One of our recent June departures was a tandem charter made up of a the Captain-Only private crewed yacht, the 45′ Lagoon Catamaran Rapscallion, and a Moorings 52.4 Monohull Bareboat which was a perfect combination for this Family of 12.
The Matriarch of the Family, Sue, had been dreaming of doing a BVI charter with her two daughters, their husbands and five grandkids since she last chartered with her Family in 2009. Fast forward 16 years and her dream finally came true.
Yacht charter options that can accommodate 12 people comfortably in the BVI are limited. Originally, Sue reached out to us to charter a bareboat monohull (as she’s a true sailor) which her, her Skipper and her grandkids would stay aboard while her two daughters and their husbands would stay on land at a hotel, hoping to try and meet up with the bareboat around the islands. Because the logistics of that plan involved a lot of moving parts on a daily basis, instead, we were able to find an option that would allow the adult children to enjoy a relaxing vacation somewhat separate but still with the bareboat monohull where their kids spent maximum time with GrandSue. Captain Jamie Still and Rapscallion were the perfect addition and really made this highly anticipated Family vacation something everyone will talk about and remember forever.
One of the daughters said, “Captain Jamie Still and the Rapscallion were absolutely fantastic! Dreams came true when Captain Jamie agreed to tandem with a boat guided by my mom (lifelong sailor at 86), her skipper friend, and 5 grandchildren, all in their 20’s. Captain Jamie’s boat accommodated the daughters and our husbands and we had a deluxe experience. The kids could come over for meals or a break from the tighter quarters of the monohull. We loved all the sails and moorings! We really enjoyed prime snorkeling spots, quiet spots with isolation and beauty, contrasted with lively stops for dinners and drinks out. We really got the best of all worlds. Finally, Jamie’s daily video display of what the itinerary and timing would be, and communicating that information to everyone on WhatsApp, was super effective and allowed the parents to not have to coordinate everything. Jamie’s final thank you complete with maps, itineraries and photos was an unexpected treat! This was truly a dream trip, especially for our Matriarch who had been dreaming of this experience since 2009. Endless thank you’s!”
While this type of tandem charter is a bit unusual, the Captain-Only crewed charter paired really well with the bareboat monohull and allowed this family to make wonderful memories while all being together.
Captain Jamie Still is a highly experienced captain with over 15,000 miles of sea voyaging and sailing experience. He is known for his attention to detail, a commitment to safety, and excellent boat handling skills. Captain Jamie is a strong leader who puts the needs of his guests first, and he takes pride in providing a luxurious and memorable experience for everyone aboard. Operating as a Captain-Only crew, Jamie does provide concierge-type services for things like provision assistance, hassle-free coordination of excursions and reservations along with deep local knowledge of cruising grounds, exclusive snorkel spots and onshore activities. One of the daughters on this trip said this about Captain Jamie: “Though chartering the cat wasn’t in our original plan, thank goodness we found you and the Rapscallion. You’ve been super flexible and accommodating while also leading the way to some of the best spots in the BVI.”
Rapscallion is a Captain-Only crewed sailing catamaran in the British Virgin Islands with ample areas around the deck to enjoy the sun or shade including a u-shaped forward cockpit, large aft cockpit where you can enjoy al fresco dining and a flybridge with bench seating and padded sun beds. Inside, there are 3 fully air-conditioned queen cabins that include private on-suite heads with separate showers and can accommodate up to 6 guests.
While the options for barbeoat monohulls in the BVI are limited, there are still a few companies that charter them and the Moorings is one of them. The Moorings 52.4 Exclusive barbeoat monohull is a Beneteau design that couples comfortable livability with high-end sailing performance. The Exclusive model is 1-3 years old and is equipped with the latest yacht technology and upgrades along with 4 double en-suite cabins comfortably sleeping up to 8 guests with room for two more in the convertible salon.
