming happily, at a beach that has a stream flowing behind it, so you can choose salt or fresh water. That evening we anchored at Abraao, Ilha Grande's main village, and they went window shopping and had dinner at a restaurant. When they came back, we motored for ten minuted to a more private cove, and had a restful, motionless night.

Next day was the last and best. We woke up to a chorus of birds from the forest around us, had a nice slow breakfast on deck, and then a cold front came down. SW wind, force 5, coming off the land - no swell, barely a bit of chop. Full sail, and off we went. Our guest became interested, helped raise the foresail and jib topsail, and next thing you know he's at the helm, next to his new wife, all interested in the finer points of steering to windward. We sailed all morning, stopped at a beach for lunch, and then started to sail back to the hotel on Ilha Grande where we would drop them off.

Then things got interesting. The wind increased and got gusty. As we were approaching the hotel, the gusts started to top 30 knots. We lowered all sail and anchored in front of the hotel, in one of those places that make a skipper's heart race - steep sandy bottom, lee shore, subject to gusts that back and veer constantly. To make it worse, the mate and I had to row them ashore, leaving Sil alone on Dalia, engine turning, ready to try to do something if the anchor dragged. I can tell you, I hated that part of the trip.

And then, the big surprise - the hotel had "lost" their reservations, and since they had no other guests till the weekend, they were closed - just a caretaker, no towels, no food, no way to receive guests! To make a long story short, we took our guests back on board, got the hell out of that gusty mousetrap, set working sail, and with the wind on the port quarter sailed for home at ten knots. We invited them to stay with us, ordered pizza, slept soundly, and right now they are in our guest room, packing to go back to Rio.

BTW, Alan, sorry, no pictures - it was a honeymoon cruise... ;) :D

[George.]

Originally posted by THX712517:
Just a question, but how did you go about getting Dalia into the charter business? Did you have to go through the Coast Guard, tax IDs, etc? I'm curious about the whole matter because I'm considering something along similar lines.I don't think our experience applies, as we are a Brazilian flag vessel. Dalia had to get a certification from a naval engineer, who did inspections, stability tests, etc., in order to be approved by the Brazilian Navy to carry passengers (our Navy is our Coast Guard). But as private yacht that occasionally charters, she is seen by the tax authorities as a sort of beach house that occasionally is rented out - not a business that needs to register as such. So we just have to declare the income.

[Ian McColgin]

A book called "The Charter Game" - I forget the author and of course no longer have that library - is still the best single sourse for tips on how to go about it in the US.

You absolutely need the appropriate USCG ticket. Depending on the scope of your operation, you may or may not need a municiple business license.

I personally think it well to incorporate to protect any other assets you may have and to simplify and save on taxes.

The big divide in the US is whether you keep your act small enough that you can go with an uninspected vessel.

[Alan D. Hyde]

OK, George, point taken on the honeymoon. :D

BUT, surely you must have some recent BOAT photos...

If not, please take a row around her in your dink, and make sure you get far enough way to get some good shots, from various and flattering angles, of course. :D

Alan

[Dave Hadfield]

George, you probably already know this, so please excuse me if I'm lecturing the professor, but do you ever put a spring on the anchor line?

In anchored situations where the wind holds you in one direction but the swells are striking you abeam, any boat can roll like crazy.

A solution (as long as it's not blowing a gale) is to tie a rope onto your anchor line (with a rolling hitch), then lead it outside all the rigging to the stern (on the side away from where you wish you were pointing), and cleat it there. Then ease out the anchor line, giving it more rode.

As you do so, the boat will turn, and you make fast the rode again when the boat is pointing into the swell.

So, to sum up, you're no longer pointing into wind, but into the swell. You're pitching instead of rolling, which is much easier to endure. You're also generating more windage, since you're a bit sideways to the wind, which rules out doing this in very strong winds.

If your boat tacks a lot at anchor the effectiveness of this will be reduced, but at least you'll be averaging a heading that points into the swell. Your schooner though, is probably reasonably steady on the hook.

I use this technique fairly often in my local anchorages where there are several spots that often see the swells "bend around a point" and strike us abeam. Yet almost no one else does. You'd think other folks would look up from their wildy rocking vessel at ours, quite steady and pointing in a different direction, and say "what's he doing that we aren't?" But it never happens.

[Alan D. Hyde]

Good point, Dave.

The uses of spring lines and other similar kinds of things are taught in USPS and USCGA classes, which I wish more people would attend.

