Last week my colleague and I had the pleasure of being invited on board the 105ft sailing catamaran, NECKER BELLE, for a sail and lunch in the waters of the Caribbean sea. It was a great day to be out on the water, a warm breezy day and the Caribbean sun was shining albeit a little hazy due to the Sahara dust layer that was in the area.
Necker Belle is one of the worlds largest luxury sailing catamarans available for charter. She can be chartered separately or if your pockets allow, you can rent her along with Richard Branson’s luxury retreat Necker Island located here in the BVI.
Necker Belle offers accommodation for up to 10 guests, but is best suited for 8, with a master suite, a double cabin and two twin cabins, all with en suite shower rooms, flat screen TV and iPod docking stations. Being a catamaran she is very stable and offers a lot of space from the well appointed state rooms and the indoor salon to the comfortable cockpit, the forward trampoline (a favorite with kids) and the spacious fly-bridge offering a 360 degree view of the sparkling waters of the Caribbean sea. With a crew of 6 and a well stocked selection of water toys you may never want to go back to land again.
There is even a diving board for a perfect entry into the crystal blue water.
Captain Ryan and crew went out of their way to show off the good points of NB, not least of which is a crew that, for the most part, grew up in the BVI, know all the local haunts and how to get things done ‘island style’. This team of 6 crew members enjoy what they do and create an easy informal atmosphere. Luxurious, but not stiff, easy enough to relax with a sumptuous, well prepared seafood lunch in your bathing suit — you may choose to ‘dress for dinner’ during a theme night, but not because you need a jacket & tie.
Cabins are light and airy on the main deck level with a simple spa style decor, but that outdoor spaces are the big plus for this cat: the top deck cockpit for sun worshipers, the huge trampolines forward to feel the sea rushing by underneath you, and the large covered dining cockpit on the main deck.
Enjoying lunch on Necker Belle — seafood & wine!
Necker Belle’s Capt Ryan steers a steady course
Heading into Lee Bay
Running shot of the 105ft Necker Belle
The 105 foot Luxury Catamaran Yacht Necker Belle available for charter in the Caribbean for the 2012/2013 season.
