Two charter vacation yacht owners who are also the crews on their gorgeous yachts,  checked in with Jim Walberg regarding some experiences from their current 2009 season in the Virgin Islands.

S/Y Three Moons:  Randy and Shelly Tucker – Owners/Crew

The instability of the economy is only making us work harder at perfecting our positive image of being a high level professionally crewed yacht. Yes, we are all networking more and reaching out in new ways to contact prospective clients.  We are emphasizing that no corners are being cut for our guests, no matter the cost or the economy.  ALL INCLUSIVE still means “all inclusive” for our guests.  We are a premium yacht with three Read the rest of this entry »

Geneva = International.  Of the ten families that make up my “Geneva Family”, twelve of them were born in some other country besides Switzerland.

After the Who’s Who In Luxury Real Estate Paris Conference  I took the TGV – the bullet train, to Geneva in order to spend time with my “Geneva Famiies”.  The reason why Geneva = International to me is because of the ten families waiting for me at the train station with most of them being naturalized Swiss who were born in other parts of the world.  Out of 20 people waiting at the train station, here are their countries of origin… Canada, USA, Scotland, England, Sweden, South Africa, Holland, France, Chile, Spain, Russia, Denmark, and Switzerland.  In addition, they all have second, third, and/or fourth homes outside of Geneva.  Here are some of the locations of their homes outside of Geneva:  Caribbean, Spain, France, England, Thailand, Singapore, the Alps, USA, Chile, and more.  So, even though we think of the Caribbean as a melting pot of the world,  this special group of friends is the definition of international in living breathing form.

From the Geneva train station we all car pooled to Champery, Switzerland  to my friends’ Swiss Alps chalet.  This was my headquarters for a three day ski trip.  This is one of my favorite European destinations for skiing.  The Champery ski resort allows you to ski from Switzerland to France any time you want – which we did.  Our lunch destination on one of the days was a goat village at the base of the French side of the slopes.  What an adventure of skiing on fresh powder all the way down the mountain to this quaint village for more food and wine.

The men took a side trip one day to the Chevalier de Bayard Winery  in Varen, Switzerland.  My past views of Swiss wines are typically sweet white wines such as the Alsace region of France.  What I didn’t know is that the Swiss do not export their wines so the world generally does not have the chance to enjoy the many varietals that they produce.  The other surprise for me was visiting a wine region that was covered in snow!  I have never seen snow covered vineyards.  We shared a wonderful day with one of the owners, René Bayard.  (The Knights Of Bayard have been in existence since the 15^th century!  Even the knight’s armor is at the winery.)  After wine tasting, we eat a typical Swiss meal of Raclette cheese, fingerling potatoes and baby pickles – plus, more great Swiss wine.  What a day of exploring new regions of the world and lots of new experiences – and some more great wines that I will never taste in the islands!

My last few days in Europe were spent exploring Geneva – the Old Town, the yacht clubs along Lake Geneva, and the many Swiss watch shops.  I wanted to make sure I stopped by the yacht club that holds the Americas Cup – Societe Nautique Geneva.  I still have a problem understanding how a country with no ocean is the holder of the cup.  Another cold moment was showing off my Obama t-shirt in Old Geneva.  A man from England asked where I purchased it.  I told him San Francisco.  He wanted a copy of it, so I decided to gave him the shirt off my back.  Another magical moment. 

I am blessed beyond measure to have such dear friends as part of my world’s extended family.  And, I am sick of being so cold!  The Caribbean is 85F degrees today.  Varen, Switzerland is 28F degrees.  I love Europe, but my next visit will be in the Spring or Summer.  Now, back to sunshine, warm turquoise waters, and the warm trade winds.  Contact me  if I can be of any assistance with your Caribbean real estate needs.  Until next time…fair winds.

Every charter yacht crew I know is working non-stop over this Holiday Season – including New Year’s!  They are delivering unforgettable Holiday experiences for their guests.

We are in the midst of the busiest weeks of the year for the Caribbean charter yacht fleet – December through New Years weekend!  These are the most popular charter dates for people all over the world to book.  You will find the majority of the yachts chartering in the Virgin Islands.  And, most of them are booked a year or two in advance.  Some of you may remember the millenium charter yacht frenzy.  Foxy’s  is generally one of the craziest spots in the Caribbean for “Old New Year’s Night”.  Foxy even did a major expansion of his world famous beach bar for the year 2000 celebrations, and even built a concert stage.  My memory is Foxy brought in the Beach Boys for that New Year’s celebration.

