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Long a top honeymoon destination, St. Lucia has lots to love for all visitors. Its lush, natural beauty, rich history and culture, delectable food scene and welcoming atmosphere beckon cruisers to drop anchor and linger awhile in this lovely and laid-back Caribbean port of call.

The Pitons

The twin peaks of the Pitons are the beloved symbol of St. Lucia and the island’s only UNESCO World Heritage Site. Formed 30 million to 40 million years ago by a volcanic eruption, these iconic peaks are now blanketed with a lush tropical forest that’s home to 27 bird species and many rare plants. The shorter, steeper Petit Piton (2,438 feet) is a realm for professional climbers only. But the taller Gros Piton (2,619 feet) is popular for its guided day hikes.

Castries Central Market

Replenish your provisions at the colorful Castries Central Market, opened in the heart of St. Lucia’s capital in 1891. The produce and spice vendors are considered the highlights among the 100 stalls, but you’ll also find handicrafts and souvenirs. It’s busiest on Friday and Saturday mornings, and closed on Sundays.

Diamond Falls Botanic Garden and Mineral Baths

This 6-acre retreat checks all the boxes for a relaxing afternoon. Hummingbirds flit between the hibiscus, heliconia and other beautiful tropical blooms filling the flower gardens. Stroll along the winding path to the 55-foot-tall Diamond Falls, its surrounding rock face a kaleidoscope of colors. And, naturally, follow in the centuries-old tradition and take to the therapeutic mineral waters, choosing between a public or private soak. Guided tours are available, but this is a place where a leisurely wander can be equally rewarding.

Pigeon Island National Landmark

Once the lair of a 16th-century French pirate nicknamed Wooden Leg, Pigeon Island now attracts a variety of visitors for far more legitimate reasons. The trails crisscrossing this 44-acre national landmark off St. Lucia’s northwest tip lead up to the remnants of Fort Rodney, an 18th-century British garrison, as well as to the museum and interpretive center, which provides context for the island’s ecological and historical significance. The island’s two small, calm beaches are considered among the top beaches on St. Lucia and are popular picnicking spots. (A pub and a restaurant are on-site too.) The island is at its liveliest every May when it welcomes music lovers from around the world for the wildly popular St. Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival.

Big Chef Steakhouse

For an indulgent dinner out on St. Lucia, reserve a table at Big Chef Steakhouse in Rodney Bay Village. Since 2007, chef Rosie Joinville and her husband, Marc, the manager, have served up mouthwatering steaks and seafood, wickedly rich desserts, and well-curated cocktail and wine selections.  

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When the 160-foot motoryacht Ohana launched just a couple of years ago, the owners had the idea to offer by-the-cabin bookings similar to a small cruise ship. But demand was so high for full-yacht charters in the Croatian cruising grounds that the practically new vessel is already undergoing a refit.

“We convinced them to upgrade it to a yacht with the amenities and service of a superyacht, and make it just for private charter,” says Aymen Boulehmi, marketing manager at Goolets Ltd. “To do so, they needed to do many upgrades to the cabins, salon and deck, and add many new amenities on board as well.”

The refitted yacht is expected to start accepting bookings this summer in Croatia, a nation that continues to be a highly sought-after East Mediterranean destination for motoryacht charters. The section of the Croatian coastline from the walled city of Dubrovnik south to Montenegro’s Bay of Kotor is particularly well suited to charter, with everything from historical cities to natural islands and quiet bays available to explore. Fans of the show “Game of Thrones” are particularly drawn to this region, where filming for the HBO series often took place in locations that tourists can visit today.

Ohana’s onboard guest spaces include a cinema where those “Game of Thrones” episodes can be watched after days of having fun in the sun. The yacht’s sun deck has an open bar, a barbecue, hanging egg chairs, an open fireplace and loungers for sun-worshipping time. A shade can cover the space around the hot tub for guests who want more protection from the elements. Inside, the yacht has a children’s playroom—an onboard space that is becoming increasingly popular aboard superyachts being ordered from European shipyards. There’s crew space for the addition of a babysitter as well.    

