Dear Andrea:
I hope your transfer to Sardinia worked out well. We arrived at home at 2AM on Thursday but thinking of you and your crew helped everyone keep this in perspective and getting up the next morning so we have started to settle back into life in London well.
We wanted to thank you and your crew for a wonderful few days on board of Whitefin. We have been very fortunate to spend this year predominantly in beautiful sea-side locations in Madeira, Tenerife, Ile de Re and the Aegean. This set a high bar and it was lovely to end the summer on such a high note which will last long in our memory.
The various drawings of the children, their sadness to leave and their attempts to find a way to stay on board speak the clearest language about our experience but I felt it was nevertheless appropriate to add a few words from Julia and me.
First, having come back to Whitefin after 3 years, we were not surprised but nevertheless impressed by its immaculate condition due to your fastidious attention to maintenance. We were particularly sensitive to this because we were earlier on a similarly large and more modern boat in Greece where changes of ownership and captains had led to a maintenance backlog which affected us materially. From the moment we stepped on board of Whitefin, we felt the difference as she was immaculately ship shape despite a turn-around time of only hours from the previous charter’s departure. Equally, when we left for dinner in Cefalu after 50 miles of sailing in rough waters which had left the boat caked in salt we returned after only a few hours to find her sparkling clean. Any issues that arose were dealt with by you immediately and with unfailing good grace even if our children were responsible.
Secondly, you clearly are a captain by vocation and your example sets the tone in all aspects. Whether it is your calmness in rough seas which helped all of us feel safe and preserve a good spirit even when some where a bit nauseous from the waves or your highly personal engagement with all of us in different ways, taking the younger kids out on the donut, teaching the children about sailing, playing the guitar and singing with us and having wonderful conversations reflecting your broad perspective far beyond sailing. I already noticed this on our last trip when you made the lady we had taken along to look after the younger children and who was clearly a bit apprehensive about being at sea and in such a luxurious environment feel welcome, calm and included in an exemplary manner. As for ourselves, even though this was an empty leg transfer charter at a discounted rate we felt like you were welcoming back old and special friends.
Finally, we cannot say enough good things about your crew which clearly are inspired by your example. They are highly skilled and attentive at their jobs, whether it is executing manoeuvres at sea with safety, speed and precision, cooking delicious food and presenting it beautifully or keeping the cabins and public areas spotless in a manner that seems effortless. However, we fully appreciate how difficult this is in reality with a large and not always maximally careful family. Even more importantly, like you they have a personality and experience which enables them to relate to guests on a higher level. They were consistently attentive and positive in their attitude, going above and beyond their duties to enhance our stay, whether it was Vicky baking with Ava and Paula or making a special self-made herbal tea for Ava’s sore throat, Pietro constantly asking about or even anticipating our wishes or Alessandro taking us out on the dinghy for a final swim in Cala Rossa while you were preparing for 24+h sail to Sardinia. At the same time, they were very respectful of our privacy. There was a clear sense of a content and cohesive team which genuinely takes pride in providing a special experience and works together to achieve this rather than doing their jobs individually.
We generally avoid going back to memorable experiences in search of new ones but also for fear of high expectations not being met and treasured memories being negatively tinged by this. In the case of Whitefin, we are absolutely delighted that we had the opportunity to come back and add to and enhance the wonderful memories of our last trip. We would have full confidence that this would be the case in future and very much hope to have the opportunity to do so.
With gratitude and best wishes for you, your family and your crew,
J. and B. Killmer
Buon giorno,
ieri sera siamo rientrati sani e salvi a casa.
Vorrei ringraziarLa per la bella veleggiata, particolarmente indimenticabile l’entrata a Budelli a vele spiegate, e un grazie particolare a Guglielmo, Francesco e Mattia che sono stati di una gentilezza fuori dal comune.
A presto
Dear Mr. Logemann, dear Andrea
I would like to thank you again for the absolutely correct and uncomplicated mediation of the dream yacht Whitefin!
The trip to the Aeolian Islands was an absolute “once-in-a-lifetime” affair for all (8) involved, which will remain unforgettable and will be one of the most beautiful experiences of our lives for everyone!
This boat:
One of those few eye-catchers in a sailor’s life: if you discover something like that in a harbor or at the Antigua Classic Week: Then the camera is hot! Or you can find such a boat at an anchorage: the dinghy will be cleared and a circling started: you know that. Now we were able to be guests on such a dream sailor for the first time! Inside and out, an absolutely coherent, well thought-out, fantastically beautiful, tasteful and above all: FAST boat! I have never run 13 knots on 9 winds! And the cup of coffee (without a slip mat) was on the cockpit table …
Skipper Andrea is a perfect host who, together with his incredibly personable crew, reads and fulfills every wish of the guests. In addition, the 4 form a well-rehearsed regatta crew, without question!
