In the heart of the bustling Charter Yacht Show, the prestigious Concours de Chef and Tablescaping contests unfolded. The standards reached unprecedented heights, creating an atmosphere of culinary excellence that resonated throughout the yachting show. The theme for the competitions focused on global inspirations with an emphasis on sustainable products.
Every dish presented underwent rigorous scrutiny, not just for taste and presentation but for the innovative techniques and creativity employed by the participating chefs. The
panel of six judges, headed by Chef/Coordinator, Elizabeth Lee, composed of industry luminaries with discerning palates.
As the yachts cruise through international waters, the competition’s theme reflects a commitment to culinary diversity. From caviar-infused creations to molecular gastronomy marvels, every plate is a work of art designed to tantalize the taste buds of the judges, who also assessed the tablescaping designs.
The winners were crowned, between heavy rains and a crescendo of applause. The Concours de Chef again, solidified its reputation as a benchmark for culinary excellence in the yachting world.
YACHTS 160FT AND OVER S/V Asahi – Chef Nathan Clements M/Y Teleost – Chef Josh Bingham M/Y Triump – Chef Steve Love
YACHTS 126FT – 159FT N/Y Pavilion – Chef Nicolas Ott M/Y Milestones – Terry Gatewood M/Y Crossed Sabre – Chef Fernando Jeffrey
YACHTS 125FT AND UNDER S/Y Sylene – Chef Cloe Caillaud M/Y Top Shelf – Chef Edin Mujanovic S/Y Semper Fidelis – Chef Dulce Godoy
TABLESCAPING WINNER M/Y Project X – Paula Bosman
Samsara‘s Chef Sinead Finnigan
SAMSARA MENU French: Tartare of wild roe deer with golden beets, fresh horseradish & snail roe pain d’épice crisp with confit garlic foie gras & périgold truffle. Served with Dom Péringnon, 2010
Japanese: 49 degree poached halibut with a mousseline of orkney scallop imperial beluga caviar, carrot &star anise pur white miso sauce, wakame seawood oil. Cocktail: Honey& Yuzu Saketini
Antiguan: Fresh mango, hibiscus & lime,gluten-free coconut & almond genoise,banana leaf & chamomile flower sorbet,aged English Harbour rum caramel. Cocktail: English Harbour Jungle
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. The catch of a 20.8-pound dolphin fish (mahi-mahi) earned St. Thomas’ KJ Terry the Top Angler prize at the Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club’s Annual Dolphin Derby held on April 14. Fishing aboard the St. Thomas-based 26’ Prowler, Marlin Etc., with Captain Ryan Mertens at the helm, Terry caught his winning fish north of St. Thomas.
“We headed north knowing there would be big fish offshore. Our strategy was to look for big weed lines or frigate birds,” says Terry.
It was birds circling overhead that gave a clue to the 20.5-pound winning mahi below. The bite happened around 10 a.m. with a quick fight to put it in the boat, Terry says. After that, Mertens turned the Marlin Etc. to the east and the team continued trolling baited ballyhoo.
Terry’s catch was 34.2-pounds short of the 55-plus-pounds needed to win the top prize of $25,000, but he didn’t go home empty-handed.
In other awards, St. Thomas Hugo Prada earned the Second Place Angler prize with the catch of an 18.0-pound dolphin fish from aboard the Backlash, while fellow angler, Corey Pugh, reeled in the Third Place Angler award with his 17.0-pound catch.
VIGFC Dolphin Tournament 2024 L to R Terra Steuerwald and KJ Terry with 20.8-pound winning dolphinfish.
In total, 5 boats from St. Thomas and St. John fished the tournament, landing a total of 35 pounds of dolphin fish.
Personnel from the USVI Department of Planning and Natural Resources Division of Fish & Wildlife served as weighmasters.
An Awards Ceremony at IGY’s American Yacht Harbor Marina with music, pizza, and lots of camaraderie created the perfect end to this popular annual event. The tournament also proved a winning time for anglers and the public alike to learn about the USVI Reef Responsible Sustainable Seafood Initiative via an information table set up and staffed by St. Thomas/St. John Liaison, Nicole Greaux.
The Virgin Islands Game Fishing Club appreciates the sponsorship support from IGY’s American Yacht Harbor Marina and Cape Fear Spirits.
Looking ahead, the Club will host its Kid’s Fishing Tournament on October 5, and its Wahoo Windup on November 9, 2024.
A couple months ago I wrote a Top 10 about the different Bahamas island groups and my number one island was Eleuthera Island. This issue I want to do a Top 10 for Eleuthera Island itself, so you can see why I loved it so much.
Eleuthera Island is 110 miles long and only one to two miles wide for most of the island. To the east is the deep Atlantic Ocean and to the west the 20 foot, or less, sound. This makes aerial photos amazing with the indigo blue contrasting against the aquamarine separated by a thin strip of green.
Now lets get down to my Top 10 on Eleuthera Island!
10.Surfer’s Beach – In 1962 Ray Shilling discovered this surfing hot spot. It is located on the Atlantic side a third of the way from the northern tip of the island. While surfing is obviously the main draw at this beach, it is still a wonderful beach for the non-surfers out there. Plus, heading to Surfer’s Manor for fish tacos is not a bad way to pass the time.
Preacher’s Cave Entrance
9.Preacher’s Cave – While The Bahamas is riddled with caves, Preacher’s Cave is one of the most historical. English settlers coming from Bermuda shipwrecked on the Devil’s Backbone, a reef on the north end of the island, and lived in this large, open air cave for a year in 1647. If you want to take your boat across the north of the island from Spanish Wells and Harbour Island (both of which I will mention on this list) you will need a local guide to get through the Devil’s Backbone. Nearby you will also find Sapphire Blue Hole.
8.Governor’s Harbour – The capital of the island is Governor’s Harbour and it sits roughly in the middle of the island. On Friday nights this is the place to be on Eleuthera Island, because the music will be pumping and the food will be serving for Friday Night Fish Fry. Other sights are the beautiful gingerbread house library built in 1897 and the reputed ruins of the very first US consulate established in 1789.
Royal Island – Wreck – Cockpit
7.Royal Island – This is an island in the north part of Eleuthera Island to the west of Spanish Wells. It has a well protected harbor to anchor in and the island is home to several private residences ruins. The biggest draw for me was Egg Reef off the northwest corner and the shipwreck between Egg Island and Little Egg Island. Now only the bow of this wreck sits a couple feet above the surface, but back in the 80’s I was told much more of the vessel was out of the water and the local drug runners stored their goods here. The DEA knew drugs were being run through the area, but could never find them. Now we know why.
6.Harbour Island – Sitting on the northeast part of Eleuthera Harbour Island is renowned for its pink sand beach. While I found the pink to be more muted than expected, the island itself is quite wonderful and there is a reason people love to vacation on this island. I enjoyed riding my bike around town and even spent some time under the Sea Grape Tree limin’ (hanging out) with the locals.
Spanish Wells Graveyard
5.Spanish Wells – If you want to find just about the most perfect little island community, then Spanish Wells is the place for you. The settlers who shipwrecked eventually moved out of Preacher’s Cave and onto this small island 1000 feet or so from the main island. The island is extremely well maintained and the locals boost a lobster fleet that accounts for 90% of the country’s exports. On top of this Spanish Wells has great beaches and a palm tree park. The island got its name from the fact Spanish galleons stopped here to fill their water supply before the long journey back to Spain.
4.Alice Town – While this town is pleasant there is nothing overly amazing about it, but it is this high on my list because of what is around it. First off if you need all around protection for your boat, Hatchet Bay is exactly what you are looking for. Up the road Hatchet Bay Cave is a long cave you can explore. In order to go past the beginning you must have a flashlight and a swimsuit is a good idea to swim in the partial submerged lower section. The final site is Seahorse National Park where you will actually find seahorses in the clear salt pond among other creatures.
