Comments from individuals, families and couples that have joined Oh! to experience cruising on a catamaran, making passages, or crossing oceans.
A Memorable Bahamian Sailing Adventure on Oh!
Our sailing trip in the Bahamas on the beautiful sailing catamaran Oh! was an unforgettable experience from start to finish. Rod tailored our vacation to our desires in coordination with the weather and our length of stay. He came up with a customized vacation just for us! We saw some gorgeous highlights of the Exumas as well as a few secret destinations! Turtles, iguanas, swimming pigs, amazing snorkelling, beach and boat yoga, perfect sails, … these are just a few favourite parts of our trip. We enjoyed living the “boat life” which included navigating, sailing, menu planning, baking bread and cookies, making jewelry, and enjoying “Calgary Fogs” at sunset. The boat was comfortable and cozy and had everything we needed! Rod handled our large group with enthusiasm and patience. His knowledge of the area is impressive and one of the reasons the trip was so successful. We learned so much all while having fun and relaxing! With the glow of the full moon on our final evening, we couldn’t help but reflect on the incredible experience we had just shared. Our time aboard the catamaran in the Bahamas was nothing short of unforgettable, filled with laughter, adventure, and moments of pure bliss. It was a journey that exceeded all expectations and left us longing to return for another magical voyage. Thank you, Rod, for the memories that will last a lifetime!
C.B. Cochrane, AB Feb. 2024
A week in Paradise
K.J. Calgary, AB. Feb. 2024
“Needless to say, this vacation exceeded all expectation”.
Cruising the Exuma Islands, Feb. 2023
OH! Bahamas… Our family of five had a fabulous two weeks sailing aboard OH!, a 40’ Leopard cat with wonderful skipper Rod Morris exploring the Exuma Island chain. Brilliant sunshine, the bluest of seas (how many variations of blue can there be?), great sailing and oh so much fun! From swimming with sea turtles, stingrays, dolphins and tropical fish to snorkeling with a mermaid and in underwater caves, encounters with bats, iguanas, nurse sharks and swimming pigs, to unexpected rescues (yes there are a few stories to be told!), this family vacation had it all. We enjoyed use of Rod’s paddle boards, Walker Bay sailing dinghy and snorkel gear, and appreciated his knowledge and familiarity with the geography, history and local waters. Rod is a great host who quickly made us feel comfortable in his floating home; he was happy to coach us whenever we wanted to helm OH! and just as happy to let us chill out with a book and let him do the sailing. Needless to say, this vacation exceeded all expectation.
Thanks Rod!
J. H. Victoria B.C.
“I’ve already recommended Oh! and Rodney to my friends and am starting to plan my return”.
Cruising in the George Town area, Great Exuma, Bahamas Feb. 2023
My friend and I joined Captain Rodney Morris on his catamaran, OH!, in early Feb. We had a wonderful trip. Rodney works very hard to make his guests comfortable and safe. We took out the SUPs, snorkeled, sailed, walked on beaches, made meals together and had a great time doing those activities. Both my friend and I are female, attractive and single. We were the only guests on Oh! At no time did I feel any discomfort. The boat is clean, well maintained and pleasant. Rodney was a complete gentleman the whole time we were together.
I have crewed previously on other boats, belong to a number of FB groups and am aware of the challenges single women face sometimes getting on boats with male Captains. Definitely not an issue on Oh! I’ve already recommended Oh! and Rodney to my friends and am starting to plan my return.
T. Smith
Washington State, USA
“We would highly recommend sailing with Rod to get a full, hands-on experience in catamaran cruising!”
Passage from Bermuda to George Town, Great Exuma Island, Bahamas. December 2022.
