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Interesting items related to boats and yachting

Maldives Itinerary: Ancient, Modern and Altogether Breathtaking

The Maldives is a long and narrow country formed by 26 natural atolls in the Indian Ocean. Satellite imagery reveals these atolls to be some of the most beautiful on earth. Superb diving has made the Maldives a premier destination for scuba divers, and since the early 1970s peerless spa resorts have attracted a chic international clientele. A luxury yacht charter is ideal for guests who want to experience everything the Maldives has to offer above and below the waterline.

Maldives Ten-Day Itinerary

Day One: Male’atholhu Uthutuburi to Baa Atoll

Malé on North Malé Atoll

Arrive in the capital city Malé on North Malé Atoll, considered one of the most beautiful atolls on the planet.  Here you will board your yacht and set sail on aquiline waters, past lush palm islands, white sand beaches, and villages endowed with traditional charm. Anchor outside a lagoon in one of the beautiful islands in Baa Atoll. Take a leisurely swim or an awesome snorkel to view parti-colored fish.

Day Two: Baa Atoll

Baa Atoll is an administrative division of the Maldives made up of three separate atolls. Explore Kihaadhuffaru Thila where graceful stingrays and nurse sharks glide through the crystal clear water. Cruise to Gemendhoo, an uninhabited island with verdant vegetation and a powdery white sand beach. Thulhaadhoo Island is traditionally well known for its lacquerwork handicrafts. In the village of Kudarikilu learn about Maldivian island life, visit the mosque and local shops where Thundukunaa, the traditional craft of mat weaving can be observed. Anchor outside Kudarikilu lagoon and relax against the backdrop of endless ocean and scarlet sunset.

Day Three: Baa Atoll to Raa Atoll

Northern Maalhosmadulu Atoll or Raa Atoll is the next atoll in the archipelago. Visit Ugulu and the heritage site of Redhinge Usgandu. Anchor outside Ugulu, renowned as an excellent fishing spot. Cruise to Voadhoo Faru for breathtaking diving. Discover Alifushi, a village famous for traditional boatbuilding.

Day Four: Raa Atoll to Shaviyani Atoll

Enjoy an authentic Maldivian breakfast before heading towards Haa Dhaal Atoll with a stop at Shaviyani Atoll enroute. Visit Maroshi to see the historic Kaani Tree (Cordia Subcordata) that dates back to the 16th century struggle against Portuguese rule.

Day Five: Shaviyani Atoll to Haa Dhaal Atoll

Cruise to Dhaal Atoll where guests may anchor outside the lagoon for lunch. Explore Maamakunudhooo Atoll to the southeast, the site of several shipwrecks including the English ship Persia Merchant, destroyed in 1658, and the Hayston, which ran onto a reef in 1819.

Day Six: Haa Dhaal Atoll to Haa Alif Atoll

Haa Alif Atoll is the northernmost Atoll of the Maldives. Here visitors may explore the historical island of Utheemu, the birthplace of Sultan Mohammed Thakurufaanu. Utheemu Ganduvaru is the site of the historic residence of this legendary hero attributed with freeing the nation from the Portuguese. Visit Kelaa Island, a British military base during World War II. The mosque here dates from the end of the 17th century. The island is known for the production of yams and cadjan, a mat made of coconut palm leaves. After lunch visit Island Hideaway at Dhonakulhi. This luxury boutique resort is on the privately owned, uninhabited island of Dhonakulhi.

Day Seven: Haa Alif Atoll to Lhaviyani Atoll

Pass by Ekulivaru, an untouched, uninhabited island with a delightful reef for snorkeling and lovely beach for a picnic lunch. Visit Naifaru, a local island where visitors can spend an evening in a local home and experience local delicacies.

Day Eight: Lhaviyani Atoll to Baa Atoll

Angu Faru is an amazing dive site that is home to schools of barracuda, the breeding ground for grey reef sharks, and a common habitat for turtles. Visit Soneva Fushi by Six Senses, featuring the only resort based astronomical observatory of its kind in the world. Divulge in sumptuous gourmet cuisine offered on the dinner menu at the resort.

Day Nine: Baa Atoll to Malé Atoll

Aquum at Labriz

Cruise to Male’ Atoll where visitors may select from a variety of activities including a scenic photo flight, a city tour, or a visit to Huvafen Fushi, managed by Per Aquum Resorts and Spas, which features a unique, world class under water spa.

