Dear Jim & Cindy,

Thank you so much for a wonderful Thanksgiving week in the BVI.  Our group of six had a wonderful time on your immaculate yacht Flamboyance.  Since this was our first sailing charter we really didn't know what to expect.  You and Cindy were so friendly and made us feel so at home that we were instantly at ease.  One of my friends asked me how long it took to relax once we got on board and I replied, "Within about five minutes we were setting sail for Peter Island with cold drinks for everyone, very relaxing".

I must admit that when we made the reservations we were concerned that the children (9 & 11) may get bored or go crazy on the boat for an entire week.  We reassured ourselves that they could always watch movies on the TV in  the salon if necessary.  The fact that they walked past the TV many times a day, for an entire week, and NEVER even asked to turn it on speaks volumes about how much they enjoyed the trip.  Snorkeling, kayaking, jumping off the boat, walking on the beaches, hiking on mountain trails, relaxing in the hammock, laying on deck while underway, riding in the dingy and learning about the stars were just some of the activities I know our children (and the adults) will never forget.

Jim, I want to especially thank you for taking the time to help my parents feel comfortable snorkeling.  Even though they are both good swimmers and comfortable in the water, they were apprehensive about snorkeling.  With your help and patience they were able to have a great experience.  I also want to thank you for being my dive partner.  One of the main reasons I requested Flamboyance was your certification as a dive master and the ability to fill tanks onboard.  Since I was the only diver in our group, you did a good job of taking us to places where the rest of the group could snorkel while we dove.  I especially enjoyed diving at "The Indians" as well as the wreck of the Rhone.

While trying to select a yacht for our trip, I read several letters sent by your previous guests, each one going on and on about the wonderful food and great service provided by Cindy.  None of them, including this one, can adequately describe how truly special the experience was.  Our family is used to doing everything for ourselves, so being waited on hand and foot in such a wonderful and lavish manner gave our family the experience of a lifetime.  To spend time on Flamboyance is to wake early for a morning swim and return to a fully prepared breakfast;  it is going for a hike on shore and returning to "happy hour" with drinks, hot crab dip, cheese and crackers;  it is taking a fresh water shower on the back of the boat and then sitting down to a complete gourmet dinner with wine and dessert.  In other words, it was heaven.. Thank you Cindy for all of your hard work, your extra effort with the children's food and the very special Thanksgiving dinner you prepared.  I could go on and on.....

Our family will always treasure the memories of our time together on Flamboyance!  Thank you so much for making our vacation so special.

Sincerely,
Danny Robinson
Lexington, SC  USA

Dear Captain Jim and Cindy,

The recent week that Carol and I spent with you was certainly one of the very best vacation weeks that we have ever had.  We appreciate the hard work that the two of you did to ensure the well being of your guests.  Your yacht is beautiful and we were impressed at how you were always working to keep it that way.  Carol was also impressed with the custom cushions or mats and the awnings to provide shade.

Cindy, the meals were well received and appreciated by your guests as you could probably tell since there were usually no "leftovers".  Yesterday I copied your recipes and mailed them to the other two couples.

Jim, we treasure the map that you gave us as it such a wonderful memento of our adventures during our week with you.  I am sure we will eventually frame it and it will become a conversation piece for our guests.

Take Care - Bill and Carol 

Dear Jim and Cindy,

We had a wonderful vacation on the Flamboyance.  Both of you were the perfect hosts for our two families.  It was the most relaxing vacation I've been on, because you two took care of all of our needs including being great with the four children.

Taking a sailing charter with an experienced captain and trained chef is the best way to vacation.  Your local knowledge was priceless.  We appreciate that you planned the itinerary based on our needs and desires.  You sailed the boat to great snorkeling, dive spots and anchored in quiet coves based on the wind and weather.

Cindy, your food was superb. Every meal was beautifully prepared and presented.  The food was fresh and had good variety.  On the way home, we realized that each of had a different favorite dinner. You even inspired the girls and I for Mother's Day.  We made Gretchen muffins for breakfast and pork tenderloin for dinner. 

Jim, I appreciate you helping me to complete my open water certification for scuba diving.  It was such a thrill to feel like I was floating through the water (all the way down to 85 feet).  By the end of the week, I was very comfortable under the water.

