WELCOME ABOARD FROM CHRIS AND NAURY

Exploring our new web site you will find that we offer many unusual or different aspects of sailing and chartering. You don’t have to choose only one. You can combine them all if you wish.

Our sailing holidays are designed to try to suit everybody. We are extremely versatile and can even try to custom-tailor your holidays around your own ideas, your own preferences, and your own requirements.

What you will find on this page is only an outline of the all-new, highly versatile cruising concept that we offer.

Please just let us know what your ideas are.

How to get around here on CK SAILING.COM:

The << previous and next >> links in the header menus let you quickly jump between the sections.

The sliding button menu on the left will stay in view and take you to the other pages of our site.
Some pages will open in separate windos or tabs - that way you will have
important information at hand while you keep the CK SAILING home page open.

Start browsing here - Enjoy the tour!

HOLIDAY SAILING CHARTERS

This the "Take it easy" section.
Come for a relaxing sailing holiday on a beautiful boat with big teak laid decks for sunbathing in the tropical sun. Spend your days anchored in jade coloured waters, in the natural swimming pools of tropical islands. Just enjoy yourself relax and unwind in lovely surroundings. Maybe enjoy some light sailing to the next bay or island. After we anchor, have the last swim of the day, then sit on deck with a sundowner and watch the sunset, hoping to see the `green flash` as the sun dips below the horizon. Then perhaps take the dinghy ashore and have a meal out. Or have another drink as we prepare a nice meal on board for you. If that´s the kind of ´take it easy´ holiday you want then please read on because that´s a big part of what we do.

HONEYMOON CRUISES

“DARLING BLUE” is perfect for two lovers, married or not (to each other or not).
She has a huge aft cabin and en-suite heads. The bed is queen size and very comfortable. Doors isolate guests from the rest of the boat. All the way forward, past the big galley, past the huge saloon area, on the starboard side you will find another double cabin with ensuite heads. Fore’ward of that, in the fore-peak is the another cabin.
You will have every courtesy, complete privacy and total discretion from us. We move at your pace. We always feel it is your holiday.
If you want to sail somewhere new or stay and relax yet another day in the same place, because you really like the place where you are - why then, great.

Like we say, we are flexible and versatile, and happy to please.

SELL UP AND SAIL AWAY

Want to "sell up and sail away"? Thinking of retiring, fed up with the rat race? But you’re not sure if you or your partner will like life at sea? Or you’re not sure how to do this? Or you’re not sure if living aboard a yacht at anchor for months on end could be something for you? Then why not come with us and find out. We will teach you 'the art of living afloat'. We will show you what this cruising life is all about and what’s involved. We will unravel all those tangled up parts you cannot quite see from the comfort of your home. We can help you understand any doubts you may have, and we suggest ways to allay all your doubts and fears about making this break from the normal life ashore to the life of a ‘live-a-board cruiser’.
We give you an opportunity to taste boat life at first hand, with experienced professionals to guide you and to talk to about every issue and problem you may have. And this is before you take the plunge, invest a lot of time and money in a yacht by committing yourself to a way of life that in the end might not suit you in practice. If you have some sailing experience or not - it does not matter what level you are at,  perhaps you still have lots of questions that you cannot find answers to in books and magazines.
Well, we have those answers, and this sailing, cruising charter holiday will be perfect for you.

Remember: We live your dreams!

SAIL/SURVEY CHARTERS - CRUISE AND PERUSE

You are looking for a yacht to buy but lack the experience to knowledgably inspect a yacht on your own. Or you lack the time and funds to use your precious annual holiday dragging the family around boatyards and Yacht broker’s offices...OK,  we can arrange your holiday so we sail around and cruise to some pre-arranged appointments to view and inspect some yachts from your selection. This way you have a combined sailing holiday with some boats to look at. Its all good experience and you don’t have the initial extra cost of hotels and surveyors to worry about.

How it works? Email for a chat about your ideas and what you are looking for in a boat.
I will advise you and make suggestions. Then you book your holiday. Join us on board at a pre-arranged location of our mutual agreement. Once you’re settled onboard and relaxed a little we sail to where the boat(s) is/are being presented for inspection. If your family or friends are with you and they don’t want to come to the vessel to be inspected, that's easily solved, too. They stay aboard ‘DARLING BLUE’ relaxing and swimming, or they could explore the town.

I will inspect the yacht with you and discuss some of the points to look for in her design and construction for the purpose you intend. We will discuss projects that may need doing to the vessel., whilst on board her. We can allocate as much time for this as you want. You decide.
We don’t have to stick to an itinerary, this is your holiday and it is your cruise.
We can always chat as we sail along. I can give you an in-sight as to how much money you’re going to need to invest after purchasing the yacht, to complete the refit and any modifications you may desire. Also, I review future expenditure and investment protection values. More repairs required means more sailing time lost and possiblymore money spent.

