WWW.BOATINTERNATIONAL.COMOWNERS’ CLUBDarling
on Deck
Own a yacht? Well, you’re already halfway to the
perfect Valentine’s Day, says Kristin Ducote. Just
follow her simple tips to truly wow your beloveds holidays go, Valentine’s Day is often a bust.
Every year we have sky-high expectations,
and they get dashed with a heart-shaped box
of overpriced blobs they call “chocolates” or
a bouquet of crushed carnations chosen because it
was the only one left. If you forget to book a dinner
reservation weeks in advance, well then forget about
fine dining. Your options have shrunk to a burger and
fries. Don’t look at us. We aren’t cooking!
Perhaps the perfect Valentine’s Day isn’t attainable,
at least not in the real world of our everyday lives. In
the enchanted world of yachting, however, it could be.
There’s nothing like a gently rocking boat and isolation
from the stress of life to make you stop and smell the
Valentine’s roses. Listen up, guys! Plan a romantic
getaway on the boat and consider the following tips to
make this the best Valentine’s Day yet.
QUALITY TIMEAsk your captain to disconnect the
Wi-Fi. Gasp! This sounds scary, but picture an entire
evening without the magnetic pull of an iPhone.
Imagine where that might lead...
DINNERPlan to stay the night on the hook and set up
dinner on the aft deck with a candlelit, petal-strewn
t a ble. It ’s OK to be cheesy a nd cl ichéd; it ’s Va lentine’s.
Send your chef a list of favorite foods or let him create
a Valentine’s themed meal like rose-scented chicken
with asparagus arrows piercing baked tomato hearts.
FLOWERSSend a bouquet of flowers during the day to
surpriseheralongwithasweet,suggestive message.
If you’re already on board, arrange them on her
nightstand before she wakes up. Now, even if your
assistant orders them, never let him or her sign the
cardforyou.We’llnotice!Wewant a note that could
only be from you, preferably in your handwriting.
Throw in a pet name or inside joke for extra points.
GIFTSValentine’s gifts don’t have to be extravagant.
Pick something useful like an Hermès shawl to wrap
around her shoulders on the aft deck on a cool evening,
polarized sunglasses by her favorite designer or a new
perfumelikeJoMalone’sWoodSage and Sea Salt for
the smell of a windswept shore. Alternatively, a good
present doesn’t have to cost a thing. Create an IOU
booklet with hand-written coupons for things like one
night of watching a movie of her choice with a side of
hubby-made popcorn, one romantic walk on the beach
or one 15 minute neck rub. Make it specific and put it
in writing. Be careful what you promise, though. We’re
certain to cash these babies in!
MUSIC These songs a re su re to put some motion in you r
ocean: Baby Love by the Supremes, Power of Love by
Celine Dion, How Deep is Your Love by the Bee Gees, I
Will Always Love You by Whitney Houston, Best of My
Love by the Emotions, I Want to Know What Love Is by
Foreig ner, Here I Am by Al Green, and of course, the
obligatory Let ’s Get it On by Marvin Gaye. Pick one and
create a station on iMusic or have your chief stew make
aplaylist.You’llbesetforthenight.
Granted,youmaynothavethetimeorinclination
toplanatriparoundValentine’s.That’sOK.Haveyour
crewmeetyouatthedockandspendanightinthe
marina.Aboveall,whatyoureallyneedtomakea
relationship work is a sense of humor... and selective
hearing!Soloosenup,letafewthingsslide,andyou’ll
soonbedancingtoQueen’sCrazyLittleThingCalled
Loveunder the stars. That’s a memorable Valentine’s!BCreate an IOU booklet with
hand-written coupons...
Be careful what you promise,
though. We’re certain to
cash these babies in!
A
ILLUSTRATION Natasha Law
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