The Croatian Coast

• Dubrovnik has an Old City that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its Gothic, Renaissance and Baroque architecture is centuries old and is preserved in fountains, churches, palaces and more. 
• Korcula is an island about 20 miles long that’s sometimes called Little Dubrovnik because of its preserved buildings. 
• Hvar is another popular island, with fields of lavender, olive trees and vineyards. 
• Brac island is less touristy with rocky shores and popular scuba sites.

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IYC has welcomed the 109-foot Baglietto Islander II to the charter fleet, based year-round in Greece and Turkey with off-season dates available for bookings this autumn.

Islander II is a 2002 build that most recently was refitted in 2021. The yacht has accommodations for as many as 11 guests in five staterooms, including a full-beam master on the main deck. Islander II charters with six crew.

The flybridge is a focal point of the design, with alfresco dining, a bar, a grill, sunning areas and umbrellas for shade. At water level, there’s a beach club filled with water toys for fun in the sun.

What’s the lowest weekly base rate to charter Islander II? It’s about $71,000.

Take the next step: Contact a charter broker at iyc.com

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Summertime belongs to boaters. Whether it’s on America’s coasts or all along the inland lakes and rivers, boaters spend more days out on the water during the summer months than at any other time of year. And pretty much everywhere a hook can be dropped or a line can be tied off, there’s a festival, a rendezvous or another type of event for boaters to enjoy.

One of the most perennially popular summer experiences for boaters is the Newport Jazz Festival, held each August in Rhode Island. Boaters can avoid the crowds by anchoring out and listening to the music as it wafts across the water. The best seats in the house are on deck in the sunshine and fresh air. This year’s lineup of artists (as with most years) includes a who’s who of musicians, with Herbie Hancock, Diana Krall and Jon Batiste all scheduled to perform.

Another must-do event for boaters is the Fourth of July holiday. There’s nothing quite like witnessing the glow of fireworks from a boat, whether it’s in Boston Harbor, New York Harbor, San Francisco Bay or somewhere else. While everyone ashore is looking up at the show in the sky, boaters can experience the broader view that also includes the city lights and all the reflections dancing across the water—again, often while avoiding a lot of the crowds. And boaters have no need to scramble for a place in line at a barbecue joint on July Fourth. Boats with onboard grills are already set up with everything required for a grand-scale waterfront cookout of burgers, hot dogs, fish and whatever else the folks on board want for the holiday feast.

Yet another rite of passage each summer is the rendezvous, which comes in all kinds of shapes and sizes. Boaters can organize a rendezvous at a marina, in a harbor, on a sandbar—anywhere there’s a spot for lots of boats to gather. These events showcase the camaraderie that exists among like-minded boaters, whether they’re owners of the same brand of boat or the same style of boat, or are people with similar cruising aspirations.

MarineMax locations host rendezvous known as Aquapalooza at various spots around the country each year, with live music, giveaways of keepsake items such as T-shirts, and other kinds of fun. This year’s Aquapalooza event in Boston is scheduled for July 15. It will take place in Perry Cove off Peddocks Island, which is part of the Boston Harbor Islands National Recreation Area.

Marine museums are another great location for boaters to gather in the summertime, with festivals and exhibitions that are specific to the maritime community. In August, the Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum in St. Michaels hosts Watermen’s Appreciation Day, which is a celebration of the heritage of people who have worked on boats in the region for generations. The event includes a “watermen’s rodeo” boat-docking contest, along with live music, steamed local crabs and other family-friendly fun.

Attendance at this festival can be combined with a look at the museum’s exhibits and floating fleet, which includes classic power and sail vessels such as a 1912 Delaware River tug, a 1909 crab dredger and an 1889 bugeye that is registered as a National Historic Landmark. Members of the museum can dock at its marina, including overnight stays with a reservation that’s made in advance.

Up the East Coast a ways is the Mystic Seaport Museum in Connecticut, another of the nation’s best keepers of nautical heritage. In August, this museum hosts the Antique Marine Engine Expo, which is celebrating its 30th year this summer. This expo typically includes more than 300 exhibits, with many of the engines still able to operate just as well as they did on the day they were first purchased. Anyone who enjoys getting their hands dirty in a boat’s engine room can find all kinds of marine machinery here, including steamers, inboards, outboards and more. This expo is a good reminder of just how much easier today’s boaters have it down below, compared with boats of the past.