After the inspection we retire to ‘DARLING BLUE’S’ cool shady decks (not a hotel), have a swim and relax. Over cocktails in ‘DARLING BLUE’S’ comfortable cockpit whilst watching the sunset, we can discuss the pros and cons of the day's events. As the sunset fades over the horizon, we can decide on when we want to sail on to the next yacht for inspection.

Another example, I often advise:

To buy the yacht that you like the look of, and of course approve of. Loving your yacht is important.
To sail her for a season or two before you decide on what modifications you might want to make.

LONERS, LOAFERS AND SINGLES

If you don’t have a partner to join you for an adventure cruise with us - we can help you.
We don’t usually take just one person for a cruise, although we could, [email for special prices] but we are building up a list of singles who's agenda and dates may coincide with yours. So let us know when you could join ‘DARLING BLUE’ and we will post your request on our message board here on our site.
(We will keep your name and other personal details confidential.)

Visit and join our forum - stay updated and meet others with similar plans.

It has often been said that the sea is a great leveler. That she teaches us some personal values that are not taught or found ashore in today’s society. Life afloat is full of adventure and sometimes hardships. This all adds up to character building.

In the past, we have worked with Families who have a desire to see their young growing family members get some experience of life in an environment outside of the usual social circle without parents around. Let the sea knock the corners off them a bit.. We offer this in our special cruises too.

TEACHING SEAMANSHIP AND CRUISING

Something we specialise in! We will help you decide what type of Yacht will suit you best. Also what gear you need and what gear is good. We will teach you how to provision for long passages, cook underway and the basic elements of Navigation and planning to consider.
Seatime and courses - If you are currently taking a sailing course or thinking of doing so or you need sea-time and miles. We can help you. Our charters are an ideal opportunity for you to gain the sea time required for your course.

We will make offshore passages including night sails. Calling on years of experience, I will teach you navigation and seamanship. I have many years of experience teaching adults and children the pleasures of sailing.

I will help to bring you up to the standard required to get your certification in any country.

PROFESSIONAL CREW TRAINING

‘DARLING BLUE’S’ captain also has many years experience running larger vessels, both sail and power, for discerning owners. Sometimes I had to take on new crew at short notice. Quite often they had little experience and needed training very quickly. This made them and the rest of the crew feel un-due pressure. Thus creating some tension aboard the vessel, the last thing the owner wants on his holiday.
There are many organisations nowadays who offer training and qualification to people who don't even know the first thing about this kind of job, as a life.

CK SAILING is offering holidays with a simulation of what its like to work on these large vessels. Of course ‘DARLING BLUE is a modest 52 ft long, and not a 145 ft 'gold plater'. But her needs and demands are the same or similar. During simulations you will be assigned your daily duties and responsibilities. As though you were employed on a superyacht. You will have tasks to perform and rules to follow that you may not have dreamed existed.
You will also have fun! This simulation can be 'switched off' at any time by you. Then you are on holiday again. During the simulation, if you are asked to perform a task that you know nothing about, for example; to splice a new tail onto a fender (but don't know how to splice...) I will show you how. So you learn something useful at the same time.

Another example;  you may not know is that you are not allowed to take off your uniform and you cannot swim from the Yacht. You are working. They are on holiday. You work for them. Playtime for you maybe comes later, and away from the ship.
When simulation is 'switched off', we all become one of the same crew, and we will discuss the day's events.
If later you were to join a vessel as a professional you will be much more confident and relaxed about your position aboard. The captain and owner will see this too, which is of great importance for onboard harmony...

Whichever category or capacity you join us under, you will get the option of a written reference which should be helpful to you in finding a job or upgrading your formal qualification.

ABOUT US

I, Chris Keenan, the captain and owner, 54, British, have been sailing my entire life, both professionally and just for pleasure. I am a time served shipwright, rigger, Yacht Captain, Royal Yachting Association Yacht Master Offshore and Marine Consultant. I am also a trained mechanic. I have a US Navy Offshore instructor’s certification.
I have a lifetime experience of restoring yachts, spent eighteen years in the Mediterranean and 14 years in South America running my own yacht service, skippering and delivering yachts, and teaching sailing.
I have been project manager of large vessels, overseeing contracts for repairs and restoration.
I have much recent experience of surveying yachts for prospective buyers and vendors alike, as well as surveying damaged vessels for insurance companies.
I speak English, Italian, Spanish and French.

The mate/chef/crew: - Naury, 34, comes from Venezuela. She is a fully trained dental surgeon. She has sailed with me all over the Caribbean making yacht deliveries, and of course on ‘DARLING BLUE’ sailing from Gibraltar to the Caribbean via the Islas Canarias.
Naury has a wealth of knowledge and so much enthusiasm for the sailing life that is quite rare to find in a young woman sailor these days. She is an expert boat handler, navigator, mate and cook.
Naury speaks Spanish and English, and she gets by very well in Italian.

