More Specifications
Flag:
USA
Homeport:
St. Thomas, USVI
Yacht Permit:
1
Yacht License:
1
Yacht Mca:
2
Water Sports
Dinghy Size:
12ft AB
Kayaks 1 Pax:
No
Kayaks 2 Pax:
No
Dinghy Hp:
30 Yamaha
Floating Mats:
Yes
Dinghy Pax:
8
Swim Platform:
Yes
Water Skis Adult:
No
Boarding Ladder:
2
Water Skis Kids:
No
Sailing Dinghy:
No
Jet Skis:
No
Beach Games:
Yes
Wave Runners:
No
Kneeboard:
No
Windsurfer:
No
Snorkel Gear:
Yes
Underwater Camera:
No
Scurfer:
No
Underwater Video:
No
Wake Board:
Yes
Paddleboard:
Yes
Seabob:
No
Sea Scooter:
No
Crew
Captain: Jage (John) Martin
Nationality: Scottish/French
Coming from mixed ancestry and growing up in Scotland in the 80s, Jage couldn't wait to travel. With an insatiable passion for the unknown and adventure he began traveling at the age of 14 and left forever at the age of 18.
Drawn by the great mountains, oceans, and peoples of the world he took to the road in an old VW van and drove from Europe through Turkey, Iran, Pakistan Afghanistan, India and onwards. Finally ending up in Australia. Jage has visited and worked in all 7 continents. From a lowly kitchen hand in the Greek islands, ski guide in the French alps, qualified construction worker in Australia He has certainly had a varied journey, eventually putting down roots in the French alps and starting a construction business and a family there.
Jage pursued his dreams of becoming a sailor, qualifying as a captain and buying his first yacht in 2009 called "Nomad ". He took his young family onboard to experience the wonders of this world by sail, voyaging to many places including the Seychelles, Thailand, Greece, and Turkey. He then bought a catamaran in 2016 and they sailed from Turkey, through the Mediterranean and across the Atlantic to Dominica and Saint Vincent, in the Caribbean, where he then worked in the yachting industry for many years.
Now that his children are grown, he is returning to his passion as a sailor and captain having clocked up over 25 000 logged miles including 2 ocean crossings. Jage is also a qualified scuba rescue diver, marine engineer, electrician, and stone mason (Not much use on a yacht :).
Jage is a commercially endorsed RYA yachtmaster with a huge respect for our oceans and all life in them. He loves the feeling and freedom of life on the water and can't wait to share that passion with others. He is a fun-loving person and has always loved meeting new people from all walks of life and having a good laugh.
Erika Marhuenda Bru, is from the city of Elche, on the Mediterranean Sea, Spain and has been exposed to the amazing influences of Spanish cuisine. From as early as she can remember, she has loved cooking and being around the sights and smells of
her grandmother's kitchen, learning new recipes and trying different foods, from paellas, tortilla española, gazpacho and many other Spanish delights.
She continued to pursue her passion for cooking as a hobby while studying civil engineering at Alicante University in Spain and in her third year she studied abroad in Palermo, Italy, where pizza, pasta, and other incredibly mouth watering combinations of fresh local ingredients were in abundance, not to mention the gelatos and exquisite cornettos. This made her fall in love with the fascinating Italian gastronomy and awoke her curiosity for new cultures and customs.
She spent many years in the construction industry after college, both in Spain and in London, working on many fascinating projects (one in particular, the New Tottenham Hotspur stadium). Following that she travelled through Australia, then on to the USA, Cuba, Colombia, Morocco, Peru, Southeast Asia, including India and Nepal, Thailand and Laos. All the while observing and learning new cooking techniques from all these cultures.
Although she always felt connected to the ocean it was when she tried scuba diving for the first time in Thailand, that she was blown away and fell in love with the underwater world, leading her to become a certified divemaster. She will be delighted to share this underwater world with her guests.
She is absolutely thrilled to have the opportunity to continue her global adventures in the Caribbean as the chef on Esperanza, bringing her culinary skills onboard, to create new dishes and share the ones she loves most with those onboard.
