Highlights of the Monaco Yacht Show 2012

The Monaco Yacht Show 2012 showcased 100 of the world’s finest super and mega yachts. The show hosted the glitterati of the yachting world, as well as over 28,000 visitors, who enjoyed some magnificent offerings from San Lorenzo, Benetti and Couach, ranging from 25 to 100m in length. This year, the show definitely did not disappoint with some incredible yachts on show, such as Vladamir Putin’s NIRVANA. This 88.5m Oceanco luxury mega yacht features six decks, swimming pool, helipad, accommodating up to 12 guests in 6 staterooms. What we noticed was a key trend at this years show was the inclusion of the balcony on the newest super yachts. This feature, whether it was off a living area or stateroom, created a great open-plan layout, maximising space and light.

A major trend that was present yet again this year was the emphasis on wellness, with the addition of spas, saunas and workout areas. Luxury yachts are increasingly focused on the needs of their charterers, not solely by pampering but by also offering a holistic approach to the client’s health and relaxation. There is no better place to enjoy a fantastic massage than on the top deck of a super yacht on a luxury charter around the BVI or French Riviera.

Revolver 42 and Boatbookings.com broker Mimi Andain with Andrea.

One of our favourite luxury charter yachts on show was ILLUSION, a beautiful 46m Benetti super yacht. She has 5 beautiful staterooms, accommodating up to 10 guests, making her a great choice for friends and family. One particular feature that we particularly liked was her attention to detail, with regards to her interior design and furnishings. She was immaculate, with the finest touches throughout. After we had taken a tour inside, we were amazed by her beautiful decks, which incorporated a plunge pool with the most amazing mosaic work. We would highly recommend a weekly crewed yacht charter onboard ILLUSION during the summer months along the French and Italian Riviera or over Christmas in the Caribbean.

As well as showcasing the world’s most luxurious super yachts, the Monaco Yacht Show 2012 presented some of the most modern and revolutionary boats that are available. We really liked the REVOLVER 42, a 42 ft Italian designed day charter yacht. She epitomizes speed, power and aero-dynamics. Yet, she possesses all the comforts to enjoy a leisurely day charter in Sardinia. She has a great sunbathing area to the rear and has a panoramic sunroof, optimizing light and space. She is definitely one to watch, boasting speeds of up to 70 knots, producing 1300H horsepower!

Having seen some SeaBobs on show at the Monaco Yacht Show 2012, it’s obvious that these fantastic water toys will continue to be popular for the foreseeable future. This is mostly down to the fact that they’re so safe and people of all ages, even young kids, are able to use them. SeaBobs can only be described as a hybrid of a body board, and a jet ski. The only difference being on SeaBobs you can travel underwater, and at quite some speed, some travelling up to 20km/h. Lots of people find them exciting, as it’s a new and innovative way to see sea life, weaving in and out of corals on the sea bed. With a battery life of up to an hour on some models, these water toys make for a great adventurous part of your charter. If you’re interested in chartering a luxury yacht that has these fantastic toys and much more, look no further than ILLUSION.

Watch this space for more industry show reviews and insight into new press releases and futuristic designs. If you would like any more information about any of the yachts included, please do enquire via our website or send an email of enquiry to [email protected]. We would be delighted to assist you with booking the experience of a lifetime on one of our luxury yachts!

Posted on October 1, 2012 by admin — No Comments ↓

E-MAX Ultra – The environmentaly friendly cargo carrier of the Future!

The E-MAX Ultra Green Pure Care Carrier by Sauter Carbon Offsets Design highlights the fact that technology can reduce fuel consumption and GHG emissions by a minimum of 50 % in cargo vessels. In the long term, a 50% savings in the cost of fuel will more than pay for the construction of the E-MAX vessel over its 20-year service life, making her a very viable and exciting option.

The term Economies of Scale refers to the fact that the larger the vessel, the more economical it is to ship cargo. In 2014 the width of the Panama Canal will go from 32 to 54 meters, which means that W&W can build up to a 50% larger vessel that through Economy of Scale can easily save 15% on fuel. According to Wartsila, for every 10% increase in the size of a vessel, a 4 to 5% reduction in fuel consumption is achieved.

