Every December, the world’s leading charter brokers gather on the Caribbean island of Antigua for an industry-only boat show. Yachts display the best elements of their charter programs, and some enter the chef and tablescaping competitions, which highlight crews that are creating some of the best dining and entertainment experiences afloat.
This year, the crew from one yacht—the Oceanco Wheels—absolutely dominated, winning first prize for food and decorating alike among all the superyachts that entered.
Chef Leny Belin and chief stewardess Emily Birkett led the effort. Belin had to incorporate two secret ingredients that judges foisted on him—caviar and tamarind—in a way that worked with the carnival theme Birkett and her team organized.
“It’s not an easy theme to design a menu for, but he did it with each course,” Birkett says.
Brokers stepped on board to find themselves amid cotton-candy and popcorn stands. “We had a game that our second stewardess put together, like a darts game to burst a balloon with a prize inside,” Birkett says. “We had the toffee apples and the balloon arches, and then they sat down at the table that had Ferris wheels with appetizers on them.”
The caviar got served with the fish course (an easy pairing), while the tamarind ended up being in the stalks of the candy apples, as well as grated over the top of the dessert for a sweet-and-sour element.
Wheels, which is in the Frasser fleet, is headed to the Mediterranean this summer and can re-create the experience for charters, Birkett says, especially the smiles that helped the team win: “I think it was as much the spirit of the crew and the good vibes we have on board that really shone through.”
Just Press Play
Wheels is a 2008 Oceanco that most recently was refitted in 2022. The yacht accommodates 12 guests in six staterooms, including a split-level master. Relaxation spaces include a cinema that seats eight people, with extra beanbag seating for children. More than 4,000 movies are available to view from the yacht’s library, with a surround-sound system that brings all the action to life.
The Yacht
There are 21 crew aboard Wheels, and the yacht is outfitted to help them create all kinds of memorable experiences. Just one example is the main salon, where retractable ceiling panels conceal disco lights, and wall units hide smoke machines. For fans of outdoor fun, half the lower deck is dedicated to watersports gear, toys and tenders.
