BLISS

AMENITIES

CD library DVD library Stereo system Satellite television Fishing equipment

iPod Dock DVD player Local television Games Console Air bed

Kneeboard Adult waterskis Towing ring Dinghy: AB / 16ft 0in (4.0m) / 60HP

Wakeboard Child waterskis 1 adult windsurfers Beach games

DECK & SYSTEMS

Air-conditioned: Fully Deck shower

Voltage: 110 Swim platform

Barbeque WiFi and Internet

Cell phone

DIVING

aYacht is insured for diving Diving from aYacht permitted 10 BCs

Crew certification: Instructor Guest must be certified 10 regulators

At least one crew member is a certified diver Instruction available for non-certified guest Snorkeling gear

At least one crew member is a certified instructor 12 scuba tanks

DIVING

$30/diver/dive, up to 6 dives during the week
Resort course: $250

BLISS Crew Profile

Arnold Heins and Rica Conroy

Arnold and Rica are a truly adventurous and easy-going couple from Cape Town, South Africa. They have been sailing and chartering in the Caribbean waters for over three and a half years. Their love for the sea and sailing is evident to there guests. They have a passion for living, sailing and diving here in the Tropics and enjoy sharing this with their guests on board Bliss.

Arnold is an RYA Yachtmaster and has valuable experience in making any charter guest feel safe and at home on his vessel. He is also a dive instructor and loves to share his knowledge of diving and sailing with his guests. Arnold has two Atlantic crossings under his belt and enjoys sharing his stories of what’s its like out there with only the boat and the big blue yonder. He loves fishing and you will always hear him say: “That’s why they call it fishing and not catching!” Arnold is also an entertainer and enjoys a good game of poker. He is always keen to host a Texas hold’em tournament for those willing to try their luck. Arnold’s enthusiasm, experience and relaxed personality will add to an unforgettable vacation on Bliss.

Rica is very fortunate to be living her dream, sailing and working as a chef in the BVI on board Bliss. As first mate her duties include looking after your safety at all times. She obtained her STCW 95 and First Aid Qualifications in Cape Town where she also obtained a diploma in Skin and Body Therapy in 2002. She can mix a decadent cocktail and will delight all on board with delicious meals. Her love for open waters and mouth-watering cuisine comes from her mother. She has worked side by side with top chefs on the Martix 76ft yachts and also recently obtained valuable experience during a one -on -one with her sister Chef Jana in Plettenbergbay, South Africa. She would love to share her passion with you in the galley of Bliss. Her friendly and outgoing personality promises to help you relax and make you feel at ease.

Rica and Arnold have a keen eye for spotting quiet bays and the perfect place to drop anchor. 

Together Arnold and Rica will make your vacation on board Bliss an unforgettable and a once in a lifetime experience.

---

Gareth Woods and Kristine Andreassen join Bliss in the Autumn of 2013

Gareth has been chartering for the past 7 years.  He's British and South African, and an RYA Yacht Master, a bit of a far cry from the dental technician he started out to be ten years ago!

Kristine grew up in Florida, and she grew up around boats, and considers herself a team-player.  She sees her role as chef as an opportunity to use her creativity and ability to also work independently to contribute to charter guests' enjoyment of the British Virgin Islands.

BLISS Specifications

BLISS Menu

Rica’s sample menus on Catamaran Bliss



Breakfast



Eggs Benedict                

Smoked Salmon Lox with toasted bagel

Homemade Blueberry pancakes drizzled with warm syrup

Fluffy Scrambled Eggs with English Muffins & crispy bacon

Spinach & Feta Omelets

Eggs • Waffles • Banana Bread

Classic style French Toast drizzled in warm syrup

Frittata with Goats cheese, Feta and Asparagus

Continental Breakfast: Croissants, Cinnamon Rolls, Assorted Cold Meats and Cream Cheese



Also available every morning is various cereals, yoghurt's, fruit salad, herbal teas, regular tea & coffee



Lunch



Assorted homemade pizzas served with fresh side salad

Pesto Linguine tossed with Toasted Pine Nuts, Kalamata olives & Fresh Parmesan

Beef, Chicken or Veggie cheeseburgers served with creamy coleslaw & potato wedges

Caribbean Crab cakes served with pasta salad, fresh green salad & tartar sauce on the side

Crispy Chicken or Shrimp Caesar salad with Garlic Croutons

Tuna Niçoise salad

Lasagna with roasted vegetables & mince with a mixed salad

Calamari with seaweed salad & rice noodles

Quiche with feta, sundried tomatoes, caramelized onions & ham with green salad

BBQ Chicken & Beef pepper, onions & pineapple skewers served with a three-bean salad and couscous



