Sailing and snorkeling in the Virgin Islands will be your best St. Thomas day trip aboard our classic sailing vessel.
What makes our day different? No set itinerary, tailoring the day to the guests aboard, plenty of personal attention, and the friendliness of our crew and much more. We pride ourselves in making friends with each of our guests and have many new sailing friends return to sail with us again and again.
Compare St Thomas Day Sail Charters and you will find no better value.
Enjoy St. Thomas Premier Day Sail Boat
Nightwind is a meticulously maintained, classic sailing vessel and a wonderful example of the classic grace and beauty of wooden sailing yachts designed and built before the days of mass production. She was custom built in Sweden in 1956 and stands out in any anchorage. Originally intended as an ocean racer and passage maker, Nightwind is a happy blend of uncluttered deck space and sailing prowess which results in an exhilarating and enjoyable sailing experience.
Classic Sailing Yacht
with All Comfortable Amenities
Unlike modern, lightly built fiberglass boats, Nightwind is 50 of deck space (57’ overall), 13 feet wide and has 8 tons of iron in her keel which makes for a smoother ride. Built of Iroko, or African Teak as it is more commonly known, Nightwind weighs 28 tons which makes her more stable and comfortable at sea than lighter, fiberglass –built boats.
A clever arrangement of deck seats and table provide a comfortable seating arrangement amid ship not enjoyed by most other boats. She has a flush deck which provides plenty of space to lounge and sunbathe on the foredeck, or sit around the mid deck table with plenty of comfortable, cushioned seating under her shade awning.
Nightwind Offers Ultimate Safety
For your safety, Nightwind is a U.S. Coast Guard Inspected Vessel and carries all the appropriate life rafts and safety equipment, as well as additional floats and equipment for your comfort and safety in the water our captains are both US Coast Guard Licensed and adhere to all safety and other USCG guidelines.
The Benefits of Coast Guard
Inspected Day Sail Vessels in the Virgin Islands
Nightwind undergoes three US Coast Guard inspections each year, and are required to conduct numerous safety drills, which we professionally and happily do prior to each sail.
Any boat can carry up to 6 people without being Coast Guard inspected. Over 6 people, a Coast Guard Certificate of Inspection is required. Many boats with Certificates carry 40 plus passengers. While we are licensed to carry up to 18, our normal trip are normally 4 to 12 guests. This combines the benefits of being Coast Guard Inspected, yet having a smaller number of guests onboard.
The combination of safety, comfort and boat layout insures you the best possible sailing experience.
Your Crew Aboard
St. Thomas Day Sailboat Nightwind
Captains Steve Marsh and Doug Miller have over 60 years combined experience sailing Virgin Islands waters and they love to add local color to a day, with fish and other Virgin Islands lore and facts as well as snorkeling and beach tips to make a most the memorable day on your island vacation.
Ask questions about the history or nature of our islands, as we have a keen interest in every aspect of Virgin Islands life and we always enjoy sharing stories with our guests.
Captain Steve Marsh acquired Nightwind in 1972, spent four years meticulously rebuilding her inside and out, and started day sailing on November 23, 1977. Capt Steve devotes over two months a year to TLC and maintenance on his true love and classic sailing vessel. He and his other love, his wife June, left New Jersey in 1976 and sailed south along the coast and wound up in the Bahamas where they were able to live on fish, conch and lobsters until the last of their cruising funds disappeared. Since the Virgin Islands was only a thousand miles away, they reached St. Thomas in 8 days, fell in love with the island and they have made it their home ever since. After 20 years of sailing, June recently reverted to her first love, shopping, and now has a very successful store in Red Hook, “Home Again”.
Steve started his sailing during his junior year at Rutgers University on small dinghies. Following three years in the Army (during which time he seized every opportunity to sail) he bought a boat in England and sailed throughout Northern Europe. Upon returning to New Jersey, he purchased Nightwind and began a lifelong commitment to the sea. Steve still sails Nightwind but now shares the captaining with Doug Miller, another old sea dog.
Captain Doug has lived in the Virgin Islands since 1974 and is full of lots of stories (or are they tall tales?) of the sea and the islands. Doug has been our relief skipper on Nightwind since 1989 and her main captain since May 2005. He has been the captain on many vessels including five years as Master of the Tall Ship Grand Nellie, where he was in charge of training cadets to sail in the Tall Ship program; so if you want some pointers he’s your man! Doug learned to sail during summers in Cape May, NJ and has owned several restaurants in Boston and St. Thomas, but his true love was always sailing, and the waters between St. Thomas and St. John provides the perfect sailing setting to indulge his passion. For those who desire a sailor’s perspective of island life, ask him about island history and politics.
First Mates Margot and Toni
Margot hails from Indianapolis where she was active in the restaurant business (a very good background for the day sail business by the way) until she decided she needed more than three months of sun.
Fortunately for us, she found all the sun anyone could want in St. Thomas. The first mate is also your hostess and Margot has plenty of experience serving up thirst quenching drinks and mouthwatering food. Since arriving here in 1988, she has lived and worked on yachts the entire time. She currently lives on her boat at Sapphire Marina with her husband.
Margot knows all the best restaurants and where the best bands are playing, so if you want some entertainment advice, she will be glad to share her knowledge.
Toni was born and raised on Cape Cod and has always been close to the sea. She moved St. Thomas in 2002 and immediately became a part of the Nightwind crew. Because of her love of sailing she has her own sailboat, and can be found cruising around the islands when she’s not working aboard Nightwind! Toni’s second loves are snorkeling and diving, so feel free to ask any questions about our underwater world.
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 Sail and Snorkel on
St. Thomas' "Nightwind"
Go Sailing on St. Thomas with Captain Steve (he's not always this serious looking!)
The Captain finds a Conch!
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