FAQ

The best vacations are the ones you don’t need to worry about a thing. And that’s what great about a charter aboard Knot 5280. All you have to do is reserve, share with us your preferences, pack your bags and look forward to a week of fun and adventure. The rest, well, just leave to us! Check-in to your own private boutique hotel on the water; from delicious meals, fully stocked bar and a well-balanced itinerary, we provide everything you need to enjoy your vacation. We have unique ideas for honeymooners, families and groups of friends traveling together. Whether you want to simply relax and take it easy; or get adventurous and explore the islands on your vacation, the choice is yours. You can spend your days swimming, kayaking, snorkeling, paddle boarding, or just enjoying your surroundings aboard our spacious boat.

No, Joe and Holly will be on board at all times during the charter. This will allow you the opportunity to completely relax knowing that all of the details are taken care of.

Holly will customize a menu specifically for your group. Before the trip, you will fill out a preference sheet to indicate your favorite meals, sides and snacks. Most of our meals are served family style with comfort and casual island vibes in mind. Living on island we have the opportunity to source a lot of local products and are not limited to the usual marina grocery stores or provisioners. We start each charter with local, fresh ingredients and build a custom menu around that. After a long day on the water the last thing you need is a heavy, fussy dinner – I will prepare a menu that will keep you fueled for all of your outdoor adventures.

Holly takes great pride in working with each family on meal preferences. With that said, please keep in mind that the galley (kitchen) space is very limited. Substitutions can easily be made, but it is impractical for Holly to prepare multiple different entrees at mealtime. Please inquire about restrictive diets before booking and we will let you know the options.

We can assist with coordinating your travel arrangements once on island. Book your flight into St Thomas (STT) or Beef Island (EIS). Ideally land late morning or early afternoon so your vacation can begin right away. Book your return flight out in the afternoon if possible. Knot 5280 only picks up charter guests in the British Virgin Islands.

Something to consider. Things happen on your end and with nature. This is a special trip, and it is recommended that you explore options to protect it – just in case.

The US Dollar is used in both the US Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands. Most places accept credit cards. Taxi drivers only accept cash and if you choose to do a shore excursion or guided tour, most prefer cash. ATM machines are available only in the largest towns.

You will receive a welcome cocktail or mocktail, we will bring your bags on board and allow you some time to get settled. Next the boat tour will include a short safety briefing. After the briefing we will cast off the dock lines and your vacation will officially begin.

A few weeks before your trip, we will send you a preference sheet / questionnaire. Here you will have the chance to share with us how you would like to spend your time aboard Knot 5280. We will tailor your itinerary specifically to your interests. If you are most interested in nightlife and beach bars, we’ll hit the more popular spots. If you are more interested in secluded anchorages, we will make sure to find the best spots. If you are up for adventure and want to spend time hiking, exploring, swimming and more – let us know, we have the energy to keep up with the most active families.

Part of the adventure is anchoring out at night or picking up a mooring ball, so most nights we will not be at a marina. The crew may choose to dock at a marina during the charter if the crew and guests agree.

We do not cancel for rain. Here on the island, a typical rainstorm passes quickly, and we do our best to navigate around the weather. In the event of a major storm, we will make the call to reschedule or cancel the trip. Weather related cancellations will be at the Captain’s discretion. As safety is our #1 priority, we will always err on the side of caution.

Knot 5280 can accommodate up to 6 guests. If there are more people in your party, let us know and we can find a yacht that can accommodate your group or we can coordinate multiple boats.

Yes! We love families and think sailing vacations are perfect for families.

The safety equipment on board is for children 32 pounds and above. Being a family friendly vessel, we do require children are of a water-safe age, it is at the parents’ discretion when they are comfortable with their children moving around the boat. We may ask for proof of swimming competency for young children prior to booking.

We have an EPIRB (Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon), a life raft, life jackets, and man overboard gear.

Catamarans are very stable, but you will still feel the motion of the seas. While there is a chance to experience some wave action and feel the rolling motion of the sea, in most cases we won't sail more than 2-4 hours per day and evenings aboard will be on anchor or tied to a mooring ball. These protected anchorages help block the wind and waves to make for a more clam sleeping situation. People are rarely uncomfortable under normal cruising conditions, but if you have concerns, please discuss with your health care provider about prescription treatment options. Alternatively, you may take Dramamine tablets (available over the counter) during your sailing vacation. The best tip to avoid seasickness is to avoid being in your cabin for prolonged periods while the boat is moving. The flybridge or cockpit are the ideal places to be when underway. Let us know if you are concerned about being sick.

Captain Joe loves educating others on sailing and how Knot 5280 operates. The US Virgin islands offer a unique combination of steady trade winds, sheltered waters, short passages and protected bays and sounds. He will happily let you work with him at the helm, if you are not interested in participating, no problem you’re only job is to relax!

We offer rendezvous diving only and are happy to arrange a SCUBA diving excursion with a local vender.

Knot 5280 offers WiFi on board. Not suited for streaming or other data heavy applications, but consistent enough to check-in during your vacation.

Cell phones work without roaming charges in most locations throughout the US Virgin Islands. Once you get the British Virgin Islands your cell phone will roam internationally. If you anticipate using your phone often, we recommend purchasing an international plan from your service provider. There are several bays with limited cell phone reception if you anticipate needing access on certain days, please let the crew know and we can modify the schedule as needed.

Yes, your crew is reachable by phone, email and VHF radio.

Knot 5280 has both 110V AC power (US Standard) and 12V DC Power. Outlets are American-style 3-pront. Each room has USB chargers.

Yes, you can connect to our stereo via Bluetooth.

Very little. Life on board a sailboat and ashore is pretty casual. We recommend soft-sided luggage for ease of storing your bags aboard.

Swimming suits, sundresses or cover-ups, shorts and t-shirts, rash guard shirt (UV protection while in water), light cardigans or waterproof jacket, one or two outfits for a nice dinner ashore (ladies; casual dress or shorts and blouse, men; collared shirt and shorts), casual/comfortable quick-drying clothing, flip-flops, shoes for walking and hiking, personal toiletries, personal medications, sunglasses, sunhat or visor, reading materials, camera and chargers, personal electronics, passport, drivers license, dive certification, credit cards and cash. It's also important to mention the need to pack your luggage in a soft sided duffel bag. You'll want to unpack and put the bag away. If you pack in a large hard sided suitcase you'll most likely end up sleeping with it.

Snorkel gear (mask, snorkel and fins) are provided for each guest. However, if you already own snorkel gear you may wish to bring it, as we cannot guarantee that our masks will fit each face perfectly.

Many people get sunburned when snorkeling, we recommend a long sleeve rash guard, vest or t-shirt.

No, we provide towels for bathing and for outdoors.

Yes, we provide our guests with eco-friendly toiletries including sunscreen, lotion, shower gel, shampoo and conditioner.

Yes, we have a variety of games available onboard. But if your family has a favorite game I would recommend bringing it along.

We promote a barefoot policy aboard Knot 5280. You will need to bring sandals or flip-flops for the beach. If you are planning to hike, please bring appropriate footwear. Some hikes can be done in flip-flops but some require sturdy hiking sandals or sneakers. Heels or dress shoes are not necessary, even at the nicest restaurants. Remember, you are getting in and out of a tender to shore, so practical shoes are a must.

Please don’t bring spray sunscreen, suntan oil or sunscreen with bronzer. Spray sunscreen is not reef safe and oils and bronzers stain the surfaces on the boat. Don’t bring pets of any kind. Hard-sided suitcases are difficult to store on board and space is a premium in your cabin. Do not bring illegal drugs, including marijuana, even if you have a prescription. Oceangoing vessels are governed by federal legislation and even if your marijuana is prescribed and legal in your state it is illegal at sea. See your charter agreement for further details.

Knot 5280 has full A/C. We can start the air conditioning units before bed and run them overnight. We do not run the air conditioning during the day since we have beautiful tropical breezes keeping us comfortable

Each cabin has its own en-suite bathroom with electric flush toilets, shower, sink and vanity cabinet with mirror. There is also an outdoor shower at the swim platform.

Knot 5280 does not have laundry facilities on board. If you anticipate needing to use a laundromat during your charter, please let the crew know in advance so they can build a stop into your itinerary.

We do not allow any form of smoking on our boat, this includes cigarettes, e-cigarettes and cigars.

Knot 5280 has a reverse osmosis water maker system aboard. We desalinate and filter all the fresh water available onboard. It is safe to drink. We supply re-usable water bottles for all guests to use while aboard.

Of course! Just contact us for any special requestions and we will work to make it happen. We’d love to have you celebrate with us on Knot 5280.

Contact us to start the booking process by emailing hello@knot5280.com or calling or texting (720) 224-1372. Once you’ve provided us with your preferred dates, a complimentary hold will be placed for seven days. This seven-day period gives you time to organize your group, explore flights, etc. At the end of the hold a deposit is due to finalize your reservation, along with a signed charter contract. If your trip is less than six months out, that first deposit is 50% with the remaining balance due 45 days before charter. For a trip more than six months out, the first deposit is 25%, 25% due at six months, the remaining balance paid 45 days prior to the start of charter. Many people do book 12+ months out, so the deposit guarantees you the desired dates.