The charter industry is in a constant state of change. The evolution over the past years has been at galactic speed!
Who would have ever imagined that a company would have the vision and money to fund the dream of a world class charter yacht racing company? Well, ONDECK has done just that. Last year they showed up to the VICL Boat Show in force
with race-ready Beneteau 40.7’s and created two match races a day for the charter Brokers and charter yacht Crews. They have showed up big-time again this year.
ONDECK has regatta racing yachts that can be chartered with a full crew so those novice race enthusiasts can participate in any one of the Caribbean Regattas and actually be part of the excitement as a crew member. They allow for the opportunities to develop your racing skills, match racing, and entering any or all of the Caribbean Regatta Series. You can imagine that I have enjoyed the conversations with the ONDECK crews, and the great concept they have created for serious yacht racers who don’t have the finances or time to own their own $2.5 million 
racing yacht. Today’s morning match race with the Boat Show guests dropped in $10 a person, and the winning yacht would split the pot. What a great idea! The competitive juices were boiling with the morning race crews.
I have raced in both the San Francisco Bay Winter Races and in several of the Heineken Regattas. Two more of the Caribbean Regattas that interest me are the International Rolex Regatta in St. Thomas. For 35 years, St. Thomas has been running this annual sailing 
regatta. It starts in March each year with three days of very competitive racing. The Antigua Sailing Week Regatta is now in its 42nd year. It is scheduled for the last week of April 2009. This event which started in 1967 with a handful of local yachts has grown to become one of the World’s premier regattas. More than 1,500 participants including Olympic, America’s Cup and round-the-world sailors in more than 200 boats pit their skills against one another in a fun and fierce contest in the waters around Antigua. Last year one of ONDECK’s chartered yachts took second place at Antigua Race Week! Be sure to sign up today for the thrill of your sailing life.
Another major change over the last ten+ years has been the growth of the catamaran fleet in the Caribbean. There are still an army of mono-hull purests, but for pure comfort for the charter guests who are not sailors, catamarans are the perfect yacht to see the Caribbean. Our friends, Captain Chris and Chef Julie, own the very popular s/v Blu Moon - a Beneteau 51. During the off-charter season 
they made the leap to a catamaran charter yacht s/v/ Felicia - a Privilege 65! ( If one is looking for a “turn key” charter yacht, it is for sale and you may want to check it out, and tell your sailing friends.)
At last year’s Boat Show I was rushing by s/v Blu Moon when I saw Chris and Julie rocking in their hammock. I immediately knew I wanted to get acquainted with this very relaxed and laid back couple. My instincts were correct. What has evolved is fun friendship with two top professionals in the charter industry.
They have owned and operated their charter yacht business for over eleven years and have been married for almost 25 years. They met in Kansas with another story of paths that would seem to have never crossed, but they did. Their favorite chartering area is the Spanish Virgin Islands. After 40 years of sailing in 
the Caribbean, I have still not been to the Spanish Virgins. Any time you get them talking about their favorite anchorages in the Spanish Virgins their eyes gleam and big smiles are plastered across their faces.
They sailed s/v Felicia up from Trinidad the last month completing the refit for the yacht. They completed it just before they arrived at the 2008 VICL Boat Show. They now have their “finger prints” all over their sparkling “floating villa” s/v Felicia. I just heard from Julie that they are getting rave reviews from all of you. If you haven’t stopped by yet, make sure you spend some time on their yacht. Contact me if you want more information!