Operating in the Caribbean
Side View
The saloon lounging area
Foredeck lounging area
Copper Penny's galley and the entertainment centre
The view from the flybridge lounging area
The starboard forward guest suite
The master suite
The port forward guest suite
Master Suite Bath
Forward Deck
Alfresco dining
Fishing
After the Sun Goes Down
Kids love Tubing
Pirates take over Copper Penny
Diving the Reefs
Snorkeling Fun
Wake Boarding & Water Skiing
Stand-Up Paddleboards
Bow View
Jim, your Winter Season captain (November, 2018, through February, 2019), is a Canadian who grew up sailing on Lake Ontario. His family has always owned boats and Jim began his sailing instruction while attending summer camp. As a young adult Jim moved to Virginia, were he became bare boat certified and began chartering. In his corporate life Jim was a stockbroker. He was televised on Charlottesville, Virginia’s NBC 29 nightly news for seven years sharing his market commentary with viewers. While working as a stockbroker, Jim found time to become a delivery captain for a Lagoon catamaran dealership, and began transiting the East Coast of North America. There he found his love for the open ocean. He obtained his United States Coast Guard Masters License, and later obtained a MCA 200-ton Offshore Certificate. Jim is also a certified PADI Dive Master, and looks forward to taking you diving. In addition Jim enjoys windsurfing, kite surfing, and skiing.
Amanda, your Winter Season chef (November, 2018, through February, 2019), is from Virginia. She grew up as a competitive swimmer and spent time backpacking in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Later, she discovered triathlons, and spent many hours training and competing. Jim introduced her to sailing, and life was never the same. She began sailing the Chesapeake every weekend, and accompanying Jim on some of his deliveries. Amanda’s career as an engineer was demanding and gratifying, but soon she began dreaming of warm waters. During her years sailing the Caribbean, she developed a love for cooking and exploring local cuisine. To prepare for life as a charter chef, Amanda attended a mega-yacht cooking school in Fort Lauderdale, where she honed her skills. She looks forward to serving you beautifully presented delicious meals. In addition, Amanda is a certified PADI Dive Master, and a kayak instructor. Amanda’s other interests include windsurfing, kite surfing, and skiing.
Captain Jerry has been sailing since he was 2 years old and has sailed extensively throughout the Northeast USA, and Caribbean and has undertaken several Trans-Atlantic crossings. He holds a 100 ton USCG Masters license and is also a NAUI Scuba Instructor and PADI Divemaster, as well as a US Sailing Instructor.
One of Jerry’s great loves is teaching and as an avid water sports enthusiast he enjoys sharing all his varied knowledge with friends and guests. Jerry teaches lots of SCUBA courses from first time resort courses to full or advanced diving certifications.
After residing in the Caribbean Islands for 13 years, Jerry is a good source of local knowledge and history which ensures every trip is unique, fun and interesting. He is gregarious and loves meeting people.
Dawn Mottram is British, coming from North Wales originally. She grew up on the coast and living by the sea she spent many happy hours with her family on boats. She passed her love for sailing onto her two children, who have taken to the sport as well. Dawn has always enjoyed cooking for her family, friends and charitable events. She is a trained RGN nurse, specializing in paediatrics, community, and ophthalmic nursing, and has most recently worked as a medical equipment consultant.
Her career of helping people as a nurse inspired her to start fundraising for causes she believed in. As the years went on, the scale of her fundraising and the distances she went to, grew. Dawn’s passion for the outdoors has led her on cycling tours through Vietnam, hikes up the three highest mountains peaks of Great Britain, and numerous sailing events such as Cowes Week. She has taken part in many long distance offshore sailing races, most notably the Fastnet Race. Her largest fundraiser generated £100,000 for Sail4Cancer. She was involved in forming the first "all female" team to compete in the Non-Stop Around Britain and Ireland Race in 2006. One of her many duties onboard was as bowman and foredeck crew but she was also the cook. Her experiences of cooking on racing boats led Dawn to produce the Swell Food recipe book, for sailing enthusiasts. All proceeds were donated to Sail4Cancer, enabling children suffering from the affects of cancer to have sailing opportunities.
COPPER PENNY can accommodate 6 guests in 3 cabins. The Master cabin has a queen size bed, shower and toilet. 2 Guest cabins each have a queen size bed, shower and toilet. COPPER PENNY is fully air conditioned through out. Crew has a separate heads and shower.
