2023 BVI & USVI Fall Charter Yacht Shows: Winner Highlights

Ritzy Charters Brokers recently attended the industry trade shows held in the BVI and USVI. As every year, spending time among the best in this industry has been an amazing, heartwarming experience - and that’s both for the boutique-style Charter Yachts and their crews!

Attending yacht shows is crucial for us to gain in-depth knowledge about the yachts we offer to our clients. It is equally important for reconnecting with industry contacts like yacht managers and building new relationships that enable us to provide an exceptional customer service experience.

The BVI show was held November 7-10 at Nanny Cay Resort & Marina, Tortola, and the USVI Show followed November 11-14 at IGY Marina’s Yacht Haven Grande, St. Thomas. The shows were the largest the industry has seen in recent years, with a record yacht and brokers attendance: 50 crewed yachts and more than 120 charter brokers attended the BVI Fall Show; while 70 yachts, and 140 charter brokers from the Caribbean, U.S., and Europe were present at the USVI Show.

Xandros is the first Lagoon SIXTY5 available for luxury charter vacations and the first of its kind to be present in and around North America. This enormous catamaran won the main prize of its category in the 2023 USVI Charter Yacht Show.

Our brokers had the opportunity to witness the yachts available for charter in the area, interact with the crews, and taste the chef's delicacies in the galley through a special invite for lunch or dinner during the show.

Apart from the prestigious culinary competition, the crews also participated in contests for Best Cocktail, Best Crew, and the top prize, Best in Show, which takes into account the overall presentation, special details of the yacht, and the attitude and energy of the crew. Keep reading to find out who won this year's awards.

(LEFT) First course of Chef Bowman 6 Course Dinner Menu: Salt baked beet rose, boat cheese rolled in dried herbs, local arugula, blueberry gel, mint cilantro oil, miso, pickled carrots and cucumber rolls, sliced radish, dragon fruit butterfly tuile.(RIGHT) From left to right, Captain Kevin Gentles, Chef Nicole Bowman, Stewardess Emma Hill, and First Mate Mitchell Nesbitt from award-winning S/C Mariah Princess III. 

37th BVI Charter Show 

A bit of rain could not keep members of the British Virgin Islands’ boating community away from one of their industry’s biggest events. CYS Executive Director Janet Oliver said the annual show was a success, drawing new charter yacht additions and a growing interest in the participation of brokers from the Mediterranean.  

The schedule included the usual contests, a draw from an assortment of BVI charities, a puppy adoption program through PAW BVI, and the enchanting “Sundowners at Six” - a night showcase of the yachts’ night lights and table settings.

  

Best in Category

Best up to 53'

1st Place: UNWAVERING with Adam Hughes and Rosie Kirk

2nd Place: REACH with David Stanley and Naomi Timms

Best 53 to 62'

1st Place: AMAYA with Biff Smith, Amy Edmonds and Piers Reid

2nd Place: PORT TO VINO S59 with Jeff and Caitlin Nichols

Best 63' and up

1st Place: MARIAH PRINCESS III with Kevin Gentles and Nicole Bowman

2nd Place: COLIBRI with Graham & Kristiann Gips and Stacey Law

Runner-Up for ‘Best 63’ and up’ S/C COLIBRI in 2023 BVI Yacht Charter Show offers generous private spaces and multiple social areas for couples, families, and groups of friends to gather. 

Culinary Contest

Best Appetizer: Loic Jausoro aboard JAN’S FELION

Best Dessert: Katie Harrison aboard WANDERLUST

Best Entrée: Katie Harrison aboard WANDERLUST

USVI Charter Yacht Show

Over the last seven years, the charter yacht industry in the U.S. Virgin Islands has shown great resilience in the face of various challenges, including hurricanes and a global pandemic. As a result, it has grown into a formidable economic force, generating $88 million annually. This has helped to put the U.S. territory on the global map as the premier maritime destination in the Caribbean, particularly for boutique-style, exquisitely customized crewed yacht charter vacations.

The USVI Charter Yacht Show showcased a fleet of yachts ranging from 42 to over 105 feet in size. The yachts comprised both power and sail, multihulls and monohulls, and were accompanied by bespoke crews. These crews provided customized vacation experiences for guests, rather than a cookie-cutter approach.

Award-winning S/C EMYSA will accommodate 6 charter guests in 2 spacious queen cabins and 1 luxurious master cabin equipped with a coffee station.

USVI Competition Winners

Best Yacht in Show – 50’ & Under 

1st Place: KORU, with Findlay Mack and Cara Whiteman

2nd Place: OCEANA with Umberto Genovese and Lindsey Montgomery

Best Yacht in Show – 51’- 60’

1st Place: EMYSA with Bastian Tromp and Sarai Ben Ari

2nd Place: ATLAS with Brynn Moultrie and Rosie Jones

Best Yacht in Show – 61’ & Over

1st Place: XANDROS with Mayon Hight, Elizabeth Hight, and Sam Middeke

2nd Place: THE PEDDLER with Arnold Heins, Jenna Smit, Mariaan Odendaal, and Daniel Cohn

Best Crew in Show

1st Place: Josh Ryan, Gustavo Ryan, Yacht: VALENTINA

2nd Place: Brynn Moultrie, Rosie Jones, Yacht: ATLAS

Culinary Contest

Overall Winner: Paula Milovac, Yacht: BAREFEET RETREAT

1st Place: Sara Hogan, Yacht: LIQUID ZEN

2nd Place: Belinda Jane Bentley, Yacht: MYSTIC

3rd Place: Julia Ray, Yacht: SHANGRI-LA

Chef Paula Milovac and Captain Ryan Hayes from S/C BAREFEET RETREAT before winning the overall prize of the Culinary Contest.

Our congratulations to all winners and participants! Check out the winners from the 2022 BVI & USVI Charter Yacht Shows. If you are interested in booking your own charter in the Virgin Islands, be sure to explore our full Virgin Islands Yacht Charter Fleet.