As interesting as all these getaway ideas are, they’re just a handful of the many waterfront festivals and events that boaters can attend with family and friends this summer. Untie the lines and go. So many memories await.

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Fraser says the 115-foot Benetti Heaven Can Wait is accepting inquiries for remaining open summer charter dates in the Bahamas.

Heaven Can Wait is a 2006 build that most recently was refitted in 2020. The yacht bases in Nassau, with no delivery fees on itineraries that are round-trip from that home port.

Accommodations are for 10 guests in five staterooms, including a main-deck master. The yacht charters with seven crew.

What’s the lowest weekly base rate to charter Heaven Can Wait? It’s $85,000 per week.

How to book a week on board: Contact a charter broker at fraseryachts.com

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IYC has welcomed the head-turning, 171-foot Palmer Johnson DB9 to its charter fleet. Bookings are available this summer in the West Mediterranean at a lowest weekly base rate of about $276,000.

DB9 is a 2010 build that most recently was refitted in 2019. Accommodations are for 10 guests in five staterooms, and the yacht charters with 11 crew.

True to its exterior profile, DB9 is a speedster for its size, with a top-end speed of 30 knots and a cruising speed of 22 knots.

Onboard guest amenities include an open-air cinema on the sundeck, an infinity hot tub on the aft deck, a flybridge hot tub and a 25-foot foredeck pool.

Let’s talk tenders and toys: DB9 carries a 21-foot Castoldi jet tender, a pair of Sea-Doos, two Seabobs, four paddleboards, an inflatable kayak, a Lift eFoil and various tow toys.

How to book a week on board: Contact a charter broker at iyc.com

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Trinidad and Tobago reward cruisers with far more than merely beautiful beaches. While best known for the Carnival celebration, these twin isles tempt travelers ashore year-round with awe-inspiring architecture, bountiful biodiversity, and memorable mouthwatering meals. Continue reading to learn more about our favorite destinations in Trinidad and Tobago.

This article was adapted from our Island Icon Series in the June 2023 Edition of Yachting Magazine.

1. Magnificent Seven

The 260-acre Queen’s Park Savannah is the nexus of social and cultural events in Trinidad’s capital, Port of Spain, particularly during its internationally renowned Carnival and steel-pan festivals. But any time of year, visitors can take a stroll along its western edge to take in the Magnificent Seven. This architectural sampler of resplendent early 20th-century mansions fully lives up to its moniker.

Castle Killarney—also known as Stollmeyer’s Castle—was the first to arise on the block, its design inspired by Balmoral Castle in Scotland. The Palladian-style Whitehall takes its name from the gleaming coral used in its construction. The Archbishop’s Palace melds Indian Empire design with red granite and marble brought over from Ireland. Intricate iron railings adorn the elaborate Roomor, while stonework stands out on the French Colonial-style Hayes Court. A 93-foot-tall clock tower dominates the German Renaissance design of the Queen’s Royal College. The elegant French Provincial Mille Fleurs was originally built as a gift for Port of Spain’s mayor and still stands as a gift that keeps giving to all who pass by.

2. Maracas Beach

The 1.25-mile crescent-shaped Maracas Beach on Trinidad’s north coast is as much a destination for its natural beauty as for its “bake and shark” vendors. This classic street food wraps shark meat in fried flatbread and slathers it with condiments of your choosing.

3. Asa Wright Nature Centre

Trinidad’s remarkable biodiversity is on full display in the Asa Wright Nature Centre in the Arima Valley. Schedule a tour to this 1,200-plus-acre preserve, where more than 600 butterfly species flit among the more than 2,000 varieties of flowering plants. The center’s 400-plus species of birds draw in enthusiasts eager to spot tanagers, toucans, colorful motmots and the elusive oilbird.

4. Veni Mangé

For a culinary and visual feast, dine at Veni Mangé in Port of Spain. Opened in 1980 by a Cordon Bleu-trained chef and her sister, this bustling, art-filled restaurant sets the standard for authentic West Indian fare on the island. It’s best known for its rendition of callaloo, Trinidad’s national dish, as well as oxtail.

