Operating in the Caribbean
Anchored out on a sunny afternoon
Zingara can pull right up near the beach
Watersports toys galore off the stern.
Human, wind and dinghy toys
Sailing in the afternoon sun
Reaching in the Channel.
Saloon lounging and entertainment area
Saloon lounging and formal dining
The formal dining area
The "gathering spot" - The interior bar area
Main deck master king guest suite
Another view of the master king suite
Amidships queen OR twin guest suite
Port aft queen guest suite
Forward queen guest suite
Aft starboard queen guest suite
The transom and aft cockpit
Zingara's aft deck lounging and dining area
Set up for an alfresco luncheon
Forwdeck and the Trampolines
Flybridge lounging area
Lounge in the sun in the teak steamer chairs
Toys
Anchored off the back side of Peter Island
Watersports galore off the stern
Tender Fun
Crossing Road Harbour
Fun for the kids of all ages
Having been born in Cape Town, Mark moved to New Zealand in the early 90’s where he has been heavily involved in the local yachting community on various racing yachts. Thus, giving him the opportunity to learn all the fundamentals of driving high performance boats.
Feeling the need for a change in direction, Mark sailed from Cape Town to the British Virgin Islands 3 years ago. Soon he fell in love with the charter industry where he has been able to transfer that love of boats and ocean into an exciting career and adventure.
In his downtime you may still find him on the water fishing or diving, but if not he’s bound to be in the snow or behind a good book.
You can expect the very best experience with Mark on Zingara for a safe and exciting once in a lifetime trip.
Originating from the south coast of England, James has never been too far from the ocean. After being taught how to scuba dive by his father and gaining an overwhelming urge to see the world, James travelled to Thailand to become a scuba instructor where he would spend the next 5 years mastering his craft.
To gain a better understanding of the diving industry, he then moved to places such as the Cayman Islands, Barbados, Bahamas, and Mexico where he would gain much experience and simultaneously, realize a love for the Caribbean as well as, discovering a real sense of adventure that would be working on boats. James has set a goal of becoming a captain and one day owning his own boat.
Stephanie was born in the south of France and always loved the sea from a young age, she taught herself how to swim at the age of five.
Her free spirit, took her on a never ending journey around the world tour as soon as she finished school and culinary studies, and she used her skills to work at the same time. Hence, her cuisine is influenced by many flavours of the world. She studied culinary arts in France, and really started to love it and dived into it with the New World cuisine, such as Australia and new Zealand. She has discovered new technics, and was excited about the variety of products on offer in those different parts of the world.
Once confident enough with her skills, she decided to go and try herself at sea, and very naturally ended up working on yachts.
A few years ago she took a break and bought a house in Greece and adopted two cats. She really missed Caribbean and when the opportunity presented itself on Zingara, she couldn’t wait to get back on the ocean. During her free time, she likes to do yoga, long walks in nature, and is enjoying the challenge of learning to freedive. She also enjoys a good dinner with wine and company, and exploring local flavours wherever that may be.
She is happy to cater to your needs and different diets, using all the local and seasonal products that the BVI has to offer.
Erin was born in Mexico City and moved to Europe when she was 13. She obtained a degree in Hospitality and Business Management in Valencia, Spain. After spending a few years working in the hospitality industry, she embarked on a journey to Japan to spend a year in a silent Buddhist monastery where she learned to connect with nature which in turn, helped her decide on her next venture: moving to Thailand and starting a career in the scuba diving industry. Once she became an instructor she worked in different countries sharing her love for the ocean. She is now combining her two passions while working in the yacht industry and being a part of Zingara’s crew.
Our chef Katie was outstanding! She worked countless hours in the galley preparing delicious meals and snacks for us. Katie made each meal using local foods and even grows fresh herbs on board! The highlight at each meal was of course dessert. We are still raving about Katie’s banoffee (banana and toffee) pie!
Guests' most recent (20 March, 2020) reviews on catamaran ZINGARA:
Late February, 2020, guests on ZINGARA wrote:
Charter guests from mid-February, 2020, wrote of their ZINGARA holiday:
Guests from late January, 2020, wrote:
Spring Break, 2019... Mid-March guests aboard ZINGARA wrote:
Our family of seven sailed on Zingara from June 7-17, 2018. It was almost impossible for us to even put our trip into words for this review because it was such an incredible, once-in-a-lifetime experience.
Zingara is an incredible boat with every amenity you could want—complete with chocolates on the pillows every night and spacious, impeccably-maintained guest suites. The boat is fully equipped for almost any type of fun imaginable. Pool noodles, inner tubes, a party float, waterskis, a complete set of SCUBA and snorkeling gear, and a crazy fun tubing tube are just some of the water activities available. The nets on the front of the boat are a great place to relax with a book or just lay out in the Caribbean sun, but there are also some great shaded areas in the aft cockpit and the bridge if you prefer to stay shaded.
