The reason why it is called an adventure is because you have no idea what will unfold between the moment of your launch and the moment you drop anchor at your final desitnation of the voyage. All of the STUFF that happens in between is the reason why I can’t wait to launch on any sailing adventure. I eat up the STUFF in between! Some of the ”moments” that happen are unforgettable.  Some of those ”moments” are hopefully forgotten quickly. My last voyage I ended up at The Last Resort with my guests and was swept away with the music and the rum that ended up having me as the back-up singer for the BAND!  Most of the moments that need to be forgotten usually happen late at night after some Meyer’s Dark Rum and Caribe beer chasers. With that combination, anything can happen…and usually does.

Back to sailing…that is the real deal in the Caribbean. I am at my “spiritual center” when I am under sail, and with any job that is assigned to me. I have captained my share of sailboats, but I have also been the chef on many boat deliveries, and even been as lowly as a 4th Mate whose job is typically clearing out a clogged head - one of the worst jobs on the boat.  There is nothing like the feeling of the helm in your hands as you steer your course to your next anchorage.   Do you better understand why I can’t wait to step aboard my next sailboat going to who knows where? Contact me and I promise to set up this type of experience for you, your family and friends.  I am such a fan of this experience that I secured by charter yacht brokerage license in 1997 and I have arranged hundreds of sailing adventures.  Until next time.  Fair winds.

What a blessing it is to get together with our loved ones;  feasting with them, toasting a glass or two, enjoying the blessings of life – and giving thanks.  Thanks for life all around us, underfoot, and overhead.

Thanks for the ability to remember those we love as well as to forget how much we’ve been hurt at times in our life; thanks for fine young bodies,  and old venerable minds;  for sun on our faces,  the wind on our sails,  the rain on the roof,  and the food on the table grown by people we don’t even know.

Thanks that the jets overhead that aren’t dropping their bombs,  that our healing hands have a place to practice,  that children are born every minute of the day,  and that death is there to gather us up at the end.

And thanks for at least one day a year when we all take the time to get some perspective.   AMEN - Patrick Finley

And, besides counting our blessings this week, did you know there was another Thanksgiving celebration last month on October 15th?   Many of you may not realize there are two Thanksgivings celebrated in the Virgin Islands – Hurricane Thanksgiving on October 15, and the traditional one celebrated this Thursday.

Every October since 1726, the residents of the US Virgin Islands offer thanks for their safekeeping during the potentially lethal hurricane season that officially lasts from July through the end of October. The day has historically been observed by offering thanks to God for his protection during the season. The event had been losing its significance through several years of relatively mild hurricanes until the tradition was revived by the devastating Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and Hurricanes Luis and Marilyn in 1995. The day is a national holiday across the islands and is marked with prayer and often with a celebratory meal in the evening.

Thank goodness this hurricane season was milder than was expected.  So, there is another reason to raise our glasses in celebration this Thursday, for thirst is a dangerous thing.   I would enjoy having you let me know how your Thanksgiving celebration unfolds.  Until next time…fair winds!

They jumped in with both feet by securing their commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmasters Offshore license and extensively sailing in South Africa, plus twice around Cape of Good Hope and Cape Agulhas – the southern most tip of Africa.  While in South Africa they met the eventually owners of SEMPER FI.  The brand new Leopard 46 cat was being built for the owners and they needed to get it to the Caribbean where they wanted to put it in the BVI charter fleet.  They needed a crew, so they contracted Dan and Susie to do the job.  With the help of a 1^st Mate, the owners and Dan and Susie sailed her to Trinadad.  Dan and Susie managed the completion of her fitting and they sailed her to the BVI arriving last month.  Their dreams are now coming true with day.

Dan is currently pursuing his PADI certifications and is following his interests in photography, discovering his new Caribbean sailing grounds, and his love for rugby.  (Australia did beat England yesterday, but he missed the match because of entertaining Brokers all day.)  Even though Susie has her Commerical Yacthmaster Certification, too, she has taken on the duties of 1^st Mate and Chef.  As part of her preparations for their new life she completed the Yacht Cookery Class from the Gables School of Cookery in Gloucestershire, England.  She is loving the opportunities that are unfolding with creating her gourmet Caribbean cuisine using only the freshest ingredients possible.  She also brings aboard her professional sports massage therapy,  her love as competitive swimmer and triathlete.

