The 2019 Mediterranean Yacht Show

It’s almost time for your Boatbookings crewed yacht charter brokers to attend the annual Mediterranean Yacht Show (MEDYS) in Nafplion, Greece. With 107 yachts on display measuring over 3000m in length, the 2019 MEDYS is going to be the most successful yacht show to date. Today, we will take a look at three of our favourite yachts exhibiting from the 4-8 May 2019.

MELITI | Lagoon 560

MEDYS 2019 will showcase the best motor and sailing yachts available for charter in Greece, as well as some of our favourite Greek crewed catamarans. MELITI is a luxurious Lagoon 560 catamaran, accommodating 10 guests in 5 cabins for sailing charter through the Saronic and Cyclades islands. With Captian Stelios at the helm, you will discover tranquil bays, breathtaking anchorages and unrivalled sunsets. Bring your camera!

PARIS A | Maiora 115

In addition to catamarans, MEDYS 2019 will showcase the best Greece crewed motor yachts. PARIS A continues to be one of our favourites in the 100-120 feet range, offering five spacious suites, a large flybridge and a great selection of water toys. Furthermore, she has a dedicated crew, as well as a superb chef in Dionisios for summer 2019. We look forward to being dazzled with his creations!

BLISS | Heesen 44m

BLISS has just benefitted from an extensive winter refit and is therefore in sparkling condition for the summer 2019 Greek yachting season. Experienced Captain Takis, and his dedicated crew of 8 will show you the best Cyclades Islands Motor Yacht Itinerary with stops in the magical Mykonos and picturesque Paros.

Stay tuned for our full MEDYS 2019 report and continue to follow the action via the Boatbookings Instagram page.

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Food Glorious Food!

Variety
Food is exceptionally important on a sailing holiday. It’s where everyone comes together and talks about their experiences not only of the holiday but life. Sailing is wholesome, and I believe it brings out the best in people (or the worst if you don’t do what you’re told!) However you look at it, it’s a great way to get everyone together. There’s no better place to eat than on the aft deck overlooking the Bahamian sun, or over the islands of Croatia.

Eating on the yacht
Bareboat sailing yachts come with a small gas oven and normally a two ring hob – which is more than enough. Ovens on boats typically take a long time to warm up, so factor that in before you say dinner will be ready in half an hour!
When provisioning for your yacht it’s important to get a healthy balance of different foods. You’ll be expelling a lot of energy each day so don’t worry about the number of carbs you consume! Pasta, noodles, rice, couscous are great dry food that can be used for many different things. Try not to buy loads of fresh food on the first day, instead buy fresh food along the way. This prevents wastage! Quick foods like noodles, or soup are great when you have a fussy crew!

Sample menu
This would typically be on the menu when I was living on a bareboat sailing yacht:
Breakfast: Fresh loaf of bread from the bakery. Bakeries are everywhere when you are sailing! Honey, eggs, and tomatoes.
Lunch: Big salad with corn, figs, spinach, avocado, pine nuts, feta, tomatoes, roasted peppers, eggplant, and balsamic glaze. I’d normally do a side of couscous and spring onions.
Dinner: Pasta dish or some sort. If I was feeling full of energy I would use the rest of the bread from the day and make some garlic butter to dip into.
Keep it simple and tasty!

Tip: Try and stay away from meats. Unless you really trust your solar panels, have a gen or prefer to cruise rather than sail (not judging!), There is a chance that you will turn your fridge off when the motor is not running.


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Amalfi Adventures

The majestic Amalfi Coast, composed of pastel-colored washed towns like Capri, Positano, and Salerno, is a haven for luxury seekers. This undisputable beautiful corner of the Mediterranean is easily assessable by train, plane or car.

To sail the Amalfi Coast with Boatbookings, we offer a myriad of chartering options. Whether you want a week in Italy on a crewed motor yacht, a catamaran, a sailboat, or even a day charter…with or without a crew – we do it all!

Our team of expert brokers review the yachts, meet the crew and visit the local Italian yachting hotspots each year. We are the first port of call for planning a bespoke itinerary for your Amalfi Coast vacation. Contact us, read about us or simply email [email protected] to start planning your tailor-made Amalfi Coast boat holiday today!

Already in the Amalfi coast on holiday and fancy a day out on the water? Check our world-class day charter yachts! Depart from 10am, motor to some of the most exclusive islands in the world and return at 6pm! We can even make lunch reservations! Get in contact with us today!

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Who will win at the 2019 Cannes Film Festival?

The 2019 Cannes Film Festival takes place in just three weeks time. The 72nd edition will run from the 14-25 May 2019 at the Palais des Festivals in Cannes, showcasing some of the finest pieces of cinematography from all around the world. If you’re looking to entertain in ultimate style, there is no better place to be than in the Vieux Port de Cannes on a superyacht.

With over a dozen strong entries seeking to win the prestigious Palme D’Or, the quality on show at this year’s event is second to none. The question of who will win is on the tip of everyone’s tongue. Highly acclaimed director, Pedro Almodóvar, has over 20 years of success at Cannes. His new release, titled ‘Pain and Glory’, is sure to have an excellent chance at claiming the 2019 Palme D’Or.

The existential drama thriller recounts the decline of film director, Salvador Mallo. Paying homage to the themes of cinema, emigration and anxiety, Pain and Glory is a stunning piece of cinematography. Antonio Banderas plays Mallo, and leads a star studded line up supported by Penélope Cruz, Asier Etxeandia and Leonardo Sbaraglia. Almodóvar was successful at the 2006 Cannes Film Festival with ‘Volver’, which saw Cruz walk away with the Best Actress award.

Pain and Glory marks Almodóvar’s sixth film to compete at Cannes, where he exhibited “All About My Mother” in 1999, “Broken Embraces” in 2009, “The Skin I Live In” in 2011 and “Julieta” in 2016. Watch this space to see whether his 2019 release will be triumphant in May!

Boatbookings is an independent retail brokerage with unrivalled knowledge of luxury yachts and their crew. We provide comprehensive destination advice and yachting insights to ensure you have the best possible experience.

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Top 10 tips for your sailing holiday!

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I spent 6 months living on a yacht in Greece. There’s a thing or two that really made a difference to my comfort levels, you’ll thank me for these!

1) A portable fan. I survived one month without a fan, and when a guest gave me theirs it changed my life.

2) Insect spray and wipes. I wiped down the inside of my cabin every two days and this kept the mosquitos bay. If you find it hard to sleep with the buzzing, you can purchase a mosquito net and hang it in your cabin.

3) Hammock. The skipper on our yacht brought a hammock with him, and it was great! Not only is it comfortable to sleep in, but during the day it’s nice to cozy up with a book! You can attach it to the forestay and mast.

4) Quick-dry towel. The best invention – ever. Gone are the days when trying to dry yourself with a damp towel! Available cheaply online or at marine shops.

5) Cover-ups. Easy to chuck on when you get out of the sea.

6) Medicines. I took with me seasickness tablets, these can sometimes make people feel sleepy, if this is the case I can suggest ginger root tablets. Along with these, the typical medicines such as paracetamol, ibuprofen, hayfever, insect after bite, etc.

7) Water bottle. I found that having a water bottle I was more likely to drink water than pouring a glass below.

8) Extra pair of sunglasses. It is inevitable that a pair of sunglasses will fall overboard…. it happens…and when it does you’ll be so thankful you brought a backup.

9) Waterproof phone case. Sometimes the weather turns and you need your phone up on deck. They normally come with a ban that goes around your neck which is really handy.

10) A book of the local language! Nothing breaks barriers better than foreigners trying to speak the local language.

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