Randy and myself standing in Rock Sound Cave
3.Rock Sound – Down at the southern end of the island is the town of Rock Sound. I was lucky I happened to visit during the annual homecoming celebration and met some people who live elsewhere and came home for the weekend. Besides their friendship, they showed me the Ocean Hole in the middle of town that everyone swims in and Cathedral Cave. The cave is a large open air cave system with tree roots hanging from the ceiling where they poked through from above. They told me storied of the community riding out hurricanes in these caves when they were growing up.
2.Current Cut – Back at the north end of the island there is a narrow cut where all the water from the sound ebbs and flows through it. This causes the water to reach speeds of up to 10 knots. If you time it right you can snorkel Current Cut at those speeds. It is exhilarating! While you wait for the current or after your swim you can hang out on the beach that makes up the sand flats.
Glass Window – View from The Rocks
1.Glass Window – Even though Eleuthera Island is narrow, it gets even narrower at the Glass Window where there is a bridge over a small chasm showing off the color differences between the Atlantic Ocean and the Eleuthera Sound. When the seas are rough the waves crash through this chasm and into the sound. It is very dramatic and well worth a visit. In fact on Halloween Day of 1991 a wave hit the bridge so hard it moved it 11 feet and took it out of commission. Around the bridge you will also find blowholes, The Cow & The Bull rocks, and the Queen’s Bath.
Captain Shane and Chef Lily are in the Virgin Islands running charters while Lily daydreams of when Shane will take her to experience The Bahamas. Check out svGuidingLight on the web or social media to join their adventure.
“Don’t you get bored on your boat just lying in the sun and reading books all day?” That’s a question we often hear and it nicely shows the stereotypical perception landlubbers have of cruising life. On the contrary: the days are usually not long enough to fit everything we want to do on top of all we have to do aboard our floating home! So if you’re contemplating going cruising, but worried that it might be a boring lifestyle, this article should convince you otherwise…
In a nice anchorage with clear water the list of fun activities is endless: We’re happy to spend as much time as possible in the water snorkeling with fishy friends and exploring underwater. Scuba-diving, kayaking, SUP paddling, kitesurfing, windsurfing—there’s certainly something for you to do as well, depending on how sporty you are! Ashore yet another array of activities is beckoning: from leisurely beach walks via hiking or cycling to rock-climbing—with or without additional equipment there’s something fun to be done in most places.
A cruising boat is only a happy boat if it gets regular maintenance, so there’s basically always a long to-do list (best displayed in a prominent spot on a bright yellow post-it) to fend off boredom: engine, outboard, watermaker, sails—the possibilities (and need) to check, change, repair or improve is never-ending! On top of necessary tasks there are (at least on our boat) cosmetic issues that are usually far down on the to-do list waiting to be addressed in an hour of potential leisure: polishing stainless steel parts (on dry days outside) or wooden furniture (inside on rainy days) or cleaning the waterline (on hot days) and a dozen other little tasks.
Roxy painting. Photo By Birgit Hackl and Christian Feldbauer
Apart from these obvious activities, many cruisers specialize in creative skills: writing, blogging or vlogging only requires a laptop and a camera and with better internet connections it’s getting easier and easier to work online and upload even large files. Crocheting or knitting equipment is even less bulky and a sewing machine that’s primarily aboard to repair canvas can of course be used for more delicate projects as well. Language skills are always useful when traveling and there’s a whole array of online courses and apps available that make it easy to acquire a new language. Even if you can only communicate with basic vocabulary peppered with mistakes, don’t worry and just try: the locals will appreciate your efforts and you’ll find it easier to make friends and get insights into the culture of the place you’re visiting. Do you play an instrument or have you always wanted to do so and never found the time? Just bring it along–unless it’s a piano, then you might have to settle for an electric version. We have met many boats with guitars and ukuleles, but also a trumpet and even an accordion underway. Other hobbies require more equipment or a whole workshop, but can still fit aboard a tiny, floating home!
SY Liward carries microphones, an amplifier and loudspeakers along, so Steve can get cruisers and local musicians together for jam sessions to “Rock the dock” or “Rock the boat” wherever Steve and Lili go!
Our friend Sue used to make artful prints of people, animals and landscapes they encountered while traveling the world aboard their Halberg Rassy 43 SY Spruce. Now they have settled down and Sue gets to work on a much bigger scale. You can follow Spruce Ohlson on FB to see more of her art!
Me with my jewelry workshop. Photo By Birgit Hackl and Christian Feldbauer
The cruising lifestyle gave Roxy the opportunity to achieve a childhood goal of being a serious watercolor artist. She paints large landscapes en plein air from Sky Pond’s cockpit, dinghy or bow, exposed to the elements while capturing the light and atmosphere. https://www.instagram.com/roxypodlogar/
Whenever I’m in the mood to play with shiny things instead of mere words, Pitufa’s large salon table fills up with my Dremel drillpress and a whole array of accessories and tools to make necklaces, bracelets and earrings with black pearls. https://www.pitufa.at/pearls_august_23/
My partner Christian’s a geek and always loved programming. Three years ago he designed and built a multiplexer/navdata-gateway and over the time it turned into a fully-fledged product. Most days all he needs to work on his “Pitufino” www.pitufino.com is a laptop, but sometimes he puts up a complete electronic lab in Pitufa’s salon.
No matter how big your boat is or where your skills and interests lie, there’s bound to be a way to adjust your favorite pastime to your cruising lifestyle!
Saturday Concert Oponuhu. Photo By Birgit Hackl and Christian Feldbauer
Birgit and Christian have been sailing, playing, working and tinkering all-year-round for 12 years aboard their SY Pitufa. Check out their blog www.pitufa.at for more info or order their books on Amazon: “Sailing Towards the Horizon” is a travelbook about their adventures, “On Velvet Paws Towards the Horizon” is an homage to their ship’s cat and “Cruising Know-How” is a compilation of articles.
New opportunities for brokers and crews to connect including a return of the Yacht Hop, an elite new event space inaugurating the Harbor 360, and the rhythm of the U.S. Virgin Islands’ history and culture on display night and day. These features, plus the world-class venue of IGY’s Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas, four-time winner of the prestigious International Superyacht Marina of the Year title, make the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Associations (VIPCA)’s 2024 USVI Charter Yacht Show, set for November 8-11, 2024, one not to miss.
Register now!
Yachts that register (usviyachtshow.org/register/) by July 1, 2024, receive a 20% Early Bird discount. Plus, IGY Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas is offering a discounted berthing rate of $1.85 per foot per day from November 3 to 16 for any yachts that register and pay in full for the show by August 31, 2024.
Brokers can also register at usviyachtshow.org/register/. For brokers, registration is free for VIPCA members and offers additional annual benefits including a listing in the online directory (www.vipca.org/yacht-listing/broker) and support of VIPCA’s year-round work. Exclusive accommodation deals are available at Bluebeards (bluebeards.com) by booking by phone (1-340-774-1600) with promo code ‘VIPCA Yacht Show’. Bolongo Bay Beach Resort (bolongobay.com) is offering a 20% discount on reservations for the show using the reservation link: https://t.reservhotel.com/HyXZBJX0a.
“This is the annual event where new and returning brokers and crew meet, connect, and build relationships that can last years. In this 8th edition, we’re bringing back the ‘Yacht Hop’ with the exciting theme of ‘World Music’,” says Oriel Blake, VIPCA Executive Director.
IGY Marinas Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas – World-Class Yachting Venue
IGY’s Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas serves as an exceptional venue for the USVI Charter Yacht Show due to its prime location, world-class facilities, and renowned hospitality. The recently opened ‘floating’ Harbor 360, will host the broker’s business lounge, seminars, and show’s evening events including the Awards Ceremony.
“IGY’s Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas is proud to sponsor and host VIPCA’s USVI Charter Yacht Show, as the event aligns with our commitment to excellence in the yachting industry. This boutique-style event not only celebrates the finest in luxury charter yachts but also underscores our dedication to fostering meaningful connections and experiences within the global yachting community,” says Bert Fowles, vice president of marketing and sales for Fort Lauderdale, Florida-headquartered IGY Marinas.
Visitors and yacht crews can anticipate upgraded facilities, state-of-the-art amenities, diverse activities, and a variety of dining and shopping options at Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas.