With a good instructor, these classes are well worth anyone's time...

Alan

[George.]

Thanks for the advice, Dave. I did not know that - I'll make a note of it. I am no professor, just a diligent amateur. smile.gif

In the situation I described above, I guess I used the wrong word, though. The chop was coming from the bow, and Dalia was pitching, not rolling. You are right, it is a far less troublesome motion - Sil and I actually enjoy sleeping aboard with some pitching. But the guests had never been on a sailboat before...

[George.]

I found some I think I haven't posted before, Alan.

BTW, thanks to all for the encouraging words. They make a long, hard, and sometimes discouraging project more worthwhile. smile.gif

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[ricardo de oliveira]

Hi George,
What a beauty, man...I thought it was impossible to enhance that Serra do Mar sunset skyline but you did it... In a "honeymoon chartering" thread this questions may sound off topic, but I'm curious about your long keeled schooner behaviour. You mentioned going to windward: I know she's not meant to race in a triangle (and that a real gentleman never beats), but how close to the wind does she point? Do you handle her solo in most situations?

[Alan D. Hyde]

A pretty girl, Dalia. :D

Good-looking deadeyes, too, George.

Did you make them yourself?

Alan

[John B]

Congratulations on the first charter, George. Excellent!

[peb]

George.

How many guests do you plan to support at a time? What about kids?

[George.]

Ricardo: the Serra do Mar can hardly be improved, but we try...

Dalia points as close as 40 degrees to the wind, but she is s-l-o-w that close-hauled - good to know I can claw off a lee shore, but too slow for ordinary days. She moves better at 45-50 degrees off the wind, and really picks up her heels at 50 degrees or more. Unless it is blowing hard - on a 25 knot wind, we have been known to out-beat modern plastic sloops with comparable waterline lengths.

And I have sailed her solo, but two is a better crew - not so much for sailing, which is easy enough, but for raising all sails and getting them properly tight. One can do it, but it takes twenty minutes, and you are all out of breath and wanting to lie down for a while at the end... :D

Once everything is set, though, schooners are a breeze...

Alan: I didn't make the actual deadeyes - a local woodcarver did, on my instructions. I did make the flemish eyes around them, and set up the lanyards, and do the finish-work. And in the process, I found out that I greatly enjoy that sort of rigging work. Brion Toss, a glass of wine with you, sir! ;)

peb: We take up to seven people on a day sail, and up to four for overnight charters. But we prefer couples, or couples with children - that way we can really put on a show and make it pleasant and confortable aboard. Kids - depends on the kids. We have had four year olds that were great and had great fun, and teenagers that were only fit for walking the plank. In principle we take them, but we hope that the parents know their kids, and what they are getting them into. ;)

[Gerald]

Congratulations George. Sounds like fun!
I am getting ready to buy wood for my deck. What wood did you use for Dalia's deck?
Gerald

[George.]

Freijó - very light, very flexible, strong, sun-resistent - no need to oil or varnish, just regular washdowns with salt water. Looks like teak. And comes from second-growth forests in the southern fringe of the Amazon. ;)

They used to make airplane frames out of it.

[carioca1232001]

Judging by your account, the inaugural (overnight) charter went off with a bang (no pun intended ;) ). One happy customer is your finest business card to lure new customers.

George, I am on the brink of chartering my 32 ft motor-cruiser for a 3-hour tour of Guanabara Bay, complete with a glass of champagne and canapés .

Excepting that I would like to do so more frequently than what one could classify as an occassional charter. In Rio, aside from the Yacht Club dock, we have only the Marina da Glória, so it will not be easy to disfarçar. Could it get me into trouble ? :rolleyes:

[George.]

I really doubt it. Here in Angra, there are literally hundreds of boats that charter on a full time basis, even though they are registered as private boats or even as fishing boats, and never get into any trouble.

Same in Marina da Gloria, by the way. In fact, some of the boats there are floating brothels, as we found out during our recent two week stay, and even they don't get into trouble! :eek:

What will get you into trouble is not having all the safety equipment required by the Navy. They could care less about whether you are incorporated or declaring your income, but if you have as much as a flare missing while carrying passangers, they'll bust you hard. With good reason - remember the Bateau Mouche.

[carioca1232001]

Thanks for the feedback and helpful tips. Would be expedient to keep a low profile too, but as I purport to address a different niche of the market, my activities should not get saveiro- operators´ backs up.

What worries me is insurance though. Have you seen the bold print on your policy ? No coverage, if what you are doing is anything different than esporte e recreio.

