Our seven-day charter aboard Kelea was nothing short of spectacular. The catamaran was beautiful, comfortable, and impeccably maintained, but what truly made this trip exceptional was the outstanding captain and crew. Their genuine warmth, expert sailing, and impeccable service turned an amazing vacation into an unforgettable one.

Every day offered a perfect mix of relaxation and adventure. We explored multiple islands throughout the British Virgin Islands, snorkeled some of the clearest waters we’ve ever seen, discovered hidden beaches, and enjoyed breathtaking anchorages each evening. Visiting Necker Island was definitely a bucket-list experience and one of the highlights of the entire trip.

The crew anticipated every need before we even had to ask. They recommended incredible snorkeling spots, shared local knowledge about each island, kept everything running effortlessly, and somehow always seemed to know exactly what would make the day even better. The food, drinks, and overall hospitality were exceptional.

Waking up every morning to a new view, watching sunsets from the deck, and spending quality time with friends while sailing through paradise created memories we’ll never forget.

We left with incredible photos, amazing stories, and a strong desire to return. If you’re looking for a first-class sailing vacation in the BVI with an outstanding crew, Kelea is an easy five-star recommendation. We would book this trip again without hesitation.

Aaron Linker

Our week aboard Kelea in the British Virgin Islands exceeded every expectation. From the moment we stepped aboard, the captain and crew made us feel like family. Their hospitality, professionalism, and attention to every detail allowed us to completely relax and enjoy every minute of the trip.

Each day brought a new adventure as we island-hopped through the BVI, discovering secluded coves, pristine beaches, and some of the most beautiful water we’ve ever seen. One of the highlights was getting to explore Necker Island, which was an unforgettable experience and something we’ll be talking about for years.

The snorkeling was incredible, with crystal-clear water, vibrant coral reefs, and an abundance of tropical fish. Whether we were swimming, paddleboarding, enjoying sunset cocktails on deck, or simply taking in the scenery while sailing between islands, every day felt like something out of a postcard.

The crew consistently went above and beyond—from preparing delicious meals and drinks to making sure every excursion was seamless. Their knowledge of the islands and ability to customize the itinerary made the experience feel truly special.

If you’re considering a sailing vacation in the BVI, stop looking and book Kelea. It was one of the best vacations we’ve ever taken, and we can’t wait to come back.
Chip Clanton

We had such a great time. The oldest is buying a VERY small sail boat this month for his 30th. The youngest is also looking to join a boat club. The middle son is hooked on diving after his night dive with Jamie.  This trip was an incredible gift that brought us all together. Unforgettable and hard to surpass. We are hooked! 

Kelly Millerd

This was my first trip to the British Virgin Islands and Phil and Flo’s commitment to creating exceptional customer service was clear prior to our arrival for our trip with a Pre cruise questionnaire and asking clarifying questions about our dietary and drink needs. This was one of the first points of contact with the crew and it was clear from the outset that they both cared about the safety and comfort of their guest’s which made my wife and I very comfortable. Upon meeting Phil and Flo at the boat we were impressed with their preparation and planning for our trip which involved a variety of diet considerations and also levels of activity. Their personal understanding of the British Virgin Islands was apparent throughout the trip and afforded our group unique experiences on Saba Rock, Virgin Gorda and Anegada Island in particular where they had arranged for a personal tour of the island. The Anegada conch tour with their friend Sherwen provided us with a great tour explaining the history of the island and the conch.

Their tireless commitment to our trip and work to keep everyone comfortable would lead me to provide them with a 5/5 star review. Thanks for the opportunity to meet 2 wonderful people who provided a great experience that my wife and I will remember for a lifetime.

Best,
Josh

AMAZING! Chartered (King’s Ransom) for a week in celebration of my wife’s 50th birthday. We were 5 couples and 10 out of 10 of us had THE best vacation of our lives. The boat was unbelievable and terrific however what made the trip so incredible was the crew. Stefan, Chloe, Mags, and Autumn were outstanding. This was our first charter with crew so we did not know what to expect. The kindness, patience, skill, creativity, humor, and the level of service was simply fantastic. Every day was a new adventure of eating, swimming, snorkeling, boating, drinking, sometimes dancing, and visiting new locations and exploring the BVI’s. I personally had always shied away from having a crew. Boy was I wrong. Meeting these 4 individuals was an honor and such a pleasure and truly touch us all in such a way that we all feel like we made 4 new friends.