Sponsors of the 2024 USVI Charter Yacht Show include the USVI Department of Tourism; Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas; IGY Marinas; Catamaran Central; the Gowrie Group representing Trawick and Cigna; Grey Goose, distributed by West Indies Company; Veuve Clicquot and Captain Morgan, distributed by Bellows International; VIYA Business Solutions; Cardow Jewelers; Yachtly; Rockvision; Moe’s Fresh Market; The Market; Maho Crew; Offshore Marine; Parts & Power Ltd., distributor of Northern Lights; Island Life Watersports; Seachange; the Charter Yacht Broker Association and Smart Life Farms.
VIPCA is a non-profit marine association dedicated to preserving, protecting, and promoting the charter yacht sector of the U.S. Virgin Islands marine industry. Its initiatives include offering membership benefits, promoting marine tourism, liaising with USVI, BVI, and PR to assist in cooperative efforts; seeking relevant official rulings from Customs and Border Protection (CBP); developing USVI marine infrastructure, including installation of vessel moorings now available at BoatyBall.com; and providing marine vocational training for USVI youth. VIPCA hosts two annual yacht shows, the USVI Charter Yacht Show at www.usviyachtshow.org and the Virgin Islands Boating Expo at www.vibe.vi. www.VIPCA.org
The perfect boat only exists in relation to its design criteria and its eventual use. That’s why the best details of a racing boat can be actual drawbacks on a cruising boat. This is why boats designed to circumnavigate look so different (in nearly every way) from racing boats.
For example: A racing boat needs, first and foremost, to be fast—but only strong enough to finish the race. Since a racing boat spends the highest percentage of its time on the wind, its speed-made-good to windward is of paramount importance.
Think about it. The length of the race is the must-do endurance goal. Contrast this to our very windy, very rough, 48 days out-of-sight-of-land in the vast Pacific during our fourth circ.
There’s a difference—a vast difference between hours and years.
I congratulated one Australian owner of a certain type of flimsy production boat that his keel wasn’t “grinning.” “She’s almost brand new,” he said, puzzled.
We sailed across the lower Indian Ocean together. Neither of us ran aground or stressed our vessels in any unusual way. Upon hauling out in Cape Town, he was horrified to see about an 18-inch-long crack in the forward hull-to-keel joint. The waves had literally been pounding the keel off as he sailed.
Oops.
Light is good, sure—but weak is dangerous.
Our $3,000 Wild Card was sloop-rigged. We sailed twice around the world aboard her.
A good cruising boat, on the other hand, needs to be able to survive a wide variety of weather conditions in safety and comfort. It also needs to be able to carry enough supplies to weekend or vacation aboard. Plus, dry decks allow for open hatches, which makes the entire boat more livable. And the ability to anchor in all conditions is of paramount importance.
The perfect boat to circumnavigate aboard must be, first and foremost, crew friendly for years on end. It also must be able to carry an enormous payload of provisions, supplies, spare parts, and fluids. Just the electrical needs are enormous—and growing daily. (Our Ganesh had nine solar cells during our third circ!)
Since a boat intended for circumnavigating almost never has to sail long distances on-the-wind, its windward ability mostly pertains to being able to beat off a lee shore in heavy weather. Thus, light air windward ability isn’t nearly as important as heavy air ability in big seas.
Boats that can claw off a lee shore have to be strong—as do boats that occasionally ground. Modern boats with wobbly, stick-on keels gobble up the race course in light airs; but often aren’t heavy, deep, strong, and directionally stable enough to claw off in adverse, breaking-wave conditions. Lee shores are a real danger and a fatal one if you can’t claw back out to sea. How often does this happen? Once a month? Once a year? Once a circumnavigation?
The better the skipper, the less it happens, but eventually all offshore sailors are faced with a deadly lee shore.
This, as much as anything, separates the men from the boys or the females from the girls. (Each year, more circumnavigating skippers are women—and my experience is that almost all of them are fine, fine sailors.)
Now, I love to race on boats with aft cockpits—especially offshore. Why? Because I can see the sails better, and most of the spray will sheet to loo’ard forward while going to windward.
However, while circumnavigating, we rarely sail to windward. Thus, amidship cockpits are actually drier and safer than many aft cockpits while, say, getting pooped in the Indian Ocean. (Pooped = cockpit filled up with water by the vessel being engulfed by a breaking sea over its transom. An important consideration? Yes. Ganesh was once pooped and had its cockpit filled every 40 seconds… for 28 hours!)
Amidship cockpits on boats over 40 feet allow for a spacious aft cabin, a spacious engine compartment accessible from two sides, and massive storage. Plus, the motion amidships is less than the hobby-horsing elevator ride fore and aft.
Let’s talk about tankage.
We use the half/thirds rule. We use 1/3 of our water in the first half of our passage and 1/3 of our water during the second half—and, thus, come in with 1/3 of our water as a realistic safety margin in case we get blown back out to sea at the last minute. We’ve found that if we’re reasonably careful, we only use three gallons a day offshore—and can, if extremely miserly, survive on half that. (We have two fresh water tanks. We also have a completely separate different ‘deck collection fresh water’ system with its own tank and faucet. Plus, we have a salt water pump on our galley. (Three faucets.)
Twice we sailed around the world with no watermaker. At one point in our first circ, we went four and a half months without taking water aboard—trapping it on deck instead. Currently we have a PUR unit that came with the boat. It makes 3 gallons an hour—and both myself or my wife can rebuild the damn thing blindfolded. (Yes, we can always get it to dribble some precious freshwater but only if we tear it to bits and loudly curse at its innards.)
We carry 120 gallons of diesel fuel. But that’s not all. We carry enough lube oil for two changes—and three lube filters. We carry enough 5-year coolant to fully replace the three gallons inside our engine—plus a separate gallon for topping off. We carry distilled water for our lead/acid batteries. Don’t forget transmission fluid!
Of course, fluids are heavy. As are hurricane anchors, cordage, Jordan Series drogues, and life rafts. And we purposely stow all this stuff amidships not at the ends.
Wild Card, our light Hughes 38, was dangerous offshore with its two anchors and 200 feet of 10mm chain forward on the bow—but she was a sweet sailer with all that stuff stowed below amidships.
Everyone knows that you shouldn’t carry excessive weight aboard—and that’s true—but it is often the placement of that weight that is really critical.
Weight at the ends of a yacht causes severe hobby-horsing, which increases wetted surface and destroys performance, especially to windward.
This is why we don’t have a wind generator or a tower-of-power aft—like the CT37 next to us did off Madagascar in a prolonged gale, when it flipped keel-up and we had a second cup of coffee and warm fresh bread from our gimballed oven.
Yes, we practice what we preach. We never crossed an ocean in Wild Card without bringing all our chain and anchors from forward and lashing them below to the mainmast base in the head.
Ketch rigs are almost non-existent these days. I agree they are inefficient, except while circumnavigating shorthanded. Our four working sails are small—jib, staysail, main, and mizzen—and our easily hoisted and doused mizzen staysail is nearly as large as our main. Sailing off the hook is easy with the mizzen—just push it to one side as you begin to make sternway in order to guarantee you’ll sail off on the tack desired. Yes, we can, and do, heave-to temporarily under mizzen alone.
Of course, we use the mizzen to dampen our roll in harbors with swells. We also use it to turn/angle our boat up to 25 degrees while at anchor. This often is the difference between rolling from rail-to-rail and barely rolling—especially if combined with a bridle. (We also have flopper-stoppers because I want to be able to comfortably anchor where almost no other yacht can.)
To sum up: Ketch rigs are often slow, especially to windward. I don’t recommend them to most people unless they intend to circumnavigate west-about when shorthanded—then they are utter magic.
We often drop the entire main and jog off under jig-and-jigger (jib and mizzen) safely and with full control in short lived gales. (In prolonged gales we hoist our storm trysail and in ultimate storms we consider our Jordan Series Drogue or our Paratech sea anchor.)
