So you missed the boat on organizing a full-on 

Caribbean charter with friends (or maybe it wasn’t in the budget). That doesn’t mean a charter is out of the question. Keep your plan close to home and simple by looking to Florida, the Gulf Coast or southern California for a long weekend or mid-week charter. Charter companies often have boats available, even during the high season, during the middle of the week or because of a last-minute cancellation. Be open-minded about the kind of boat—it’s unlikely that the newest addition to the fleet will be available, so resign yourself to an older model—and the cruising grounds. The important thing is that it’s sailing time on a boat and perhaps, a whole new place to explore.

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