More Specifications
Flag:
BVI
Homeport:
Tortola, BVI
Resort Course:
$300
Yacht Permit:
1
Yacht License:
1
Yacht Insurance:
MHG Insurance
Other Entertainment
Games:
Dominoes
Cribbage
Backgammon
Shut the box
Scrabble
Cards
Water Sports
Dinghy Size:
2021 14' Brig Eagle 4
Kayaks 1 Pax:
No
Kayaks 2 Pax:
No
Dinghy Hp:
50 HP Honda
Floating Mats:
1
Dinghy Pax:
9
Water Skis Adult:
1
Water Skis Kids:
No
Sailing Dinghy:
No
Jet Skis:
No
Beach Games:
Yes
Wave Runners:
No
Kneeboard:
No
Windsurfer:
No
Snorkel Gear:
10
Underwater Camera:
No
Scurfer:
No
Underwater Video:
No
Wake Board:
1
Paddleboard:
2
Seabob:
No
Sea Scooter:
No
Crew
<b> Captain Rusty Day</b>
Rusty is the founding Director of MANTA and Executive Director of the organization. Dr. Day has a unique and diverse combination of qualifications and experience to serve MANTA’s mission of education and research and provide a vision for the organization.
He was raised in a seafaring family from the southern Outer Banks of North Carolina. Growing up on boats, with a love of the ocean and an inquisitive nature made the decision to pursue marine biology quite natural. He earned his BS in Biology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, MSc in Marine Biology from the College of Charleston, and PhD in Environmental Chemistry from the University of Pau, France.
Dr. Day has worked as a marine scientist at several state and federal government and university labs, including the North Carolina Division of Marine Fisheries, UNC Institute of Marine Sciences, South Carolina Department of Natural Resources, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the National Institute of Standards and Techology (NIST). He has a wide diversity of expertise including marine ecology, fisheries biology, marine pollution and toxicology, and environmental and analytical chemistry. Dr. Day’s research has also spanned a broad taxonomic range, from sea turtles to corals, using tools ranging from commercial fishing gear, to SCUBA, to inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).
He was a Research Biologist with NIST at the Hollings Marine Laboratory until 2018, where he established and led their coral research and monitoring project (Archive of Coral Ecosystem Specimens – ACES) and the multi-collector ICP-MS Environmental Isotope Research Facility. Dr. Day holds an appointment as Adjunct Professor at the College of Charleston Grice Marine Laboratory where he has taught and mentored undergraduate and graduate students for nearly ten years. He has authored or coauthored over twenty scientific publications in top journals as well as a book chapter.
In addition to Dr. Day’s scientific accomplishments, he also holds a 100 Ton Master Captains License and Sailing Endorsement from the U.S. Coast Guard, has logged 1000s of miles under sail, and is certified as a PADI Master Scuba Diver Trainer. If you can’t find him working or playing on the water, then chances are he is off traveling.
Reviews
July 2021
“How do you describe or reflect on the trip of a lifetime? I doubt Webster lived long enough to develop our vocabulary. I find it hard to believe there’s a better captain and chef, than Kevin and Julia. The service, the food, the views, the snorkeling, the fantastic sails, the amazing naps. I truly cannot thank you enough! The boat should have been named-GREAT VIBRATIONS!!!”
“I had no idea this experience was going to be this amazing. The level of attention that Kevin and Julia gave to our trip was shocking. They made the trip absolutely wonderful. The boat was amazing, the food, the experiences, the sailing, absolutely everything. Thank you for everything!”
-The SXXXh Family
June 2021
BEST TRIP EVER!! Thank you so much for making our bucket list trip a reality! We were a little worried about how we would all do on a boat for a week and now we cant even imagine going on vacation via land and hotel style, this was truly amazing! So none of us want to leave, but we have no choice. The sailing, swimming, snorkeling, kayaking, paddle boarding, exploring, drinking, and eating were all the best we could have asked for. Kevin you did and amazing job with the itinerary and activities, keeping us in calm beautiful anchorages for a comfortable evening every night. Every place we went to looked like a postcard. You are a wealth of knowledge about the islands, the local waters, sailing, and all marine life. We all learned so much from you, including how to make all those amazing drinks you whipped up for us! Julia! The food was beyond impressive. Every single meal you served was delicious and you can really taste the passion you have for cooking, great combinations of flavors and presentation every time. You adapted your meal plan to our picky eaters, for which we greatly appreciated. We will miss your cooking and we will all be thinking of you when we step on the scales at home! Ha! Ha! Thank you is just not enough! Until we meet again...
