Brand New Super Yachts: VENTURA by Heesen

Heesen has just announced the launch of the 50m super yacht VENTURA, which will be the third in the all aluminium range.
She is the sister ship to Satori and YN 15850, featuring exterior lines by Frank Laupman from Omega Architects. The layout on board VENTURA is completely different to her sister yachts, with the owners opting for two suites. The master suite is extremely romantic with panoramic 280 degree views on the bridge deck aft, with the second suite facing forward on the main deck.

She has a custom-made dark metallic grey hull and a light metallic grey superstructure. The bespoke colour scheme is designed to give VENTURA an elegant and distinctive look compared to her rivals. She will have accommodation for up to 12 guests in 6 cabins, comprising the two master suites, a full-beam VIP cabin, one twin and two double cabins. Interior designer Francesco Paszkowski, who created her minimalistic interior décor, commented: “I’m extremely proud to work with such an important and efficient shipyard, which I have had the honour of working with a longtime ago.” Paszkowski, whose first project for Heesen was in 1996, compared working on VENTURA as a dream becoming reality. “I’m also very happy to hand over the Italian design and the experience of our team abroad, for the excellent relationship established with the shipyard and the ideas we could share,” he said. Interior features include a patterned, polished, ebony parquet floor, which contrasts with whitened oak paneling to create a lavish and chic environment. She also has controlled ambient lighting, with every area of the yacht adapted to suit the mood and atmosphere required. Throughout the yacht the designer has created focal points and niches for the owner’s artworks and sculptures.

“I’m also very happy to hand over the Italian design and the experience of our team abroad, for the excellent relationship established with the shipyard and the ideas we could share,” he said. Interior features include a patterned, polished, ebony parquet floor, which contrasts with whitened oak paneling to create a lavish and chic environment. She also has controlled ambient lighting, with every area of the yacht adapted to suit the mood and atmosphere required. Throughout the yacht the designer has created focal points and niches for the owner’s artworks and sculptures.

Her 70 square metre sundeck is another one of her striking features. It was designed as a massive open-plan space where furniture can be removed, so that luxurious events and soirees can be held. VENTURA has three further outdoor areas, including al fresco dining options on the main deck and bridge deck aft. She will be delivered to her owners after intensive sea trials in the North Sea.

Fancy chartering a super yacht? At www.boatbookings.com, we are here to help you plan your perfect luxury yachting holiday. We have a team of highly skilled professionals who are extremely knowledgeable in their destinations and will be able to help you bring together the yacht, the crew and all the other aspects that make your charter special. At Boatbloggings we will keep you updated on the latest industry show releases, news and gossip in the yachting world.

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Posted on April 12, 2013 by admin — No Comments ↓

Sipadan Island; a Snorkeler's Paradise and a Perfect Yacht Chartering Destination

Snorkeling is one of the most exhilarating ways to explore a tropical destination. Swirling schools of fish, sprawling coral reefs and magnificent turtles can be seen gliding majestically across the ocean bed. In this 3-part blog, I will guide you through this vibrant underwater world. Charter a luxury yacht to one of these snorkeling hotspots and marvel at the beauty of nature.

Snorkeling is highly therapeutic, a great way to unwind and lose yourself in the crystal blue waters. Snorkeling requires very little training or equipment and what’s more it’s inexpensive! Pick up your snorkelling mask and fins, find a stretch of deserted coastline and be at one with nature.

The stunning biodiversity and crystal clear waters of Sipadan island, make it one of the world’s top snorkeling destinations. Nestled at the heart of the Indo-Pacific basin, Sipadan Island in Malaysia, boasts a plethora of marine life. Schools of green and hawksbill turtles nesting on the golden shores, schools of barracuda and grouper darting across the sea bed, hammerhead and whale sharks lurking in the depths. Sipadan Island is located in the Celebes Sea, off the coast of Sabah. This breathtaking island, originally formed by living coral amassing on top of a volcanic crater, is a snorkeler’s paradise. Charter a luxury yacht of your choice to this glorious and tropical destination.

Lagoon 500, is a beautifully constructed crewed catamaran based in Langkawi, the heart of Malaysia. She has 4 extravagant cabins that accommodate up to 8 guests. She is extremely reliable, innovate and easy to handle.