The SEMPER FI was built by Robertson and Caine - the exclusive provider of catamarans to the Moorings.  Sailing is the ultimate “green” method of seeing the world.  One of her design criteria was to be as energy self-sufficient as possible.  The owners worked with Paul Landino of eMarine Systems to design a state of the art solar and wind system along with an optimized conventional charging system.  ( Paul is an accomplished Electrical Engineer who specializes in the design of efficient, green systems for the yachting industry.)  These systems allow SEMPER FI to operate on a minimal amount of shore or generator power.  They are using the same consciousness with the trash created from a charter, and when diving only take pictures and leave behind only bubbles.

Dan and Susie are SEMPER FI’s first crew and are guaranteed success because of combining their talents and experiences to create an unforgettable sailing vacation for the guests.  Plus, I believe this is the first Leopard 46 that his arrived in the private chartering community.  There great interest in this 4-Pack that is perfect for honeymoons, anniversaries, and family sailing adventures.  They are a welcomed addition to the charter yacht crew family.  I look forward to you discovering what I have with these two delightful professionals.  Until next time…your Caribbean lifestyle reporter remains on duty.

Captain Kirk is as happy as can be with the life that has unfolded for him and his family.  He sails SHIWARA – a custom built 63 foot monohull built by Herbulot in France, as a captain-only crew.  He has his Yachtmaster Offshore captain’s license and is a PADI SCUBA instructor. Plus, as an expert surfer, Kirk knows all the spots around the BVI for the perfect wave.  In his spare time he also shapes custom surfboards for Cane Garden Bay Surfboards.  As a captain-only charter, Kirk guides his guest as to provisioning services and even suggested menus because you also need to FEED HIM as part of the deal.  Because of his love for all things connected to the sea, there is typically a line and lure trolling behind SHIWARA which produces tuna, mahi-mahi, and wahoo for fresh fish dinners.  I have no doubt that Kirk will create a Caribbean experience that guests will never forget.  Kirk is delighted to join the daily fun with you, or he will gladly fade into the background of your adventure if privacy is what you are seeking.

OK, back to his wife, Tiffany and daughter, Kaya.  Because he is a captain-only charter his guests are always curious about his family.  Their home is a 43’ troller moored at Hodges Creek.  Often times his guests will ask if they can stop by his floating home and meet his family.  He always accommodates them to the delight of everyone.  Tiffany and Kaya often times even meet the boat at one of the white sand beaches for a picnic with the guests.  When talking about the “six degrees of separation”, I met Tiffany and Kaya at the docks yesterday during the lunch break and learned that one of her friends in the Moms & Kid Club is Sofie and her daughter – wife and former 1^st Mate/Chef with Jean-Pierre on Dream Catcher II.  I have sailed with them on Dream Catcher II many years ago and we have continued to be dear friends.  Small world, aye?

To be comfortable, SHIWARA has a maximum capacity for six guests for the large double staterooms all with their own bathrooms and showers.  She has wide-open deck space with the classic monohull experience that the traditional sailing community loves and requires.  Since his guests will be doing the daily cooking the galley is first rate for any gourmet’s needs.  The main salon has comfortable seating for eight around the dining table.  And for those who love entertainment that does not involve the Caribbean waters, she is loaded with an excellent sound system, large-screen TV and a DVD player in the main salon.  And, each stateroom is air conditioned to make sure that every night includes blissful sleep.

Enough about this beautiful yacht.  I can’t wait to get back to SWIWARA today for a few more tips on the best surfing spots in the Caribbean.  Until next time…your Caribbean lifestyle reporter remains on duty!