The SCUBA certification course was expertly executed and all of the dives were memorable and full of exciting marine life. We had a mix of uncertified and certified divers at the start of the trip, but even those of us who were certified did not consider ourselves particularly SCUBA-savvy. By the end we all felt comfortable and excited by all the underwater adventures SCUBA diving offers! Camille and Andres are truly exceptional instructors beyond compare.
Every day held a new and exciting adventure in the BVIs, complete with incredible excursions ashore. We loved exploring the Baths at Virgin Gorda, hiking to the bubbly pool, scootering around Anegada, and playing beach volleyball at the Soggy Dollar. The BVIs have the opportunity to create endless memories; it is almost impossible to pack it all into 10 days there—we will just have to come back!
Beyond the island adventures, every single meal was an artistic and culinary masterpiece that never failed to delight us and perfectly complement the activities of the day. We are still dreaming of Tyler’s cooking! Part of the excitement of a new day in the BVIs was a whole new menu of culinary surprises from Tyler’s kitchen. We were initially worried about our group’s many food intolerances, preferences, and allergies, but Tyler adapted the meals with expert ease.
Above all, the crew is what makes Zingara so incredibly special. Lee is an incredible captain who navigates the Caribbean waters with a relaxed confidence. He was also happy to entertain all of our questions about sailing and life on the water! He is funny, wonderful to converse with, and even included us on a fun provision run ashore! Not really stuffy at all!! 😜 Camille is so kind, helpful, and awesome to adventure with. She keeps the cabin looking incredible, makes amazing lemonade and cookies, and is also an awesome yoga instructor! She makes sure every guest is comfortable and happy throughout the day and is an excellent underwater guide—she finds amazing wildlife that you might miss otherwise! Andres is another essential part of the Zingara experience. He instructed two new divers through their SCUBA certifications with ease. He helped us catch a Jack fish and Tarpon off the stern, and was always excited to help us fish and adventure on the water! He was a great captain of the tender boat and even helped a first-time tuber feel safe enough to try it out. He is also an expert crafter of cocktails and the beverages of your dreams—be sure to try the Painkillers! His fun-loving attitude keeps spirits high throughout the trip. Tyler is an incredible chef worthy of a Michelin star or two, but he is also an excellent conversationalist with great stories and jokes. We loved chatting with him and learning all about the inspiration for his incredible culinary creations.
They are all fantastic crew-members, but, more importantly, they are all truly incredible people. By the end of the trip, we counted every one of them among our friends! Zingara is a magical place where dreams come true!
They entitled their letter "Zingara Magic"!
Guests aboard catamaran ZINGARA in June, 2018, wrote:
Lee, Andres, Camille, and Tyler:
The week with you on the Zingara was our BEST family vacation EVER!!!!! The catamaran was very beautiful, and the vacation was totally spectacular. Tyler, you prepared such delicious meals which were elegantly presented, and Camille, you created a uniquely beautiful table setting for each meal. We appreciated so much that we all interacted so comfortably and really enjoyed laughing and talking together throughout the week. Camille and Andres, you were such energetic and enthusiastic “leaders” for our teenage grandchildren! Because of you, they will always cherish special memories of fishing, kayaking, scuba diving, snorkeling, sailing, paddle boarding, and best of all, jumping from the halyard swing. And Lee....we know you are the BEST captain in the Caribbean!!!!!
We all will remember you fondly and will always be grateful for your constant effort to create a magical vacation for our family. Thank you so much!!!!!!
Mimi, Bob and family
Late January, 2018, guests aboard ZINGARA said:
Just back from a week in the British Virgin Islands on Zingara. The boat was beautiful and the crew friendly and accommodating.
New Years guests aboard catamaran ZINGARA said:
Hi Lee
We were all talking over dinner tonight in the Miami airport about what an amazing time we had with you , Andres, Camille and Tyler this past week.
Frankly , we were expecting the BVI's to be a bit war torn after the hurricanes , but were pleasantly surprised to see things nearly back to normal. The st Thomas airport was in fine shape and the islands in the BVI 's as beautiful as we remembered. Dinner on Anagada was great, the Soggy Dollar bar was a lot of fun and scuba diving in several very cool spots was a definite highlight.
Zingara is a beautiful boat. Extremely comfy and your crew very attentive . We all loved Tyler's cooking and the cocktails were tasty and plentiful.
My family was pleased to see the BVI's as beautiful as ever and we appreciate you creating a wonderful week for us !!
