Americas Cup

Your majesty, there is no second.
the response given by the royal correspondence to Queen Victoria when she asked “Who came second?”

Charter a yacht to watch the 2021 Americas Cup unfold in New Zealand!

Origins

On the 20^th August 1851, sahiling history was made and The Americas Cup was born. A group of New York businessmen set sail, crossing the Atlantic Ocean to compete in the Hundred Guinea Cup on the British Isle of Wight. In an old schooner, the New York businessmen claimed victory of the Hundred Guinea Cup and subsequently renamed this as the notorious ‘Americas Cup’.

San Francisco, California, USA – August 21, 2013: 5th race between New Zealand & Luna Rossa for Louis Vuitton Cup in San Francisco Bay

When the race began, Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert were sat watching the race unfold. The emergence of an American yacht was seen as a race between the New and Old western world and attracted nationwide attraction.

America comes to England

The American schooner made its way around some of the toughest sailing conditions in the world. The Needles on the Isle of Wight is incredibly tidal and often profits from very strong winds. This race was not just a standard yacht race, it was a test which would define the beginning of the new Western age.

The Americas Cup, stayed in the hands of American sailors the following 100 years and 24 Americas Cup races before it was eventually taken in 1983 by the Australian racing team.

Naples, Campania, Italy – April 06, 2012: The Team Oracle during workouts America’s Cup World Series AC45

“Your majesty, there is no second”

When Queen Victoria asked who was in second place her royal correspondence replied ‘ Your majesty, there is no second’, defining yacht racing history and making the Americas Cup no longer just a sailing competition. This is a fierce and forceful worldwide competition that can make or break international relations. Known as a ‘perpetual challenge cup for competition between nations’ it is not a regatta to be missed out on.

Americas Cup 2021 – Save the date!

The 36^th Americas Cup event held in 2021 taking place in New Zealand. Teams are already practicing on the shores of Auckland, (New Zealand) to show their presence and determination to win the legendary trophy. The boats are sleeker, the teams are faster and the crowds will be larger than ever. The stakes are high for the 2021 world cup. The US sailing team have already confirmed their commitment to the cup, making the regatta come into play from an early stage. The 35^th Americas Cup, presented by Louis Vuitton in Bermuda saw both precision and performance however New Zealand is set to offer more than this!

Dates are from the 6^th to the 21^st March 2021 and boats are already booking up to watch the spectacle!

Charter a yacht to watch the action, follow the race and be a part of the action for the day! Get in touch with our regatta expert, Alice, for more information!

Posted on June 11, 2019 by Alice Newnham

Yacht BOOMSHAKALAKA!

Not only does BOOMSHAKALA have a wonderful chef and crew, but she is also the most eco-friendly yacht we have had the pleasure of visiting. Her solar panels can keep the generators running for 12 hours! She uses eco-friendly products where possible and there are no plastic water bottles in sight! For more information about Green Chartering please visit this page.

Gourmet Portuguese Chef Josué Eliziario joins the wonderful team on board BOOMSHAKALAKA!

BOOMSHAKALAKA meeting

Find out more information regarding yacht chartering in our
Luxury charter yacht guide

We had the pleasure of experiencing the amazing cuisine cooked by accomplished chef Josué Eliziario on board BOOMSHAKALAKA. His cuisine is full of flavour and extremely creative. Having worked in high standard kitchens with demanding teams in Michelin starred restaurants, 5* luxury catering, a private chef on yachts and in villas for high-end guests, he brings a wealth of experience to the BOOMSHAKALAKA.

BOOMSHAKALA, based in Croatia.

Canapés

Josué prepared wonderful canapés including gazpacho shot with oregano toast, Mediterranean bruschetta with kalamata olives, lemong, fleur de sel, olive oil and basil sprout, creme brûlée parmigiano, ceviche and chicken breast marinated in sesame oil wrapped in bacon.

Check out our crewed yachts in Croatia!

Starter

Followed by a starter of pea cream, pata negra toast, soft cheese, mange-tout, pea sprouts and quail egg.

Check out our 7 Day Crewed Yacht Itinerary here!

Fish Course

His fish course was poached sea bass, clam cream, cucumber and chilli with lemon verbena.

View our Yachts in Croatia!

Meat Course

Followed by grilled rib eye steak, seasonal mushrooms, tartar emulsion, leeks and potato gratin.

Information about the Adriatic Sea

Dessert

The dessert was to die for! Chocolate lovers watch out, this one is for you! Chocolate ice-cream, sorbet, gelatine, cream, crumble and cake!

Petit Fours

All complemented by a stunning 3 tiered platter of more chocolate delights! Josué is also great with vegan food and other dietary requirements.

Yacht overview

The yacht has a stunning contemporary feel and her full beach master cabin is truly impressive with his ‘N hers sinks and large walk-in shower. The saloon area is bright with lots of natural light flooding in and leads onto her exterior dining area which is complemented by sofas and sun pads!

She is booking up fast for 2019, so please enquire now to secure your dates on board!

Posted on June 10, 2019 by Alice Newnham

Top Kitesurfing spots in Greece

The Greek islands can be windy in July and August. This, however, is an advantage for our action seeking clients! Kitesurf is the new fad with an increasing number of devotees.