Those of you who have ever anchored or moored off of Foxy’s Bar on Jost Van Dyke have probably heard of the 400+ yachts that were rafted up for the 2000 New Year party.  No wonder the charter crews charge a premium for the last two weeks of December and New Year’s.  It is very intense work.

So, while your favorite charter yacht and crews are working night and day to create unforgettable memories for this Holiday Season,  they are also wanting you to know they are thinking of all of their special past guests by sending greetings to you!  Their messages have just started arriving so I will be posting them all on this article as they come in the next ten days. 

The first charter yacht crew greeting to arrive for posting in this article is from s/y Double Feature  and Captain Jonny and Chef Kelly:  “We are just coming to the end of our Christmas Charter tomorrow which has been great …. two adults and five children on s/y Double Feature, in tandem with another two boats from the same family … lots of children and lots of fun has been had!  We are now on to our New Year’s charter on Tuesday with four couples and a New Year’s celebration at Foxy’s, so that should be a very fun week!  Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.  All the best for 2009!”

Next came Christmas news from s/y Three Moons  and Captain Randy and Shelly Tucker:   “We hope you enjoyed a wonderful Christmas day!  Most folks know that they can open their presents on Christmas day while sitting around  wearing their PJ’s…but that rarely happens when you are a charter yacht crew with Holiday guests aboard.   Well, Christmas Day that is exactly what we did….opened our Christmas presents in our PJ’s as we were between charters and without any guests – a rare occurance for us Christmas week!  What fun we had!  We’ve really been working hard the last three weeks getting everything ready to go for a two-in-a-row with almost no turnaround time.  Other quick Holiday news:  Vice President elect Joe Biden is staying on Water Island for the holiday.  He finally arrived this afternoon.  The Department of Tourism wanted to know if s/y Three Moons and us would be available to take Mr. Biden out for a sail while on his vacation.   We immediately said YES!  Apparently, they were already doing a background search on us at the time they contacted us! Oh boy, we were hoping they didn’t discover any of our past “dirt”!  At any rate, it doesn’t look as though it’s going to happen due to some unforeseen delays on their part.  I suppose you can classify this tidbit as the “Holiday news that almost was!”  Click here for a copy of our Holiday newsletter being sent out to all of our family and friends.  Happy New Year!”

Well, Meredith and Jonny have checked in with their Holiday updates.  You may remember them from the USVI Boat Show on s/y Conundrum.  They had their wedding the day after the Boat Show in order to have as many of their crew friends join them for the celebration and party.  Those of you who have enjoyed them as your charter yacht crew know of their love for charters all over the Caribbean, no just the Virgin Islands.  Here are their greets to all of you.  “Well, the Reggae music is still playing as we say goodbye to our repeat Christmas guests – the Johnson family , and we are now getting ready to pick up the next family tomorrow in the Grenadines.  The wind is blowing and it is great sailing weather.  This is our second year in a row to spend a three-day stay over Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & Boxing Day in Bequia.  It is wonderful to have the experience again this time with dear friends!  We unwrapped presents in the salon with the family and opened up our stockings. It is still amazing that Santa finds us in the middle of the ocean.  It was a very special morning with lots of laughs, music and delicious cuisine. We are really enjoying being based here this time of year and hope to be back after we cruise north for February through April.  This is a fantastic year for us chartering from the Virgins to Grenada, then back to Antigua, then to St. Martin,  and back to Tortola by Easter.  We wish everyone a wonderful New Year!  Cheers, Meredith & Jonny.”

Chris and Julie, from s/y Felicia just sent in their 2008 greetings to all of their friends, family and raving fans. Enjoy their summary of an exciting year…