Each individual cabin is excellently furnished, containing a lavish queen size bed, air conditioning controls and en suite walk-in showers. The well-designed cockpit contains a grand dining table, perfect for hosting and entertaining up to 8 guests for a 5 course evening meal. Enjoy the luxuries of Lagoon 500 and cruise around the Celebes Sea in style.

At www.boatbookings.com, we are here to help you plan your perfect luxury yachting holiday. We have a team of highly skilled professionals who are extremely knowledgeable in their destinations and will be able to help you bring together the yacht, the crew and all the other aspects that make your charter special. At Boatbloggings we will keep you updated on the latest industry show releases, news and gossip in the yachting world.

Posted on April 12, 2013 by admin — No Comments ↓

The New Canados 120 Ready To Launch in Summer 2013

After the launch of FAR AWAY last year, Canados yachts are ready to launch and deliver her sister ship, the second build in the line of Canados 120s. The new design exterior and naval architecture has been planned and designed by Canados, with interior design by the Cristiano Gatto Design Team. This new construction has many of the same features which flew the first Canados 120 in to the spotlight, including the 4 retractable balconies, where you will truly appreciate the thrill of riding over the waves with the wind in your hair and feel the connection with the ocean.

Canados 120 Stateroom

If you head to the stern, there is a full teak beach club, with a large swim platform and deck shower, with the main exterior living area forward, with a spacious sunbathing area and sofas. This has been designed specifically to provide a more spacious area, and also increase the privacy for guests on board. The master cabin offers a 360 degree view, along with two of the retractable balconies, and the 2 large VIP cabins and convertible twin cabin offer accommodation for 6.

Organise your own luxury yacht charter today. At Boatbookings, 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 there to pull together all the subtle aspects of your holiday that make your charter so good.

Watch this space for the latest industry show releases, news and gossip in the yachting world. If you liked the content on this page and our previous posts, please become a fan and like our Facebook page to receive up to date information on our publications. Follow us on Twitter and Google Plus too.

Posted on April 12, 2013 by admin — No Comments ↓

2013 Monte Carlo Masters and Monaco Grand Prix on a Luxury Yacht Charter

The weather is getting warmer, the days are becoming longer and the French Riviera is preparing itself for what is bound to be another cracking summer! April sees the 2013 Antibes Yacht Show and the Monte Carlo Masters tennis tournament come to town, creating a buzz on the luxurious Côte d’Azur, where everyone starts to get excited about the upcoming summer season. The Antibes Yacht Show is one of the largest boat shows in the world and provides brokers the perfect opportunity to review yachts for this summer’s season in the West Mediterranean.

The Monte Carlo Masters is an annual tennis tournament, which features the highest ranked players on the ATP Tour. Although it appears that Novak Djokovic may have to pull out due to injury, Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal will be at the tournament searching for form ahead of the extremely prestigious French Open Grand Slam at Roland Garros. May sees the world famous Cannes Film Festival and Monaco Grand Prix come to the French Riviera, two of the worlds most famous events. Spot the stars of the movie world as they walk down the famous red carpet at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes. The Monaco Grand Prix is one of the most competitive and unpredictable Formula One motor races in the world. There is nothing to rival the atmosphere of these two events and you should definitely check them out while you’re in town.

While all these prestigious and luxurious events are in town, there is no better time or place to charter a luxury yacht. Whether it is for corporate or personal entertaining, chartering a luxury yacht provides unforgettable memories for everyone involved. Charter a stunning Mangusta like BEAR MARKET and head towards Monaco to celebrate these events. She accommodates up to 8 guests in 4 cabins, as well as 12 passengers for day charters and 20 for corporate events at dock. She is one of the sleekest, fastest and most sought after Mangusta motor yachts on the French Riviera. Enquire today before it is too late!

Posted on April 11, 2013 by admin — No Comments ↓

Top Six Best Sailing Apps – Part 1

Now in this day and age it seems apps are playing a more and more essential role in our daily lives. Indeed, we seem to use apps for almost everything; be it finding a parking space or the nearest gourmet restaurant, keeping track of flights or even an app to help you rebuild your kitchen! The possibilities are endless and have become so popular because of the ease at which you can access and scroll through apps on your iPad, iPhone or Android device. Naturally the subject of these apps also extend to the yachting industry that we all know and love. There are sailing apps for everyone whether you are the inexperienced amateur who is sailing with a skipper and wants to learn how to tie a few of those pesky knots, or the veteran adventurer who is looking for up to date info on the latest weather patterns and tide movements. Yet with such range and quantity of apps, the quality does not, I’m sad to say, remain of the highest standard and in this three part series I will attempt to separate the wheat from the chaff and provide you with a list of 6 of the best apps to try. In each of the first two parts of this series I will review 10 apps before selecting my top 6 in the third and final installment.

