Awatea - Crewed Catamaran Charter

Seriously the best charter ever! Olivia and Fraser are amazing, super attentive and always keep drinks full ;). Their kids are amazing too, very sweet and respectful. Such a lighthearted, fun, kind family. We had so much fun with all the water sports they had and activities we did. The scuba diving was especially awesome!
Props to Olivia for the food, my family has very specific eating restrictions and she did an INCREDIBLE job with everything. Also props to Fraser for the sourdough bread he makes, it’s the best! You will not be disappointed. We had so much fun, such an amazing experience!

We’ve just returned from what is by far the best vacation we’ve ever taken- six days on a sail catamaran in the British Virgin Islands. While the locale itself was spectacular, the trip was special because of Fraser and Olivia themselves.

A party of nine including five teenage boys (!), we spoke with them before the trip about our interests and prior experiences. We immediately felt at ease with their Kiwi charm. They then planned a sail throughout the BVI, visiting some known and many not-so-known gems throughout the islands.

The boat itself was beautiful. Six cabins. Six bathrooms. Underwater scooters, powered hydrofoil, scuba, snorkeling, float ring, wakeboard, tubing, paddleboards, water golfing. Fresh herbs grown onboard. A charcoal grill. Sourdough bread baked fresh onboard each day. A projector and screen that allowed the @philles phanatic among us to catch Jhoan Duran’s debut on our last night. Full kitchen and bar. A friggin pizza oven.

The days were packed with adventure while somehow being relaxing and refreshing in a Caribbean sort of way. Fraser is probably the most interesting man in the world: blue water sailor, nautical engineer, marine biologist, deep sea fisherman, dive master, cliff diver, rock climber, surfer, mixologist, barista, sourdough maker. He dove under the boat at night with a headlamp and screwdriver and fixed a generator. He literally bested a shark in hand to fin combat (look at their Instagram profile!).

Meanwhile, Olivia is probably the only person on the planet who is Fraser’s equal. She’s also the only person I’ve met in the past 25 years who made my wife actually admit that she cannot top something culinarily. I have no idea how she did it, but every single meal was unique and spectacular- and she took care of nine people for a week. She was also a sneaky enabler of Fraser’s thrill-seeking (“18 year-old you would do that, Fraser”).

Their most impressive feat is that they were able to captivate five teenage boys for six days. Their energy is boundless.

I’m out of superlatives. It rocked.

We can’t thank them enough for this experience and HIGHLY recommend it to anyone who likes awesome people and fun risks.

These three individuals, Frazier, Olivia and Jess, made the trip for us, and the role they played in how much we enjoyed our week cannot be understated! They are, all three, amazing, steady, competent, warm and engaging.
They greeted us warmly, gave us a tour, and throughout the course of the week, became friends. We were so sad to have to say goodbye to them!
They were consistently cheerful, helpful and available, even when they had worked a long day and into the night.
They took the time to hear what we´d like to do, and to share their considerable expertise with us.
They encouraged a wide array of activities, and provided any instruction needed.
All three are incredibly experienced which contributed to our ability to sit back, relax, and enjoy the trip.
Frazier was clearly an incredibly competent, skilled and experienced captain. He was willing to
explore, but the safety of the guests, crew and his boat were forefront. He had a general plan for our week, incorporating weather/wind forecasts, etc., but took the time before we arrived, and each day, to hear of our preferences.
We were offered options for adventure (hiking, jumping off rocks or the boom, visiting out-of-the-way beaches to explore, snorkeling and exploring, etc), as well as the ability to just relax in any one of the cozy seats and cushions to read or enjoy a cocktail and conversation.
Frazier and his family have clearly explored the ´less traveled´ aspects of the BVI and he and Olivia were incredibly knowledgable, which allowed them to show us ´less traveled´ inlets and harbors, or more ´touristy´ areas, at our preference.
Frazier had a general plan, incorporating weather/wind etc., but took the time before we arrived, and each day, to hear of our preferences.
We were offered options for adventure (hiking, jumping off rocks or the boom, visiting out-of-the-way beaches to explore, snorkeling and exploring, etc), as well as the ability to just relax in any one of the cozy seats and cushions to read or enjoy a cocktail and conversation.
I don´t know what we expected, but the reality blew us away! Olivia could be a chef at the best restaurants in the world.
In her little galley kitchen, she came up with fresh bread every day, 3 meals a day that were delicious, varied, and beautifully served.
She used locally sourced ingredients to make fresh and delicious meals and ´starters´ from a range of world cultures (we had a ´Spanish day´, and ´Middle East´ day, etc.)
She caters to individual preferences (even those of us who don´t eat seafood, despite the fact that it was from the ocean to the table in under 2 hours).
She took the time to listen to our preferences, and incorporate them into three meals + extras each day.
I´m not sure how many boats have herb gardens but Olivia utilized hers in most meals. Coffee was made to order each day.
The size and layout was incredibly comfortable.
Staterooms had comfortable beds, were spotlessly clean, with well-appointed Heads. It´s hard to find king berths and Awatea had two of them.
The crew kept the entire boat clean and neat, despite our best efforts to leave equipment and ´toys´ around.
There was plenty of room to move around, so we never felt cramped or confined. The trampolines on the bow were a terrific spot to enjoy both sailing and sunset cocktails.
They had ´all the toys´ for water fun and encouraged (and taught) us to use them.
Awatea had all the toys you could imagine, and the crew were skilled and knowledgeable and willing to share their time and experience in instructing and encouraging.
They had good beach-games, and I´m happy to say that the women beat the men soundly in our game of Cups (Cubes??).
Frazier would take us to beaches, hiking trails or other on-shore locations and would guide us in other times of leisure activities.
Leisure time was spent reading, sailing, watching the islands pass by, and conversing among ourselves or with the 3 crew members.
Jess and Olivia offered excellent cocktails, and one night, encouraged us to make our own .. with a bit of competition to see who´s was the best.Again, enough cannot be said about how much the crew of the Awatea impacted our experience.
Whether you are a family with kids/teenagers, or group of friends of any age, Awatea is your boat.
It is truly a bespoke experience with Frasier, Olivia and Jess providing an incredible trip to remember.