We spent the majority of the season doing charters on Blu Moon, with some repeat and new guests.  In March, we flew to the Bahamas to look at a catamaran (many of you know that we’d been looking for a larger boat for several years) then back to Kansas to visit family and iron out the negotiations and purchase of the new boat, Yacht Felicia.  Following that, we flew back to the Virgin Islands, finished our season on Blu Moon, listed her for sale, and then we took her to Puerto Rico where she lays now in long term storage.  It remains a difficult thing for us to say goodbye to Blu Moon – she provided us with more than a home for 10 years – she provided safety and shelter, and a vehicle for us to meet many wonderful people. We’ll miss her.Once we took possession of Felicia, we sailed her straight to Trinidad, learning the systems and how to sail underway.  There’s only one yard currently in the Caribbean that can haul and store a boat of this size – and that’s Catamaran Village in Port of Spain, Trinidad.  When we arrived, we quickly organized some work to be done on our return and then we prepared her for the hurricane season.  Whew, if that wasn’t enough, we flew back to Kansas, where we stayed briefly with my parents in Leawood, picked up our two dogs, Mick and Hannah, and drove to Toronto, Canada where we picked up tickets for  Paris.   We chose this route to minimize the number of legs Mick and Hannah would have to fly.  What you do for your pets! Once in Paris, we drove to Southwest France, where we now live when we’re not chartering. Our summer in France was filled with catching up with our friends & neighbors, French and Ex-pats alike, and continuing a renovation project on our 250+ year-old stone farmhouse, La Tourderie.  This year’s main project included having a new tile roof built over both the old part of the house, and the new addition that we had built last summer.  The roof, which we had built in the traditional French style (exposed oak beams & Poplar backing boards)  preserved our original charpentes and turned out beautifully. We have three charpentes, which are A-frame-like structures that are the supporting trusses for the roof and are held together with wooden dowls.  It really is a piece of art.  Other projects for us there included organizing the start of our interior renovations – plumbing, plaster and electrics all have to be done.   We’ll be including a photo album in our next newsletter, as well as details on the progress of our new guest house – La Tourderie….that will hopefully be ready in 2010. 

As more crew Holiday greetings come in I will be adding them to this article so they can spread the good cheer to all of their family, friends and past guests.  And, here is my New Year wishes for all of you as we enter into 2009 with anticipations for a GREAT year.  “May the best of 2008 be the worst of 2009 for you and those you love!”   Please leave a comment with greetings to your favorite charter yacht crews.  I know they would love to hear from you, too.  Until next time, your Caribbean lifestyle detective is constantly on durty.

Flagship is actually the indispensible link between the charter yacht Crews and the charter vacation yacht Brokers.

Who is Flagship?  Flagship  was originally HomePort.  Then Flagship was purchased by the Virgin Islands Charter Yacht League in the late 1980′s, and has grown to be one of the premier clearing houses in the Caribbean.  Flagship, Inc. is operated, not by an owner, but by a volunteer Board of Governors comprised of working yacht owners and Captains. All members of the Board of Governors are members of the Virgin Islands Charter Yacht League  (VICL). VICL is a non-profit agency whose mission is to promote tourism in the Caribbean through promotion of crewed chartered yacht vacations.

What is a Clearinghouse?  A yacht clearinghouse is the primary link between you and the charter brokers. Your clearinghouse keeps your calendar along with the all the rate, specifications and other details about your yacht and your crew. We provide that information to the charter brokers. Think of us as your “on the spot” information services. We will distribute your information to charter yacht brokers on our two websites – one for in house details and one a non-contact source for brokers to use in marketing. We also keep your information up to date on Central Yacht Agent, Book A Yacht and the CDI Guide.

Flagship is also your secretarial and mail service. We track receipt of contracts and preference sheets and will fax or email to you (at no charge) regardless of your location. We offer faxes, photo copies, scanner, computers (with DSL or dial up for your laptop), telephones and filing of your electronic Notice of Departures/Arrivals for your US based pickups/dropoffs. Flagship stays current on all regulations that apply to YOUR business and make it our business to keep you on top of all current regulations in the USVI, BVI and down island. Our friendly staff is on hand to assist you with any information you need to help keep YOUR business professional and profitable.

Calendar Desk Functionality:  Our personnel strive to stay knowledgeable of our yachts, their accommodations and their crews. We maintain up-to-the-minute calendars on each yacht as well as current yacht and crew information sheets. Our information is only as current as what your provide us.

The Charter Owners/Crews would not be able to replace the services that Flagship provides them.  If they had to, it would require them adding an entire layer of staff, which would be cost prohibitive.  Flagship is managed by Sue Maki  and her amazing team of Josey and Elizabeth.  Please contact me if you have any further questions about Flagship, or if you would like to explore what it would be like to have your charter yacht become a member of this important service organization for the Owners/Crews of the charter yacht industry.