We can maximize Hydrodynamic Efficiency with Mitsubishi’s Air Lubricating system (MALS), which introduces air bubbles under the hull to reduce Drag. The less drag that there is, the less resistance the boat will face, consequently increasing fuel efficiency and reducing costs. This system together with state of the art Counter Rotating Propeller pods reduces Fuel consumption by up to 15 %.

The third step takes advantage of the light-magnifying ocean environment to harness solar energy from solar cells that due to the highly reflective surface of the water, cover the sides as well as the top of the vessel. Recent studies have shown that solar cells are 40% more efficient at sea than on land. The Solbian Solar Panels that cover the E-Max vessel are the most efficient on the market. They are designed specifically for marine use and come with a 25-year warranty. What is remarkable about this Solar Energy system is that it is capable of reducing fuel consumption by up to 10% without any moving parts and no maintenance.

The fourth stage utilizes fully automated, fully rotational, and fully retractable Mainsails to harness the wind and reduce fuel consumption by 15%. These Dynawing sails are highly efficient in whatever direction the apparent wind is coming from. They are basically transparent, incorporating a light magnifying film that magnifies the light that passes through them to the solar cells on deck.

The final stage takes the well-known benefits of Hybrid propulsion to new heights with Wartsila’s Dual Fuel low-loss Hybrid Power which reduces fuel consumption by 20% and GHG emissions by a greater amount. This system runs on either diesel or LNG which is much cleaner.

Watch this space for the latest Industry releases and updates on future concepts and designs.

Posted on September 27, 2012 by admin — No Comments ↓

51st Barcelona International Boat Show underway

Over the last few years the Barcelona International Boat Show has been increasingly seen as one of the Europe’s most popular and influential nautical sport events, with extensive coverage in the specialised press. The show now represents one of the largest display of yachts, boats and accessories for sailing, fishing, surfing and scuba diving in the world.

This year the dates of the show have changed. Instead of the usual dates in November, organisers have chosen to stage the event at the end of September in order to take full advantage of the daylight hours. Around 175,000 visitors are expected to visit the Gran Via Exhibition Centre and the 200 boats that will be mored at Port Vell over the next four days (September 26th-30th).

Azimut 55S and Atlantis 34 (of the Azimut Benetti Group) will make their very first début in the spanish market at the Barcelona Boat Show and are expected to be hot properties at the exhibition.

We will of course be at the Barcelona Boat Show show looking at all the new yachts for charter in Barcelona!

Posted on September 26, 2012 by admin — No Comments ↓

The 2012 Antigua Charter Yacht Show

With many of the world’s biggest and most luxurious chartered yachts heading over to the Caribbean for the winter season, now seems like the appropriate time to write about chartering a yacht from the beautiful island of Antigua. Antigua is one of the most beautiful island getaways in the Caribbean, and a favorite sailing charter destination. It is particularly popular with those who wish to go snorkeling and scuba diving on the coral reefs.

The main Caribbean charter season runs from early November through to June/July, with the high season from around mid-December to March. This is the period in which those wishing to escape the cold temperatures of North America and Europe arrive in huge numbers. A large proportion of the islands revenue is made during this time through tourism.

English Harbour (and the neighbouring port of Falmouth) has gained international recognition as one of the best yachting and sailing destinations in the Caribbean. Situated on the southern coast of the island, these ports are mostly sheltered from the violent storms and hurricanes which can hit the island between July and late October. The area gets its name from the harbour in which the Royal Navy established its base of operations during the eighteenth century. It is also home to the Nelson’s Dockyard cultural heritage site, named after Admiral Nelson (who lived in the Dockyard from 1784 to 1787).