Jage and Erika are looking forward to making sure you have a truly unforgettable vacation with them on Esperanza II.
Reviews
Unforgettable Trip
We had a great time exploring the BVI's with Jage and Erika. We loved the quietness and seclusion when mooring at Great Dog and then had fun at Saba Rock, Soggy Dollar and Foxy's and will always remember Erin's tattoo at Willy T's :)
Thank you for an unforgettable trip. We hope to see you back in the islands again somemtime.
The BEST Time!
Captain Jage and Chef Erika went above and beyond to make sure Birthday dreams came true. Thank you for the water sports, site seeing, sand-castle building and DELICIOUS food. We had the BEST time!
With Heartfelt Thanks
Jage and Erika
Thank you both so much for everything you did to make our family vacation so wonderful and unforgettable. We truly appreciate the attention to detail, customization, and care you put into all that you did for us. You are an exceptional team.
Meals and snacks were a true highlight. Everyone looked forward to seeing what would come next, and enjoyed the mix of local and international flavors. Erika did a remarkable jog catering to our diverse tastes and dietary preferences.
Jage, you ensured a seamless and safe voyage, allowing us to relax and fully immerse ourselves in the beautiful scenery we were touring. Thank you also for helping customize our itinerary and for showing us some hidden gems in the BVI's.
Thank you both for your professionalism, hospitality and unwavering commitment to making our charter so special. We left Esperanza feeling refreshed, rejuvenated, and grateful for the memories. We all had such a good time, we are already talking about coming back and doing it all again.
With heartfelt thanks
Beyond Fantastic!
Our week with you on Esperanza was beyond fantastic! The best part of our trip was how well we were taken care of and how easy you made our decisions about how we wanted to spend our time here in the BVI's. We feel like royalty after all of the delicious gourmet meals CC consistently delivered each day. Our every need and want was met and exceeded and the bonus was that we enjoyed the crews' company more than words can express. All of this experienced in absolute paradise. This will definitely be one of our favorite vacations and has set the bar high for future trips
Took My Breathe Away
Captain Stephen, CC and Charli
We will not forget this week. When I first stepped on the boat it took my breath away. I felt like family from the get go. Chefs preparing our meals was the icing on the cake. Every site we visited had its beauty to offer us. We trly had a dream come true vacation. Lots of love, light and gratitude.
Great Family Vacation
Thank you for our great family sailing vacation! Sorry CC you had to put up with all our food item restrictions after the fact but your meals were excellent!! Stephen the places we visited and spent the nights were so beautiful! Thank you.
Perfect Vacations!
Thank you fo an absolutely perfect vacation. You made us feel at home and we loved getting to see all the things at each beautiful spot. The food was fab and we enjoyed your company and stories. The girls loved this trip and we made so many great memories!
Hope to be back someday.
Amazing Places To Visit
Thank you for such an amazing adventure! You both have given our families memories that will last a lifetime. Words cannot express our gratitude. Everything was perfect from the yacht to the food, to the many amazing places we got to visit.
You are both amazing hosts.
So much love from Orange County, CA
BROKER PROVIDED SURVEY
Yacht Name: Esperanza II
Yacht & Crew
Please answer the following questions pertaining to the yacht you chartered and the crew.
Rating of Yacht & Crew: 5/5
Was the yacht comfortable and clean?
Yes
Was the yacht well ventilated?
Yes
Was the crew friendly and accommodating?
Yes
Was the food good and well presented?
Yes
Additional comments about the yacht and crew?
Stephen and CC were great hosts and perfect sailors. Stephen set us up for three days of diving and one day of diving off the boat with extra tanks. Food was out of this world good!
Did you like the area you chartered in?
Yes, USVI and BVI were perfect.
BROKER PROVIDED SURVEY
Your overall star rating:
5/5
Was this your first charter yacht experience?
Yes
How did you enjoy your cruising vacation?
Yes! Very nice boat. Captain was knowledgeable and got us to the best places at the right time to secure a great spot. Also, the food was fantastic! CC was awesome.