Actually the Navy stipulates clearly that you may even let out your pleasure boat out, as long as it is for esporte and recreio - but NOT TOURISM or TRANSPORTATION :rolleyes:

[George.]

Insurance? On a one-off wooden boat? Are you kidding me?

Seriously, did you get insurance? How? Where?

[George.]

BTW: I understand that "tourism" means charging by the head (por cabeça) for set iteneraries, as opposed to renting the whole boat out to a private party. And "transportation" means running a sort of ferry service from A to B. At least that is how the Capitania of Angra interprets the rules.

[carioca1232001]

Yes, my 43 year old boat WAS insured by Bradesco ever since I gave her a new life in 1999.

As she was shored up for refitting etc. from end of 2004 to present, I need to renew it sometime this month when she goes out to sea. If you are interrested in insuring yours, I can furnish particulars of the broker etc.

What worries me is if an accident were to occur onboard with one of the guests ....there are enough sharks around who would love to dig deep into a charter operator´s pockets given the opportunity . :rolleyes:

You make a good point for not charging-per-head but charging for the use of the vessel for a prescribed period. Not sure if I can make recourse to this expediente specially as the passengers may originate from more than one hotel. Perhaps if I introduce an intermediary.. ?

Yes, you are right about what characterises transportation. I mentioned it just to complete the picture regarding Navy reglations.

[George.]

Bradesco laughed at us... I'd be VERY interested to know your insurance agent's name and number. As it is, I barely sleep when there is a ressaca warning...

And yes, if you are going to take guests from different hotels, an intermediary such as a travel agent or tour operator is the solution - they charter your boat and arrange the package (even if in actual fact you line up the clients). All you do is rent out your private yacht to a private party - pessoa juridica - which is allowed.

[carioca1232001]

I take it your boat was officially approved and certified by the Brazilian Navy ?

I had the latter seen to, right after finishing the first overhaul in 1999, which entailed new propulsion, new electrics and extensive cosmetics only .

It was brought back to life as a new boat, so impressed they were.

Bradesco laughing ? Weird !

I shall give you the bearings of the insurance broker, out in Castelo somewhere, as soon as the boss ( ;) ?) - who is out - returns to base .

[George.]

Officially approved and certified - even had to do a heeling test, with the approved number of passangers (actually, volunteers from the marina) all standing on the rail, and a naval engineer measuring how far she heeled.

And the local (Angra) agent for Bradesco Seguros may not have actually laughed, but he smiled when he said "forget it" - and right behind him was a poster ad for Bradesco seguros showing a friggin plastic sailboat! :mad:

[carioca1232001]

Lots of nouveau riche (and ignorant !) types around in most places.

Ours is a new country after all, full of the blessings that a newcomer to the ways of the world carries in abundance, when compared to the old worlders. But our shortcomings, at times, exceed the latter....

Last Sunday a Club member - in his early 50´s, with that (unmistakably) successful voice and stance - nearly managed to make me lose my cool, when he flatly stated that ALL wooden boats are RUBBISH ! Needless to expand any further ... ;)

[ricardo de oliveira]

Bradesco Seguros laughed to our wooden house.Go figure to a non-tupperware floating device. :rolleyes:

[carioca1232001]

Kindly take note of the brokers who have been insuring my 1962 motor-cruiser :

Harmonia Corretora de Seguros e Resseguros Ltda.
Av. Franklin Roosevelt 115 sala 404 - CEP 20021-120- RJ
Contato: Sr Franklin Martins
tel: 21-2532-0669; fax: 21-2240-8682
email: info@harmonia.com.br

Your (unbelievable) encounter with the Bradesco egg-head based in Angra is not worthy of mention.

Why are you contacting Harmonia ? Well, members of Rio´s Yacht Club recommended them. Period !

[George.]

Thanks, Carioca. I'll contact them first thing on Monday.

[Lucky Luke]

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All my best for the future ones smile.gif , Senora Sylvana y senor George

[George.]

Thanks, Luke!

Carioca, I contacted Harmonia. They said they'd get back to me, but were not very encouraging. They said that they did manage to insure some wooden boats at the Iate Clube a few years ago, but that it may have been an unrepeatable exception.

Meanwhile, tupperware gasoline-powered boats, driven by pot-bellied drunken fools, who don't even vent the bilge before starting the engine (I've personally seen over a dozen catch on fire since moving to Angra) have no problem getting insurance.... :mad: :rolleyes: