(EMAILWIRE.COM, February 16, 2009 ) Key West FL-- Thomas Harris, captain of L’Esprit Libre II, a sailing charter yacht in the Florida Keys, was asked recently by some leaders in the marine industry about the status of the sailing yacht charter business in the Florida Keys.

“Florida seems to be perpetually doomed by the boom-and-bust cycle, in real estate and high end yacht charters, and the Florida Keys are no exception,” he said. “Many, many enterprising folks noted that there was money to be made in chartering, be it in sports fishing boats or in sailing yacht charters. Captain licenses became more easily available. Money was easy and they borrowed to the hilt. One morning, while walking along the Key West waterfront, I noticed that not even one in three day charter boats had gone out.”

“This is going to have very serious implications for the overall charter yacht industry as well as the high-end sailing yacht charters,” he said. “Dropping prices is one option but there is only so far one can drop the prices and not actually lose money on just the running costs, forget about the capital costs.” He predicted that one in two of the charter yacht businesses in the Florida Keys will be on the block or simply out-of-business at the beginning of the summer.

“On the other hand, those who own their boats outright are in an envious position to under-price the competition, but these are few and far between.”

A new niche market is opening, he contends. “Crewed sailing yachts for a week or more cruises are in short supply in the Florida Keys. This clientele has been used to going to the US Virgin Islands or farther down the Caribbean, but with current prices of air travel many prefer to stay closer to home if possible.”

Harris is owner and captain of L’Esprit Libre II, a sailing charter yacht located in the Florida Keys. http://www.lespritlibre.org

Thomas Harris
s/v L’Esprit Libre II
PO Box 3242
Annapolis MD 21403
410 919-8270

Contact Information:
L'Espirit Libre II
Thomas Harris
Tel: 410 919-8270
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