How is the yacht? Is she clean and well-maintained? Were your cabins comfortable? Was the cockpit comfortable? Was there enough shade?
Yacht was in great shape! Cabins were nice and cool at night. Seating was comfortable and laid out well. Shade was good and weather was pleasant
Did you use all the water toys? If you were diving, how did you like the area?
We used most of the toys and enjoyed the snorkeling. Visited great spots!
Where your meals excellent and fresh? Spiced with variety and beautifully presented? Did the menus meet your expectations? Did your Chef and Crew pay close attention to your Preference Sheets?
Meals were fantastic! CC's cooking was spot on and everyone had their favorite meal at least once. It was well presented and tasted great. Really could have done with smaller portions but the kids managed to wolf it all down without any problems.
How would you describe your Captain and crew? Were they Courteous? Helpful? Friendly? Attentive? Knowledgeable?
Both Captain Stephen and Chef CC were the best! Knowledgable, friendly and extremely helpful to meet our needs. One couldn't ask for a better grouping.
Was it easy to get to your yachts destination?
Yes (USVI pickup and drop off)
How do you feel now after your vacation?
Completely relaxed and refreshed!
How did you find the pace and the itinerary of your vacation?
Perfect! got to move at our pace, yet managed to get in a wide range of islands.
This Trip Was Unforgettable!
Many memories were made on Esperanza II that will last a lifetime. Thank you to Chef CC with her food that exceeded our expectations in every way! Thank you Captain Stephen for not only your knowledge of the sea but your knowledge and stories of any given topic we discussed.
A few of our favorites were diving the scuttled Willy T, walking and swimming The Baths, the Rum bar, scooters and dancing at Potters to name a few.
The best part not only spending time with old friends and making new ones but ere our fund quotes of the trip.....
Overall this trip was unforgettable.
We had an amazing crew and know that we are secretly the best guests of the season :)
Thank you for the memories to last a lifetime!
The Food - OMG!!!
Thank you so much for such a wonderful experience! Every day was an adventure. The kids absolutely loved snorkeling and diving. You took us to amazing spots. Our bad weather day was a success due to your quick thinking.
The food - OMG ! So much and all so GOOD! The surf and turf was a fan favorite and so were the yummy lunch pastas and wraps. Every meal was creative and cooked perfectly! I've never sen my kids each so much :)
We truly appreciate your kindness and hospitality and wish you both the very best in the future!
Experience of a lifetime!
Going on a charter for the first time is a lot like going to you first day if school. Excitement is mixed with anxiety. Stephen and CC could not have been more warm and welcoming. Each of them did an exceptional job at putting us at ease, anticipating our every need and being so patient with our decisions that sometimes changed like the winds, as our journey through the USVI and BVI comes close, we will take home experience of a lifetime as well as two new close family friends Stephen, thank you for being our guide and great orator.
CC, you have set a new standard by which all other culinary experiences will be judged.
We are so grateful for you both, thank you, thank you, thank you.
A bucket list trip!
From the moment we we stepped on the boat we knew it would be an amazing trip. We enjoyed Stephen's knowledge of the islands and hit many of the "hot spots". Cece's food was amazing! She quickly picked up on our picky teenagers preferences and catered to that. There were many unplanned events on our trip but you guys adjusted with grace. Thank you for a relaxing slowdown which our family needed very much!
So many sea turtles!
a 40th Birthday celebration and what a celebration it was! Every meal and location was. top notch- wach with different experiences, memories and wildlife. Captain's knowledge of the islands is bar none and we are all still baffled at how Cece just started cooking a few years ago! Salt pond was our groups favorite place to stay (So many turtles) and we are still debating our favorite meal. Oh and Lime Out is a must!!
Thank you to Captain Stephen and Chef CeCe for the most incredible and relaxing vacation. We are happy to have entertained you with our music, jokes and antics, and feel so special that we have been your favorite group!
A Trip of a Lifetime!
