Secrets of Southern Italy: One-Week Charter On The Magnificent Cilento Coast

The Cilento Coast is a pristine region of spectacular beauty that remains rugged and wild due to its inaccessibility. Soaring rock cliffs descend to white sand beaches concealing tranquil bays of crystal clear water. The coast is dotted with picturesque towns to enjoy local culture, shops, restaurants, hiking trails and renowned historical sites. Along the coast harbors are safe and dockage is very reasonable. This itinerary is courtesy of charter yachts Feeling, Emotion, Passion and Smile, names that perfectly reflect these surroundings.

Day 1: Salerno. Arrive in Salerno for check-in at the marina, just a short walk from the downtown area. Salerno is considered the main urban center close to the Amalfi Coast on the Tyrrhenian Sea. This rich and culturally diverse city includes archeological sites, a medieval sector, and a 19th-century district. There are numerous noteworthy points of interest including churches, museums, palaces and castles.

Day 2: Depart Salerno to Agropoli.

This bustling port town includes a well-preserved old town as well as inviting retail and fine restaurants. The nearby archaeological site of Paestum has temples of Neptune and Ceres and the Basilica, which are adjacent to the National Museum. For cheese connoisseurs the buffalo mozzarella farm is worth a visit. The fine beaches of Trentova Bay contribute to make Agropoli a popular seaside resort.

Day 3: Depart Agropoli to Acciaroli. A leisurely sail takes you to the picturesque bay of Ogliastro. Here a popular hiking trail takes visitors past medieval structures and through pristine forest. It is possible to spend the night or continue to Acciaroli, a town that is a part of the Cilento and Vallo di Diano National Park.  Ernest Hemingway relished his stays here during his visits to Italy.

Day 4: Acciaroli to Capo Palinuro. Spend the night in Marina di Camerota, a quaint, scenic town with many of the alleys and streets of the old fisherman’s village still intact. The beautiful seafront and harbor has complete facilities, seaside activities, fantastic beaches and seabeds to explore. The town is also noted for its paleontological caves with human fossils. One of these caves, located in the Lentiscella zone, is a museum.

Day 5: Marina di Camerota to Infreschi Bay. This is a beautiful natural harbor with crystal clear waters located in the extreme south of the Gulf of Policastro. Rocky cliffs give way to white sands and a dazling sea in hues from turquoise to emerald. The sandy, sloping sea floor is ideal for swimming and snorkeling. On shore, hiking trails wind through gorse, rosemary, carob trees and prickly pears. In the afternoon sail to the picture postcard village of Scario. This is considered by many to be the most charming and authentic village along the Cilento Coast.

Day 6: Scario to Palinuro Cape. An absolute must on the southern side of Palinuro Cape is breathtaking Buondormire Bay. Located between steep cliffs and lush vegetation, this wilderness is accessible only by boat or a long walk that ends with 500 steps leading down to the sea. It is possible to spend the night here or in Palinuro harbor.

Day 7: Palinuro Cape to Salerno. Enjoy breathtaking views while you sail northward with a stop around Punta Licosa for swimming.

Day 8: Disembark in Salerno. Salerno is a vibrant urban center with plenty to see and do. In addition to shops and restaurants, museums and churches, the famous sites of Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius are an easy commute.

A charter on the Cilento Coast offers an exceptional opportunity to explore the culture, history and natural wonders of a unique and awe-inspiring region. This charter itinerary is available for bareboat and crewed charter and may be modified for a one-way charter from Salerno to Tropea, 85 miles from Marina di Camerota, without delivery charge.

Here is a link to comprehensive information on Yacht Charter in Italy and destination highlights on the Amalfi Coast.

Impressive Competition Among Perini Navi Superyachts Today in Porto Cervo, Sardinia

Today the fourth edition of the Perini Navi Cup begins. Porto Cervo, Sardinia provides the spectacular backdrop for this event in which eighteen Perini Navi sailing yachts will compete. The event is only open to yachts built by the renowned Viareggio shipyard and is organized by the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. The regatta is both a race and a rendezvous for owners in the “Perini family”. Racing courses of up to 40 miles are set against the breathtaking scenery of the La Maddalena archipelago.

Fidelis
The fleet of superyachts includes the new
Salute
56-metre ketch FIDELIS, designed in collaboration with Ron Holland. Other sailing legends assembled in Porto Cervo are SALUTE, with the tallest aluminum mast in the world, and the MALTESE FALCON, the largest Perini Navi sailing yacht in the world and winner of the last two editions of the Perini Navi Cup.
Maltese Falcon

Owners, guests and crews will be kept busy after racing on Friday 2nd, Saturday 3rd and Sunday 4th September with a complete social program that includes a Pommery champagne reception, a cocktail competition between participating yachts, the Rolex gala dinner and the Quadrivio regatta party at the Yacht Club Costa Smeralda’s Clubhouse.

