About

Richard Reeves

Richard is a Chartered Civil Engineer with an international career in major infrastructure construction projects. Richard discovered sailing luxury yachts when on holiday in the Caribbean, spending a day on a super catamaran and exclaiming ‘This is for me’!!

After then qualifying as a Coastal Skipper and chartering in Greece, France and returning to the Caribbean, Richard co-founded Essential Sailing to provide luxury crewed sailing, culture and cuisine holidays, without the responsibility of owning a yacht, or the skills and experience necessary to sail.

Phil & Kate Reeves

Phil & Kate met when working for Sunsail in Antigua. Kate, having sailed all around the world, is a professional Yacht Master and an accredited instructor. Phil is an accomplished dingy sailing instructor, having coached talented children to National Championships.

They co-founded Essential Sailing and were the resident crew on our yacht ‘First Essential’, chartering guests throughout the French and Italian Riviera during the summer and the Canary Islands over the winter.

They established an enviable reputation for gourmet meals cooked with fresh, local ingredients, hosting transfers and special trips for sights to see.

Yacht ‘First Essential’

Styled and equipped like a celebrity luxury yacht, ‘First Essential’, was a Beneteau Oceanis Family 50-foot yacht and one of the best blue water cruisers in its class.

Up to six guests could relax in luxurious privacy to embrace the Mediterranean lifestyle, with a spacious deck to sunbathe, contemporary and relaxing saloon to enjoy an evening drink, a diving platform from which to cool off in secluded coves and sleep soundly in the comfort of one of four spacious double ensuite cabins.