We love our ketch rig. The mizzen gives us a convenient place to put our radar (we took off the wind generator to reduce roll). Oh, and we have spreader lights, anchor lights, and deck lights on our mizzen as well. (Wanna understand how rough the Indian Ocean is? Well, we always leave with three sets of perfectly-sealed running lights, but often arrive in Cape Town with only one set still working. They tend to fail by height-above-water—with our bow bicolor the first to go and our masthead tricolor usually the last.)
It’s important to realize that almost all sailors eventually learn how to sail their vessel—usually somewhere around 20,000 miles into their circumnavigation. Thus, I can tell you how to sail Carlotta, Wild Card, or Ganesh in both light and heavy airs.
However, that doesn’t mean I know how to sail your boat. I can heave-to Ganesh in five minutes to survive 72 hours of 50-knot winds. However, I just hove-to a friend’s fin keel boat—and it took me almost two hours of playing with rudder, sheet, outhaul, halyard and topping lift before I got her to stop hunting and have zero forward speed. (Poke a damp paper towel underwater with a boat hook on the windward side. If the paper appears it is being magically sucked to windward into the breakers—that means your vessel is trimmed perfectly with no forereaching. Large scary waves will break behind and forward of you—but not upon you. If, however, the paper appears to quarter off at a 45-degree angle astern, we’re still fore-reaching and might be sailing out of the turbulence/slick that is taking the sting out of the seas.)
Many people think that you have a choice of three different displacement boats while circumnavigating—light, medium, and heavy. That’s not true because even the lightest racing yacht becomes a medium or medium-heavy displacement yacht when all the gear and provisions for circing are loaded aboard.
If you hang out in the Caribbean where provisions and spare parts are plentiful, your lightweight boat might only be slightly overweight while anchored off St. Barts—but by the time you emerge from the Panama Canal, it will weigh another 2,000 pounds or so.
And we haven’t even mentioned chafe. Rolling downwind for 30,000 miles is extremely hard on sails, running rigging, gear, and—most of all—humans.
Here’s just one example—normally, I buy the correct length jib sheets. While circumnavigating, however, I buy them 30 feet longer than needed so I can chop-off two feet every 1,500 ocean miles or so—to renew the area where my sheet goes through my spin pole jaws. (On our fourth circ I began using a snatch block outboard and low on the pole—and this greatly reduces chafe on the outboard sheet end.)
Basically, all the gear you need on a circ has to be robust. A California sailor whose boat is moored in Long Beach might be okay with his cheap electric autopilot lasting three years—which would translate into a single week of a 260-week circumnavigation.
This is why I have a robust Monitor windvane for use while under sail and also an hydraulically-operated ram on my electro autopilot—a unit designed and built for use on commercial fishing boats in Alaska. (Yes, it draws 12 amps but so what while the engine is running?)
To sum up—all boats are compromises. But if you circumnavigate-as-lifestyle, your life (and the life of your loved ones) will depend on your boat and its gear repeatedly. Many boats are designed and constructed to be dock queens—and, dollar-for-dollar, they are pretty-okay things to get drunk aboard while plugged into shore power.
Offshore vessels, however, are different. Mother Ocean is a harsh mistress—and if you refuse to learn basic seamanship, she kills you. (Not vengefully, just with utter and complete indifference.)
They have one of the largest-rated travel lifts at 150T in the English-speaking Caribbean. In June 2023, St. Kitts Marine Works Ltd. (SKMW) took delivery of a second 150T Marine Travelift 150. Both can lift vessels to 35’ wide and 120’ in length.
“We have days when 6 or 7 boats show up to haul. The yard is so big that it takes time to get to the spots further away. We purchased a second identical lift to have a quicker turnaround time with the boats. This quick turnaround is boosted even more with the forklift handling the smaller boats,” says Regiwell Francis, owner of SKMW, which is located on the western side of St. Kitts in Sandy Point Town, about 11 miles northwest of Basseterre.
Founded in 2000 by Francis, SKMW has developed a strong reputation for quality yacht work. Services include bottom painting, hull polishing, and waxing; painting, finishing, and varnishing; fiberglass and gelcoat; woodwork and carpentry, and pressure washing. Marine mechanics and electricians are available. The yard also hauls private and commercial vessels, with in-the-ground, anchored storage for hurricane season. The SKMW yard can store over 300 boats. www.skmw.net
Do you want to visit an island that feels like the Caribbean from 30-40 years ago with a Spanish flair? Then you want to head to the tiny island of Culebra, 20 miles east of Puerto Rico. Having been based in St Thomas for most of my 12+ year charter career, I have been to Culebra many, many times and I consistently say it is my favorite island in the Caribbean. Let’s dive into my top ten for the island of Culebra.
10.Downtown Culebra –
Make sure you temper your expectations when you read “downtown,” because the island is only 5 by 7 miles in size and the town is only a handful of streets. With that said, it is a great little town to walk around in. The central plaza and church are the highlight and everything seems to revolve around this area. Personally, I love the post office, because it has an old west feel to it. If you sail over in a boat most people anchor in the huge bay of Ensenada Honda on the east side of town. I personally find this bay to be bumpy a lot due to the trade winds and I prefer to anchor on the other side of town in Sardinas Bay. It is always calm and never crowded. You just have the ferry coming in several times a day.
9.Culebra Bridge –
The downtown area is divided by a natural canal that connects Ensenada Honda and Sardinas Bay. You would think you could go from one to the other easily, but the canal is fairly shallow and narrow. Plus there is a lift bridge you would have to deal with. The fun story of the bridge is that when it was built back in the day they had a dedication ceremony showing off the fact it was lifted up to let boats through the canal. Well that first time it got stuck and when they finally got someone out to get it back down they decided to never raise it again. It is fun jumping from the bridge into the canal below though.
On the southeast part of Culebra there is a bay behind a barrier reef that runs between Culebra and the tiny island of Pelá before it makes a 90 degree turn to the north. To get into this bay you have to head halfway into Puerto del Manglar before making an almost 180 degree turn around a shoal. Once inside Las Pelás Bay you will find a quiet anchorage with fantastic protection behind the reef…that is until the weekend when boats from Puerto Rico come to party.
7.Point Soldado Bay –
The southernmost bay on the west coast is protected from the easterly trade winds, but a swell seems to usually make it around Point Soldado making this a day time anchorage. That does not matter because snorkeling here is a delight due to the coral farm the university has set up to grow and study various corals.
Further up the west coast past town and Sardinas Bay there is a good overnight anchorage on either side of Point Tamarindo, depending on which way the swell is coming in. Here I have always found great snorkeling that has captured our attention every time I have been here. Beware the next bay to the south is called Bahia Tamarindo and you will get lots of flies due to the island dump, so stay in the anchorages on either side of Point Tamarindo Grande.
5.Luis Pena –
A mile west of Culebra is the small island of Luis Pena, which has been turned into a wildlife preserve. There are four anchorages around the island that provide “ok” to great protection. The snorkeling is spectacular all around the island and the northern anchorage has a beautiful small beach, although you must pay attention to the north swell at this anchorage.
4.Flamenco Beach –
Located on the north coast, this half moon shaped beach is a mile long and regularly is included in many top beaches list. The bay is somewhat protected and there are some food and drink vendor huts available. This is the one place on the island that can feel a bit crowded, but the beach is worth it. To add a bit of uniqueness, you will find two WW2 Sherman tanks on the beach. They are leftover artifacts from the period between 1939 and 1975 when the US Navy used the island as a gunnery range.
3.Restaurants –
You would not think that an island with a population of 1700 and lacking any resorts or hotels (you will mostly just find guest houses and cottages) would have a great restaurant scene, but you would be wrong. While the food is excellent at many restaurants on the island, they all are very low key as far as atmosphere, which fits right in with the island vibe as a whole. While Mamacitas has the biggest name recognition I feel the Dinghy Dock is the best on the island with Zaco’s Tacos a close second.
2.Dakity anchorage –
Located on the port side as you enter the large Ensenada Honda anchorage you will find a small anchorage behind a barrier reef. I have spent many nights here with absolutely nothing blocking the trade winds. Even when the winds are north of 20 knots the anchorage is flat calm and that breeze is so cool and refreshing. I always find interesting things to see when I snorkel here and the cut in the middle of the reef is very interesting to snorkel. This is one of my all time favorite anchorages due to the protection, quietness, and snorkeling.