After meeting at the water sports center in Wales, Andy introduced Elli to the love of sailing.  They transitioned from it being a hobby to now being a lifestyle.  Andy started expanding his Skipper experiences after his work with the offshore wind farm work to numerous yacht deliveries, including an Atlantic crossing from Antigua to Palma De Mallorca.   He has earned his commercially endorsed RYA Yachtmaster license, an RYA windsurfing instructor, and an RYA powerboat instructor.  Andy’s focus as all Captains is on safety first.  But, boy is he a real character with non-stop stories of his sailing adventures around the world.  He is perfect for those guests who want to learn to sail and windsurf.  And, along with his duties as Captain he is just plane entertaining.

As the 1^st Mate and Chef, Elli has a great passion for gourmet cooking non-stop customer service.  Having worked in the hospitality industry since her early teens, she earned her teaching credentials, and never tires of finding new ways to entertain kids.  With her love for sailing Elli has earned her RYA Day Skipper license, and completed the marine hospitality and cookery course at the internationally recognized United Kingdom Sailing Academy, plus the advanced cookery course at Ashburton Cookery School where she learned from world renown chefs to expand her culinary skills further. Elli delivers cuisine from all over the world as part of her world class gourmet experience.  She prides herself in taking fresh ingredients and enhancing their healthy, natural flavours, with a few decadent desserts for good measure!

Andy and Elli have also created the SWISH “Opulent Option Packages”. These include Connoisseur Wine, Spirit & Cigar Packages, Luxury Air-Tours, and Onboard Day Spa Services. So, if you want to explore an over the top opulent addition to your unforgettable Caribbean charter vacation, just let them know.  They will gladly deliver it to you.

Every crew is unique and very special.  The charter yacht vacation is based on having the professionals on board surprise and delight you.  You will be thrilled to spend a week or two with Andy and Elli on SWHISH – promise!  Until next time…your Caribbean lifestyle reporter remains on duty!

Let’s back up.  Here is the definition of an internet blogger – a citizen journalist writing about things she/he is observing in their world.  What is around me in my world this week are charter crews doing all that can to show off their yachts in the best light possible so the Charter Brokers stopping by for a visit will mark in their books that this is a yacht and crew I will recommend to my clients for the upcoming season.  My task each day is to discover four or five human interest stories a day to write about and add photos to the article. This is my third year providing this service to the BVI and the St. Thomas boat shows.  THE critical tool in order to complete my daily work is an internet connection.  With the jammed up internet service I am having to be very creative.  For example, yesterday morning I was sitting in the lobby of Marie By The Sea at 5AM using their free wireless service in order to get my first day of articles posted.  Yesterday at noon I spent two hours at CharterPort’s office using their wireless service to do my photo editing work – thanks to Dick Schoonover’s kindness.

Now, it is Sunday morning.  The roosters woke me at 4AM so I need to get back to my writing.  It is the last day of the show and the sweat is starting to show up on my brow because I have at least 15 more articles to create with photos regarding the BVI boat show.  The solutions have not yet shown up, so I may have to wait for many of my postings to arrive on the internet until I get to St. Thomas where I can plug into a secured connection.  The key now is for me to gather the stories from the crews, take photos, and figure out the details next week.

What I am looking for in each of my articles is the human interest side of the crews.  Each of them have a unique and actually amazing story as to how they decided to get into the world of chartering.  The yachts are all beautiful, but without a Rock Star crew the experience of having an unforgettable charter yacht experience may not be possible.  Of course, the yacht must be in tip-top condition,  but the ability of the crew to surprise and delight is at least 50% of making the charter unforgettable – from their customer service skills,  their delivery of up to four gourmet meals a day, their knowledge of the sailing grounds, and of course, their ability to satisfy the daily cocktail needs of their guests.

It is the people who make up the unforgettable Caribbean experience, not the “things”.  The crews are not the only ones who are part of this experience.  It is EVERYONE ELSE that you meet along the way.  How about Marva at the Village Cay dockside restaurant?  She runs the show there.  Janet Oliver from CYS is part of the show’s cast of characters.  The many Boat Show volunteers such as Jane and Karen, the board members of the Charter Yacht Society such as Tim Schaaf from s/y JetStream, CYBA members lead by Louise Danley,  the Brokers, and the clearing houses, ALL make up the experiences that are delivered to his amazing community of professionals.

