My parents, Bruno and Cindy Schwarz, started up our company in late 2001 after realizing they could do what they love, and get paid for it..and for all of us, that’s our goal too, right? If we can find something we are passionate about, we will excel at it because it brings us satisfaction. Being out on the water almost every day, or at least around a crowd who appreciates it, is what I was born into and therefor I love it. This is exactly what I want to be doing, what we want to be doing, and so as we reavaluate our goals for the new year, we are satisfied with what we do and therefor are easily motivated to continue to make the business stronger, because we believe in it.

We couldn’t have asked for a better way to start off our new year, with a charter. This wasn’t just any charter, we hosted a wedding…one of our many favorite types of charters. What is neat about a wedding is that it brings all kinds of people together, family and friends, to celebrate the union of two people that decided what they have is great enough for a lifetime. I love that I get to be a part of so many of these unions on our beautiful catamaran, and photograph them as they take the leap of faith. Capturing the smiles and the joy brings me joy, so I wouldn’t have it any other way..especially when the couple you are photographing is Sherri and Spencer.

Sherri came to visit the boat over the summer, to take a look at what we had to offer. After taking Sherri and her Mom on a tour around the catamaran, I talked with her for a while about the layout of the boat and promised her a day she would always remember. I can promise this because I know the business my family runs, and we don’t let anyone who comes on our boat walk away with a complaint. Our first priority is our customer, and we take that seriously. Trusting me, Sherri took her first leap of faith on our boat that day, and booked a date. Let the planning begin…

Fast forward a number of months and January 1,2012 had arrived. Sherri and Spencer were already staying at the Sheraton Harbor Island Hotel & Marina, where we are located, so they conveniently walked down to the boat once the guests had all gotten onboard. Sherri looked different then the first time I had met her, as she was now in a beautiful long cream colored wedding dress, with a bouquet of calla lilies in hand. As they stepped onboard, the moments were photographed then once Captain Stephen gave his safety talk, we were ready to set sail.

We motored out of the harbor, past the Cabrillo Yacht Club and Tom Ham’s Lighthouse and out into the San Diego Bay. Here we hoist our main sail, then begin our route down to the San Diego Skyline. Sherri and Spencer were ready for the ceremony, as was our Captain, Stephen, who provided the ceremony for them, and so it began. Reminders of love and selflessness were given, as well as direction.. ”You may now kiss your bride”.

After everyone clapped and cheered, champagne was passed around to the guests and the music of Natural Vibrations played the song “You and I”, with the lyrics” You and I could never part, ‘cause I’ve loved you from the start, just so you know”.

We sailed down to the Maritime Museum of San Diego where historic ships are maintained including the Star of India, the HMS Surprise, the Californian tall ship, and a B-39 Submarine. We then made our way past the USS Midway, where we waved to guests onboard the carrier who were excited to see a happy wedding couple onboard with us. The feeling was mutual.

As we continued past the Fish Market Restaurant of San Diego, one of our favorite places for Happy Hour after we go for a sail, we sailed by Seaport Village where we saw the Red Bull “New Year No Limits” ramp being deconstructed after the jump that was made on New Years Eve by Levi LaVallee, a professional Snowmobile racer sponsored by Red Bull Energy Drink, as well as Robbie Maddison, an Australian professional motorbike stuntman. Both LaVallee and Maddison successfully completed a jump across the harbor area at the San Diego Marriott Hotel & Marina. LaVallee brown a world record by launching 412 feet, while Maddison jumped 378 feet on his motorcycle. The event happened just hours before midnight on New Years Eve, hence the event’s title, New Year: No Limits. It was exciting to see the ramp, especially after knowing what had happened there just hours before sailing by.

As it was nearing sunset, it was time for us to catch the view and so we sailed north back toward our slip at the Sheraton Harbor Island Hotel and Marina. As the fog moved back over the tip of Point Loma, we saw the sun set in the distance, lighting up our city in shades of yellow and gold; a suitable backdrop for a glittering skyline. As we docked and took the last minute group pictures, we said our goodbyes to the couple and their families. However, we never really say goodbye, it’s more like see you next time.

