Luxury Real Estate

By Jim Walberg of Caribbean Islands Realty

Given that I have sailed all my life, it is an eye-opener to be introduced to a Classic Motor Yacht as an option for a Caribbean charter vacation.

I was introduced to Wayne and Barbara two weeks ago, and their Yacht Flame - a classic motor yacht built by Feadship in 1956 - a Dutch ship builder that started in 1949. This is the yacht and owners, Wayne and Barbara Elsworth, that stepped up two weeks ago to see if they could assist my clients whose charter yacht cancelled on them just five days from their week long charter vacation in the British Virgin Islands. They are also great friends with the owners of Yacht Felicia , Chris and Julie Bennett, who I have featured on several of my past articles about the charter yacht industry.

With over twenty years experience, Captain Wayne and Barbara Elsworth know the U.S. Virgin Islands , and the British Virgin Islands intimately. A charter yacht vacation aboard their crewed power yacht is unforgettable. They both grew up on the shores of the Hudson River, only 150 miles apart. Coincidentally, their families Summered at the same Adirondack lake, just on opposite shores! It seemed inevitable that one day they would meet. It is ironic that it would be on a Caribbean island, 2,000 miles south of their native New York.

In 1973 Wayne discovered the islands while visiting his parent’s winter home on Great Exuma in the Bahamas. In 1979 he became a US Coast Guard licensed captain and has operated a variety of sail and power yachts ranging from 50 to 95 feet. He has sailed from Nova Scotia to Grenada and now has settled in the Virgin Islands. While in Great Exuma, Wayne’s father taught him to spearfish, Bahamian style. He is an avid hunter and can be counted on to bring home fresh fish, conch or lobster during your charter vacation!

Barbara Elsworth graduated Phi Beta Kappa, cum laude from the University of Vermont in 1983 with a degree in history and a great love of sailing. In 1987 she traveled to Antigua for Sailing Race Week , accepted a job delivering a sailboat to England and has never looked back. (This is the annual event that has changed the lives of many of my friends kids that I have sent to Race Week.) Barbara met Wayne six months later… and the rest is history.

When they are not chartering, Wayne and Barbara restore antique speedboats: the classic mahogany Chris Crafts and Garwoods. When they stumbled across Flame, a 1956 Feadship fallen into disrepair, it was love at first sight. Well, almost! Her restoration and reconfiguration took a full three years. They did all the work themselves: Wayne taught Barbara carpentry and expanded his own engineering talents. Flame is the culmination of their many years chartering and maintaining yachts.

Here are some specs of classic motor yacht “Flame”: 65′ long; 15′ wide; all cabins are fully air-conditioned; two person kayak; two color TVs with DVD and VCR; CD’s in the cabins; snorkel gear; 15′ outboard “dingy” for water skiing; dive plane; and much more!!!

Here is one of the quotes from their raving fans: “It was hard for me to believe that I could find new anchorages that I had not visited during the ten years we owned a charter boat! But, Wayne and Barbara dazzled us everyday.” Don and Bonnie - Ohio. Barbara and Wayne have been chartering together in the Virgin Islands for twenty years and these islands are their playground. Come aboard and let them show you all their secret spots. Contact me for more information. Until next time…your real estate and lifestyle detective continues his work…