Today we’d like to introduce you to Alexandra Wardell Clary.
Hi Alexandra, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Annapolis, sailing capital of the US (sorry Newport) , home to the USNA, and surrounded by the winding creeks and rivers off the Chesapeake, is lacking with one thing – public water access! Getting “on the water” in Annapolis lets you appreciate our charming town from the pretty creeks, bridges, gorgeous homes and historic buildings, not to mention the world’s largest population of Ospreys, and other beautiful birds that call the Chesapeake home.
This is why we started Darling Charters!
My husband Bill & I (lifelong sailors – both of us have deep resumes of racing & spend a huge amount of time on the water. We actually met racing on a J/105 racing sailboat in 2010 which is ironically a class of boat we now own).) We married at the Eastport Yacht Club in Annapolis in 2020, and I was ready to pivot from the corporate world to new entrepreneurial venture. Combining our love of the water, incredible attention to detail, (and did I mention that Bill has a background in boat building so he is the cornerstone to ensuring Darling continues to be in top shape). I am a coast guard certified captain and have literally had a tiller or wheel in my had since I could walk.
We realized visitors (and locals) HAVE to get on the water to truly appreciate our town, and we saw a niche that needed to be filled. We launched Darling Charters in 2022 with the goal to offer private, bespoke luxury charters on a classic restored powerboat. Darling (a 1973 “Wasque 32”) is a head turner of a boat and the perfect layout to sit back and experience Annapolis from the water. Despite our sailing background, a powerboat makes perfect sense and allows us to explore the shallow waterways, and go “a little further, and a little faster “. While there are many ways to get on the water, we feel strongly that we offer the prettiest!
As each charter is private (you and your party (up to 6 guests total) and the captain), no two are the same. With luxury touches such as gourmet charcuterie boards, cashmere blankets for the cooler evenings, and custom itineraries, we cater to each client individually.
With my strong eye to details, I take great care in each charter. I always say that the “Darling experience” starts well before the clients step aboard. As the scene of many surprise proposals, special occasions (birthdays, weddings, anniversaries and graduations) I know that the details matter. Whether that means careful coordination with photographers to capture the moment, arranging for a special birthday cake, or the details of a pick up at your waterfront location, we focus & deliver on the details.
Now heading into our fourth season, our experience delivering a truly custom yachting experience in the Annapolis area has been recognized by locals and visitors alike. We are also pleased to partner with other local owned businesses offering unique, refined Annapolis experiences.
Charter season starts for us in early April and runs until late fall. This coming season we have some new experiences that we will be launching, in addition to enhancing our wedding and proposal charters. With a number of years offering charters under our belt, we have the confidence & experience that you can trust for your next big day.
As the primary captain and the “face” for Darling Charters, this is my full time passion! Even in the winter when Darling is out of the water with ongoing restoration and beautification projects, I am still working on the next year (maybe after a much needed winter vacation). I am always happy to chat with people about what we do and if we are a great fit for their next on the water occasion. We are also pleased to collaborate with a number of the other charter options in Annapolis, so if we aren’t the right fit, we can often find someone who is.
We are so pleased to be a part of the fabric of Annapolis, the town we love!
(sorry – that may have been a LOT…clearly I get excited talking about Darling :))
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Like any new business, we learned a lot in our first few years, and continue to learn each year….
Dealing with things beyond your control is the hardest and there are two notable things that we have learned how to deal with.
Mechanical –
We spend a lot of time and money to keep Darling looking and running great. Like any boat (of any age) an unexpected mechanical problem is always a concern. Two years ago we had a mechanical issue that should have been resolved more quickly than it was. We now have a great mechanical team we can turn to help ensure we run well all season. We are also planning an expansion of our fleet….. more to come on that in due course 🙂
Weather –
As a mostly open boat, Darling is a fair weather experience. To say I obsess about the weather would be pretty correct. :). Taking information from multiple sources including paid weather services, we can pretty accurately communicate upcoming weather concerns to our clients and pivot as needed. We have built in a very generous weather refund policy for our clients so if we can’t reschedule around bad weather, the client can have a full refund. We want to deliver a luxury experience to our clients so have taken the choice to work around the weather, rather than in it!
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Darling Charters?
Darling Charters was started with the aim to deliver a very personal, luxury on the water experience for visitors to Annapolis. We saw a niche that had not been filled and wanted to offer people a way to get on the water on a pretty, classic, restored powerboat with luxury touches.
Our brand has since evolved to become a favorite with LOCALS as well as visitors. We have a number of local clients that use us like a boat club – when they have friends in town, or looking to celebrate, we get them on the water. Often picking them up from a waterfront home, community, or yacht club – I call this the “rock star treatment”. Nothing better than a pretty, unique, restored power boat arriving to pick you up for an evening on the water. And then throw in that the captain is a lady!
With luxury touches such as our signature charcuterie board, monogrammed linens, cashmere blankets, and other details our clients feel very well taken care of. We wanted to offer something that was much more than just “a boat ride”
On our website (darlingcharters.com) we have curated three “cruises” in addition to special “packages” but we are also always open to customizing your time on the water. The first step is a conversation about the type of experience you are wanting to have (is it a celebration, are you a visitor or local, is there somewhere in particular that you want to go, would you like to be dropped off at a waterfront restaurant, etc……). While clients can book a curated charter directly from our website, it will always be followed up with a phone call to discuss. Special events such as corporate retreats, proposals and weddings require more extensive coordination and details by phone and email. Again, it is all in the details!
Our brand has become known for offering an upscale custom experience. I believe that stems from a few things :
#1 – The boat is so unique and stunning…. Darling is a head turner and such a pretty, classic . Literally every time we are on the water people call out to us to ask or comment about her. This makes her a lovely, distinctive choice for so many events.
#2 – Attention to detail – We want clients to feel special when they step aboard. I feel this is achieved by spending the time before each charter to find out the type of experience our clients are wanting to have so we can deliver on the water. Luxury touches, personal customization, and white glove service really sets us apart.
#3 – Our passion – I know that my love of boating, our town and the water comes through on a Darling Experience. Whether it’s sharing fun facts on Annapolis’ deep history, explaining the intricacies of sailboat racing, or enjoying the quiet of golden hour at the lighthouse, I love the varied experiences of being on the water and sharing that with our guests.
We are very proud of Darling Charters. We launched “quietly” in 2022 to ensure we found our niche and fit in with the other water based options in Annapolis. It is really important to us that we were “complimentary” to other existing businesses. That has paid off as we have a great working relationship with other charter and public on the water companies. This is where we live AND work and we truly feel a part of the fabric of the Annapolis community. While other operators pop up in Annapolis, we continue to set ourselves apart and it shows.
Additionally, we are very proud of our “brand” and are so honored to be chosen for those once in a lifetime moments such as proposals, weddings and important anniversaries. We take our role in that very seriously and are truly humbled to be a part of these moments.
We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
sailing on my very own for the first time in a little sailing dinghy called an “El Toro”. probably around age 6 or 7
I remember my Dad telling me not to “dump” (capsize) as he wouldn’t be able to come and rescue me….. and the feeling of freedom (mixed with a touch of nervousness). I still get that feeling of freedom everytime I leave the dock.
My happy place then and now is “barefoot on the boat”!
Pricing:
- Our charters start at $795
- Includes boat, captain, fuel, upscale snacks and refreshments
- Charters are for up to 6 guests
Contact Info:
- Website: www.darlingcharters.com
- Instagram: @darlingcharters
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/darlingcharters
