A Fusion of Fine Art and World Class Yachting On The River Thames

Part of the 2013 London Boat Show included the UK Star Championships; a race for Olympic class Star keelboats. These sailboats were recently seen at the 2012 London Olympic Games, and were on the waters of the Royal Victoria Docks on the 18^th January, ready to race with a difference. The recent arrival of snow in London meant that they were off to a chilly start, and the Olympians and World Champion sailors set out to brave the cold weather. These famous sailors included the likes of Iain Percy, Andrew Simpson and Michael McIntyre.

The difference with these Star boats was their appearance.
This was a Fine Art Sails regatta, a new means to showcase art. The main sail

of each boat was a canvas for some of the best international modern artists, including EINE (a favourite of Samantha Cameron, Prime Minister David Cameron’s wife), Jaime Gili and INSA. With sails catching in the winds, the artwork constantly moves and changes appearance throughout the race. The regatta was won by French sailor Xavier Rohart and Serge Pulfer of Switzerland, the only non-British pair in the race. Not all the art was on the water though; Ben Ainslie also donated his Finn class sail to Fine Art Sails, to be displayed in the main exhibition hall.

Are you interested in chartering a luxury yacht for yourself? At www.boatbookings.com, we welcome everyone from sailing professionals to complete novices and will help you at every step of the way to make your dreams a reality. We have a team of highly skilled professionals who are extremely knowledgeable in their destinations and will be able to help you with any questions you may have.

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Posted on January 23, 2013 by admin

Iconic Cruise Ship QE2 To Become A Luxury Floating Hotel!

The MS Queen Elizabeth 2, a luxury British cruise liner launched by the Queen in 1967 and more commonly known as the QE2, will be a cruise ship no more. The QE2's owner has now outlined plans for cruise ship's conversion to a five-star hotel. Once upon a time, QE2 had 5 restaurants, 4 swimming pools , a casino and its own branch of luxury department store Harrods. The vessel was bought in 2007 for around £50 million, and tickets for her final voyage were snapped up, with some berths selling for more than £28,000.

Should the QE2 pass checks for its viability ahead of this planned renovation, it shall become a five-star hotel with 500 rooms. Plans for the iconic liner include multiple Michelin-starred restaurants, a ballroom and luxury shopping mall. There will also be an on board museum, dedicated not only to the ship's rich history, but to a
collection of Dubai's treasures as well. The final destination of QE2 as a floating hotel is a closely kept secret, but apparently a number of Asian cities have expressed their interest. Some may have been upset that the bid to return MS Queen Elizabeth 2 to the UK was rejected, yet the conversion to a hotel is by far better than the rumours of her being sold for scrapping in China.

The awe-inspiring ship will be returned to her grand old days as a hotel, and these plans will put an end to the speculation of what was to become of QE2 after her retirement. Having carried 2.5 million passengers between Southampton and New York, QE2 has sailed nearly six million miles and completed 806 trans-Atlantic crossings. Hopefully, the conversion to a hotel will be just as successful as the QE2 was in her heyday.

Posted on January 21, 2013 by admin

Jongert Yachts Attending Dusseldorf Boat Show

Following on from our Information on the 44th Annual Dusseldorf Boat Show blog, we bring you up to date news that Jongert Yachts will feature at the show. The Dutch manufacturer is presenting it’s new model 3200P, a sloop designed for performance, which will go into production in the coming weeks.

Also on display at the 44th Annual Dusseldorf “BOOT” Boat Show, is the truly stunning Jongert 4000, shown below. She joins the several yachts available for visitors to see.

On top of what’s on offer at the Boat Show, Jongert Yachts are known for their superb quality of yacht. Why not consider one of their yachts for charter? We recommend the fantastic ICARUS, a 27m luxury crewed sailing yacht.

She has 3 stunning cabins, and with a sleek and elegant exterior that we’ve learnt to expect from Jongert, we know you won’t be disappointed!

Interested in chartering a Jongert or another yacht? At www.boatbookings.com, we welcome everyone from sailing professionals to complete novices and will help you at every step of the way to make your dreams a reality. We have a team of highly skilled professionals who are extremely knowledgeable in their destinations and will be able to help you with any questions you may have.

Posted on January 21, 2013 by admin — No Comments ↓

A Luxury Day Charter Yacht: Miami

After our recent publication on this years annual Miami International Boat Show, the thought of chartering around Florida and exploring the Keys got us really excited. If you have never been to the sunshine state, there is much more to it than all-you-can-eat buffet restaurants and theme parks. Florida is home to the wonderful Florida Keys, Everglades National Park as well as some of the finest beaches, so there is something for everyone. When it comes to chartering a yacht in Florida, you have two great choices. You can choose between a relaxing day out with your family or a sport fishing trip and chance your arm at catching a huge Marlin!

Have you never chartered before? At www.boatbookings.com, we welcome everyone from sailing professionals to complete novices and will help you at every step of the way to make your dreams a reality. We have a team of highly skilled professionals who are extremely knowledgeable in their destinations and will be able to help you with any questions you may have.

Posted on January 19, 2013 by admin

London Boat Show 2013 Review, Part II

Following on from our first report from this years London Boat Show, Part II aims to round up the rest of the exhibition in terms of exciting new releases and charter destinations. We have already spoken very highly of the Predator 68 and San Remo Sunseeker models, but it would be incorrect to say that these were the only two yachts worth seeing.

There is always a lot of hype around the release of a luxury Italian product, in particular when it is from the exclusive Ferretti Group and Riva. The Iseo is designed as a ‘runabout’ and is the perfect vessel for those who love to cruise on lakes in style. Norberto Ferretti, chairman of the group states, “After the wooden classics like the Ariston and the Florida, which made the history of our shipyard in the smaller yacht range, Riva today has introduced another small yacht that encompasses the values that have made Riva the legend it is today: meticulous craftsmanship, uniqueness, elegance and painstaking attention to detail.” Are you looking to charter a classic Riva? Look no further than the beautiful Aquarama on Lake Garda, accommodating up to 7 guests for a luxury cruise. She has a great captain, who is very insightful, professional and hospitable, ensuring you have the very best day out possible.

We met up with one of our closest suppliers at the show, who are based around Bodrum and specialise in bareboat and skippered monohull and catamaran charters. Have you never been to this region before? Please see the following link to our sample 7 day itinerary for inspiration on your holiday. If you are looking for a relaxing holiday, where you can explore the natural wonders of the Turkish coastline, including secluded bays and anchorages, then look no further than Turkey.

Posted on January 17, 2013 by admin