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Antigua – Adventures & Adventurers

From the Captain:

Yep, life at sea on Zenith continues to teach me to roll with the punches while remembering that in between,  if you slot in those epic sessions, things have a way of working themselves out. …..No stress & plenty-plenty irie….here’s the Antigua story so far…

Mother nature has been somewhat fickle of late, providing mixed winds from 0 – 29kts and sending huge Northerly swells down from the East coast of the States. T1 enjoyed Barbuda and my secret spot, but T2 was denied (due to swell) so we concentrated on Green Island and making their Zenith Ocean Film. https://vimeo.com/57332439 A night kite playing with the camera, a ‘Rowley’ off the coach roof,  my first un-hooked… not looking like MC Hammer in rehab(!)…and generally sublime times were had making the most of the massive Nonsuch Bay reef….

Juliet Lemon joined for T1 & T2. She is a professional photographer and offered her services to Zenith to shoot kiting and our lifestyles. I will be showcasing her amazing work with us soon but in the meantime her website is: http://julietlemon.com/

Provisioning  again proved surreal due to the BIG north swell which meant the local fishermen couldn’t go out either,  resulting in a lack of fresh fish at ALL the markets…check out the photo below!!….

When trying to buy fish on the ENTIRE island the response was the same:”The sea RUFF”

Finally 4 hours pre guests arrival Georgie found some fillets …maybe the only in the northern Caribb.

The ‘Hurricane’ Georgie prevailed :)

T2 over and time for the crew to get some personal kite sessions in. A new system blew through offering 20-29kts. BOOM. Georgie went out on a Park 8…and in her inimitable style she went BIG. A second boost from a gust sent her higher than she had ever been before and then it happened…KITELOOP SLAM.

Hurricane hit the water from quite a height breaking a lower rib. Some local kiters went to her aid immediately (Good Job Matt). Her shortness of breath in open water although a hazard did nt get the ‘Hurricane’ down and like the trooper she is held on until safe on board Meercat. Me…I was having a great un-hooked session (no MC Hammer in sight) and only noticed when the rescue seemed to take a bit too long.

On arrival back at the boat I assessed her condition….she was in considerable pain….but still smiling and putting on the bravest of faces. George is a seasoned sea-woman and knows when offhsore there is no use in making a song & dance…just tough it out. Good girl.

Instantly we took our injured cargo to hospital to make sure that no internal organs were damaged and to confirm that she ONLY had a broken rib!! Thank NUBERU (wind God of the tempest)….George was ok. Just another 8 weeks to tough it out…..


Georgie will return to the UK to convalesce …..

As a captain I cannot take risks with crew, guests or vessel. Goergie will be sorely missed and its gutting to see her Zenith season cut short. We had so many laughs, sometimes I was in tears with her stories…..I am sad to see her go. Georgie, you are welcome on board anytime….

Post recovery of course,  but please don’t go sooo BIG next time.

So season start and Zenith is crew-less……

Antigua is a hotbed for the yachting industry attracting ocean going adventurers from all corners of the globe. So I set about interviewing for the continued season…….

Zenith requires such a specialised set of skills and the selection process in mid 2012 for Georgie was long and arduous. Overall I look for an attitude comprising of a love for sea and adventure combined with a skill base to provide the level of service that says “this is ZENITH”.

As I said things have a way of working out. The trick is to kite and not think so much…… Meet the new crew –    2 !!!

Enter Andrea:

Super Yacht Chef
 Andrea and I met in St Lucia, pre season.

She is a master at her trade having over 10 years at the top flight of catering for the super yachts and uber rich. She is a seasoned adventurer with proven time served   skills. Her passion is the ocean and cooking and when she heard the news of the vacancy on Zenith I have to be honest was surprised at her motives for joining. Poaching this (Chef) calibre  of professional is a feather in the cap of Zenith indeed. This is what she had to say:

” My present boat, a 40M sloop, has given me a great life and I ve travelled all over the world in my career on the biggest private yachts in the industry.  I am grateful for all the moments and gifts life has sent me. Seeing the passion for kitsurfing and Zenith model reminded me of the things that the past few years didn’t offer….and I’ve missed it.  I would love to be part of your team, meet your guests and laugh while sharing the direct/close hands on experience of the expedition…..and your destinations..Wow they are soo different. Can’t wait to see the Grenadines up close,  not just through a port hole,.”