Following the Perini Navi Cup the YCCS sporting calendar continues in Porto Cervo with the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup (5-10 September), the Veteran Big Boat Rally (12-15 September) and the Audi TP52 World Championship (2-8 October). The YCCS will then organize the Transatlantic Superyacht Regatta departing from Tenerife in the Canaries on 21st November and arriving at the Club’s new winter base in Virgin Gorda in December.

Click here for Live Tracking

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MEDITERRANEAN REGATTAS & EVENTS – SEPTEMBER 2011

01/Sep-04/Sep – Perini Navi Cup Porto Cervo, OT, Italy: Live Tracking

02/Sep-04/Sep – Brewin Dolphin Jersey Regatta , Jersey, British Isles

02/Sep – Cherbourg Race Cowes, United Kingdom

03/Sep-04/Sep – One Design Cup / Bodenseemeisterschaft Melges24 2011 Bregenz, Austria

05/Sep-10/Sep – Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup – Mini Maxi Rolex World Championship Porto Cervo, OT, Italy

08/Sep-11/Sep – NRV Championsweek 2011 Boltenhagen, Mecklenburg Vorpommern, Germany

10/Sep-11/Sep – Fördewoche 2011 Flensburg, Germany

10/Sep-11/Sep – NRW-Cup J/22 German Masters Mohnesee, Germany

11/Sep-12/Sep – J/22 Trophee Dominque Doucet Port Breton, FRANCE, FRANCE

12/Sep-15/Sep – Veteran Big Boat Rally Porto Cervo, OT, Italy

16/Sep-18/Sep – Extreme Sailing Series – Act 6 Trapani, Sicily, Italy

20/Sep-24/Sep – 2011 Melges 32 World Championship Palma Mallorca, Spain

23/Sep-25/Sep – J/80 Latlantique Télégramme Lorient Lorient, France

24/Sep-25/Sep – Oktoberfest-Trophy 2011 Melges 24 Starnberg, Germany

27/Sep-02/Oct – Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez Saint-Tropez, France

30/Sep-02/Oct – Extreme Sailing Series – Act 7 Nice, France

30/Sep-02/Oct – Regatta Romania Mangalia, Romania

30/Sep-02/Oct – Swiss Open Melges 24 2011 Luino, Italy

Please follow this link for comprhensive information about Yacht Charter for Races and Regattas

Celebrate 2011 AquaticAfrolic, Oct 24-Nov 2: Reserve Now for the Fantasy Fest Flotilla through the Fantastic Florida Keys

Local yacht managers in South Florida enthusiastically present the first annual Fantasy Fest Flotilla, featuring all-inclusive crewed luxury charter yachts. En route to Fantasy Fest, Key West`s infamous annual island extravaganza, enjoy world-class diving, snorkeling, fishing, dining and extreme partying in the spectacular Florida Keys.

Monday, October 24: Coconut Grove, Miami – Key Largo
Embark from Coconut Grove, the oldest continuously inhabited neighborhood of Miami, Florida, and a charming urban center of upscale restaurants, shops and entertainment venues. Cruise around Biscayne Bay with a stop to swim and snorkel on the reef before sailing down Hawkes Channel to spend the night in Key Largo.

Tuesday, October 25: Key Largo – Marathon
Key Largo is the first island of the Florida Keys. The 1948 film Key Largo, starring Humphrey Bogart, brought early notoriety to the island. A popular beach bar today, the Caribbean Club provided the locale for a number of the movie’s scenes. The vessel of another Bogart American movie epic, The African Queen, is docked at the Key Largo Marina. Cruise down Hawkes Channel under sail to Duck Key to anchor for the night.

Wednesday, October 26: Marathon
Depart Duck Key for the leisurely two-hour sail to Sombrero Key Light, an excellent spot for snorkelers and divers to explore fantastic living coral reefs teeming with fish. Fishing enthusiasts will want to sail just south of the tower in the Gulf Stream to fight Mahi, Spanish mackerel, and other game fish. In the evening anchor off Boot Key Channel or spend the night at Burdine’s Waterfront or Marathon Marina and enjoy the vibrant nightlife onshore.