And so, like I said, we started off our New Year in a great way, and know that the best is yet to come. We’ve got lots of exciting events coming up soon, so be on the watch. After all, it’s a new year, and there are no limits.

Cheers,
Lindsay Schwarz
Aolani Catamaran Sailing

Speaking of holiday parties on the catamaran, we recently held a 50th birthday party sail for Chris, earlier this month. We got some great photos thanks to the team at Wonderstruck Photography, and want to share those with you here.

Chris’ beautiful wife organized the event, so that everyone could enjoy a Fall sail around the San Diego Bay, enjoying the Christmas lights along the harbor skyline. A wonderful sail inspired cake was enjoyed, and as you can see from the pictures..everyone had a great time.

Captain Stephen was with us that day, as I hosted and mingled with the guests. We had a blast. Enjoy the pictures, and thanks again to Wonderstruck Photography for capturing all the smiles.

Aloha for now, and Happy Holidays,
Lindsay

On the Saturday before the America’s Cup San Diego came to an end, the Match Racing Championships took place, with the races starting at 1pm. We arrived at the start line, there mid-San Diego bay, with a front row seat to all the action. That day, a group from France was onboard with us. They spoke little English, but when they were cheering for the French team boat, Energy, you could tell. We had fun cheering on all the boats that day, but were mostly lucky to be able to capture that excitement thanks to our onboard photographer that day, Drew McGill. Drew and I went to high school together, and I knew I could rely on him to get some great shots of the action. I love that every photographer has his or her own style, and with the way Drew uses the lighting he really captures the intensity of race day.

While the Energy team boat didn’t end up winning that day, we were excited to see that Oracle Racing took this years Match Racing Championship.

If your pockets are full and your schedule is open, head on out to Naples, Italy for the next series of America’s Cup Racing April 7-15,2012. To find out more information, click here: America’s Cup Italy 2012

Note: all photos taken by Drew McGill Photography
To see more of Drew’s photos of the America’s Cup races, check out our Aolani Facebook album.

Hope you enjoy the photos, friends! Happy Sailing!
-Lindsay Schwarz

So, we had two charters today, both with a sales company that sells legal paperwork to car companies..pretty unique right? Well, 200 of this companies top employees were given a trip to San Diego as well as different options once they got here. The two sails we had today were with many of those employees, and both groups sure chose a great day to go sail because there were quite a lot of photo opportunities.

By the time our second charter of the day set sail we headed straight to the middle of the bay, where the America’s Cup catamarans were out sailing, getting in their last practice before tomorrow’s San Diego America’s Cup Race begins. It’s quite an exciting time for us here in San Diego, as the long anticipated event will begin tomorrow morning, bright and early.

A little history on the America’s Cup: the prestigious trophy is awarded to the winner of the America’s Cup match races. A match race is a race between two yachts. The Cup trophy was originally awarded way back in 1851 by the schooner America. A fun fact about this race: the America’s Cup is the oldest active trophy in an international sport. True story. What’s so exciting about this race is that it is usually held in waters far from here, while this year it will be hosted in the U-S-of-A, right here in San Diego, California and we couldn’t be more excited.

As we sailed through the bay, Coast Guard came alongside us to inform us of our boundaries while the Cup boats were our practicing. We were sure to keep our distance as we watched as a group of 24, most of us with camera in hand. Now that’s a picture I should have captured. Here are a few shots from their last trial day:

After watching the practice runs, we sailed back, near the aircraft carrier #70, USS Carl Vinson, as they were setting up for this evening’s Carrier Classic. This first ever event has just ended, as I write this post, and the North Carolina Tar Heels have just won this one of a kind event- a first ever college basketball game onboard an aircraft carrier- in celebration of Veteran’s Day. With thousands of troops onboard, model and actress Brooklyn Decker, retired professional point guard for the Los Angeles Lakers Magic Johnson, and even our President of the United States, Barack Obama, it was quite a night to celebrate.

After sailing as close as we could get to the USS Carl Vinson, it was just about time for us to be heading back to our home port at the Sheraton Harbor Island Marina. As we pulled in, dockside, our guests began to gather near the stern of the boat as they were preparing for their exit, and a gentleman came up to me. After shaking my hand, he says with wide eyes and a dramatic smirk, “must be nice”, and I thought to myself..you know what..it sure is..but here’s the catch, I don’t take a single day for granted. My family has served this nation and my friends currently serve this nation, and for that I am forever grateful.