The Captain’s reply: “SOLD”…instantly. ( I was like MC Hammer but NOT on a kite. I think I am in a whole heap of other trouble here ;-)

Kinley was introduced to me by Georgie. He has a genuine zest for life and he is joining Meercat as part of his ‘journey’. Our expedition will be richer for his company, and I am sure Zenith will enrich his travels and get him a few steps closer to Panama & the Pacific. Welcome…(nickname TBA)

Enter Kinley:

I have itchy feet. Always have. Rather than using a synthetic creme, I’ve found traveling keeps the itch at bay. My goal is to circumnavigate our little rock via sailing and short deliveries. I have a knack for adapting quickly to foreign cultures and strive to mesh an open mind to their backdrops.

I only just started on my goal. I graduated the University of New Hampshire with a degree in Outdoor Education and two months later, November 2012, sailed from Boston to Antigua. I’ve hiked most of the peaks here, sailed and swam my way around the island and now it’s time to continue on.

I’m very fortunate to be joining Zenith Ocean Voyages and it fell (as it usually does) into my lap at the right time. I may stay aboard as far as Curacao and from there, if not before, I hope to find another delivery through the canal and into the vast Pacific world. I plan to travel to Thailand, Cambodia, Indo, and perhaps stay put in New Zealand for a bit. But who knows? I’ll go anywhere really as long as my feet are happy.

I write my own music, (sing, guitar, harmonica), I play all sorts of sports. I have left-handed pride. Passion for surfing, fluent in both French and English, I rock climb, scuba dive, hike. I’ve been a canoe instructor and hitchhiked across the U.S.  If I was stuck on an island, I would want bread, cheese, wine, and chocolate.
Kinley

Kitesurf Photography workshop for Xmas…thanks Santa!

Juliet Lemon

From the Captain:

T1 our Xmas trip opens the 2012/13 season. As a special Xmas present Zenith has invited professional photographer Juliet Lemon on board to shoot what we do in Antigua & Barbuda. She will also be holding a photography workshop specifically for shooting kitesurfing and speed snaps, for my guests.

We are privileged to welcome Juliet to the expedition and all things ‘kitesurrfy’. Obviously our facebook page will feature her photos so be sure to log on and see the action…… over your turkey and stuffing.

Want to be the right side of a massive  lens?…Do it-do it!

If you would like to check out Juliet see:www.JulietLemon.com andwww.TheLemonGallery.com her work is outstanding.

What Juliet has to say:

I’m super excited to be leaving the arctic conditions of the Northern Hemisphere for sunnier climes and joining the Zenith gang in December.  Really looking forward to photographing the Caribbean magic that is happening down there in the sunshine.

As well as shooting all Zenith’s incredible kiting action and documenting the Meercat way of life, I’m looking forward to holding photography workshops.  We will cover absolutely everything to get everyone capturing the perfect shot, be it of an airborne kiter in action, the right camera settings for capturing that perfect sunset shot as well as the post production side of things.

Juliet at work

A little bit about me…….full time, professional photographer based in the UK and am fortunate enough to travel extensively with my work.  In the UK I photograph weddings, lifestyle shoots as well as many corporate and commercial assignments.  Most Sundays I can be found trackside or in the pit lanes at race circuits photographing the British Touring Car Championships.  As well as that I hold photography workshops and work closely with budding fellow photographers keen to take their photography skills to a new level.

Outside the UK I’ve enjoyed a very interesting and varied photographic background…….. destination weddings in Africa and Europe, lived out in Botswana and Southern Africa for a few years working  for a Safari company – which is where my passion for photography was first lit – so photographing wildlife in the depths of the Okavango Delta was where it all began for me!   The wilderness, natural beauty and constant sense of adventure was what I loved and is something that I have continued to factor into my life and work.

More recently I have been over in Madagascar photographing for NGOs and giving wildlife photography workshops, in Mozambique shooting for Penguin Publishing’s travel guide book for the Bazaruto Archipelago, shooting fast cars at the World Endurance Championships with meets in Florida and Belgium, culminating in the Le Mans 24 hour car race in France and professional windsurfers in Dahab, Egypt.
Kitesurfing offers spectacular expression, and with Zenith beautiful locations hand picked just for us. To get into the mindset I will be kiting for the first time with the Zenith team to truly know the tribal nature of this sport…   I cant wait to capture, kite and sail on yet another of my unique global photo missions.