1.Culebrita –
I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone that does not have Culebrita as their #1 destination around Culebra. This little island off the east coast of Culebra is a deserted gem. There are two anchorages to choose from. The western one offers better protection and snorkeling, but the north one is off the stunning Tortuga Beach which is a small version of Flamenco Beach minus the tanks and vendors. During the week you will be one of the only boats here, but during the weekend it can be overwhelmed with power boats from Puerto Rico and takes on a party atmosphere. If you walk to the far eastern end of the anchorage you will find a notch in the rocks that the swell comes crashing in as you sit in a pool of water that is called the Jacuzzi. A trip to Culebrita would not be complete without a hike up to the lighthouse, which was the last lighthouse built by the Spanish Empire in the Americas. The vantage gives you a spectacular view of the surrounding reefs and you can see St Thomas to the East.
Captain Shane and Lily are back in the Virgin Islands running charters after spending two years cruising the Greater Antilles and Central America. You can read all about them and their travels at svGuidingLight on the web or your favorite social media.
Like sea and shore, a partnership between one of the world’s largest yacht charter operations and a leading exclusively crewed term charter yacht management company, is a perfect combination. In September, Dream Yacht Worldwide, headquartered in Annapolis, MD, announced it was teaming up with U.S. Virgin Islands-based Paradise Yacht Management. Paradise will take over the recruitment, training, and management of crews for most of Deam Yacht’s fully crewed yachts in the Virgin Islands and Bahamas, while Dream Yacht focuses on marketing and distribution of the yachts.
What’s more, Dream Yacht will expand its fully crewed yacht product offerings by adding additional yacht models that are currently managed by Paradise. These include, for example, the Fountaine Pajot Samana 59 and Fountaine Pajot 80. Other catamarans available in the program include the Bali 5.4, Lagoon 51, Lagoon 55, and Lagoon 60.
“We are excited to have Paradise Yacht Management at our side as we increase our footprint in the crewed yacht market and move towards offering our guests an option for larger, more luxurious yachts than previously in our fleet. This step will also come with the opportunity to sell a wider variety of yachts into our yacht ownership programs and guarantee our owners a consistent top-tier service for their crewed yachts,” says Dan Lockyer, Dream Yacht’s Chief Commercial Officer.
This partnership with Dream Yacht is a great addition to Paradise’s pipeline of managed yachts, which will accelerate the company’s expansion into other parts of the Caribbean, according to Hank Hampton, co-founder and business development at Paradise Yacht Management. “As specialists in our industry segment of fully crewed term charter management, we are excited to service the Dream Yacht clients.” www.dreamyachtcharter.com, www.paradiseyachtmanagement.com
Test drive the latest experience in yacht buying at the first-annual Virgin Islands Boating Exhibition (VIBE). Set for May 10-12, 2024, at Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas, in the U.S. Virgin Islands and organized by the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association (VIPCA), the stage is set for this 2.0 boat show that combines an exclusive boutique ‘vibe’ in a tropical paradise destination all under the U.S. flag. It’s the perfect platform for the trailblazing main event: a chance to stroll the docks to see a curated showcase of new yachts and then take them for a test drive just beyond the marina in one of the world’s most spectacular cruising grounds. The secondary event is a Food and Wine Caribbean experience, producing an event unlike any other boat show. Already, Lagoon, Bali, and Fountaine Pajot are all on board as exhibitors.
“These yachts were built for crystal-clear turquoise waters and sun-drenched beaches, which is why America’s Caribbean Paradise is home to a flourishing charter yacht industry and why St. Thomas is the perfect backdrop for this boutique, luxurious, and intimate show. VIBE delivers a state-of-the-art yachting experience in a climate of Caribbean culture; it’s the first truly ‘destination-style’ boat show,” says Oriel Blake, Executive Director, VIPCA.
Lagoons on Display
Brand new 2024 Lagoons, featured by Lagoon Catamarans and the Caribe Yacht Group, will be on display at VIBE. These include the flagship Lagoon 77, also marketed as the Lagoon SEVENTY7, the Lagoon SIXTY7 power catamaran, and two new designs in the Lagoon 55 and Lagoon 51. These models have been shown globally, but VIBE will mark the first display of these vessels fully kitted out with luxury interior and exterior design elements, the latest toys, and a full crew. This means show attendees can get unique-to-VIBE a fully immersive experience on a test drive, whether soaking up the sights of St. Thomas and the Caribbean Sea on spacious comfortable flybridges outside, or inside through large vertical saloon windows.
“Lagoon catamarans are favored by both private owners and those interested in charter management due to their reputation for quality, comfort, and performance. Our yachts offer a combination of features and support that cater to a wide range of preferences and needs, making them a versatile choice for both private use and charter operations,” says Aurore Bordage, Fort Lauderdale, Florida-based marketing manager, Groupe Beneteau.
Since 1984, Lagoon has built over 7,000 catamarans from 40’ to 78’ LOA, underscoring the Bordeaux, France-headquartered manufacturer as a world leader in this market.
Luxe Vacation Experience Awaits
St. Thomas is known as a fine dining destination. Cutlass & Cane, the newest restaurant in Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas, is a superb example with its Michelin-worthy seafood menu, crafted mixology offerings, and opulent decor all set waterfront. Cutlass & Cane has partnered with VIBE to produce the show’s ‘Food & Wine Experience’ with lunch served from Noon to 3 p.m. including wine pairings daily. Tickets can be purchased as an add-on to any General Admission VIBE ticket and are included in VIP tickets. General Admission VIBE ticket sales start at $49 per day, plus the Food & Wine Experience add-on at $49.
“Our chefs have been formally educated and trained in some of the best restaurants all over the world, yet we are very much still Caribbean with a sophisticated, international flair,” says owner, Alafia Rawlins. “As such, dishes such as our Braised Oxtails and Caribbean Whelks (akin to l ‘escargot) and our local fish are some of our standouts.”
Strong show partnerships have translated into reduced room rates at some of St. Thomas’ top hotels and resorts such as the Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef; The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas; Margaritaville Vacation Club St. Thomas; and Bluebeards. This creates an opportunity for a luxurious vacation and boat show combined.
Perched on a peninsula overlooking the Charlotte Amalie harbor and the Caribbean Sea, the 2023-re-opened and fully re-imagined Westin Beach Resort & Spa is less than two miles by land or sea from VIBE’s venue at the Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas marina. This freshly refurbished hotel features the brand’s iconic Heavenly Bed, five diverse restaurants from American to Mediterranean and Asian Fusion, three ocean-view pools where you can cast a glance over to VIBE, and an adventure beach featuring a fleet of Hobie Cats, kayaks, standup paddleboards, beach toys, and snorkel gear to explore the surrounding sparkling Caribbean waters.
“Guests will also have access to the HeavenlySpa by Westin, a sanctuary of self-care offering the ultimate relaxation and pampering. The spa will feature 13 treatment rooms and a menu of signature health and wellness treatments. It’s a wonderful place for guests to enjoy a little rest and relaxation during the show,” says Jennifer Stromberg, marketing manager.
Room rates at the Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef are discounted by nearly 30% to US $445/night single or double, with a water shuttle servicing the five-minute distance to VIBE.
The Right Time & Place
It’s the right time and place for a next-level shake-up to standard boat sales shows. First, the growth in post-pandemic travel is fueling growth in global recreational boating to more than $44 billion by 2027, according to the January 2023-released report, Recreational Boating Global Market Report, by UK-headquartered The Business Research Company. Secondly, the Caribbean was one of the global regions with the fastest post-pandemic tourism recovery, and the U.S. Virgin Islands is at the forefront with a 44% increase in arrivals compared to 2019, according to statistics from the Caribbean Tourism Organization. Add to this that St. Thomas was named the Hottest Yachting Destination in the Caribbean in 2021 by Caribbean Journal.