Fraser and Olivia were such an absolute joy. They were so fun to be around and did such a great job in making sure we had a wonderful stay. The food and drinks were great, they were so careful to tailor the whole trip to what we wanted to do.
...given the circumstances of our charter, they did an absolutely amazing job. All the food we had was incredible and everyone loved it.
Fraser sat down with us several times during the trip to give us itinerary options and to check in to see what we wanted to do. He listened and paid attention to the things we liked to do and made recommendations on where to go next and what to do. He really did such a great job making sure we had a memorable trip.
Fraser was very good at paying attention to what we like to do and suggesting activities based on that. He was checking in constantly to see what we wanted to do next.
I honestly don´t have one negative thing to say about. It was perfect.
My kids have already been asking if we can go out with Fraser and Olivia again!

We had a wonderful time!
The weather was perfect and it was a lovely, much-needed respite!
The crew was absolutely delightful. Captain Fraser was an excellent captain who showed us many beautiful beaches and snorkeling spots. He found a perfect windy spot for Kenny to kite-board, twice.
Olivia was an excellent cook with a lovely demeanor and Jess was very accommodating and so sweet. They were sweet enough to make a reservation for Kenny and I to dine at one of the restaurants while the kids stayed on the boat and had a blast playing board-games with the crew. The boat was very clean and comfortable.
We have only glowing things to say about our experience on Awatea.
Thank you again for a wonderful vacation.

Hi,

We are home now. Just wanted to leave you a review. Our family had a wonderful week on the Awatea with Fraser, Olivia and Jess. They are high quality individuals with a wealth of sea going experience. They are kind and friendly hosts, hard working and their presentation is on a professional level. They are personally experienced in sourcing farm fresh meat, fish and produce, grow their own herbs and presenting the most well made highly nutritious 5 star meals. Olivia baked fresh bread for us multiple times a day. Jess kept us from going thirsty and made us the most delicious drinks. Fraser is a highly skilled captain, fisherman and expert on the ocean. Each day we sailed and explored all there is to see in the BVI, they took our kids tubing, efoiling, snorkeling, we all paddle boarded and enjoyed swimming, playing and laying about in the ocean. Definitely a life changing experience that we won’t soon forget.

Best Regards,

James

wanted to be sure to tell you that we had a wonderful vacation aboard the Awatea. Frasier, Olivia and Jess were just delightful to spend time with and talk to. Frasier knew wonderful snorkeling spots, and he was always checking with us about what we wanted to do. Olivia and Jess made delicious meals that we all enjoyed, and they were terrific about catering to our specific likes and dislikes. My daughter-in-law and granddaughter have celiac disease, and they made a point of telling me how comfortable they were about their food containing no gluten when it was made by Jess and Olivia. I don´t eat pork or beef, and they always had something delicious for me to eat. Midway through the trip my grandson wanted to fish, and Frazier and Olivia were quick to supply him with fishing rods and suggestions on what to do. He caught a tuna and a bar jack, and the fish were incorporated into dinner two nights later!
The boat itself was extremely comfortable, with plenty of spots for us to spread out, both in the sun or in the shade. Our bed was very comfortable, and the bedrooms as well as the entire boat were always kept spotless. The boat´s generator was turned off at night, so it was very quiet, peaceful and easy to sleep.
I highly recommend the boat Awatea with its wonderful crew to anyone who wants to take a boat vacation. It was fabulous!
Carrie

It was literally the trip of our lifetime! All four of us believe no other vacation will come close to this - we were beyond belief with how everything was from the crew, the vessel, the food, the service, just everything!

