The Best Charter By Far - 2 previous BVI/USVI charters

My name is William and I wanted to share how wonderful our recent charter (June 6-13) was on the A3 with Kyle Bevan and Tiggy (Antigua) Steward.

Previously we’ve been on 2 charters (Caribbean Dream 2012 and Big Nauti 2021) to the BVI and USVI so we’re familiar with the experience and trip. We took our children (17 yr and 21 yr boys) on this sailing trip for the first time as well. Wesley, who also sailed on the previous trips, and her children (22yr and 25yr) made up the rest of our group of 7.

Kyle was a spectacular captain and participated in everything with unlimited enthusiasm and energy. I could not imagine a captain being more involved on a charter than Kyle was with all of us. Water sport activities, clearly communicating our plan and options for each day, hiking and snorkeling with us, and more – he did it all with tireless zeal and incredible attention to detail. We’ve had great experiences during our previous charters, but having Kyle as captain on the A3 made it exceptional.

Tiggy was a late crew change as chef and first mate on the A3. Likewise, she was awesome. The meals she prepared were delicious and beautiful in presentation. She was kind, enthusiastic, involved, and was a huge part in making it such an exceptional trip. She and Kyle worked so hard and made themselves available with constant positive attitudes and smiles.

We loved the A3 catamaran but it was Kyle and Tiggy that made the trip for everyone. Their efforts were such that I would recommend them to anyone and would happily have them lead us on another charter in the future. We’ve had great experiences chartering in the BVI and USVI but this was the best because of them.

Broker Review

Your overall star rating?:
5

How would you describe your yacht? Was the yacht comfortable and clean? Well ventilated? Sufficient Shade? Sufficient Space to relax?:
A3 was perfect in every way. Clean, comfortable, and perfect places to relax.

How would you describe your crew? Were they courteous? Helpful? Friendly? Attentive? Knowledgeable? Accompanied you on your activities/land excursions? Wore uniforms and acted professionally?:
Kyle and Robyn were amazing. They guided us throughout the week with different activities that were perfect for our family. They were so friendly and fun to hang out with.

Was the food great and well presented? Did the menus meet your expectations? Did your crew pay attention to your preference sheets?:
The food was incredible! Robyn spoiled us every day with delicious, beautifully presented food! And was super accommodating for some allergies on board.

How did you find the pace and the itinerary of your charter?
The pace was great. Our family likes to stay busy, and Kyle knew exactly what to do to help us have different adventures.

Additional comments about the yacht and the crew?:
I can’t brag enough on Kyle and Robyn. They went above and beyond to make the trip perfect.

Was it easy to travel to and from your yacht?:
Yes
Did you like the area you chartered in?:
Yes

It Was Perfection!

Your overall star rating?: 5

How would you describe your yacht? Was the yacht comfortable and clean? Well ventilated? Sufficient Shade? Sufficient Space to relax?:
The yacht was beautiful and comfortable- much more so than I expected! A variety of spots to be in the shade if wanted or in the sun. The bed was comfortable and the shower water hot! The yacht had great communal spaces to hang out in.

How would you describe your crew? Were they courteous? Helpful? Friendly? Attentive? Knowledgeable? Accompanied you on your activities/land excursions? Wore uniforms and acted professionally?:
Kyle and Robyn were AMAZING. They made the trip for us. We throughly enjoyed getting to know them, learning about sailing from their expertise, and getting to know the area based on their knowledge. They felt like a very natural extension of our group and we were sad to leave them at the end of our trip!

Was the food great and well presented? Did the menus meet your expectations? Did your crew pay attention to your preference sheets?:
The food was delicious! Robyn made the meals a surprise and we loved each and every one. She accommodated non-seafood eaters with a different protein which was very much appreciated. We were impressed with the variety of table scapes and beautiful presentation. No detail was overlooked.

How did you find the pace and the itinerary of your charter?:
The pace was perfect- we wanted to see a lot on a shorter charter and Kyle made it happen!

Additional comments about the yacht and the crew?:
Everything far exceeded our expectations. This was an incredible experience. We can’t thank Kyle and Robyn enough for such a wonderful trip. We will be back for sure!!

Was it easy to travel to and from your yacht?: Yes
Did you like the area you chartered in?: Yes

In the future, would you consider : Charter again, Book the same Yacht again, Follow the crew onto another yacht, Sail a different destination. Any additional thoughts about your charter experience?:
It was perfection!

Review

How would you describe your yacht? Was the yacht comfortable and clean? Well ventilated? Sufficient Shade? Sufficient Space to relax?
Our charter yacht was very comfortable – each cabin had its own bathroom and lots of storage space as well as plugs for electronics. The master, where we stayed, had a little desk as well. The flybridge was a lovely space that always had lots of shade, comfy seating and a cool breeze. The AC worked very well and we were very comfortable.

How would you describe your crew? Were they courteous? Helpful? Friendly? Attentive? Knowledgeable? Accompanied you on your activities/land excursions? Wore uniforms and acted professionally?
Captain Kyle and Chef Robyn were amazing! They were incredibly attentive and anticipated our needs. The Captain had a superb grasp of the area and history, and our nickname for him became Captain Siri because he was so knowledgeable and always had great answers to any of our questions. They were very professional and made this a great experience for us.

Was the food great and well presented? Did the menus meet your expectations? Did your crew pay attention to your preference sheets?
The food was delicious, Chef Robyn did a great job incorporating our preferences and each plate and table setting (which changed every meal) was impeccable. You can tell she takes great care in her work and we benefitted immensely.