Not sure a more memorable, fun, delicious & sun filled charter would be possible.
Each day a unique experience- from the turtles and rays to our snorkel trip in waterlemon key, to every eloquent meal CC treated us to, and all the sprites Captain Stephen poured, we had the most wonderful trip. Thank you for your hospitality and enjoyable companionship. This was for sure the BEST 50th birthday a girl could ask for. THANK YOU
Awesome trip in every way!
Thank you for the most amazing trip EVER! loved every second and can't wait to do it again. So many amazing sails, meals, snorkel trips, storytelling, Disaranno pouring and all the desserts!
Thank you Stephen and CC for all you did aboard Esperanza to make it the most memorable week!
It was just perfection! Food and EVERYTHING was just so delicious and amazing!
Fantastic!
What a fantastic four days in the U.S.V.I ! A huge thank you to Stephen and C.C. for taking such good care of us. Stephen knew all the good spots to see rays, turtles, fish and an unexpected live band performance on the back of a boat- so fun!
My favorite was the beautiful beaches! C.C. prepared the most amazing food- best chef ever!
We survived four days with two adults and five teenagers and are already planning out next trip with Stephen and C.C.! Sad to leave this beautiful place.
WOW!
What a great week. Food and fun was over the top!
Absolutely awesome!
on our week long adventure celebrating the life of our dear friend, we felt every ripple of his spirit egging us on to adventure and mischief! He was with us in rainbows, spotted eagle rays, sea turtles and nearly every fish on the card. Not to mention, dice games and shots, wrestling not the lily pad and rum punches in hand on the beach reminiscing on the good times.
BLOWN AWAY by every single meal chef CiCi and all of Captain Stephen's stories.
Heaven on earth.
See you guys next year!
Trip of a lifetime!
Thank you so much Captain Stephen for making our first overnight trip aboard a catamaran unforgettable! And to Chef CiCi for a group who are foodies- you left us very impressed with your culinary skills!
The Esperanza is a beautiful yacht and we were honored to have spent 3 wonderful days at sea.
We could not have asked for a kinder crew. You both are so kind, thoughtful and caring.
Thank you for the incredible, wonderful memories- we will never forget this trip of a life time!
An experience that far exceeded anything we could have possibly imagined or hoped for!
Some of the most special highlights include Stephens extensive and super interesting knowledge of all that is USVI, CC's incredibly delicious and camera ready food, our times seeking and swimming with sea turtles, enjoying some of the prettiest sunsets we have ever seen and stargazing.
We feel incredibly fortunate to have experienced such a unique vacation!
We've had amazing adventures together as 3 couples but this has got to be the best!
Our 20th anniversary celebration was incredible thanks to Captain Stephen and Chef CeCe. We've had amazing adventures together as 3 couples but this has got the be the best. Thank you Stephen for showing us the most beautiful spots.The hike, paddle boarding and snorkeling was all fantastic! Wow- Watermelon Cay!
CeCe we all want to take you home with us. You have spoiled us at every single meal. You Truly are talented.
Most Relaxing Vacation
Many thanks to captain Stephen and Celia for being so kind and patient with us through the entire charter. This was the most relaxing vacation we have ever been on . Chef CC's food was out of this world!
Where To Start?
Where to Start? First, I want to thank both captain Stephen and cherf CC for the fabulous time. I loved visiting all the different places around the islands.
the food on and off the boat was incredible! The sites were amazing! Thank you both for one of the best vacations we could have had. Keep up the great work
Every Was A New Best Day
This was such an amazing experience.
Captain and CC were the best and accomodated every need/want we had. Every day turned into the new best day. We cannot thank you enough.
Everything was truly wonderful
Beautiful Memories
Thank you Captain Stephen and CC for a wonderful week on the water.
We really appreciated your expertise in skippering and the culinary arts.
We sadly leave the USVI with beautiful memories of the sky, the water, and the "island vibes"
Memorable Gift
After months of planning and working around COVID to surprise my husband, we boarded Esperanza II for 6 days of glorious relaxation.
