How long at Afrikat? Since 2011
From: Holland
Passions/Hobbies: All watersports, travelling, camping, Australia and Ozzie the office dog.
Languages: Dutch, English, German, Spanish
Languages: Finnish, English and Spanish
Sometimes a boat becomes part of your life long before you realise it.
For Wendie & Potter, Afrikat isn’t just a business that they bought, it had already become part of their story. Long before they owned the boat, it brought them together.
And more than thirty years after Afrikat first arrived to Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria, she’s still doing exactly what she was built to do—bringing people together.
Most people ask us that question and the answer starts over 7,000 kilometres away…
The original Afrikat was built in Durban, South Africa, in 1994. That’s where her name comes from.
A wooden sailing catamaran – there were actually 2 identical boats – Afrikat & Batcat and both navigated the south west coast of Gran Canaria up until the Batcat moved to Florida in 2008.
Afrikat kept her home in Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria, where she became part of thousands of unforgettable holidays.
Before they even knew it…
Afrikat was already changing their lives. Around 2003, Wendie worked onboard Afrikat as a guide, accompanying guests from Cosmos Holidays. Captain Javier was already at the helm and he’s still with Afrikat today.
In 2005, Potter was invited aboard for Afrikat’s annual Start of Summer Cruise and that was the day that history changed for Wendie and Potter …….
Potter had always been passionate about boats having worked as a deckhand in Queensland, Australia and soon began spending weekends working alongside Captain Javier while studying at the Maritime School in Las Palmas to earn his Captain’s licence.
Neither of them realised it at the time, but Afrikat had already started shaping their future.
Australia
Fast forward to 2010 – Wendie & Potter, now married, were living in Queensland, Australia.
Ironically…Just down the road from Afrikat’s original owner and then came one phone call from Captain Javier in Gran Canaria.
“Afrikat is for sale.” Sometimes life gives you moments you simply can’t ignore.
Bringing Afrikat back to life
So, in 2011, Wendie & Potter become the very proud owners of – a part of their story – Afrikat Catamaran. Every great adventure has a beginning. This adventure started by giving this beautiful catamaran an abundance of TCL, ensuring she was ready to create unforgettable memories on the water;
New engines – Twelve layers of paint stripped away – Bathrooms rebuilt – New sun cushions – Endless repairs – Long days – Long nights.
But every improvement had one purpose……to bring Afrikat back to life.
And when she returned to the water after her facelift, something magical happened.
Guests returned, then they returned again and they brought friends and they brought family. Many are still cruising with us today. There was something special about the original Afrikat –
People arrived as strangers and they left as friends. Sometimes they even became Facebook friends before they reached the harbour.
The atmosphere onboard, led by the friendliest welcome from the team could be bottled and sold! But then….. Potters vision and dream was really only just beginning.
Potter’s vision became deeply personal after his brother was diagnosed with ALS.
He wanted to create something almost unheard of at the time—a luxury catamaran where wheelchair users could enjoy every part of the experience, not just board the boat.
That meant designing wide walkways, accessible toilets, tables everyone could sit at, and making sure every guest could move freely around the boat.
Accessibility wasn’t an afterthought – It became part of who Afrikat is.
But one thing could never change.
The atmosphere.
A bigger boat? – yes, Better facilities? – yes, More comfort? – yes, More accessibility? Yes –
But exactly the same welcome—–that was non-negotiable.
Boats don’t create memories – People do -and that’s what the Afrikat team has always believed and always delivered.
Thousands of guests later…
Captain Javier is still with us, many of our crew have become part of the family,
And many of our guests have too.
Some have cruised with us five…ten…twenty, even more times and nothing makes us prouder.
For us, Afrikat has never just been about boats.
It’s about people, every smile, every friendship, every family celebration, every returning guest, every unforgettable day at sea reminds us why we started this journey.
We feel incredibly lucky to share it with you.
In June 2017, our new catamaran Afrikat 69 started operating from Puerto Rico, along the South West coast of Gran Canaria. Designed by the Afrikat team and built in Valencia, Afrikat 69 is a 21-meter catamaran with accessibility for all including our customers in wheelchairs. With access, toilet facilities and movability throughout the deck, we can welcome customers with all levels of ability. Afrikat 69 has been given an award for Gran Canaria Accessible from the Cabildo de Gran Canaria and the Canary Award- people choice for best leisure & Adventure.
