Full Pogramme for Caribbean CrewFest 2016

With the dates for the inaugural Caribbean CrewFest in St Kitts fast approaching (15 to 16 January), Christophe Harbour and ACREW are excited to announce the full details of the two-day programme.

Free for all professional superyacht captains and crew, with complimentary berthing at The Marina at Christophe Harbour for all participating yachts, CrewFest promises to bring a Caribbean twist to professional development, with educational seminars and masterclasses seamlessly mixed with a top social schedule.

Day one will be dedicated to dynamic and interactive professional workshops—everything from culinary instruction and leadership coaching to security training—lead by various industry experts.

In a session on leadership, Peter Vogel from Interior Yacht Services and Aeneas Hollins, director of yachting at Christophe Harbour and a former superyacht captain of 15 years, will present a methodology for exceptional leadership on board. This workshop will not only be about how to develop your own style but also how to create more leaders on board that teach and guide others, providing a comprehensive overview in the context of captaining a superyacht.

Alongside this workshop, Miles Thompson, the new executive chef at Christophe Harbour, will lead an intimate and interactive workshop on Caribbean cuisine for superyacht chefs, where he will unveil the secrets of sourcing and preparing local produce in order to create modern dishes that are both fit for a superyacht clientele and that are in harmony with the local environment. Bringing everyone into lunch, former Royal Marine commando, Wayne Britton of Securewest International will explore crew safety, awareness and conflict resolution, in an interactive workshop that will offer captains and crew a chance to share their experiences and learn valuable pragmatic lessons for international travel both on-board and ashore.

Following a delicious lunch at The Pavillion at Christophe Harbour, the afternoon will offer two interactive workshops to choose from. Peter Vogel will address the very fundamentals of great service in a workshop for interior crew, while Kym “Shag” Morton of FKG Marine Rigging and Fabricating and Stan Pearson of Antigua Rigging will lead a session dedicated to better understanding ropes and rigging.

In his essential workshop for all interior crew, Vogel will share unique organisational tools that help manage every detail of an exceptional service, as well as explain the concept of ‘The Spirit of Service’ through both practical and theoretical exercises. In a largely practical session, Morton and Pearson’s will explore the individual attributes of various ropes and discuss care, maintenance, industry regulations and safety and legality.

The evening will be spent at SALT Plage on Whitehouse Bay, watching the sunset from the best spot on the island, sundowner in hand, a barbeque of delicious local cuisine, karaoke and an open bar.

Day two of CrewFest will be all about exploring St Kitts. Crew will spend the day exploring the island and participating in a variety of classic Kittitian activities, including zip-lining, cultural excursions and relaxed dining. Crew will also get treated to cocktails, nibbles and an exclusive, behind the scenes tour of YU Lounge, the luxury private jet terminal at St Kitts’ Robert L Bradshaw International Airport, which seamlessly and efficiently manages the arrival of VIP guests in to St Kitts.

The only way to end this unforgettable two-day experience would be a proper crew party. Zoom Yachting will host a classic night of dining, drinking and dancing, with the sounds of international DJ, Dani L Mebius filling the dance floor. The party theme will be Heroes vs Villains—think Batman vs Catwoman, James Bond vs OddJob. The more creative the better, with prizes for those that really impress.

Remaining space is limited but there is still time to register for this exciting, unique two-day event in St Kitts. As well as free berthing, clearance fees on arrival and departure will also be complimentary through SKN Premium Yacht Services. If you are in the Caribbean this month, you’ll need a good reason to miss this.

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