In spite of the my momentary challenges I promise to get the word out about this community of professionals who are the ones that deliver the Caribbean experience everyday to first time visitors and those visiting the Caribbean waters each year.  The charter yacht community is the unofficial ambassadors of my favorite part of the world, and I will do my part to make sure the world discovers the best way to experience the Caribbean – on a charter yacht.  Well, I am off to see if I can find an internet connection to my posts up from yesterday.  Until next time…your Caribbean lifestyle reporter remains on duty!

I stopped by their yacht today to find out what would cause a successful real estate family sell everything and jump aboard their Jeanneua 40 and head south.  One of the conclusions I made was they wanted to reset their life course and create a balance they had not discovered in many years of owning their business.  What I discovered is that the experience they have had the last five years has far exceeded anything they could have imagined.  When they decided to sail south from New Brunswick they never imagined that they would visit 51 islands, 17 countries and end up in Tobago in just one year.  Leopold we most concerned that his dream of the sailing life may not be fully embraced by Ginette.  He had no worries.  She has embraced it even more than him.  Selling everything, being disconnected from “things”, never watching television, and enjoying the most beautiful sunsets imaginable each evening has changed both of their lives.  Ginette told me that it took about six months to have all of the “stress” of their previous life finally melt away.  Now every relationship and every moment in nature has taken on new importance.

They definitely have brought a French flair to s/y Bleu Tourquoise – from the cuisine to the wines.  They will even assist you with learning French during your charter with them.  The yacht they represent is owned and managed by Vacances Sous Voiles, a charter yacht management company that owns five charter boats in the Caribbean.  The company is owned and managed by the very capable Michel Guerra and Michèle Riva.  During the off-season Leopold and Ginette travel back to Moncton, New Brunswick to spend time with their children and grandchildren.  And, they need to be back in Canada a certain amount of months a year to stay qualified for their health insurance – a concern for all of us that spend time exploring the world.

I have to admit, that I have had similar dreams asLeo and Ginette to jump off the world of owning a very large real estate practice, downsize everything, and set sail for places unknown to me.  My wife and I may consider an alternative to the cruising life, by finding a place in the South France to add to our San Francisco home, and one in the Caribbean.  It wouldn’t be too bad a life to travel between three of our favorites spots in the world.  Stay tuned…more to come as the Boat Show continues on for another three days. Enjoy the stories and the experiences shared from the charter yacht community.

My 60^th birthday celebration

Ben and Nikki first met at the Portside Pub in Seattle, Washington almost eight years ago.  Nikki was finishing her masters in elementary education, and Ben was engrossed in all aspects of the sailing world – from boat deliveries up and down the Pacific to rebuilding his own boat with blue water chartering as his dream.  If Nikki was going to hang out with Ben she would need to agree to the sailing life.  The final decision regarding staying with Ben was having him visit her elementary classroom as a judge of a science project.  What Ben didn’t know was that the students and teachers at Nikki’s school were going to “vote” on if Ben was “the one”.  It was apparently unanimous.  Nikki decided to take a break from her teach career and join Ben on an extended cruise that actually lasted for more than three years – all the way down to Ecuador, through the Panama Canal and on to the Caribbean.  Once in the Caribbean they were hooked on the sailing life and decided to join the community of Charter crews.

The catamarans are prevalent throughout the Caribbean chartering world.  Space is probably the reason.  You are not short on space on s/y Solterion,  and with her low draft you can easily navigate close to the beach and other hard to reach areas such as Anegada.  A sailing vacation in the British Virgin Islands on s/y Soterion isn’t a camping holiday.  It is all about the warm waters of the Caribbean, gentle sails between islands, and gourmet dining from morning until night.

Each of the staterooms are designed for spacious comfort of the couple who wants to feel like home.  From the high thread cotton linens to the thick bath towels, you are certainly pampered.  Plus, there is plenty of storage space with even closets for your hanging clothes.  In addition, you even have your own TV, DVD player and VCR.  The full bathrooms have hair dryers but you probably won’t use them because you will be in and out of the water snorkeling, water-skiing, wake-boarding, kayaking and fishing.  SCUBA diving is an option using rendezvous dive services from Dive BVI.

