We spent 3 days climbing all over gorgeous yachts at the Monaco Yacht Show (someone’s got to do it!) and talking to experts in the yachting business, and will try to distill all of this into a few posts. Here are some of our topline conclusions:
The market: Although visitors seemed down from last year, there was a good sense of optimism that the market was coming back strongly. Most everyone we talked with said that clients were much more active and that business was “beating expectations”.
Trends: Every year, the yachts get bigger, more luxurious and add more toys. This year was no exception, with PRINCESS MARIANA leading the way at 78.59 meters (257 feet). Windows continue to get larger, with floor to ceiling becoming more prevalent. Interiors seemed to be moving away from either pure beige or dark mahogany to more use of texture, fine fabrics and excellent finishings. One key trend we saw on many of the larger yachts was a fold down swimming deck that is a complete day living area, complete with tables, bars, parasols and mini kitchens (see image). These have a pool house feel to them, and add a nice “hang out” environment that gets you closer to the water. And of course nearly all yachts now have hot tubs and internet built in.
Our favourite yachts: We loved the following yachts – all for different reasons, but we’ll look forward to putting our clients on any of them!
– LEO FUN – 53.9 meter Proteksan Turquoise Yachts – amazing interior design with stones, woods, marble – pure class and beautifully done.
– SILVER ANGEL – 64 meter Benetti – it’s immense inner spaces in an art deco style with Lalique glass throughout, beautiful use of greys, silvers, violet to give a stunning effect.
– TRIDENT – 65 meter Feadship – Gorgeous interior by Donald Starkey combining Asian and Western influences, great crew.
We’ll have more about these yachts, and others in the coming days, but just wanted to give you our first impressions!
Regina Laqua, one of the newer members to the Boatbookings team, is the local charter representative for Sardinia, Italy. She has lived on this beautiful Mediterranean island for 5 years and is constantly discovering something new and wonderful to share with others about this not-so-secret hideaway of the rich and famous. Here are some of her impressions about yacht charter on the Island of the Emerald Coast.
Q – Sardinia is best known as the holiday-hot-spot for celebrities and the rich. What makes it so special for you?
In a word, beauty. Unique untouched nature, incredible scenery, and pristine waters and beaches are a large part of what makes it a special place to call home. Even though it’s known as a celebrity hot spot, the vast majority of the island is virtually untouched and timeless. I need also to mention the sincere friendliness of the inhabitants.
Q – How does it compare to other European island destinations?
Sardinia is truly unlike any other place in the Mediterranean “ weather, water, wind all in the right places keep every type of yachting enthusiast happily coming back to Sardinia to discover more. The Emerald coast is legendary for exclusive experiences, on land or on board your yacht.
By cruising along the coastline under motor or sail, or by making an excursion inland, away from the glitz and glamour, you will discover that Sardinia remains surprisingly anonymous and you will find enchanting coves and deserted beaches as well as ancient villages forgotten by time.
Q – As you’ve described, Sardinia has been attracting the rich and famous for years. Has the economic crisis impacted the charter business?
Surprisingly no. Many charter seekers have kept their holiday plans intact. The wide variety of options through our partners give Boatbookings.com customers every advantage to enjoy their personal charter experience in this special place.
Also, the fact that the Italian government got rid of the luxury tax they had imposed on private yachts and jets (which was keeping people away), helped increase the numbers of the well-heeled who come here.
Q – What makes Sardinia such a perfect destination for any kind of yacht charter?
Sardinia’s coastline remains uncluttered from high rise hotels and is an extraordinary sailing destination with hundreds of secluded coves, picture-book beaches and dramatic rock formations as well as numerous beautiful natural anchorages.
The excellent infrastructure of Sardinia’s marinas, which have about 30 sea miles between each of them, provides for comfort at any time when cruising coast or exploring the islands.
It doesn’t matter if you are on board a mega yacht or at the helm of a modest sail boat, you will always find a point on the horizon that begs to be discovered.
Q – What are the weather conditions like during a typical season?
