Charter Yacht Brokers are professionals who will assist you in finding the right yacht, crew, and destination for your unforgettable vacation. We attend boat shows and can verify that the crews are reliable and very knowledgeable about the sailing areas. Epic Yacht Charters prides itself by only representing yachts of the highest quality and luxury.
The yacht charter broker is trained in the standard industry charter agreements, contracts, and all legalities of contracts between the client, the clearing house, and the owners of the vessels.
We will protect the funds and handle them through escrow accounts to avoid any fraud. All rules will be described and you will feel comfortable trusting the broker.
To ensure an easy and carefree vacation planned, they will assist in your itinerary planning according to your interests.
If you need accommodation before or after your charter, local knowledge of hotels and villas will be shared. How to get there and transportation will also be discussed and especially when you need to submit your preference sheets about interests and food allergies and likes/dislikes.
Meet Michelle Heyns
Meet Michelle HeynsMichelle’s personal experience with yachts, crews, owners, and yacht managers sets her apart from other charter yacht brokers. Additionally, she participates in major annual charter yacht shows to inspect each yacht and interview each crew personally. As an independent outlet, Michelle’s unbiased, expert advice can often help tip the scales, turning the best vacation into an EPIC journey.
Our #1 goal is to match the yacht and crew that fits the client, identifying your needs to provide the vacation of a lifetime. We’d love to continue booking your vacations for years to come – the ultimate reward is creating lasting relationships and even lifelong friendships. Your friends will be envious when they see your trip, and then they will contact us to help them have the same unforgettable experience.
Charter yacht brokers are charter yacht industry professionals who share a range of vessels with you and are there to help you choose the vessel you prefer. We gather information from you, such as the number of guests, and preferred dates of travel, and determine information including availability and rates. The service is to improve the experience of the guests and is provided at no cost to you!
With over 300 charter weeks and 16+ years of experience as a hostess and charter chef, Michelle has a unique perspective on the industry. She spent 12 years chartering specifically in The British Virgin Islands with her husband Leon and knows every anchorage, every activity spot, every secret sunset viewing beach, and every yacht/crew in the area.
Together they have also chartered in other Caribbean destinations and in the Abacos and the Exuma Cays in the Bahamas. She founded Epic Yacht Charters in 2016 and is now one of the top crewed charter yacht brokers in The Virgin Islands. She understands firsthand the importance of creating a perfect match between her clients and their ideal yacht & crew for an unforgettable sailing vacation. Michelle was inducted in the fall of 2020 as an active member of the prestigious Charter Yacht Broker Association (CYBA).
Coordination details:
- Two or more yachts chartered simultaneously
- Synchronized itineraries planned in advance
- Same overnight anchorages and key stops
- Independent crews on each yacht
- Flexibility for activities (some joint, some separate)
Each yacht operates independently with its own captain and crew, but they coordinate closely to ensure the yachts travel together and arrive at anchorages around the same time, allowing the larger group to gather for shared meals, water sports, or evening socializing.
Successful tandem charters require thoughtfully matched yachts:
- Similar speeds: Pairing a fast motor yacht with a slower sailing catamaran creates logistical challenges. The motor yacht constantly waits, or the sailing yacht struggles to keep pace. Best practice matches similar vessel types or speeds.
- Compatible capacities: Ideally, yachts accommodate similar guest numbers to avoid one yacht feeling empty while the other is full.
- Equivalent luxury levels: Matching interior appointments, amenities, and service standards prevents guests from feeling they received inferior accommodations.
- Complementary layouts: Some groups strategically pair yacht types—perhaps a spacious catamaran for families with young children and a sleek motor yacht for adult couples—allowing each sub-group optimal comfort.