We all enjoyed every second on the boat and it was really worth its proud price in the end!
Thanks for everything, and hopefully again!
Best Regards
Axel Schulz
Mr Loof,
Juste un petit mot pour vous dire ma satisfaction d’avoir pu naviguer par beau temps sur Whitefin le long de la côte ouest de la Corse depuis Calvi .
C’est un joli bateau bien entretenu pour sa catégorie.
L’équipage est compétent et sympathique. Il est dirigé par un capitaine expérimenté et d’agréable compagnie.
Belle expérience.
Bien à vous
Andrea,
Thank you and the boys for some unforgettable sailing and a very good time. You are a great host and your crew are very nice and good. Thank you and see you soon I hope.
All the best and good sailing for the rest of the season.
Caro Andrea,
Grazie ancora per questi splendidi giorni sul Whitefin: barca stupenda ed equipaggio delizioso!
Tutto è stato perfetto, io ed i miei amici ricorderemo a lungo questa esperienza.
Un abbraccio e spero a presto.
Duccio
Liz, we had a wonderful time aboard. The boat and crew were both top notch. I promised Andrea that I would give some thought to the trip and provide some feedback, so I have included him in this email.
The food, the quality of the vessel and the crew, were without any reservations, top notch. I would have no hesitation recommending Whitefin to anyone, so long as they are looking for a true sailing vessel (as compared to a motorsailer).
We had a wonderful vacation, one we will be taking about for quite some time. Andrea, you personally were a delight to have as a captain and trip companion.
Thanks again, hope this helps.
Dear Andrea, after returning home all of us agreed that we had a fantastic week on Whitefin.
We enjoyed the classic style of the design and also the good sailing performance up – and downwind. A very nice experience to sail a yacht of this size. Also the interior of Whitefin has a special beautiful ambience with high comfort.
You and your crew treated us exceptional well leaving no wishes unfulfilled.
I was not aware of that a yacht kitchen can produce such good lunches and dinners accompanied with your fine wine selection. Our special thanks to your cook!
We like to thank you for a unique great week on Whitefin. Will charter again.
Caro Andrea, grazie ancora per la cura e le attenzioni che tu, Francesca e tutto l’equipaggio del Whitefin avete avuto per la mia famiglia; abbiamo passato un’altra vacanza memorabile, grazie a Voi ed alla barca stupenda.
Hi!!! We had a very pleasant time!!
The captain and the crew were lovely! The boat beautiful! The places we visited were amazing! The food was good! We had some problems with the ac but the captain managed to solve them on time!
We really appreciate your help with everything and we are also very happy we chose this amazing boat which caused admiration everywhere we went!
Thank you so much!
Dear Youri,
This mail comes somewhat late, but we want to thank you very much for organising our sailing trip at short notice. You succeeded in finding us a stunning boat and a very professional and charming captain with an excellent crew. Everything worked out according to plan and we would have been very happy to extend our holiday beyond the week.
Here is a summary of our trip with detailed feedback:
We were collected at Naples airport and delivered safely to the harbour without delay. We were met there by one of the deckhands called Aron, and Andrea, our captain, was already en route from the boat to the pier. We were on the way to White Fin within less than five minutes of waiting time, so logistics worked out well.
On arrival on the boat we met the second deckhand Riccardo as well as our competent chef Ingri, who surprised us with a fantastic fruit sculpture and a delicious lunch. After a short briefing we set sail and our trip was off to a great start. There was a good wind and we experienced the excellent sails and White Fin`s impressive speed.
White Fin is truly in incredible condition. The sails, the decks, the furniture as well as every piece of equipment is of the highest quality and absolutely spotless. It is very clear that the boat is like a child to the captain who goes beyond the course of duty to make sure the boat stays in its impeccable condition to be enjoyed by the guests. We were immediately highly impressed, and continued to be throughout the trip. Our bedrooms and bathrooms were spotless.
Andrea is extremely competent and was always in complete control of the boat and the journey. He is a professional captain in charge of his boat and crew, but he is also a sportsman pushing to show what the boat can deliver in terms of performance. Yet he is careful and safety as well as consistent enjoyment by the guests are paramount. He clearly has a great relationship with his crew who respect and trust him. They are a good team, almost like family, with everyone helping each other with whatever needs to be done at any time.