Each of the charter yachts are similar in how they are fitted out for your every need.  And, with the correct advice you will find the most fun crews you will ever meet as your hosts for your unforgettable Caribbean sailing adventure.  Captain Ben and Chef Nikki are two to add to your list.  Until next time…your Caribbean lifestyle detective remains on duty!

Their story began when they met as teenagers in Devon, England during their music studies. Polly was perfecting her flute skills and Ian was focused on being an accomplished jazz pianist.  At their early age, they dreamed of careers in the world of music.  What unfolded was not what they ever imagined.  Ian has been sailing since he was a young child in Devon.  Polly’s love for Ian brought her into the sailing community – a life I love.  In their early twenties, they decided to give chartering a go and heard about the Moorings yacht management company with charter bases around the world.  They decided that while they were young they would follow their dreams.  They decided on the Moorings because it was known they liked to hire crew members that were couples.  They hired on for their first year of chartering and have never looked back.  I asked them why they decided on the BVI.  They said it was no contest regarding any other location – weather and water.

When they showed up for their first year they were one of the youngest crew in the charter fleet.  Now they are viewed as the oldest “young couple” of the fleet.  After years of resisting, Ian finally asked Polly to be his wife last year.  They were married this past September on the same day as Jonny and Kelly did.  Ian and Polly were married in Devon, England and Jonny and Kelly were married in Wales.  Ian told me that there had never been so many charter crews in England as were their the weekend of both these special weddings.

What you will discover when you first see s/y reACTION is a Jeanneau 55 Lagoon catamaran, one of more popular cats in the Caribbean.  It is fast and wide – up to 18 knots, a 30 foot beam.  One of the benefits of a cat is the lack of heeling and rolling when under sail or at anchor.  The deck space is enormous.  She has four spacious suites with each having an ensuite with a shower.  It is an eight passenger charter yacht with a main salon that will seat up to twelve people comfortably.

The unique layout of ReAction, with three queen size staterooms and one bunk room with two single beds is ideal for any combination of families with children, couples or singles The spacious, shaded outside cockpit will seat ten at two tables, the aft deck also has two lounging mats for sunning and two fresh water showers for your comfort.  Some of the most appealing features of a charter yacht vacation in the BVI is the sailing and exploring “Nature’s Little Secreet”.  All of the Caribbean water toys are a part of your adventure with Captain Ian and Chef Polly. Minutes after casting off, the adventure aboard s/y ReAction begins and you will find discover yourself sailing in quite and protected anchorages, mash potato sand beaches surrounded by palm trees and crystal clear color waters.  This is your perfect headquarters for a family vacation, an unforgettable honeymoon, or an adventure with some of your favorite friends.  You will have the time of your life with s/y ReAction!  Until next time…fair winds!

The BVI Charter Yacht Boat Show

Whether you hear those words this week or not, that is the reason why every detail has been attended to on each yacht so it is presented in its best possible condition.  You will notice that the crews look extra sharp in their “uniforms”.   This is the first Boat Show for some of the crews.  So, the Charter Yacht Society director, Janet, and her board of directors take the time to instruct the crews as to how to prepare their yacht and how to impress and engage the charter yacht brokers. You would be amazed as to what each of the crews do to assure their yachts are in prefect show condition.  Here is an example of the Action List to each of the crews.

Janet let me know that, “First impressions at each show are critical.  One charter yacht show does not a successful season make; however, a “bad show” can hurt a crew and their yacht for the entire season!  The crew’s preparation will be the best investment they will make all year to the success of your season.”