Your boat was great.  We appreciate the way you take great care and pride in maintaining your boat.  That gave us a feeling of safety.  The accommodation really worked out for our two families of eight people.  While the boat is not big, there are enough different locations for people to have space when they wanted it.  The only time it felt tight was when we had all the big people on the same side of the dining table.

I would be glad to recommend a vacation on Flamboyance and more important with both of you to any family with pre-teen and teenage kids.

Once again, thank you for making our vacation, a vacation that all eight of us will cherish forever.

Sincerely,
Bill, Gretchen, Meredith and Cynthia Mills.

"Our Captain and crew were extremely accommodating and sensitive to our needs. Jim Fritz is just a delightful, kind and thoughtful person. The yacht was comfortable and beautifully maintained, the  meals were appetizing and well served and we were able to participate in planning where to sail each day. We both enjoyed Jim and Kristi's company and appreciated their consummate professionalism and personal charm. This was the most relaxing vacation we have ever had!" Jenny Tomkins, New Year's 2001-02.   

"We thoroughly enjoyed our charter on board Flamboyance. The yacht was absolutely immaculate and very comfortable. Our crew were excellent company, Jim and Kristie couldn't have been more accommodating: Kristie even accompanied me on snorkeling trips when my husband was diving with Jim. We were served delicious gourmet fare throughout our cruise. " Sheila Horwich, January 2002. 

"Dear [Broker]: Please excuse our delay in getting back to you following our March charter in the BVI, aboard Flamboyance. We had a great experience. 
Jim Fritz was an exceptional guy. He takes great pride in his yacht, maintains her beautifully and is without question competent captain. Janet and I had visited the BVI before, and now can't say enough about the  benefits of a crewed charter vs. a bareboat, particularly with 2 families and 4 kids. Aside from the food, which was outstanding, and the fun company o Jim and Jillian, we saw parts of the BVI that we never would have otherwise. On top of that, Jim just seemed to have impeccable timing: we were always in the right spot at the right time. 
We were a busy group, eager to do a fair amount of sailing. Once Jim was comfortable with our skills, we were doing the driving. It was great. Flamboyance has a very versatile rig , and performs pretty well in all points of sail. She's also very comfortable under sail. We were looking forward to doing a lot of snorkeling, and Jim's experience as a Divemaster was a huge plus. 
During our week we covered quite a bit of ground. There were places that we wanted to visit to show the kids, and we wanted to see some new spots, taking advantage of Jim's local knowledge. We can't say enough about the entire trip. When we booked  it, you had recommended Flamboyance , as I recall primarily because of Jim. You perceived that he'd "fit" well with us, particularly 4 busy kids 10 to 16. Well, that recommendation was a home run. He was tremendous, as was Jillian. My Scotty, who's 14, must have asked 4000 questions about the boat, and every one was  patiently answered with a great touch. A lot of caring, humor and genuine interest. They made the kids feel great. We read a lot, played games, watched a few movies, ate wonderful, interesting food (Katie used only one of her emergency Mac&Cheese, which says a lot!), and enjoyed a Red Stripe or two. It was a great family trip, and one that we'll remember in detail forever. My brother remarked that he hadn't been this relaxed in 15 years. For 2 families experienced on the water, this was a perfect charter. We'd suggest it anytime as an alternative to bareboating: no provisioning, no cooking, no cleanup, no anchor watch etc. Give us the wheel, pour a drink and tell us where to snorkel. Most importantly, we had great local knowledge and really wonderful companionship. It was a real vacation for us all." Scott & Janet Houser                

Would you please take a moment to let us know how you enjoyed your charter vacation. Your feedback is very helpful and we appreciate any comments you would like to share .

How did you enjoy your cruising vacation? 

It was a lot of fun.  We enjoyed it tremendously.


Did you find the captain and crew friendly and accommodating?

Very much so.


How would you describe the quality of the meals served?  Did the menu meet your expectations?

The food was great, everyone was very happy and full.


Was the yacht clean, well maintained and comfortable for your group?  Would you charter this yacht again?

Yes and yes.


How did you enjoy the pace and the itinerary of your cruise?

They were very accommodating.


NAME: DENISE MERONI        DATE:   JANUARY, 2006

Hi Jim & Cindy:
Thank you for the "thank you."  We have really been busy around here.
We really had a great time - especially the "theme nights". Wish we were back on vacation again.
Dave also, wanted to "thank" Cindy for all the cooking lessons.  He'll be putting her technique to work.

Well, Take Care and keep in touch.
Love, Gail & Dave