Our itinerary provided for two days around Procida, Ischia and Capri, followed by an overnight trip from the South of Capri to the Aeolian Islands. After a couple of leisurely days on the boat while sailing at good speed in the Bay of Naples and beyond, we had dinner in Capri while the crew prepared White Fin for the long overnight journey. It turned out that we had significant wind speeds down towards the Aeolians, resulting in the entire crew staying up all night to make sure the journey would be a smooth one. We slept in our cabins, and found that we had made progress at about 15 knots per hour when we woke up the next day. The waves were still quite high, but we had a wonderful journey during the morning and into lunchtime, with the entire family enjoying dolphins and sea turtles, while looking out for Stromboli.
We remained a few days around Lipari, Vulcano and Salina, with Andrea finding excellent anchor spots just off shore or inside smaller harbours. We snorkelled and used our stand up paddle board that we had brought along. Aron and Riccardo had kindly blown it up for us, and our children enjoyed taking little trips on it in the water. We equally visited the local sights, including the crater of Vulcano, the museum in Lipari and strolled in old part of Salina.
When wind conditions were not suitable to reach Ustica, the last stop on our planned itinerary, Andrea came up with an excellent alternative route, taking us to Mondello near Palermo and to some further bays and coves a little towards the west of Sicily.
We were very happy with our experience. The crew was extremely courteous, helpful and tolerant of our many requests. They indulged our eldest daughter, who was keen to bake on board White Fin (preparing croissants and orange cake on separate days), consistently found us amazing fish that had just been brought in by fisherman, provided a taste of excellent Italian wines, shared a wealth of information about the boat, sailing as well as the islands where we stopped. Aron and Riccardo took charge of our inflatable stand up paddle board, not only inflating it, but also storing it during the trip and deflating and packing it again. Andrea brought out his diving gear and searched for our daughter`s necklace when she lost it while swimming.
Not to forget, our chef Ingri was amazing. Her salmon and swordfish tartares will be difficult to top, her sea bass and octopus were delicious and the children even liked her vegetables. She prepared our feasts even in somewhat adverse wind and wave conditions, which we can only admire.
By the end of the trip, Andrea, Aron, Riccardo and Ingri were absolutely adored by our children. They never got tired of responding to their endless questions and requests for climbing up ropes.
All in all, the crew went to their utmost to please us, and we were extremely happy with our journey all around.
If you have any further questions, please let us know.
We hope to do this again some time.
With warm regards,
J. and B. Killmer
PS Our oldest daughter painted the boat below…
Andrea,
A belated thank you for the wonderful days on your beautiful Whitefin.
Such a wonderful boat with a wonderful crew!
We enjoyed every minute!
Thank you and thank your crew!
All the best
We had a as always short but sailintensive time.
We can praise the ship, the captain and the crew.
Partially we were doing 15 kn through the island world of Dalmatia.
The quality of the care was clearly increased – compared to the last time.
So we like to charter the Whitefin next year – best from Split to the Cornaten group of islands.
Anche se solo per un week-end abbiamo avuto l’occasione di trascorrere delle ore magnifiche a bordo di un’imbarcazione straordinaria.
Il Whitefin è un concentrato di classe, eleganza, prestazione e servizio a 5 stelle. Un equipaggio attento e mai invadente. Spazi comodi e intimi nonostante sia un’imbarcazione a vela.
Ci siamo sempre sentiti coinvolti in ogni manovra anche se abbiamo potuto assaporare relax, tranquillità e intimità estrema. Tante le sorprese ogni giorno che hanno reso la nostra mini vacanza ancora più speciale.
Ogni particolare è trattato con cura. Dal Mangiare sotto le stelle in navigazione, alla rada in baie meravigliose, fino ad arrivare ad un veleggiata a quasi 15 nodi con un vento tiepido. Ogni momento trascorso resterà nei nostri cuori.
Speriamo di poter tornare presto a bordo di questa barca di altri tempi, comandata da un equipaggio di altri tempi.
Dear Andrea and Crew,
We are back in the US and still talk about the wonderful experiences we had aboard the Whitefin. Being first time charter guests, and especially on a sailing yacht, we had no idea what to expect. It was one of the best vacations we ever had and provided us endless quality family time. You and the entire crew were so hospitable, kind , knowledgeable and patient with our family. Your knowledge of the area and the secret gems we should see, helped us gain a true understanding for what the Amalfi coast has to offer.
The Whitefin, itself, what can I say? It is a beautiful classic yacht that is easy to appreciate and love. Your meticulous care of her is obvious as the boat shines and stands out among all others. We were proud to be aboard and loom forward to another charter (Croatia?) next year!