Georgie’s Pre-Season

With my new chapter about to begin with Zenith, I thought I should give you a little low down of what I’ve been up to in the build up to the 2013 season aboard Meercat…

This summer I have spent most of my time in the sunshine in Egypt preparing myself for life in the Caribbean. My days mainly consisted of kitesurfing, windsurfing, backflipping, meeting new people, making bracelets and generally having lots of fun!!….Gotta get in the right head space so I am doing my bit ;-)

I also set myself the challenge of trying to cook as much as I could whilst I was out there to practice my finest recipes. I was however presented with a few challenges… Things such as no equipment to cook with, no ingredients to buy, no scales and an oven with only two settings. However this didn’t stop me and I did manage to master banana bread as well as a few other signature dishes. It has all good practice for when my search begins out in our Caribbean locations to ensure I have all the local delicacies and finest fresh ingredients onboard.


I personally am a big fan of using as much fresh, local produce in my cooking as possible. I have done a lot of traveling myself and have been lucky enough to sample many worldwide cuisines. I like to explore and experiment and try as many different things as possible. I really enjoy spices and vibrant flavours in my food and love making a good curry. This accompanied with homemade flat bread goes beautifully.
I pride myself in big, juicy salads mixed up with as much as I can get my hands on. You would be surprised how filling and delicious one of my specially prepared salads can be… light and fresh…tends to help with the back flips!!

Being aware that there are many people with special dietary requirements, including wheat and gluten intolerances, I have been doing my research into how I can ensure that no one misses out on a delicious feast. So if you do fall under this category then never fear, your hostess has it all under control. I have been reading up and educating myself on all the necessary information.

Its not long now until I will be out in St.Lucia getting myself to grips with life onboard Meercat…. And yes I am VERY excited and can’t wait to get stuck in.

Boys and their Toys

2013 is all about what more can Zenith do…..perfection is unattainable but never the less its an admirable goal.

A few beers and contemplation gave birth to the new kit. SUPs

At the popular request of guests and looking at the ever changing face of kitesurfing it was a bit obvious really, but I had one slight problem…..

Yes we are loaded with Naish gear, twin tips and surf boards, and yes we have special bespoke racks for storage on the boat to make ergonomic sense of life on board Meercat. The dilemma was how to store the new SUPs.

At 10 ft long the dilemma took a few more beers because its not only about logical solutions but aesthetic ones too. I am somewhat keen to preserve the fine lines of my lady…(who is nt!)….and at the same time make the toys user friendly in a limited space.

The wizard ‘Nick’ at Naish showed me these..the Mana Air. Rigid inflatable SUPs. They will fit in the on board kite-store in their bags for sailing and we whip em out on demand. Perfect!

John H (AKA: Johnny) lovingly stroking his boards on the Davit rack,  knows what it means to all of us that our gear is at home even when away from home.

One of my pet hates is gear on the trampoline at the front of the boat. This is a place to chill, contemplate ones navel, drink a cold one and soak up the fine locations we go to. The mana Air wont be getting in the way of these things, and ..anything else that goes on there!
For all the tech-heads look left

For all the shakers and movers………Look right

Kite technology is ever developing and we all know mother nature is a fickle lady…I am stoked to add these toys as light wind solutions for reef exploration.

So thats one side of the lens covered….here’s the other…

Although I love the JVC already on board I have bowed to the legend that is the     Canon 5D Mk II.      I’ve become a bit of a nut with Zenith Ocean Films and soon I will be needing a bigger boat to carry the kit. Should have taken up knitting!

Anyway…

Naish shot a movie on board a while back and Nate, their camera man,  produced some awesome footage with this bad boy. For sure my first love is the JVC but with 2 full HD cams and the ability to swap lenses I hope to be biting Nate’s heels and up my game.

The new zoom will be particularly handy for the up-mast-shots and down winders with the boat in motion. Just gotta figure out how to use it now…I am a typical bloke and despise instruction manuals.

So thats what the Captain has been up to of late, prepping for 2012/13. Well there is more but stuff; pumps, watermaker cells, bottom scrapes( dont even think about it) and engine overhauls…oh toilet pumps too but lets not go there.

