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Sailing in the Mediterranean Josie Tucci Sunsail and Moorings
In this podcast I interview Josie Tucci VP Sales and Marketing at Sunsail and The Moorings Yacht Charter Company
Below is what I found about the Moorings history from their website:
Moorings History
Our story began in 1969 when Navy veteran and sailing enthusiast Charlie Cary decided to turn his passion into a new business. Starting with just six Pearson yachts, The Moorings offered travelers a unique way to explore the islands and experience the thrill of sailing. The Carys worked tirelessly to make this new concept successful. Living out of a small hotel right next to their marina in Road Town, the couple cared for each customer like family and, in turn, earned their longstanding loyalty. Soon enough, The Moorings started to grow. Charlie and Ginny expanded their fleet, offering larger yachts and Crewed charters while hiring staff from the local community to help carry the company into the future.
We have put together some of the most important milestones of our journey for you here.
Today, after almost 50 years at sea, The Moorings has established its reputation as the world’s premier yacht charter company. Our award-winning charter fleet now includes more than 400 yachts in 20+ destinations across the globe. Whether it’s a self-skippered monohull; a Sail catamaran with a skipper at the helm; a high-performance Power catamaran or a Crewed yacht with a captain and chef—we’re here to make your time on the water truly unforgettable.
Why Choose The Moorings
Hassle-Free Reservation Process: As a full-service travel company, we are glad to assist with everything from booking the yacht itself, to arranging flights, hotel accommodations, food & beverage services, and watersports rentals—all with upfront pricing and no hidden costs to ensure there are no last-minute charges during your vacation.
50 Years of Experience: With 50 years of experience providing yacht charters all over the world, we have a knowledgeable sales team and diligent operations staff dedicated to making your unforgettable vacation on the water a reality. Our Vacation Planners regularly visit our charter destinations, so they are able to share their first-hand tips and recommendations to help guide you through the planning process.
Largest Matched Fleet in the Charter Industry: The Moorings is world renowned for our award-winning fleet of yachts, custom-designed for charter vacations by our exclusive partners at Beneteau and Robertson & Caine. When you come aboard with us, enjoy peace of mind knowing your yacht is built to exact specifications and is uniform across all global destinations.
The Best Charter Destinations: Our destinations have been carefully chosen to provide you with an unforgettable, safe, and seamless experience. With charter bases located in over 20 of the world’s top cruising grounds, we make it easy for guests of all skill levels and travel styles to select a destination that suits their every need.
A Variety of Vacation Types: Whether you are looking to sail yourself, take the helm of a power catamaran, or relax on an all-inclusive Crewed yacht, The Moorings is the only global charter company in the world that offers all three charter options. Our Vacation Planners are happy to help you choose the right type of yacht vacation for you.
Dedicated Loyalty Program: The Moorings has established partnerships with a variety of businesses all over the world to provide our guests with exclusive savings during their vacation. When you charter with us, you become part of our Moorings family and receive your own Captain’s Rewards membership card. The card allows you to receive special discounts and savings at preferred partner locations, plus, Captain’s Rewards Members always save 5% on future charter bookings.
Unrivaled Service on the Water: We strive to make your vacation experience as seamless and relaxing as possible. In addition to regular chart briefing and boat briefing sessions, our unique “Friendly Skipper” program offers a guided walkthrough of your yacht prior to departure, ensuring you feel confident and comfortable for a stress-free start. Should you require assistance while out on the water, rest assured we are standing by, with customer service on-call and chase boats available to provide timely service. Learn more here.
Charter Starter Kit: Every Moorings charter begins with an essential starter pack, including:
Initial fresh water, fuel, cooler and bagged ice
Toiletries, dishwashing liquid, garbage bags, paper towels, matches, sponges and toilet paper
Bath towels, beach towels, hand towels, sheets and linens
Snorkel gear for all guests on board
Dinghy with outboard to get you to and from shore
Cups and glasses, dishware, cookware, and cooking utensils
Innovative Design: Your yacht is your home on the water, and every detail matters. Our catamarans offer carefully thought-out features not found in other charter fleets, including:
Forward cockpit seating and forward access doors from the galley, offering easy-access to the bow and improved air circulation throughout the yacht
Interior/Exterior living spaces, allowing you and your guests to fully enjoy life in paradise from the comfort of your yacht
Our Power catamarans offer full-size, hard-top flybridges complete with helm station, wet bar, electric grill, and u-shaped seating, as well as access to a sunbathing platform, creating an optimal living space for everyone on board to enjoy together.
Fuel Efficient Yanmar diesel engines allow you to get where you need to go in style, while maximizing fuel-efficiency, saving you money on fuel while on charter.
