Welcome to Shiwara, a 63 Ft Custom Yacht Built by Herbulot in France
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Rental Overview |
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| General Statistics |
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| Performance & Extras |
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Property Information |
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With generator driven A/C, household refrigerator and freezer, electric flush heads and TV/DVD Combination - She's all about comfort & style. Her ideal party is six in three double cabins.
Captain Kirk Gilbert looks forward to welcoming you on board.
Upon arrival, Kirk will discuss your itinerary with you in detail. Whether you desire to spend 100% of your time on Shiwara, or prefer to spend time diving, hiking or searching for the next great beach – Kirk knows the BVI like the back of his hand, and will make sure your vacation is tailored to your specific desires and appetites.
YOUR Captain
Kirk Gilbert is Shiwara’s full time skipper. His aim is to make your vacation as amazing as possible! He will discuss your itinerary preferences and navigate Shiwara safely from one gorgeous beach to the next. He will happily give sailing lessons and instruction to anybody who is interested in learning about sailing.
The cruising lifestyle first drew Kirk to sailing 10 years ago as he sailed off the coasts of California, Mexico and Central America. He first came to the BVI in 2003 and now has the MCA endorsed RYA Yachtmaster Offshore captain’s license. He is as comfortable with ocean passages as he is with sailing from beach to beach in the BVI. He’s happy to sail SHIWARA single-handed or sit back and let you sail her to the chosen destination.
As a PADI SCUBA Instructor, diving first brought him to the islands where he worked for Sail Caribbean Divers on Tortola. Kirk knows the reefs and wrecks around the BVI are some of the world’s best for SCUBA diving and snorkeling. He’ll safely take you into the ocean environment.
An expert surfer, Kirk knows all the spots (some secret) hidden around the BVI. So if it’s a wave you’re after, Kirk can get you to the right spot at the right time. He also shapes custom surfboards for Cane Garden Bay Surfboards.
The list goes on. Kirk loves fishing, there’s always a lure trolling behind Shiwara waiting for a tuna, mahi-mahi or wahoo to make itself dinner! If you’re more serious about fishing, a trip to the drop-off 2 miles south of Norman Island has produced some surprising moments in the past!
Let Kirk make your experience in the British Virgin Islands an adventure you’ll never forget. He is not there to provide meals – a Captained charter means that you will self provision for all your needs – including feeding him!!
He is happy to join with your group, or fade into the background when you would like a little privacy – just make your wishes known to him, and he’ll be delighted to accommodate you!
You will need to keep the crew cabin free, so 6 will really be the largest party that’s comfortable.
Please bear in mind that altogether the charter fee does include the Captain. A tip around 10% of the cost of your charter is customary for excellent service.
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| Rate Information - | Until confirmed, rates are subject to change without notice. |
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PICKUP AND DROPOFF
Normal Pickup and Drop Off is Road Town Tortola. Red Hook on St. Thomas is available at no extra charge if it makes your travel plans easier.
RATES for 2-6 Persons - $1,000 per day.
We allow 3 days for maintenance between charters, so we can be flexible on your arrival and departure times. Charters commence when you arrive. (Whatever time you arrive; this does NOT count as a charter day.) Charters finish when you leave. (Whatever time you leave, the last day DOES count as a charter day.). We don’t work on fixed weeks so we can be flexible on the number of days. (Min 6 days please, but fewer days may be possible)
PAYMENT TIMING
Bookings less than 6 months from start date - 50% on booking and 50% 60 days before charter. Bookings more than 6 months from start date, 25% on booking, 25% at 6 months and 50% 60 days before charter.
ADDITIONAL DISCOUNTS
20% Summer Season Discount for 7 day charters that start between 6/1/08 – 8/30/08.
20% Last Minute Discount for 7 day bookings made within 14 days of start.
CANCELLATION
Any cancellation by Charterer forfeits any deposits already paid. If we are able to rebook Shiwara for the same period we will refund all monies except a service fee of 15% of your total charter fee. If rebooking is not achieved, no refunds will be made. If we cancel your charter due to equipment failure or some other reason (not related to seriously adverse weather), we will refund all deposits already paid, and compensate your Charter Broker appropriately for lost commissions.
INCLUDED IN BASIC CHARTER FEES
Use of the yacht and Captain's salary (but not tip)
14 foot RIB Inflatable Dinghy and 50hp Outboard.
All Snorkeling and Water Sports Equipment.
All Linens, Towels and Bedding.
Fuel included (including Air Conditioning run all night)
Local Taxes and Cruising Permits are included.
All Mooring and Dockage fees are included.
PROVISIONING
All costs of Food and Beverages are yours. We recommend ordering on-line and arranging delivery to Shiwara on arrival day. We will happily receive provisions and stow them prior to your arrival.
