First Impression: Caribbean Dream

Date toured: November 2007

Capt. Kelly Shepherd and chef Angie Webber probably know more about the 47-foot sailing catamaran Caribbean Dream than they will ever care to learn.
     The yacht’s owner previously had her signed on to be part of the Virgin Islands crewed yacht fleet at The Moorings, where Shepherd and Webber ran her in 2006—performing 42 weeks of charter in that single year alone. The schedule left them exhausted, so they took a few months off and then decided to resign. As Shepherd recalls, “The owner said, ‘If you’re leaving, the boat’s leaving with you.’”
     That was in August 2007, when they, and Caribbean Dream, did their last charter with The Moorings. The couple spent the month of September removing all the company’s decals from the boat, installing nifty underwater lights, getting a new hardtop bimini and sails, and replacing the yacht’s water maker, ice maker, and soft goods. They had her in good condition by two months later, when I got aboard in Tortola.
     The couple were still tired, and understandably so—but they were quite enthusiastic about Caribbean Dream’s new life as a proper crewed charter yacht.
     They’re ready for just about any kind of group that reputable charter brokers send their way, having entertained everyone from 14-month-old twins to an 80-year-old lobsterman from Maine onboard the yacht while it was with The Moorings. The boat is best set up for three couples, as the guest cabins all have step-up double-size beds (see the photo above). 
     Caribbean Dream is part of the fleet at CharterPortBVI. Her weekly rate is $11,500 for six guests with two crew.—Kim Kavin