Southern Comfort
Newsletter

 
   
Dear Friends,  

 

            Southern Comfort is busily engaged in another charter season in the beautiful Virgin Islands and is waiting to welcome you aboard. We’ve been busy, continuing our upgrade of onboard systems and gear. We’ve added a second dinghy to increase water sports access. On deck we have a new mainsail, new cockpit cushions and new sail covers for both the main and mizzen sails. On the stern rail there is a new and larger stainless steel BBQ grille.

 

Below deck we’ve upgraded the galley with a new stove, oven and broiler and added a new coffee maker. The main salon sports new curtains, new cushions, a larger flat-panel TV and a new stereo system that is iPOD compatible. We’ve added new linens and comforters in each of our cabins along with new works by local island artists. There are new DVD’s and CD’s in the library as well.

 

Mate Zachary Smith is a PADI Dive Instructor and happy to teach a free Discover SCUBA course or help you do your check out dives for Open Water Diver certification. Discover SUBA involves basic instruction and you get to dive the rest of the week with Zack. We do not charge to dive on Southern Comfort. Bring your own gear, or we can arrange rental gear for you through our partner Antilles SCUBA. We have racks for 12 tanks and all you pay for is gear rental and tank fills. If you’ve done your knowledge and pool work already and need an Open Water Referral the cost is $250/prson. We discourage full instruction since you will have to spend the first few days of your charter with your nose buried in a textbook, but if you insist, the cost is $350/person for full instruction.

 

New this season is our Learn to Sail program. Captain Mike Calhoun is an American Sailing Association (ASA) certified sailing instructor and teaches bareboat charter and coastal navigation courses. Our onboard program will put you at the helm every day. You’ll learn the essential knots, how to properly hoist sails, tack and gybe, dock, pick up a mooring, safely and quickly recover a man overboard, read and plot on a chart, anchor, navigate and troubleshoot and maintain onboard systems.  Certification solely depends on you successfully demonstrating all the necessary skills and passing a written test at each level. You can view the ASA certification standards at www.asa.com and except for a small fee for testing and materials, instruction is free. You are welcome to take the helm and we encourage you to sail the boat whether you are seeking certification or not. We love to sail and introduce others to the sport as well.    

 

           

              

 What has not and will never change is our unsurpassed commitment to client satisfaction, quality service, absolute safety, value and fun.     Come lounge on our wide decks in one of our two new bean bag chairs or relax and fish from one of our two new chairs on the aft deck. You can snooze in our double hammock; enjoy a gourmet meal in the air conditioned comfort of the main salon or above deck in our spacious cockpit. Our Chef Ashley Hotchkiss is culinary certified and custom plans menus for each charter based on your wants and needs.  

 

Come snorkel the spectacular coral reefs and turquoise colored waters filled with tropical fish, go waterskiing, kayaking or wakeboarding. Come join us in paradise and take a leisurely walk on the unspoiled white sand beaches or hike the trails to the ruins of sugar mills and plantations. In the evening you can sample the island nightlife, or just relax and gaze at the countless stars in the brilliant night sky.

 

This summer Southern Comfort will return to New England for June-September cruising from Long Island Sound to the Gulf of Maine. Our long distance voyages in May and September to reposition the yacht are available as per cabin booking up to four persons. These two week voyages are for those interested in open ocean sailing and sea time as you work on your captain’s license. You will need your own personal safety gear and appropriate clothing and we reserve the right to exclude those lacking significant ocean experience.

 

We are ready to answer any questions you may have and to help you find a charter broker to help you plan your vacation. These professionals are invaluable in arranging your charter aboard Southern Comfort. We hope to see you aboard Southern Comfort soon.

 

 Drop us an e-mail to let us know what you're doing or if you have a question; our address is: Inquiries@YachtSouthernComfort.com

 
 

and remember, TIME SPENT ON THE WATER IS NOT DEDUCTED FROM ONE'S LIFESPAN!!

All our best,

Captain Mike Calhoun.

 

 RECENT GUESTS COMMENTS:

 

The Fife clan had a wonderful vacation on Southern Comfort. The crew were very hospitable and informative. The meals were great! The kids loved everything and the chef was always one step ahead of us in anticipating our hunger! Michael and the kids loved the dives. The crew was great at picking out the best sites and working them into our schedule.
The Fife clan by e-mail July 8, 2007
(The U.S. and British Virgin Islands)

 

 

We had an outstanding time!   For our 1st visit to the BVI's, we felt that we absolutely visited all of the best places, and we are looking forward to another trip to explore even more fun spots.  The snorkeling was outstanding.  Our 5 kids (7, 8, 9, 11 & 12) all agreed it was the best vacation they had ever been on.  The four adults agreed it was probably the most beautiful and most relaxing vacation we had ever taken!

John Dewey & family, April 15, 2007 by e-mail

(The British Virgin Islands) 

 

I have turned into a walking advertising campaign for the BVI and specifically Southern Comfort. We are still laughing and talking about our wonderful time.  We knew that we would have a good time, but you guys made our vacation so much fun and kept us all entertained.

Katie Blackburn & family, February 24, 2007 by e-mail

(The U.S. and British Virgin Islands)

 

Your crew is wonderful and our compliments to the chef.

Jeffrey Smith & family, January 2, 2007 by telephone

(The U.S. and British Virgin Islands)

 

 

We had a fantastic time. The food was excellent and the crew was great.   

The Frank family, August 26, 2006 by e-mail

(Fishers Island, Block Island, Cuttyhunk Island, Point Judith, and Martha's Vineyard)

 

 

Just a quick note of thanks for the great time we all had on Southern Comfort. The memories will last us a lifetime. Rounding Cape Hatteras in that spectacular thunderstorm and stopping off in Cape May, New Jersey were exciting. The best part was sailing under the Verrazano Narrows Bridge into New York harbor at night, what a view.  Thanks Captain Mike for letting the boys take the wheel.

Bradley Shunk, July 23, 2006 by e-mail

(Charleston, Cape May, New York City)

 

 

Thank you for the wonderful week aboard Southern Comfort. We had a blast and what timing, seeing the shuttle liftoff as we sailed by Cape Canaveral. I only wish we had more time, but the demands of work beckon. We will be back to visit soon, this time in the Caribbean.

David Klopfenstein and friends, July 9, 2006 by e-mail

(Palm Beach, Savannah, Charleston)

 

 

What a grand adventure, it was a remarkable ten day voyage thru the Bahamas which we will never forget.  We loved Spanish Wells, very charming. Thank you for letting us take the helm and experience the thrill of sailing Southern Comfort, she’s a great boat.  The dolphins were cool to watch from the bow.

The Avilez and Dunn families, June 19, 2006  guest log note

(St. Thomas, Bahamas, Florida)

 

 

We had a great time on Southern Comfort. The crew was the best part! Not only was it great for Suzanne (the other Mum) and I to totally relax and not have to bother with feeding 5 children it was awesome that the crew took so much interest in the children. The boat was lovely and clean at all times and the housekeeping jobs taken care of very well. The cabins were lovely and the finishing touches really made the trip. The two big boys both got a chance at sailing and enjoyed themselves thoroughly. All in all a great experience and well worth every cent!

The Brooks family, April 12, 2006 by e-mail

(The British Virgin Islands)

 


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