June 2021
Thank you so much for a wonderful family vacation! The charter company brokers were adamant that while the boat is important the crew is far important and one should choose the best crew possible. We couldn’t have asked for a better crew to spend our time with. Fortunately Good Vibrations is one of the better sailing catamarans available for charter, and sail is what we did. Everyday we sailed to a new, beautiful, but different spot, Captain Kevin’s local knowledge of the area made our trip very special. Private beaches, healthy reefs to snorkel, and custom itinerary to use the winds to our advantage while sailing. While Kevin makes many suggestions about what options we have he is more than happy to modify the plan based on our interests. Once Kevin showed us how sailing the big cat worked, he was more than happy to let us take the wheel, as he taught us about sail trim and weather patterns. Julia is a fantastic chef, way above our expectations. Preparing 3 amazing meals plus appetizer and dessert everyday made this vacation a true luxury experience. We cant wait to sail with Kevin and Julia in the future.
June 2021
From boarding this beautiful boat, to all the amazing beaches, we cannot think of one thing we didn’t love. We were lucky enough to enjoy 11 different beaches this week. Every time the sails went up it was a real special treat. Our boats special feature was under water lights all around the boat, which gave us a personal show of marine life every night! Our family had tons of opportunities to swim with turtles, sting rays, and tons of beautiful Caribbean fish. Our oldest son even caught a Spanish Mackerel while under sail, which was the highlight of his trip. Captain Kevin was always awesome to answer our endless questions about the islands, history, sailing, beaches, and so much more. He went above and beyond to keep our family safe, comfortable, and entertained all week. Julia’s cooking was outstanding all week and we cant thank her enough for catering to a bunch of picky eaters, a heroic feat as far as this mom is concerned.
Thank You, from the BXXXe Family, we can’t wait to come back a sail with you two again!
April 2021
It’s hard to find the words to describe the best vacation ever! Especially during a pandemic when it was most needed. Thank you does not quite seem enough. We feel renewed. We were able to reconnect with our friends and ourselves as well as make 2 new friends in Taylor & Kevin.
We always felt safe with Kevin at the helm. He chose the perfect destinations allowing each of us to experience all we hoped for. From snorkeling, hiking, paddle-boarding, floating, swimming, and making the best cocktails, Kevin facilitated it all. We can’t say enough about Taylor’s wonderful food and amazing presentations.
We can’t decide on our favorite meal because they were all great! And thank you Taylor, for accommodating to our different food preferences.
Kevin & Taylor were the perfect hosts, waiting on us as if we were royalty. All requests were graciously met with a smile. We could go on and on but will conclude with the biggest thank you ever! You made our trip to the USVI sooooo memorable. Our only point of contention is which of us will be the first to host your visit to CT!
-Tom & Donna, Chris & Tommy, Peter & Patty, Bill & Susan.
Easter 2021
This was our 2nd trip on Good Vibrations, and it was perfect. We went to new areas and Captain Kevin found us great spots to snorkel and hike up to some breathtaking scenery. We were able to relax this week and also be active when we wanted to be. Captain planned a beach day for us and provided us with beach games, coolers, drinks, and chairs- to get that true Caribbean feel. With all our adventures we didn’t have to worry about working up an appetite, beachside Chef Julia was prepared to feed us a wonderful meal 3 times a day. We can not say enough about her ability to handle all the different requests we had to make sure everyone loved their meals. We could not have had a better time and this was made possible by the hard work and dedication of this crew!