That’s not all. The U.S. Virgin Islands offers a business-friendly environment for buying and selling yachts, thanks to its use of the U.S. dollar, U.S. banking institutions, and exclusive tax incentives. With no sales tax and duty-free allowances for vendors, the territory provides favorable conditions for conducting yacht transactions. Additionally, the well-established and highly successful charter industry in the USVI presents opportunities to speak directly with local company representatives about purchasing a vessel for income-producing crewed charters.
Sponsors of VIBE include the Government of the USVI and the USVI Department of Tourism.
To register for the Virgin Islands Boating Exposition (VIBE) visit www.vibe.vi. For information about the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association (VIPCA) visit www.vipca.org
ABOUT VIPCA
VIPCA is the territory’s non-profit marine association, whose purpose is to preserve, protect, and promote the charter yacht sector of the U.S. Virgin Islands marine industry and the businesses that sustain them. VIPCA’s focus is multi-faceted and includes offering membership benefits such as access to health insurance; sharing pertinent, timely industry updates and compliance guidance; producing a Marine Directory; promoting USVI marine charter tourism; liaising with USVI, BVI, and PR to assist in cooperative efforts; seeking relevant official rulings from Customs and Border Protection (CBP); developing USVI marine infrastructure, including installation of vessel moorings now available at BoatyBall.com; and providing marine vocational training for USVI youth under VIPCA’s charity, the Marine Rebuild Fund, which is fiscally sponsored by CFVI.net. VIPCA hosts two annual yacht shows, the USVI Charter Yacht Show www.usviyachtshow.org and the Virgin Islands Boating Expo www.vibe.vi. www.VIPCA.org
We’re always asked, “What is your favorite rum?” The answer is, “It depends.” There are so many variables to rum that it’s hard to recommend just one when someone asks us this question. Now, if someone asks, “Do you have a rum recommendation to buy my [boss, father-in-law, best friend…] there, we can definitely help.
Gosling Old Rum
Gosling is synonymous with Bermuda, Black Seal Rum and Dark ‘n Stormy®. The company’s Old Rum begins with their Black Seal Rum recipe, which uses a blend of pot still and continuous column stills. Old Rum is aged in charred oak barrels for 16-19 years. The aging provides a well-balanced, complex rum. to enjoy with a decadent dessert or simply watching a sunset. We found the nose smooth and silky, like a fine cognac, with notes of vanilla, dark chocolate, and cloves. Those notes continue on the palate, where cloves and pepper take over to provide a warm, lasting finish. $88/bottle
Ron Zacapa won top honors five years in a row (1998 – 2002) at the International Rum Festival in Miami and was officially retired from that competition. The uniqueness of Ron Zacapa comes from the Sistema Solera System blending rums from carefully selected casks with a multitude of flavors (bourbon, whiskey, cognac…), char, and age. This 23 rum is on the sweeter side with vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch. As you sip, the rum becomes more complex, adding honey, nutmeg, cinnamon, and ginger. The finish is a balance of sweet and earthy with a hit of warming spice. $84/bottle
Yes, we know Pussers is for making a Painkiller® but their Red Label is for sipping. Known as the “Single Malt of Rum, this 15-year-old rum is produced in Guyana from sugar cane grown in the Demerara River Valley. The company is one of the few producers in the world using a double wooden pot still, which imparts a deep, rich flavor to the rum. The nose is very sweet, with vanilla bean, sherry, brandy, caramel, and the charred barrel hiding in the background. Once on the palate, those charred notes take center stage with tobacco, dark chocolate, and cherry. The finish is smooth and lingers with florals and tropical fruit. $73/bottle
Diplomático, produced in Venezuela, combines high sugar content cane with their non-commercial yeast strain, three different distillation processes, and the diversity of aged barrels. The No 2 Barbet Rum, part of the Limited Edition Distillery Collection, uses the Barbet Still featuring two columns with plates of bubbling bells and two condensers providing refrigeration to help separate the alcohol from the other minor compounds produced in distillation. Cherry, orange peel, mango, papaya, green banana, and a slight hint of oak fill the senses. The tropical fruit basket continues on the palate with the oak trying to gain control. It’s not until the finish that the warming oak note compliments the fruit and leaves you wanting more. $82/bottle
About Clint and Terry: We have sampled many a dram over our 33 years of marriage and quite often we don’t fully agree. Could be the difference is male/female taste buds. Or, somebody is just wrong.
One of the Caribbean youngest, yet among the most active yacht clubs, started with the donation of a boat. An old, beat-up Hobie Cat, to be exact, tells John Whitsett, former commodore of the 2010-founded Petite Calivigny Yacht Club (PCYC), headquartered at Le Phare Bleu Marina on the south coast of Grenada. “Everyone pitched in to get it sailable. We made arrangements with local resorts to occasionally borrow their Hobie Cats so we could have a race or two.” Then in 2013, the founder of the Grenada Chocolate Company, David Friedman (Mott Green), unexpectedly and tragically died. “Mott Green was very ‘green’ in his organic beliefs and practices, which included delivering his organic chocolate bars to Carriacou via his Hobie Cat,” says Whitsett. “After his death, contact was made with his mother requesting what her plans might be for his Hobie Cat. Hearing that a struggling yacht club was interested in the boat, a use she was sure her son would have approved of, she offered to ‘sell’ Mott’s Hobie Cat to the Club for a next-to-nothing price. That was the start of the Club’s dinghy fleet.”
Every year since then, the PCYC has hosted its annual Motts Memorial Hobie Cat Challenge in July.
Selling a boat can take a long time and incur mounting expenses like marina dockage.
“If the boat is seaworthy and in good condition, why continue with the expenses when donating will probably result in a tax deduction? Also, the donor will be helping a nonprofit organization that develops sailing. It’s a win-win situation,” says Graham Castillo, president of the Puerto Rico Sailing Federation (PUR).
The Federation received a donation of a Morgan 30 in excellent condition a few years ago. It was auctioned by the organization with proceeds benefiting the National Sailing Sports Authority’s sailors.
Sometimes it’s all about recognizing a need.
St. Thomas’ Joe Hosie had been friends for years with the late Jimmy Loveland, who founded the Marine Vocational Program (MVP) on St. Thomas. Hosie saw Loveland’s devotion to teaching children and teens maritime skills.
“Jimmy mentioned to me his desire to have a power boat he could accommodate the trainers on, and he said he often thought my 28’ Cape Dory Open Fisherman was the perfect vessel for his needs,” says Hosie. “After a while, I realized I wasn’t using my boat much as there was too much growth accumulation on its hull. I remembered Jimmy’s need and request and decided to give it to him and help out with the kids.”
Those who want to donate their boat to a local sailing program should start by talking to the program manager or commodore of the yacht club, recommends Saskia Revelman, manager at the St. Maarten Yacht Club (SMYC). “Enough storage room and a goal for the boat is critical for the programs to think about before accepting the donation. We all know that owning a boat brings costs, in insurance and maintenance, so it is great to get a boat donated, but taking care of it in the long run is something to take into consideration.”
Revelman adds, “But see the possibilities as well. A donation might come suddenly and bring unexpected possibilities with it. A new boat, new input, and new stimulation for the sailors in the sailing school, and maybe even target a new group that you can include in your program.”
The SMYC recently received a donated Sun Fast 20 from the Kids at Sea Foundation and Maritime School of the West Indies. A Sun Fast 20 is a 20’ keelboat that’s easily accessible, stable, can hold 4 to 5 people, and is ideal for teaching sailing lessons. There is a fleet of 8 individually owned boats on the island that race together regularly.
SMYC Boat Donation. Courtesy SMY
Why Seek Donations – Receiving
One of the most important ingredients in obtaining a donation is showing a need.
“If someone is going to make a boat donation, they want to see the vessel put to good use. In addition, it helps to show sustainability. One doesn’t want to give something they have a history with to an organization that is barely hanging on and doesn’t have the funds to maintain the donation,” says PCYC’s Whitsett.
Since its original Hobie, the PCYC has had several additional dinghies and support boats donated. Some of these have come from Club members, some from residents who are moving, some from local businesses, and some from sailors who have either outgrown a boat or are just giving up sailing.