2017 Yuletide guests aboard catamaran ZINGARA said
Just wanted to drop a short note thanking you for a wonderful journey aboard Zingara this past week. For those who are hesitant to visit the US or the British Virgin Islands in the wake of the hurricanes that hit this past fall, I would suggest that now or later this season is the exact right time to visit. While certain restaurants and bars may be closed, new ones have cropped up and some of the old stalwarts, like Soggy Dollar Bar, are up and better than ever. The waters are a lot less crowded and tranquil bays and overnight spots that are normally packed with sailboats and yachts are much more accessible. My entire family felt the lack of crowds was a huge positive on our trip allowing us to go where we wanted when we wanted and also, helped us with water activities without the normal crowds etc. The hurricanes did nothing to affect the beautiful waters of the area, the plentiful fish, and other types of wildlife. The airports were very functional and very easy to go through. The residents were friendly and appreciative of our visit and our contributing to the local economy and their rebuilding efforts. Back to Zingara, we have been on an array of boats in the BVI’s, and really felt our experience on your boat with yourself, Tyler, Andres, and Camille was our best ever. The food on the boat was exceptional, More important, the personal touch and service provded by the entire crew made us all feel at home and excited about each and every minute onboard. Please feel free to use this note as a recruiting tool for those that are not ready to venture down there. It was an experience we will cherish forever. Thanks
Recent charterers on ZINGARA said:
The staff on the Zingara was amazing from the time we stepped onto the boat to the time we left. Our group needed some extra help with travel arrangements and the crew didn't hesitate to accommodate our needs. (Some people couldn't get into port on time for departure so they rerouted and picked us up on another island!) It made us feel at ease knowing the crew would help and arrange our various arrivals. Daily we woke up to smiles and unprecedented service. The meals were OUTSTANDING and touched on every guest's dietary needs and wants. The crew was jovial yet very professional making us feel at home and comfortable! I wouldn't ask for another crew! Thanks again for a trip of a lifetime!
Jessica & Chris Cunningham
Guests aboard catamaran ZINGARA in the first week of July, 2017, said:
June, 2017, guests for ten nights aboard ZINGARA said:
Thank you for a wonderful time.
Mid June, 2017 guests said this about their charter aboard ZNGARA:
Early June, 2017, guests aboard catamaran ZINGARA said:
Lee,
Recent Spring, 2017, ZINGARA guests said:
Dear Lee, Kirin, Michelle & TJ:
We are still ‘floating’ from this most amazing adventure in the BVI’s. There were so many highlights from our trip - the different islands we sailed to each day, taking advantage of all the activities the Zingara had on board - snorkeling, paddleboarding, scuba, tubing to name a few! But what made this trip really special was the level of service we all encountered, which enabled each of our families to spend the relaxing, quality time we all very much needed! The food was amazing and so was the boat itself. Thank you for being so accommodating and fun to be around. We all really enjoyed ourselves and cannot wait to go back to the islands! Hope everyone had a great vacation off the boat and enjoy all of the tours for summer. Take care!
Fondly,
Erika, Harrison, Reilly, Logan & Olivia
New Years week guests aboard ZINGARA wrote:
We are experienced yacht charterers, as we have been many boats with many different crew. First of all, the boat. Zingara is a perfect layout for 8 or 10 people (we had 10). There is plenty of space and different areas on the boat to spread out. Not only that, but she is provisioned well with many toys and activities. The SCUBA equipment in particular is new and very nice, which is important. The new owners have put money into the boat and it clearly makes a difference. Nice linens and towels, in addition to “the little things” that make a boat nice are all on board. Of all the boats we have chartered, Zingara offers the most for the best value.
Now, on to the important part of any charter, the crew. I can say unequivocally that this is the best crew, across the board, and that each one of the four individuals on board with us were the best at what they did of any crew we have ever had.
Let me start with the chef, Teej. We had very different tastes in our group, from kids who only wanted kid food, to adults who will settle for nothing less than the best fine dining. We also had a few picky eaters and a shellfish allergy. At the end of the trip, EVERYONE of the 10 of us said that EVERYTHING they ate from Teej was the best food they have ever had, not just on a boat, but anywhere! Teej was so good that all of us are fighting over having him come to our homes when the charter season is over to cook for us personally. The meals were all creative with great flavors, and perfectly proportioned (except for the monster cookies). Teej never said no; if one of the kids wanted a PB sandwich, it would appear. Everything, from breakfast to lunch to appetizers to the amazing dinners and deserts, were Michelin star quality.
Next, Kieran. The hardest thing to do in a confined space for a week is to keep the kids (ages 7-14) entertained and interested. Kieran did that wonderfully. At every stop all of the toys were instantly in the water and Kieran was ready to go with whatever they wanted to do. And he never got tired, if they wanted to be on the dingy for 4 hours, Kieran was there with energy and a smile. The new things he introduced us to were great, including the HaliJump, the SubWing, and the secret cliff jumping pool, all highlights. And I haven’t even talked about SCUBA yet, Kieran was awesome with the SCUBA, encouraging dives every day. By the end of the trip, he had certified two new divers, gave resort lessons to two more, and did multiple dives with the three pre certified divers. From beach dives to more advanced, everyone LOVED the diving. I can not say enough about Kieran’s great spirit, temperament, and energy.