DIVING
$25 per person, per dive.
Equipment rental is available at point of departure and at several other locations in the BVI. You are responsible for bringing equipment or the cost of local rental and air fills.
There are basically two ways to get to Tortola. We recommend that you discuss travel plans with your yacht broker as part of your booking process.
Fly Into Beef Island, Tortola (EIS)
You can fly into Beef Island (EIS) on the East End of Tortola. There are many carriers into Beef Island. Most of them come through San Juan, Puerto Rico. This will be your point of entry into the BVI from the United States.
American is the dominant carrier for the region and has flights to San Juan from several originating points including Miami, Dallas and St. Louis.
Once you arrive in Tortola, Captain Kirk Gilbert will arrange for your taxi transportation to Shiwara.
Fly Into St. Thomas (STT)
There are many more flights into St. Thomas (STT) in the US Virgin Islands from all over the USA.
We can collect you from Red Hook in St .Thomas. If flights to St. Thomas are cheaper, this may make sense for you.
You will clear customs and immigration upon arrival in Tortola. Depending on the timing of your flight to St. Thomas, an overnight stay at Red Hook may be necessary.
Technical Specifications
Length 63 feet
Beam 17 feet 2 inches
Draft 8 feet 3 inches
Displacement 68,000 lbs.
Fuel Tanks 350 gallons
Water Tanks 200 gallons
Engines Twin Perkins 135 Sabre Diesels
Generator Northern Lights 8kw
Inverter Yes - 110v available 24/7
Air Conditioning Full Air Conditioning all night provided
Sail Furling Roller Furling Genoa, Stack Pack Mainsails
Nav Equipment GPS Chartplotter, Depth Sounder, Autohelm 7000
Cruising Speed 6-7 Knots
Deep Freeze Large Chest Freezer
Fridge Freezer Upright Household Fridge Freezer
Cooking 3 Burner Propane Stove & Microwave
BBQ Gas BBQ on Aft Deck – Port Side
Anchors and Chain 2 heavy anchors and 300 feet of galvanized chain
Windlass Electric
TV w/DVD Combination Unit in Main Salon and Master Stateroom
Sound System High Quality stereo with speakers on deck
Headroom 6’ 8”
Cabins Master, 2 equal staterooms and 1 smaller crew cabin
Bathrooms 3 Heads with Showers. Electric Flush Heads
Deck Shower On swim platform - hot and cold
Communications VHF Radio. 1 at helm station, 1 below, plus 2 handheld units
Passengers Maximum of 6
Port of Registry Road Town, Tortola
Dinghy 14' Caribe Dinghy with 50hp outboard motor
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| Property Notes Availability |
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Except for hurricane season each year, Shiwara is available on a year round basis for your pleasure.
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| Property Amenities |
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- Boating
| - Deep Sea Fishing
| - Fishing Nearby
| - Honeymoon
| - Sailing
| - Swimming
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| Other Unlisted Amenities |
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Shiwara has great accommodations for six guests in three large double staterooms – all with private heads and showers. A further (smaller) cabin is used by the captain.
The master stateroom is forward and enjoys great ventilation, a large sofa and plenty of hanging space. As we head aft we find two equal double cabins either side of the forward companionway that leads up to the midships cockpit. All heads have electric flush toilets, full height showers and plenty of room.
The Galley is one of the main areas you’ll see a big difference with Shiwara. No more poking around in the bottom of an ice box to find a cold beer or the last lime for your Corona! Shiwara has a very large top loading freezer and a front loading fridge freezer combination similar to the one you probably have at home.
Cooking is done on the large propane stove and oven, in the microwave, or on the gas BBQ mounted on the massive aft deck. Naturally you have 110v power all the time, and not just in the marina or when the generator is running.
The main salon is aft with ample seating for up to eight people around the dining table. Also aft is the nav station.
For your entertainment on those rare days when it rains in the BVI, as well as a superb sound system, Shiwara is equipped with a large television and DVD player in the main salon.
Throughout your yacht you’ll find luxury fabrics and a level of refinement and comfort you won’t get on a smaller vessel.
Remember your last charter when it was too hot to sleep? ...never underestimate the pleasure of air conditioning on those calm days!!
Above Decks Layout
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and you can see from these pictures that Shiwara has amazing deck spaces for lounging around and enjoying the BVI sun.
Both the foredeck and the aft deck are massive wide open spaces for lying around and appreciating the amazing scenery.
Just forward of the main cockpit is another cockpit area which we use to keep the kids safely corralled since it has a “wall” all the way around it, and is visible from the main steering station. The wall also makes a superb backrest.