“Most of our donations have come from a phone call or a chance meeting and have been predominately for our junior program. The conversation line is usually ‘I see the kids out there practicing and I have an X that I am not using. If you can use it, it is at…You will need a truck (or trailer) to pick it up.’ “And that is it,” says Whitsett.
Most of the boats donated to the PCYC have been free with no paperwork required, while others have been very discounted prices and required a Bill of Sales that put a value on the boat, Whitsell says. “If the donation is large enough to justify insurance/and/or a registration, then a Bill of Sale is probably necessary.”
Donated Boat. Courtesy MVP
The Fine Print
Donating and/or receiving a donated boat can have legal requirements based on local laws.
“Potential donors make the offer. The boat must have a clean title and no liens. It must have a price or be appraised to generate the donation document that will get the boat’s title transferred to the organization that will then sell it, auction it, or use it as, for example, part of the educational assets if a sailing school,” says PUR’s Castillo.
The charitable organization should provide boat owners with a written acknowledgment of the donation. This acknowledgment should include details such as the date of the donation, a description of the boat, and a statement confirming whether you received any goods or services in exchange for the donation, says Leigh F. Goldman, Esq. of Goldman Law Offices in St. Thomas, who donated his time to assist with the MVP’s Cape Dory donation in 2016.
“In the US, donating a vessel to a charitable organization has specific tax implications, “ Goldman adds. “The tax forms you’ll need to complete and submit will depend on the value of the donated vessel and the specific circumstances of the donation. You should consult with a tax professional, or accountant experienced in charitable contributions to ensure that you complete the necessary forms correctly and maximize your tax benefits while complying with IRS regulations.”
In the end, the fine print and paperwork can be well worth it.
“Boat donations are very beneficial to developing yacht clubs, sailing clubs, and/or junior programs,” says PCYC’s Whitsett.
“We were looking for a way to increase our footprint. We have had a large increase in inquiries for charters in the Bahamas and this partnership with Cruise Abaco allows us to offer boutique charter experiences like in our other destinations – USVI, BVI, Florida, and Annapolis,” says Kirstie Palmer, Waypoints president. “This is a true partnership. The Cruise Abaco sales department will book charters, while Waypoints will manage the Waypoints-Cruise Abaco fleet calendar.”
Currently, there are 25 boats in the Waypoints-Cruise Abaco fleet.
In addition to bareboat charters, the company offers a unique concept called ‘Captained by Day, Bareboat by Night’. This offers a captain on board to sail the Bahamas during the day, making stops to swim and snorkel, who then leaves guests safely moored in a different settlement or secluded cove each evening. Waypoints – Cruise Abaco also offers day sails in the Bahamas with stops at the underwater parks to snorkel, island hop, and sightsee. Finally, the Waypoints-Cruise Abaco base is also the perfect location for those who want to learn to sail through the ASA sailing school. waypoints.com
There was a whole lot of sailing going on this past fall in the Bahamas and the Caribbean. First, Maria Torrijo and Fabien Bach, two of the world’s top sailing race management experts, taught Race Management Clinics in the Bahamas. The clinics were held ahead of the 2023 Fidelity Bahamas Optimist National Championship, with sailors from the Bahamas, USA, and the Cayman Islands competing and putting their newfound skills into practice.
Torrijo and Bach also visited St Vincent and the Grenadines, and Grenada to teach locally-based sailing coaches. In St Vincents, 13 club officials and sailors participated in the interactive courses, introducing topics such as course-laying, starting, and finishing sequences, scoring protocols, rules and penalties.
“It was such a great clinic and will raise our standard of competition to an international level,” said Vanessa Hadley, from the Vincy Sailing Club, in a release.
Bahamas Race Clinics. Photos Courtesy World Sailing
In Grenada, 16 attendees took part – including ten local Grenadian women – with the goal of teaching more local people to sail, gaining vocational qualifications for a career in the sailing industry, and acquiring the skills required to host international competitions in the islands.
Finally, Second Star Sailing in Antigua hosted the Women At The Helm Sailing Courses in Jolly Harbour the first week in November. The goal was to increase female participation and teach the skills required to skipper boats of all sizes.
Steering the Course will return for its third edition in 2024. For more information, visit www.sailing.org
It’s off the beaten charter path. The 62-square mile island of Barbuda, part of the twin-island state of Antigua and Barbuda, is some 30 miles north of Antigua. There are no marinas, no major supermarkets, and the population numbers less than 2,000. However, two Barbudian sisters, Alana and Althea Nedd, have established their business, Booyard Yacht Services, to make it easier for super yachts and charter yachts to visit.
“Barbuda is well on its way to becoming a must-see charter yacht destination because of the abundance of high-end development that is presently taking place on the island,” says Alana Nedd. “Sitting on the pristine Princess Diana beach, which is considered one of the best in the Caribbean, is the famous NOBU restaurant. Barbuda is also a great place for snorkeling, deep-sea diving, and sports fishing because of the island’s vast marine ecosystem. On the northern side of the island, you can find scenic caves. It’s a perfect setting for guests who are seeking the ultimate hiking experience.”
Services offered by Booyard Yacht Services include Customs and Immigration clearances for inbound and outbound yachts, land tours, land provisioning, concierge services, garbage disposal, and live steel band music by vessel request. In 2024, the Nedd sisters hope to offer safari tours and personalized picnic packages. Email: booyardyachting@gmail.com or Cell: (268) 717-4979
Sometimes fact is much better than fiction! This certainly will be true of the memoir Atlantic rower, Victor Mooney, will publish this year. Mooney visited Island Water World in St. Maarten in August to share his book plans to commemorate the 10th anniversary of his four-month-plus transatlantic row in a 24-foot Brazilian-built rowboat from Maspalomas, Grand Canaria, to St. Martin, FWI.
Victor Mooney. Courtesy Victor Mooney
As a sneak peek, Mooney lost 80 pounds of body weight along the way, and his Spirit of Malabo was damaged by a shark, the latter of which was refurbished by Island Water World and Custom Fit Marine during his stopover in St. Martin. He then continued his row, with stops in the British Virgin Islands, Puerto Rico, and the Dominican Republic. Mooney was hijacked by pirates in Haitian waters but recovered his boat in a multinational effort. The boat was sent to Miami, where RMK Merrill Stevens made repairs. Mooney finally arrived at New York’s Brooklyn Bridge on November 29, 2015, completing his mission to encourage voluntary HIV testing in memory of his brother who died of AIDS.
“I was grateful to return to St. Martin/Sint Maarten with my wife, for she is the Captain of the Spirit of Malabo. I hope this forthcoming book will inspire people from all walks of life to never give up and not to be afraid to dream,” says Mooney.
Victor Mooney visited Island Water World in August to share his book plans. Courtesy Victor Mooney
Mooney plans to launch his book on June 27, 2024, at the Sonesta Maho Beach Resort, Casino, and Spa with side events in St. Martin (FWI) and Anguilla. www.facebook.com/VictorJMooney/
Celebrate a half-century anniversary in the British Virgin Islands. Sunsail, a Clearwater, FL-headquartered world leader in yacht charters, is offering a special flotilla to mark this monumental occasion. Set for July 27 to August 3, 2024, the one-week charter features stops in Jost Van Dyke, the Baths in Virgin Gorda, and pirate-vibed Norman Island. Highlights include welcome drinks, a beach party, treasure hunting on Norman Island, and a prize-giving and final dinner. Prices for the BVI Flotilla start from $3750 for a Sunsail 41.9, 3 cabin, 2 head classic yacht. www.sunsail.com
Back in the 1990s, a leading charter company set up a small boat sailing experience in Antigua. It was very successful, but the property lease was eventually terminated. Among the equipment were ten Jeanneau 20’s in various states of repair. They were scattered all over Antigua with only two still in sailing condition.
“This was in 2004,” says Robbie Ferron, avid sailor and founder of the Budget Marine Group. “By a wide range of methods we managed to get the boats to St. Maarten. “A couple were sailed, some went on friendly large vessel decks, and most were towed. Once they were all in sailing condition, we rented them to tourists and also started racing them. Great racing happened over the next fifteen years.”
