Where to start? This was our first trip to the BVI’s. In total, we had a group of 15, of which 13 were first timers. This was a tandem trip—two yachts working together to accommodate our group. The two veterans in our group gave us a few pointers as to what to look for in regard to yacht selection but didn’t offer a lot in the way of guidance when it comes to selecting a crew. Let me be the first to say, you need both and, wow, did we luck out on both!
Let me start with the CATSY. She’s beautiful! Again, being our first trip, we don’t have a lot to go on but I can say without hesitation that we did not see a more beautiful yacht during our entire trip. She has a one-of-a-kind paint scheme and she’s beautifully appointed throughout. She has all of the water toys anyone could ask for and, with a bit of ingenuity, a unique toy our boys just loved (you’ll have to ask Mike about that one). The CATSY offers a spacious flybridge which is an absolute must-have if you’re scouting yachts. The flybridge allows you to sit up top shaded by the sun while enjoying the sail to your new destination. Down below, she has plenty of room to dine and lounge.
The only negative thing I can say about her is the two forward cabins can be a challenge for a couple to find themselves comfortable overnight. I’m not saying you can’t fit four couples but it would be a bit “snug” for those in the forward cabins. The aft cabins are spacious, well-appointed and offer plenty of storage space. The salon offers top-of-the-line finishes and plenty of space. This yacht is perfect for two couples and can easily accommodate two couples with a couple kids. While we were a group of 8 (2 couples, 4 kids), it was a challenge for the kids in the forward cabins.
The second part of the equation… CREW. Oh, where to begin with these two! Let’s start with their best character traits. First, Mike’s ability to handle any situation with a calm resolve and humble approach is truly remarkable. This is an attribute we all wish we had more of or surrounded ourselves with others that exhibited these traits more often. As for Jen, her infectious smile accompanied by her bubbly personality will make anyone feel right at home. From the moment we first met and boarded the CATSY, they put their best character traits in action.
Jen welcomed us as though we were long-time friends and Mike graciously gave us the ground rules while making us feel as though there really were no rules… this was our kingdom for a week. Before I go any further describing just how great these two are, there’s something that should be understood. The CATSY is one of the larger yachts in the BVI fleet. This is a crew of two that manages everything from docking, anchor setting, sailing, cooking, cleaning, entertaining and on and on. Somehow they make it all look easy (99% of the time anyway). These two are in constant motion but will always stop to answer a question, ask you if there’s anything you need, or what you want to do for the day—and they do it all with a smile.
I could go on for pages but no one will read that much so I’ll do my very best to scale this back.
The food, oh my gosh the food! Initially, we filled out our itinerary stating that we intended to eat several meals on the islands. After the first meal we realized that this was a huge mistake and changed the itinerary. Jen is an amazing cook and I’m not sure those words do it justice. Just one example—scrambled eggs. We’ve all had them, right? How do you make scrambled eggs any better than the next person? Well, try Jen’s! Ribs… truly amazing. Every dish prepared was excellent—Jen pays attention to every detail and combines flavors to make the perfect gourmet meal. If you’re lucky enough to book these two, I would highly recommend Chef Jen over any meal we ate on one of the islands.
While Jen is preparing amazing meals, cleaning cabins and assisting wherever needed, there’s “Mike the Butler.” Just kidding, but someone has to serve Jen’s cooking. Mike is an amazing captain and he got to know us well when it took all of 4 hours for one of our group to drop an iPhone to the bottom of the ocean. Without hesitation, Mike begins free diving and somehow finds the thing. This was just a precursor to Mike’s incredible ability to entertain. On a side note, we bookended the trip with another free dive for a missing fishing pole… which Mike also found.
As stated above, we had a large group with lots of kids and, every day, Mike found a way to entertain not only the kids but the entire group. And, again as stated above, doing all of this with a calm resolve, humble approach and “can-do” attitude. While being an excellent captain on a 62’ yacht, more impressively, the guy can make some serious drinks! He created concoctions that we had never heard of and they were all amazing. I had the opportunity to spend a few nights out back engaged in casual conversation with Mike and Jen and I can tell you that they are passionate about what they do. They are true entertainers!
If you want a true yacht experience with a five-star chef and a top-notch captain, look no further!
A truly memorable experience!
– Popelka & Barker Families