On the underside of the forward boom is a sun shade that unfolds and clips onto the shrouds to make a large shaded area.
The main amidships cockpit is the steering station, and also converts to be a large open table for fabulous lunches and dinners under the stars.
The aft deck is another huge lounging area with racks for the dive tanks and access to the aft lazarettes where we store the swim ladder, snorkeling equipment and other toys.
Finally, at the very back of the boat is a custom built swim platform that makes it so simple to get in and out of the water using the strong aluminum swim ladder.
Frequently Asked Questions ...
Do I need any sailing experience to book Shiwara?
None.
What is the best crew size?
Three couples is perfect since she has three double cabins.
Where can we go on a our cruise?
Anywhere in the British Virgin Islands. Depending on favorable conditions, it may be possible to visit other islands such as St. Thomas, St. John, and even St. Croix. By special arrangement we may be able to provide charter services at other Caribbean location under a different pricing structure.
Can we smoke on board?
You may smoke outside, but please don’t smoke inside the boat.
Can we stay on Shiwara the night before our charter starts?
Depending on our calendar, it may be possible for a small charge to cover our dockage fees.
How much does Shiwara heel?
In a blow, about twelve degrees is her maximum due to her heavy keel, most of the time she's almost as flat as a catamaran!
Captain only vs. Fully Crewed?
The benefit of a Captain Only charter is that you get to visit all the fantastic bars and restaurants in the BVI, as opposed to eating 100% of your meals on your yacht. Variety is the spice of life!!! It’s also a lot less expensive than an equivalent fully crewed yacht.
Tell me about power aboard?
On Shiwara you have 110v power all the time for things like hair dryers and other normal household appliances.
Can we have Air Conditioning all night for comfortable sleep?
Yes – although the BVI does have cooling breezes, we are happy to provide air conditioning all night to make your trip comfortable. There is no extra charge for this.
How does a St. Thomas pickup work?
We will bring Shiwara over to Red Hook and meet you on the east end of St. Thomas. You take a taxi (40 minutes) to American Yacht Harbor to meet Shiwara. There is no need for ferries or water taxis. Depending on the time of your arrival, you may need to overnight at Red Hook if there is insufficient time to get back over to the BVI that day.
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| Property Activities |
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For those of you who need to rush around all the time and need a million things to do every day, Shiwara is the boat for you!
Snorkeling
A variety of snorkeling equipment is available on board.
Diving
As a qualified PADI diving instructor, Kirk delights in showing off the best BVI dive sites. Kirk knows the reefs and wrecks around the BVI are some of the world's best. He'll take you safely into the ocean environment.
Water skiing and Knee boarding
Shiwara's powerful dinghy provides a full range of water sports including water skiing, wake boarding, and tubing! Kirk loves to get the toys out for fun in the sun!
Fresh Fish for Dinner?
Just two miles south of Norman island is the dropoff, where some of the world's best fishing takes place.
Hey Dude, Surf's UP!
Let Kirk guide you to the spots only the locals know on the north facing beaches and reefs of the BVI, where there is excellent surfing.
An expert surfer himself, he's happy to give lessons to first timers and experts alike.
FREE ACTIVITIES AVAILABLE
Water Skiing
Knee boarding
Wakeboarding
Tubing
Fishing
Surfing ($20/day charge for Board rental)
Extensive Music Library
Extensive DVD Library
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| Testimonials |
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Wow! What a vacation and what a great time was had by all. You helped make this once in a lifetime experience awesome. Your expertise, knowledge and friendly personality made this trip.To the best captain ever, I wish you the utmost best and look forward to seeing you soon."
- Jaime Knight
"Thank you for the amazing adventure. This trip came at the perfect time. The best moment was learning how to SCUBA for the first time ever. While frustrating at first, I appreciate your patience and guidance. You have a wonderful life here and an awesome family. I hope to come back to Shiwara again soon for more adventures."
- Many Thanks, Neil Simpson
"This was my son Nick and my very first vacation and it was the best ever! Thanks for your bright smile, great personality and your knowledge of the Virgin Islands. This was the perfect start for 2008. Thanks for everything!"
- Marlo Anderson
"Many thanks and appreciation for an awesome week. You did an excellent job with my family and friends this week. This was more than a vacation to us, it was a very special week."
- Sincerely, Brandon Knight
"This was our first charter aboard Shiwara - what a treat! This was an incredibly comfortable, smooth, experience. Just the right balance of exhilaration tempered with the grace of a larger, heavier vessel. I was amazed at how easy she was to handle.
We'll definitely be back next year. Thanks for a great vacation."
- George and Christina Caulkins, and Henry and William.
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| Reservation Information |
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Nigel Alexander
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