Arrivederci!
Dear Capt. Andrea,
I wanted to take a moment & express our thanks to both you & the crew of the Whitefin. As you may recall my Mother, brother & sister had the exclusive pleasure to take part in the Vela Regatta last month. It was truly one of the most memorable highlights of our holiday abroad. Our experience aboard the Whitefin with you & your crew will remain as one of the most cherished memories we have together as a family. To take part in such a grand event is difficult to convey to someone who was not there. Your orchestration of your crew was a privilege to watch. I wanted you to know we were very appreciative of the genuine hospitality & graciousness your crew extended to my family.
On behalf of Carol, Dolores, Mathew & myself.
Thank you!
Andrea,
siamo tornati a Milano alla vita normale, e ricordiamo con nostalgia gli splendidi giorni passati con voi. Grazie ancora per la Vostra ospitalità e le Vostre premure! Ti ringrazio molto per le splendide vacanze, e spero di rivederti presto, o per la costa ligure, o per la Croazia.
Grazie, ed a presto,
Massimiliano
Il viaggio è andato benissimo, barca molto bella e comoda, equipaggio molto carino e preparato, comandante super!
Ciao caro Andrea,
Volevo esprimerti i miei complimenti circa l’esperienza fatta a bordo del tuo meraviglioso Whitefin! Tutto è stato perfetto: tu, l’equipaggio, la cucina e il servizio: impeccabile. Ho trascorso una settimana davvero superlativa dove tutto è stato estremamente perfetto.
La tua simpatia e del tuo staff ha certamente contribuito ha caratterizzare ancor più positivamente questi giorni davvero molto belli. Il Whitefin è una imbarcazione davvero molto bella, comoda e lussuosa al punto giusto, senza tralasciare il piacere di vivere il mare su un mezzo che ne sappia condividere lo spirito.
Spero di avere nuovamente l’occasione di rivivere questa bellissima esperienza.
Colgo l’occasione per inviarti qualche scatto della tua barca, sperando di farti cosa gradita.
Un caro saluto a te, a Guglielmo, Matteo, Stefano e Daniela!
Settimana perfetta quella passata sulla Whitefin… Ringraziamenti speciali alla guida del grande Capitano Andrea per averci portato in posti meravigliosi risalendo dalla Sicilia fino alla splendida costiera Amalfitana.
Grazie anche ai giovani e fantastici membri dell’equipaggio Guglielmo, Matteo e Stefano.
Ancora un grazie speciale alla magnifica Chef Daniela per la sua cucina delicata e gustosa.
Grazie ancora per la simpatia e professionalità, settimana da non dimenticare.
Saluti e Baci
Francesca
Caro Andrea,
è dura essere di nuovo a Milano dopo giorni così belli, immersi nella natura e insieme a tutti voi! Francesca ed io siamo veramente entusiasti dell’esperienza sul Whitefin e della vostra compagnia: sono stati cinque giorni bellissimi, divertenti e rilassanti, e ci siamo sentiti proprio coccolati come poche altre volte.
Desidero ringraziare ancora te e il tuo equipaggio per l’ottimo servizio che ci avete reso a tutti i livelli e anche per la piacevolissima compagnia, che è stata parte integrante del piacere di questa vacanza. Davvero mi auguro che potremo rivederci sul Whitefin il prossimo anno.
Un abbraccio e un caro saluto a te e a tutta l’ottima ciurma, anche da parte di Francesca.
A presto, spero,
Riccardo
Active sailing with the competent skipper Andrea Milan has been big fun for the whole family, including my 70 year old mother. We enjoyed 15.1 knots speed in front of Positano. This was unique.
We were very pleased with WHITEFIN and her team led by Captain Andrea.
A very versatile sailing route with beautiful anchorages.
A fascinating fast ship, which is good to maneuver.
The captain is sailing enthusiastic and competent. We had a lot of fun with him. The new chef is great – good authentic Italian cuisine.
We want to book again WHITEFIN next year for the Croatian island world.
Dear Andrea & Guglielmo,
I trust this email finds you, your crew and your boat well.
It would be my honor to be able to provide a brief testimonial of our amazing experience together aboard the beautiful Whitefin.
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“To take part in the Régates Royales – Trophée Panerai Challenge in itself, is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many; however to take part in the event with one of the finest ‘Spirit of Tradition’ classical yachts – The Whitefin, is truly something remarkable (Speed, Charm and Pure Luxury Together).
