You don't have to be an avid yachtsman to enjoy the pleasures of setting sail and feeling the warmth of the sun as you coast past palm fringed islands and deserted beaches. Request one of our friendly skippers and sit back and relax in the company of family and friends without the distraction of the daily demands on your time knowing that your skipper is taking good care of you and your yacht. If you would like to learn to sail, our instructional skippers will make sure that your time spent on the water is as much of a vacation as it is a time to qualify to your desired ASA standard. Horizon Yacht Charters has a selection of captains who can be hired to make this special vacation a reality for you. Let us provide you with the means to skipper your own yacht next time, celebrate an occasion or simply enjoy life. All of the skippers contracted through Horizon Yacht Charters are experienced, reputable boat captains who have sailed the BVI and surrounding waters for many years and who have received great reviews from our guests. Your enjoyment is our business.

Rates: Skipper from $150 per day, Instructional Skipper from $175 per day, Cook from $125 per day. These rates do not include provisioning, beverages or gratuities.

A little bit about Skipper Sam Tonge

Sam is from the beautiful, unspoilt island of Dominica –"the Nature Isle of the Caribbean"- and has spent most of his life sailing the Caribbean seas.

Raised on the waterfront in Dominica where cargo boats loaded and unloaded their wares daily, he spent every spare moment watching them and offering whatever help he could. In 1988, at the age of 12, Sam got his first taste of sailing when the Captain of an old cargo sloop told him to get his passport and go with them to Montserrat, St Kitts, Anguilla and St Martin! He has not looked back since.

At the age of 15, he joined the crew of a 60ft sloop that he proudly calls a "real sailing boat" – it had no engine, just sails! If you have a moment during your charter with Sam, ask him about his experiences during this time – he has lots of stories to tell that will keep you entertained for hours!

From Captain of a 56ft cargo sloop at only 18, when he spent the next 3 years sailing the Windward and Leeward islands of the Caribbean to being the Master of a 55ft sloop in Anguilla supplying the hotel industry there to trading further afield on a 65 footer between Puerto Rico, St Thomas and St Croix in the US Virgin Islands, Sam enjoyed his sailing career until he chose the most beautiful of all the islands to settle in – the British Virgin Islands. He became acquainted with the yacht charter industry and realized that he had found his niche! Sam worked as a bareboat skipper for 3 years, before finally joining the Horizon Team in 2002.

Sam comes very well qualified. He became an ASA certified sailing instructor in July 2003 and has since been in popular demand by guests wishing to complete the basic keel boat, coastal cruising and bareboat chartering and coastal navigation courses. He is also certified by the BVI Maritime Administration under the provision of the Code of Safety for Small Commercial Vessels, and has completed a STCW safety training course.

Sam is married to Pauline who is also form Dominica and they currently reside in Tortola.

Whether you want to learn to sail, are a group looking for sun, fun and calypso, a family with young children or a honeymoon couple seeking a discreet skipper, Sam's adaptability and friendly nature make him the number one choice for our repeat guests. His extensive local knowledge and vast sailing experience guarantee an unbeatable sailing vacation with Horizon.

Just returned from a glorious 7 day cruise aboard the "Endless Reach" and wanted to comment on the professionalism exhibited by our captain - Sam Tonge. Sam was an excellent teacher and kept us on the perfect pace to enjoy both the sailing and the islands themselves. Probably the most important measure of any organization is the people that work within the organization. Sam truly makes Horizon a stronger organization. M Miller FL, USA, Jeanneau 54DS, April 2006

Effective from October 4th 2005, the USA Department for Homeland Security has introduced a regulation with a mandatory requirement that vessels with paid crew onboard give a 24 hour electronic notice before arriving or leaving USA ports. This includes the US Virgin Islands, Spanish Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. This change in policy applies to all of our charters that have paid crew (skipper, cook, hostess) with them.

Filing the electronic arrival and departure details can be done through the National Vessel Movement Centre (NVMC) website http://www.nvmc.uscg.gov/.