Appetisers



Mozzarella & Basil Quesadilla Wedges

Tortilla Chips with melted Cheese and a spicy Salsa

Creamy Artichoke Dip

Spicy Prawn Skewers

Cheese Platter with assorted meats

Mini Pizzas with sweet peppers & Mozzarella

Baked Camembert

Chicken Satay with Spicy Peanut sauce



Dinners



Moroccan Chicken with Kalamata olives, Tomatoes & Lemon served with Couscous & a side of broccoli

Grilled Beef Tenderloin on a Portobello Mushroom served with potato bake & peppercorn sauce

Tuna steaks grilled to your liking, with a Mango & Tomato salsa with Coconut Rice Beans

Almond & Sesame Crusted Mahi-mahi with a Mango butter sauce, served with lemon orzo & steamed vegetables

Stir-fried Chicken with lime & Coconut served with Basmati Rice

Sweet –and-Sour Swordfish with Onions, Raisons & Tomatoes with stir-fried vegetables

East–Meets-West Rack of Lamb with a Honey-Balsamic reduction sauce with mach potatoes & garlic lemon Asparagus  



Desserts



White Chocolate Mousse with Caramel & Chocolate sauce

Red Wine Poached Pears with Vanilla Cream & Toasted Walnuts

Banana Foster Flambé with Vanilla Ice Cream

Cheesecake with fresh Strawberries

South African Amarula Dom Pedro

Chocolate Browne with Hot Chocolate Fudge sauce with Ice Cream

Key Lime Pie

Vanilla Creme Brulée

BLISS Testimonials

Name: Tony & Heike 

Yacht: S/V Bliss

Date:  February 20-27, 2013





Comment on the comfort onboard Bliss: The Bliss is a good size for 8 adults. The fifth bed room was small for 2 adults,





Comment on the condition of Bliss: Very good conditions





Comment on the cleanliness of Bliss: The Bliss was always clean







Comment on the congeniality of the Captain and crew: Always very cordial







Comment on the service of the Captain and crew: Always there for us if we needed anything





Comment on the fun aspect of the Captain and crew: had a lot of fun but started out a little slow, Captain and crew had to adjust to different personalities and different age groups in which they accomplished  to keep everyone happy.





Comment on the expertise of the Captain and crew: They were both very good in what they did. Rica is an excellent cook and Arnold took us to all the hot spots around Tortola.







Comment on the quality of your meals : Great





Comment on the presentation of your meals:  Great









Would you charter this yacht again? (Circle one)    Yes

 

 

 















Name:  Sue 

Yacht:  BLISS with Arnold and Rica

Charter Dates:  March 31 - April 7, 2012

Area Cruised:  Virgin Islands



We hope your charter lived up to your expectations.  We would love to know some of your impressions about your yachting vacation.  Please answer the following questions and add any comments you may have.



1.  Was the crew friendly and accommodating?

They were wonderful!



2.  Was the yacht comfortable and clean?

yes



3.  Was the yacht well ventilated?

yes



4.  Was the food good and well presented?

The food was to die for!



5.  Did you like the area you sailed?

yes



6.  Could we at Virgin Island Sailing, Ltd. have helped you further in any way?

the yacht and crew that suited our needs was fabulous!!!!  Thank you, thank you, thank you!



7.  May we post this review on our website?

Yes



8.  Additional comments on your charter?

This was my fifth charter in the BVI and I was a little concerned that we mightjust go places I had already been.  But Arnold found new harbors and the best snorkeling I have ever seen.  The whole trip was perfect!

 

 

 

Dec. 27- Jan 03/12

 

 

 

We hope your charter lived up to your expectations.  We would love to know some of your impressions about your yachting vacation.  Please answer the following questions and add any comments you may have.



1.  Was the crew friendly and accommodating?

Yes, 5 stars (out of five)



2.  Was the yacht comfortable and clean?

Yes, 5 stars (out of five)



3.  Was the yacht well ventilated?

Yes.



4.  Was the food good and well presented?

Yes, 5 stars (out of five)



5.  Did you like the area you sailed?

Yes, 5 stars (out of five)





7.  May we post this review on our website?

Yes



8.  Additional comments on your charter?

 

 

 

 

 

From guests aboard Bliss for a tandem charter the 1st week of July, 2010



Anya (& ok Ron too)



That was the most amazing vacation of ours lives.  I certainly am not one to sit and write a thank you email but I will tell you, it would be a dis-justice not to tell you guys what you already know, which is those boat owners are lucky to have you crewing their boats.  Though this email mainly references the Bliss adventure, listening to Sal Sr., Marie, John, Fran, Jay, Jo-Ann, Mike & Eileen telling their stories, it was apparent they had a once in a lifetime experience too.  According to the kids, this is now officially the vacation that all other vacations will be measured against, a huge high five statement for you guys by kids that have been to a lot of places.  I have to admit to the first indicator that the kids are right as the brutal reality is hitting me now, while I type this email, eating oatmeal my stomach is insulted after it has been treated to a week at  "Anya's Food Spa".  