Kieran was accompanied by Michelle, who is simply wonderful. I will start with the diving, Michelle loves to dive too and she was involved with all the dives. It was helpful to have both Kieran and Michelle on dives as we could break up the group based on skill level. From the boat standpoint Michelle was always on the spot. There was never a towel out of place, a glass half empty, or what you needed not instantly available. The fact is, Michelle is just a VERY nice person, and pleasant to be around at all times. She was warm and made the entire group welcome and comfortable. And, she was pretty funny!
Finally, Captain Lee. From the time we got on the boat, everything was about us, and what we wanted. There was never a no said the entire time we were there. Not only that, but any side comment was heard, and acted on. So when one of us wanted something to eat that wasn’t on board, Lee snuck away and that afternoon it was on board. He truly listened and cared about us and what we wanted. He put together a great trip and at each stop showed us new and interesting things (remember, we have been to the BVI many times). Lee is so pleasant to be around and was really vested in making sure that each one of us was having a great time. It was clear that Lee was passionate about us, and passionate about Zingara. That passion was infectious and really made each of us have the trip of a lifetime.
The personality of the crew makes a charter, and when 14 people are together for 7 days on 80’ of boat, it is the personality of the entire crew that makes the trip work, or not work. Not only did this crew make the trip work, but they made it the best trip we have ever taken, both for each individual, and as a family. I would highly recommend this crew to anyone looking for a wonderful week in the Caribbean.
Anonymous Family
Holiday Season guests aboard ZiNGARA wrote:
Lee, Michelle, Kairan and TJ,
The best way to describe how GREAT our trip was this past holiday is "Nobody wanted to get off the boat". I think if the next week wasn't booked, we would of all stayed on.I don't think they make a better captain anywhere in the world. The crew was wonderful and was on top of everything. I told Michelle one day that we truly appreciated how they knew when to be around, but also not be right on top of us all the time. We didn't appreciate the 2-3 pounds we came back with to Texas from TJ's delicious food!!! The water sports were wonderful on the boat. My great niece and nephew up to myself had so much fun. Looking forward to our next adventure together.
You can be sure we will book again. All our best,
Jamie, Bert, Brett, Zachary, Natalie, Jenn, Cary, Eli and Sophie.
We miss you all
A Crazy Quilt of comments from Guests aboard ZINGARA in mid April, 2016:
Guests aboard ZINGARA in late February, 2016, said:
Guests with catamaran ZINGARA this past week said:What a fantastic week in a fantastic location, spent with fantastic friends, and a FANTASTIC crew. The crew made this trip absolutely wonderful from start to finish! They were always there for anything and everything!! Phenomenal food, drinks, and snorkeling sites every day. Our sincere thanks to Captain Lee, his lovely bride of one year, Nadine, Kieran and Michelle!!Great job by all!!
Mike and Cathy Stewart
Guests aboard ZINGARA in February, 2016
Hello Nadine!
We are back in Naples and missing the Zingara and crew. I am doing laundry and yes I must cook dinner tonight! Such a shock to my system after being pampered for a week! Mark and I had the best time last week!
You all treated us as royalty! Your attentiveness and professionalism was accomplished in such a warm and friendly manner. Thank you to each of you!
And thank YOU for the 5 extra pounds! Haha! The food was amazing! You are such a talented chef!
Our crew has anointed me the "author" of the Zingara 2016 Cruise Cookbook! So if you would not mind sharing some of your amazing recipes, it would be greatly appreciated! Of course whenever it is convenient for you!
Thank you for a perfect week and for the recipes!
Fondly,Debbie Wilhelm
Here goes——
Pina Colada Cheesecake
Focaccia Bread - the 1st day and also the variation of the focaccia served with bar b q chicken
Pina Colada CheesecakeFocaccia Bread - the 1st day and also the variation of the focaccia served with bar b q chicken
Pita Bread
Puff Pastry Tarts with cheese, sundried tomatoes and balsamic reduction
Crab Money Bags
Duck and the delicious sauce you served with the duck
Slaw and the dressing
Seared Tuna and the sauce that you served for lunch
Chocolate Mousse Cake
Chocolate Chile for the beef tenderloin
Brussel Sprouts
Shrimp served atop Tenderloin.
EVERYTHING WAS WONDERFUL and we would love all of the recipes, but have chosen these so as to not totally overwhelm you and your kindness!