With that, Happy Veteran’s Day, folks, and I hope to see you out on the water this weekend for the 34th ever America’s Cup Sailing Races.

-Lindsay

This summer was filled with fun, as summer is when we host mainly families onboard the catamaran whether it’s for a snorkel charter up to La Jolla Cove, searching underwater for the bright orange Ghirabaldi, or for a 25th Wedding Anniversary on the boat where we sailed through Glorietta Bay and over by the Hotel Del Coronado, where the couple had first met just a number of years back. This summer we held meetings onboard, sunset dinner cruises, surprise birthdays and even surprise engagements. We’ve celebrated with Retired Navy Pilots who came to celebrate .. well, the fact that they are now retired. We’ve shared laughs with the kids who jump off the boat and into Glorietta Bay , tears with families who lost a loved one as we help spread ashes out in the Pacific Ocean , and even an occasional karaoke song in our main salon room. Just two weeks ago, we held a beautiful wedding onboard with an Indian family who decked out the catamaran in bright yellows, oranges, and pink. We danced with them to the sounds of their bollywood themed playlist, until our cheeks were sore from laughing. What fun we get to share with all of you, and we remember each one. No charter is the same onboard the Aolani, and we cherish that. As long as you are having a good time, then we are too. That being said, we couldn’t imagine doing anything else in the world. We feel blessed to be the only catamaran in San Diego that charters, and therefore want to share it with all of you. So, come sail with us and we will make sure you have the very best of time as San Diego is full of life, and we couldn’t imagine being anywhere else. Even now as I write this post here on my computer, dockside on the Aolani Cat, the Navy’s Blue Angels are flying overhead in acrobatic ease as they welcome citizens to the annual Coronado Speed Fest, where vintage cars from across the country come to race on a spectator friendly 1.7 mile course at Coronado’s Naval Air Station North Island (NASNI). There is always something going on in this great city of ours, and we get to experience so much of it from the very bay we sail through almost daily. Whether it be watching the military train in the San Diego Bay, cruising by the Aircraft Carriers, or making a marine life charter out of it and searching for dolphins in the bay, or blue whales a few miles offshore.. there is always something to see, and we want to show you, so again, we would love if you came and sailed with us.

In closing, keeping in mind that we began this business in late 2001, we feel blessed and fortunate as a family to have had the opportunity to share the Aolani Catamaran with so many wonderful people, and to see so many smiles as you leave the vessel with what seems to us like pure satisfaction. Your happiness is ours, as well, and we look forward to many more years to come of sailing with you.

As I recently graduated college to move home to San Diego, the great city that I grew up in, and work on and for the Aolani Catamaran Charters and with my family, I can certainly say with absolute certainty that it is truly good to be home.
I look forward to seeing you, meeting you, and having a great time with you out on the water.

Live Aloha,
Lindsay Schwarz
Aolani Catamaran Crew and Family member

The storm had cleared for a little while, just in time for Ashley and Drew and their families to hop on board. We hustled the cake and the dress, the pastor and his family, and all other essentials.. before the storm could catch up with us again. In a flash, we left the dock as Ashley got ready with her mom downstairs in one of our staterooms. We poured Ashley a glass of white wine as she decided on the music she wanted for after the ceremony. It was almost time, and here we were again, so excited to be a part of another wedding. On board that night was Captain Ken, owner Bruno Schwarz and his wife Cindy Schwarz, along with me, their daughter, Lindsay Schwarz. Cindy prepared the salon area and figured out seating positions while I was in the bar making sure everyone was happy with their beverages, all the while snapping pictures of the family, one of my favorite pastimes. All was smooth sailing, despite the stormy weather. Ashley and Drew’s friends braved the cold outside for a while to check out the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier.. pictured here.

We approached the bay area where the Star of India is docked, for Ashley and Drew had decided they wanted to get married with that as their backdrop. We had arrived into the cove area, and it was time.
Ashley had finished getting ready, Drew was as ready as he would ever be, and we were all anxious to begin. Everyone was seated, as the pastor and Drew took their positions inside the salon as the rain poured down just outside.