Kitesurfing requires a basic level of lessons from an instructor, but after some lessons, you can find yourself skimming on top of the waves –and if you are bold enough jumping above them!!! Some Greek luxury charter yachts have their own kitesurf instructors onboard, but there are several spots in the Greek islands where you can get your lessons. Here’s a selection of the best kite surfing spots in Greece:

Naxos Island is the most known kitesurfing spot in the Cyclades. When the meltemi is blowing, Mikri Vigla bay is the ideal playground for kitesurfers. A steady wind of 20-25 knots and relatively high waves combine to create the ideal conditions for spectacular jumps. When you are not wrestling with the wind and waves, take some time to explore the island of Naxos, particularly the Northern inland villages, which are unspoiled by mass tourism.

In the Ionian Islands, you can kitesurf in Lefkada island. The beach in Agios Ioannis is conveniently close to the marina and has some of the best waves in the area. In general, the Ionians boasts very calm seas on the Eastern shores (which represent the favorite yacht cruising ground in the area), but are exposed to the long stretch of open sea on their Western shores (which can be windy and abundant with waves).

Contact now our expert broker team and start planning your Greek motor yacht, sailing yacht or catamaran charter. Your captain will make sure you can go to one of many kitesurf paradises in the Greek islands and organize your adrenalin-filled lessons!

Posted on June 4, 2019 by Lambros Tsolakis

Stay in Bali before your Indonesia Yacht Charter

Chartering a luxury yacht in a destination off the beaten track does not normally offer international airports, world class facilities and cutting edge hotels. Waking up in a new time zone, even for the experienced traveller, can be tiring. The answer; stay on land to recuperate before boarding your private yacht. With new direct flights from London to Bali, or multiple connections via Singapore, your Indonesia yacht charter has never been so accessible.

Bali is famous for its rice fields, also known as paddy fields. The Four Seasons Sayan, located just an hour north of the airport, offers spectacular views from the comfort of your own suite. With world class facilities and service second to none, you will be pampered ahead of your Indonesia sailing experience. Stay at the Four Seasons Sayan and embrace a truly authentic Balinese experience this winter.

Bali is just as famous for its long sandy beaches and crystal clear waters, which are a haven for surfers. Seminyak is only 30 minutes from the airport in the Kuta district, an area renowned for surfing. The W Hotel offers a myriad of swimming pools which cascade towards the beach. Stay on shore before your Bali – Lombok 7 day luxury sailing itinerary, and enjoy a party vibe experience like no other.

Your Brokers continue to visit your charter destinations, so they can continue to provide unrivalled insights. Ben is currently spending this week discovering the wonders of LAMIMA as she cruises the Komodo National Park. Stay tuned to see photos of the magical Komodo dragons, as well as some of the most spectacular scenery in the world!

Posted on June 3, 2019 by Ben Sutton

SUP paddle boarding – HOW?!

SUP boarding, originating in Hawaii is a spin-off from surfboards. As opposed to the paddle-less sister, sup boarding offers a range of activities perfect for your summer and winter charters!

Standing Up Paddleboards have become available to the masses, with almost all bareboat yacht owners offering SUP boards as an extra to their charters why not add one onto yours? Most crewed yacht charters will now have SUP boards, along with other water toys. But did you know there are so many ways to use them?! See below!

The classic – SUP Boarding.

In the Mediterranean, you will often see people push their sups off the side of the yacht and go for a paddle – join them! Bend your knees and make sure you have the paddle the right way around! As you become an expert over the week start to use some technique and draw a ‘J’ in the water. By doing this you only need to paddle on the one side.

Yoga

Get up early, enjoy the stunning scenery of Croatia, Greece, Italy, Caribbean, wherever you are and get out on the SUP board. Go through some simple yoga exercises to get you ready for the day. Early morning around 6 am is the most special time on the water – so get out and enjoy it.

Balancing

Back in my Flotilla days in Greece, SUP boards were used for almost everything. Something which was seriously good fun, with not only the kids but also the adults was ‘The Balance’. Very simple – how many people can you get standing. Not as easy as it sounds!

Sun Bathing

Sup boards come with a wrist strap, to save you floating away to one of the other islands attach it to your bathing ladders or your anchor chain. It’s super relaxing – until someone thinks its a great idea to jump off the yacht and splash you! Yes – even the adults sometimes cannot resist making someone scream out of shock!

Darling, lets go to the races!

In your stunning anchorage, be it Greece or the Caribbean some people on the yacht might need to expel some extra energy! Or to get the whole group up with a little bit of competitive sport! This is a great way to have some quality time together and make memories. Try racing around the yacht and timing each other – or attach a fender to a kedge anchor and use it as a racing buoy! Make sure you use the correct knot to attach the kedge!

Wobble wars

It is what it says on the tin! Get two people to stand up on the board and wobble the yacht until someone falls off! A simple and effective game that brings hours of fun on the water. Very popular with kids, but it has been known for some 68-year-olds to get involved.. perhaps the G ‘n’ T had something to do with it!

If you would like to know more about adding sups to your charters, or interesting in chartering with us this coming summer or winter do email here!

Posted on May 27, 2019 by Alice Newnham