Georgia, USA  Dear Broker: Hanalei Bay is a marvelous sailing machine!  It was obviously built with speed and comfort in mind.  And it is maintained superbly in every respect.  It's hard to imagine how someone could design and build such a comfortable and stylish boat, while retaining all the aspects of a sleek cutter.

Franz Gradler is an extraordinary skipper --- an experienced sailor and thoroughly knowledgeable of the waters (and the watering holes) in the U.S. & British Virgin Islands.   Intuitively, Franz knows where to sail and where to anchor during good weather and bad.  His wife, Diane, is also an accomplished sailor.  Together, they made it a memorable sailing experience.

The food was extraordinary!  Franz is a most talented chef and prepared the items listed on the sample menu you provided to me.  How he does it in that galley, even under adverse weather conditions, is a mystery.  (Eggs Benedict for breakfast!  Kabobs for dinner!)  And the presentation of the meals was as elegant as any three star gourmet restaurant --- new cloth tablecloths and napkins, chargers, china, and service!  On a sailboat!

Was the trip all I hope for?  Yes!  And more!  Hanalei Bay, Franz, and Diane are the complete package!  I cannot imagine one suggestion that would improve the experience. 

Many thanx for all your efforts.   Hanalei Bay had no problem in the up-to-30-knot breezes we encountered.

Again, many thanx for putting me onto Franz and Diane and the Hanalei Bay!  If you want to use me as a reference, feel free —Bill

Florida, USA  This was our second trip aboard Hanalei Bay and was even better than our first. Capt. Franz and Diane provided us with good sailing and excellent hospitality. The food was outstanding.  It is a pleasure to sail with an experienced captain on a fine and comfortable ship.—Bill Two

Brussels & Scotland  An extraordinary combination of technical ability, natural good humour and the wonders of the West Indies made our holiday charming and memorable. 

Franz is a trained Chef and it shows. Each dish made from fresh ingredients, (even the fettuccine was made from flour water and effort!) beautifully presented on the Hanalei Bay’s amazing range of dishes and napery. Steaks on the barbecue, fresh fish caught in the morning from the boat and cooked for lunch, a truly remarkable success, i.e. of very different and always tasty dishes presented with style.

Diane and Franz offer training in fish-filleting, water sports, sailing and wildlife and Franz is an expert amateur surgeon when sea urchin spines have to be removed.

We were charmed from the moment we arrived on board. We shall return. We warmly recommend a cruise on Hanalei Bay to anyone who thinks they might like a holiday with a difference, who has sailed or might like to sail, who wants to explore inaccessible beaches and tiny islands, and who wishes to be made welcome by congenial hosts who are skilled in making guests feel happy.

 We are happy for you to use any of the foregoing remarks to be shared with anyone.

 I should add that in smooth weather and rough weather, we had total confidence in the boat and its owners! – Ian

Mexico  We sent 6 days, 5 nights on the boat and we liked every minute of it.  We could have been here for another week but we had to go back home. I will remember forever this wonderful vacation with my sons Pablo and Felipe, we were so well attended that we didn't have to worry about anything. We also had wonderful weather.   We enjoyed all the different toys, especially the "banana" and the snorkeling was spectacular!'' 

 We also enjoyed very much the company and attentions of Diane and Franz, the food, and attentions to details.   We thank you very much and I hope I can come back with the rest of the family.   We had a tremendous!....Time! --Raul

This boat, these people, these islands...WOW. I cannot express this experience in words. But I certainly will try...magical, eternal, absolutely wonderful. I will never forget this, and will take these memories with me throughout the rest of my life. - Chris Cook

Thank you for taking such good care of us during our holiday. You really made it a special experience for us - bfrom the superb meals and delightful, artistic presentation to how you involved the guys in sailing, to the destinations and dancing, to the fun conversations and birthday parties. I can't forget to mention, though, the star of the show - Hanalei Bay - who sailed gracefully and powerfully through the BVI. You are wonderful hosts and sailors...and friends! - Jennifer O'Neill & Martin Cook

Thank you for the laughter, the fun, the food and the hospitality. It has been an excellent trip. A part of my heart will be here. - Courtney Cook and Aaron Pergolski

Thanks for teaching me how to sail. The trip was great. I had so much fun. The food was great and now it is going to be hard to eat my own cooking. The hospitality was also wonderful. Thanks for a wonderful holiday. The best to both of you. - Aaron Pergolski

We all had a wonderful time - a peaceful, relaxing and joyful trip! Thanks for providing a feeling of complete and essential feeling of safety at all time. Meals were superb! Never had the same thing twice and all meals were delicious! Thanks for everything! - Curt & Joan Schwartz/ Ed & Pat Deegan