Live-Aboard Sailing Vessel needed for Bahamas Full Month of May 2017

[MargoZ]

Greetings Sailors,

I run a conservation nonprofit organization. We are in need of a live-aboard sailing vessel for the Bahamas for the full month of May 2017 for shorebird conservation and coastal habitat restoration work. Our general itinerary is GBI (week 1), Great Abaco (week 2&3), Berry Islands and Joulters Cays (week 4). The vessel should be capable of housing a weekly crew of 12 researchers and 3 to 4 ship crew with room for gear and materials stowage. Our trip needs also include two small deployment boats that can carry 6-8+ gear and materials. A sailing vessel of 70ft or more is needed. Vessel should be shallow draft (6ft or less). We would like to hire such a vessel at nonprofit rates. We are also interested in a donation of such a vessel for our nonprofit work.

We completed a successful first expedition in the Bahamas this past May.
We got a very good rate this year because May was a slow month for the schooner we hired. Her captain is semi-retired and desired to help the project. Our conservation work is funded by matching grants and volunteers who pay to be on the trip each week. I would not be searching for another schooner now, except the owner is considering selling the vessel. We have looked into many commercial charter boats in S. Florida and Bahamas but they are above our budget. Our project recently received long term funding, however the work is dependent on us finding a sailing vessel we can afford. Any advice or contacts are very much appreciated.

Thank You,

Margo