5. Fort King George

If you’re spending time on Tobago, see the restored 18th-century colonial buildings and beautiful vistas at Fort King George, overlooking Scarborough and Rockly Bay. The officers’ quarters house the Tobago Museum and its collection of Amerindian artifacts, 17th-century maps and military relics.

Other Island Hopping Tips:

• Best Places to Unwind on Bahamas’ Harbour Island
• Things to Do and See on Catalina Island
• 3 Unique Things to Do in BVI

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Just outside the Fort Pierce Inlet in Florida, a sinking pontoon boat with 10 passengers was hurtling toward a disastrous collection of rocks. That’s when US Coast Guard Boatswain’s Mate 1st Class Hernán Ossandón, who was a seaman at the time, and his team diverted from their training and headed out for Ossandón’s first rescue mission. It meant securing the boat and towing it away from the rapidly approaching rocks before transferring the passengers to a 47-foot rescue boat. Among them were several children and a pregnant woman. It wasn’t until Ossandón became a father in 2015 that he realized the impact of his team’s actions that day. Now a father of two, he looks back on that mission as being one of the most significant he’s ever undertaken. “After becoming a dad, cases with children are different. You just want to get there as fast as you can,” Ossandón told Yachting. “I can’t imagine the pain of a parent to know that their kid is in distress.”

Who or what was your inspiration for joining the Coast Guard?

Ossandón: So, I was a lifeguard. I was a lifeguard for about seven years, and, on my last year—’cause I came into the service when I was 24—my last year, I saw this orange boat. I had no idea what the Coast Guard was. And I see this orange boat out on the water, and I’m like, “Who are they? What are they?” And they were like, “Oh, that’s the Coast Guard,” and I’m like, “What is the Coast Guard?” And they were explaining to me, like, “Oh, they do search and rescue,” and all this stuff. And then they came to the beach, right, with the uniform, and I was like, “What do you guys do?” Oh, let me tell you what we do. They were explaining to me, like, search and rescue, save people under water. And I was all about it. And I really loved being a lifeguard back then, and then I was like, “Oh, I think that’s what I want to do.” And, actually, I wasn’t even a citizen at the time or a permanent resident. I had political-asylum status (from Chile), so I couldn’t do it. And that was in the summer of 2005. We were in the process of getting my green card. By January, I got my card, and the same day, I went to the recruiter, and I was like, “Sign me up.” So they signed me up. I ended up in their reserves site ’cause I was finishing college. And it wasn’t it. I don’t wanna do this. I wanna do active duty. So I went back to my recruiter, and I was like, “I wanna be active duty.” And he was like, “Where do you wanna go?” “I wanna do search and rescue.” “Where?” “Florida.” He’s like, “Here you go.” So I ended up going to Coast Guard Station Fort Pierce; that was my first unit. And, yeah, fell in love with what we do, you know?

I was finishing up college. I was doing electrical engineering, and I got offered guaranteed MK school—the machinery-technician school—but I had no idea what it was or anything. “Oh, you’re gonna be fixing engines and stuff like that.” And I’m like, “I don’t wanna do that.” So I went active duty as a nonrate without a job. When I went to this station, I learned a little bit more about MKs and Boatswain’s Mates. Boatswain’s Mates are the ones driving the boats. Had a good friend that was a third class, and he let me drive the boat as a nonrate, and I drove all the time. And I was like, “Oh, this is what I want to do.” So I put my name on the A-school list; that’s where we get our rate. And I went BM.

As soon as I found out what [the Coast Guard does], it was closed-case. As a lifeguard, I had saved quite a few people, but it’s not the same, though. I’ve done it almost 18 years, and it doesn’t compare to that. ‘Cause, when you go out there, you’re it, you know? 

I ended up being a lifeguard because, in high school, I took the lifeguarding course, and I wasn’t even a good swimmer at the time, and then I liked it—like, the whole concept of being out there, being responsible for someone. I always liked the military. Tried to do the marines, the Navy and all that, but, since I didn’t I have the green card, it wasn’t a go. Yeah, I mean, I could’ve gone the other way, but I think this was the right calling. And, then again, I was gonna do it for four years. Almost 18 years later? Two more, I’ll be retiring, hopefully.