This was the first passage for us on the Atlantic Ocean on a catamaran and with Captain Rod Morris on Oh! Having sailed a monohull in the Pacific Ocean previously this was not our first offshore sailing experience. We flew into Bermuda where Rod met us at the airport and brought us into town to meet the other two crew members with whom we would be cruising. We were in Bermuda just overnight but managed to get a little taste of the small island. It’s lovely and would be worth another trip with more time to explore. Before we left the next afternoon on our adventure cruising to the island of Exuma in the Bahamas, Rod gave us a full tour of the vessel, explaining all the equipment and safety measures for an open ocean passage. The boat is fully equipped with everything from a completely functional galley (we had fresh baked muffins almost every day!) to all the navigation and safety equipment necessary. Our bunks had fresh bedding and the two heads (toilets) were clean. There is plenty of storage space for food and other supplies. We found the motion of a catamaran different than the monohulls we’ve sailed on before, but it was very comfortable. We did encounter some bumpy waves in the first few days and learned to not be alarmed when we were in our bunk and could hear the waves splashing between the hulls. The catamaran was very stable in the sea conditions that we encountered. We’ve experienced items, and ourselves, flying from one side of the boat to the other while on a monohull. There was none of that. And we were fortunate that no one suffered any seasickness. The night watches were divided so everyone had a chance to be at the helm in the night. If anyone, at any time, felt uncomfortable with what they saw, Rod was always willing to be woken up (even encouraged it!) to discuss what to do. Rod is a very experienced captain with a calm and agreeable demeanor while projecting confidence. The boat is well managed under way and every aspect of the journey was explained to us as fully active and participating crew. While we were carrying out any duties, Rod would listen carefully to each of our concerns and input. Every crew member was made to feel valuable for their contributions. As a crew, we all felt we accomplished something special by sailing to the Bahamas through the Bermuda Triangle. When we arrived in the Bahamas, we felt in control, safely navigating breaking coral reefs on each side and watching the sounder go from 2,000 feet under the keel to 9 feet. It was comforting to know we had the local knowledge Rod had gained by sailing many times in the Bahamian waters! Once we arrived and anchored off Exuma, Rod took us ashore to clear customs. It took a little longer than anticipated but the crew took the opportunity to explore a little while Rod did all the hard leg and paperwork for us. After we were cleared to be on the island, Rod gave us some ideas of where to go and what to see and released us on our own. His knowledge of the island of Exuma and Stocking Island were invaluable. He happily took us to wherever we wanted go, see or do and allowed us to explore and discover in our own way. In comparison to our other offshore experiences, this has been the most comfortable and the easiest. As paying passenger/crew members, we were pleased to be able to sail the boat, including navigating, night watches, cooking, sail reefing and repair and anchoring. As sailors with our own boat, we came away from the experience having learned some new skills and had the opportunity to practice what we already knew. We would highly recommend sailing with Rod to get a full, hands-on experience in catamaran cruising!
Moe and Laurie, Vancouver Island
“It was our first such trip on a catamaran and what a great time it was.”
Our family of five spent about two weeks with Rod on S/V Oh! in the Bahamas in January, 2022. It was our first such trip on a catamaran and what a great time it was.
Rod met us in George Town and took us to the boat. For the first day we took it easy, did paddle boarding, went to a beach and just relaxed after a long trip to the Bahamas. The following two weeks, we learned how to sail, visited a lot of beautiful white sandy beaches, and saw various creatures (sting rays, dolphins, iguanas, starfish, turtles, fish, etc.). Each morning we would discuss the plan for the day and Rod would always have ideas about different things to do: snorkeling, learning to sail, paddle boarding, playing bocce with other cruisers, going to the chat-n-chill beach for volleyball or local burgers, etc.
Rod spent A LOT OF time answering our questions and explaining to us a lot of things about sailing, living on a boat, selecting a boat for a family to cruise blue waters and so on. In addition, our family has three kids (ages 3-11) and Rod was like a grandfather to them: always playing with them, cooking (yummy banana bread or muffin tops), teaching them, telling jokes, and being very patient.
WE HAD SO MUCH FUN and are now better prepared for future sailing adventures! The V family
“What a great experience and time aboard the SV Oh!”
Norfolk, Virginia to Exuma’s, Bahamas – Dec. 5th to 19th, 2021
What a great experience and time aboard the SV Oh! with Rod and crew. It’s hard to describe the entire trip, or the volume of experience gained over the passage, but what a great journey! I can, with no hesitation, highly recommend Rod. His background, knowledge and sailing experience made our trip memorable, safe and a joy. Early during our passage, we faced a strong squall and Rod’s patience, confidence and competence came through when needed. If you are considering trying the cruising-lifestyle, improving your sailing skills, learning the basics, or simply cruising, Rod can offer you an alternative that’s worth every penny. Personally, when time will permit, I will book another cruise on Oh!
