A Day in the Life of an Intern – Part XII

My day as a VIP began, along with some of the other Boatbookings team members, from the old Port of Cannes – a delightful port that welcomes prestigious yachts, and also small authentic fishing boats. A group of us were going through the motions of a typical French Riviera day charter, such that we could greater understand the day charters our clients enjoy.

At 10 o’clock we boarded the Prestige 500s, a sleek day charter yacht of 16 metres. Once settled, we started cruising across the bay of Cannes, and within 15 min we arrived at the Iles des Lérins, the two islands just off the coast of Cannes. Between the two islands, the captain dropped anchor such that we could have a swim!

boatbookings, boatbookings team, day charter, day on a yacht, iles des lerins

On one side we had the island of Saint-Honorat, an impressive backdrop with the imposing Cistercian monastery. On the other side, the island of Santa Margherita is covered by a forest of pines and eucalyptus whose perfumes reached us on the water. All around us, the sea was all sorts of shades of blue. Who would have thought that we were just a few minutes from the glamorous and chic Cannes? Here the atmosphere was of peace, beauty and unspoiled nature.

boatbookings, day charter, day on a yacht, french riviera, iles des lerins, prestige 500s cannes, lerins islands day charter, — The aquamarine waters of the Iles Des Lerins really are that colour!

Immersed in this breathtaking landscape, the crew offered us an exquisite breakfast, made of croissants, pain au chocolat, coffees and water. (They then offered us towels, other soft drinks and snacks for the rest of the day – we were spoilt.) When we finished breakfast, we went for a swim in the crystal-clear, turquoise waters. After an hour, we set off cruising East the coast towards Monaco. We passed right in front of the wonderful Gulf of Juan les Pins, the Cap D’Antibes and Nice. From the yacht we admired the beautiful villas surrounded by the Mediterranean nature, as well as the magnificent yachts that we met on our way.

We stopped in the bay of Villefranche-sur-mer. Here the sea was incredibly calm and flat. This is a very popular destination along the Riviera for yachts and sailing boats, and we often recommend our clients to drop anchor here. Along the coast, there was the delightful (village/small town) of Villefranche-sur-mer with its picturesque houses painted in bright colours.

We had a quick swim here and then headed off again towards our lunch destination. We passed Saint Jean Cap-Ferrat and arrived in the bay of Eze Sur Mer where our captain called the tender for our restaurant of choice, Anjuna bay. We landed on the beach like real VIPs or almost, and we sat down at our table that had an amazing view of the sea. The restaurant was decorated in a nautical, shabby style.

anjuna, anjuna beach, eze, eze sur mer — The eclectic decor at Anjuna Beach, Eze sur Mer.

We had a wonderful and relaxing lunch, chatting and laughing and soon realised that the time had come to embark our yacht once again, and head back to Cannes. At 5 o’clock we went back on board and started cruising towards Cannes with the sun slowly descending. We enjoyed the view of the French Riviera coast once again, impressive as it is, from the comfort of our private boat. Arriving in Cannes, we disembarked around 6pm from the Old Port of Cannes – all very excitable about the magnificent day we had just had!

Working at Boatbookings, you very quickly learn that you are in a collaborative, team-focused environment and this day was no exception. Spending a day out of the office with my colleagues was a fantastic way to get to know them a lot better, and also the business of yacht chartering! I very much look forward to joining the Boatbookings team full time in London, upon graduation.

Posted on September 18, 2018 by Ben Sutton

A Day in the Life of an Intern – Part XI

June 14^th was a special day during my internship at Boatbookings. After spending a couple of hours in our office in Cannes, I headed to Antibes to meet Broker Ben, who had spent the morning meeting some of his clients for their embarkation. We headed to Port Vauban for a brokers’ day out on REHAB – one of our all-time favourite day charter yachts along the French Riviera. Broker days are organised by the owners of the yachts such that the Brokers can get to know the boat and its crew better.

We were greeted on board REHAB by the fantastic crew made up of Captain Chris and Stewardess Justine. Once the other brokers arrived and had settled in, we headed west, past the stunning Cap D’Antibes, towards Cannes and the beautiful Iles de Lérins. The islands are an incredibly popular destination thanks to the crystal-clear water, making them the perfect place to drop anchor, relax and swim. As it was still early in the season, we were able to experience the beauty of the islands without many other people there.

Once we had found the perfect spot to anchor, our lovely hosts had prepared a quiz for us. As brokers are of the competitive kind, it’s not like us to ever back down from a challenge, so we quickly got into our teams, boys vs. girls of course, and the game of 20 questions commenced. After a mix of technical questions about REHAB and other yachts, as well as general knowledge questions about the industry, the girls came out on top!

In the afternoon, everyone enjoyed relaxing on board this stunning Sunseeker yacht, whilst indulging in French crudité platters overflowing with local cheeses, baguettes and olives beautifully prepared by Justine. It was incredibly interesting meeting other people from the Industry and getting to know the faces behind the names. As the day came to an end, we cruised back towards Port Vauban past the stunning villas on the Cap d’Antibes.