How did you find the pace and the itinerary of your charter?
Every day was fantastic.

Additional comments about the yacht and the crew?
This was a perfect experience, and all guests said it was one of their best vacations ever. We cannot say enough about how awesome our crew was – they made this so special and memorable for us.

Was it easy to travel to and from your yacht?
Yes
Did you like the area you chartered in?
Yes

One Of The Best Crews

Kyle and Robyn were undoubtedly one of the best crews we have ever had and we have chartered over 20 times.
They were new to their yacht but worked together like a well-oiled machine. They were so competent, professional, and knowledgeable. But most of all they were such delightful people. I cried when we left.

The anchorages were wonderful and my husband’s diving was also superb. I got to snorkel wonderful spots every day. I was in heaven. One of the best trips we have ever had.

-Fran

Outstanding!

The trip was outstanding.
Captain Kyle and First Mate/Chef Robyn were all anyone could have expected from a crew. They were both so friendly and accommodating of every wish we had. Robyn’s attention to detail in preparing every meal was truly outstanding. The itinerary was as good as it could have been given the 7-days, but I wish we could have stayed another week to see more destinations in the BVI, which has so many places we could have stopped at.
Donald

One Of Our Favorites!

We booked a trip to BVI. Our captain and First Mate Kyle and Robyn were absolutely amazing. They were both friendly, accommodating, fun to be around, professional and made our vacation spectacular. The scuba diving was wonderful. The snorkeling was amazing as well. The food was delicious at every single meal. I ate and drank more on this vacation than I have at any other.
Everything was well organized and professional from the time I booked to the time I walked off the boat. Thank you for a wonderful vacation!
Can honestly say it was one of my favorites!

Bob and Christina B.

Well Beyond Expectations

I recently tasked my broker to find a last minute charter for myself and my 3 teenage children. He provided me with 3 exceptional catamarans to choose from and worked tirelessly to meet my family’s needs.
With his help I chose the 56’ Lagoon ‘A3’. Captain Jake and First Mate Maia from ‘A3’were exceptional in every way. Captain Jake provided an outstanding itinerary that included 6 days of cruising to the best spots in the BVI. Our floating home for the week was perfectly maintained and fully equipped with everything needed to enjoy the islands.

First Mate Maia’s hospitality was well beyond our expectations. Every meal onboard was made from scratch including fresh baked focaccia for grilled Chicken and Mozzarella paninis.

I can honestly say that after many years of chartering sailing yachts I have never experienced such a high level of hospitality, service and professionalism as I did on Captain Jake’s and Maia’s ‘A3’.

Tim

We're Still On Cloud 9!

It’s been a week since our return from a fantastic trip on A3 with Jake and Maia, and our group is still on Cloud 9! We can’t stop sharing the experience with our friends – accompanied with great stories and photos.

Personally, I’ve logged over 110 nights on charters, both bareboat, a few with a skipper, and two trips with a cook. Destinations include BVI (5), USVI, Windwards (2), Bahamas, Greece (3), Italy, and Croatia. All have been great, but nothing compares to A3 and the wonderful crew of Jake and Maia! Two other couples have been with us for most of those trips, and they too were astounded by this trip. Our newbie couple are now completely spoiled and thought all sailtrips were like this one.

Jake was professional from the get-go, starting with a safety briefing as soon as we were underway. He got us where we wanted to go, listened to a couple of my suggestions, and offered some of his own. Boat toys were always ready, and he kept A3 in top condition. Jake pitched in during meal service, and, of course, with great drink concoctions. He served as dive master for one of our friends, who was very impressed with Jake’s skill under the water.

Maia absolutely blew us away with her food in preparation, style, contents, and presentation! How did she do that in A3’s galley? And how great was it that A3 had all the food storage space for Maia’s three meals a day? I think she started with 144 eggs! That gal does far more than cook! The table presentation was a piece of art, with decorations, different placemats, candles, and lights. And then she presented the meal…Oh My! I’ve been on over 50 cruise ships, Maia’s meals beat them all. Dressings and sauces made from scratch, fresh baked bread, flaming deserts, fantastic fruit plates. Her culinary skills are unbelievable.

&Beyond Yacht Charters is very lucky to have such a great boat as A3 in their fleet, accompanied by the wonderful crew of Maia and Jake. Hold ’em tight, give them praise, don’t let them go, they do your proud! They are A Number One, on A3. Debbie and I are counting down the days until we are sailing on A3 again. Is it June yet?
Jock H.

Unforgettable First Class Vacation

We had a fantastic vacation adventure on the beautiful A3 with Captain Jake and Chef Maia. My husband and I have sailed all over the world and the A3 is, hands down, the best lay out, most comfortable and super luxurious boat we have chartered. The spacious berths with a queen sized bed and access on each side was an unexpected plus. We enjoyed the multiple comfy cushioned seating areas with access to near by refrigerators filled with beverages.

We were very impressed with Captain Jake and had total confidence in his abilities not only as a superb captain but as a professional dive master. He made sure our itinerary was both active and relaxing. He was easy going and fun but also very professional and you knew his top priority was to provide the best experience for his guests. And, his speciality drinks were a big hit with our group!

Chef Maia stole the show with her beautiful presentation of her from-scratch, delicious gourmet meals. She was warm and friendly and always had everything under control. We were amazed at her expertise and creativity in the meal planning and execution. The attention to details and service was top notch.

We would highly recommend the A3 and crew Jake and Maia for an unforgettable first class vacation experience.
We can’t wait to go again!
Diane D.