Hi Reader,

Every November, our team heads to the Virgin Islands for the annual BVI and USVI Charter Yacht Shows. It's one of the busiest weeks on our calendar, and easily one of my favorites.

Last year alone, we stepped aboard more than 100 yachts.

Next week, we're doing it all again.

There's a reason we make this trip every year. We believe the best yacht recommendations come from firsthand experience, not just a beautiful listing and a brochure.

A yacht can look incredible online. That's only half the story.

If you've spent any time browsing crewed yachts, you've probably noticed that a lot of them start to look pretty similar. Beautiful cabins, spacious decks, impressive menus. And the photography is almost always fantastic.

But two yachts that look nearly identical on paper can deliver completely different charter experiences.

A lot of that comes down to the crew.

We spend time with the captains, chefs, and stewardesses, getting to know their personalities, experience, and approach to hosting guests. We also sit down for meals prepared by the chefs, which tells us quite a bit about what you can expect aboard.

Would this captain be a great fit for a family with young kids? Is this chef someone who could make every meal a highlight of the trip? Does the crew have the kind of chemistry that makes a week aboard feel effortless?

These are things you simply can't figure out by scrolling through yacht listings.

It's also about knowing the yachts themselves.

We pay close attention to things that don't always come across in photos. Can eight guests comfortably sit together for dinner? Is there enough shade during the day? Somewhere quiet to escape with a book? How do the cabins actually feel?

And because we come back every year, we're not just looking at new yachts. We're revisiting boats we already know, catching up with their crews, and seeing how they're being maintained.

We also spend time with the management companies behind these yachts. They're the ones responsible for keeping everything running smoothly, and those relationships matter long after the charter shows are over.

It's all part of making sure the yachts we're recommending are ones we can confidently stand behind.

What we're looking forward to this year

We'll be at Nanny Cay in Tortola for the BVI show November 10–13, followed by Yacht Haven Grande in St. Thomas for the USVI show November 14–17.

There are several new yachts we're excited to see, including Allegra, a brand-new Bali 5.4 joining the BVI charter fleet. We'll also be catching up with familiar crews, including the team aboard Stella Mare.

And this year, we're bringing Lucia along to help capture it all. While we're busy inspecting yachts and meeting crews, she'll be documenting the experience so we can share more of what we're seeing with you. Expect more photos, behind-the-scenes looks, and firsthand insights into the yachts and people that make these charters special.

Is there a yacht you'd like us to check out?

If you've been researching a crewed charter and there's a particular yacht that's caught your eye, reply to this email or text me and tell me which one.

If it's at either show, I'll do my best to get aboard, meet the crew, and share my impressions. Whether you're curious about the cabin layout, the chef, or just whether the yacht lives up to its photos, I'm happy to take a closer look.

We'll be sharing more than ever this year, both during the shows and afterward. Follow along on Yacht Warriors Instagram and my personal account for a look at what we're discovering. Many of you also know Emilia, so be sure to follow along with her as well.

And when we're back, I'll put together a recap of the yachts and crews that impressed us most.

Have a great week!