Twins are better! The benefits of Motor Catamarans (from Guest Blogger Phil Friedman)

Twin hulls, that is. This handsome, power- and fuel-efficient raised pilothouse yacht deftly blends a highly efficient and stable catamaran hull form with exterior styling and interior design by an award-winning international yacht designer, Juan Carlos Espinosa. She is 80’ 4” LOA x 28’ 3” maximum beam, and displaces approximately 64 metric tons at half-load.

Her semi-displacement catamaran hulls run at exceedingly high speed-to-length ratios, without planing and, consequently, without requiring the large horsepower input of traditional mono-hull vessels. Her broad beam and twin-hull footprint provide a high level of stability, both at rest and underway, without the complication and added cost of active zero-speed stabilization. Construction is in state-of-the-art high strength fiberglass reinforced composite; and her outfit is specified for high value.

Inside, bright, airy common spaces on her main deck make for pleasant living and entertaining. Her raised pilothouse arrangement provides excellent separation between entertaining and navigation activities, while a main deck master suite forward provides truly sumptuous private space for her owner. Two double-berth VIP staterooms, and a twin-berth cabin on her lower deck, round out her accommodations.

On deck, her generous beam and broad bridge deck provide all manner of space for lounging and relaxing. And her aft deck incorporates a dining table and chairs for eight, and presents an exceedingly spacious and pleasant lounging area, well suited as well for luxury charters.

Because her hull form yields higher speeds per unit of power input than with conventional monohulls, this 80 footer is exceedingly flexible. With the standard power package, she can push to a genuine 35 knots, yet will run comfortably at 25 to 28 knots when asked to do so. At a passage-making speed of 12 knots, her range borders on being phenomenal. She truly approaches being a yacht for all seasons, and reasons.

The Amazonas 80 project is being developed by Phil Friedman, New Build and Refit Consultant, , Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Phil, who recently published “Ten Golden Rules for Successful New Build Projects,” has substantial experience in mega- and super-yacht construction, being a former president and CEO of megayacht builder Palmer Johnson Yachts. And he is always ready to talk about the ins and outs of catamaran motor yachts.

Posted on September 23, 2012 by admin — No Comments ↓

BVI Luxury Yacht charter around the most beautiful islands in the Caribbean!

The British Virgin Islands (commonly called BVI) is an archipelago to the East of Puerto Rico, made up of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke, amongst many other smaller islands.

Tortola is a lush mountainous island, which is also the vibrant hub of the financial and government sectors with Road Town as its capital. Tortola also provides the main port of entry for a growing mega yacht and cruise tourism industry. Charming guesthouses dot the hills and sleek resort hotels border some of the most beautiful beach expanses on the island. Beef Island (just a short bridge span away from Tortola on its eastern tip) is the site of the BVI’s International Airport and adjacent to it is sailboat-filled Trellis Bay, a unique cultural village with craft shops and restaurants.

Virgin Gorda is another of the BVI’s larger islands, of which Spanish Town is the main business and financial centre. Virgin Gorda Yacht Harbour, a major port for ferries and visiting yachts, flanks it. The harbour has an array of gift and clothing shops, banks, provisioning markets and outdoor cafes.

If endless white sand beaches are what you’re looking for, Anegada is your island. It is the only all-coral atoll in the BVI at a mere 28 feet above sea level. Surrounded on one side by the infamous Horseshoe Reef, a watery graveyard for many an unsuspecting wind-tossed ship, it is known to have over 300 wrecks in its waters, some of whose artifacts can be seen in a local nautical museum.

Finally, Jost Van Dyke, named after a famous Dutch pirate, has been a sailor’s haven for years. Great Harbour, it’s main port of entry, is always bobbing with sailboats and sailors coming ashore to the charming West Indian village that lines the beach with gift shops and restaurants.

One of the many beautiful beaches on Virgin Gorda

Gastronomy in the BVI includes Caribbean favourites, such as rice and peas, fish and salt fish, mutton and goat, “ground provisions” such as tania, sweet potatoes and plantains, and an array of soups: fish soup, bullfoot soup, goat head soup, pea soup, and pumpkin soup. The majority of the food is highly seasoned, and soups are commonly served with dumplings. A favourite local dish is fungi (cornmeal and okra) and fried fish; favoured beverages are drinks made from local fruits, and include Limeade, Soursop, Mauby, and Passion fruit. Other Caribbean foods, such as Jerk Chicken, Roti (a curry-filled pancake), and Patties (meat and fish-filled dumplings) are becoming a very popular staple in the BVI.