The Whitefin is truly one of the most luxurious vessels we have ever had the opportunity to be aboard. The crew is extremely knowledgeable, friendly and treated us as part of the Whitefin family, with a sense for discretion & privacy when needed. From the moment you board the Whitefin you feel the history as well as the lavish luxury it has to offer, from the 5* living quarters to the Michelin standard cuisine & service. You can relax and clear your thoughts on the broad open deck or build up your energy levels by supporting the highly experienced crew as they open the sails, swing the boom and set way in the warm calming Mediterranean breeze. A truly amazing experience to be believed!
From the bottom of my heart, Thank You all for making our week experience onboard your fine vessel a long lasting memorable one that we’ll never forget. We will see you all again soon!”
– A. Patel (Zürich, Switzerland) #teamglobal #whitefin
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Once again, thank you so much for the fantastic memories and for being amazing hosts to our crazy company. I will for sure stay in touch and hope to meet you all again very soon in Italy (or in Zürich).
Until then, I wish you safe travels.
Love,
Anant
I want to thank you for your professionalism during this one week charter. Hopefully with four boats I could rely on you and I am really, really, really thankful for that.
I really wish to have new customers for you in the future as I am sure that everything will be perfect on board of Whitefin.
Thanks again for everything and for your huge kindness.
Sincerely
Stéphane
Thank you, I really enjoyed my time on-board. Whether participating or relaxing mid-deck, being on-board the newly refurbished Whitefin is a truly amazing experience. Andrea and his crew’s combined passion is evident in the their ability to sail, prepare delicious meals, snacks and drinks, discretely tend to the impeccable cabins and decks, whilst keeping guests informed and involved at all times. I couldn’t imagine a better way to see and experience the Mediterranean.
A big thank you to the Whitefin crew.
Nous venons de terminer notre croisière sur le yacht Whitefin et je tiens à vous dire aussitôt combien nous en sommes particulièrement contents.
Le bateau est très beau et élégant mais surtout très performant et nous avons fait de magnifiques navigations sous voiles.
L’équipage a été exceptionnel.
Composé de 5 personnes dont Andrea, le capitaine, et Guglielmo, le seconde, qui, outre très bons marins, sont aussi musiciens et nous ont fait profiter de leur talent chaque jour.
Excellents navigateurs, ils nous ont fait partager leur goût de la voile et de leur bateau dans une parfaite maîtrise des temps de navigation et de connaissances des bons mouillages.
La cuisine était parfaite, dirigée par Micaela qui connaît tous les secrets de la gastronomie italienne .
Dans cette belle ambiance , nous avons fait un superbe périple en 6 jours , Piombino, Ile d’Elbe, Bastia, anse au nord de PortoVecchio, la Maddalena, anse de Chevanu, Senetosa, Ajaccio.
Bref, nous recommencerons et merci de nous avoir fait cette recommandation de Whitefin.
Vous pouvez le recommander sans hésitation à vos clients.
Très cordialement
Jean Pistre
Sailed for two weeks with my family on Whitefin… we had a magical time. My passion for fast, classic sailing on a beautiful, well maintained yacht, was totally satisfied. Very nice and competent crew, also for children. We enjoyed good food and drinks and visited stunning places. There was room to participate in the sailing, which was a great learning experience. A very big thanks to the captain and the crew. You all, have a special place in my heart…..
Hi! Everything ok? Ramses is still crying….. this is not a joke. When he sees the pictures, your sweets are his treasure and he will not eat them. He slept with them. Wish you all the best and lot of fun! Hugs Fatima
Le scrivo di ritorno dalla splendida vacanza passata sul Whitefin. Una barca bellissima e un equipaggio splendido. Abbiamo speso giorni indimenticabili accuditi, o meglio, coccolati, da uno staff professionale e preparatissimo.
Andrea “il comandante” come ci piaceva chiamarlo, è persona di grande esperienza che sa catturare ogni refolo di vento per far correre la barca sul filo delle onde. Speriamo di poter presto navigare ancora con lui tra le isole che ha così entusiasticamente descritto durante le serate in rada nelle numerose baie che abbiamo toccato. Francesco, il secondo, ha avuto la pazienza di accompagnarmi nelle mie, purtroppo infruttuose, battute di pesca, anche lui provetto marinaio si è speso per rendere piacevole la nostra vacanza. Così come Federico, così giovane, ma anche lui così entusiasta. Un ringraziamento speciale lo riserverei a Micaela, chef raffinata e infaticabile che ci ha deliziato con i suoi piatti sempre sorprendenti.
Insomma, una meravigliosa vacanza su una barca performante, comoda e accogliente che ci proponiamo di rifare presto.
Grazie a tutti e ancora complimenti.