How is the yacht? Is she clean and well-maintained? Were your cabins comfortable? Was the cockpit comfortable? Was there enough shade?
We literally have NO NOTES for this yacht! In fact, we could not believe how clean it was! The bedding was so comfortable that all four of us slept more soundly than at home. During lots of sun when we needed shade, there were always shades to be drawn outside or they created canopies for us on the fly. Awatea was just gorgeous.

Did you use all the water toys? If you were diving, how did you like the area?
We experimented with all the e-Foil which was a hit, the paddles board, fishing rods, flotations and we talked bout the boards, but didn´t go for it - we were too busy snorkeling every day and taking in the other sights! We were so impressed with how much the yacht had to offer honestly.

Where your meals excellent and fresh? Spiced with variety and beautifully presented? Did the menus meet your expectations? Did your Chef and Crew pay close attention to your Preference Sheets?
Not only did they pay attention to our likes, dislikes and preferences, but the food was out of this world. Every single meal hit every mark and then some! We love a variety and one of us has a gluten intolerance which posed absolutely no problem. We honestly have never eaten so well in a whole week than on this vacation! To boot, the fish we caught was used to make a few different dishes the next couple meals which was incredibly impressive!

How about your crew? How would you describe your Captain and crew? Were they Courteous? Helpful? Friendly? Attentive? Knowledgeable?
We honestly can´t say enough amazing things about Fraser, Olivia and Jess. Not only are they lovely people, inside and out, they worked beautifully together and seemed to never be in our way of our huge family and also were always there for us when we needed any little thing. We felt like we were not an imposition at all and almost like we had been around them before. It takes a great gift to make people feel so welcome while also providing for them! Their knowledge on all things water, boating and fishing was just incredible. We know we only scratched the surface with them and absolutely hope to be back!

How did you find the pace and the itinerary of your vacation?
Perfection! Since this was our first time going, we left it open for ideas from the crew so we planned each day as it came the night before which was perfect.

Any additional thoughts?
YOU MUST ABSOLUTELY recommend Awatea to all your clients! I am still flabbergasted at how incredible they made everything. They could make any family´s vacation the most special and we are recommending this on our social media because they have made such an impact for our family.

Our overall experience with AWATEA was AMAZING! The crew were just lovely. They were very accommodating, communication prior to and during the charter was perfect, the itinerary was just what we wanted, the food was delicious. The AWATEA was well equipped for water sports and lounging, the rooms were clean, the beds comfortable, the overall condition was beautiful.

Captain Fraser and Olivia were so helpful with provisioning, setting up reservations for some dinners and lunches off boat, and creating a well thought through itinerary. They were super helpful and flexible with picking us up at the dock near our hotel in Tortola and then were able to drop us off at a resort closer to the airport that we were flying out from in Virgin Gorda.

They welcomed us onto the AWATEA with a delicious cocktail - coconut lime margarita and yummy fish tacos. We spent the afternoon at Soggy Dollar Beach and Bar. We snorkeled the Indians which was really beautiful and the boys climbed a rock with Captain Fraser and First Mate Jess and of course loved jumping off with them. They had a lot of fun Watersport equipment - wake board, a “biscuit” (we call a tube), surf board for “skurfing´ behind the tender, paddle boards, snorkeling equipment, and the E-Foil. The boys had a blast! We went to the Baths and spent the morning exploring, climbing, and swimming. They were really cool. We went to Anegada where we rented jeep-like vehicles and went to a beach where we searched for shells, played soccer and threw the football, and swam. Oh, and there was a place they took us that was called something like “bubbles”- we hiked to the other side of the small isle and there were rock formations creating a place for water to bubble up in and created a great jump into pool. And lastly voted one of the favorites by the boys was a “secret” rock formation that created a deep pool with high jump off points. They had an epic time!

Captain Fraser always selected great coves / quiet areas at anchoring for the boys to play on the toys and to see beautiful sunsets. He was always up for an adventure and was great teaching some of the boys new skills. Jess was so sweet and loved participating in the adventures as well. Olivia is an amazing chef! My son wants her to give me all of her recipes. I suggested she create a cookbook with all the dishes she made - including homemade bageles, bread, and English Muffins! And I loved that they had fresh herbs on the boat :-).

We ate dinner off the boat twice. First was a cool outdoor bar/ patio called Nova at Oil Nut Bay. The decor was really well done, the food & drinks were great. The “sushi boat” was a beautiful presentation as an appetizer. The 2nd night off the boat we went to Peter Island and had dinner at the newly renovated and recently opened Drake’s Steakhouse. Beautiful venue and great menu and wine list.

So, as you can see, the trip was just amazing and we really loved the entire experience. Of course the BVI’s are the draw but the crew really made it special.

