I totally agree with Will. The right skipper can make or break a sailing vacation. As a charter broker for over 20 years, I have had a great deal of feedback from clients that proves this to be the rule, rather than the exception.
There are some pretty poor captains out there and believe me, I could tell you some interesting stories that would make "captain Ron" seem like a boy scout.
Many years ago when I worked for BVI Yacht Charters, I had one captain get into an all out brawl with my client that resulted in charges being laid against the captain ... and deservedly so. He spent some time in jail.
Another captain verbally abused my clients so badly that it resulted in the clients walking off the boat on day 3 of their holiday. I had to refund the entire trip out of my own pocket because said captain told me my clients were "fill in the blank".
Another captain asked my elderly client what it was like to have a "trophy wife", while telling that client that 3:30pm was beer o'clock ... and time to find an anchorage with a bar. This was an ASA captain by the way who was supposed to be teaching my clients to sail!
Yet another insisted that the client pay 10% of the cost of the charter as a tip, not knowing that the client had no intention of giving any tip whatsoever because the service provided had been so poor. Yet another one smoked dope right in front of the client on THEIR yacht!
Granted, all these things happened a very long time ago ... and the charter companies do a much better job of vetting captains these days, but it is still possible to get a less than pleasant captain. I have a list of captains the charter companies are not allowed to hire for any of my clients. Three out of the five captains noted above are still working as captains in the BVI. The one who assaulted my client was sent packing as he was from England. The one who smoked dope is no longer working as a captain.
I urge all charter guests to do their due diligence when hiring a skipper, and commend Moonshinemike for doing just that.
You can't go wrong with Maynard and if you go through with your charter plans and end up with him, I for one would love to hear back from you and get your opinion first hand.
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