About Us
Company History
Mainsail was founded by Kevin and Carol Jonas. Kevin and Carol booked their first private yacht charter in 1996 and were hooked! They did three more in quick succession, and listened when one of their charter captains told them they should get into the charter industry and become yacht vacation brokers. Both Kevin and Carol had careers in the travel industry – she as a travel agent, and he as an airline pilot – and had traveled to over 48 countries, staying in fine resorts and having local adventures. No other vacation came close to the great experience they had chartering and cruising the islands.
So in 1999, Mainsail Yacht Charters became a reality, the perfect combination of years of travel industry experience, love of the islands, and a strong entrepreneurial drive. From day one Mainsail has been focused on one goal – offering outstanding customer service to help people have the best private yacht charter experience possible. And, Mainsail’s service is at no cost to you! Everyone at Mainsail knows how important your vacations are to you. Vacations are those precious times when friends and family experience new things, wonderful memories are created, and events and adventures become stories that are passed on for generations! Today, Kevin and Carol have three lucky, happy children who have grown up alongside Mainsail, with the family chartering as often as possible (even when the kids were babes in arms!), and pursuing a love of cruising the islands. Mainsail wants to help create those island holiday memories and experiences for you, your family, and your friends.
And Mainsail is on the move. In the past decade Mainsail has steadily grown to become one of the most recognized brokers in the industry. In fact, in 2010, 2011 and 2012 Mainsail Yacht Charters was named TOP BROKER in the Caribbean. Mainsail’s knowledge of the private yachts and their crews in the charter fleet is unsurpassed. All Mainsail brokers constantly update charter and boat information, attend industry-wide charter yacht shows, do on-site visits, and maintain one-on-one contact with the yacht crews. This dedication and attention to detail means your charter will be arranged with the best yacht and the best crew for your specific, unique needs.
MAINSAIL WAS NAMED TOP BROKER
for 2010, 2011 and 2012
Each year Mainsail continues to grow and improve to give you excellent service. Mainsail Yacht Charters hopes that you will give them the opportunity to book your dream yacht charter, and looks forward to welcoming you aboard the vacation of a lifetime.
Come sail with Mainsail!
Meet Our Staff
Kevin Jonas – Owner
Kevin is the owner of Mainsail Yacht Charters. He experienced his first crewed Caribbean sailing charter in 1996 with his wife Carol and several friends aboard a 55′ catamaran, and knew instantly he had found the perfect vacation. He started Mainsail in 1999 along with his wife after taking their third charter in two years. Since then the family has been on over twenty charters throughout the Caribbean.
Kevin continues to improve and build Mainsail; in thirteen years he has taken Mainsail from infancy to its position as one of the top charter companies in the Caribbean. In order to best serve Mainsail’s clients, Kevin attends every boat show in the Caribbean and on the East Coast. He personally inspects every yacht that he recommends and interviews the crews. His extensive knowledge about chartering in the Caribbean, especially the BVIs, and his excellent relationships with the crews, means that your experience chartering through Mainsail will be unmatched in terms of creating your own fantastic sailing holiday. Over the last 13 years, many hundreds of satisfied charter groups can attest to the service and attention that Kevin gives each client, making outstanding customer care the trademark of a Mainsail charter. Kevin wants you to have the finest island chartering experience possible!
In addition to heading up Mainsail Yacht Charters, Kevin is also a commercial airline pilot with 25 years in the industry. His knowledge and experience comes in handy when assisting clients with their travel questions; he knows airports and airline schedules inside-out and can help make your air travel plans hassle-free. He is also an avid SCUBA diver with certificates in PADI and IANTD, so if you have dive questions, he can direct you to the best places to explore in the islands.
Call us and let Mainsail show you the vacation of a lifetime!
” I look forward to making your own private yacht charter vacation everything you hope for, and welcome you aboard a Mainsail charter.”
Kevin Jonas – Mainsail Yacht Charters Contact Kevin today!
Mary McGovern – Crewed Charter Specialist
Mary started with Mainsail in 1999, working at trade shows sharing the excitement of crewed yacht vacations. Canoeing and motor boating on Lake Winnipesaukee, sailing on Long Island Sound and rowing on the Banana River, she has long had a love for the water. With a diverse background in hospitality and travel, Mary is experienced working with families, Fortune 500 corporate clients and specialty groups. Visiting the Caribbean regularly, she inspects the boats and interviews the crews. From flights to hotels to limos, she will arrange your entire private yacht experience, matching you with the perfect boat and crew. As a charter broker Mary will see to every detail to make your charter a trip of a lifetime.
Patricia Elmone – Bareboat Specialist
Patricia is Mainsail’s go-to person for bareboats. Patricia has excellent relationships with numerous bareboat companies and can draw from a diverse fleet to put you in any number of great sailboats and motor yachts. She prides herself on maintaining Mainsail’s superior reputation for providing highly personalized customer service, as well as making sure her clients have the best representation possible to make their charter exactly what they envision. She will listen to your needs, and do the work and the research to match you with the best bareboat at the best value. Patricia can also book your crewed charter, and feels her talent is matchmaking – putting you with the perfect crew on the perfect boat.
Over the last 20 years, Patricia has chartered many times with friends and family, both bareboat and crewed. In the last two years, she has worked in the Caribbean as freelance crew on private yacht charters; as crew, she is probably a better chef/stewardess than a deckhand, but that means she can give great provisioning tips for your bareboat charter!
Patricia has been in the travel/hospitality industry since she began flying with Trans World Airlines after graduating from college. In addition, she has acted as a trip planner for several travel groups, arranging vacations in Europe, the United States, and the Caribbean.
Contact Patricia today to discuss your bareboat charter needs!
Carol Jonas – Travel Specialist
Carol, a travel agent for over 31 years, is Mainsail’s travel expert. She has worked in the corporate and leisure travel industry for several leading agencies such as American Express and Thomas Cook, as well as several smaller agencies. Carol has extensive knowledge and is very creative with ideas to make traveling to the islands a breeze. Dealing with groups is her specialty. She is in the airline computer system everyday looking up flights for clients, so she is always current with available specials and deals. Having Carol in the office offers Mainsail’s clients the advantage of “one-stop shopping.” She can find the best flights and schedules to meet your needs, and give expert advice on hotels. Let Carol coordinate your charter with flights and hotels and streamline your whole charter vacation.