So how do you know you have had the vacation of a lifetime?



27.  You started planning and saving a year in advance for the vacation.

26.  You realize on the second day, as you are floating in the water, you have no idea what time it is, except 24 hrs later than yesterday

25.  You are fed foods and taste that your mind refuses to believe came out of the world smallest kitchen.

24.  You realize on what u believe is the fourth day of the trip, you actually don't know what day it is or how many days you have been on the trip nor do you care to try an figure it out.

23.  You get home at 2:48 am, after flying and driving for hrs, drop bags, run upstairs, get on the scale and go from 184 lb. to 194 lb., pump your fists in the air, fall to your knees and profess your love for "The Goddes of The Kitchen" - LONG LIVE ANYA!!!!!

22.  When you are sitting in one of the rare moments of silence between sharing stories on the way home and you find yourself laughing or smiling b/c you just remembered something else that happen on the trip and everyone is looking at you saying, "what did you just remember".

21.  When you get a text from Eddie (Mr. 10.6% body fat, Mr. Regimented Food Eater) at 7:30 am saying " +6 on the scale this morning. I feel like Sal".

20.  When Darlene comes home with a tan.

19.  When you have to empty IV bags of fluid in the sink.

18.  When you agree it is time to finally leave the party for home b/c there is no beer left on either boat and it is obvious Ron is not going to the store to get more beer or god forbid ice.

17.  When Michele & Darlene are watching the video in the morning, with a look of horror as all the memories comeback to dancing as the "Tuna-ats" backup singer for The Tuna.

16.  When you get an email that Tuna has moved up a weight class to the Giant Tuna .

15.  When you look through the window, see Anya busting out moves to "I am on a boat" in her apron, with the worlds biggest knife and realizing at that moment whatever meal is served from this moment on is going to be classified as amazing and why Ron calls her "sweetie".

14.  When you have plans to party like a rockstar all night while drinking before dinner, then Anya slips a "micky" in your food so you are in bed by 8:15 pm and she sits in the solon enjoying the silence on a boat that has 9 guest in a food coma.

13.  When Ron tries to convince you mens field hockey is not a wimp's sport, Katie says, "wait are you talking about field hockey, that's a girls sport" and Ron retreats back to be comforted by Anya b/c he just got schooled by at 15 yr old girl who plays field hockey.

12.  When Kimo smiles.

11a. When Jessie tells you in the cab to the airport that "I am in a Boat" does not have the word "Yo" in it even though everyone for the past week has been saying, "I am in (insert work pool, dingy, plane, etc) Yo".

11.  When you have a picture of Tuna with IV bags in the background and beer cans around him - Even if it was staged still very funny.

10.  When you realize next week Ron will be sailing with a new charter group, be back by the wheel by himself and all of a sudden a smile will overcome him as he remembers something from this charter and someone will be asking him what's so funny and he'll have to lie to protect the innocent.

9.  When Darlene is worried that Katie's parents may never let her anywhere near us again.

8.  When Ron voluntarily separates himself from us, sits on the roof, steers with his feet, saying "I can't hear you." because we are picking on him too much.

7a. When the captain actually says, "Does this really need to be documented?" as he has a 1 gallon gas can in his hand.

7.  When you realized you have witness something no one else in the world has every seen before, "The First Nonverbal Comment from Anya to Ron that will eternal hold the SHOVEL AWARD".

6.  When you start to questions the cost equation of the trip b/c you can understand how Ron can run out of ice given the weather, run out of beer given the rate at which we were drinking, but running out of fuel in the middle of the ocean brings it to a whole new level.

5.  When you realizes the skill of the captain as he tacts the 57' cat in between some extremely small spaces to anchor the ship.  WE WERE ALL TRUELY IMPRESSED!!!!

4.  When you realize Ron ran out of gas on purpose b/c he was tired of us talking about Anya being a Goddess and thanking Ron for making the beds and he wanted to show off.

3.  When you realize that if Brad passed on today it would take the coroner a week to pry the grin off Brad's face knowing he had run out on a zodiac with a 1 gallon gas can to save Ron.

2.  When you start crying not because the trip is over but you really believe the crew had as good a time as you did for the past week, getting to know each other, telling old stories, creating new stories that will be told going forward but they did not pay $4k  nor tip us to be entertained by us and watch "Tuna & the Tuna-Ats" bust out moves.



THE NUMBER ONE WAY OF KNOWING WE HAD THE BEST VACATION EVER!!!



1.  When you realizes you are starting to plan the fourth BVI trip and for the first time are going to look for what boat  Ron & Anya are crewing as opposed to what crew in on the Bliss.



This email is a poor attempt at trying to highlight what a great time we all had on both boats, the list, the laughing, and the memories I could go on forever...   Unfortunately Ron we will stay in touch (I will send photo and website links over the next week or two).

Thanks Again!!!

Regards,

Sal