Morning Star Sailing Charters

I’ve been coming to the keys since I was a child and I’ve never hired a better charter!
We bought a sunset sail on Morning Star with Captain Rick and couldn’t have had a better experience! If you want the real deal, with Florida history and an actual sailboat, this is the charter! He’s an excellent captain who knows the waters and has an excellent sailboat!
He only takes out parties of 6 or less, so it’s intimate and awesome. I felt like we were just going out with friends. Captain Rick also doesn’t go out on days and take your money when it won’t be worth it, (which is more than I can say for my last group snorkeling adventure from a larger company when everyone got seasick). As for snorkeling/​diving adventures, Captain Rick will travel out to the farthest reef (5 miles) to get the best experience. Other charters only go to the reefs at the 3 mile mark and these have been trampled by other groups to the point that you don’t see anything.
Oh, and did I mention that the wind was low on our outing, but he managed to sail anyway. No motors involved. (We saw all the other «sunset sail» charters, packed with people, without their sails up and using their motors!)
He knows the reefs. He knows the keys history. He knows life.
I can’t wait to go back, again for another Sunset sail — or a snorkeling adventure! He’s the only charter I’ll take now!

Thank you, Capt’n Rick for a glorious day
on the water. The snorkeling was great.

I have never chosen to write a lengthy review on Unilocal before, but our experience with Rick Winters last week was so outstanding, I felt it merited comment.
Rick is genuinely concerned about his customers’ experience, about the reefs, and about the community of Key Largo. He has been taking visitors to the reefs for 29 years. The reefs are «his neighborhood.» He knows the best spots for a particular day and a particular group of people. He takes small groups so you get personal attention and information about the area, the reefs, likely sights for the day and how to best enjoy yourself on the water.
His long history in the business speaks for itself. As he will tell you, there have been a lot of charter companies in the area. «They come and they go.» Rick is genuinely concerned when he sees groups going out to areas that are not quality or when he sees large party boats where the patrons will get little attention and have a less than enjoyable experience.
When we went out, Rick thought long and hard about which reef would provide the best experience under the prevailing conditions and was more excited than we were when he recognized he had picked the best area.
I cannot recommend this trip highly enough. If you are serious about snorkeling and seeing the best the area has to offer, sail with Rick.

Just had a ride on Morning Star. Four hours of perfect sailing and Captin Rick found the best spot to let us snorkel. He makes you feel like an old friend and gives you all the space you need to relax and enjoy yourself. Best way to snorkel in Key Largo!

We met Captain Rick years ago. He has been sailing in the Key Largo area for years and I remember him telling us he is from the East Coast and did the Cape May area as a boater as well!
Many of the other boats in Key Largo are newer and do not know the area as well. They just go to the tourists trap spots. Since we went sadly much of the reef has been destroyed. But Captain Rick will find the unspoiled areas if there are any left.
He is the nicest guy ever and has a unique path that other boats do not take. We went out just me and my hubby.
Most of our pictures are in storage and some of our favorites. Captain Rick makes sure you don’t get sea sick as well.
Captain Rick goes to secret spots that other boats don’t go to. The Keys are full of tourists and when you go out in most boats the ocean is overly crowded. It’s not very much fun. You don’t feel like you are seeing nature but stuck with a bunch of drunk tourists. But with Captain Rick he takes you to spots that other boats do not! You can’t go wrong with Captain Rick!

Great boat, great captain. No bullshit he will take care of you. He we not go out on a horrible condition and rip people bec of their money. We had champange over board. And Rick was really entertaining because he got a lot of story to tell. He pointed out couple of good local spot being local we had to trust him (food and lodging) He also did snorkeling trip which he pointed out the best pot to go to…

Couldn’t have been a better day out on the high seas. Captain Rick was wonderful, even when I had a sudden panic attack about getting in the water to snorkel (life-​long shark phobia) he didn’t make me feel dumb or silly at all, offered a few words of encouragement and left me to work through it on my own until I was finally able to get in. Boy, am I glad I did, too. Incredible and clear out at Molasses Reef, just lovely. Perfect day. I highly recommend Morning Star for a snorkeling trip you won’t forget.