One of our favourite yachts for chartering in the BVI is SCOTT FREE, a magnificent 120ft luxury motor yacht. She has 4 fantastic cabins, as well as a spacious saloon with the latest technology and a large flybridge.

If you wished to take things a little slower, then we would highly recommend CATSY, an elegant Sunreef 62 Catamaran. She also has 4 cabins but her real beauty lies with her exterior. She has a fantastic flybridge as well as al fresco dining areas, perfect for entertaining friends or family. If you would like to enquire about either of these luxury yachts, please do so via our website. If you would like some advice and help to plan your BVI yacht charter, please send us an email to [email protected], where one of our Brokers would be delighted to assist you.

Posted on September 21, 2012 by admin — No Comments ↓

LIQUID SILVER – Luxury Super Yacht Charter of the Future!

Dutch designers Vripack has recently released information about an upcoming release of their Research Vessel Yacht 2.0 (RVY), sleeker than it’s predecessor, but similar in many ways, such as the way the forward is a part of the deck.

A classic raised forecastle, which comes up from the sheer, does not feature in Vripack’s current design. The aptly names LIQUID SILVER’s forecastle is directly connected to the Owner’s deck, situated a floor above the main deck. Thanks to a missing part from the original, between the forecastle and the superstructure, Liquid Silver blends the two together, creating a more smoothly crafted design, something that we at Boatbloggings.com think is extremely elegant to look at.

However contemporary the exterior may look, the designer decided to work with a tried and trusted layout for the interior. The crew deck finds itself above the waterline but still under the main deck, which is used for general social functions and for guests to enjoy. Above the main deck is the Owner’s deck, above which is a bridge deck and space for higher social functions, and on top of that is an observation deck. In the words of Vripack themselves “never change a winning layout”.

Amazingly, the designers have implemented a fully functioning Hybrid propulsion system. This is carried out by three Diesel generators, which drive electric engines that turn the propeller shafts. Vripack have eliminated the use of additional generators on board, and with the use of Lithium Polymer or Lithum Ion batteries, the yacht is able to provide generator free nights for guests and crew, or alternatively four hours of cruising without the use of diesel in preserved waters.

Yacht Specifications

Length : 85,00 m (279 ft)

Beam : 14,30 m (47 ft)

Draft : 4,00 m (13 ft)

Materials : Steel / Aluminum

Designer : Vripack

Posted on September 20, 2012 by admin — No Comments ↓

10 Simple Steps to Luxury Yacht Charter!

Chartering a luxury catamaran, motor or sailing yacht has never been so simple, thanks to our dedicated team of charter brokers who will help you plan the trip of a lifetime anywhere in the world. Here at Boatbookings, we pride ourselves on customer service and we will not stop until we find you the perfect yacht. There are 10 simple steps from turning a dream into a reality.

Step 1 – Most importantly, guests must decide where they would like to start their charter and what sort of yacht they would like. We offer charters from all around the world, including the United States, the Caribbean, French & Italian Riviera’s and the Far East. We have access to a vast amount of motorboats, sailboats and catamarans in each of these destinations.

Beautiful Beaches of the BVI — The natural beauty of the BVI

Step 2 – Once you have decided where and how you want to travel, contact us. Please enquire via our website or send an email to [email protected]. Once we have received your enquiry, one of our brokers will assist you and start searching for suitable yachts.

Step 3 – We ask guests to provide the following information, so that we can gain a clearer idea of what you really want. Are you looking for a bareboat or a crewed charter? Are your dates flexible and how long would you like to charter for? Do you have a particular budget in mind for your charter? If you are looking for a sailboat, please be aware that you must start on a Saturday for a weeks duration.

Van Dutch 40 — The stunning VanDutch 40, PURE DUTCH

Step 4 – Once we have received this information, our brokers will then start the search for possible yachts that meet your criteria. We will then find which yachts are available for your charter dates and propose at least three options which are suitable for you to review and compare.

Step 5 – Once you have reviewed and compared the yachts that you have been sent, our broker will then arrange the charter for you. For example, you have chosen to charter M/Y MOSKING, a stunning Mangusta 108 from Antibes, France for 4 days.

