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 ↓

What a Difference a Stripe Makes: cost-effective changes to paint scheme. (from Guest Blogger Phil Friedman)

More often than not, a well planned and executed modification to a yacht’s paint scheme can yield aesthetic improvements way out of proportion to their cost. Consider the 90-foot Bahamas Cruiser style yacht seen above. This luxurious, spacious, and ultimately very practical charter vessel exhibits an admittedly somewhat boxy, some might say ferry-like look. However, the addition of three well-planned paint stripes transforms her into an exceedingly handsome yacht, by anyone’s standards. The broad “window” stripe brings a longitudinal unity to her overall appearance and reduces the apparent height of her superstructure. The mid-topside hull stripe gives her a longer, leaner look. And the eyebrow stripe produces a pleasingly crisp transition from house to flybridge structure. All at a cost far less than you might ever expect.

This unusual yacht, by the way, is very nearly perfect for leisurely island-hopping, what with shallow draft, waterjet drives, a full eight feet of headroom in her common areas, and a flybridge/boat deck that can carry all the water toys needed for a week or two of sun and sea diversion.

More information on paint schemes, paints, and coatings is available from:

Phil Friedman, New Build and Refit Consultant, Dwight Tracy & Friends Yacht Sales, Fort Lauderdale, FL, USA. Author of the recently published eBook “Ten Golden Rules for Successful New Build Projects,” Phil has broad experience in mega- and super-yacht construction, being a former president and CEO of world-class yacht builder Palmer Johnson Yachts. He is always ready to gam about the ins and outs of yacht building and refit.

Posted on September 25, 2012 by admin — No Comments ↓

Boatbookings.com Luxury Yacht Charter onboard REHAB, Sunseeker Predator 68

Luxury Yacht Charter VIBE, a Sunseeker Predator 68.

September is a great month in the South of France. It is much quieter than July and August, as well as offering the same great weather as the high season summer months, making it the perfect time to charter a luxury yacht. Here at Boatbloggings.com, we recently experienced our very own day charter onboard REHAB.

She is a stunning Sunseeker Predator 68 with 2 crew, Michael and Emma. This combination has proved a real success, having had 37 days of charter this summer. Michael is an experienced Irish captain, who is very professional and insightful on the local area. Emma is the chief stewardess and fantastic at her job, making guests feel comfortable onboard as well as being very attentive to the needs of the charterers.

We started the day from Port Vauban, Antibes and were greeted with a lovely selection of breakfast pastries from a local patisserie. Once everyone had embarked, Emma delivered a safety demonstration, highlighting that safety onboard is paramount. I was very impressed by the teamwork between Captain and Stewardess, shown by the implementation of a new itinerary by 9 am, due to bad weather in Saint-Tropez.

The natural beauty of the French Riviera

We departed Antibes and went for a swim between the Lerins Islands, where the water can only be comparable to that of the Caribbean. It was truly breathtaking, as there were very few yachts in the water and it felt as if we had the place to ourselves. Once everyone had been in the water, we headed towards Cannes and the view of the Croisette from the water is spectacular. Michael then turned the yacht around and we started to head towards Beaulieu sur Mer and St Jean Cap Ferrat, where we would be dining at Paloma Beach. REHAB was the perfect companion for our day charter. She was sleek, spacious, elegant and most importantly comfortable. Once we had passed the airport, the views of the Riviera were picture postcard material.

We arrived in St Jean Cap Ferrat for our lunch reservation at Paloma Beach, a restaurant specialising in local seafood and Provencal cuisine. Guests enjoyed appetisers; a Seafood Trio of prawn, crab and salmon, along with a delicious Fritto Misto. Main courses of Steak Tartare, Sole Meunière and Grilled Sea Bream were enjoyed by all, along with a very nice House Rosé. The seaside setting of Paloma Beach, with view s along the Cap and the Riviera were the secret ingredients for what was a great lunch.

We all boarded REHAB and began our return to Antibes. She, in my opinion, is the perfect day charter yacht, due to her spacious bow and aft lounging areas. There were at least 6 of us who laid comfortably on her bow, soaking up the last rays of the day. Captain Michael took us to some of the most beautiful and secluded bays of Villefranche on our return and it was his knowledge, as well as Emma’s service, which provided us with a unique experience on the water. We returned to Antibes to see the sun set over Fort Carre, which was a fitting conclusion to what only can be described as the perfect day.

If you would like additional information on how to charter this yacht or any others on our website, please do enquire via the yachts page or send us an email at [email protected]. We would be delighted to assist you with organising the experience of a lifetime.

Posted on September 24, 2012 by admin — No Comments ↓

Twins are better! The benefits of Motor Catamarans (from Guest Blogger Phil Friedman)

Twin hulls, that is. This handsome, power- and fuel-efficient raised pilothouse yacht deftly blends a highly efficient and stable catamaran hull form with exterior styling and interior design by an award-winning international yacht designer, Juan Carlos Espinosa. She is 80’ 4” LOA x 28’ 3” maximum beam, and displaces approximately 64 metric tons at half-load.

Her semi-displacement catamaran hulls run at exceedingly high speed-to-length ratios, without planing and, consequently, without requiring the large horsepower input of traditional mono-hull vessels. Her broad beam and twin-hull footprint provide a high level of stability, both at rest and underway, without the complication and added cost of active zero-speed stabilization. Construction is in state-of-the-art high strength fiberglass reinforced composite; and her outfit is specified for high value.

Inside, bright, airy common spaces on her main deck make for pleasant living and entertaining. Her raised pilothouse arrangement provides excellent separation between entertaining and navigation activities, while a main deck master suite forward provides truly sumptuous private space for her owner. Two double-berth VIP staterooms, and a twin-berth cabin on her lower deck, round out her accommodations.

On deck, her generous beam and broad bridge deck provide all manner of space for lounging and relaxing. And her aft deck incorporates a dining table and chairs for eight, and presents an exceedingly spacious and pleasant lounging area, well suited as well for luxury charters.

Because her hull form yields higher speeds per unit of power input than with conventional monohulls, this 80 footer is exceedingly flexible. With the standard power package, she can push to a genuine 35 knots, yet will run comfortably at 25 to 28 knots when asked to do so. At a passage-making speed of 12 knots, her range borders on being phenomenal. She truly approaches being a yacht for all seasons, and reasons.

The Amazonas 80 project is being developed by Phil Friedman, New Build and Refit Consultant, , Fort Lauderdale, Florida. Phil, who recently published “Ten Golden Rules for Successful New Build Projects,” has substantial experience in mega- and super-yacht construction, being a former president and CEO of megayacht builder Palmer Johnson Yachts. And he is always ready to talk about the ins and outs of catamaran motor yachts.

Posted on September 23, 2012 by admin — No Comments ↓