Founded in 2016 in Spain, Boatjump, a digital charter platform, offers price comparisons for rentals of more than 15,000 bareboat and crewed sail and power vessels in hundreds of global ports.
Vacation sailors can book a charter from start to finish assisted by Spanish-, French-, German- or English-speaking representatives. Boatjump is headquartered in Valencia, Spain, with an office in Miami.
Detailed information on every boat, up-to-date prices, and real-time availability for a transparent transaction are key features of the service, according to the company. They have expanded availability into the Caribbean islands, as well as Mediterranean destinations such as the Balearic Islands of Spain.
“The mission is to make sure people know that chartering a boat is not more expensive than spending one week in a hotel,” CEO Jaime Vara says. For details, visit their site.
Horizon Yacht Charters has added vessels for winter 2020 sailing in the Caribbean, from intimate two-cabin monohulls to large catamarans suited to groups of family and friends. Here’s a rundown:
BVI base, Nanny Cay Marina, Tortola: Jeanneau 349 2020 (three cabins); Jeanneau 410 2020 (three cabins); Jeanneau 490 2020 (four cabins and skipper berth); Nautitech Open 40 2020 (four cabins); Lagoon 42 2020 (four cabins); Lagoon 46 2020 (four cabins); and Fountaine Pajot Saona 47 Maestro 2019 (three cabins).
Grenada base, True Blue Bay Marina: Bavaria 40 2013 (three cabins); Lagoon 45 (2020) (four cabins); and Jeanneau 51 2016 (three cabins).
St. Vincent base, Blue Lagoon Marina: Jeanneau 46 2014 (three cabins); and Beneteau 50 2014 (three cabins).
Horizon also offers sailing and kiteboarding vacations from the BVI and Grenada bases. On these trips, charterers visit the islands of Anegada in the BVI and Union Island in the Grenadines to kiteboard with Horizon’s kiteboard partner businesses. For details, visit the website.
As part of its ongoing commitment to responsible boating, the American Sailing Association is offering “safety net” products to members. These include SailFlow, a weather conditions and forecast program; discounts for DAN Boater family memberships; and iNavX, a marine navigation tool.
SailFlow has more than 50,000 weather stations worldwide, allowing users to access stations in their area to view up-to-date wind conditions and forecasts. It’s available on the web and through iPhone/iPad and Android applications.
DAN Boater, a travel-safety service, offers family memberships to ASA members for $50, a 50 percent savings off the normal cost. ASA members also receive complimentary copies of DAN Boater’s digital travel health and safety guides.
Compatible with iOS and Android devices, iNavX transforms popular smartphones and tablets into handheld chart plotters. Location, heading, speed, course over ground, waypoints, routes and other navigation functions are displayed on the device.