• Have the yacht charter ready. Make sure all the drawers and lockers in each cabin are clean. Brokers will check your standard for cleanliness and order aboard your yacht. There should be absolutely no loose gear in sight. This means everything unnecessary needs to be stowed away in lockers, moved off the boat, decks cleaned, etc. This means no hoses, lines, gear tackle, motor scooters, buckets, ex-wives/ex-husbands, etc. lying around. Get a storage locker if you have to!
• Provide brochures, crew profiles and menu inserts for the brokers visiting your yacht. Remind the Brokers that more are available through you clearing house. Also, have your guest book, letter and pictures from your past guests out for the Brokers to see.
• Fresh flowers are not required; but they are a nice touch.
• Linens on the beds should be crisp and smooth. Matching towels in the heads or on the beds are a nice touch. Set a dinner place for two to show off your beautiful diner settings. Be sure to leave space at the table for a Broker or two to sit around and use for note taking.
• Have your polishing, painting and varnishing DONE! Put all supplies away
• No laundry, towels, rags, etc. hanging on the life lines. No garbage on board or on the dock.
• No deliveries of provisions or equipment during the show. If you must provision, leave the show early.
• Make it easy to board as possible with a clear route from the boarding site to the cockpit and/or below.
• Ask a friend to take a “sniff test” of your yacht. There may be an odor you might not notice; but the Brokers surely will.
• Speaking of scents, have something baking in the oven for a welcoming aroma. Be careful not to burn anything! The new little fans that circulate scents from an electrical outlet are great. You want the yacht to smell as good as it looks.
• Details count! Little folded points on the bathroom toilet tissue, a mint on the pillow,  mock mementos with charter guest names are all little details that make a big impact. Have some recent photos of guest having fun on your plasma screen that is doing the continuous slide show.
• Make sure every light bulb works and have as many of them on as you can without heating up the yacht. Lighting will show the yacht off to its best advantage.

Some Other Suggestions:

• Plan ahead. Think about what you want to emphasize about yourself/your yacht and crew. Decide what type of charters you want to promote. Do you want to do more charters with children, honey-mooners, hard-core divers, big time sailors or real high-end gourmet charters? The Brokers will want to know. Think about answers to the tough questions. Brokers will ask questions such as, “What was your worst charter? Tell me about a charter that didn’t turn out well. What did you learn from it? Why won’t happen again? What was your best charter?” Have the answers ready ahead of time.
• Smokers- Be discreet about smoking as possible. This includes smoking during social events. Remember than many restaurants stateside no longer allow smoking. If you allow smoking aboard the yacht, have clean ashtrays for the Brokers.
• Politics- Go easy! There are some strong opinions and this is not the time to get into a heated into a heated debate with a Broker.
• Hospitality- Offer coffee, tea or juice in the morning and cool drinks in the afternoon. Think about serving alcohol to Brokers and make your own decision. Hors d’oeuvres are fine. Prepare them ahead of time.
• Keep the yacht as cool as possible. If you don’t have air conditioning, keep the hatches open, use fans and get wind scoops. If you do have air conditioning, don’t remain down below all the time during the show. Brokers confronted with closed hatches may assume you are away, not showing or with another broker.
• Some Brokers will want to see the crew quarters to know how it affects the guest’s quarters. Some Brokers will ask to see your bilge. Keep both as clean and presentable as possible, but don’t stress too much about it.
• Be careful about promising to fix things. Brokers don’t want to hear too much “after a few charters, we’ll replace those old cushions.” If you can’t replace it now, do the best you can with throw pillows, accents or something. Make the best of what you have and don’t draw attention to the negatives.
• Emphasize your crew’s teamwork even if you only have a freelance chef or mate for the show. The Brokers was to see you function together as a team and be happy. If you have personality differences with your crew, you don’t need to be together. Some crews find one person on deck and one below allows them to cover twice as many Brokers, but the Brokers don’t get a chance to see you together. Charter yacht shows can be a stressful time. This is not the time to decide to divorce your chef or Captain. Let it wait until after the show.

• Collect business cards. As soon as possible after the Broker leaves the yacht, write something on the back of their business card so that you can remember them. Sending a Thank you note for their visit during the show or personalized email will go a long way in helping you grow your business. Follow up! Don’t be a pest; but do be persistent.

I don’t know about you, but I am exhausted just reading these instructions.    I am off again to interview more of the crews, so stay tuned.  Tonight is the evening hosted by the BVI Tourist Board with many of the local businesses displaying their wares.  Then I am off to bed since I have not slept much since arriving in the BVI.  Until next time… your Caribbean lifestyle detective remains on duty.