They were the BEST!! Very fun and up beat. It felt like they were our friends more then our crew which made the trip so fun and special!!
The food was amazing. Olivia (the chef) made everything special for us and when you ate the food you could tell the amount of time and energy she spent making it. The best food ever!
The water sports were my favorite. I got to go wake surfing and inner tubing and snorkeling.100% my family has recommended this trip to all our friends.

Our team at the Perry Institute for Marine Science had the pleasure of partnering with Awatea Adventures (with the amazing support of SeaKeepers) on three separate occasions for our marine research missions, and each experience was exceptional. While our trips were not for leisure but for serious scientific research, the crew of the 63ft performance Balance catamaran, Awatea, provided a perfect balance of professionalism and adventure.
Fraser and Olivia, the dynamic duo at the helm, were great. Their expertise and hospitality turned our research expeditions into seamless and enjoyable journeys. Despite the focus on our diving and underwater activities, the crew ensured that all our planned activities were executed flawlessly.
The vessel itself is a marvel—spacious, and equipped for both comfort and adventure. Whether you are a scientist on a mission or an adventurer seeking the thrill of the ocean, Awatea Adventures offers an unparalleled experience. The combination of good food, top-tier amenities, and the adventurous spirit of the crew makes for a unique and unforgettable journey.
For anyone seeking an extraordinary sailing adventure, Awatea Adventures comes highly recommended. The professionalism, warmth, and sheer excitement provided by Fraser and Olivia make it more than just a charter—it’s an adventure of a lifetime.

My trip with Olivia & Fraser on Awatea was INCREDIBLE!!! I spent a week onboard in the Bahamas and visited Eleuthera, Harbour Island and Rose Island. The waters were clearest majestic I´ve ever seen and we saw turtles, stingrays, dolphins and sooo many fish.

Highlights were: evening dinner cooked over fire on the beach, snorkling with turtles, Olivias AMAZING cooking, freshly spear-fished food from Fraser, biking to pink sand beach, and Paddle boarding + Yoga each morning with Olivia.

I HIGHLY RECOMMEND AWATEA ADVENTURES!!! I can´t wait to book a trip to go diving in the BVI´s with them. The coolest boat, the most incredible owner-operator crew (they care so much about your experience), and very reasonably priced compared to other charters.

From the moment we were greeted by the amazing crew and taken to our luxury yacht, we knew we were in for the experience of a lifetime!! Prior to arrival, Captain Fraser and first mate, Olivia, held conference calls in order to design a custom vacation. There are not enough characters allowed in this review or words to describe our trip on board Awatea. Waking up, every morning, to the sunrise beaming into our cabin, drinking amazing espresso, on the bow, with the wind and gentle rocking of
waves, surrounded by a palette of colors in the water and sky. Diving into the ocean at any moment of choice, diving down to underwater aquariums, drift diving with the current, along side of our vessel, swimming, paddle boarding to sandbars and beaches, all at whim. Every day, the opportunity arose for a new, spectacular adventure, breathtaking scenery. Combined with Olivia´s home cooking, wonderful meals and even better company, I will say 100%, hands down, this was the experience of a lifetime.

Awatea Adventures were amazing. We are not the typical charter guests. Rather, we are a non-profit organization that aims to facilitate marine research and conservation aboard privately owned leisure vessels. When we asked them to help with coral research in the Exumas, they enthusiastically said yes. They went above and beyond to make sure our every need was met. Fraser is an accomplished captain who got us where we needed to be, and worked with the research team to make sure they were able to accomplish all of their mission goals over the course of several days. A huge benefit was the scuba tanks and air compressor on board which made it possible to bring fewer tanks, as well as do multiple dives a day without the need to refill or pick up new tanks. Olivia is a great cook and made sure we ate well throughout the trip. it didn’t end there. With only a week’s notice, another scientific research team needed a vessel to assist with coral restoration in Abaco. Again, Fraser and Olivia didn’t give it a second thought and volunteered to help out. Lastly, another research trip almost had to be canceled last minute because the original boat had a mechanical issue. As we put the word out that we needed a replacement asap, Awatea answered the call, again making themselves available to help with a research expedition – this time all the way down in Little Inagua, one of the most remote islands in the Bahamas. This was a big ask; fourteen days in total including travel to and from the island. The research team was also larger than usual. That was no problem for this crew, making sure the many different research objectives were accomplished, while also accommodating nine guests for two weeks. We couldn’t be happier with our three trips aboard Awatea, and we’re very much looking forward to working with them in the future. Although our experience was specific to research expeditions, I’m sure anyone looking for a relaxing, comfortable, and exciting experience aboard a beautiful and well-equipped vessel, with a knowledgeable and capable crew (and not to mention how nice they were!) would have to look no further than Awatea Adventures.