OH, THE FOOD ON DARLING BLUE!

When we cook?? OOPHA! Naury comes from Venezuela and brings with her the traditions of cooking tasty South American dishes that goes back over many generations. Recipes that have been handed down from her ancestors.
When I cook, look out! I am English but I have lived most of my life in Sardinia, Italy.
When we both cook, take cover, duck! - We aim to please. So our meals are usually mouth wateringly yummy and tasty. We tend to eat most of meals ‘al fresco’ in the cockpit.

THE YACHT

‘DARLING BLUE’ is a 20 year old Tayana 52 ft cutter rigged sloop. As you can see from the photos she is big and spacious, on deck and down below. She is being constantly updated by her owners.

On deck - The centre cockpit is very comfortable with space for everyone to relax in, or to operate the sails from. The cockpit and companionway entrance leading down below is protected from sun and spray by a large spray hood (dodger) and bimini. She has awnings (sunsails) that cover most of the boat, if required. The aft deck is spacious with teak decks and BBQ to hand on the stern rail. The stern is shaped as a swim platform with a deck shower to rinse off after a dip. It is possible to walk freely right around the vessel. On the foredeck there is plenty of room for all the crew to relax and sunbathe. Right foreward is the anchor windlass. All decks have hatches and vents sending cool air into the cabins below.

Down below - The general atmosphere is that of a traditional one made from modern materials. Not gloomy but not stark and clinical. ‘DARLING BLUE’ is appointed throughout in varnished solid teak with matte off-white painted backgrounds. The seat cushions offer a rich subtle blend of colours. Accommodation is for four guests and two crew, all in 3 separate double cabins with ensuite bathrooms. There is a large aft cabin (stateroom) with en-suite heads and shower in the starboard side. Going forward there is a walk-through there is a fully equipped galley on port side of the engine room. In the main saloon, to port is the Nav. Station and to starboard is the main dining table with seating for 8 plus.  Forward to starboard is a double cabin. This cabin can be isolated for added privacy by its own sliding door. Opposite on the port side is the fwd heads and shower. Going fwd there is short passageway and then the forward cabin which has its own door also. This cabin is a large V berth double bed cabin. The forward cabin deck hatch is very big. Further forward is the chain locker. All berths are more than six feet. Headroom throughout is six feet or more.

Communications – ‘DARLING BLUE’ is equipped with up to date facilities.
We have a SSB/HF radio through which we have onboard voice communications over most of the Caribbean. The SSB/HF radio also allows us to receive up to date weather information. There is a VHF radio for contact with other yachts and local shore stations. There are Internet cafés or shore wifi access points in most locations we visit if Internet service is needed. Bring your own laptop if you like.

Dinghies - A light 10ft RIB inflatable with a 5hp outboard. Hoisted up onto the deck for stowage at night and underway. Plus a new 10 ft Walker bay sailing dinghy.

Sails -  Full battened main., stay-sail, Pro-furl 110% Genoa. 

Masts and Rigging – ‘DARLING BLUE’ is cutter rigged sloop. All running and standing rigging was new 2001, with recent additions by the owner, a professional rigger.

General gear and equipment -  A Perkins 90 HP main engine diesel. A 6.5 kva Fischer Panda silent generator providing 230vac.  A 12 volt main system for lighting and pumps etc,. fridge and freezer. LPG gas cooker.

‘DARLING BLUE’ sails under British flag and registration.

During the Hurricane season (July 1 through November 30) we operate in the lower latitudes or south of Latitude 12 degrees north. This takes in Grenada and allows for occasional forays into the Tobago Cays with a close watch on the weather. In-season we operate over a greater area. All of the East Caribbean from Grenada to BVIS.

By special arrangement we can discuss the West Caribbean, including Panama, San Blas Islands, Belize, as far north as the Bahamas. Remember we are versatile and willing to listen to your ideas.

Read more about this on our itinerary page where we have included an interactive map.

OUR CRUISING GROUNDS

Click on this map to view the larger, interactive one
in a new window or.tab!

All prices are quoted and will be charged in United States Dollars.
The charter fee includes use of the fully crewed yacht and her on-board equipment, fuel, water, meals and non-alcoholic beverages served on board, and any of the activities as described on this page.
Not included are: Air fares and other transport fees, alcoholic beverages, shore side dining, additional equipment rentals, transport ashore or individually hired transfer to and from shore, harbour-, docking-, mooring-, customs/clearance-, and any other fees, charges induced by communication from onboard or ashore, and all other expenses. Please review our sample charter agreement (contract) for our detailed terms and conditions.
We welcome you to download a PDF version of the sample charter agreement for printing and reviewing.

Use our calculator and our online currency converter below to find your charter fee total and convert it into a currency of your choice.