Hundreds of Charterboats All in a Row

It’s hurricane season in the Caribbean, which means lots of charter boats aren’t being used. Since there isn’t enough room for all the boats at charter company docks, and since charter company docks aren’t the safest places for boats to be during hurricanes, a lot of them get moved.

One of the best shelters in the British Virgins is Paraquita Bay, not far from the big charter boat bases at Road Town. When the publisher’s ‘ti Profligate was managed by BVI Yacht Charters, she was often taken there. The bay is unusual in that the entrance is quite narrow, barely big enough to get a 45-ft catamaran in. Once the boats are in, they are secured to very heavy cables.

What would happen if the bay were to take a direct hit from a major hurricane? Lordy, we hate to even think of the damage, the insurance claims, and what would be the lack of boats available for charter that winter.

It was Gino Morrelli of Morrelli & Melvin Design and Engineering in Newport Beach who came up with the photo. Gino is justifiably proud that many of the boats in the photo were designed by M&M.

As for ‘ti Profligate, she’s on the hard in Antigua until the end of hurricane season, and will then live behind a home at Jolly Harbor. The Wanderer and Doña de Mallorca will use her February through May, and she’ll be available for long-term charter at other times.