At only 24 years old, Captain Jo married his love of sailing, photography, and St. Martin and started his eponymous charter tour company. Now operating out of the Anse Marcel Marina with his own fleet, Captain Jo has developed a sterling reputation for operating bespoke comfort cruises and exciting aquatic excursions in the waters of St. Martin and beyond. We caught the captain himself on one of his rare trips ashore and sat down to learn more about the man steering the catamaran.
Q: You’ve been sailing the waters of St. Martin for over a decade now. How did Captain Jo get started?
A: You’re right: we’ve been in business for 12 years now! I started the company with a small boat and experienced plenty of misfortune at the beginning. Due to hurricanes, I had to rebuild multiple times before I was eventually able to get back to my feet. Since then, we’ve grown the company and worked hard to become one of St. Martin’s most popular charter services…and we’re no longer using only one boat!
Q: What’s the best part about living and working in St. Martin?
A: I was born in St. Martin and I’ve lived here all my life…and never felt the urge to leave. I’m grateful to live in a place with so many incredible things to discover. There’s such an abundance of beauty and excitement in the sea, so I’d definitely say that the water is the best part.
Q: What does the Captain like doing when he isn’t at sea?
A: When I’m not at sea, I’m thinking about going back to sea. It’s probably not a surprising answer, but our family spends our free time out on the water.
Q: What activities should visitors to St. Martin be sure to include in their itinerary?
A: Well…we will of course recommend a day trip charter with Captain Jo! I think seeing the island from the waves offers an entirely new perspective on our beautiful little paradise. Sailing, lounging, scuba, snorkelling - we have a broad range of activities across our five different boats for any excursion. If you’ve ever dreamt of swimming with the sea turtles, we can make it happen.
Q: What would you say is the best part of your job?
A: The best part of the job is the passengers; the people we meet. We’re pleased to show them the best parts of our home and in turn, learn about theirs. We are driven to provide the best experience for them because we are proud of St. Martin and want them to love it as we do. We’ve had the chance to host global family reunions on our boats, be part of plenty of proposals, and I’ve even performed a ceremony! We’ve been able to be a part of so many happy memories in paradise, it’s something that will always stay with us.
Interested in learning more about Captain Jo Charters or maybe even pre-booking your own tour? Visit http://captainjoboatcharter.com/ for more information.