March 2021
This was our first charter on a catamaran and our kids first trip to the USVI. We will definitely be back! Kevin and Julia were both top notch professionals who took care of us from the pre-planning of meals and itinerary, to moment we sadly stepped off-board. Kevin gave us unbelievable sailing experiences around St John and lead us on cool snorkeling expeditions in remote locations. Teaching our kids about all of the fish and sea life along the way. Captain Kevin’s knowledge of boats of boats, winds and weather, water sports and more, enhanced our trip to perfection. Finding the best wind for sailing and the calmest spots for sleeping, with breathe taking hikes and snorkeling in between. Julia created the most delicious meals and made sure we had everything we needed. Our kids tried foods they had never before & LOVED everything! There is nothing more we could have asked for on our trip. Memories for a lifetime! Thank you Kevin & Julia
Dec 2020
“Traveling is one of my favorite things to do, and our week on Good Vibrations, reinforced all of the reasons it is a soul feeder to me. Learning about new areas of our world upon a safe, comfortable, beautiful accommodation is such a luxury; and to do it the hands of two professionals like Kevin and Julia, is quite sublime.
Convincing my wonderful husband to take us on a family trip in the heat of COVID-19 was no easy feat; and this trip met all of our expectations.
First, Good Vibrations is a very comfortable home. The memory foam beds, bamboo pillows, individual bathrooms (well appointed), and the actual layout affording spaces to spread out amounts your guests.
As well appointed as Good Vibrations is, its “secret sauce” is truly due to the hands she is in. Kevin and Julia helped curate and create a very special week for us. We stayed in the USVI, these restrictions never made a day seem not full of activity, fun and beauty, or “anemic” in any way. Kevin made several tweaks to the itinerary in order to keep us in calm waters as the weather picked up; and Julia kept cooking the most delicious, fresh meals beautifully prepared and seemingly effortlessly presented.
It is said that true “Professionals” make their craft look easy when it is anything but that, this is what our fortunate family experienced this week. Thank you Kevin and Julia for helping us close a complicated year with and incredibly rich family experience. “
Love, the PXXXX family.
Dec 2020
“This trip has truly been a once in a lifetime vacation! Everything from The views to the ceiling to the food was perfect. Kevin knows all the best places to take us for snorkeling and Julia’s food was always outstanding. This was definitely one of the best Christmas’ ever! Merry Christmas to you all and here’s to a great new year.”
Laursen Family
Dec 2020
“Wow! No way to put this trip into words. From initial planning to embarkation, to our last day, every step was easy and the results were fantastic. Such fun creating new family memories and new family members, of kevin and Julia. Best wishes for your adventures the season. Cannot wait to do it again!”
Rhodes Family
USVI Charter July 2020
Taylor & Kevin,
Thank you for an amazing week. You exceeded every expectation that we had by going
above and beyond with everything you did for us. We appreciate you taking the time to
get to know us and making special meals for Marc. We loved all of your
recommendations and even loved hiking in our flip-flops. :) We loved relaxing and taking
in all the sights of the USVI. I think this is the most relaxed I’ve ever seen Dan on
vacation! Taylor, your food was delicious, and Kevin’s drinks were amazing! We’re sad
to cut our trip short, but appreciate you keeping us safe on the boat. Come visit us in
Florida and we will show you guys an amazing time!
Love our family,
Dan, Julie, Al, Lisa, Jack, Kaylee, Danny, and Marc.
July 2020
What an amazing week! Thank you for welcoming us into what is essentially your home
and treating us like extended family members. The snorkeling was fantastic! It was a joy
discovering something new at every location. Aden and I really loved swimming with the turtle,
getting a close up view at a barracuda and holding the sea urchin. The food was also a
discovery to behold. Taylor prepared all sorts of dishes that were both delicious and festive. My
only regret is that I didn’t eat slowly and enjoy all the fresh new flavors I’d never had before.
Luckily dessert came shortly after and whisked my taste buds back to heaven. {Request the
cheesecake.} As far as Captains go, Kevin is the many want behind the wheel, on the engine
compartment, to take you through what is arguably the best place on earth. His knowledge of
and commitment to Good Vibrations shows from the moment you leave the harbor. Sailing the
open sea is an adventure everyone should go on. It’s easy to appreciate the world we live when
you’re on the water with the wind in the sails. Overall we had a great trip, thank you for helping
us bring our families closer together and putting up with our nonsense for the entire trip.
Until we meet again.
- Ty & Aden
July 2020
It was everything I hoped for, and we are appreciative of all you did to ensure a great,
memorable trip for my family, that was out of our normal comfort zone. Please visit us in
Wyoming when you are in the area.
