I want to take you home with me...For many reasons. But since I can't I will miss you but I will remember how good you guys were to us. Thank you so much for everything. -Matt
Thanks you so much for a Lazy Sunday...what?! Chronicles of What...Narnia!?! You are by far the best crew an East coast Canadian could hope for. Thank you for the food, the booze, brownies, and memories. -Anita
It started as a surprise birthday week for a 60 year old geezer & finished as a week of renewal for our family. You allowed us all the renew our friendship and create new ones with you both! Life is a journey of various components, building credibility & credits as we plan for the future! A trip such as we have enjoyed gives us the opportunity to pause & appreciate each other. Thank you both for the memoriies! - Jack (birthday boy)
It started as anticipation of my Dad's surprise and turned into a week of fun & laughter. Not only am I continously surprised & enamored by my family, I was thrilled that our crew was part of the group. We had a week of fun & sun as we as a great dive in the islands. At this time, I cannot find the words to describe the adventure we were able to take. The food was another love and the presentation was artful.I look forward to the next time our family can be together. I also look forward to the next time we can enjoy your crew, as they were instrumental in making it happen. They truly showed us the Virgin Islands & allowed us to have an incredible experience. Thank you! - Tevis
Thanks so much for an absolutely fabulous week. Sometime when you look forward to something for such a long time and then when it happens it is never what you expect. This was more than any of us could have wished for. Thanks for taking such good care of us. Food was better than a 5 star!
Thanks you two! - Bonnie
Thank you very much for making the trip amazing. I had a lot of fun learning poker and eating the amazing banana dessert. I had an amazing time! Thanks you!!! - Sophie (Age 13)
I really liked the hamburger and the banana pound cake. I also liked learning to play poker! - Conrad (Age 11)
March 2009
Thank you very much for making the trip amazing. I had a lot of fun learning poker and eating the amazing banana dessert. I had an amazing time! Thanks you!!! - Sophie (Age 13)
I really liked the hamburger and the banana pound cake. I also liked learning to play poker! - Conrad (Age 11)
May 2009
Being with you on Catatonic has been like a dream come true! We could not have asked for a better captain or chef! You truly pampered us beyond belief. The stops were fantastic - loved Norman Isle, the bubbly pool, kayaking, snorkeling, trunk beach! And the food was incredible. You are truly our favorite restaurant chef ever! You have the perfect balance of allowing family time and yet when we are with you, you feel like faimly too.
Thanks for the best vacation ever! We will never forget our week on Catatonic of the happy memories together. - Laura
June 2009
We had a blast on Catatonic - kayaking and snorkeling right off the back of the boat, reading on the trampoline, watching the horizon from the captain's deck, and just catching some sun. THIS is how a vacation should be - totally relaxing, amazing food, great tunes, awesome sailing, WOW! This is the first time I've ever seen my husband not wear a watch - THAT's how relaxed we were! We can't wait to come back!
July 2009
We have been reflecting for the last couple of days on what was absolutely one of the most enjoyable weeks/vacations of all time. Thanks again.......you were both absolutely great and we consider you both special friends. We definitely plan to find a way to visit with you both in the VI again soon. Lot's of unbelievable experience, exceptional camaraderie, fantastic food, and lot's of laughs (yeah, no, yeah, no, yeah, no......................).
Sorry that we haven't had an opportunity to forward the photo's we promised. Our home system crashed, but Deb and Cody will try to send the shots to you manana.
Enjoy your time off and please stay in touch.
Warmest personal regards,
Curt
P.S. We had a great time in St. John and the Skinny Leg burger was epic! Remind us to share our travel saga for the return journey........23 hours of hell! Unbelievable!
January 2010
The best vacation we have ever had! See our BLOG at http://luedke.me/wordpress/! There is too much to say in this small space.
Thanks Rick and Missy!
Chuck and Marie
Dirk, Pamela, All,
Well, Marie and I are finally home.
We wanted to say that sailing on the Catatonic with Owen and Liz was a joy.
The youthful energy they brought to the Catatonic was comforting and they made this one of the best vacations we’ve ever had.
They were ready for anything, always positive and remarkably talented.