Recently I asked the Owners/Crew of s/v Three Moons, Randy and Shelly,  to write down their observations of what happens with a charter guest as they enter into the unfamiliar experience of a Caribbean charter yacht vacation.  Enjoy their response to my question.

So, let’s see if we can get into the mind of a first time charter yacht guest.  “I wonder if I will get sea sick during this vacation on a boat?  How much sunscreen will I need?  Will I really like being in such a small space for a week?  Do I need to be worried about safety issues – both on the boat and when I am ashore?  What about bug-bites?  Are the promotional photos really representative of the boat and the color of the water?  Do the fish bite if I get in the water?  What about sharks and barracuda?  Will I have enough to eat and drink, and will it be good food? I really hope I find the beautiful post card beaches, swaying palm trees, azure blue waters, some local culture and everything that embodies the “good life”.  But, will it really happen for me, or was this a bad choice for a vacation?”

The guests stayed over night at Secret Harbor Resort on Friday night, and they are now walking down the dock Saturday at noon at American Yacht Harbor, after eating breakfast at Molly Malone’s, and they see their crew for the first time.  “Well, they look friendly enough, but what is a Captain supposed to look like? They appear a bit young for this work.  WOW!  They really are nice and they even know my name.  I walked aboard our floating home for the next week, and they already have Tropical drinks waiting me.  I can’t believe they asked me to take off my shoes before I climbed on board.  Why did I buy “deck shoes” if I am required to be barefoot on the boat?  We have a brief crew meeting where the safety issues of a charter yacht are discussed and I learn where the life preservers are located.  This is very important information I need to remember.  And, I learn that whatever I want to happen on this vacation may really happen.  Another WOW!  I hope it does.

“Next, I have a tour of the boat and I am directed to my bedroom, and I am given instructions regarding the use of the toilet called a head.  I learn that the shower actually works, even though it is in the same space as the toilet.  I am actually surprised at how efficient space planning is on a yacht.  The storage locker for my clothes is pretty small for all the stuff I brought.  As I meander back up to the deck, what awaits me are some beautifully prepared appetizers before we shove off for Norman Island.  Another WOW!  I am being swept away with the reality that my Crew is taking all the vacation hassles away so I can just stay in the moment of Paradise for seven days. I haven’t taken my watch off yet, because it is always important to know what time it is.  I wonder where I will be able to read a book since the boat is always rocking?  Boy, I hope this vacation works out O.K.?

“What I am discovering within the first few hours is that the Caribbean Sea is allowing me to dump all of my typical daily “baggage” for just a few days.  I am starting to realize that there may be some remarkable thoughts that I will hang with for a moment or two during my Caribbean sailing adventure.  I didn’t realize that the need to feel cared for is such an important part of the experience I have been secretly craving,  since my “real world” expects ME to always do the caring.”

We, in the charter vacation industry understand this is not the typical vacation experience most people have.  AND… it is the one we deliver to each of our charter guests every moment of everyday.  In the past eleven years of having our charter yacht business, we’ve discovered that our guests are not just looking for the 5-star service and quality of a vacation.  They are actually looking to be more in the “moment” each day, and have an “extraordinary experience” of pampering and discovering new adventures during their time away from there personal rat race.  Anything less yields just the same old run-of-the-mill vacation where we’ve all said the following: “We went, we saw and we can check that one off our list.”   A really devoted charter yacht crew realizes the importance of having an awareness of what is going on around them without having to be told about anyone’s needs. A good charter is not complete without a crew that intuitively anticipates what you need before you realize that you need it, or even better, they know right before their guests even ask for something.

Here is what we deliver for every charter guest…the realization that your Crew is delivering an extraordinary experience, from their hearts, in order to create another raving fan for the Caribbean sailing experience.  99.9% of our guests say, “I didn’t expect it to be this nice!” Later on it’s another comment that we hear,  “Boy, you guys work hard, yet you make it look so easy”.  Or, “Wow! How did you find enough time to prepare an appetizer, meal and dessert like that when we were all out doing water sports together this afternoon?”  Other funny comments are: “Are you guys’ psychic?  As I got out of the water, you were there to hand me a towel and my favorite drink”.

