Keen adventurers, Cyrus Dietz and Kate Giebink have shared with us why they are joining our crewed fleet in the Virgin Islands for March 2019 on board their new Lagoon 42 catamaran, CruiseNautic. They spent years adventuring on land before honing their sailing skills, ready to offer guests new experiences in the Caribbean.
From the mountains to the sea
Hostess and Captain, Kate, from Minnesota, said: “When Cyrus and I met, we discovered our shared passion for adventuring and soon we were hiking mountains, crossing deserts, canyoneering, paddling, mountain biking and 4-wheeling. We completed a serious adventure race in Montana, the Bob Marshall Wilderness Open, fashioned after The Alaskan Wilderness Classic. The start and end points straddled the continental divide in one of the biggest wilderness areas of the US, trekking 100 miles by foot and packraft we traveled through grizzly bear-infested forests and paddled raging class 4 waters. Cyrus even had to save me a few times with his throw rope! He has gone on to lead me into new adventures as we fell in love with Moab, Utah and the wealth of activities it offers. I used to have a fear of heights which he helped me overcome by repelling down some spectacular canyons.”
Kate’s dad was a physician and she traveled the world with him as a young girl, from the Caribbean, to Europe’s main cities and Asia, giving her the travel bug. Kate said: “Dad was an avid sailor in Minnesota and I sailed with him from age four on a 17ft Oday in Wisconsin. We got out on the lake when we could, as well as plenty of ocean sailing. Captain and host, Cyrus grew up in Wisconsin, spending summers in Cape May, New Jersey, where he spent time with his dad sailing and deep sea fishing.
“Having grown up on boats, we share a love for the limitless adventures offered on the ocean. We sailed small boats on the Great Lakes before moving on to the Gulf and sailing 48ft catamarans, getting USCG licensed and RYA certified. It seemed natural for us to make the leap and make adventuring our business, giving guests a taste of true exploration, backed by home comforts and tasteful entertaining.”
The dining experience
Talking about the atmosphere on board, Kate said: “We want people to feel this is their home away from home and we’ve got so much space where they can sunbathe, watch the stars on deck or relax in the saloon.”
Kate has worked in fine dining since she was 16, learning the ropes front of house while watching chefs closely, picking up the tricks of the trade. She continued to work in five-star establishments into her mid-20s and mixed with foodie entrepreneurs, who developed her culinary expertise.
Kate said: “We love to cook and use a complete global mix of dishes with flavors from the area. We’ve got a Kamado grill and will be cooking Neapolitan pizzas, ribs, fish and curries. Fresh ingredients are important as we love to eat tasty but healthy food. Cyrus has a repertoire of amazing cocktails, including the ‘CruiseNauti’, a refreshing cocktail built with homemade ginger beer and a few trade secrets. We’ve also been experimenting with a healthy alternative to the painkiller!”
“You could wake up to fresh baked island banana rum bread, egg polenta skillet, rum challah French toast or eggs benedict. For lunch, you can feast on lobster rolls, wood fired pizza, Ginger Lime Ahi tacos or Nicoise salad. You’ll enjoy an array of Caribbean delights for dinner, such as coconut curry, pan seared Mahi Mahi, jerk chicken, Cuban roast pork and lobster bake. That’s before we get onto key lime pie, chocolate lava cake, coconut cream pie and bread pudding with praline sauce for dessert. This is just a sampling of some of our favorites.”
BVI beauty spots
CruiseNautic arrives in the Virgin Islands in December and starts hosting guests from March 2019. Kate said: “Our two-year plan is to become fully scuba-certified so we can offer liveaboard dive trips. Personally we know a guest favorite will be Anegada for its peacefulness and we’ll be offering USVI pick ups and drops offs – we love St John for its sea turtles and hiking trails.“
Itineraries are customized to your desires and Kate and Cyrus can help you with plenty of recommended places to visit and the best spots to snorkel, swim, kayak and paddleboard.
Kate added: “We can sail to Norman Island, which inspired the book Treasure Island, to explore the caves and head to Spyglass Wall for eagle rays. The Indians just off Pelican Island is a must, plus the RMS Rhone shipwreck and Peter Island. Virgin Gorda and the Baths are must-sees with giant rock formations, caves and pools to discover. Leverick Bay, North Sound, Anegada’s 18-mile long Horseshoe Reef, Guana Island and Jost Van Dyke are all on the list. We’ll also stop off at some of the famous watering holes, including Foxy’s, Willy T and Pusser’s if guests wish to sample Caribbean bars.”
On board CruiseNautic
Kate said: “We considered monohulls, trawlers, express cruisers and then landed back on cats for their comfort and blue water capabilities. We fell in love with the Lagoon 42’s soft and rounded design, the giant sugar scoops and the open deck area. The cockpit is a great size to be the hub-like kitchen of a home. The bedrooms are great with lots of light.”
CruiseNautic has three queen staterooms with private bathrooms, which can accommodate six guests. You’ll have access to all the water toys you could possibly need, including a tandem kayak, paddle boards, bodyboard, snorkeling gear, towable tube, water skis and fishing poles. There is also a projector on board for movies, HDTV, tablets, bluetooth speakers, guitars and amps. You’ll enjoy superior comfort with:
- Large stateroom windows for those all-important views
- Spacious indoor saloon with 360° views
- Giant ‘sugar scoops’ (platforms from the stern for easy water access)
- Hot water deck shower
- Air conditioning
- Teak decks
- Sun loungers (including rooftop lounge), beach chairs and hammocks
- Underwater lighting to attract the fish at night
- Pro Espresso machine
- 400 thread count Egyptian cotton linens
- USB outlets
Get expert advice
Talk to our all-inclusive crewed experts. Email [email protected] or call on 857.330.4330.
