If you ask Wayne or Barbara Elsworth what their earliest memory is, it would certainly involve boating. They both grew up on the shores of the Hudson river, only 150 miles apart. Coincidentally, their families summered at the same Adriondack lake, just on opposite shores! It seemed inevitable that one day they would meet, ironic that it would be on a Caribbean Island 2,000 miles south of their native New York.
Wayne Elsworth attended Fredonia State College until 1973 when he discovered the islands while visiting his parent's winter home on Great Exuma. In 1979 he became a US Coast Guard licensed captain and has operated a variety of sail and power yachts ranging from 50 to 95 feet. He has sailed from Nova Scotia to Grenada and now has settled in the Virgin Islands, his great love. While in Great Exuma, Wayne's father taught him to spearfish, Bahamian Style. He is an avid hunter and can be counted on to bring home fresh fish, conch or lobster during your vacation!
Barbara Elsworth graduated from the University of Vermont in 1983 with a degree in history and a great love of sailing. Pursuing a career in the accounting side of the restaurant business occupied her until a fateful vacation in 1987. She traveled to Antigua for Sailing Race Week, accepted a job delivering a sailboat to England and has never looked back. Barbara met Wayne six months later. She began working with him shortly thereafter and they have been together ever since. Classical French cuisine was the daily fare as Barbara grew up and she draws on that training to develop a lighter French and Italian inspired style. Naturally, she specializes in seafood, using only the very freshest of ingredients most of which Wayne provides. If desserts make your day, watch out! Barbara has a sweet tooth and can be counted on to go overboard.
When they are not chartering, Wayne and Barbara restore antique speedboats: the classic mahogany ChrisCrafts and Garwoods. When they stumbled across Flame, a 1956 Feadship in sad state, it was love at first sight, well... almost. Her restoration and reconfiguration took a full three years. They did all the work themselves: Wayne taught Barbara carpentry and expanded his own engineering talents. Flame is the culmination of their many years of chartering and maintaining yachts. Displayed are examples of Barbara's sewing and flower arranging hobbies and Wayne's many, many orchids!
Barbara and Wayne will from time to time unthinkingly claim ownership of Flame. The real owner is Jacob, the cat. He is a new addition, the heir to the beloved, late Joshua. Like most owners, he usually lies around until mealtime and is especially charming towards women. Jacob has quickly discovered that he loves chartering. Flame's guests shower him with presents and attention and he is required to do nothing more than sleep and look cute.
Wayne and Barbara's love of yachting and the islands is infectious. Whether sea adventures and island exploring or lazy relaxing days are your pleasure, they will spoil you rotten as they show you their tropical paradise.