Day Ten: Malé Atoll to Malé International Airport

Bid your Captain and Crew a fond farewell and begin the journey home. While enroute, envision destinations for your next spectacular luxury yacht charter vacation.

For comprehensive charter and destination information please visit The Maldives Yacht Charter and Sailing Vacation Guide. Follow this link to view an exciting selection of Maldives Charter Yachts.

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Kingship Marine Luxury Eco Yacht Green Voyager: A Keel Laying Ceremony with Asian Panache

Green Voyager

Kingship Marine Limited celebrated the keel laying ceremony for their much acclaimed hybrid yacht Green Voyager last Tuesday at the Zhongshan yard.

Green Voyager is an innovative yacht design that combines luxury and style with the ability to tread lightly. With transoceanic capability, the Green Voyager appeals to a new generation of global adventurers who consider environmental responsibility a priority.

Mr. Horacio Bozzo, designer of Green Voyager, explained that the luxury yacht is the end result of a 360-degree approach that sought to provide multiple solutions to reduce her environmental impact.

Mr. Mauro Boni, RINA’s (Registro Italiano Navale) Asia Pacific Yachting Line Manager, further recognized Horacio and Kingship’s effort. Kingship’s Green Voyager project demonstrates that Chinese shipyards have the potential to set trends for the superyacht industry with regard to environmental protection.

Kingship created a uniquely Asian influenced keel-laying ceremony. Mr. Roger Liang, Managing Director of Kingship, lead his fellow staff in an incense burning ceremony, asking the gods to bless all Kinship’s staff to be safe throughout the construction.

Kingship prepared two new lions for the lion dance, a tradition incorporated into the ceremony. The history of lion dancing dates back more than a thousand years and the lion is regarded as a guardian creature to drive away evil spirits and to summon luck. The lions dance and show different emotions. The lions usually perform the “Picking the Green” act, tying the keel laying plate to assure an auspicious business. Also their mission was to bless Kingship’s technicians and workers for a safe and peaceful construction. After the lions successfully picked the green together with the keel laying plate, they passed it to the Kingship welder who then welded the plate onto Green Voyager and completed the ceremony.

Green Voyager is the first motoryacht in the world of less than 50 meters to have true hybrid propulsion. The vertical plumb bow is an advanced displacement hull, with underwater main parameters and geometry that have been studied and tank tested to achieve exceptional performance, reduce wave-making resistance, minimize slamming and assure a smoother passage through the waves for improved fuel efficiency and speed. Green Voyager is scheduled for delivery in 2013.

Please visit “Green Chartering” for Low Carbon Emissions for information on environmentally responsible charter options.

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Transatlantic Race 2011: Catch the Live Panel Discussion Broadcast April 26 at 5:50 PM EST

In late June and early July anyone fortunate to be quayside in Newport R.I. can witness the awesome spectacle of 32 ocean-going yachts set sail in the Transatlantic Race 2011, which charts 2,975 nautical mile course from Newport to Lizard Point, South Cornwall (UK). The Royal Yacht Squadron, New York Yacht Club, Royal Ocean Racing Club and Storm Trysail Club organize the event.

The fleet includes sleek traditional designs, such as the 94’ William Fife-designed Sumurun, and sophisticated super yachts, such as the 289’ custom Perini Navi clipper sailing yacht Maltese Falcon. The Atlantic Ocean crossing can potentially challenge these renowned racers and their teams with fierce storms, testing seas and even icebergs.

Robert Towbin, owner/captain of Sumurun, who won two previous transatlantic races, is currently preparing his classic yacht, which was built in 1914, to endure this first challenge of the 2011 sailing season. “If you have an older boat, a race of this complexity takes a lot out of it, so we are putting a lot of work into it to get it up to date,” said Towbin.

Three separate starts will “stagger” yachts of different sizes and ability so that they will arrive in England in proximity to each other. The larger boats hope to finish the race in 8 to 12 days, while the smaller boats estimate 18 to 22 days to finish.

Maltese Falcon

The final race group of legendary competitors includes the VOR 70 crewed by PUMA Ocean Racing Team, the Newport-based second-place finisher in the 2008-09 Volvo Ocean Race and entrant in the next edition as well; Rambler 100, George David’s maxi rocket ship that has been tearing up race courses since the beginning of the year, including breaking the record for the RORC Caribbean 600 and taking line honors at the Pineapple Cup-Montego Bay Race; and ICAP Leopard, which holds the current record from Ambrose Light to Lizard Point for monohulls using powered sailing systems.

