I finally managed to get my hands on a digital copy of Sailing Magazine's September 2017 issue! I'm especially excited about it because one of my images fronts their charters feature (left). It's an honour to be included in such a prestigious sailing magazine, with more than 50yrs in print.This shot was taken from Ranguana Caye, Belize, while running a charter for Belize Sailing Vacations in Feb 2015. It's of the Leopard 38 sailing catamaran we were based on for that charter, hosting an amazing couple from the US, Ken and Elizabeth, who are still friends to this day. Such awesome memories.Thank you Greta, Sailing's Executive Editor, for including my photo and thank you to Rachael, from Absolute Belize, who put me forward for this feature.If you love sailing or you want to get into the sport, make sure you get your hands on at least one edition of Sailing Magazine - you can get your copy and subscribe here and here.
Bye Bye Belize
The charter season is over in Belize and the boats are on their way to the Rio, in Guatemala, for their annual maintenance. I thought this would be the perfect time to post a selection of our favourite photos, from some of our most memorable experiences, while working for Belize Sailing Vacations.
So many great memories!
Photo Credit: some of the below photos were taken by guests, specifically Andreas and Andrea Jensen, and they have graciously allowed me to use them for this post, and include their two beautiful daughters :) Thank you, Jensen family!
Goff's Caye
coconut harvesting on Goffs Caye
the view from above...
the view from below... getting to know the local Nurse Sharks
these guys are so beautiful and peaceful, and they love their sea grass. Rufus and I affectionately refer to them as "sea cows" :)
our guide, Ally, interacting with one of the rays - they know her well and greet her personally whenever she gets in the water
these two photos were taken while under way, sailing to the next
island - perfectly calm and clear
the view from our cabin port hole, while we were sailing
seagull trying his luck for a seafood snack off the back of the boat
fresh.live.lobster.
fresh shrimps prepared the Danish way, for our Danish guests. D is for DELICIOUS!
these two gorgeous girls stole my heart!
Rufus, our Lion Fish wrangler
soon to be ceviche
there was no one else on or around this island besides the two of us, our two guests and our boat anchored in the background.
chasing a crab up a tree, doing his best crab claw impression
a coconut is not the best hiding place, as it out...
say hello!
exploring the curious and colourful town of San Pedro, on Ambergris Caye, in the north of Belize. definitely worth a visit, if only for the locally hand-made organic chocolate (!!!).
sunset view from South Water Caye
sunset view from South Water Caye
the Fernandez family from Uruguay
you can take us out of South Africa but you can't take us away from the braai! this is one of our favourite charter meals to prepare: chicken, sweet pepper and pineapple sosaties (kebabs) on the ideally charcoal, not gas, braai (barbecue)
making furry friends on South Water Caye
sailboat sunset
Private Paradise
Ranguana Caye is a beautiful little private island, our favourite in the South. It is situated 29km/18 miles, about one hour speedboat ride, from Placencia, on the Southern Coast of Belize. It plays host to three wooden cabanas (plus one for staff), built on stilts, which sleep max three people each.
Everything is solar powered - there are no TV's or telephones, no cell or wifi reception. Communication to the outside world is via VHF (marine radio) only and there is a generator for emergencies.
Our most memorable trip there was on Sea Dale with Ken and Elizabeth. When we arrived we were lucky enough to have it to ourselves. The water was crystal clear and warm. The pelicans were curious and eager to have their photo taken.
The caretakers were friendly and gave us space to enjoy the island and its waters all to ourselves. I spent most of my time wandering around taking photos, occasionally running into Rufus, usually hiding in between the coconut trees waiting to jump out and surprise me or being shadowed by a curious pelican.
There is a small restaurant and bar on the island, which opens only for guests, and pre-booked day trip visitors. Because it is so remote everything needs to be planned ahead of time, provisioning being part of that, just like we do on charter. It is literally a 2 minute ride from the famous barrier reef, for some of the best diving and snorkeling in Belize and the fishing is apparently good too. I think most guests just just relax and enjoy the precious peace and quiet though - tanning, kayaking, swimming and drinking rum punch cocktails.
The owners have done a great job of creating a comfortable retreat without disturbing any of the natural island atmosphere. It still feels untouched and deserted. You have no choice but to relax and destress in that kind of environment.
pathway to the restaurant and bar
view of the boat from the island
pelicans posing
wanderings
restaurant
mini private beach
view from one of the cabanas
hide and peek
Rufus and his pelican companion
A Sailing Vacation
After a relaxed evening in Texan Bay we motored straight up to Nana Juana Marina and hauled Melody out onto the hard stand. We spent the rest of the day prepping her for the stay, cleaning and packing everything away, donating our remaining fruit & veg to the other cruisers and then packing our own belongings for the early morning trip back to charter work in Belize the following day.
Our boss, Cliff, and his wife, Rachael, have treated us like family since the first day we arrived in Belize and, as the season comes to an end, I've been getting a little nostalgic, looking back at photos from previous charters.
These photos are from our very first charter working for Belize Sailing Vacations. We had one of the company's other skippers, Andy, join us to help familiarise us with the routes and the boat. The charter was booked for 10 days in early July. The weather didn't cooperate with us all the time but we had a great couple onboard, from Germany, who were an absolute blast to spend time with.
our view of Aubisque as we snorkelled back from one of the islands
I never get bored of these guys
yay!
anchoring off another picturesque island
Andy and Rufus discussing spots to stop along the route
hiding in the mangroves, waiting for the bad weather to pass
even in "bad" weather, the view is still beautiful
enjoying the view
our dinner attacked Rufus and sliced his finger open to the bone!
Rufus, our human fish finder, scouting for good snorkelling spots while we are under way
National Geographic Traveller Magazine
At the beginning of the year Helen Warwick, deputy editor of Nat Geo Traveller UK, and her husband joined BSV for a honeymoon charter. Rufus and I didn't run the charter ourselves but when Helen started putting her article together she approached Rachael (our boss' wife and owner of Absolute Belize, a luxury travel company, who coordinated Helen's Belizean vacation) and asked if we would submit some of our photos to accompany it, along with another photographer.
I wasn't sure if Helen would choose any of my shots, especially alongside a pro photographer, so it was exciting to see a couple of my photos published for the first time, especially in a travel magazine and most especially in a National Geographic publication!
When I showed Rufus the July/August 2015 edition, and he saw himself in the pages, he asked me in a slightly worried tone: "Does this mean I'm famous now?". I laughed so hard I almost dropped my laptop! Luckily I don't think he has anything to worry about just yet...
Thank you Helen and Rachael for the opportunity to be part of this!