Tony Turgeon, Calgary, AB
I can’t thank Oh! and crew enough for a transformational sailing experience that began in mid-2018.
I spent a month on Oh!: sailing up the eastern seaboard and across to Bermuda… learning first-hand what it’s like to be a live-aboard sailor.
I began the the trip as an enthusiastic novice: green both in skills and in the gills. I left Oh! four weeks later, still a novice sailor, but with a few hard skills, well-founded confidence and determination. Thanks to my “Oh! experience” and Rod’s boundless encouragement and patience, I knew I made the right decision to cast off and set sail on my own boat… a dream 40 years deferred.
Two months later, I left France on my own 42′ catamaran for an incredible, ongoing bluewater experience (so far, with almost 12,000nm at the helm, I’m still sailing and adding to what I learned on Oh!).
In that first month on Oh!, I also gained a mentor, (who remains a close and reliable friend), and countless memories. It’s always a treat to rendezvous with Oh! (in the past 24 months, that includes the Canaries, Bahamas, and various anchorages up the Chesapeake as far as Baltimore).
I can’t believe my good fortune for the time and benefits from sailing on Oh! Do yourself a favor, join Oh! and build some memories too. And be sure to say hello to me when you sail across my path.
Captain Theo s/v Stet
T.R. Vancouver, B.C., (sailing Charleston, NC to Bermuda)
Captain Rod and SV Oh!
In the early Spring of 2019 our family had a truly incredible experience with Captain Rod aboard his good ship, Oh!, exploring the British Virgin Islands. Captain Rod greeted us at the Beef Island Airport in Rhode Town and helped us carry our luggage to his tender which was waiting at the nearby dock. Our children, who were 9 and 10 at the time, were each treated to their own cabin as were my husband and I, and Captain Rod had fresh banana bread ready for us to munch on before we retired to our cabins for our first night on board Oh!.
The next morning our adventure began as we discussed our plan for the cruise and lifted the anchor to head to Spanish Town for provisioning. Captain Rod paid for the provisioning of the boat and ensured that we all had plenty of what we wanted, including our kids. Once back at Oh! we settled into a comfortable rhythm and everyone felt relaxed and at ease with the arrangement.
Over the next five days my husband and Rod spent many hours discussing the pros and and cons of the many catamarans on the market and Rod soon learned that we were eager to discover as much as possible about the cruising lifestyle as we had plans to embark on a year long excursion a few years down the road. He attempted to connect us with another cruising family he had recently acquainted, and he introduced us to a broker that he knew from the local community.
However, it was not all business on our adventure, Rod was like an indulgent (and very fit) grandfather, leading our family on multiple snorkeling tours and a land journey to explore The Baths. He always had his camera in hand and took ample snapshots of our family creating priceless memories. At the end of each day he air dropped the photos to our phones, ensuring that we didn’t miss out on getting “that perfect shot”, and allowing us to focus on just being in the moment.
We didn’t want that moment to end…but alas, all good things must come to an end, but not before we made plans for another rendezvous with Captain Rod and Oh! We discussed connecting with him when he was back in Canada and happily that moment arrived a short three months later.
We were all set to join Captain Rod and Oh! again this past spring in The Bahamas, but sadly 24 hours before our flight was to leave, Covid 19 hit the world hard and the Canadian government warned against non-essential travel and the possibility of our borders shutting down. We were shocked and dismayed to find ourselves having to determine the best course of action. Throughout the next 24 hours Rod was open, available, and honest in his discussions with us. He understood our concerns and supported us through this difficult time, even though he too was facing an uncertain future. When we finally made the hard decision to postpone the trip, Captain Rod was a true gentleman, refunding us the entire amount we had paid him for our two week cruise, and ensuring us that we would be welcome again to rejoin him once the winds changed.