I always wanted to be part of the United States Armed Forces, even when I was living in Chile. You can blame Top Gun for that, haha.

What do you aspire to achieve in the Coast Guard?

Ossandón: I would definitely like to be a chief petty officer. I would like to retire as a chief, but, then again, who knows? Maybe I’ll continue. Like I said, I love what I do. It’s not a job. Every day is different. You deal with all sort of different kind of people. I’ve met hundreds of people in my years, and everyone is unique in their own way, and, whenever we all come together, it’s that brotherhood, sisterhood of all wanting to do the same thing, you know? I think I’ve done everything that I wanted to do, to tell you the truth.

After almost 18 years of service, what kind of impact have you left on the Coast Guard?

Ossandón: I think the Coast Guard, as the organization itself, I wouldn’t go that high [regarding the mark I’ve left], but I would say that I’ve made good impact on people that I’ve met. Not gonna say every single one of them because it’s hard to be okay with everyone, but I have quite a few friends that tell me, like, “Because of you, it’s where I’m at; because of your example, it’s where I’m at.” I used to be very hard on people sometimes—not over-power-tripping or anything like that, but it’s just so they could see how to do right in a positive way. But I think that’s something I’m proud of—that the fact that people looked up to me, and when they tell you thank you for this; thank you for that; thank you for helping me here—it’s rewarding. Now I have one of the kids that was stationed here. He didn’t have a job; now, he’s gonna become a first class in less than three years. It’s amazing. He’s like, “I’m doing what you told me to do.” So, you know, those kind of things kinda, like, fill your heart.

You talked about the example you set for people around you and how some of them have come back to give thanks for the example you set for them. Can you talk about the way you displayed leadership and enforced discipline?

Ossandón: I believe that, in order to discipline anyone within our service, you must do it behind closed doors. I like having a witness with me at the time—usually someone with my same rank. I like to be direct. Tell them what the member did wrong, how to fix it and what will happen if it happens again. There is no need to be power-tripping or screaming since we are all adults. I don’t want junior members to fear me but to respect me. And to be respected, you have to respect them as well.

Can you please recount your most interesting story with the Coast Guard?

Ossandón: It was my first case—ever. So, I was at Fort Pierce as a nonrate. And I was training; I wasn’t even qualified at the time, and I remember Petty Officer Twito, who was driving the boat, and we’re doing training. And then, out of the blue, we get this call. And, again, I wasn’t qualified, so I was just learning. And we get this call about this boat sinking, taking on water. So, they were like, “Alright, pack it up. We’re going out.” So, by the time we go out, the boat was in the inlet. Right, so they didn’t have a prop or an anchor. So, they were about to drift into the rocks. So, I tell them, like, “You want me to go up?” He’s like, “No, stay there; you know what you’re doing.” And I stay there, right? We got on scene with this tiny, little pontoon boat. When we’re getting ready to tow them out, so I throw out the line, and the person go and try to put it there; they ripped it from where it was connected, and then everybody freaked out because they were so close to the rocks, so people moved forward, so the boat tilted. We were finally able to put them in a tow, and we got them out. So when we got them out, we transferred them to our boat, to a 47-footer, and there were three kids, and one of the ladies was pregnant. So we transferred them. And, just, taking care of them, being able to save them; they didn’t have life-jackets. It could’ve been a mess. Maybe at the time, with the kids, it didn’t make that much sense. I didn’t take it as much; “Oh, they’re kids.” But now that I’m a dad, it’s rewarding.

I will never forget my first search-and-rescue case. I was still learning how to be a crewman. It was during training that we had the call over the radio: “Vessel drifting towards the rocks in the vicinity of Fort Pierce Inlet.” It was an overcrowded vessel, with a pregnant woman and a few children on board, among others. At the time, you don’t really think too much, but, when you get there and see them, everything changes. I was nervous; I thought I wasn’t ready, [that] I wasn’t qualified to be part of the rescue, but I remember the words of encouragement from the coxswain, BM2 Michael Twito (now a chief warrant officer): “Stay on the aft deck! You know what to do!” He smiled and gave us orders to proceed. We rescued about 10 people.

How has fatherhood changed/affected your personal and professional lives?