After sailing with Owen, my other sailing trips were actually put to shame. He makes the Catatonic work as a real sailing vessel should and doesn’t just limit it to motoring around with the sails up. He knows how to tweak every setting and milk out every bit of speed he can. And in down time he is constantly working on maintenance leaving no detail untouched. As a chief engineer myself -- I was very impressed that he does not simply jerry rig some patch leaving the final fix to the future. He fixes things right the first time so he doesn’t have to go back and do it again. In my organization that’s what separates the best engineers from the wanna be’s.
We know Liz just joined the crew but had we not known we would not have guessed. Her cooking is excellent and she even goes the extra mile with appetizing detail. Marie loved her healthy, thought out menu’s. And although my unhealthy vacation eating habits were much different – Liz always found a way to adjust my meals to my more fried meaty tastes.
Marie was very impressed with Liz’s sushi.
When she isn’t cooking, Liz always kept us engaged with interesting conversations and fun little games. Liz will always have a place in our memories.
Marie described the pair as a perfect fusion of east and west coast personalities. They both made us feel at home and we were never once uncomfortable having them with us 24 hours a day for eight days.
We did push our limits this year with some “honking sails.” And although we’re rather exhausted from this vacation we feel it was one we’ll cherish always as the best we’ve ever had.
For Marie the best time was at Columbier on St Barts. For me, it was seeing Sombrero and the speed run we made to Columbier.
Owen catching a fish head has also been a topic of our sailing adventure discussions. We wouldn’t have believed it if we hadn’t seen it.
We all had fun, screaming and yelling and playing with the fish light. Tarpon slaying is a great way to pass the nights.
We were sad to leave.
Club Orient was interesting – but surreal is probably a better word to describe it.
Also, for info, yesterday we had an interesting trip home. United was unable to buy fuel for their planes in SXM, so we had to fly to San Jose for fuel. We were getting off in Washington, but for the others with connecting flights – they were all missed by the 2 hour delay. By the way, we used St Martin Limo for our drivers on the Island and if you ever need a service they get 5 stars from us.
So, Dirk, thanks again for letting us use the Catatonic and for finding Owen and Liz to guide us on our biggest sailing vacation ever.
Chuck and Marie
Wathen charter
We had a very good time. The family rated this vacation as one of our best. Owen and Heather quickly figured out our likes and dislikes and adjusted the trip and meals accordingly. It was especially nice that we did a lot of actual sailing because we have been on “day sails” before where the sails barely went up.
Feb 17/12
We set sail on the Catatonic on Feb.17th 2012. We, being 2 couples who love to have a good time. We were so excited about the trip, however a little tentative about spending 8 days with a captain and mate that we did not know. Would we feel awkward around them? Would their personalities mesh with ours? It took all of about 10 minutes to get acquainted and almost immediately Owen the captain and Liz the mate and cook became like best friends and family. We really don’t think that we would have had as good of time if they had not been on the Catatonic with us.
Owen and Liz asked up front what we wanted out of this vacation.. Where we wanted to go and what we wanted to do. We had a few requests and then let them fill in the blanks and they did this amazingly. All of us travel quite a bit and the 4 of us all agree that this was one of our best vacations EVER!!
The Catatonic is such a beautiful catamaran with all of the amenities. If anyone out there is considering a vacation such as this but has insecurities about being safe or not taken care of wipe them out of your mind. Owen proved to be way more than competent. He could move around the boat with such agility and sailed with ease that came naturally.
Liz took care of us, always asking or anticipating anything that we would want.
Our only complaint about this trip is that it did not last long enough.
If this is on your bucket list then we recommend this crew and the Catatonic!
The Hornick’s and Wilson’s
Freeman Party
HI….sorry late getting back to you….we had a fantastic week on Catatonic…..the boat was sized perfectly for our group…the diving was great as was the food. But to tell you the truth when we return it will be on whichever boat that Captain Owen was on….he & Liz made the trip….we all became best friends after about 1 hour.
Thanks
Freeman Party
Barrington Hall Yacht Charters & Sales - 2805 E Oakland Park Blvd, Ste 397, Fort Lauderdale, FL, 33306, U.S.A - 1-800-478-2029 / 954-720-0475 - info@bhcyachts.com