Our yachts stepped-hull design optimizes performance in the water by providing smooth, unbroken surfaces and ensuring you cut through waves properly, without sacrificing interior volume.
Our helm stations are designed for 360-degree visibility, and ease-of-use, with electronics within easy reach, and all lines fed directly to the captain. The hard-top helm is open to the main living spaces of the yacht, allowing for conviviality between captain and crew.
Upgraded Features: Many of The Moorings newest yachts in the Exclusive and Exclusive Plus category offer unique upgraded features to take your time on the water to the next level, including:
Complimentary WIFI in select destinations
Fitted cushions
Underwater lights
Electric dinghy lifts
Individual cabin-controlled air conditioning
USB ports
Audio speaker system throughout the yacht
Digital control panel
NEWEST FLEET IN
THE INDUSTRY
Starting with just six monohulls in 1969, The Moorings fleet now expands across the globe with more than 400 active yachts. We only partner with the best boat builders to provide you with the high standards of comfort, performance, and ease of use. Moorings monohulls are crafted to our strict specifications by Beneteau. We work in close partnership with world-renowned yacht manufacturer Robertson and Caine to produce award-winning sail and power catamarans. Each yacht carries state-of-the-art equipment and a variety of on-board amenities. Every boat in the fleet is professionally maintained and most have been in service for 3 years or less. Nearly all yachts are retired after 5 years.
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STUNNING
DESTINATIONS
With more than 20 locations throughout the world, The Moorings has a destination to suit every traveler’s particular interests. Take off to the Caribbean and voyage through crystal blue waters and palm-studded coasts in the British Virgin Islands, Bahamas or St. Martin. Escape to the Mediterranean and explore the timeless history of destinations like Greece and Italy. Venture to the Far East and explore the lush jungles of Thailand or, charter exotic lands like Tonga, Tahiti and the Seychelles. On a private yacht, the possibilities are as limitless as the horizon. We’ll even help you plan the perfect itinerary, so you can be sure to experience all of the best attractions your destination has to offer.
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IMPECCABLE CUSTOMER SERVICE
From your first inquiry to the moment you return home, we strive to provide all of our guests with unsurpassed customer service and an experience that’s nothing short of unforgettable. Enjoy our Provisioning services, water toys, and convenient entertainment packages, all of which can be added to your charter at time of booking. The Moorings is also a full service travel agency, so we can even help to arrange flights, hotels, transfers, and land tours. Once you arrive at your base, our friendly staff will gladly assist with any of your needs prior to boarding. With our comprehensive travel insurance plan and our on-site 4 hour guarantee, you can be confident that you will enjoy a worry free charter experience.
1969 – On Fourth of July weekend, The Moorings begins operations in Tortola, British Virgin Islands. With six 35-foot Pearson yachts, Charlie and Ginny Cary pioneer yacht chartering in the BVI.
1978 – The Moorings moves into new custom-designed facilities.
1981 – The Moorings expands into the lower Caribbean with a base in Marigot Bay, St. Lucia.
1984 – The Moorings opens in Tahiti and Kingdom of Tonga.
1989 – The company begins to market charters in Greece and in the eastern Mediterranean.
1992 – The Moorings opens a Bahamas base in the Abacos with an initial fleet of 10 yachts.
1993 – The yacht sales division opens a brokerage office in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
1997 – Nine Moorings 4500 catamarans are added to the fleet. The Moorings takes delivery of the first M3800 catamaran while the Moorings 4500 is named “Best Charter Boat” by Cruising World Magazine.
2000 – The Moorings adds new monohulls to its fleet including the Moorings 474 and 473 yachts. The Moorings 433 is named “Boat of the Year” by Cruising World Magazine. A new base is opened in Skiathos, Greece and the company expands Crewed Yacht Vacations in The Abacos, Bahamas.
2001 – The Moorings opens bases in Belize and Turkey. New Moorings 4700 catamarans are introduced to the fleet. Crewed yachts expand to Belize. The Moorings launches a new power yacht division, NauticBlue.
2002 – The Moorings opens a new Grenadines base in Canouan and announces new bases in the Seychelles and Lefkas, Greece. The company announces new 62-foot luxury catamarans and 55-foot monohulls for Crewed yacht charters. The first Moorings 6200 arrives in Tortola, BVI.
2003 – The Moorings announces opening of new bases in Trogir and Dubrovnik, Croatia. The Moorings 494 monohull is added to fleets in the Caribbean and Mediterranean. The Moorings 6200, 554 and 494 yachts are finalists for Cruising World Magazine’s “Boat of the Year” award.
