SEARCH

An Owner’s Trip

Posted on: March 30, 2010

An Owner’s Trip

Sarah and I just spent a wonderful week aboard Yes Dear with five good friends. We never seem to be able to travel with just the one bag each rule. We arrived at Beef Island with six duffle bags weighing 300 lbs of “stuff.” People sometimes wonder where are all the great “stuff” on the boat comes from….well now you know that we are the mules that haul it. Thanks goodness for Platinum American Airlines status and free baggage allowances.

 

 

 

 

Now to be fair, I have a problem with wanting Yes Dear to have the best toys and equipment of any of the charter boats in the BVI. So unlike most crews who beg their owners for things, Jody and Ian beg me to stop bringing so much “stuff” down, because they run out of room to store it. But I still slip a few items in the bags that don’t get prior approval. I am particularly fond of anything that goes in or under the water: so therefore we have a wide variety of water toys. My pride and joy is the Mambo. It is a wonderful two-seat pull toy with form fitting seats, back rests and side wings. Not liking the little round donuts that you have to hold onto for dear life before you are flung off skidding across the water, the Mambo can be an exciting fast ride . It can also be used for a leisurely ride if you want to see the island’s flora and fauna from the water.

 

 

 

When the Mambo is not being used for it’s intended purpose, it often sits on the trampoline and is a wonderful Barco-lounger type love seat for two…..great for a sailing seat, sipping cocktails, or star gazing at night.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We started our trip in the North Sound where Richard Branson was hosting his first annual Kite Jam www.bvikitejam.com. They had jumps and rails set up for some exciting flying. The next day we spent the morning with Yacht Shots doing a photo shoot of Year Dear under full sail for the website and a new broker brochure.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Anagada was next on our agenda….snorkeling at LobLolly and a lobster dinner on the beach. Could the day have been any better?

 

 

One of the perks of being an owner is Jody trying out new recipes on us. This trip was exceptional as she tried out many of her new spa menu possibilities. With more health concerns these days, we have been working on the idea of a Spa Sail. I love sauces and sugar – it’s one of my many downfalls. I was incredibly surprised at how fantastic the spa food was and filling. But then I should have known it would be fantastic….after all, it’s Jody’s cooking. Usually after spending a week on Yes Dear, I will get home and be three or four pounds heavier than when I left. However, this time we got home not having gained any weight, but we actually lost and LOVED the food.

 

 

 

   

In the ten years that we have been sailing the BVI, this was the worst weather that we have encountered. I was concerned that our guest’s trip would be ruined because of the rain. It was actually quite the opposite. We still went snorkeling and waterskiing and tubing and diving. The water is always warm and the rain cooled the outside air down just enough to be most comfortable.

 

 

 

 

 

We had one guest who was on this first trip on a boat. He had been telling his wife for 30 years that he couldn’t do a boat trip because he would get seasick. Len discovered that a patch and a catamaran are a good combination. He never felt sick and had a great time.

 

 

Ian has a knack for finding the perfect places to anchor Yes Dear….no swell and no chop.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Could we be any luckier to have the absolute best captain and incredible chef running Yes Dear? We know how lucky we are!