From Wooden Sloops to Catamarans: The Story Behind TMM Yacht Charters
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May 20, 2026
4 min read
In the world of yachting, where companies often drift in and out with the tide, TMM has remained a fixed point on the horizon for decades. But if you ask Barney Crook, he’ll tell you it all started with a deal that fell through and a change of plans that changed everything.
The Accidental Beginning
In 1983, after working for TMM for 2 years, Barney had a simple goal: buy a boat and sail around the world. But as fate would have it, the purchase collapsed. At the same time, Ian Frank, who had started TMM in 1979, was looking to move on. Barney saw an opportunity not just to sail, but to build, and purchased TMM.
In those early days, the BVI yacht charter scene was a different world. The TMM fleet was a "wild west" of design, roughly 40 boats scattered around Road Town, ranging from a classic wooden sloop to a wooden trimaran. The office was tucked away at Village Cay, and the workshop sat on the waterfront apartment dock.
It was an era of "pure" sailing. There were no GPS plotters or air-conditioned cabins. A boat had an engine, a VHF, a depth sounder, and a cool box. Barney fondly recalls a guest who lost their engine two days into a trip: they never called. A week later they arrived back and simply sailed the boat back to the dock. They were pure sailors.
The Catamaran Revolution in the BVI
As TMM grew, Barney’s intuition began to shift the entire BVI sailing landscape. Having grown up sailing small cats in Jersey, Channel Islands he saw the potential for stability and space that others ignored. In 1989, TMM introduced “Maverick,” a Privilege 39 that became the very first bareboat charter catamaran in the British Virgin Islands.
By the mid-90s, the world was catching up. As major manufacturers like Fountaine Pajot and Lagoon began eyeing the US and Caribbean markets, their brokers looked to Barney. His reputation for ethical business and "pride of ownership" maintenance preceded him. He realized that to truly support his clients, TMM should manage the process from the very first spark - buying directly from European manufacturers to ensure every boat was spec’d and maintained as if it were his own.
A Family Legacy
TMM has always been a family story. In 2001, Barney and his wife, Lin, moved to Lake Geneva for a period to put their three children, Ashley, Ali, and Adam, through high school before returning home to the islands in 2010. While the US booking office was re-located to the Midwest, the heart of the operation remained in Road Reef Marina, managed by the steady hand of Mark Sanders.
Today, that family circle remains the core of the business. Adam has been a mainstay of the operation for several years now, working alongside Barney and the management team. With Barney moving toward a well-earned (though highly debated) retirement, the next generation of leadership is already well-embedded in the TMM culture. Supporting them is a management team, Tim, Sandra, and Rory, who joined between 2013 and 2015 and have become the backbone of the modern era.
The More Things Change...
While the boats have become more complex and the support more robust, the "bones" of TMM have remained unchanged. The management contract used today follows the same simple, transparent formula Barney used decades ago. We are, and always have been, in the business of looking after people’s "pride and joy."
As we look toward the future, the mission stays exactly the same. We aren't just a charter company; we are a collection of sailors, families, and owners who believe that trust is the only way to navigate the sea. We have been here for nearly fifty years, and our course is set for the next fifty.
Today, TMM continues to offer professionally managed BVI yacht charters, catamaran ownership opportunities, and decades of local sailing knowledge built right here in the British Virgin Islands.
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In those early days, the BVI yacht charter scene was a different world. The TMM fleet was a "wild west" of design, roughly 40 boats scattered around Road Town, ranging from a classic wooden sloop to a wooden trimaran. The office was tucked away at Village Cay, and the workshop sat on the waterfront apartment dock..png)
As TMM grew, Barney’s intuition began to shift the entire BVI sailing landscape. Having grown up sailing small cats in Jersey, Channel Islands he saw the potential for stability and space that others ignored. In 1989, TMM introduced “Maverick,” a Privilege 39 that became the very first bareboat charter catamaran in the British Virgin Islands..png)
Today, that family circle remains the core of the business. Adam has been a mainstay of the operation for several years now, working alongside Barney and the management team. With Barney moving toward a well-earned (though highly debated) retirement, the next generation of leadership is already well-embedded in the TMM culture. Supporting them is a management team, Tim, Sandra, and Rory, who joined between 2013 and 2015 and have become the backbone of the modern era.
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