One of the most important upcoming events is the 51st Antigua Charter Yacht Show, which will take place in the first week of December. The yachts on show at this event range in length from 46 feet to 245 feet and are berthed in the three marinas mentioned above. The basic premise of the show is to gather Yachts that have come to the Caribbean for the winter yachting season in order to allow charter agents to view exactly what is on offer. This includes meeting with captains and crews and sampling the delicacies provided by the many talented chefs. Many of the chefs will have the opportunity to participate in the 13th anual “Concours de Chef”. The theme for this years competition is the Healthy Dinner Challenge. Chefs must create a 3-course menu which promotes healthy eating with “great tasting local Caribbean cuisine and simplicity in preparation.”

The success of the island as a charter destination is hardly a surprise. The local yacht workers are known for being extremely and helpful, while there are many small businesses which cater to all yachting requirements. The historical ambiance of the Dockyard and the friendly locals are also crucial factors.

Among the boats on show is the luxury crewed sailing catamaran CROCODILE DADDY, which is designed for long distance cruising with luxury, comfort and speed.

This Lagoon 620 has large windows which allow for an extremely light and spacious modern interior with wenge woodwork and white leather sofas.

CROCODILE DADDY also has a large deck area, which is the perfect place to enjoy fine alfresco dining.

Another boat that will be on show is the Swan 80 SELENE – a world class sailing yacht built by Nautor’s Swan and designed for comfort and performance.

Selene has both won and placed well in regattas around the world. With an open deck layout, top rate galley and luxurious interior, this sailing boat provides the ideal setting for a sunset dinner with an exotic backdrop.

If you would like any additional information on organizing a luxury yacht charter in the Caribbean, please have a look at the link provided or send an email to [email protected]. We would be delighted to assist you in any way possible with your charter search.

Posted on September 26, 2012 by admin — No Comments ↓

Luxury Sailboat and Catamaran Charter in the stunning Seychelles!

The Perfect Romantic Honeymoon destination.

The Seychelles are an archipelago nation, consisting of 155 islands (115 Islands and 40 Islets) located 1500km off Africa in the Indian Ocean. The Seychelles are a yachting paradise, with guaranteed weather, some of the worlds finest coral reefs and deserted beaches. Whether you would like to charter a luxury monohull or catamaran, sailing is definitely the way to fully appreciate the natural beauty of the archipelago.

We would recommend starting your charter from Mahé, the largest island and home to Victoria, the main port and capital. Mahé has a 44 mile scenic coastline, which includes many secluded spots, which are perfect for anchoring, as well as over 65 white sandy beaches and coves. It is a beautiful island to discover and will leave charterers feeling lost for words. We would highly recommend a luxury honeymoon charter, due to the pure romance that the Seychelles has to offer. One of our favourite Seychelles monohulls is DEMOISELLES, a CIM 88 Crewed Sailing Yachts. She is a great choice for sailing the Seychelles, with 4 cabins, making her perfect for family charters or entertaining friends, especially with her spacious deck.

If you are looking for a destination with the X Factor, Praslin may be the island for you. Charterers will find stylish boutique hotels, the finest restaurants offering the freshest fish, mountain peeks and crystal clear waters. Therefore, Praslin has something to offer for everyone, especially as it is the halfway house between the hustle and bustle of Mahé and the tranquility and sleepiness of La Digue. I would strongly recommend Praslin as a family and child friendly destination, as the opportunities to spend time in the water are endless. The snorkeling and scuba diving is second to none, as well as offering great bird and wildlife.

We would recommend a Luxury Catamaran Charter onboard a Lagoon 450, with great accommodation for up to 10 guests. She is a bareboat charter yacht, allowing the experienced sailor endless opportunities to explore the Seychelles.

The Perfect way to sail around the Seychelles on a Lagoon 450!

If you are looking for that picture postcard destination of pure white sandy beaches, mountainous backdrops and jade green waters, La Digue is the destination for you. Despite its beauty, it has surprisingly remained undeveloped and has remained humble to its heritage, despite the recent construction of a Casino. La Digue has a very laidback vibe to it, making her a great choice for a stopover on your yacht charter from Praslin and/or Mahé.

If you would like any additional information on organizing a luxury yacht charter in the Seychelles, please do contact us via the yachts included or send an email to [email protected]. We would be delighted to assist you with your charter search.

Posted on September 26, 2012 by admin — No Comments ↓