Georgie will be posting soon about her pre Zenith season….and from her facebook pictures, she is fearless

Laterz, Ged.

Georgie’s Stoke

Welcome to the first blog for the run up to the 2013 season

Georgie’s Stoke..!

The captain says: Georgie is joining Zenith for the 2013 season on the hostess/photography side of things. She was the clear winner in a rigorous interview process and I can’t wait for you all to meet her. Choosing crew for the continued expedition is always tough but happily Georgie made my decisions easy, she will compliment the

Zenith experience perfectly….

What Georgie has  to say…….
“Hi I am Georgie, the newest recruit to join Zenith Ocean Voyages aboard Meercat for 2012/13.Why me? Because I have a passion for the sea, the sunshine and kitesurfing and I want to be able to share and show others the true beauty and excitement of something that I love. By joining Meercat I will be giving others the opportunity to experience the trip of a lifetime, one that they will not forget and one they will never want to end.”
“Life on-board Meercat provides a once in a lifetime expedition, an adventure to places that are otherwise inaccessible. Meercat gets closer and shallower to those dream conditions in the turquoise crystal clear waters of the Caribbean. We will launch our kites from the boat, whenever and wherever your heart desires. I can’t wait!”

“With a boat full of video and photography equipment and state of the art on-board editing suite, we will be sure to capture all the magic and adventure throughout your expedition both on and off the water this season. With a Canon 5D, Nikon 5100, a bag of lenses, JVC GY-HM100e professional video camera, and Go Pro of course nothing will be missed! “My favourite video from last season has to be the ‘Pirate Run’ as it shows all aspects of life on-board Meercat. It encapsulates every moment and makes you want to be there and be part of the action. I am looking forward to giving you that opportunity too this season.”

“I personally cannot wait to return to St.Vincent and the Grenadines on T12 and T13, a destination I fell in love with in February. Kitesurfing at Tobago Cays and a rum punch on Happy Island… you can’t beat it! Antigua and Barbuda are also very high up on my list as I’ve heard so much about them but yet to visit, I almost feel like I have been there from the videos and can’t wait to put that into reality.”
“Meercat is a kiter’s dream; not only can you kite in some of the most stunning places in the world but you will also be looked after and fed to make you feel like you never want to go home. As your hostess I will be there to make sure that throughout the day your belly will be full and satisfied with a variety of Caribbean cuisine. And after a day on the water what better way to finish than enjoy sharing your experiences and tales over a feast and a few beverages”
“I am excited, very excited…..

I can’t stop smiling at the thought of being on-board Meercat

and living the dream.”

From the captain…

So Zenith has rocked up in the ABCs for our final leg of the 2011 season. Why here? This is the only consistently windy place in the Caribbean at this time of year, and free of hurricanes –  so safe for Meercat and the crew.
With some downtime before the next guests arrive, Zenith has hooked up with the Naish crowd in Bonaire. The local kiters here are like a big family and yet very welcoming. It’s a joy to see and to experience. Spots like ‘Atlantis’ and Klein Bon’ are the major haunts. Super flat water, offshore winds and ice coolers packed with Polar beer is the order of the day. There seems to be an unusually high proportion of female kiters here, and they don’t hold back on the water.

Up-coming star Judith Roetman works out in the gym, kites before AND after work. After just a few days of testing the Torch, she fell in love. We ve been back now for 12 days…she still has it !!!!!!  Hmmmm this is going to be a tough one… Watch out for her in the near future
Jeroen is the local Naish rep. He started kiting 8 years ago, and like the old skool loves the big air. He is the center of kiting here in Bon’  If you ever land on these shores be sure to hook up with him. His bar tricks are hilarious: get your game head on if you are game enough!

After a few jars in the Little Havana Bar Jeroen and I decided to make a trip to the Los Aves islands, whip up a few local kiters to demo our 2011 Naish gear, and make a movie.  I was in full filming mode, and the Aves provided perfect conditions for the demo. I should remember to get some kiting in myself at some point….

It never fails to touch me that when Zenith sails to new places, we discover great kiting communities, meet the  kiters and it just clicks.
Our sport, passion whatever it is,  binds us together. It’s weeks like this that make me proud to be a part of what we all do.
Oh by the way – keep an eye out for the vid, Judith is something else!!