Ossandón: My kids are my world. I want them to be proud of their dad and to know that everything I do is for them. After becoming a dad, cases with children are different. You just want to get there as fast as you can. I can’t imagine the pain of a parent to know that their kid in distress. It’s a horrible feeling when we get on scene, search for hours and can’t locate that child. I can’t describe the feeling. It’s very emotional, but you have to keep going and hope for the best.

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The southwesterly breeze had filled in nicely, and perhaps with a tad more punch than I would’ve hoped for; in my slip off Buttonwood Cove on Florida’s Gulf Coast isle of Longboat Key, the prevailing beam-on winds had me pinned tightly against the pilings. As I scratched my chin and contemplated exactly how I might extricate myself from the dock, it occurred to me that this might not be such a great day to go sailing.

It was a fleeting thought. I’d had this February afternoon marked off on the calendar for a couple of weeks, at least. It would be my very first sail, under my own command, since I’d purchased my classic old Pearson 356, August West, the previous spring. I was going sailing.

I’d recruited my old mate Dan Spurr as crew, which was appropriate since I’d bought the boat from his son, Steve. Dan had logged plenty of miles on the vessel, and, for that matter, so had I, but never as its skipper. So, my mouth was a bit dry as we tossed off the dock lines and I backed into the cove. The Pearson is a notoriously poor performer in reverse, and there are many obstacles in my marina, specifically sandbars and tightly spaced vessels. But August West backed out like a champ—a happy omen, I thought.

It’s a fairly long motor out a narrow, winding cut into the deeper sections of Sarasota Bay where we could hoist sail and maneuver freely. That time gave me the opportunity to realize it was a whole lot breezier in the open waters than it had been in my protected slip.

Hmmm. Was this still a good idea? Too late. The die was cast.

I swapped the helm with Dan and went forward to raise the mainsail, which is when I remembered I’d not yet addressed the rather fundamental matter of running the reef lines on the quite powerful, full-battened main. And it certainly wasn’t going to happen now. A full-hoist mainsail it would be.

Sarasota Bay was choppy and flecked with whitecaps—“sporty” and “dramatic” were words that popped to mind—and I guessed it was blowing 16 to 18 knots, with gusts in the low 20s. Well, at least we needn’t worry about being becalmed. And while there wasn’t much I could do about the main, with my furling headsail, at least I could unroll just a scrap of it to keep things tamed and civilized.

We hardened up on the breeze and threw in a series of southbound tacks, which carried us past the mansions and museum of the late John Ringling, the circus entrepreneur who is synonymous with Sarasota, and onward to the city’s skyline. With boat speeds steady in the high-6-knot range—not bad for a beast built in 1977 with a 17,000-pound displacement—it dawned on me that we were having a cracking great sail. The helm was light and easy, the motion downright pleasant. “The boat has no bad habits,” Dan said, and he was right.

Near the city front, we turned and eased sheets for a fast reach back toward Buttonwood, notching a nifty 7 knots at times.

Once the sails were doused and furled, perhaps prophetically, I missed a channel marker on the way back to the marina and squished into a sandbank. Being a good friend, Dan just laughed. “You’re officially a Florida sailor now,” he said. “Everyone goes aground. No worries. It’s just sand.” It took a bit of wrangling to get off, which we accomplished after I unfurled the jib again, and we were able to sail back into deep water. Lucky should be my middle name.

And just like that, we were back in my slip, safe and secure, where we cracked one cold beer and then another. True, August West has no bad habits. But me? That’s another story.

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The 131-foot Sunseeker Acacia has joined the Fraser charter fleet, with year-round availability in the Bahamas.

Acacia is a 2012 build that most recently was refitted in 2022. The yacht accommodates 10 guests in five staterooms that can be arranged for a group of friends or a multigenerational family.

Guest amenities on the sundeck include workout space, a hot tub, lounge areas and dining. For guests who prefer to have fun out on the water, Acacia carries what Fraser calls a “massive selection of toys,” including an inflatable beach-club platform and toy dock.

The lowest weekly base rate to charter Acacia is $140,000.

What is Acacia’s cruising speed? It’s 14 knots, with a top hop of 23 knots.

Take the next step: Contact a charter broker at fraseryachts.com

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