Now when it comes to knots – something that is essential for every sailor to know – it is very easy to feel as lost as Alice did in Wonderland. Especially when your Skipper screams at you to quickly tie an Alpine Butterfly on a Bight, Ashley’s Stopper or Palomar Knot to name just a few. With an app you can leave the heavy books at home and simply use your phone for a quality tutorial on how best to tie these pesky knots! The first app I have chosen to look at more closely is ‘Knot Time’. This app includes six different categories of knots: general, boating, mountaineering, fishing, lashings and scouting and each knot provides a brief description and most importantly an instructional video that walks you through exactly how to tie the knot. Although it only has 33 knots and costs £2.49 the video feature is invaluable and would be a great app for those that are serious and going to try and learn the basics well.

The next contender for the best knot app is ‘Animated Knot’ – named the best knot-tying app by Outside Magazine it boasts over 200 knots with the boating section containing 28 fully animated knots. The layout is fantastic and is very easy to use, offering step-by-step slide shows and an alphabetic list with a search function. It costs £2.99 but more than lives up to its reviews! The last of the knot apps is called ‘What knot to do’. This app has descriptions of 70 different knots with similar features to the previous two apps but crucially this time this app is free! If you are interested in being able to tie knots, this app is a must download – it will give you a taster of what you will be getting with the other apps but at no cost to yourself!

Now as every sailor will know after a satisfying days sailing, the only thing that could really top it off is a meal in a nice restaurant. Urban Spoon is not an app that many would think to use on a sailing holiday but if you are chartering a yacht around the United States Canada Australia or the UK it could be just the thing to find the food you are hankering after!

The next app I have selected as a possibility for my top 6 best sailing apps is the ‘Sailing and Boating Community App’. At the time of writing, this has over 90,000 members and provides a platform for the sailing community to share useful information through forums and threads. You can stay on top of currently available boats or crew positions, get the latest information on navigation and the coolest new innovations from boat builders. Oh, and did I mention it was free?

Now comes at first glance a seemingly boring app but in fact is potentially one of the most useful. You never know when you will need to know what a particular flag means and in some circumstances it might mean the difference between life and death. This app is called ‘Signal Flags Info’ and contains pictures of all 40 of the international code flags. It is free and will take up no space at all on your iPad or IPhone – better safe than sorry!

For those amongst us who constantly strive for perfection when trimming the sails – desperate to eek out that last bit of speed, Sailsim is a fun and useful app to work out how best to do this. Costing just £0.69 you can adjust the wind angle and see the sails on a typical mono hull shift to their optimum position. It is brilliantly simple and well worth the money!

Now this app is for the racing enthusiasts amongst you. It a simple but useful app costing £3.99 that provides a number of useful features to make your hectic race that much easier. Firstly it tells you how much time it will take you to reach a certain point based on your current speed and secondly it provides a countdown able to sync with the race committee officials coming with audio and vibration alerts. To compliment this app you could download You Tack Pro – a concise but very detailed app showing you all the latest sailing rules from right-of-way, room, penalties, signals and protest procedures based on the International Sailing Federation Racing Rules of Sailing. It comes as a lite or pro version so you can get a taster for the app before spending a considerable £13.99. It is a great app for the keen racer that wants to have the rules on hand!

And finally the last app that I will look at is Navionics. This well known app is a complete chart plotting system, you can mark wave points, obstructions and search marinas. Importantly you can download the maps on your hard drive meaning you can venture outside of your service area and still have access to a chart plotting system. You can also share maps and information over email and social media. As a recipient of many awards and labelled ‘incredible’ by Sailing World this app comes highly recommended and would be a valued companion to every sailor.

If you liked this blog watch this space for Part 2 & 3! Which ones will make it into the top 6? If you liked the content on this page and our previous posts, please become a fan and like our Facebook page to receive up to date information on our publications. Follow us on Twitter and Google Plus too.

Posted on April 11, 2013 by admin — No Comments ↓