An hour before passengers come on board the 48-foot sailing catamaran Southern Wave, Chef Diego is preparing green and red peppers and side dishes for fajitas under a canopy on the stern.  Hostess Samantha is setting a table, while acoustic guitarist Terry McIntyre arranges his mike and amp.  John Ferrone, owner of the South Padre Island business, stops by to check on the crew before the next stream of passengers flows onboard.

Once the Southern Wave’s sunset dinner cruise passengers find seats up front around the sturdy netting connecting the twin hulls, Sam takes soda orders, casts off from the dock and hauls up the sail.  Terry launches the entertainment with mellow versions of Jimmy Buffet and Willie Nelson songs, including “On the Boat Again” and “No Shoes, No Shirt, No Problems.” He also plays  jazz, tropical and light country.

Three couples are celebrating anniversaries: third, fourth and 44th.  A mother, daughter and granddaughter trio from Illinois sit across from a Valley family. A breath of a breeze wafts the boat past the bayside condos and homes and brings the tantalizing aroma of shrimp that Diego is grilling on the barbie. A few passengers take advantage of the BYOB policy and open a bottle of wine. After appetizers, the passengers enjoy picnic-style tacos of tender grilled beef and chicken and finish the meal with grilled fish and a fresh fruit platter.

The sun drops below the clouds to show off sunset colors. Passengers can feel like they are on a parade float, waving back at the kids and adults waving at them from island docks and yards.  The two-hour cruises ends with the boat powering back to the dock as lights twinkle around the bay.

Cruise comments range from “marvelously mellow” and “romantic” to “the kids loved it.”

During peak season, Memorial Day to Labor Day, Rhonda and John Ferrone’s 47-passenger catamaran often makes four trips a day:  snorkeling in the morning, an afternoon cruise, the sunset sail and finishes off with a moonlight or fireworks cruise. “In the afternoon, it’s a snorkeling, swimming, sun tanning, lunch and lazing around a three-hour cruise,” said Rhonda.  In fact, the 25-foot wide catamaran was custom built for day charters and snorkeling trips.

The couple started their business in 2006, based on John’s lifelong involvement with boats:  he grew up sailing in Vancouver and has sailed through the Panama Canal and the Caribbean.  “He’s always loved to sail. The Southern Wave goes out 364 days a year, weather permitting,” said Rhonda.  She observes island tourists come back year after year, as do Valley residents.  “We absolutely have return customers; some of them come more than once a year.”

At a kiosk with a dock, sandwiched between Louie’s Backyard and Bob’s on the Bay, Southern Wave Catamaran Charters sells individual tickets for most trips and also books private parties.  “Local wedding planners call us.  People can have their rehearsal dinner or wedding reception or any type of function on board,” Rhonda added. “It depends on what kind of party people want to have:  birthdays, office parties.”

With a packed summer schedule, the catamaran crew can call on a backup musician and hostess as needed.  But guitarist McGuire explained, “This is not work for me.  They let me perform.”

The fleet now includes an attractive, six-passenger sailboat, the Callipygous, which is available for day charters and comes staffed by a captain.  Once the summer season is over, Captain John will sail the boat to the Caribbean and his family will meet him there.  “I prefer to fly,” Rhonda admitted.  But thousands of island visitors believe a three-hour or two-hour sail onboard the Southern Wave is the perfect way to relax and have fun.

For more information, see sailspi.com.