Expert Tips for Booking the Perfect Yacht Charter – Communicate Your Needs and Fill in Your Preference Sheets!

Screen shot SharonSharon Bahmer, Boatbookings Charter Director for the Caribbean and USA, outlines some important tips for creating the ultimate charter experience. Here are her thoughts about communicating your specific needs:

Brokers are available to assist and educate you in all aspects of a charter – destinations, crews, yacht options, etc. They are equipped with the most up-to-date information regarding availability, specials, and other information that can find you the perfect yacht. She recommends that you build a genuine relationship with the broker. Get to know them and share as much as possible what your desires and expectations are.

One of the biggest factors in a successful charter is effectively communicating your needs and goals. People are often busy and so they ask their personal assistant to make the call. The broker can offer a selection of five or six boats but in order to narrow it down properly, the client`s personal input is critical. The biggest mistake prospective clients make is not taking the time to give complete information on what they want from their charter.  Although most clients are very busy, they need to realize that the broker needs firsthand information to get started efficiently in response to their specific needs.

After you`ve booked your charter and received the preference sheet for food, wine, and activities, it is unwise to have your PA input the information. An employee is unlikely to be intimately familiar with the daily routine and personal preferences of your family, which is very important to the broker and crew in creating the best charter experience possible.

At a recent visit to charter motor yacht AT LAST, Jo, the chief stewardess, discussed how she talks directly to the client about what they are accustomed to on a daily basis and what they would want on the yacht to make them feel at home. Captain Herb gave the example of the crew member assigned to buy magazines for the yacht. To do this properly, they ask clients to tell them what they like to read with their morning coffee. It`s small touches like this that make the experience special.

Although some questions may not be on the preference sheet, the broker, the stewardess and the rest of the crew aim to fine-tune those preferences to suit each individual charter. They work hard to make you feel like you`ve stepped into a place created just for you where you can put your feet up and have a truly relaxing vacation.

Make it clear what your wishes are because the perfect charter boat is somewhere out there! With the proper information the broker can put you on the ideal boat for you, the crew can cater to your specific needs, and your charter will be `superlative`!

For additional  insights on the perfect yacht charter vacation please see:

Frequently Asked Charter Questions | The advantages of using a Yacht Charter Broker | Tips to get the most from Your Crewed Charter

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Free Berths at Karpaz Gate Marine: Gateway to Cypriot Yachting Adventure

Karpaz Gate Marina promises to offer an exciting new Mediterranean destination on the northeastern part of the island of Cypress. Karpaz Gate Marina will be the first luxury yacht marina in the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, adding a new dimension of history, culture and adventure to a Greek Isles yacht charter itinerary.

Karpaz Gate Marina is scheduled for completion in May 2011 and will offer berths for 300 yachts, including 16 for superyachts up to 215 ft. Construction has already been completed on double breakwaters that provide a sheltered harbor that is easy to navigate and facilitates mooring. In addition, a drydock facility sprawling over 200,000 square feet and various marina buildings are under construction.

Karpaz Gate Marina plans to be more than a safe and service haven for yachts. The development plans include two world-class resorts with gourmet dining, full service spas, concierge services, a commercial promenade and a casino. As an incentive to yachtsmen, and to celebrate construction progress, the owners of the marina are offering a limited number of trial berths, free of charge, for periods of up to one year.

Northern Cypress is a picturesque island of rugged slopes descending to clear blue Mediterranean waters. Historical tensions between Greek and Turkish populations, which resulted in the partitioning of the island, have also resulted in a fierce dedication to tradition.Tourism is an important source of revenue and the preservation of historical sites, costumes, cuisine and handicrafts make Northern Cypress a unique yachting destination.

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SY PROJECT YANKEE J-H3: New Build Racing Yacht for Charter

According to feedback from many of the shipbuilders that attended the Monaco Yacht Show the industry is definitely showing signs of recovery. For the most part sales figures showed increases of as much as 18%, indicating that people believe now is an excellent time to invest in the future.

As an exciting example, last week at the show a contract was signed between Amsterdam syndicate leader Simon Dierdorp and Dutch superyacht builder Holland Jachtbouw (HJB) to build a replica of the 1930 US-built J-Class racing yacht YANKEE.

The original 122’ YANKEE was designed by Frank C. Payne and launched in 1930 to defend the America’s Cup in 1930, 1934 and 1937. The modern 128’ version, YANKEE J-H3, has a goal to star as both a winning racer and an elegant charter yacht. Scheduled for launch in early 2012, YANKEE J-H3 is intended to participate during the UK 2012 Olympics at the J-Class regatta events in June and July of that summer, after which she will be available for charter.

