Broker Alice’s Top 5 Insights for Your 2019 Charter

1. Book your sailing boat to beat the winter blues and head to the Bahamas before its too late! Some of my top recommendations for the Bahamas are the Lagoon 42 and 450 catamarans and Pegasus, a 40 foot Jeanneau. Either charter in Nassau, island hop around the Exumas and visit pig beach or in Marsh Harbour to anchor upon amongst the idyllic Abaco Islands.
Catamaran – Lagoon 42
Catamaran – Lagoon 450
2. Get your friends together to book the ultimate vacation sailing around Croatia this summer. Starting from Split or Trogir a two-hour sail a day in crystal blue waters can take you from quaint fishing villages to the party islands of Hvar. I would suggest the Lagoon 52 for a skippered experience, the Saona 47 or a Sun Odyssey 449 for the ultimate sailing experience.
3. Guadeloupe- find France within the Caribbean. Navigate around the archipelago of islands and immerse yourself amongst the green landscapes of this fascinating mixture of the Caribbean and French influences.
Be sure to visit the waterfalls of Grande Terre, eat Creole dishes with the friendly locals and visit Jaques Cousteau’s dive site at Bouillante which offers some of the best diving in the world, the instructors will even pick you up from your yacht to take you diving!
Sailing around this island is rugged, inspiring and sophisticated at the same time. I would suggest the Sun Odyssey 509 for exploring and sailing performance or the spacious Catana 47 catamaran for the ultimate Guadeloupe sailing trip with friends and family.
Visit my Guadeloupe blog to see why this Caribbean island needs to be on your 2019 sailing to do list!
4. August on the French Riviera – Sail from Cannes to Monaco and spend the nights at anchor overlooking some of the most glamorous locations in Europe or in the slightly smaller ports of Golfe Juan or Villefranche to avoid the busy ports of Cannes or Nice. Boats to charter are the monohulls such as the Sun Odyssey 349  or the Oceanis 48 for a romantic break or a family holiday or add a hostess on a catamaran such as the Lagoon 450 to receive the five-star treatment of the French Riviera.
5. Summer island hopping the Cyclades from Athens. Start your bareboat charter in the ancient city of Athens and spend a week exploring the iconic Cyclades islands. Spend each night on a different island and explore some of the finest Mediterranean beach clubs, ancient ruins and the traditional white rooftops of Santorini and Mykonos. Catamarans are the best way to explore these islands with friends and family but if you want to profit from some of the most idyllic winds in the world take the Oceanis 62 and profit from its sailing capabilities.

Labor Day 2017 Weekend Party-Planning

If you’re wondering about what Miami is offering for your Labor Day Weekend Celebrations, wonder no more! Here is a quick guideline of parties, places and socials that you cannot miss out on!

Thursday 31st August – Story Night Club Labor Day Weekend Kickoff

  • Featuring Young Jeezy @ Story Night Club

What better way to start your Labor Day Weekend than an all-night party at Story Nightclub, hosted by American Rapper Young Jeezy! Just a short walk from South Pointe Beach, you won’t have to worry about transport as you saunter back to your berth in time to watch the sunrise.

Friday 1st September – Labor Day Weekend Jungle Fest

  • 10am – 5pm @ Jungle Island

For a day of sun, tropical dancing, barbecue and beer supplied by Concrete Beach Brewery, Jungle Island is the place to be! This event will also feature a Private Beach Experience, including cabanas and water sports.

Friday 1st September – Nicky Romero

  • 11pm @ Ora Night Club

Nicky Romero is spearheading the EDM scene with an impressive track record, and more promise to follow. Having performed with artists such as Calvin Harris, Romero has become an established name within the EDM community, and Ora Night Club will bear witness to what will undoubtedly be an impressive headline set.

Saturday 2nd September – Labor Day Pool Party

  • 12 – 6pm @ The Hampton Sky Lounge

There’s no better way to nurse your hangover than with a freshly-made cocktail, some pumping bass music and a rooftop swimming pool- which is exactly what is on offer at The Hampton Sky Lounge! Spend your afternoon dancing to your best abilities, and then retreat back to your private yacht for an after party!

Sunday 3rd September – Camp Nikki Beach

  • 11am – 4pm @ Nikki Beach

Nikki Beach knows exactly how to celebrate in unreserved style, and for Labor Day Weekend this year you can expect a throwback to those good old days of camp! S’mores by the campfire, songs and a few cheeky swigs of alcohol will be sure to provide an unforgettable afternoon!

Sunday 3rd September – Hyde Night Swim Labor Day Weekend Edition

  • 6pm @ Hyde Beach Club

Hyde Beach Club are taking Vegas to the East Coast for this Labor Day Weekend, with a Vegas-inspired pool party to keep the celebrations going!

Sunday 3rd September – Labor Day Party

  • 9pm – 5am @ Foxhole Club

After having started the day at Camp Nikki, and then possibly retreating back to the yacht for a quick change of clothes and a freshen-up, you’ll be able to hear Foxhole beckoning to you! Located in South Beach, Foxhole is in the perfect location for celebration!

