Dear Diane and Robert,
Thanks so much for being willing participants and co-creators of my 40th Birthday surprise. I had the ABSOLUTE MOST FUN POSSIBLE with you and the rest of the crew.

Your special attention to details, your seamanship and willingness to share your boat and knowledge of the area was truly appreciated. I cannot really express the feelings I have about my adventure, it was so special!

Pam and I cannot wait to get our pictures back (except for paying for them!) and we'll share some with you via snail mail!

Tom and Pam H, Sparta, NJ

When I signed up for my Seascape vacation I didnít really know what to expect. I had never been abroad or done an organized group vacation, so I didnít want to build it up too much in my mind, fearing that might lead to disappointment. I couldnít have been more wrong! The trip was so much better than anything I could have possibly imagined. The boats, the people, the islands, the entire ěGreek lifeî your trip allowed me to experience are memories I will forever treasure.

The boat was beautiful and stocked with everything imaginable, even including some unimaginables. But, the people, my fellow crewmates and Ray, really made the trip the unbelievable experience that it was. Everyone on the boat got along so well, we learned from each other, enjoyed each other and just generally had a great time together. Ray made me feel at home from the beginning and with some patient training from the crew :), he became a great leader, teacher and friend.

Now, back in my ěrealî life, I look up at the map of the islands Iíve had posted in my office for almost six months. The islands are no longer just names. When I look at Lipsi, I see the quiet town square where we sat and had a frappe or the beautiful sandy beach just over the hill from the harbor. Kalimnos is the breathtaking sunrise I awoke to, stripes of indescribable color rising over Turkey, framed by the rock cliffs of the harbor entrance, then the chorus of bells as the goats made their descent from those same cliffs. The view from the small cafČ balcony up at the Monastery is what I see instead of the word ěPatmosî, the sunset from the abandoned village for Marathy, the small stone house on the side of the harbor with a fishing boat in front replaces the name Arki. You made this possible, and for that I am forever grateful.

The only thing that could have possibly made the trip any better would have been more time...

Thank you again Diane & Ray, for making this such an incredible trip!

Sincerely, Elena Slagle
Vassilis Groupie :)

Just a brief note to thank you all for providing just about the best vacation I've ever taken. It was a privilege to join such a wonderful group! The whole experience was simply superb and I feel you guys have a very special and precious talent in providing the conditions where people can literally come from all over the planet to enjoy what must be the coolest way to tour the Dodecanese Islands.

I can't comprehend why I've never gone on a Yacht sailing holiday before. Perhaps I was just waiting for my CD collection to reach perfection so that I could spread enjoyment throughout the rest of the crew :) ......or perhaps NOT !

Please contact me if you want me to tell any prospective crew members how brilliant SeaScape's operation is. (I could also advise them on what music to take with them) :)

I hope Rob has got the outboard going again and that "my" dinghy isn't too deflated.

Cheers for now,
John McC, Nottingham, UK.

Let me just start off by saying that this was the most amazing trip ever! I enjoyed absolutely everything and would do it all over again tomorrow.

Angelina and the boys were great... Very accommodating - and FLEXIBLE. (Mine and Graeme's hydrofoil was 4 hours late before we got to the boat.......oh what a day - but no one even had a worry! And, we sailed to wherever - no one minded, just wherever the wind would take us.

I do want to mention the wonderful birthday I had - how unexpected and super they made it! I was serenaded with Happy Birthday by all the men on the boat the morning I woke up with international burgees inter-twined with the bimini. I was presented with a card and a gift - the famous Pythagorus Cup (from Pythagorio - and we hadn't even gotten there yet) and 2 cakes at George's Taverna on Agathonissi.

It couldn't have been any better - and I was truly VERY pleasantly surprised. (I almost wanted to come on this trip for a quiet birthday, ya know - away from everyone I knew, quiet environment, peaceful sailing...........I don't think it's possible - the whole country is a party!) :)

Anyway - the boat, the trip, the staff, the islands, the views and of course the water - all just amazing. I noticed the trip you have listed for Thailand and Malaysia. Interesting. I may just have to consider it! I've told everyone I know about this trip and your "outfitter" ... I hope I generated a little business for you!

Take care and maybe in another season I'll be back! Thanks again!! ~Alicia Pineiro

Keep up the great work, and keep us posted.

Jill & Joe Wilkins, Portland, OR

When we were initially exploring various possibilities for my 50th birthday, we looked at locations such as Italy, the south of France, hiking in Switzerland and came up with the idea of spending some time sailing. We have talked about it for quite some time and it has always been very intriguing. By some intervention from the Greek Gods, we found Seascapes' web page and an inquiry was sent. This was probably one of the best e-mails that have ever been typed on our keyboard. You folks helped in almost every aspect of making our arrangements an absolute breeze. What a pleasure it was having everything just fall into place. Dyzie and I debated for weeks if we should charter the boat for one or two weeks. We decided that one week would be plenty, thinking that we would be cooped up with a crazy English chick (captain) and a canuk (RJ)!

You made us feel right at home on board the boat, shared your knowledge of the area and made us feel as if all four of us have known each other and been friends for years. We both truly do consider both of you good friends and refer to you as such in telling our friends about this wonderful trip.

We cannot begin to thank you for the heavenly experience especially the naming of a bay after me "Vitty Bay" where we anchored for the night, swam, relaxed, and least we not forget RJ's famous spinach lasagna made with fresh goat cheese homemade by the Grandmother on the island of Marathi, which was Paradise.

Dyzie and I have discussed this trip and asked ourselves what would we do differently? We both come up with the same answer: WE SHOULD HAVE SAILED FOR TWO WEEKS. Beside that, we would have not changed one moment.

We both would sail in Greece again in a heartbeat and look forward to sailing with you in Tonga, Thailand or anywhere else in the world. Please feel free to use us for a recommendation anytime, my e-mail address is in your reference listings already, I believe?

Your friends and sailing companions,
Vitty & Dyzie,Queensbury, NY

Deborah S.,Fort Wayne, USA

Hi Diane,

How are you? I can't believe it's been over a month since the wonderful trip in Greece. It seems that I got caught up with everyday life after the trip and didn't even get a chance to process my pictures. I've been meaning to write you a note to say THANK YOU for all the help at the trip, especially when I missed flight on the FIRST DAY. It actually turned out well and I met a couple of back packers in Rhodes. Also, thank you very much for the nice offer to stay on the boat for an extra day. I very much wish I could have stayed but thanks again. It's too bad that I didn't get to see you during the trip. Hopefully I will get a chance to meet you some day. I've heard of the trip to Thailand that you are coordinating sometime next year, so please keep me in the loop.

I really had a great time. This has been once of the BEST vacations I ever had. Thanks and Take care, Ai

Thank you Diane for letting me stay the extra day and sleep on the deck my last night in Samos.

The trip you put together has whet my appetite for more travel, and to do more sailing in the Greek Isles. When I start planning my next vacation I may have to reserve another week with you guys.

Thanks again for a great time and great vacation.

Take care and all the best, Hector J. Escobar

We will think of you often throughout the summer, and I'm sure our paths will cross again. Thanks again to you and Rob for the perfect vacation.

Best to you both,
Leslie and Pat: aka Rapunzel and Patrick Henry, Portland, WA