Andrew
Blatter
Andrew Blatter has 
been
working in the Superyacht Industry since 1988 - during which time he has
sailed around the world and completed six TransAtlantic crossings in his
capacity as Professional Captain, RYA Yachtmaster Instructor and STCW
'95 MCA Class IV Master for yachts up to 3000 tons. He has also managed
refits, a prominent new build, and has written as 'World Correspondent'
for Boat International and Captain's Log for a number of years. In 2002,
he went on to set up Superyacht Publications; for whom he researches,
writes and publishes the annual Superyacht Services Guides to the Caribbean
and Mediterranean, with a new edition for the USA due for publication
in March 2008.
Andrew C Blatter at email: andrew@superyachtpublications.com
Mark
Acosta
Mark Acosta is a Professional Yacht Captain, RYA Yachtmaster and holds
a Bsc
Honours degree in Economics. He has been working in the Superyacht Industry
since 1994 - completing 9 Atlantic crossings, and sailing over 90,000
miles in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Europe and east / west coast of
America... right up to Alaska. Mark has a well rounded background of professional
experience - especially in the Caribbean region - which includes intensive
chartering, major refits and an extensive knowledge of the island chain.
Outside his professional work, he is a keen sportsman, competing regularly
in OECS squash tournaments throughout the islands, and racing regularly
on the Caribbean sailing regatta circuit. He now puts all his extensive
efforts and experience into researching and writing the annual Superyacht
Services Guide to the Caribbean.
Mark Acosta at email: mark@superyachtpublications
Anne
Vandromme
Anne was born in France, though still speaks better English than most
of us do! She is a dear 
lover
of animals, and is dedicated to protecting the natural environment. As
a highly competent windsurfer, she then followed her love of the sea by
joining the professional yachting industry, and spent 10 years as crewmember
on a variety of prominent yachts. Moving shoreside, Anne then spent a
couple of years uplifting Martinique's appeal to the Superyacht market,
by becoming the 'island liaison' for visiting professionally crewed yachts.
Indeed, she made such a success of her role, that we found ourselves receiving
emails from yacht Captains informing us how the island should be 're-named'
as... "Anne Vandromme"! Anne has now spent the past couple of
years working full time for Superyacht Publications, assisting with our
Guides for the Caribbean, Mediterranean and USA.
Anne Vandromme at email anne@superyachtpublications
Personal thanks....
This Caribbean Guide has come a long way since the first edition back in 2003, going from 300 to 1100+ pages. The sole reason behind this, has been the massive amount of ongoing input that we continue to receive from professional Captains and crewmembers, every season... and for which, we are ever thankful. As the Guide has expanded, so has the input required from our end... and in this respect I cannot say a big enough 'thank you' to my co-authors Mark Acosta and Anne Vandromme for your highly professional input in researching many Captains and services throughout the island chain, and then assisting me in writing the Guide itself. We are also very thankful for the input from the highly experienced yachtsman and professional engineer Guy Taylor-Smith, who researched many Captains / crewmembers in St. Maarten, for all their 'recommended services'. And another big ‘thank you’ too, to Jonathan Cornelius, for your greatly respected input in assisting us researching services in Antigua; and to George Clarke for your great efforts in researching the Bahamas.
On a personal note, I would like to say a warm thank you to the countless people who have so kindly helped Mark, Anne and I again this past year... for the kind hospitality from the ‘Tube-Door’ and Tan, my 'family' in the BVI. To Tom, Miguel and the team at Quebecor World, thanks so much for all you've done. To J, once again for your excellent creative skills and unstinting commitment to another seriously professional production schedule; and to Tippi for your great input in updating our website.
In England, a special thank you to John and Peggy, for your never ending love and support, for the children - and us too!
Finally to my dearest wife and lovely children... my great sailor, beautiful daughter, and Power Ranger. Thank you somuch, for all you are to me... I could never wish for a more loving and supportive family.
Andrew C. Blatter
Superyacht Publications Ltd.
P.O.
Box 1426
St. John's
Antigua
West Indies