Your Crew
Carlos and Maribel are a professional, multilingual Captain/Eng. and Chef/Mate team with many years of experience operating large power and sail yachts worldwide. From 2012 to 2017 they were owners/operators of the very successful and highly rated BVI crewed charter catamaran Sea Chateau. Now they are the proud owners/operators of another large and comfortable sailing catamaran: ALIZÉ.
Carlos was born in Michigan and grew up in Maryland sailing and fishing the waters of the Chesapeake. He holds an International Master of Yachts 200 ton. Ocean license and is also trained in marine firefighting, diesel mechanics, radar, radio communications and first aid. He is very conscious about your safety and the safety and maintenance of his vessel. His hobbies include, from being an avid sport fisherman to a passionate photographer and classic rock and jazz music enthusiast. Some of his guest also affirm that his mojitos are the best in the islands.
Besides being a professional Architect, Maribel is STCW certified, holds an RYA power boat level II license and is also a professionally trained Chef, graduated from the Gaga Culinary Institute under the guidance of French Master Chef Laureant Cantineaux and is also trained in Silver Service. Three years spent in Tuscany, Italy while supervising the construction of a Benetti 120 ft. mega yacht and her recent travels to Sicily, Sardinia and Croatia, have also given Maribel the opportunity of learning the traditional Mediterranean cooking techniques, native ingredients and well kept family secrets, all of which compliment her Spanish and Latin/Caribbean heritage to provide you with an exciting, delicious and beautifully presented culinary experience I every meal. With their experience, charm and passion for excellence; Carlos and Maribel will surely make your Caribbean sailing vacation the experience of a life time.
Late July, 2026, a family cruising aboard catamaran ALIZÉ said:
<p>Dear Carlos and Maribel,<br>Our family cannot thank you enough for providing us with a trip of a lifetime. The itinerary fit our family perfectly. You shared the beauty of Norman Island, The Baths, and Peter Island, but more importantly, created an environment for a family to smile and laugh together.<br>Maribel's cooking was delicious and encouraged a family to sit around a table together without distractions and the rush, sometimes present at home. I hope you know that your care has had a significant positive impact on our family.<br>We appreciate you both very much!<br>Thank you!<br>Petersen Family</p>
Guests aboard catamaran ALIZÉ in mid June, 2026 said:
<p>The experience:<br>Our trip on Alize with Carlos and Maribel was our first experience island hopping on a crewed charter boat and we fell in love with it. Sailing to the destination island in the morning after breakfast, mooring in a protected cove or bay, exploring the island’s beach and attractions during the day, returning to our boat in the late afternoon to lounge or enjoy the water, having dinner on our boat, and then lounging until bedtime with fantastic sunsets, and beautiful island scenery. Then doing it again the next day with a different island, different beach, different attractions. Even though the boat is typically one of many (15-20? I never counted, honestly) moored in a given location, it’s still a very private-feeling environment and vibe. While of course there’s no controlling the behavior of others, in general, there seemed to be a common respect and consideration that resulted in mostly very peaceful evenings and nights. It’s an experience we didn’t know existed, but we’re so glad to have found out and we’re definitely looking forward to doing it again.</p><p> </p><p>The boat:<br>The Alize itself was roomy, super clean, and really comfortable. Sitting in the front lounge area while sailing was so relaxing and just a great way to take in the scenery. The aft lounge area and deck was great for meals and hanging out in the evenings with our friends after a day of activity. When it was time to turn in, the cabins were cooled to perfect sleeping temperature and the beds were totally comfy and roomy. </p><p> </p><p>The hosts/crew:<br>The islands, the water, and their attractions are there regardless of who is taking care of you. But the crew is the key to getting the most out of the experience. Carlos and Maribel are not only experts at captaining and managing yachts, but they have the experience in the BVIs to be able to craft the best itinerary for what you want to do. They have the connections and knowledge that facilitate getting the best provisions, being in the desired locations at the best possible times (for example, visiting popular attractions when there's no cruise ship in port), and other intangibles you may never even be aware of that make the experience better. Knowing what we were interested in doing, Carlos put together an itinerary that maximized our ability to do those things and give us the most privacy possible. So many times on our trip, crowds showed up only after we'd had a few hours completely to ourselves. We had several virtual private island experiences simply because of smart planning. And on the boat the vibe was comfortable, everything was clean and functional, and it was so easy to relax and just enjoy the scenery and peacefulness of being moored in a beautiful cove or bay for the night. Maribel is a professionally trained chef and all the food was fantastic. Not having to shop, cook, and clean while on vacation is a treat. Having such high quality meals served to you is another level of luxury. Knowing you're in good hands in all aspects of the trip really allows you to enjoy the experience to the fullest, stress-free, and completely satisfied with your decision to charter a yacht in the BVIs.</p><p> </p><p>We would sail with Carlos and Maribel on Alize again in a heartbeat and highly recommend it to anyone.</p>