Special offer: come join us on the last trip of the season

Got anything better to do from September 8 to the 15, 2011? No? Why not come and join Zenith Ocean Voyages on a great 8 day, 7-night kiteboarding trip, starting from Bonaire (Netherlands Antilles) and ending in Curacao? We’ll be kiting in Bonaire, on Klein Curacao and in some secret spots along the way (or not…)

There are two double cabins still available.

T21 is the final trip of our first successful season. We are celebrating this by extending a special gift to all of our guests on this trip: a 10% discount voucher on any trip in our second season (December 20, 2011 – July 15, 2012). If you want to, you can give the voucher to your friends!

If you’d like to ride with us on T21 and take advantage of the special offer, please book by August 31, 2011.

To find out more or to book, please write us an email by clicking here. Don’t forget to mention the special T21 offer. Looking forward to welcoming you onboard Meercat!

The 2012 schedule is here! Here’s the short version…

Our program for the December 2011 – July 2012 season is now ready!

Here are the links to the all-new Destinations and Rates and Dates pages.

We’re still working on the Booking Enquiries page… if you’d like to book, please click here! We’d recommend booking early to get the most choice. Also, if you book before 1 October 2011, you’ll get a discount of USD 150 per person.

Looking forward to riding with you onboard Meercat!

Ged & Susy and the Zenith Ocean Voyages crew

WHAT’S NEW FOR SEASON 2 AT ZENITH OCEAN VOYAGES – Dec 2011 – July 2012

For our second season here at Zenith Ocean Voyages, we’ve decided to do things a little bit differently as far as our scheduling is concerned. Here are the highlights, in a nutshell:

Our calendar

  • In short, it’s all about flexibility and custom trips.
  • Depending on the time of year, we’ll be in one of four different cruising grounds. Some of these represent the best of what we experienced in 2011, some are brand-new adventurous explorations.
  • Within each cruising ground, YOU CHOOSE YOUR DATES.
  • Within each cruising ground, you can choose your itinerary – although we will advise you on how to make the most of your trip based on the intended length, your starting and ending point, etc.
  • YOU CHOOSE THE LENGTH OF YOUR TRIP. In principle, for a minimum of 7 days (guess what though… we are flexible).
  • We are still working on our new booking enquiry page. While we finalise it, all links to that page have been temporarily redirected to our Contact page.
  • First come first serve – the earlier you book, the more choices you will have. Once a trip is booked by at least 1 person, we will publish the dates so that others can join and we will indicate it’s no longer available once all cabins are filled.
  • The Special End-of-Year trip is somewhat different. YOU CHOOSE not only the dates and the length, but the cruising ground as well! The only limitations are December 20, 2011 as the earliest possible starting date and January 2, 2012 as the latest possible end date.

 

 Our rates

  • … are still all inclusive – just get yourself to the boat and we’ll take care of the rest!
  • The package comes with our unique our much-praised personal kitefilm of your trip. To take a look at the videos from Season 1, check out http://vimeo.com/channels/191285
  • If you’re traveling on your own, or if you’d like a cabin all to yourself, please contact us to find out about our special single-occupancy offers.
  • Bookings made before 1 October 2011 will receive a discount of USD 150 per person.
  • If you would like a custom trip that’s not quite 7 days or 10 days long, no worries. You will be charged on a pro-rata basis up to the 11th day. From then onwards, the daily price drops to USD 300 pp/day.

Trips in Summer 2011

We are currently in the ABCs. If you’d like to come onboard, please contact us, indicating your preferred dates. We are flexible and our 2011 rates will apply.

Doesn’t get much better than this…

Not a bad kitespot, all in all

 
 
 
Initially we were going to try to write about the great three weeks we had cruising in the Grenadines, then on to Curacao via lots of open water, pirates who we didn’t see as they kindly decided not to attack us,  and some gorgeous atolls on the way…  but we were at loss for words so here are some pictures.
 

Juergen jumping over sandspits, no kite!

 

James in action, Clifton Harbour, Union, Grenadines

 

Caroline’s own personal sail – somewhere in the Western Caribbean.

 

Grateful Captain joins the Dead

 

James and friend/hat, Tobago Cays, Grenadines

A bit of morning silliness

… and here’s a little light non-kiting vid (for a change!), created this morning on Day 8 of the now-extended T14 trip in the Grenadines (and beyond, it’s looking like… stay tuned!).

http://vimeo.com/25315067

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