All posts by yatesyachts

Our Story

Changes In Altitudes

Chapter One: If I Had a Boat

“You lived on a sailboat for 10 years in the Caribbean?”

Yes. What was supposed to be a 2-year “sea-battical” turned into 10 years of exploring and expletives, happiness and hurricanes, joy and tears, new friends, and many hilarious and harrowing adventures. Bill and I were married in 1979 and lived in Steamboat Springs, Colorado for over 13 years. I was raised on Long Island Sound in Connecticut, and while I loved skiing and hiking and biking in the Rockies, I missed the sea.

Every vacation involved water. One fateful trip to St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands, found us “boat-sitting” on a day sail yacht called BALTHAZAR, offering excursions out of Caneel Bay Resort. It was probably night #2 of living on board that we realized this is what we want to do. Live on a sailboat in the Caribbean. (Thank you Captain Pink!). When we returned home, our subscriptions to POWDER and SKI Magazine were replaced by CRUISING WORLD and SAIL Magazines, along with how to fix a diesel engine. We began to plot our escape.

With ups and downs in the economy, it took us 8 years to save enough money, sell our home, our cars, furniture, and the kids (kidding. No kids). We couldn’t wait to quote Lyle Lovett: “Kiss my ass I bought a boat, I’m going out to sea!”, but we liked our bosses too much, and burning bridges wasn’t our style. Thanks to Bill’s tireless research, and our many trips to boat yards and sailboat shows, we found our boat exactly where the dream started in St. John. This stroke of luck surely saved our lives. An extended offshore cruise was far beyond our expertise.

We re-named our 43-foot C&C Landfall sailboat FOUR POINTS, after a popular meeting place on Steamboat’s ski mountain. It was always great to have someone spy her stern and shout out, “Hey! How’d you get her down the Yampa River?” FOUR POINTS was just what we wanted. Center cockpit. Centerline queen bed in the master cabin. A separate shower stall in the head. A spacious vee berth for our visitors. U-shaped galley. Sold! We moved aboard, and the stars in our eyes quickly clouded over.

We found saltwater in the engine room. Corroded wiring. Sails on their last legs, and a starter that didn’t want to. In our quest for the perfect liveaboard, we forgot to kick the tires and look under the hood. We also failed to ask for a sea trial. Sea trial? We were entitled to a sea trial? Dumb and dumber. It wasn’t a week after we moved on board that things started getting interesting…

Cuisine, Scuba Diving, Special Offers, Watersports

Save $3,975 On The Big Dog

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Charter this 62-foot catamaran and save almost $4,000. This special rate is based on 8 guests chartering the yacht for 7 nights before March 7, 2015. Your queen cabin features a private bath, flatscreen TV, Apple TV and sound system. Your hosts are Capt. Michael and Chef Steph who specializes in Mediterranean cuisine and whose cookies and baked goods are sure to please! Contact Sherry Yates toll free at 866-994-7245 for more details.

Cuisine, Scuba Diving, Special Offers, Treasures of the Bilge, Watersports

Who Says You Can’t Have TWO MUCH FUN?!

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Still available for New Year’s in the Virgin Islands! TWO MUCH FUN is a 40-foot catamaran specializing in charters for two. You get an entire pontoon to yourselves, for privacy and space. Captain Peter and Chef Lee Ann will insure your celebration of Old Year’s Night in paradise is filled with music, laughter, fabulous food, and creative libations. She won’t be available for long! Call Sherry toll free at 866-994-7245 to learn more.

Cuisine, Scuba Diving, Special Offers, Watersports

Best Monohull in the BVI for $1,875 Savings!

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ZUMA was voted the Best Monohulls at this year’s BVI Charter Yacht Show. Chef Tory took 3rd place in the Culinary Contest for her decadent “Oh, So Rummy Rocky Road” dessert, made with Mount Gay Rum chocolate truffle cake, coconut coated marshmallows, salted caramel/pistachio brittle and a chocolate rum sauce. You can burn off all those calories on the Stand Up Paddleboard or Kayak.

Captain Bo, Chef Tory and I invite you to enjoy what a real sailing vacation is all about on this 2013 Jeanneau 53-footer. With her Code Zero “asymmetrical genoa”, ZUMA is a swift vessel in even the lightest winds.

To realize your savings, confirm your charter prior to Feb. 15, 2015. Discount of $1,875 based on 4 guests chartering the yacht for 7 nights. For 2 guests, take $1,725 off for a week’s charter. ZUMA is available to pick up in the USVI, so no need to fly through Puerto Rico or take the ferry from St. Thomas to Tortola.