Captain Stephen and CC took care of our every need. We haven't eaten so well in a very long time. thank you guys for a memorable gift for my hubbie!!
A Great pause From Life!
Our time on the Esperanza II was fantastically relaxing. We are now sadly going back to negative degree weather. This week was a great pause from life.
Thanks to you, Stephen and CC!
Underwater Treasures and Turquoise Blue Waters!
What a wonderful and relaxing way to sail in the USVI.
Thank you captain Stephen for the smooth and safe sailing and for every site you chose for us, full of underwater treasures and turquoise blue waters.
Thank you CC for your wonderful and artful cuisine.
Can't wait to be back again!
Epic Charter Through the USVI!
Epic charter through the USVI! Captain Steve plotted our course through 7 islands in 7 days including New Years Eve 2021. The highlights of this trip included snorkeling with the turtles in Maho, sunset at Windmill Bar, paddleboarding in Magen's Bay, shopping in Love City, sailing to Lovango and chilling in Secret Harbor.
All of these stops had the cool island vibe and gracious hosts.
Stephen and CiCi were simply amazing. They managed the six of us with patience and grace.
The food was so tasty and I can't get over how much time CiCi spends repairing all of our meals and presenting them so artistically. She was able to manage the different tastes and dietary preferences and delighting everyone.
Thank you so much for delivering an epic charter.
Beautiful Coves
Thank you Capt Stephen and CC
Thank you both for a wonderful adventure here in the USVI. The trip was so enjoyable! Many beautiful coves you shared with us for wonderful snorkeling.
Enjoyable Week
Thank you for a very nice and most enjoyable week.
Stephen and CC have been marvelous. Stephen is a great captain and took care of our needs and desires and CC is a wonderful chef and all meals were fabulous.
They both wear so many hats and do all of their jobs exceptionally well.
Awesome Service and The Best Food!
I'd like to start this note by saying thank you to our captain and chef (Stephen and CC)
Awesome service and some of the best food I've ever been served. I would recommend the twice baked lobster to everyone.
So we are leaving with a few more sayings than when we came.
"Going to be a little bumpy, going to get a little wet, going to have a lot of fun"
The treat of seeing the sunsets, sunrises, tropical fish, the occasional cold beer is a privilege that we'll never take for granted.
Here's to the success of the Esperanza II, Stephen and CC as the years pass.
Incredible Week
Thank you for an incredible week. St. Barths is one of the most beautiful destinations in the world.
Captain Stephen and Chef CC - you are a fantastic duo! Your thoughtful attention to detail from A to Z has left us wanting more!
We look forward to seeing you again and wish you both the best
Wow! Speechless!
Wow!!
I'm truly speechless about this most memorable trip. Beautiful location, delicious food, great company - what more can we ask for :)
Thank you captain Stephen for making us feel so welcome. CC, your are truly and angel and a phenomenal chef. I am a crazy foodie and she fulfilled all-my wildest culinary desires!! i will be craving CC's delicious cuisine the second I step off the boat.
Incredible Sights, Food and Drinks
The past 6 days have been quite amazing for this wolfpack 5 family!
We could not have asked for better hosts. Stephen and CC you made the trip. Thank you so much for showing us incredible sights, food and drink. We have memories for a lifetime. As we depart today it's not a goodbye - but see ya soon.
True Fun In The Sun
What an amazing unique adventure doing something we have never done in a place we have never been.... now that's what we call living life!
Gathered together the 9 of us celebrated 2 of our friends birthdays.
Stephen was the host with the most! Snorkeling with "tortugas", seeing tarpon at night the size of sharks, LOL, having wrestling matches on the lilypad and not taking a regular shower for almost a week, was just what our friend-souls desired.
True fun in the sun!!
A Trip of a Lifetime!
Not sure a more memorable, fun, delicious & sun filled charter would be possible.
Each day a unique experience- from the turtles and rays to our snorkel trip in waterlemon key, to every eloquent meal CC treated us to, and all the sprites Captain Stephen poured, we had the most wonderful trip.