Monday 4th Sept – Splash Labour Day Pool Party

  • 12pm- 6pm @ Miami Gardens

If, after 3 days of complete partying, you’re still not completely wiped out and craving a day of floating and relaxation in the Miami sun, EPIC Hotel is hosting its very own Labor Day Summer Pool Party. Finish the day in time to return to your boat, set sail and enjoy the rest of your charter in celebration!

Feeling ready for the festivities? Drop us a line, and we can make sure you won’t forget this year’s partying!

The Peaks of Luxury: How Big and Bold are these Boats going to Become?

I was reading an article, the other day, regarding the new technologies revolved around glass in construction on Superyachts; for example, some yachts now have an underwater viewing deck, such as Feadship’s SAVANNAH, which has a charter price of €1 million a week…

SAVANNAH’s underwater viewing lounge, photo courtesy of https://www.yachting-pages.com

At the sheer astonishment of such a hefty price tag for- well, no one can disagree that SAVANNAH illustrates the snowy peaks of haute-décor luxury, I began my descent down a marble-coated, golden-detailed, velvet-carpeted rabbit-hole with one burning question in mind: How far are these Superyachts going to go in order to obtain new standards of luxury?
I remember, when I was younger, a 50ft yacht was a very impressive sight; lining the harbours of Monaco, Greece and elsewhere around the world; I remember gazing in awe and wonder at any and every boat- big or small. Now, as I get older, I find myself only really looking for the larger yachts; the 100+ footers- the Megayachts. Gargantuan vessels, bright white, like icebergs jutting out of the ocean- an air of calm serenity floating around them, slowly moving across the horizon, dwarfing both people and other boats in comparison. Speculation over who owns them and what the interior is like is all part of the excitement upon encountering these yachts, and one can only imagine the swathes of leather, antiqued wood and Italian marble that spectacularly crowns the inside of these floating palaces.

The Boats during the Monaco Grand Prix, photo courtesy of https://www.f1i.com/infos/programme-tv-grand-prix-de-monaco/

 

Although, since working in the yacht industry, I have to admit I’ve become slightly desensitised to a lot of these ships. Superyachts like VICKY, a 73m Turquoise, and O MEGA, a Mitsubishi Heavy Industries 83m Megayacht, with all the bells and whistles one expects of a Superyacht, is perhaps starting to become the norm of the luxury industry. This is an industry that will always go by comparisons, with the same question in mind: How can we make it better?

VICKY’s helipad- don’t worry, there’s a plunge pool round back!

Does this mean more gold? More marble? Rarer wood, and fancier light fittings? Does this mean just bigger in general? Stretching 150ft to 250ft? I think, maybe, this means a lot of different things.

All yachts have to be manufactured under certain terms and conditions; such as SOLAS and PYC, which ensure the safety and structural integrity of the vessels. All of these conditions limit the extent to which Superyacht manufacturers can go regarding design, shape and size.
However, where manufacturers may be limited in some aspects of Superyacht design, it’s opened-up a Pandora’s Box of innovations within the technological side of manufacturing. Going back to SAVANNAH, with the underwater viewing salon, that was only made possible due to the advancements in glass technology and the invention of Gorilla Glass.
Progression in computing technology has allowed for much more precise navigation of these Superyachts, allowing the captains to get a more intimate feel for the waves and surroundings, meaning that sailing on through the night will be absolutely no issue! Advanced controls in the wheelhouse also means more control over the yacht itself; security measures such as locking systems, cameras and alarms are all computerised now, so, although you may not see it, it can almost certainly see you!
But, more advanced tech doesn’t just mean stronger glass and computerised security, it also means more fun, more luxury, more comfort- it just means more!

Wheelhouse on board POLARIS I

Stronger glass means that maybe, within a few years, it will become a standard for Superyachts to feature an underwater viewing deck- and maybe the top end ones will feature an entire glass panoramic viewing room! Imagine, wherever you travel, having a changeable, giant and most importantly all-natural aquarium for you to gaze into from the comfort of a plush, leather sofa…

Lightweight construction material such as aluminium has vastly reduced the weight of these ships whilst maintaining the strength of the superstructure, resulting in more room for the fun stuff: that bigger jacuzzi, more gym equipment, more toys and maybe even a bigger tender. It has also opened up a plethora of options for new designs, due to its malleability.

Some Superyachts nowadays look more like spaceships than boats, for example the Superyacht ADASTRA by John Shuttleworth Designs. With boats like this making full use of the modern technologies and new materials being created daily in the construction world, it really makes you think about the future of the luxury Superyachts we have become accustomed to!

Superyacht ADASTRA, photo courtesy of https://www.shuttleworthdesign.com

Whilst the future of Superyachts may be an open book, the one certainty is that- whatever the next move- Boatbookings will be ready to welcome the next generation of nautical vessels with open arms, and provide you with an experience of luxury, technology and innovation!