YANKEE J-H3 features all-aluminum design by Dykstra & Partners Naval Architects, with aluminum and teak deck, 170-foot carbon mast, rigging and 3-DL sails with a 10.005 square-foot area. Interiors feature accommodations for a crew of seven with pipe cots for an additional 21 racing crew. For charter purposes, YANKEE J-H3 is being constructed in accordance with Lloyd’s A1 and MCA standards.

Keep checking boatbloggings.com for progress updates on YANKEE J-H3. For current sailing charter availability visit Sailing Vacation Destinations | Sailing Events and Regattas | Our Charter Sailboats and Sailing Yachts at Boatbookings.com

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Heesen Yachts 213’ All-Aluminum Concept Megayacht

Heesen Yachts newest concept definitely exudes the wow factor. Heesen has released exciting details of their newest yacht following positive results from recent tank tests. This 213’ megayacht has a lightweight all-aluminum hull and superstructure with “Fast Displacement Hull Form”, that allows her to attain a maximum speed of 27 knots, an astonishing speed for a yacht of this size. But then, this yacht is remarkable in many ways.

The hull form is the result of studies and tank tests carried out over 20 years by the Dutch Naval Architects Van Oossanen and Associates. Their focus was to perfect a hull form designed to reduce hydrodynamic resistance over the entire range of speeds a yacht travels, rather than based on either long range or short, higher speed requirements.

The Heesen 213’ Fast Displacement design boasts some extraordinary exterior features. There is a magnificent split-level beach club aft on the main and lower decks with a 107 square-foot side-balcony on the port side and a voluminous 236 square-foot swim platform. The beach complex includes a sauna, hammam, shower room, day head, full bar and glass-bottom swimming pool that allows sunlight to shine through the water illuminating the bar below. The yacht also is designed with a forward sunbathing area that converts to a touch-and-go heli-deck.

Exterior styling by Frank Laupman, Omega Architects, takes the 213’ Heesen to a thrilling, futuristic new level. The streamlined low profile, like a high-speed bullet train, has an imposing forward thrust. Integrating the hull with the main deck eliminates the aft overhang creating a smooth and seamless integration with the freestanding superstructure.

This extraordinary yacht is likely to set a new bar for style, design and energy and environmental efficiency in the superyacht industry. We will be keeping a keen eye on her progress.

LOA: 213’

Beam: 37’

Draft: 10’

Maximum speed: 27 knots

Engines: 2 x MTU 20V4000M93L

Stabilizers: 5 x Seakeeper gyroscopes

Cruising speed: 24 knots

Range: 4,500 Nm at 14 knots

Crew: 13

See our Heesen Luxury Charter Yachts

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Boatbookings Onboard Palmer Johnson 87′ Flybridge CLARITY

Recently Boatbookings was delighted to have the opportunity to visit luxury motoryacht CLARITY, an elegant 87ft Palmer Johnson available for charter in the Bahamas and Caribbean. CLARITY is an equally superb yacht for a family charter or a romantic adventure, featuring a magnificent master stateroom and three spacious guest cabins. With a 24-foot beam, CLARITY has extraordinary interior volume without sacrifice to generous exterior spaces including walk around side decks.

Captain Warren Thompson and Mate/Engineer Gary Hallas, consummate gentlemen helping the ladies board gracefully due to the unusual height of the top starboard step, greeted us. Entering the main salon we were immediately impressed by the spacious interior, augmented by the surround of windows. The space is open, airy, unobstructed by partitions accept the handsome columns and cabinet that suggest a separate formal dining area.

The master suite onboard CLARITY is both stylish and functional, featuring a delightful sweep of panoramic windows and elegant his and her facilities reached a couple of steps down. The flybridge has it all, Jacuzzi, bar, an unusual array of three helm chairs and comfortable built-in settee at the elegantly polished table with exotic burl inlay.

The aromas issuing forth from the galley made it impossible for us not to sample the gourmet delicacies prepared by Amy Thompson, the Chef/Stew onboard CLARITY. We can attest to her culinary talent.

Boatbookings is pleased to offer CLARITY as part of our expansive selection of charter yachts. Please see Our Charter Yachts for comprehensive listings or visit our Caribbean Yacht Charter Guide and Florida, Bahamas Yacht Charter Guides for destination information.

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