A TR2011 Panel Discussion is scheduled for tomorrow, April 26, at 5:30 PM EST. Topics will focus on the history of transatlantic racing, the challenge and appeal of transoceanic racing, as well as the upcoming TR2011 and its entries. Panelists include George David, owner/skipper of Rambler 100; Chris Gartner, captain of Maltese Falcon; Larry Huntington, owner/captain of Snow Lion; Bob Towbin, owner/captain of Sumurun; Rives Potts, Rear Commodore of NYYC and owner/captain of Carina; and sailing historian and author John Rousmaniere.

Here are some useful links to Charter a Yacht for a Regatta or Sailing Event and a calendar of Upcoming Yachting Events, Regattas and Boat Show Dates Worldwide.

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Regatta Expert Meg Toppa: Momentum Accelerates as Bay Area Plans for Americas Cup 2013

Two-time winner New Zealand confirmed it is entering the challenge for the 34th America’s Cup

Inquiries are coming in fast and furious for spectator charter yachts for the 2013 America’s Cup. Our regatta expert, Meg Toppa, was on a mission during her recent visit to the Bay area to learn up to the minute information about the event for charter clientele.

Meg visited the welcoming and unpretentious Golden Gate Yacht Club, where she met with General Manager Bob Mulhern. His enthusiasm for the event is infectious, especially in terms of involving area youth and reaching out to the general public. However, with a commencement date fairly far in the future, organization still seems to be sketchy, the website remains unfinished, and central offices are not open yet.

None the less, this is a great opportunity for the region, with tremendous potential to see high performance racing at its finest.  The locals are really trying to leverage the fact that the Cup is here and accessible to all, not just the famous competitors, already so intimately familiar with the scene, but also the younger generation of up and coming racers, eager to participate.

The West Coast setting is dramatic and inspirational, on this huge bay it is easy to imagine the new generation of multihulls racing at top speed over challenging seas against the backdrop of the magnificent Golden Gate Bridge.

The actual America’s Cup, on display at the recent Strictly Sail Pacific Boat Show in Oakland, California, attracted a sizeable crowd. Meg said, “growing up in Newport, Rhode Island, famous for America’s Cup racing, I never actually got to see the trophy. So it was truly thrilling to see the great big, brilliantly shiny Cup, roped off in heavy velvet, and very heavily guarded by state of the art security forces.”

Keep checking back for updates on the latest race and regatta information. For information to date here are some useful links for Upcoming Yachting Events, Regattas and Boat Show Dates Worldwide and Regattas and Sailing Events.

To contact Meg please email: [email protected]

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72′ Custom Ketch Rigged Luxury Sailing Yacht AYACANORA: A Real Dream Yacht

AYACANORA exudes romance inside and out. Her namesake, the beautiful and willful heroine of the Charles Kingsley classic Westward Ho! perfectly captures her ambiance. This classic sailing yacht is ideal for a honeymoon or anniversary getaway or two couples that enjoy sharing a remarkable experience.

AYACANORA, a 72 foot custom ketch rigged luxury sailing yacht, originally launched at Littlehampton Sussex, England in 1981. About three years earlier, Tony Moore had started a small business in the workshop next door. He recalls “a man and an Alsation were building a boat, a big boat, he was an interesting and clever chap, and I talked to him now and then, really wondering if he would ever realize his dream.  I guess about three or four years later, the dream came true.”  Archival photos, courtesy of Tony Moore, show the builder, his companion Alsation, and a crowd of well wishers on hand for the launch. It is quite unusual that, despite changes of ownership, AYACANORA retains both her original majesty and her name.

Lovely interiors aboard AYACANORA invoke the traditional elegance of the English country cottage. The formal dining area features expansive banquette seating at the stylish, high gloss, mahogany table. Two beautifully decorated queen sized, ensuite cabins accommodate four guests. The unusually spacious master, located aft, includes a charming built in settee, as does the renovated forward cabin.

Whether guests chose to relax and laze in a hammock or opt for the thrill of ocean sports, AYACANORA offers many options. Sportfishing enthusiasts can take advantage of the Rybovich Tuna Fighting Chair and water skiers can get their adrenaline pumping when pulled by the 14 ft. AB dinghy, with 40HP motor.

AYANCORA is a available for charter clients wishing to explore the wonders of the Caribbean Virgin Islands. For additional options, please use this link to view a comprehensive list of superb Crewed Luxury Sailing Charter Yachts.

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