Everyone wants to sail one-designs, but usually, Caribbean buyers’ choices don’t result in a single vessel type, Ferron adds. “When you do manage to get that boat consistency right, the one design magic happens.”
The Jeanneaus were used for a range of competitive events including women’s regattas, match racing, weekend racing, and special events racing. The boats have swing keels with internal ballast which makes it possible to haul them on a trailer, but this does not affect their sailing performance. They are not planing race boats, so they are not ‘downwind flyers’. They do have a good ‘rocker’ so they tack very easily, which explains why they were perfect for high-level match racing.
“The boats were taken over by a foundation aimed at youth training but it ran into problems and as of June, sold 5 of the boats to private owners. The owners are all well-established sailing families and all six have agreed to keep the boats in their one-design configuration. So, the stage is set for a repeat of the long era of tight, competitive one-design racing combined with youth and adult training,” says Ferron.
St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands. There’s nothing like cruising a luxe new yacht through the Caribbean seas. Fulfill that dream by attending the Virgin Islands Boating Expo (VIBE), set for May 10-12, 2024. Book your tickets at vibe.vi/attend/. This exclusive boutique destination show, hosted by the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association (VIPCA), ticks the top three boxes of what yacht buyers today want in a 2.0 yacht sales experience: the ability to yacht shop, wine and dine, and stay and play, all in the extraordinary venue of Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas, four-time winner of International Superyacht Marina of the Year.
“We welcome our attendees, both the public and those flying into our award-winning destination, to visit with yacht dealers, manufacturers, exhibitors, and our local and global vendors. Experience the best of what the U.S. Virgin Islands offers on land and sea and shop for a yacht while you’re here,” says Joseph Boschulte, USVI Commissioner of Tourism.
YACHT SHOP
Take advantage of duty-free tax benefits when buying a yacht in the USVI. Additionally, the Government of the Virgin Islands supports infrastructure on shore to maintain charter business interests such as an Economic Development Commission Tax Incentive Program for charter yachts. Charter company professionals, financial companies, and Marine Expo vendors with global and local products will be on hand to talk about charter management opportunities in the USVI.
Find the latest models of top brands like Bali, Lagoon, Fountaine Pajot, Leopard, McConaghy, Azimut, and Boston Whaler, to name a few. Yacht buyers benefit from St. Thomas as a hub destination for transport ships delivering yachts from foreign manufacturing facilities. Walk the docks, tour the yachts, and meet the professional crew. Attendees receive a fully immersive experience on board, with the opportunity to test-sail directly from the show berth through the scenic Charlotte Amalie harbor to world-class cruising grounds.
“Teaming up with Waypoints Yacht Charters, our luxury yacht charter sister company, we will bring attendees a dynamic duo that not only meets but exceeds market expectations,” says Laurent Fabre, vice president of sales and marketing for Fort Lauderdale, FL-based Atlantic Cruising Yachts, which will feature two stunning Fountaine Pajot catamarans, the Aura 51 and Alegria 67. “Discover the epitome of luxury and performance as our Yacht Consultants unveil the revolutionary Fountaine Pajot Smart Electric propulsion system, designed to enhance the experience for private owners and elevate charter fleet operations.”
Daily yacht viewings combine with live music and cultural performances, starting with the Exhibitor’s Opening Ceremony & Reception on May 9, from 5-7 p.m.
WINE & DINE
VIBE and Cutlass & Cane, Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas’ newest restaurant, have partnered to produce a curated Food & Wine Experience, with lunch served daily from Noon-3 p.m. including wine pairings. Cutlass & Cane boasts a Michelin-worthy seafood and upscale Caribbean menu, plus crafted mixology offerings.
All attendees can also visit a variety of pop-up bars featuring many beverages distributed by West Indies Company, including St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands-made Mutiny Island Vodka, the world’s first and finest Island Vodka made from breadfruit and Caribbean rainwater, and St. Thomas-crafted Leatherback Brewing Company’s products, which offers craft beer made with Caribbean-grown ingredients.
Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas is home to over a half dozen restaurants offering several cuisines.
Getting to St. Thomas is easy! There are direct flights from the U.S. cities of Atlanta, Boston, Charlotte, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Newark, New York, Orlando, and Washington-Dulles. No passport is required to enter the U.S. Virgin Islands for U.S. Citizens. Yacht Haven Grande St. Thomas is a 15-minute drive across the beautifully historic Charlotte Amalie Waterfront from St. Thomas’ Cyril E. King Airport.
Strong show partnerships have translated into reduced room rates at some of St. Thomas’ top resorts, including the Westin Beach Resort & Spa at Frenchman’s Reef; The Ritz-Carlton, St. Thomas; Margaritaville Vacation Club St. Thomas; Bluebeards; and the Pink Palm Hotel. Discounted VIBE attendee rates are available at vibe.vi/accommodations/.
In February 2024, the U.S. Virgin Islands was nominated for Leading Beach Destination, Leading Destination, and Most Romantic Destination in the World Travel Awards. Miles of bays and beaches, a historic town that dates to the 1600s, fine dining, duty-free shopping, and much more make St. Thomas the ultimate vacation destination. Add to this that neighboring St. John, home of the Virgin Islands National Park, is a half-hour cruise away.
BOOK NOW!
Visit vibe.vi/attend to book tickets to attend VIBE 2024 now!
• General Admission: One-day General Admission VIBE tickets cost $49 per person, with children under age 12 free. This includes access to the marina for yacht viewings, the Marine Vendor Expo in Harbor360, and two free drinks.
Or purchase a 2-for-1 General Admission 3-day Ticket for $73.50 and bring a friend.
Or buy the VIP Admission 4-day ticket is $399 and includes the opening ceremony, priority yacht viewing, tickets to the Food & Wine Experience, plus champagne on arrival and VIP Lounge Access.
• Food & Wine Experience: This three-day experience is included in VIP tickets. Or purchase as an add-on to a General Admission VIBE ticket for $55 per day.
• Exhibitors Opening Ceremony & Reception: Pay only $99 per person. Includes cocktails, canapes, live music, and cultural performances.
For more information on VIBE 2024, visit www.vibe.vi. For information about the Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association (VIPCA) visit www.vipca.org
Photo: Fountaine Pajot Aura 51, Cruising World’s 2024 Boat of the Year. Courtesy Atlantic Cruising Yachts.
Yachts, especially superyachts, have a new friend in St. Lucia. Troy Blanchard, formerly manager of the world-class Marigot Bay Marina, is now the owner of Blanchard Yacht Services and a yacht agent for vessels arriving in all ports and anchorages on the island.
“Captains are usually concerned about the complexities of regional regulations and customs procedures. As a yacht agent, I am very familiar with the rules and regulations for entering the island ports, as well as the various taxes and fees associated with yacht operations. There is also the concern of VISA requirements for certain nationalities on yachts. By staying informed about these issues, I can assist my yacht clients avoid costly mistakes and ensure a smooth cruising experience,” says Blanchard, who brings over two decades of professional experience and a deep understanding of the marine industry to his new business.
In addition to Customs and Immigration clearance, Blanchard’s services also include airport transfers, access to high-end luxury transfers, private jet landing arrangements, provisioning, laundry, flower arrangements, marina dockage reservations, moorings for yachts at the Pitons, hotel, and restaurant reservations, fuel bunkering, helicopter rides/charters, brokerage services for parts and shipments, and island excursions.
The Caribbean superyacht marketplace is growing. There were an estimated 500 superyachts in the Caribbean over the last yacht charter season. Yet there are over 5,600 superyachts in the world, a figure that is growing quickly with record numbers of new-builds over the past three years and new builds that are larger and larger vessels.
“There is a huge opportunity for St. Lucia to grab a chunk of these yachts visiting the region. St. Lucia is frequently rated among the most beautiful islands in the world, with its breathtaking natural beauty, a diverse range of activities, and welcoming atmosphere and hospitable people, offering an unparalleled experience for those who choose to visit by yacht,” says Blanchard.