D. Andersen, Victoria, B.C. Canada (Sailing the BVI’s)
I had a fabulous time. Best sailing experience ever!
Simply put, our 16 day sailing trip aboard Oh! was a classic sailing experience and I loved every minute of it! Rod was very patient, passionate and skillful with sailing Oh!.
He was also very knowledgeable about the rules and regulations of customs going into various islands which made our journey seamless and stress free. From planning our daily destinations to finding the best places to anchor and explore, to hiking up to the rim of an inactive volcano, each day and night was unique and more than I could have ever imagined. Our experiences, snorkeling, amazing sunsets/sunrises and who could forget the giant palette of color the full sky rainbows produced after a heavenly tropical rain, they were truly breathtaking. Night sailing brings its own rewards from a warm Caribbean air stillness with a star filled sky and full moon lit sea to the glow of the many flying fish racing along the boat, a first time unimaginable experience I will never forget. Great crew, great boat, great stories, delicious meals and a lot of memories, thank you!! I would totally trust Captain Rod to sail us anywhere as he is a master!!!
70% of the world is covered by water: take the plunge and join Rod on an unforgettable sailing experience.
M.H., Calgary, Canada (sailing St. Martin to Martinique)
We had the most remarkable sailing passage with Rod on Oh!
Not only was everything perfect, but we felt in every instance , that we were safe and that Rod knew exactly what was needed to skipper the boat and make the trip truly memorable. For some one who has only heard stories from others or read about doing an offshore passage, this was definitely the most eye-opening, adventurous, and stunning journey of my life – something I will remember, draw upon and cherish for many years to come. I was pleasantly surprised at the diversity of the trip: from touring around St. George’s and Hamilton on Bermuda, to being out on the open ocean at night and watching the bazillions of stars to walks along beautiful beaches and swimming in warm Caribbean waters, from ever changing meals offered on board Oh! (Including freshly caught Mahi-mahi), to culinary experiences on shore; every new activity offered new experiences. I would definitely go back for another sailing adventure with Rod on a Oh!
P.C. Calgary, Canada (passage from Bermuda to St. Martin)
I would not hesitate to fully recommend Rod to anyone wanting to experience the cruising lifestyle, build upon their own sailing experience level, or simply have a nice holiday…
March 3, 2020
To whom it may concern,
It is my pleasure to provide the below reference for Rod Morris and his Sailing Vessel Oh!
My wife and I joined Rod and Oh! in the BVI’s for a two week period this past February. We have been working towards building our sailing days and experience to complete our Bareboat Charter Master certification. The opportunity with Rod was perfectly aligned with this goal as well as providing a fantastic holiday experience in a great sailing location. Rod is clearly a competent sailor and was a wonder host in all regards during our time with him. Rod gets top marks for the provisioning of the boat, his knowledge of the area, his patients in working with us as new sailors, and all-around good guy to hang out with. Safety is obviously an important consideration of Rod’s and at no time during our voyage did we have any concerns. Although Rod emphasized he is not a Sailing Instructor, we picked up on a number of tips from him that will assist us going forward on building our own proficiency as sailors.
I would not hesitate to fully recommend Rod to anyone wanting to experience the cruising lifestyle, build upon their own sailing experience level, or simply have a nice holiday in whatever exotic location Rod and Oh! happen to be at the time.
Regards,
David Tung, Vernon, BC
Cruising the BVI and USVI
“one of the most informative, pleasant and valuable experiences of our lives“
Rod Morris is much more than a highly competent sailing captain. Of course there was never a moment during our journey that we did not feel completely safe while sailing under Rod’s command. Rod went to extraordinary effort to expose us to new experiences on the vast aquatic playground whether employing his broad sailing experience or his gifted athletic abilities in ocean sports. Rod made the experience safe and memorable always.
Rod’s experience as a professional geologist, also provides that your sailing experience will be much more than pleasant, entertaining or relaxing – but also a rich learning experience. Becoming more educated on the subject of our planet’s development, learning of its majestic formations while celebrating its magnificence from the secure platform of Oh!, was truly one of the most informative, pleasant and valuable experiences of our lives.
H&V W. Calgary, AB. (sailing Bahamas)
