Testimonials of Serengeti

Read the Serengeti happy story
"I have a friend who wants to meet you said Barry one day back in 2004, he wants to buy you supper and talk about sailing around the world" read all...

Dear Mr. Thomas

I am writing you with regards to our recent charter of your sailing yacht the Serengeti. I must admit, as a lifelong power vessel owner, I was somewhat sceptical of spending extended time on a sailing vessel. As active members of the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club we have happily coexisted with the sailing fraternity but have never found the desire to go cruising on a sailing yacht. As it turns out our stay on your vessel has changed our outlook towards sailing. Granted this change was made possible by experiencing sailing on a 75 foot classic sailing yacht. The ride in a sea off the Canary Islands was very comfortable and surprisingly swift. We felt right at home be it at anchor or sailing along the coast.

The experience was further enhanced by the very comfortable accommodation and the professionalism of your crew. The food was terrific and plentiful. Of course my favorite part of the vacation was enjoying your large teak covered aft deck for meals and lounging. This was a terrific vantage point as we sat off the beach and enjoyed the surroundings. We also found your tender very handy for a cruise around a harbor or a run to the beach.

My wife and I are looking forward to enjoying your yacht again as it relocates to the Caribbean and the Mediterranean in the future. The challenge for us will be to explain this change of course to our power vessel friends!

Thank you again and all the best of voyages. 

Henry & Phyllis Lees-Buckley

Dear Mr. Thomas,

I write in regards to the one week charter that friends and myself undertook on the Serengeti this October in the Canary Islands.

While your crew were professional and efficient, the food delicious it was the Serengeti herself that will engrave the lasting memory.

Serengeti exuded an atmosphere of casual relaxation that transported us back to an imagined carefree classic era.

Afternoon and evening dining was by choice outdoors on your lovely and spacious aft deck which nightly rang with conversation and laughter. It seemed that Serengeti herself was a participant in our camaraderie and stories and perhaps added a few to her storied career.

Thank you for the opportunity to experience Serengeti's fine pedigree and we look forward to making future arrangements for another adventure in the Caribbean in 2008.

Kind regards,

Shane Lunny

Serengeti Sojourn
A Caribbean Voyage aboard Serengeti                     by: Rice Honeywell

Having just recently returned from a 10-day voyage aboard Serengeti, I felt compelled to share my experience with any and all interested in hearing how four lads from the northern climes could “conquer the Caribbean” Not being a sailor by any stretch of the imagination, I was slightly curious as to how a trip like this might unfold.

Ah, Serengeti. I had always wondered how otherwise sane men could become enamoured of an inanimate object. My first look at her started the process by which I could come to fully understand this peculiar trait. Her 75’ of white-hulled, twin-masted loveliness struck me immediately; a cutter-ketch, her gently-curving lines finished with polished chrome and hardwood stirred something inside me, ensuring that I too would fall in love with this heretofore “inanimate object”

Indeed, while moored at Falmouth Harbour, Antigua, the true epicenter of the “Super Yacht” world, I soon got used seeing to seasoned sailors and tourists alike, having just walked blithely past the newest and largest pleasure craft in the world, only to stop alongside Serengeti hoping to ask questions and heap compliments upon the owner. (Of course, with my best Canadian-accented fake posh accent, I graciously accepted their praise of “my” craft, while telling them I was a bit busy to answer their specific questions) “Dammit, Man! ... can’t you see it’s Rum O’ Clock??”

On to the cast and crew. Having only met Geremy Thomas, Serengeti’s proud owner the previous summer through my own brother (and now crew-mate) Jim, and not having had spent much time getting to know him before our trip, I didn’t know what to expect.

Soon, I found we had much in common; a love of well-told stories, the thrill of a good business deal, and certain songs by Karen Carpenter (who knew?) I DID have to be convinced of the attraction of chilled Rosé, but after a few dozen bottles I was eventually won over.

Geremy’s good-natured charm, easy-going manner and genuine desire to be an ever-gracious host was evident even as we spent the first day sailing south from Antigua. As the days sailed past, and I became comfortable around the boat, I was made to feel right at home both by the ship herself and even more so, her Master.

Every ship needs a steady hand, and no ship was ever as lucky to have such a crewmember as found in Serengeti’s skipper, Gord. A salty dog if ever there was one, Gord’s wealth of experience as a sea captain, aircraft pilot, engineer, tug and barge captain, all around the wild coast of Canada’s British Columbia coastline, stood us all in good stead. Gord’s love of the sea and his capable hand in sailing, navigating, and even in maintaining and fixing problems on-the-fly were only slightly overshadowed by his penchant for taking three naps a day and spending the evenings watching Inspector Morse; a truly moribund television character whose sole claim to fame is that he is so dreadfully boring that his quarry eventually turn themselves in, presumably since it’s preferable to falling asleep in the Inspector’s very presence. Now that’s entertainment! (Seems even Gord couldn’t escape the high drama and a couple of times he just had to “close his eyes” for all the excitement!)

Eventually our trip took us past several of the islands of the West Indies, stopping in Guadeloupe, Iles des Saintes, Dominica, Martinique and finally to Marigot Bay, St Lucia, a lovely little “hurricane hole” set amongst the lush Lucian forest. Having been able to tie-up for a few days to explore the place, and then having met several of Geremy’s wonderful friends living in Marigot Bay, it became clear why it remains a favourite of “yachties” from around the globe.

Near the end of my time aboard Serengeti, I had come to know and admire her, having grown accustomed to being at sea and coming to understand the allure of a stiff breeze and full sails. I shall never forget the hospitality shown me by her owner, nor the good times the four of us had as a group, and am happy that I can now truly say, I’ve had the trip of a lifetime.

Sail On, Serengeti!