Private boat, private captain in the U.S. Virgin Islands
Chartering a catamaran with captain to indulge in the U.S. Virgin Islands
The main sail and jib are up. The drizzle ceases, blue sky appears and the sun peeks out. We catch a northeast wind and immediately start whipping across the Caribbean Sea at nine-and-a-half knots.
It’s as if all the stars have aligned and captain Dunbar St. Cyr, flashing his brilliant white smile, can now declare: “And, we’re off.”
My wife and I are aboard a 48-foot-long catamaran called Smooth Operator, and in keeping with her name, the ride is indeed flawless and exhilarating.
In anticipation of this moment our sail-away party for two includes Sade’s 1984 hit Smooth Operator blaring on the sound system and glasses of champagne.
My wife and I decided on this Moorings sailing catamaran holiday because it’s the bespoke way to enjoy the U.S. Virgin Islands.
“A Moorings trip is for people who want to take their vacation to the next level,” says St. Cyr.
“People love being on the water and visiting islands of their choosing on their own schedule.”
Besides meeting St. Cyr and Smooth Operator at American Yacht Harbor in Redhook, St. Thomas, the itinerary has been totally left up to us.
Over the next four days, we can sail anywhere we want in the U.S. Virgin Islands, the smattering of 50 islands, islets and cays covering 133 square miles between Puerto Rico and the British Virgin Islands.
We vow to be completely spontaneous, gliding from one tropical experience to another.
That means snorkelling Christmas Cove at Great St. James island, lionfish lunch at dive beach bar Dinghy’s on Water Island, swimming to a sandbar off Watermelon Cay, paddle boarding to deserted beaches in Francis and Caneel bays on St. John and dining at Oceans in Cruz Bay to steel drum music.
It’s on that unnamed empty beach in Francis Bay where my wife and I shoot smug selfies, my wife does her best supermodel strut along the water’s edge and we lounge, starting out at the Caribbean and revel in how lucky we are to be in paradise via catamaran.
All the stops and activities are quintessentially Caribbean.
But, truth be told, my wife and I are most blissed out while lounging alone on the rope net of the catamaran, sails billowing overhead, sea rushing by underneath and the scenery a constant parade of blue sky, turquoise water and verdant islands. It’s freedom. It’s relaxing. It’s more Sade from the speakers and champagne in the glass.
Sleeping on a gently-rocking catamaran, hooked up to a mooring ball in a quiet bay is blissful too.
Moorings has hundreds of catamarans in exotic locales waiting to be rented by vacationers who either want to pilot the boat themselves or charter with a captain and even a chef.
Not wanting any responsibility beyond shameless indulgence, we opt for catamaran and captain.
To make it a selfishly romantic jaunt, we’re the only couple aboard this catamaran, which has four ensuite cabins and full kitchen.
We use the kitchen for breakfast, snacks and to keep the champagne cold, otherwise we discover beach bars for lunch and oceanfront restaurants for dinner.
The cost of a catamaran with captain is $1,600 a night, which can be split between three couples sharing.
To extend our holiday, our captain drops us off by catamaran at the luxurious Ritz-Carlton Hotel in St. Thomas for another day of decadent beach and pool time and another night dining on local catch of the day and sleeping in style.
Check out Moorings.com and RitzCarlton.com.