Everyone always comments that
it is the crew that makes the charter and this is where Wanderlust really
has the advantage.
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Wanderlust knows that impressive service
starts with an impressive crew. Aboard Wanderlust you will find a commitment
to service everywhere. In order to offer the superior service expected
of the islands premier charter yacht, Wanderlust employs a multilingual
international crew of six with combined charter experience greater than
that of any other yacht in the Virgin Islands. Having the largest crew
for a boat of this size in the Caribbean, enables us to provide you with
the service you would expect of a luxury resort. We could make do with
fewer crew, but then the range of activities and quality of service offered
would also be reduced.
The crew are selected for their
outgoing personalities as well as their professional skills. All the crew
are multi-talented with a variety of skills. They are hardworking and
resourceful types and can best be described as "people persons". Many
have college degrees or other professional qualifications and have chosen
this life because they love what they are doing.
The crew's duties encompass many
different areas on a daily basis; captain, diplomat, plumber, comedian,
diving instructor, dishwasher, nanny, electrician, bartender, chef, raconteur,
mechanic, sailor, nurse, wine waiter, psychotherapist, water sports coach,
photographer, chambermaid, croupier, rigger, fisherman, sailing instructor,
hiking guide, waiter, wind surfing instructor and many
more. For example a steward may be taking you water skiing in the morning,
teaching you to Laser sail after lunch and mixing you a margarita at sundown.
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Captain Dick Nichol,
the builder/owner of Wanderlust, was one of the pioneers of chartering
large multi-hulls in the mid seventies. Dick holds a US Coast Guard
300 ton Ocean Operator license as well as a British Master license.
Dick has been chartering in the British Virgin Islands for over 20
years. His knowledge of the waters and hidden anchorages is unmatched.
Dick is also an avid SCUBA diver and holds a PADI Dive Master rating.
He discovered many dive sites that are now standard stops for the
local dive agencies. He has not given away all his secrets though.
He still knows many sites held exclusively for Wanderlust guests of
all skill levels. During his 25 years of chartering experience, Dick
has polished the hiring and training skills he developed as a corporate
manager in his former career.
You would be hard pressed to find a more knowledgeable
and experienced captain to guide you through the British Virgin Islands. |
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Craig
Norton takes on the position of Wanderlust's First Mate.
Born in South Africa, he and his family decided to make the Atlantic
crossing to the Caribbean in order to pursue a life living onboard
their sailboat. Growing up, and living on boats, Craig has continuously
been near to the sea. He was sailing before able to walk, and diving
at the age of 12; he has been active in most water sports and enjoys
a healthy lifestyle on the water. Craig’s main passion is surfing,
but he also takes pleasure in sailing and diving. With a sailing instructor
and experienced seaman for a father, it is only natural that he possesses
a great admiration and respect for the ocean. Craig has logged many
sea miles delivering boats both locally and internationally. At the
age of 18 he purchased his first boat and is still contentedly living
on the water. Craig is also proficient with computers specializing
in graphic art and web design. He takes care of our websites and all
computer related issues in the office. Craig
brings a great deal of knowledge and experience to the Wanderlust
team.
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Our
PADI Dive Master/Water Sports Instructor, Grant Schmitzer
has been active in sailing since the age of six. Grant learned
the craft on Lasers and Sunfish on Lake Erie near his hometown
of Jenera, Ohio. But his infatuation for the sea didn’t
stop there. Grant obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in geography
from Miami University (in Ohio) concentrating on oceanography.
After college, and in order to advance his knowledge of the sea,
Grant spent time sailing the waters off of Connecticut and Los
Angeles teaching inner city youths the art of handling a boat
and working with a team. But if your passion is oceanography then
where you want to be is in the water. Grant has been diving in
BVI waters exclusively for the past three years and has accumulated
a wealth of knowledge about our reefs and underwater wildlife.
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Chef BJ Turnbull
has been on Wanderlust for the last two seasons. I think that he
is the best all around chef I have ever had onboard. A great chef
that also loves baking and sailing; what else could I ask for? Chef
BJ’s career and passion for food started over 21 years ago
at the age of twelve scrubbing pots for his Aunt and Uncle in their
restaurant outside of the city of Windsor, Ontario. From there was
a progression from young line cook in burger and pizza joints to
serving Canadian Prime Ministers, German Chancellors and other notable
dignitaries in such intriguing places from Canada’s Arctic
to the balmy shores and blue waters of the Caribbean.
BJ’s culinary success reached a plateau when he and a close
friend opened the doors of his highly acclaimed restaurant “Eclipse”
on the island of Tortola. For three years BJ delighted diners with
eclectic variations of cuisines from around the globe with classical
European technique mixed with exotic flavors influenced from Asia,
the Caribbean, South Pacific and New World. He has since sold his
shares of the restaurant and is now delighting the guests of the
Wanderlust with his decidedly original and inventive gastronomic
delights; which include fresh homemade pastries to start your mornings
to an old school style of desserts to finish what always amounts
to a perfect day in paradise. The food is always prepared from scratch
and because of his maverick, unconventional style, you can expect
originality coupled with quality.
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Our current stewardesses
Anna and Lauren were born and raised in the BVI. They have both worked
three different summer seasons on Wanderlust during their college
years. Anna has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Lauren a Bachelor
of Arts in Social Work. Surfing, diving, and sailing are among their
favorite pastimes. Lauren, a PADI Dive Master, has recently returned
to Wanderlust after a second sabbatical to the Galapagos Islands as
an underwater photographer. Lauren’s father is a professional
underwater photographer and dive facility owner in the BVI. Anna has
been a sailor and a certified diver since her early teens. Prior to
working on Wanderlust she spent nine months as a live-aboard nanny/deckhand
on a private sailing yacht. Not only did she rack up her sea miles
sailing the waters of the Caribbean but also learned much about the
responsibility of handling young children on a boat. With their boundless
energy and infectious characters, Anna and Lauren are a perfect compliment
to my crew. |
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On Wanderlust
flawless service is fundamental.
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