We have to admit that some of our charters are just “vanilla” and others are “double decadent fudge chocolate” topped with a dose of pure joy.  We can honestly say after eleven years and hundreds of charter guests, we’ve only had two guests who really would have been happier at a resort or on a crowded cruise ship.  Lucky for us, we have had wonderful mentors in this business. Everyday we are part of a very large “village” of Crews from all different backgrounds, many different countries, many levels of experience,  who are willing to offer their advice and support. The collective commitment of all charter vacation Crews is to deliver to their charter guests the BEST experience of their entire life.  Extraordinary experiences are what makes a Caribbean charter yacht vacation so special.  Because of the experience we deliver to them each day, 80% of our charters are returning guests!  Most of our charters are now like “family reunions”.  We invite you to experience a transforming moment on a charter yacht vacation, too!  We have never found one person who wants a charter yacht vacation to end.  And all of our guests start planning when they can return for another unforgettable Caribbean sailing experience, before their charter vacation with us is even over!  It is very hard work.  There are times we are actually tired.  And, we love our charter career so much, that we can’t wait for our next guests to arrive, in what we call “Paradise”!   Fair winds until we meet again…and I know we will.   Captain Randy & Shelly Tucker - s/y Three Moons

The Boat Show is over, and today the Crews and a few of the Brokers started their day relaxing at the Yacht Haven Grande pool and some even moved the party on to Secret Harbor Resort beach.

Yes, there was an after-party today!  Many of the Crews have charters that start on Saturday, so they had one more day to relax before they started their provisioning details.  Since their yachts are all charter-ready, it gave them one more day to relax and enjoy the time off before their real work begins – six to seven months of hosting charter guests.  And, some of the Brokers are stay an extra day or two, since they are already on-island.  The day started pool-side at Yacht Haven Grande, and then transitioned in the afternoon to Secret Harbor.

Since many of the charters will be starting this Saturday at American Yacht Harbor, it made sense to move to the Red Hook side of the island for the rest of the after-party.  Secret Harbor is the perfect location for any party.  Even some floaties showed up so cocktails could be consumed while sunning in the water.  There even was some fun happening at the outdoor showers.

The sunset set with more goodbyes, and some were even planning on participating in Jonny and Meredith’s wedding tomorrow.  Remember them?  they are the adorable crew from s/y Conundrum.  Yes, they have been planning a wedding for months so it coincided with the Boat Show.  That way their family and friends could fly down for the wedding, and all of their very special Crew friends could join them, too.

The light started to dim and we watched another glorious Caribbean sunset.  The “Charter Gang” started to dispurse for the actual start of another very successful charter yacht season.  And, the mantra we talked about several times today that many are now going to post in their crew quarters to read each morning when they get up to face another day of customer service is;

“Today I will declare a commitment to a result that has no present evidence of possibilities.  Let’s make miracles happen today!”

Fari winds to all, as your Boat Show internet reporter signs off until November 8th – 11th, 2009 at next year’s VICL Boat Show!  Contact me  any time with updates on your adventures.  I will glad to post them for all to read.

Almost a year of planning, blood, sweat, and some tears went into producing one the best Boat Shows VICL has presented.  It takes an army of people and sponsors/ vendors to pull it off. A sincere thanks to all of them!

What a Boat Show!  Now for the list of “credits”.  I know there are many more contributors I may have missed.  If you are one of them, please contact  me  and I will be sure to add you to the list.  The Boat Show Stars were actually all the Crews and Yachts that dazzle our charter guest all season and make the Brokers proud of the businesses they are in.  The “Charter Life”  may not always be easy, but it is certainly fun and very satisfying when you see your clients’ smile from ear to ear because of the experience delivered to them on their most unforgettable vacation – a crewed yacht charter vacation in the Caribbean.  Fair winds to all of you.

Presenters & Honored Guests – In Order Of Appearance

• Erik Ackerson – VICL Director
• VICL Board of Directors:
• President Mike Calhoun…s/v Southern Comfort
• Vice President Franz Gradler…s/v Hanalei Bay
• Secretary Kevin Mare…s/v Instant Karma
• Vince Stracener…s/v Drumbeat 1
• Brian Johnson…s/v Sublime
• Gordon Monsen…s/v Liberte’
• Sue Maki, Gen.Mgr. Flagship – New Broker Seminars
• Charter Chef Ashley Lynn Hotchkiss
• Bill Canfield St Thomas Yacht Club
  Lt. Cmdr. Tim Grant U.S. Coast Guard
• Gov. John deJongh
• Lt. Gov. Gregory Francis
• Senator Louis Hill
• Commissioner of Tourism Beverly Nicholson Doty
• Lt. CMDR. Tim Grant – USCG
• Director Mel Vanterpool Homeland Security
• Mike Fitzsimmons (Maritime Law) 