Afrikat 69 also boasts a spacious and luxurious sundeck, main deck interior salon with seating for 30 persons with bar and cocktail machine, swimming access sun deck and an impressive fly-bridge sundeck.
We believe in sustainable tourism and use only edible straws onboard. We care – every customer receives a souvenir reusable drinking glass to avoid the use of one- time plastic.
In 2026 we have improved our customers experience again by installing air-conditioning in our salon – perfect for the real heat of Canaria Summer and we offer free WIFI throughout the cruise.
#afrikatmakingmemories
Gran Canaria is a perfect destination to spend your holiday. Our sunny island is situated in the Atlantic Ocean, between the islands of Tenerife and Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, providing the weather conditions of a long haul destination, without the traveling time. Gran Canaria experiences some of the finest weather in all of Europe, making it an ideal holiday destination, all year round, popular with tourists from all across Europe, giving it an international, friendly vibe.
We might be only the Canaries´third biggest island, but Gran Canaria has it all. Often described as a miniature continent, with contrasting landscapes – dunes, mountains with ancient pine-tree forests, palm trees, beautiful beaches and crystal blue inviting seas, offer you an amazing choice of leisure and activities.
Holidaymakers are drawn to the South of the island, where the sunshine is guaranteed to be brighter, through the resorts of Bahia Feliz, San Agustin, Playa Del Inglés, Maspalomas, Meloneras, Sonneland, Arguineguín, Puerto Rico, Playa Amadores, Playa Del Cura, Playa Taurito and Mogán, which all offer a fun, relaxing and sunsoaked atmosphere.
We recommend you for all information about activities on the island to visit the web site What To Do In Gran Canaria.
How do you reward hard work and success?
One of the most enjoyable ways to recognize your best employees is an all-inclusive corporate incentive excursion on the Afrikat Catamaran. The memories last a lifetime and your team returns home from the experience reenergized and focused and ready for another great year. Want to say thank you to your most important clients or impress new clients, in a way that will ensure that they talk about the experience and your hospitality for many years to come. Then think with an open mind and forget the wine pack or lunch invitation and let us organize an amazing experience with us at sea. For all of your corporate needs, we are able to tailor make events suitable for you….catering options, drink packages, watersports packages, entertainment onboard, themed events……..the sky (or the sea!)is the limit!
How long at Afrikat? Since 2011
From: Holland
Passions/Hobbies: All watersports, travelling, camping, Australia and Ozzie the office dog.
Languages: Dutch, English, German, Spanish
Languages: Finnish, English and Spanish
Sometimes a boat becomes part of your life long before you realise it.
For Wendie & Potter, Afrikat isn’t just a business that they bought, it had already become part of their story. Long before they owned the boat, it brought them together.
And more than thirty years after Afrikat first arrived to Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria, she’s still doing exactly what she was built to do—bringing people together.
Most people ask us that question and the answer starts over 7,000 kilometres away…
The original Afrikat was built in Durban, South Africa, in 1994. That’s where her name comes from.
A wooden sailing catamaran – there were actually 2 identical boats – Afrikat & Batcat and both navigated the south west coast of Gran Canaria up until the Batcat moved to Florida in 2008.
Afrikat kept her home in Puerto Rico, Gran Canaria, where she became part of thousands of unforgettable holidays.
Before they even knew it…
Afrikat was already changing their lives. Around 2003, Wendie worked onboard Afrikat as a guide, accompanying guests from Cosmos Holidays. Captain Javier was already at the helm and he’s still with Afrikat today.
In 2005, Potter was invited aboard for Afrikat’s annual Start of Summer Cruise and that was the day that history changed for Wendie and Potter …….
Potter had always been passionate about boats having worked as a deckhand in Queensland, Australia and soon began spending weekends working alongside Captain Javier while studying at the Maritime School in Las Palmas to earn his Captain’s licence.
Neither of them realised it at the time, but Afrikat had already started shaping their future.
Australia
Fast forward to 2010 – Wendie & Potter, now married, were living in Queensland, Australia.
Ironically…Just down the road from Afrikat’s original owner and then came one phone call from Captain Javier in Gran Canaria.
“Afrikat is for sale.” Sometimes life gives you moments you simply can’t ignore.
Bringing Afrikat back to life
So, in 2011, Wendie & Potter become the very proud owners of – a part of their story – Afrikat Catamaran. Every great adventure has a beginning. This adventure started by giving this beautiful catamaran an abundance of TCL, ensuring she was ready to create unforgettable memories on the water;
New engines – Twelve layers of paint stripped away – Bathrooms rebuilt – New sun cushions – Endless repairs – Long days – Long nights.