- Dan, Justin, Nick, Zeke, Wickey, & Aaron
May 2020
Julia & Kevin are a fantastic team. This has been my best vacation ever. Love you both!
March 2020
Ventana,
Thank you for the most amazing vacation ever! Kevin & Julia, you were fantastic. We are looking forward to sailing with you again.
Best wishes,
Bill & Krisit
March 2020
5 Stars!! This was a fantastic trip. Kevin and Taylor took us to the best places for
snorkeling and relaxing. The food was delicious and we picked up some new flavors and
recipes. We could not have asked for better hosts for our vacation. We wish you both a lot of
success in whatever you choose to do. We will miss your smiles and I know you will miss our
singing! lol
- Gaby & Chris
March 2020
Thanks for the culinary delights, Taylor!! This was our 5th sailing trip and a great one.
You went at great length to making this trip extra special; great snorkeling locations, beautiful
locations, delicious food, and great sailing. Many thanks for many happy memories! And thanks
for inflating the flamingo! We still have to come up with a name for it. We’ll get back to you. ;)
- Sonja & Gerrit
March 2020
Thank you Julia & Kevin for the most amazing vacation I have ever had. The weather, food & comforts of the boat were perfect. Your efforts in making this trip perfect were much appreciated. We look forward to doing this again with you guys!
Jeff
March 2020
Ahoy Ventana! We had an amazing week - Julia & Kevin are the absolute best! The food and fun were wonderful. We laughed all week. Thank for keeping everyone entertained during such a crazy time in the US. Can't wait to do it again.
Bill & Laura
March 2020
What an awesome week with Julia & Kevin! Thank you guys so very much! We shall return!
Ahoy!
Tish and Jay
February 2020
Taylor & Kevin,
We had a wonderful time! All of your meals were fabulous! We made a lot of new memories that
we will cherish always. The trip was perfect, you are a very special couple and did a wonderful
job with everything! Please come and visit us sometime.
Love, Nancy and Terry
February 2020
Kevin & Taylor,
Perfect Trip - perfect crew. Thank you for making Rick’s 75th Birthday trip such a wonderful
lifetime memory! The most yummy cake ever!! Please keep in touch.
Rick and Joyce
February 2020
Kevin & Taylor,
Thanks for a perfect introduction to the islands. I still giggle when I think of the guys watching
the fish every night, under the boat. Food was excellent - Taylor, you got Peter to eat salad! You
are excellent hosts - Thanks for wonderful memories! Come visit us!!
Peter & Steph
February 2020
Taylor and Kevin made this special 75th Birthday celebration a perfect memory. We loved being
on the water and experiencing all the quaint beaches and bars! Absolutely perfect!
Rob and Sue
February 2020/Julia
Ventana was great! The boat was in great shape but the best part is first mate Julia! She is extremely knowledgeable of the area and can lead you to whatever your passions. She is a workhorse and has the best personality for a group of 40-60-year-old couples. She works hard to make sure you enjoy the food, the itinerary, and the boat itself.
February 2020
February 2020
Julia, as I sit in the early hours of a St Louis Sunday morning, I reflect back on the past week.
I still notice a subtle rocking in my body and see, with some disappointment, that my views are suddenly less breathtaking than those of the past 7 days!
Our trip celebrating Tim’s birthday was nothing short of spectacular. This was due in no small measure to your over-the-top hospitality! Your constant care, wonderful cooking, local knowledge, professionalism, great laugh, tolerance for our shenanigans and easy going way meant the world to us!
I wish you well. Know that you have our gratitude.
Rick and Diane
New Years 2019/2020
Kevin and Taylor,
We had a fantastic time with you and on Rumba. When you combine a great group of people
(Taylor, Kevin, friends and family) with a fabulous boat and the BVI, you cannot help but have a
great time. Taylor's AWESOME food, the professionalism you both showed, and the attention to
detail made for a great experience.
The most relaxing trip we have ever had and even more fun than we expected.
Thank you so much.