Cuisine, Scuba Diving, Watersports

NEW YACHTS, NEW CREWS, NEW WEBSITE!

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There truly is a yacht for everyone! Sherry is back from the BVI and St. Thomas Yacht Shows with some fabulous yachts to recommend.

Dear Sailors:
There is SOMETHING WONDERFUL in the air. Could it be MORE AMORE? I visited constellations such as PISCES and SCORPIO, experienced ENDLESS PLEASURE, saw STARFISH and found NEMO, solved the ENIGMA of who has one of the best Chefs in the Caribbean, saw a beautiful BLOSSOM, and returned with more than ONE TALE to tell. Call me to learn more about chartering a yacht in paradise this season.

YATES YACHTS will be premiering a new, easy-to-use website soon. We’re very excited about the design.

Christmas & New Years, Cuisine, Scuba Diving, Special Offers, Treasures of the Bilge, Watersports

Holiday Charters Still Available in the Caribbean & Bahamas

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It’s not too late to plan a fabulous holiday in paradise. Enjoy turkey with all the trimmings after playing on the jetskis in the Bahamas. Sing Christmas Carols with a reggae beat as Santa’s barge cruises by in the BVI. Celebrate “Old Year’s Night” at Foxy’s. How about a magical holiday for just the two of you in The Grenadines?

Here are just a few of the many yachts you can charter this holiday season:

GENESIS – a 47 foot cat with a very private king stateroom for 2 guests. Captain Petr & Tracy are based year-round in The Grenadines. My clients love the warm hospitality. “Each day was a new experience that seemed to top the last. Captain Petr and Tracy were exceptional in every way. Hands down the food on this trip was probably the best we’ve ever eaten, and the variety was simply outstanding.”

GENESIS-bow

AURORA 67. Let Capt. Rich and Chef Sam pamper you and your family or friends on this classic sailing yacht.

CAMARINA ROYALE Sleeping 10 guests in 5 cabins, she’s the perfect yacht for Thanksgiving in the Bahamas.

Special Offers, Watersports

FREE Water Taxi to BVI & More from GRAND CRU

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Book your charter on GRAND CRU by early November and your hosts will pay for First Class transportation services from St. Thomas Airport to Tortola, BVI. This is an amazing offer with a retail value of over $500.

Jetskiing-Camina-Royale1-300x198

Your flight will be met by a private taxi, you’ll be taken to Red Hook, board a private water taxi (your schedule, not the ferry’s!), and take you alongside your yacht for ease of boarding. WE LOVE IT!

GRAND-CRU

Already have transportation to Tortola? You can choose one of 3 complimentary adventures instead! Helicopter ride, Fun Open-air tour of Virgin Gorda, or a free lobster dinner on the ‘drowned island’ of ANEGADA.

Call Sherry to book this amazing deal!

Cuisine, Scuba Diving, Watersports

What to Pack on Your Sailing Vacation

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The experts at Yates Yachts will show you how a Caribbean sailing vacation is the easiest trip you will ever pack for. Simply follow our“Packing Tips” and arrive on board as a charter pro!

Here are our tips for what to bring on your crewed yacht charter.

Packing Tips

1. Pack Lightly, Carry-On & Avoid Lost Luggage Delays

    Storage Space on a yacht is limited. Soft-sided duffels work best. Follow these tips and you can carry your bag on your flight. You don’t want to miss precious vacation time waiting for your bathing suit to arrive!
2. Roll Your Clothes. Don’t Fold.

    You can fit more in your bag and leave some space for souvenirs!
rolled-suitcase

3. Think About What You’ll Be Wearing On Your Crewed Yacht Vacation

  1. Daytime: Barefoot & fancy free! You’ll be in your bathing suit most of the time. Having 1 or 2 extra swimsuits is great so you have a dry one to change into after a swim. UV swim shirts are great for protecting you from the sun while snorkeling.
  2. Nighttime: Shorts & tees, or a comfy sundress, and you’re dressed for dinner! If you plan to dine out, this uniform will work in most places. For fine dining at an upscale resort, men may be required to wear collared shirts and long pants after 5:00 pm.
  3. Shoes: We recommend you invest in a comfortable pair of easy-on, easy-off sandals or flip-flops for excursions ashore. If you’re a jogger or hiker, wear your running shoes on the plane to keep your bag light.
  4. Winter Evenings: A lightweight long-sleeve shirt or windbreaker for cooler nights is advised in the winter months.