2004 – The Moorings celebrates 35 years of sailing vacations with special anniversary savings in the BVI, the introduction of The Moorings BVI Spring Regatta Sailing Festival Cup, sponsorship of the 2004 HIHO event, and other celebrations throughout the year.
2005 – The Moorings announces new Preferred Partnership with Sailitalia in Italy providing five Italian bases. Two new monohulls, the 51.5 and 39.3 enter the fleet. The Moorings 4000 wins “Boat of the Year 2005”, “Best Monohull 40’ and under,” and “Best Overall Import.” The Moorings website honored by Boats.com and the NMMA. NauticBlue Power Yacht Vacations awarded “Best of the Year” by Motorboating Magazine.
2006 – The Moorings launches the new Moorings 4600 catamaran and 51.5 monohull. A new website is launched and provides booking online.
2007 – The Moorings 41.3 monohull wins “Boat of the Year” from Cruising World magazine. The Moorings founder Charlie Cary sadly passes away. The Moorings is named as one of the Top Tour Operators according to Travel & Leisure’s World’s Best Awards 2007 readers’ survey. The Moorings relocates its base in La Paz, Mexico to Costa Baja Resort. The Moorings moves into new facilities in St. Lucia and Gocek, Turkey. NauticBlue is rebranded as The Moorings Power Yachts and launches its newest Powercat Moorings 474.
2008 – The Moorings headquarters move into new LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certified building. The Moorings 43.3 monohull is recognized as “2009 Boat of The Year” by Cruising World Magazine. The Moorings begins marketing charters through Master Yachting GmbH in Germany. New fleet purchases of more than $40 million in new catamarans and monohulls. The new Moorings 372 Powercat enters the Power Yacht charter fleet.
2009 – The addition of more new bases to The Moorings portfolio – Agana in Croatia, Orhaniye in Turkey and Phuket in Thailand. The Belize base relocated to a resort in Placencia. New interactive Moorings website launches with helpful innovative tools and online booking options.
2010 – The Moorings 54.5, the new flagship of the monohull fleet, arrives in Tortola. The new Moorings 50.5 monohull is announced. A new sailing charter base in Grenada opens at the first-class Port Louis Marina. The year also brought The Moorings regional sponsorship of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Leukemia Cup Regatta, as well as Expedition Biosphere, a marine mammal research initiative in Tahiti’s Fakarava region, classed by UNESCO as a Biosphere Reserve.
2011 – The Moorings introduces the new Moorings 3900 catamaran. The Moorings Power opens a charter base in Tonga. In June, The Moorings opens in Athens- Lavrion. The Moorings Power introduces the new 393 Powercat, and opens 3 new Mediterranean bases.
2012 – New bases are opened in Corfu, Greece and Annapolis, Maryland and a new 12 berth 5800 Catamaran arrives in the BVI – Flagship of the luxury crewed fleet.
2013 – The Moorings 4800 Catamaran becomes available for bareboat charters and is named “Boat of the Year” by Cruising World Magazine. The Moorings opens a new base in Miami, Florida.
2014 – The Moorings debuts the new 514 Power Catamaran in the BVI and Bahamas. New bases open in Turgutreis, Kremik and Vounaki. A rebranding initiative is launched to pay homage to The Moorings’ heritage of more than 40 years providing yacht charters.
2015 – The Moorings 4000 Sail Catamaran debuts in the BVI and St. Martin, the Bahamas and St. Lucia. Power yacht charters come to bases in St. Lucia, St. Martin, Grenada and Croatia. The Vounaki base in Greece has been moved to Lefkas to allow for better travel plans and bases have been added in Zea and Corfu, Greece.
2016 – The Moorings 433 power catamaran debuts in the BVI and the Bahamas. A four-cabin model, The Moorings 434PC debuts in Thailand. The Moorings website is redesigned with easier search and book functionality as well as enhanced mobile responsiveness. New monohulls including The Moorings 38.2, 45.3 and 51.4 debut in the BVI alongside new Crewed charters aboard the 514PC. Puerto Rico’s Spanish Virgin Islands also join the menu of premier charter destinations in the Caribbean.
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2017 – The Moorings partners with the 35th America’s Cup as an official charter supplier in Bermuda. Following September’s record-breaking Hurricane Irma, The Moorings teams up with sister company Sunsail to launch the #CaribbeanComeback campaign, which included a fundraiser event in St. Petersburg, Florida that raised over $87,000.
2018 – The flagship 514 Powercat makes a cameo appearance on Live with Kelly; new charter destinations are introduced in the Exumas, Bahamas, Antigua, and Sicily; and the Moorings 4500 and 5000 Sail catamarans debut in the BVI as Bareboat and Crewed yachts.
2019 – The Moorings turns 50!
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