- Steve and Ellen and Camille, Blake and Dade
Christmas 2019
Well, given the fact you guys had to deal with two of the rowdiest families in America.. You guys
are amazing! Taylor, you are the kindest, smartest, (I won’t go on about my girl crush, but you
get it.) Kevin, thanks for having so much patience with us, I know it wasn’t easy. You both are
extremely responsible and we couldn’t have had a better time with anyone else. The boat was
consistently clean and well maintained. Thank you both for your generosity and warm
hospitality. We hope to see you again.
Merry Christmas!
Love,
Jason,Lois, Dayle, Griffin, Sydney, Colin, Logan, Kim, and Mark.
November 2019
NOVEMBER 2019
A lifetime of memories made aboard the Ventana! What a unique, vibrant & fun-filled journey! Julia & Damon were wonderful guides with expert knowledge and stories that made each stop that much richer. Among my favorites were swimming with friendly turtles, jumping off the Willy T, snorkeling in Anegada at breathtaking Loblolly Bay, and coming face-to-face with an adorable smooth trunkfish!
Much love,
Alexandra
New York, NY
November 2019
I thought this would be a once in a lifetime sailing trip, but now I am hoping it can be repeated! You both have made it so special with an amazing variety of meals, local knowledge, attention to details, Captaining & First Mate expertise, and all with patience and kindness. Our family was blessed to have you champion our vacation and we are so grateful.
Thank you, thank you for our delicious Thanksgiving meal away from home (and all of them!) Wishing you continued success on Ventana or wherever you are and hoping we meet up again. Come see us in New Hampshire!
Nancy
GRENADINES 2019/Julia
Darrin & Julia,
We cannot thank you both enough for an amazing week! You were both such amazing hosts and Ventana was a perfect home for the week! Amazing adventures and beautiful views all around - we could not have asked for more! Thank you again for an unforgettable week!
-Mandy, John, Charlie & George
GRENADINES 2019/Julia
Thank you Darrin & Julia for an amazing week! We are going home more rested than we ever imagined. I am pretty sure that this was the most well fed that we have been ever! From the awesome adventures, to the amazing food to the spectacular views - it is a week that our family will remember forever. We can't thank you enough.
-Nancy, Mark, Win & Kali
Athens, GA
July 2019
You made the trip that I have been romanticizing about, the majority of my adult life, a reality. I’m so sorry that Taylor was not able to make it, but thank you for allowing me the opportunity to learn about the boat and to help out whenever I could. You had a very large task to feed the adventurous souls of all seven of the kiddos that we brought onboard. It was such a pleasure observing your passion for what you do, coupled with all of your calculated ways of an engineer. Your ability to balance the freedom of this sailing lifestyle, while remaining so in tune with all of the technical aspects of being on the water, truly make you an amazing captain. Thank you, for blessing Yvonne, myself, our six boys, and Madalyn with the trip of a lifetime. I cannot wait to one day sail with you again!
The SXXXXX Family
July 2019
We had such a great time on the boat! We enjoyed ALL the meals and games. We can’t wait to come back and play more Jenga and Shanghai Rummy. Thank you Kevin and Taylor for making everything so perfect.
We’ll see you soon.
Kylee, Kim, Scott, Brody, Kasey & Brooks
June 2019
We couldn’t ask for a better crew for the trip. A perfect match for our family. All the food was delicious and Taylor really catered to our girls. Our favorite part of the trip was Anegada, feeding donkeys, Cow Wreck Beach, and of course the Wonky Dog. Kevin, thanks for letting John learn the boat, he is so eager to learn about the boating business. We can’t thank you both enough for all the new and old places you took us to. We have created wonderful memories. As we end our trip I know there is still so much to see here in the BVI & USVI. We now know who to call for our next trip. Thanks again for helping celebrate a milestone in our daughter’s life, and we look forward to our next trip with you guys. Best of luck in your next adventures and we will see you soon.
ps. Kevin, please have a Bloody Mary ready for us on the next trip.
- The WXXXX Family
June 2019
“We couldn’t ask for a better crew for our charter. A perfect match for our family. All of the
food was delicious and Taylor constantly catered to our girls “preferences.” Our favorite part of
the trip was Anegada. Feeding donkeys, Cow wreck Bay, and of course the Wonky Dog. Kevin,
thanks so much for letting John learn the boat, he is so eager to learn about the boating
business. We can’t thank you both enough for all the new and old places you took us to, we
have created some wonderful memories. As we end our trip I know there is still so much to see
here in the US & BVIs. We now know who to call for our next trip. Thanks again for helping
celebrate a milestone in our daughter’s life, and we look forward to our next trip with you guys.
