Power Chartering in the Bahamas
Wherever you are – as you read wasn’t long before we were on a Continental Express
this – is probably cold, perhaps flight from Fort Lauderdale to Marsh Harbor, the social
with snow or at least slush on the centre of the Abacos islands that stretch along the north
ground. When you left your warm side of the Bahamas.
home or office today, you bundled After cursory customs, we were soon climbing
up from galoshes to gloves. aboard Goodnight Moon, our 37-ft, twin-hulled
As I write this, I am not cold. home for the next week. our charter started the
In fact, it’s in the 80s, the sun is next morning, but we’d arranged to stay aboard that
A Moorings
shining at SPF40 level, and I’m wearing shorts and night to give ourselves a chance to stow our gear and
372 – room for
two couples plus
a t-shirt. When I finish this paragraph, my wife and I get used to the boat. Sam, an ebulliently cheerful
children.
plan to take the dinghy ashore for a picnic lunch on Moorings employee, arrived with her annotated
a pristine crescent of white sand, where we will put copy of Cruising Guide to the Abacos and gave us a
the first footprints of the day. When we land on the thorough check-out on the Abacos. She provided an
beach, we’ll step into gin-clear water that is as warm invaluable insider’s advice on the best snorkelling, the
as a baby’s bathwater, and the sugary sand will be best anchorages, and the best food.
soft on our bare feet. With not too much luck, we’ll our Moorings 372 was built to Moorings spec by
find another scarlet-rimmed conch shell to add to our French builder Fountaine Pajot, and the thoughtful
growing collection. design provides comfortable accommodation for two
The brochure had been intriguing. An announcement couples, plus a couple of kids. Each hull is an identical
that The Moorings, the largest charter boat company private cabin with large double berths, private heads
in the world, had formed a division devoted not to the and stall showers. The salon joining the hulls has an
sailboats that are the usual Caribbean charter fare, but inside helm, a big convertible dinette, and a galley
to powerboats. An opportunity had been created for with everything from microwave to refrigerator/
non-sailors to enjoy the delights of chartering, and it freezer. Best of all, the 372 has a generator that not
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MARCH 2009 YACHTWORLD.COM 25
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