M/Y MOSKING, Mangusta 108 Luxury Motor Yacht

Step 6 – Our broker would then reserve this for you and start preparing the charter agreement and invoice. Once all the paperwork has been signed and the invoice has been paid by either bank transfer or credit card, we can start to make some final itinerary plans.

Step 7 – Our broker will arrange all the meeting details, can arrange restaurant reservations and help to organise an itinerary. For example, guests wills depart from Antibes and spend one day cruising slowly towards Monaco, enjoying a long lunch in St Jean Cap Ferrat. Then guests could head towards Portofino and along the Italian Riviera before heading back to Antibes.

The magnificent Italian Riviera town of Portofino

Step 8 – We will send a preference sheet to you to note down all the provisions you would like on the yacht. This can cover anything from champagne and wine, to food and flowers. All provisions will be bought before you step foot onboard and therefore ready for you to enjoy immediately.

Step 9 – The final meeting place and timings will be sent for your embarkation. You will be given the captains details for any last minute requests or discussions on itinerary.

Sunset — The end to a perfect day onboard a Luxury Yacht

Step 10 – Guests will board and start their charter. The crew will do everything that they can to make sure that you have a successful charter. They will be able to arrange any emergency provisions and last minute restaurant reservations, leaving guests to relax fully and enjoy the natural beauty that is the French and Italian Riviera.

Posted on September 20, 2012 by admin — No Comments ↓

The highlights of the Cannes Boat Show 2012!

KADIMO'S, a luxury Couach 37m Motor Yahct — KADIMO’S, a luxury Couach 37m Motor Yahct

The Cannes Boat Show 2012 came to a conclusion this weekend after another successful yachting exhibition. The Vieux Port de Cannes and Port Pierre Canto played host to over 500 luxury motor yachts, sailboats and catamarans. Here at Boatbookings.com, we spent all day on Friday at both ports to visit yachts from some of the most prestigious yachting brands, such as Sunreef, Sunseeker, CRN, Baglietto and Couach.

Two of our favourite contrasting yachts on show were KADIMO’S and AQUALIBRIUM. KADIMO’S is a luxurious 37 metre Couach Motor Yacht with 5 beautiful staterooms. On board, we enjoyed the combination of dark wood and cream furnishings, as it created a sense of luxury and comfort, whilst remaining light and airy. She has a great saloon, which would be a fantastic room for entertaining friends and family. The saloon includes large windows, which provide natural light all around the yacht. Our favourite part of KADIMO’S was her top deck, which provides great space and comfort, as well as a Jacuzzi. She has a great crew of individuals from all around the world. In particular, a lovely head stewardess from South Africa, as well as an Irish chef who provides some of the best gastronomy on the water. We would not be able to recommend her highly enough for a week long charter in the Mediterranean.

AQUALIBRIUM, contrastingly is an older yacht but equally as special. We would describe her as elegant, classy and somewhat regal. She has been kept in fantastic condition and we particularly enjoyed the touches of laurel green throughout. This CRN Ancona 40m luxury motor yacht enjoys great proportions and offers guests with the very best home comforts on the water. All of her staterooms are a great size and include the finest touches, such as luxurious linen and gold taps. She has great entertaining spaces, both internally and externally, making her a great choice for entertaining friends or family. AQUALIBRIUM has no permanent berth and is available from many ports along the French Riviera, including Monaco, Antibes and Cannes. We would love to help organise a charter of a lifetime on board AQUALIBRIUM!

The Cannes Boat Show 2012 was one of the best so far with many new products launched. For example, the Frauscher 1017 LIDO, a very elegant and modern day motorboat, which would not look out of place at the most prestigious ports on the Riviera. She can accommodate up to 10 guests and is surprisingly spacious for a 10m motor yacht. Frauscher now only produce hybrid boats, proving their innovative nature, especially providing the same performance as their petrol rivals. Her aesthetics, design, comfort and green credentials make her one to watch out for!

Another boat that caught our eye in the news was the Luxury MIG 675, a 22 foot vessel which runs solely on hydrogen, reaching speeds of up to 70 knots. She is constructed in Aluminium and only weighs 1300kg, despite including a bathroom and a leather/teak interior.

We now move onto the Monaco Yacht Show, one of the worlds most prestigious events in the yachting calendar. We are very excited about the products on offer so watch this space for the latest news and gossip!

Posted on September 18, 2012 by admin — No Comments ↓