Best of luck in your next adventures and we will see you soon!”
- The W. Family
2019/Julia
The most perfect place to start the new year.
From the moment we arrived (and even before) Darrin and Juila were the perfect "boat couple".
Darrin is warm, confident and accomplished. Hes a great captain and leader.
Julia bent over backwards to make sure everyone was very well fed -2 Simi koser, a Gfree, two kids and the rest of us , everyone was happy and full.
All of us enjoyed every moment of the week .
We hope to return soon and spend more time on the beautiful, comfortable, and friendly boat with the fabulous crew.
Thanks!
Jessica
January 2016/Julia
The Captain & Julia are extremely knowledgeable - very, very accommodating - they sat down with us and listened to our requests, thoughts, etc. to make a plan for the week - and then each day the schedule was addressed and our requests were foremost in their decisions as to what to do. We felt like they had all the knowledge of what we’d like to do and when, and they put together great itineraries.
Safari exceeded our expectations - plenty of room, lots of area to gather, or to be alone. Beds were really comfortable, and everything was so clean.
The food was beyond our expectations! Julia is an amazing cook - delicious and gorgeous presentation! She customized to us - only complaints are that she fed us too much and that we had to come home without her!
We felt like we did the perfect option with the half board - the benefit of Julia’s amazing cooking, and also being able to sample some of the local flavor at dinners and lunch.
We had an incredible time - exceeded our expectations in every way! Thanks to you too for coordinating for us - made everything run very smoothly. We really appreciated the advice regarding packing - we did a pretty good job with that. Pre-planning and prep was great and easy. Will definitely recommend to others! And we’ll be back, too!
Betsy G
August 2015/Julia
AUGUST 2015/JULIA
The Captain & Julia were top notch. We enjoyed not only their professionalism and great ideas about where to go and what to see, but also their stories and meeting good friends of theirs along the way. They really made the trip memorable and relaxing. It was clear from the minute we stepped on Safari that we had chosen a great crew, but by the end of the week we had also made new friends.
The food was great. Julia made lots of different dishes and we enjoyed them all. We didn’t have a lot of specific preferences and were very happy with all of her cooking. Come hungry as there’s always lots to eat and drink.
We loved the itinerary sailing the Virgin Islands. We liked the route and all the moorages but what really made the trip special was the captain & Julia’s local knowledge. They showed us a handful of small beach towns and the local vibe of each place. We met a number of their friends and really enjoyed seeing some of the spots off the beaten path.
Brian L
April 2015/Julia
The Captain and Julia were wonderful. They took care of our every need. They accommodated every request. They were most friendly and a real joy.
The food was unbelievably delicious and visually fantastic. The itinerary was perfect. Safari was absolutely comfortable.
Marc C
Amazing Time
We had an amazing time! You two were quite hospitable and made us comfortable on the boat! Had fun sailing the seas and learning about all the fun spots, plus dancing the night away at The Willy T’s.
Thank You!
Best. Trip. Ever!
Sincerely,
Natasha & Jamus
Lasting Memories and Two New Friends!
Thank you so much for making our Honeymoon/1st wedding anniversary everything we were dreaming it could be! From the first moment we stepped on, we felt nothing but welcomed. It was abundantly clear from our first stop in St. John, the love you both have for the islands and the love the people here have for you. That made us feel so welcome everywhere we went. We wish we had one favorite memory but this book is too small to list them.
Taylor, the food you cooked was tremendous and we enjoyed all of it. And you are hands down the BEST mooring ball hookarrr these islands have ever seen.
Kevin, thank you for navigating us safely all around the islands and making a great dinghy boat Captain. The drinks were terrible ;)
You guys make a great team, we have no doubt you will make lasting memories for tons of other guests.
We walked on this boat nervous about what we might encounter and we leave with lasting
memories and two new friends! May wind and love always fill your sails! Thank you again for EVERYTHING!!
Arrrr revoir for now