Thursday, October 27: Marathon – Little Palm Island Resort and Spa
Boot Key Harbor to Looe Key is a scenic half-day sail. Here the reef provides spectacular snorkeling and diving for an unforgettable afternoon. In the evening sail into the charming marina at Little Palm Island Resort and Spa. This private island is the posh retreat of presidents, high profile celebrities and savvy travelers. Dine on a terrace perched above the beach where key deer and songbirds visit, or at tables strewn along the beach. Sometimes, the revelry goes on all night by a roaring bonfire on the beach.

Friday, October 28: Little Palm Island – Key West
Depart Palm Island and arrive in Key West in the afternoon with plenty of time for exploring, shopping and sight seeing. This historic city is a fascinating crossroads of diversified cultures and lifestyles that coexist with colorful harmony.

Saturday October 29: Key West
Join in the fun of Fantasy Fest. Cool down at the Garden of Eden, clothing optional rooftop bar, dance at the Vampire Ball, which takes place at the spine tingling Haunting of Fort Taylor, watch the pet masquerade parade, join the celebrity look alike contest or any of dozens of other scheduled events that culminate with the grand parade down Duval Street followed by an all night party throughout downtown.

Sunday, October 30: Key West
Enjoy a perfectly prepared Bloody Mary on deck before setting off for a meander through the recovering town. Stroll, bike or rent a scooter to explore the narrow streets dotted with small yet elite restaurants, artisan shops tucked in entryways, signature architecture and subtropical flora and fauna.

Monday, October 31: Key West – Bahia Honda
This morning say farewell to Key West and sail up Hawkes Channel to an anchorage at Bahia Honda State Park. Swim or snorkel in the balmy water or dinghy ashore to hike one of the nature trails, learn about Florida wildlife, or simply relax in the evening sun.

Tuesday, November 1: Bahia Honda – Key Largo
Depart Bahia Honda for nearby Key Largo, which features a maritime museum, eco-tours, dolphin encounter programs, nature trails and a rehabilitation center for wild birds. Spend the last night aboard surrounded by the beauty and tranquility of the upper Florida Keys.

Wednesday, November 2: Key Largo – Coconut Grove, Miami
A pleasant day sail up Hawkes Channel and into Biscayne Bay brings you back to Bayshore Landing near Dinner Key. Back in the city of Miami, take the opportunity to see what this thriving multi-cultural urban center has to offer, from arts and entertainment to international cuisine. Sit at a sidewalk cafe and savor the enjoyable memories of a superb experience. Then take time to ponder where you would like your next yachting adventure to begin.

This ten-day sailing itinerary is available on board the Beneteau 46 or the Hunter 41 DS, each with accommodations for four guests in two spacious cabins. A five-day Fantasy Fest itinerary is available on the high performance, two-cabin 48 Sundancer. Rates per cabin are $5,200 all-inclusive. Customary crew gratuity is not included and is at the discretion of the charterer.

For comprehensive information about these and other luxury bareboat yachts available worldwide please visit  Bareboat Yacht Charter.

John Wayne`s Superyacht WILD GOOSE Nominated for National Register of Historic Places

136-foot WILD GOOSE is a vessel with an illustrious career to date, and she continues to enthrall charter guests cruising out of Newport Beach, California. WILD GOOSE, originally built in Seattle in 1943 as a minesweeper for the US Navy, was decommissioned from military use in 1946 and entered into private ownership from that time forward.

John Wayne purchased the vessel in 1962 for $116,000 and converted her into an opulent private yacht. He had long been passionate about the sea, even once having applied to, and been rejected by, the US Navy. From the time he purchased the yacht until shortly before his death in 1979, John Wayne spent as much time as possible on board.

John Wayne was a devoted family man and enthusiastically adventured up and down the Pacific coast from Alaska to Mexico, often with his third wife and three daughters. Berthed at his private dock in Newport Beach, WILD GOOSE served as the platform for glittering celebrity events as well as informal gatherings with friends such Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Bob Hope, Richard Nixon and Ronald Reagan.

Just weeks before he succumbed to stomach cancer, John Wayne sold the yacht to Lynn Hutchins, a local attorney. Almost immediately after his death, Hutchins reported seeing his ghost on board WILD GOOSE to the National Enquirer. A psychic explained that his spirit remained deeply attached to the vessel and corroborated the apparitions.

Previously certified by the California Office of Historic Preservation, WILD GOOSE has just received eligibility for entry into the National Register of Historic Places because of the long-term association with the iconic Hollywood actor. Documents submitted and approved cite the importance of the yacht “as an expression of John Wayne’s personality and outsized image.”

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