Sardinia enjoys long warm summers with predictable winds and ideal conditions for the intermediate to more experienced sailor.The more constant winds along the north-eastern coast means that most sailors favour the Emerald coast.
Two winds ensure the perfect conditions for dynamic sailing: The Chirocco, coming from the South (Sahara) and the Maestrale (Mistral), which blows down from the North. The Maestrale mostly blows along the west coast, and is a very powerful west to northwest wind, while the south to southeast wind prevails on the east coast.
If you take on any sailing foray in Sardinia’s waters you should either be a very competent sailor yourself or take an experienced skipper with you (which of course we can arrange!). It is also very important to familiarize yourself with the area’s nautical literature and navigational requirements.
Q – What kind of Charter Yachts do you have, and where do people normally charter from?
The variety of yachts for charter in Sardinia is amazing – you can get anything from a water ski boat to a Super Yacht, Monohulls, Catamarans, you name it. If you give us enough lead time, we can generally find just about any boat you need (things get a bit more difficult in July and August!).
We have yachts available from 15 ports, all over the island. The ports with the most yachts are Porto Cervo, Portisco and Alghero, but if you have a destination in mind, let us know! Here is our up-to-date list of charter yachts available in Sardinia.
Q – Do you have a favourite story from a charter?
Well it’s not a favourite story because my client wasn’t able to really go on his charter, but it does highlight the love of the sea and the special friendliness of the Sardinians:
A Danish couple – he is an advanced sailor – booked and paid for a weekly bareboat charter at the last minute. Everything was ready and prepared, and the water and wind conditions perfect.
On the day of embarking I received a phonecall: the charterer had broken his arm on his way to the airport to catch the flight to Sardinia. He had cancellation insurance but after our phone call the couple decided to come anyway instead of canceling, just one day later. They felt they would be in “good hands” with us and wanted to sniff the sea breeze. In the end they spent a very happy week onboard their sailboat… at base!… without sailing (but of course enjoying being in a lovely Sardinian port).
One day before disembarking the charter company sent a skipper onboard who took them out for half a day – free of charge. This is Sardinia and how people tick even if it is high season. By the way, the clients want to charter this boat again next year, but hopefully with 2 unbroken arms…
Courtesy of the Monaco Yacht Show web site, here's a complete list of the yachts being shown at the 2009 Monaco Yacht Show, opening this week. More about the Monaco Yacht Show on Boatbookings.com.
We’ve just added a 7 day Sailing itinerary for the Saronic Islands and Peloponnesian region of Greece. The itinerary includes Poros, Spetses, Nafplio, Hydra, Epidavros, and Aegina, with descriptions of each stop and nearby attractions.
Here’s an extract: “Poros is a small charming island full of picturesque villages and traditional architecture. Some of those villages are fishing settlements located near beautiful beaches, while others are close to the mountains surrounded by green vegetation.The capital of the island is characterised by beautiful two-storey houses with tiled roofs, coloured walls, wooden balconies and narrow windows.”
Really makes you want to go there and get on a boat now! You can see the entire Saronic Islands Sailing Itinerary here. Here’s a Google map of the route:
Mariona Riera is our Greece Charter Manager, and has spent the past 2 years learning as much as possible about the yachts, crews and charter destinations of the storied Greek Isles. She provides another in our series of “Expert Commentary” on the Greek Isles.
Q – Everyone knows that the Greek Islands are one of the world’s greatest charter areas – can you provide your thoughts about the attractions of Greece?
Greece is one of the best sailing destinations in the world for many reasons. First, there are more than 15.000 km of coastline, and several excellent island groups in two seas – the Cyclades, Sporades, Saronic and Dodecanese Islands in the Aegean, the Ionian Islands in the Ionian Sea, facing Italy and let’s not forget the gorgeous island of Crete.
It is this variety that makes Greece a unique place, and each destination provides a completely different experience.
The Cyclades Islands are the most chartered group of islands and are especially idyllic destination during the months of May, June, early July and late September. The famous destinations of Mykonos and Santorini are in the Cyclades. Due to the Meltemi, a characteristic strong, dry north wind from the Aegean sea, it is better to avoid them in late July and August, as it is the time when the winds are usually stronger.