May, 2018, charter guests aboard catamaran COPPER PENNY with Jerry and Dawn wrote:
To say we had an amazing time and loved everything is an understatement.
Jerry & Dawn were wonderful hosts and did everything we asked for and more. We had an idea of things we wanted to see but their knowledge of the area was a huge plus to help us craft the most enjoyable itinerary.
Even though the BVI is still recovering from the awful hurricanes of last year we thoroughly enjoyed the weather & water activities, Scuba diving & seeing some really cool stuff. We all felt comfortable with Jerry's expertise to provide fun experiences but more importantly, safe ones.
Dawn's meals & Jerry's cocktails were highlights of the trip. We enjoyed variety the menu offered. Meeting our dietary special needs isn’t easy for anyone, Dawn took it in her stride and never made us feel like it was a bother.
Copper Penny was a beautiful vessel with many comforts of home. We all enjoyed our rooms, the dining areas & especially the bridge up top. It was great fun to sit up there enjoying the quiet of the sail while reading or listening to Jerry fill us in on areas we saw or watching the crew at work getting the sails in place and back again.
We would highly recommend the team of Dawn & Jerry aboard Copper Penny to anyone looking for a bucket list vacation.
Early March guests aboard catamaran COPPER PENNY with Jim & Amanda Grant wrote:
Jim and Amanda were awesome. They are great people and were superb hosts. We found them to be very knowledgeable and they were always willing to answer our questions and provide information about what we were experiencing. They also struck a perfect balance of attentiveness without being overbearing.
We were waiting for there to be at least one so-so meal but it never came. Our only complaint (if it could be a complaint) was that the portions were too big for us to
finish! Delicious.
That was an amazing and memorable trip. We would highly recommend Jim and Amanda and the Copper Penny for anyone looking for a fun and relaxing adventure.
Don Madeo
Repeat guests with Jim & Amanda in July, 2017, on catamaran COPPER PENNY recently wrote:
This was our second charter with Jim and Amanda and it was fabulous. Words cannot describe how perfect our trip was. The two make you feel at home and are there for your every need. Jim took us on some of best adventures that anyone could dream of and Amanda could not spoil us enough with her food and drinks. When my husband and I, kids and friends, look back on these trips, we cannot help but smile and reminisce about the great times we had. Jim and Amanda have made each trip special; we were even blessed to have Captain Jim officiate our 25th wedding vow renewals on Anguilla. They are not only a captain and first mate to us, they are good friends. I guess to sum it all up - We are booking another trip with these two...that should tell you how awesome it was and how awesome they are!
Additional Comments:
We are all six interested in a repeat trip together with Jim and Amanda in the next three years. Stanley and I are in the process now of trying to organize another group for next January, hopefully the same week or at least around the same time. This trip would be a little different in that it could be some of our customers/friends. The trip last week was our very best friends with whom we've traveled for years. The upcoming trip would be with folks we have never traveled with so that's a little caveat of sorts in my mind in planning….The only potential change we would make is to eliminate the first night stay in St Thomas. With earliest possible flights out of Jackson and connecting flights into St. Thomas it may be impossible. However, the money we spent in St. Thomas could go to an extra night on the boat if we could make it happen.
December 2, 2013
What an incredible way to celebrate our 20th Anniversary, right down to the special cake and champagne too! Thanks for sharing stories of your sailing experiences and your knowledge of the BVI. The snorkeling was unbelievable and the beaches were beautiful. Thank you Ginny for all the amazing meals you prepared for us. We had such a good time on the trip and will forever enjoy the memories.
Bill & Darci
IOWA
December 2, 2013
Cap'n & Chef Extraordinaire! Thanks for spoiling us with smooth sailing and exceptional food. This was a fantastic way to see the BVI. Your familiarity with the area made it all so much more interesting. The food and drink was plentiful and made us feel like royalty. We had a wonderful time thanks to you too! Happy Holidays!
Pat & Sharon
IOWA
November 2013
We really appreciated the fine experience we had and a great deal of it was due to your outstanding service. Can't tell you enough how impressed we were--I can't imagine a greater crew in existence. You are both very fine people and we have the utmost respect and admiration for your skill and devotion to your craft.
I hope to see you again on the CP and if you're ever in Austin, please let us know--you have a place to stay and we would love seeing you.
Bob & Denise
DALLAS, TEXAS