Que the music, the sound of IZ’s “Somewhere over the Rainbow” played as Ashley began to walk up the stairs alongside her Father as everyone admired in awe at how beautiful she looked. She stopped in front of Drew and the ceremony began with heads bowed in prayer and then, “you may be seated”.

“Remember to seek to understand and not to be understoof. Be quick to listen. Always chase after the mystery that is each other” offered the Pastor as Ashley and Drew held hands tight before their family and friends. Vows were repeated, and the ring was presented. “The ring is a perfect circle, never ending – an example of who God is. It’s precious material sympbolizes the marriage you are about to undertake. It is unique, beautiful, and should be chrished.” Drew placed the ring on Ashley, then Ashley, Drew. You could see the appreciation for each other in both their eyes, as we all watched in admiration. “Drew and Ashley, You have heard the Word of God, you have spoken your vows to each other and your family, and you have committed to each other in holy matrimony”..then those famous words were uttered and at once two lives had changed: “I now pronounce you husband and wife.”
Most of us in the salon had tears in our eyes, it was one of those moments where it would be hard not to. I’ve witnessed many marriages on board the catamaran, but none with such sincerity. I am so grateful to have been on board that day, and will remember their marriage always.

After the ceremony, the clouds broke in relief and I was able to go outside with Ashley and Drew and take a few photos of them. They are a stunning pair both in picture and in life, as I hope you will see in the photos and through this blog post.


One of my favorite December nights of 2010 was this very night. Congratulations Drew and Ashley, may you live happily forever.

Lindsay Schwarz,
Aolani Crew

As January 1st rolled around, we decided to sit down as a family and make some New Years resolutions of our own, the main one being that we want to get even better. We want to expand, grow, and get involved. What are your resolutions? What do you hope to do this year? We hope we can be a part of your New Year and we promise that if we are, we’ll be loads of fun.

What a year 2010 was, we can’t wait for what’s in store in 2011.
Cheers,
The Aolani Team

Bruno leaving the Aolani Catamaran

For the parade of lights in the San Diego bay last night, we did not participate this year but we did get to enjoy the spectacle of flickering lights of red and green as they shined across a big bay of glittering water. We watched as a sailboat full of young kids playing Jingle Bell Rock sailed by, lifting their glasses and cans for a big Cheers, and as Santa sailed on by we couldn’t help but laugh and smile over the fact that Christmas in San Diego means Santa isn’t on his sleigh .. he’s on a sailboat. It truly is the most wonderful time of the year.

The San Diego Parade of Lights will continue next Sunday, December 19thfrom 5:30PM-9:00PM . We are available for charter during this time. Click here for more information on the San Diego Parade of Lights.

Our Captain, Crew, and Schwarz Family would like to wish you Happy Holidays and Happy Sailing.

Cheers!
The Aolani Family

Fortunately for Gary and Kim, the San Diego sun was shining and everyone was excited for the ceremony to get underway. Kim had gotten ready in her room at the San Diego Sheraton Harbor Island Hotel, where the Aolani is docked at the Sheraton Harbor Island Marina, and had a beautiful white flower in hair. The wedding dress was brought inside and downstairs into one of our four staterooms, and was placed on the bed. The photographer took an opportunity to snap some pictures, as Kim reflected on the moment. The cake was brought inside, as were the party favors, and then the guests.

After getting underway, Kim began to get dressed with the help of her friends. She looked calm, and beautiful, and was ready to begin. As Kim walked down the aisle, down the port side of the boat, Gary waited patiently on the forward hull. Our Captain Ken, who is certified to marry couples, held the ceremony for Gary and Kim. They then exchanged their own words, and sealed them with a kiss. Everybody clapped, cried and cooed as the couple hugged and kissed.

Another summer wedding on the Aolani, told you we had a great summer! Congratulations Gary and Kim!

-The Aolani Crew

Bryan Meyer from Minds Eye Photographies is a photographer based in Santee, CA who snapped pictures on board the Aolani throughout the day. To see more photos (and there’s a bunch!) from Gary and Kim’s Aolani Wedding, click here!