About Tropical Squeeze
Who We are
Meet Dave and Tina — the unlikely sailors behind Tropical Squeeze.
We didn't come up through the ranks. No years of weekend daysailing, no coastal cruising certification carefully framed on the wall. What we had was something arguably more dangerous: an internet connection and a deep obsession with YouTube sailing channels. We spent years living vicariously through other people's adventures, watching the BVI drift by on our screens and thinking someday.
Most sensible people would have taken lessons first, chartered a few times to test the waters, and worked up to ownership gradually. We bought a boat.
We're not a faceless management company or a fleet operation. We're two people who fell in love with the British Virgin Islands from 3,000 miles away and decided to do something about it. Tropical Squeeze is our adventure — and now, we hope, yours too.
Why Tropical squeeze
Every boat name has a story. Ours starts with a British pop band.
Dave's favourite band is Squeeze — the brilliant, criminally underappreciated group from Deptford who gave the world Tempted, Cool for Cats, Up the Junction, and a catalogue that holds up embarrassingly well four decades on.
Years before we ever set foot on a catamaran, we were dreaming out loud with friends about this crazy plan and talking through names. The first idea was Caribbean Squeeze. It had the right feel, the right nod to the band. Then reality intervened: nobody can spell Caribbean on the first try, and besides — who says we'd stay in the Caribbean forever?
Tropical was the answer. Wide open, warm, evocative — and it goes with Squeeze in exactly the right way. The name stuck before the boat did.
Why a Leopard 45
We leaned hard on the people who know best: the team at Conch Charters.
With their guidance we searched for the right boat — something in our range, in excellent condition, with the layout and capability to give charter guests a genuinely exceptional experience. A few candidates came and went.
Then we found her listing. She was Judine then — a beautiful, lightly used Leopard 45 that had come out of the Moorings fleet and already been through the phase-out process. She was soon Labelled with Love... as Tropical Squeeze.
The Leopard 45 is one of the finest charter catamarans ever built. Four equal queen cabins — each with its own ensuite head and shower — means every couple gets the same experience, not a hierarchy of who got the "good" cabin. The forward cockpit is a genuine gathering space, the galley is bright and social, newer sails and electric winches make her equally suited to experienced sailors and first-timers alike.
Why Conch charters
We'll be honest: Tropical Squeeze needs to work for a living.
We're not the Howells. Keeping her sailing requires charter revenue, which means choosing the right charter company is the foundation everything is built on. We found a trusted advisor early — a Yacht CFO, you might call him — who gave us advice we now pass on to anyone considering this path: find the right charter company before you find the boat.
Conch Charters earned our trust the old-fashioned way: reputation. Their standing with boat owners is excellent — they treat the vessels in their fleet with genuine care. Their standing with charter guests is equally strong — guests come back, and they tell their friends.
We found Some Fantastic Place to call home. We think you will too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Please contact us at admin@svtropicalsqueeze.com if you cannot find an answer to your question.
How can I check availability and/or make reservations?
Please check Rates & Availability on this site with particular attention to when the calendar was last updated. To confirm current availability, make reservations, or if you have questions not answered here, please complete the Book Now/Contact Us form.
What is a Sleep Aboard Night? Do you recommend including a Sleep Aboard?
We recommend adding a Sleep Aboard night, available with a minimum 7-night charter to follow. The Sleep Aboard option will allow you to arrive at the charter base and board Tropical Squeeze at 5PM the afternoon before the official start of your term charter. Your provisions can be delivered and stored before your arrival. Given when flights arrive from the mainland, this is a terrific option as you will only need to transfer yourself and belongings once – no need for a hotel for that first night. In addition, you will have the opportunity to unpack, settle in and take care of any final provisioning you might want to do. Finally, the extra time onboard will give you the opportunity to familiarize yourself with Tropical Squeeze and her systems and you should be able to leave the dock by mid-morning on your first day. The fee for the Sleep Aboard night is 1/2 of the nightly rate (divide weekly rate by 7, divide by 2).
How Many nights should I charter Tropical Squeeze?
Many guests charter for 7-nights starting with a Sleep Aboard the night before when they arrive from the mainland. Because there are so many wonderful islands and anchorages to visit in the BVI, 7 nights really isn’t enough time – you don’t want to be in a rush! We recommend booking charters of at least 10 nights with a flexible itinerary so you can spend an extra night in a favorite anchorage.
What is the best way to get to the British Virgin Islands?
You may fly to Tortola, BVI (Beef Island, “EIS”) from San Juan, Puerto Rico as well as the one flight a day from Miami. Or, you may opt to fly into St Thomas, USVI (“STT”), take a 10 minute taxi ride to connect to the public ferry to Road Town, Tortola. Upon arrival in Tortola, simply grab a taxi at the Beef Island airport or at the Road Town ferry terminal and head to the Fort Burt Marina. You may also opt to take a private water taxi from St. Thomas to the charter base.
What is a bareboat catamaran charter?
A bareboat catamaran charter is a private yacht for you and your guests. If qualified, you may sail the yacht yourself, or hire a captain to sail her for you. The bareboat rate does not include any additional crew (captain or chef).