4. Find Out What Is Included

Towels, linens, and beach towels are provided on board. Ask Yates Yachts! The yacht you choose may provide complimentary toiletries, hair dryers, onboard laundry facilities and other amenities.

Your Sailing Vacation Essentials!

To help you get started packing, here are a few staples that you’ll want to bring along:

  1. 2-3 bathing suits
  2. Beach cover-up/Sundress
  3. 3-4 pairs of shorts/capris
  4. 4-5 tees/lightweight shirts
  5. Easy-on easy-off sandals
  6. Sunglasses
  7. Hat
  8. Walking/Hiking shoes
  9. Medications
  10. Camera, Memory Cards, & Camera Charger
  11. Sunscreen SPF 15+
  12. Passport
  13. Souvenir money
  14. Cash/Credit Cards
  15. Toiletries

What Not to Pack

  1. Jewelry- leave your precious gems and jewels at home. One lost diamond earring can mean a ruined vacation!
  2. Illegal Drugs- Yes, Marijuana is still illegal in the islands, mon!
  3. Too much cash- Most beach bars and shops accept credit cards. Some banks charge a “foreign transaction fee” when using your card outside the country. The fee is usually plus 3%. We advise you contact your bank before traveling so there are no surprises.

Contact Yates Yachts

If you would like to learn more information about our private yacht charters, we invite you to sign up online today so that we may help you put together your dream vacation. You can call our toll free number at (866) 994-7245 or our local number at (970) 871-6002. You may also email [email protected] with any questions or concerns you might have.

Watersports

Celebrate “Old Year’s Night” in the Caribbean!

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Ring in 2015, barefoot, happy and without a care in the world. Tell your friends you’ll be sailing away on a private yacht in the sunny Caribbean this holiday season. Yates Yachts has some excellent all-inclusive yachts still available.

For up to 4 guests, sail away on BLOSSOM, a 2013 Leopard catamaran, 47-feet in length, with 2 guest cabins, each with private bath. Captain Bryon and Chef Molly look forward to welcoming you on board.

Up to 6 guests will find plenty of elbow room on TIGER LILY, a 66-foot Gunboat catamaran with 3 guests cabins, an enormous trampoline forward, huge cockpit for dining under the stars, and an environmentally-sound design that includes whisper quiet a/c at night, solar panels, and many more green practices. Catch a fish from the fighting chair. Waterski, kayak, kneeboard, or wakeboard behind the powerful tender. Try your balance the standup paddleboard, ride the banana tube or simply relax with a cool beverage while Captain Neil and Karen Rock ROCK your New Year’s!

For up to 4 guests, BLITHE SPIRIT II offers 2 guest cabins, you only have to read Chef Dominique’s menu to know this yacht offers 5-star cuisine. The foredeck features a hammock for relaxing, while the aft deck has built-in seating for happy hour sunsets or a comfortable perch while underway. One of my clients writes “I couldn’t have asked for a better crew than Capt. Michel and Dominique. They knew when to leave us to each others company but also when to jump into conversation and provide entertainment. The meals were incredible. I was not expecting to be fed a five star resort meal every day for every meal. Dominque was able to accommodate a gluten and diary free diet. The flavor of each dish was never lacking and we never had the same dish twice. Michel [makes] the best Pain Killer!”

Call Sherry Yates, toll free, 866-994-7245 to learn more about holiday availability!

Special Offers

Sail & Save up to $1,820 on TONINA

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This fall, your hosts, Captain Peter and Chef Karen are offering 10% off a BVI crewed yacht charter. Your rate is all-inclusive on this stunning 54-foot catamaran. Why not celebrate Thanksgiving in the Caribbean? TONINA is currently open from November 19-December 7. She features 3 lovely guest cabins with queen beds. Each cabin has a private bathroom (head) with separate shower stalls.

Ah, Peace & Quiet! With state-of-the-art, eco-friendly innovation, TONINA offers restful sleep, even when the air conditioner is run throughout the night. There is no generator noise to keep you from enjoying the sound of the sea, lulling you to sleep.

In addition to your professional crew, delicious cuisine, and comfortable sailing, TONINA has a flybridge for 360-degree views, waterskiing, wakeboarding, kayaking, snorkeling gear for all, and many more diversions while at anchor.

Call Sherry Yates toll free at 1-866-994-7245 to reserve a memorable week on board TONINA.