A "10" in all respects

Graunya (gran'ya) 1537-1601: Rebel Leader, She King of the Irish Province of Connaught, Pirate under the Blue Ensign with White Seahorse of the Sea-faring O'Malley Clan. Great (6) Grandmother of Captain Mike.

GRAUNYA offers 3  near queen-sized cabins - all within-suite bathrooms. Accommodations are equal to provide comfort and privacy for three couples. There are separate crew quarters forward with their own entrance.

The yachts cockpit is spacious and a great way to enjoy the sailing, but also the sunset cocktail hour. The salon has a formal dining area, while Captain Mike is creating delicious meals in the fully equipped galley. Two refrigeration systems guarantee that there are always cold drinks available.

About the Food: The meal plan/menu is custom designed for each charter in consultation with the guests. Meal preparation is shared between Mike and Graunya's hostess. Meal settings can range from salon dining with china and linen to beach picnics.

She's fast: Designed by famous racing yacht designer German Frers, she has performed well in many Caribbean races, including a first place in the Joshua Slocum Regatta - while crewed by charter guests.

Graunya's Crew

Captain/Chef Mike Gorman and Suzana

CAPT.MIKE grew up in Chicago later relocating to Los Angeles and to Phoenix. Along the way he acquired an undergraduate degree in accounting and graduate degrees in insurance and in finance. He was a licensed insurance broker and held a series seven securities license. In 1990, his two children being raised, he sold his benefits firm in Phoenix, bought a sailboat, and relocated to the Caribbean.

Mike began sailing in the early eighties. The majority of his weekends spent off the California coast with holiday sailing sojourns to Florida and the Caribbean. Now having lived in the Caribbean over ten years, he has sailed many thousands of miles between the Gulf of Mexico and Trinidad. Mike holds a U.S. Coast Guard Master's License and is internationally compliant with the Standards of Training, Certification, & Watchkeeping.

Having had some less than pleasant experiences as a charter guest himself, he knew the type of vessel, the level of crew competence, and most importantly the required crew attitude necessary for a pleasant charter experience. He knew that he loved the role of host, beginning with the bus & beer blasts he organized during his school days, the legendary Chicago Club dances, and the still spoken of New Years Eve parties in his native Chicago.

Mike's charter philosophy is simple: "have fun"! He is the Captain - the guest the Admiral. As he has never particularly liked rules he has but two cautions: "don't hurt yourself - don't hurt the boat".

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Mike has chefed on hundreds of crewed charter holidays both on his boat, where he also serves as captain, and freelance on other yachts, both power and sail, up to 135'.

The menu is always determined by the charter guests' preferences. Provisioning in the Caribbean is in general excellent with planes arriving daily with the foodstuffs from the USA / Europe & beyond.

Hostess/Mate Suzana Walker Dias accompanies Mike on charter. She has been sailing for 5 years in which she has done three transtlantic crossing on sailboats form 45 to 100 ft in length. For the past three years she has been chartering, mainly in the Caribbean, both on sail and motor yachts holding positions of stewardess and deckhand.

Suzana is a graduate of Rosie Davies "ABC Cooker Course" in the UK and is a qualified Scuba Diver. She speaks English, Portugese and Spainish.

Speaking of Tastes,Click
 Here for a Sampling of Mike's Menu

Equipment & Toys

11' Dinghy w15Hp Engine
2-man Kayak
2 Floating Sun Mats
CD  Stereo
Games
Trolling Gear
Padded Sun Deck
Snorkel Gear
Hammock
TV DVD and Library