Tandem charters provide beautiful flexibility:
Joint activities:
- Raft the yachts together for communal dinners
- Shared beach barbecues at secluded anchorages
- Group snorkeling or diving expeditions
- Water sports tournaments between boats
- Sunset cocktail gatherings on one vessel
Independent time:
- Each yacht explores different snorkeling sites
- Separate lunch anchorages for quieter experiences
- Different pace for different preferences (active vs. relaxed)
- Privacy when subgroups desire independent time
Tandem charters require additional planning:
- Earlier booking (coordinating multiple yacht availability)
- Clear communication about group composition and preferences
- Designated coordinator or “group leader” for decisions
- Flexibility about itinerary adjustments affecting both yachts
- Realistic expectations about perfect synchronization
Your charter broker plays a crucial role in identifying compatible yachts, negotiating synchronized availability, and coordinating logistics between multiple crews and clearinghouses.
Tandem charters don’t offer per-person savings—you’re chartering two complete yachts. However, they enable yacht vacations for large groups that would otherwise be impossible. Some yacht pairs offer slight discounts when booked together, but the primary value is accommodating everyone in your party rather than cost reduction.
Tandem charters are ideal for:
- Family reunions (20-30+ family members)
- Milestone celebrations (significant birthdays, anniversaries)
- Corporate retreats and team-building events
- Destination weddings with large guest lists
- Multi-family friend groups
- Any group exceeding single yacht capacity
Real-World Example
A common tandem scenario: A family reunion with 24 guests books two 65-foot catamarans, each accommodating 12 guests. One catamaran houses the grandparents and their adult children’s families, the other hosts the younger generation and their spouses. The yachts travel together, raft up for family dinners, but provide separate spaces for different age groups during the day—perfect balance of togetherness and autonomy.
Included in your luxury yacht charter is the service of a professional experienced captain and chef. Some yachts also have deckhands and stewardesses at your service. Your crew are experts, outstanding cuisine served by your trained private chef from a small galley, and safety, security, and responsibility when sailing or motoring by your licensed captain. Before your charter begins, the captain will assess your needs and design the perfect itinerary for your vacation while your chef designs a menu for your unforgettable week aboard. All watersport activities are in their control and they make sure that you get instruction on the use of plenty of different water toys, including SCUBA diving if offered.
The qualifications for the crew to operate the yachts are very high and we interview them to find out if they would be the right match for you and your group.
The charter yacht industry has monohull sailboats, sailing catamarans, power catamarans, and motor yachts.
We recommend the best yachts available to you for the preferred time of your trip. We bring specials and yacht features to your attention. Most of the yachts have a different layout and you may want to select the best layout for your group. For example, children may want bunk beds, singles may want double beds and you may want an aft deck exit from your primary cabin. Some require a business desk and others need more space to lounge on the foredeck seats.
Motor yachts and power catamarans are faster and will get you to your daily stopovers so that you can spend more time ashore or at anchor in a beautiful bay.
Tandem charters are ideal for:
- Family reunions (20-30+ family members)
- Milestone celebrations (significant birthdays, anniversaries)
- Corporate retreats and team-building events
- Destination weddings with large guest lists
- Multi-family friend groups
- Any group exceeding single yacht capacity
Real-World Example
A common tandem scenario: A family reunion with 24 guests books two 65-foot catamarans, each accommodating 12 guests. One catamaran houses the grandparents and their adult children’s families, the other hosts the younger generation and their spouses. The yachts travel together, raft up for family dinners, but provide separate spaces for different age groups during the day—perfect balance of togetherness and autonomy.
The exotic destinations make your charter trip very picturesque.
The largest part of our crewed yacht fleet is in the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and the neighboring US Virgin Islands (USVI).
The Bahamas (Exuma Cays) are also an exciting destination where we recommend shallow water sailing in the summer season.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines are ideal for the low season when yachts are moving to the south to avoid hurricane weather.
Does an all-inclusive yacht charter sound like your dream vacation? Let us help you make that dream a reality! Epic Yacht Charters offer access to the best sailing or motor catamarans for vacations in the Virgin Islands and other Caribbean destinations.
Please contact us and ask how we can help you find the right boat and crew for your next unforgettable all-inclusive vacation. Thank You.