Q – You’re a big believer in the Ionian Islands, can you tell us more?
The Ionian Islands are characterised by calm, crystal clear waters, beautiful sandy beaches, charming villages and stunning scenic countryside. Each Ionian island has a distinct character and between them they offer everything you could wish for from a sailing holiday. This group of islands, comprised of Corfu, Paxos, Lefkas, Ithaka, Cephallonia, Zakynthos, and Kythira, are one of the most spectacular sailing spots in the world. Indeed, many of their beaches are only reachable by boat.
They are a great destination for late July and August because the winds are not as strong as in the Cyclades.
The main bases for bareboat charters are Corfu and Lefkas, there is a large fleet of sailing yachts and catamarans based in the Ionian during the months of June, July and August, due to the increasing demand and popularity of this area.
Q – Tell us a bit about bareboat chartering in Greece
Greece has hundreds if not thousands of bareboat charter yachts of all types and sizes – it is a very developed charter area bareboat charters and we can normally find you exactly the boat you want if you give us enough time! We always recommend booking early, because not only will you have great selection, but you may also qualify for early-bird discounts.
Bareboat charter prices usually include VAT (4.5%) in the price, but might exclude end cleaning and the outboard engine. Moorings in Greece are not included, but in most places are for free, but there is also no way to book a berth in advance, it works on œfirst come, first served basis. There might be some small charges in some marinas (10-15 euro), but it is unusual, this does not apply to private marinas, but in any case the most likely scenario is that you will be anchoring in a dreamy location and just going to the marinas to get supplies and visit the beautiful Greek towns.
Provisioning is easy in the Greek Islands, there are plenty of supermarkets and small shops, but bear in mind that supermarkets close on Sundays, you may find some small shops open for some hours in the morning, and surely a bakery and kiosks (œperipteros) where you can find anything from water, to yogurt, chips, cookies, and a variety of supplies to get you by till Monday.
In high season, the rule for bareboats is embarkation/disembarkation Saturday, this is almost unbreakable, and very few suppliers will accept other dates due to the high demand.
Q – How about Crewed Charters?
When it comes to crewed charters, every year the yachts seem to get bigger, more luxurious, and more comfortable. I’ve met the crew on most of the yachts, and therefore feel very comfortable recommending the boats that I do – I match them to your needs and they will truly take care of you with professionalism and go the extra mile! We have a great selection of crewed catamarans, motor yachts, sailboats, gulets, and of course amazing Super Yachts.
The majority of our crewed charter yachts are based in Athens, therefore relocation fees apply when requested in the Ionian, also you have to take into consideration the Corinth Canal fees, which vary depending on the size of the yacht, number of passengers and other criteria.
Q – What other recommendations do you have for charterers?
Most of our charterers in Greece are extremely happy with the charter, as long as the clients listen to the captain and follow his advice when it comes to the weather conditions and itineraries. This is a region where winds can be very strong, so clients need to very flexible and able to change their mind as to their initial destination.
Having said that, all destinations within Greece are breathtaking, so no matter when you go we’re sure you’ll be extremely happy with your charter ! Be sure to see our Greece Yacht Charter Guide.
We spent 3 days climbing all over gorgeous yachts at the Monaco Yacht Show (someone’s got to do it!) and talking to experts in the yachting business, and will try to distill all of this into a few posts. Here are some of our topline conclusions:
area, complete with tables, bars, parasols and mini kitchens (see image). These have a pool house feel to them, and add a nice “hang out” environment that gets you closer to the water. And of course nearly all yachts now have hot tubs and internet built in.
In a word, beauty. Unique untouched nature, incredible scenery, and pristine waters and beaches are a large part of what makes it a special place to call home. Even though it’s known as a celebrity hot spot, the vast majority of the island is virtually untouched and timeless. I need also to mention the sincere friendliness of the inhabitants.
Sardinia’s coastline remains uncluttered from high rise hotels and is an extraordinary sailing destination with hundreds of secluded coves, picture-book beaches and dramatic rock formations as well as numerous beautiful natural anchorages.
