Category Archives: Destinations

What boats and yachts are HOT!

Sampling the finest Caribbean Gastronomy on your Luxury Yacht Charter

CariThe Caribbean is often described as the crossroads of the world, thanks to the trade winds that lead many from all over the world to the British Virgin Islands. History has seen a succession of conquerors and cultures pass, bringing with them many distinctive foods, flavours and styles of cookery that remain very popular today.  The Arawaks were followed by the Caribs, who saw explorers and sea captains knock on their door as they travelled in the search of the New World. Colonists, settlers and descendants of Spanish, Dutch, English and French origin brought with them their respective cultures and cuisines. The East Indian population left their mark on the local cuisine with their distinctive curries [Colombos}, condiments [Chutneys] and Roti, which remain present to this day.

The African Slave population brought many exotic foodstuffs, such as Okra and Yams, as well as many greens, beans and roots. These ingredients combined with their cooking techniques and seasonings created Creole cookery and famous dishes such as Gumbo, which can be found all over the Caribbean and southern United States. Whilst browsing the Internet, we came across a fantastic recipe on the Sugar Apple Blog for a Spicy Chicken and Sausage Gumbo, which we thought we would share with you. The combination of the holy trinity [Celery/Bell Pepper/ Onion] with the spice of the chilli pepper, smoky sausage and okra is a match made in heaven!

Spicy Caribbean Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
1 pound okra, cut into 1/4? slices
6 tablespoons cooking oil
1 large green bell pepper, cored, seeded and diced
2 stalks celery, diced
2 medium onions, peeled and diced
1 scotch bonnet or other hot pepper, minced (optional)
2 cloves garlic, peeled and minced
1 pound andouille sausage or smoked kielbasa, cut in half lengthways and cut crosswise into 1/2? slices
6 tomatoes, peeled, seeded and diced OR 2 tins diced tomatoes
4 cups chicken stock
1 bay leaf
5-6 sprigs fresh thyme
1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 teaspoon salt
2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs, trimmed of fat and cut into 1 1/2? cubes

Not much of a cook? Want your own private chef to cook you a taste of the Caribbean? Want to sample some of the best Caribbean cuisine on your own luxury yacht charter? We would love to make both of these things a reality and arrange an experience of a lifetime on a crewed catamaran, motor or sailboat. We have a great selection of boats for all budgets and one of our favourites this month is MOONSTONE, a 62ft Sunreef Catamaran with 4 fantastic cabins. There is no better way to enjoy her this Winter than to host a private dining event with close friends and family in her open-plan saloon. Accommodation is provided in 3 double en-suite cabins and a twin, which are decorated in a contemporary, yet classic style.

For more information on how to charter this yacht, please follow the link on the yacht and contact one of our senior brokers. Alternatively, send an email enquiry to [email protected]. Watch this space for more information on the Caribbean and which yachts to charter this Winter.

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Chartering a Crewed Catamaran in Jost Van Dyke, British Virgin Islands

The smallest of the four main islands of the British Virgin Islands, Jost Van Dyke is found roughly 5 miles northwest of Tortola. The island covers just 4 square miles and is home to just under 300 inhabitants. However, it is thought that government population figure could be too high; some citizens who actually live in St. Thomas may have been included in the last census.

Jost Van Dyke has been a popular destination for those seeking adventure for more than 400 years. A Dutch settler/pirate (the man after whom the island is named) settled and used the island as a base in the 17th century, but it did not become really popular with tourists until recently. The island only got electricity in 1991 and proper roads were introduced a few years later. There are no banks, and many businesses shut down completely in September and October.

Jost van Dyke is home to many fantastic beaches. White Bay, which is protected by a huge reef that extends out from the beach, is the perfect point for snorkeling and scuba-diving. The bay is also fantastic for dolphin and whale watching. From mid-January until the end of March, the humpback whale passes through the waters just off Jost Van Dyke as part of its annual migration patterns.

The most frequented point on the island is Great Harbour, which is one of the busiest ports in the BVI. Great Harbour is lined with many small bars and beach restaurants, of which Foxy’s Tiki Bar is undoubtedly the most famous.

Philicianno Callwood (a.k.a “Foxy”), is known for strumming his guitar and singing humorous songs every afternoon, and ensuring that everyone has a great time if they arrive at his establishment. Foxy’s is also well known for hosting fantastic parties late into the night on Halloween and New Year’s Eve (known on the island as “Old Year’s Night”).

The Soggy Dollar Bar, which is found in White Bay, is another very famous beach bar and the birthplace of the Painkiller. The Painkiller is a rum cocktail that contains a blend of Pusser’s Rum mixed with 4 parts pineapple juice, 1 part cream of coconut and 1 part orange juice, served over the rocks with a generous amount of fresh nutmeg.