Sponsors & Vendors

• Yacht Haven Grande
• Flagship
• Treasure Hunt Grand Prize – Donated By Owen & Mary – s/v Fidelity
• The Workbench Limited at Virgin Gorda Marina
• Frenchmen’s Reef Resort Hotel
• Budget Marine
• Hooters
• Premier Wine and Spirits
• Bad Ass Coffee
• Southern Trades
• V.I. Wine Wholesale
• Gourmet Gallery
• CharterPort – Boat Show’s Virtual Office
• The Real Estate Center
• Dolphin Cove Resort
• Fat Turtle
• Bellows International
• V.I. Dept. of Tourism
• Yacht Haven Grande
• ONDECK Racing
• Theodore Tunick and Company
• CYBA
• Paradise Point
• The Pirate’s Chest at Paradise Point
• Reefco
• Marshall Islands Yacht Registry
• A.H.Riise,
  Island Marine Outfitters
• Virgin Islands Canvas
• Custom Canvas and Sails, Inc.
• High Tech Water Sports
• The Pegasus Group
• Caribbean Islands Realty  - Internet Reporting

How about a traditional Caribbean/Hawaiian Luau as the final night’s celebration of this year’s Boat Show?  What a great night of old and new friends saying farewell!

 Bare feet, flip-flops, colorful shirts and dresses, and even some plastic leis!!!  ( I did hear some say they got “leid” at the Luau.  I am not quiet sure what they meant.)  The 2008 Boat Show’s final night of celebrations was highlighted by a sense of great accomplishment of the VICL Boat Show committee and Director Erik as the stars!  The ingredient for a GREAT party is good food, more than enough to drink, and awesome music.  Tonight has it all!

 The headline entertainment tonight was Ras Abijah & Friends!  The scoop on Abijah is a reggae voice with positive messages: modern and distinctive, but steeped in Reggae’s tradition, drawing on R&B, roots, soul and world flavors.  His international flair is an example of the flamenco-tinged musical influence of his music.  Jamaicans have given Abijah his moniker “Ambassador of Peace” for his work promoting One Love philosophies before thousands of Caribbean kids.  He has even performed at Harvard and Oxford Universities.

The real deal tonight was the fun relationships with the Crews and charter yacht Brokers as they expand their connections for the 2008-2009 charter season.  There are charter yachts whose season has been guaranteed because of their success at the VICL Boat Show.  In every industry the cream rises to the top, and this show had the best of the fleet as participants.  A quote that has stayed with me for years is…

 “Let my boat of life be light,  packed with only what I need – a homely place to stay and simple pleasures,  a few friends worth the name,  someone to love and someone to love me,  a cigar or two,  enough to eat and enough to wear,  and a little more than enough to drink,  for a thirst is a dangerous thing.”   – Jerome Klapka Jerome

This may be the mantra for many who are living the sailing life in the Caribbean.  It is such a pleasure to be a part of community that is supporting the success of the charter yacht vacation experience.  I look forward to my next time with all of the Crews and Brokers.  And…I have heard rumors that there is an after-the-Boat-Show pool party tomorrow at the Yacht Haven Grande swimming pool.  I assure you that the Crews are glad the focus is off of them, and they are excited to begin another charter season.  In my conversations with many of the Crews, they hope the Brokers enjoyed the previews of their “floating villas”.  My guess is you will hear from me tomorrow from the pool party…until then,  FAIR WINDS  as many of you are heading back to your homes and families.  What you have experienced with my articles regarding the Boat Show has only been from my eyes.  I welcome any other articles and photos that you may send to me and I will post them for the charter vacation yacht crowd to see.

Who says that the charter industry is just for the young energetic sailing entrepreneurs?  You are about to meet two crews still showing the charter industry that age and a young heart are still the best combo!

So, did you stop by and spend time with s/v Fidelity  and s/v Glory  at the show?  If not, before they leave the docks tomorrow, make sure you meet Captain David from s/v Glory and Captain Owen and Chef Mary from s/v Fidelity.  Bring a pad of paper and be prepared to glean some GREAT STUFF from these “old salt” crews that have contributed so much to the charter yacht industry over the years.