STRONGLY recommend this boat but more over this crew!

Texts from the guests after their charter aboard catamaran KELEA.

See the Actual Guest Comments that they penned to Capt. Phil and Chef Flo on catamaran KELEA, followed by the post-charter texts just above.

Yacht and crew were great. Autumn did an excellent job with the meals and Shawn was a great captain and dive master. Five out of five!
Grenadines was really awesome. Protected reefs provided for high quality snorkeling and diving.

SV Kelea was ample size and so fun! There were plenty of areas to hang out and chill. As well as the Lily pad that Capt Shawn attached to the back of the boat. We loved every where we went and had the time of our lives. 
I worked out every day with the foam roller and the yoga mat. We were able to snorkel, scuba and stand up paddle board. So fun!!!
Off the charts… Amazing!!!!
Shawn was very confident and in control. He was also relaxed and able to make us all comfortable.
Chef Autumn made one great meal after the next! Her cooking and baking was phenomenal. She truly made the trip special.
I would rate it a 10 on a 5 point scale. PHENOMENAL!!!

Shawn and Autumn made our week wonderful in every way!! The scuba diving lessons, finding the best snorkeling places, taking us on beautiful hikes, playing (and teaching) is Chess, and the BEST food ever!!! (Along with catering to some food allergies) We wouldn’t change a thing and will remember this week with great fondness! Thank you Shawn and Autumn!!

Shawn and Autumn went out of their way to cater to our groups taste prefs (Autumn made fantastic special gluten free meals for my wife every day). They found the best anchorages as well as tooking us on amazing hikes, snorkels and scuba dives! S/V Kelea is surprisingly stable and comfortable. Would highly recommend!

Going on Kelea was the most perfect week for me! Shawn and Autumn are really cool and nice and know all the good spots to customize the perfect experience. There are so many awesome activities (scuba, kitesurfing, snorkeling, hiking, fishing etc. etc.), the food is incredible and the boat itself is beautiful and really comfortable! Can’t recommend SV Kelea enough!

We have been coming to the BVI and French West Indies since the late 90’s. At last count we just completed our 9th trip, most recently on the ‘Kelea’ in the BVI’s. 

Our first trip was on an old Cat named the Last Fancy with a husband and wife that were owners/operators. We had the time of our life and we never realized that we did not know what we did not know – that is to say there were some mighty beautiful boats out there. We soon realized that we had to come back and charter a newer/bigger boat with more amenities. We did this numerous times and it seems that each boat was nicer and each crew was better than the last.

Our experience on Kelea was no different – from a mighty 65 footer that can cruise at 9+ knots to the beautiful salon of blonde woods and the largest galley I have ever seen. Because she can provision and hold so much we never had to stop and we wanted for absolutely nothing the entire week! And this was 8 passengers and 2 crew!

This leads me to the crew – Dan and Alli Shivone… As I mentioned we have had the privilege to have chartered some of the finest Cat’s in the Caribbean and thus experienced some of the best crews. I can categorically state without any hesitation that Dan and Alli were the best! It seemed that all of our personalities meshed perfectly from Alli’s bubbly and energetic persona to Dan’s down to business yet dry and quick wit. All this lent itself to not only a wonderful trip from their technical abilities but also their personal qualities that led to great discussions, fun games, superb dives and lots and lots of laughs! 

My wife and I highly recommend this boat but more importantly – this crew – for your dream vacation and the time of your life!

Rich and Lori K.
Chino Hills, CA

Dan and Alli Shivone did a spectacular job of hosting us on Kelea and I wanted you to know they made our trip very special! Please tell anybody that is considering a trip on Kelea that they will have a wonderful boat, the most talented captain and chef, and more importantly the nicest people one could ever hope to meet!