One of our most popular yacht charters in the BVI is the Privilege 615 Catamaran JERI. This fantastic crewed catamaran offers accommodation for up to 8 guests in an exquisite Owners Suite and 3 luxurious Guest Cabins.

If you would like some advice and help in planning a trip to the BVI, please  have a look at our BVI yacht charter guide or send us an email to [email protected], where one of our Brokers would be delighted to assist you.

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Chartering a crewed Catamaran in Virgin Gorda, British Virgin Islands

Virgin Gorda is the third largest and the second most populated of the British Virgin Islands. The island is a well-known destination for romantic getaways and for relaxing holidays with friends and family. Christopher Columbus is said to have named the island “The Fat Virgin” because its profile on the horizon looked like a fat woman lying on her side. Whether this is true is still open for some debate.

The population of Virgin Gorda was only about 600 when American venture capitalist Laurence Rockefeller constructed the Rosewood Little Dix Bay resort in 1964. The resort is credited with establishing the tourism industry on the island, whose population now stands at over 3,200. Rosewood Little Dix Bay is a 4-diamond resort offering luxury villas and suites, an award winning spa and its own spectacular bay and beach. It is located near Spanish Town, the island’s capital city.

Although the pace of life can be slow on Virgin Gorda, the island provides the ideal blend of stunning scenery, good restaurants and plenty of activities and tourist attractions for those who have had enough of sunbathing on the beautiful white beaches.

The giant granite rock formations of the Baths, found in the south-west of the Island, are the biggest tourist attraction in the BVI. The rock pools and secret beaches found here are fascinating to explore and show evidence of the island’s volcanic origins.

This protected area also includes Devil’s Bay, a horseshoe shaped bay that is a 15-minute hike from the top of the Baths. Alternatively, hikers can take a second, more challenging path that involves climbing a series of ladders that scale the boulders. This is the perfect location for swimming, snorkeling and unwinding on some of the most beautiful beaches in the Caribbean.

Established in 1974, the 265-acre Gorda Peak National Park is also extremely popular. The park, which is the perfect example of Caribbean dry forest, contains a path leading up to the island’s highest point of 1,370 feet. Here you will find a wide variety of indigenous and exotic plants and an observation tower that offers panoramic views of some of the surrounding islands.

One yacht that is perfect for a romantic getaway in Virgin Gorda is the stunning Sun Odyssey 54 DS SAYANG. This crewed sailing yacht is hugely popular for honeymoon charters and ideal for sailing vacations and holidays around the Virgin Islands.

Please have a look at the 7-day BVI sailing itinerary on our website. If you would like some advice and help in planning a trip to the BVI, please send us an email to [email protected], where one of our Brokers would be delighted to assist you.

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Chartering a crewed Catamaran in Anegada, British Virgin Islands

Anegada, the second largest of the British Virgin Islands, is an extremely popular charter destination for snorkelers and scuba divers. As the only coral reef island in the Virgin Islands (the rest are all volcanic islands), Anegada is home to many rare species of marine life, including needlefish, stingrays, parrotfish and sea turtles. The island is also known for its famous rock iguana and beautiful fauna including wild orchids.

Anegada takes its name from the Spanish word for “drowned”. As it is not a volcanic island, Anegada is relatively flat and can be difficult to navigate by boat. At it’s highest it is just 26 feet above sea level. Before the advanced global tracking systems of the modern era, mariners often couldn’t see it and became trapped in the coral of Horseshoe Reef which, at eighteen miles long, is the largest barrier coral reef in the Caribbean and the fourth largest on earth.

Visitors can dive down to sunken ships or snorkel in the turquoise waters from one of the white, sandy beaches such as Loblolly Bay or Cow Wreck beach. Much of the island’s best marine life can be found among the wreckages of Spanish trading ships and British warships. Despite its size, Anegada is the most sparsely populated of the main islands; it is almost like having your own private beach.

After a long day soaking up the sun, many chose to dine at restaurants that serve fresh lobster. Often found in the deep waters off the North Drop, the locally caught lobster have a reputation as the best in the Caribbean.

Anegada is the perfect place to charter a yacht over the festive period. It is an island that really embraces the spirit and traditions of Christmas. The lighting of the biggest Christmas Tree in the BVI, with more than 15,000 lights, has become an annual event. The tree, which stands at 35 feet high, is lit on first Saturday evening of December each year as part of a cultural event that brings together the island’s community.

One yacht that would be perfect for friend and family charters in Anegada is CATSY, a fantastic Sunreef 62 Catamaran, who was voted as the Best Multihull Over 51 Feet at the 2011 Tortola Charter Yacht Show. She has plenty of living space and beautiful al fresco dining areas with stunning views of the Caribbean scenery.

You can find more information about Anegada yacht charters on our website. If you would like some advice and help in planning a trip to the BVI, please send us an email to [email protected], where one of our Brokers would be delighted to assist you.

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