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private yacht day trips

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Yacht Catania

Catania is a world class seafaring wooden sloop. She has circumnavigated the globe for the past 30 years, visiting over 50 countries,70 islands and 200 ports of call. This yacht has well over 50,000 nautical miles under her 4 ton keel.
Built in Essex, England in 1938, of select Burmese teak, English oak and bronze, Catania was designed in the nautical style of the day… long and lean. Exceptional English shipwrights constructed her with awesome attention to detail. Details such as dovetail joints and hand lathed bronze screws that you do not see in modern boats. She is uniquely one of a kind and is a “Yacht” in the truest sense of the word. She is graceful, elegant and swift, and her extraordinary lines belie her length of 40 feet. In 2010 Catania began a complete overhaul under the watchful eye of Ocean Petersen. With her restoration complete, she is ready to sail on a moments notice. As stunning as ever, with nostalgic lines, beautiful teak cockpit and accents, Catania is the definition of classic elegance. Anchored in the clear waters of St. Thomas in the US Virgin Islands, she is available to charter for up to six guests. Treat yourself to an unforgettable sail aboard the Classic Wooden Yacht Catania.

Owner-Captain

Ocean Moana Taapuna Swienckowski Petersen was born on the classic wooden yacht Catania, on the island of Tahiti in the South Pacific. The Petersen family was in the process of circumnavigating the globe. They continued their exploration of the South and North Pacific, until they settled for eight years on a deserted atoll in the Marshall Islands. While there, his parent’s interest in marine biology led them to develop an aquaculture farm cultivating giant clams. During Ocean’s years on the clam farm, he occupied his time by mastering all the water sports available to him. By the age of one, Ocean was swimming, windsurfing with his father, and running barefoot on the coral rubble that was his environment.Three years later, Ocean was carrying his own spear gun and fishing on his own terms. He became fearless in the water. When he was eight, Ocean and his parents continued sailing through Micronesia, the Philippines, Borneo, Malaysia and eventually Thailand. It was here that Ocean was given his first surfboard. He has been hooked ever since. From then on, his only desire was to find the most challenging waves to hone his skills on. In Africa, Ocean surfed many of the countless coves and point breaks from the coast of Tanzania to the shores of South Africa. Many of the surf spots were located in shark infested waters where on average, one surfer would get attacked every month. When Catania arrived in the Caribbean, Ocean left his home of seventeen years to pursue his own life and career as a captain. At 17 he qualified for his 100 Ton US Coast Guard Captain’s License. Now Ocean captains charter yachts around the US and British Virgin Islands, while always keeping an eye out for the perfect wave. His most recent surfing adventure took him to the Mentawai Islands of Indonesia. Surfing took a backseat to fighting for his life however, dodging coconuts and falling treetops during the 8.4 earthquake that hit Sumatra while he was there. Now back in the USVI, Ocean enjoys sharing his experiences with guest while sailing the classic sloop on which his journey began.
Explore the Virgin Islands aboard the sailing yacht Catania. Let us treat you to a day of adventure, relaxation and pampering. Sail with us to remote coves, secluded beaches and uninhabited islands. Snorkel magnificent coral reefs with our experienced guides. With our variety of packages to choose from you’ll be sure to enjoy an excursion aboard Catania.

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