As I mentioned a couple of days ago, every charter yacht has a “story”, and Captain David Kummerle from s/v Glory is one of a kind.  He was born and raised in Mount Vernon, NY and grew up with boats.  After graduating from State University of New York in 1965, he moved to St. Croix “for a year or two”.  He taught high school there in science and art for nine years, SCUBA diving for two years, owned and operated several businesses.  Well, the two years have turned into over 40 years!

Within two years of moving to St. Croix, David bought a 30′ yawl as a bare hull. He completed the boat and logged more than 10,000 miles in the Caribbean. David then logged another 7000 miles racing and cruising a variety of his own and other people’s boats. “I know the United States and British Virgin Islands quite intimately” says David. “Besides printer’s ink, I guess I have boats and saltwater in my veins.”

David bought s/v Glory in 1987 as a home for him and his daughter with chartering as something to consider in the future.  Well his daughter grew up and moved away a new adventure of creating a charter yacht business was staring him the face, and he went for the gusto!  David’s reputation is as a “sailor’s sailor”.  Glory is a 3-PAX, and David is the Captain and the Chef.  Also, if you want to learn how to sail, this is the charter for you!  He is a Master sailing instructor, too.  David is probably one of the longest standing members of the Charter League and someone that all of can learn from.  Please meet him.  I promise you will enjoy every moment!

Then there is Captain Owen Jones and Chef Mary Jones of s/v Fidelity.  Even though Owen and Mary are member of “old salt” charter yacht society, you will be hard pressed to keep up with either of them.  So, I walk up to Owen and the second or third sentences out of his mouth was, “So, a man was telling his neighbor, “I just bought a new hearing aid.  It cost me $4,000, and its the state-of-the-art of hearing aids. It’s the best one I have ever had.”  So, the neighbor replied, “Really…what kind is it?”  The man said, “Twelve thirty!”   Do you now get a sense of what you are in for with Owen and Mary?  They have the warmest hearts, and they love to laugh.  Plus, they are incredible sailors and charter yacht owners.

Mary and Owen had been really quite ordinary people before deciding to live their dream of living the sailing life full time.  He was a university professor and Mary an employment manager at the same place of higher education. They retired and traveled the world for ten years with sailing as a major part of those adventures in the Caribbean and Mexico.

Mary and Owen now own s/v Fidelity, a Jeanneau Sun Odyssey 45.2, with the best of all configurations… three staterooms with three cabin-accessible heads. Over the past five years they have sailed her all over the British, U.S. and Spanish Virgin Islands as well as down-island through St. Maarten, Antigua, Montserrat and Dominica, and completing their island-chain sailing experience through St. Vincent and the Grenadines to Grenada.  Booking s/v Fidelity for charter vacation adventure is not to be missed.  You see, age is still in your mind and heart.  You have just met two crews that may be in the “old salt” charter yacht society, but you will never believe it by hanging with them for a day or a week. 

OK, so we all better get cleaned up and ready for the Hawaiian Luau awaiting us tonight on the great lawn of Yacht Haven Grande.  I learned that shoes are even optional.  Barefoot, or flip-flops are my choice of foot attire.  See you there!

Every charter yacht attending this Boat Show is quietly saying, “Pick me as your favorite charter yacht to promote to your charter guests who book vacations this next season!” 

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 it’s best possible condition.  And you will notice that the crews look very sharp in their charter yacht “uniforms”.   Some of the crews are new to this game called “a Boat Show”.  So, VICL Director Erik  and your Board of Directors took the time to provide each of the crews a suggested action list in preparation for a successful Boat Show.  Randy and Shelly from Three Moons  just passed this list on to me for your enjoyment.  You will not believe what each of the crews have gone through to make sure their yacht sparkles and shines.  Here is the crew’s suggested action list.

“First impressions at each Boat Show are critical.  One charter yacht show does not a successful season make; a bad show appearance can hurt you for this season and seasons to come!  Here are our best suggestions from years of preparing yachts for charter boat shows.  Your preparation will be the best investment you will make all year to the success of your business.” 

• 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 Broker 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. 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.

 Other General 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.
• Non-Stop 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 from just reading this memo.  And, the reason why all this work is done is so they can share the above beach with each of their delighted charter guests. I am off to interview more of the crews so stay tuned.  After that I believe I will be taking a nap by the pool until the Hawaiian Luau tonight.  Enjoy your afternoon!  Your VICL Boat Show detective remains on duty…