But every improvement had one purpose……to bring Afrikat back to life.
And when she returned to the water after her facelift, something magical happened.
Guests returned, then they returned again and they brought friends and they brought family. Many are still cruising with us today. There was something special about the original Afrikat –
People arrived as strangers and they left as friends. Sometimes they even became Facebook friends before they reached the harbour.
The atmosphere onboard, led by the friendliest welcome from the team could be bottled and sold! But then….. Potters vision and dream was really only just beginning.
Potter’s vision became deeply personal after his brother was diagnosed with ALS.
He wanted to create something almost unheard of at the time—a luxury catamaran where wheelchair users could enjoy every part of the experience, not just board the boat.
That meant designing wide walkways, accessible toilets, tables everyone could sit at, and making sure every guest could move freely around the boat.
Accessibility wasn’t an afterthought – It became part of who Afrikat is.
But one thing could never change.
The atmosphere.
A bigger boat? – yes, Better facilities? – yes, More comfort? – yes, More accessibility? Yes –
But exactly the same welcome—–that was non-negotiable.
Boats don’t create memories – People do -and that’s what the Afrikat team has always believed and always delivered.
Thousands of guests later…
Captain Javier is still with us, many of our crew have become part of the family,
And many of our guests have too.
Some have cruised with us five…ten…twenty, even more times and nothing makes us prouder.
For us, Afrikat has never just been about boats.
It’s about people, every smile, every friendship, every family celebration, every returning guest, every unforgettable day at sea reminds us why we started this journey.
We feel incredibly lucky to share it with you.
In June 2017, our new catamaran Afrikat 69 started operating from Puerto Rico, along the South West coast of Gran Canaria. Designed by the Afrikat team and built in Valencia, Afrikat 69 is a 21-meter catamaran with accessibility for all including our customers in wheelchairs. With access, toilet facilities and movability throughout the deck, we can welcome customers with all levels of ability. Afrikat 69 has been given an award for Gran Canaria Accessible from the Cabildo de Gran Canaria and the Canary Award- people choice for best leisure & Adventure.
Afrikat 69 also boasts a spacious and luxurious sundeck, main deck interior salon with seating for 30 persons with bar and cocktail machine, swimming access sun deck and an impressive fly-bridge sundeck.
We believe in sustainable tourism and use only edible straws onboard. We care – every customer receives a souvenir reusable drinking glass to avoid the use of one- time plastic.
In 2026 we have improved our customers experience again by installing air-conditioning in our salon – perfect for the real heat of Canaria Summer and we offer free WIFI throughout the cruise.
#afrikatmakingmemories
Gran Canaria is a perfect destination to spend your holiday. Our sunny island is situated in the Atlantic Ocean, between the islands of Tenerife and Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, providing the weather conditions of a long haul destination, without the traveling time. Gran Canaria experiences some of the finest weather in all of Europe, making it an ideal holiday destination, all year round, popular with tourists from all across Europe, giving it an international, friendly vibe.
We might be only the Canaries´third biggest island, but Gran Canaria has it all. Often described as a miniature continent, with contrasting landscapes – dunes, mountains with ancient pine-tree forests, palm trees, beautiful beaches and crystal blue inviting seas, offer you an amazing choice of leisure and activities.
Holidaymakers are drawn to the South of the island, where the sunshine is guaranteed to be brighter, through the resorts of Bahia Feliz, San Agustin, Playa Del Inglés, Maspalomas, Meloneras, Sonneland, Arguineguín, Puerto Rico, Playa Amadores, Playa Del Cura, Playa Taurito and Mogán, which all offer a fun, relaxing and sunsoaked atmosphere.
We recommend you for all information about activities on the island to visit the web site What To Do In Gran Canaria.
How do you reward hard work and success?
One of the most enjoyable ways to recognize your best employees is an all-inclusive corporate incentive excursion on the Afrikat Catamaran. The memories last a lifetime and your team returns home from the experience reenergized and focused and ready for another great year. Want to say thank you to your most important clients or impress new clients, in a way that will ensure that they talk about the experience and your hospitality for many years to come. Then think with an open mind and forget the wine pack or lunch invitation and let us organize an amazing experience with us at sea. For all of your corporate needs, we are able to tailor make events suitable for you….catering options, drink packages, watersports packages, entertainment onboard, themed events……..the sky (or the sea!)is the limit!