This day was a fantastic way to get a taste of what Boatbookings’ clients experience, whilst also getting to know REHAB and it’s lovely crew as well as the other Brokers. I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to talk to so many fascinating people – is there a better place to mingle than aboard a beautiful yacht?

Posted on August 28, 2018 by Ben Sutton

A Day in the Life of an Intern – Part X

Half the team reviewing Sailing Yacht DARK SHADOW

On a beautiful sunny day in April, the Boatbookings team took the morning train from our Cannes office to the Port of Nice for the ECPY Yacht Show, which featured a myriad of charter boats, including huge luxury motor yachts and crewed sailing yachts.

Upon arrival, we were given our official Brokers badges and split up into two teams for yacht viewings. It was a fantastic opportunity to see the very best of what was on offer and discuss within the team what we loved about the boats and which we would most likely recommend to clients.

Some of the Boatbookings Team networking with other young professionals in the Industry

Stepping on board the yachts, it became clear that chartering is unlike any holiday experience you could imagine! The interiors of some of the Motor Yachts were truly stunning, each with their own unique style and characteristics; from green marble floors to disco-like karaoke rooms and winding metallic staircases, each yacht had its own surprise that made it as memorable as the last.

One of the most spectacular yachts we had visited had to be KIJO – with Southern Pacific inspired decor of light bamboo and neutral browns, it was confident in its style and was something I had never seen before! The crew on board were outstanding, with the chief stewardess being passionate about the boat and making it clear that she went above and beyond to make guests have the best time on board. The chef had laid out an amazing selection of nibbles and the boat was in immaculate condition!

Broker Anna and I enjoying a glass of champagne on board Motor Yacht QUASAR after the show

After a day of viewings, the team finally came together once again to discuss the highlights of the show; it was amazing to hear how the Brokers really dug into the details of every aspect of the yacht to know it inside and out, in order to be able to make the best recommendations to clients. After 6 pm, the official show wound down and the yachts went into aperitif mode! We were invited onto the yachts for a glass of champagne and to relax and enjoy the evening, as if in our client’s shoes. The service was impeccable and it was a great opportunity to network and speak to others from within the industry – with music flowing from the aft deck, cocktails being served and canapés appearing from the galley, it was truly an evening of luxury in the most stunning setting!

Being able to meet other young professionals in the industry, as well as yacht crews, and central agents gave us all a real insight into the inner workings of the industry, and it was a wonderful experience touring the yachts with the senior brokers! Boatbookings gives interns a hands-on experience of the industry, offering responsibility that few other internships can beat.

Posted on August 22, 2018 by Ben Sutton

A Day in the Life of an Intern – Part IX

This blog continues the ‘day in the life’ series, as a Boatbookings intern. A highlight of my internship was my first ever ‘fam trip’ (familiarisation trip) on board the M/Y SHAWLIFE on Friday 1^st June. Fam trips are organised by yacht owners as a way for brokers to gain an understanding of the benefits of different yachts, such that they can better sell them to their clients.

yacht, motor yacht, crewed motor yacht, french riviera, cannes, theoule sur mer, shawlife — Crewed Motor Yacht, SHAWLIFE

Embarkation was at 10am in Port Vauban, Antibes, one of the largest ports in Europe! This quaint town is lined with stone walls and set between Nice and Cannes – the ideal location to start a day charter. Here, I joined 6 other brokers on an unforgettable day along the French Riviera. After a quick tour by the owner of the stunning 2016 70ft motor yacht, we set off on our French Riviera adventure. As we left Antibes, we headed up to the flybridge for a delicious brunch, including bacon, eggs, pastries, smoked salmon and fruit – all prepared by the fantastic crew!

dining, yacht, breakfast, lunch, yacht charter, boatbookings

Leaving Antibes and heading past the Cap D’Antibes was choppy, but the sunshine and food more than made up for it and everyone was in good spirits. After the short cruise past Cannes towards Théoule sur Mer, we anchored very close to the shore to take in the scenery and enjoy the fantastic weather. The owner of the yacht was very keen to show us all of the highlights of the yacht, such as the beds that electrically convert from double to single – ideal for family charters, or groups of friends. He really wanted us to enjoy the yacht as much as he did – his passion was truly infectious.

Yacht charter, motor yacht, crewed motor yacht, theoule sur mer, cannes, antibes, iles des lerins, crewed motor yacht

After a quick tour of the bay of Théoule, its restaurants and SHAWLIFE’s exterior from the tender, we headed to the Îles des Lérins, the stunning islands steeped in history and famed for their crystal-clear, cerulean waters. This was where the real fun began as the water toys were brought out and the champagne opened. We anchored here for the rest of the afternoon, enjoying the scenery, swimming in the cool water and trying out the sea bobs. After a late BBQ lunch, I was getting a little conscious of the time, as we were meant to be back in Antibes (and I had a flight to catch!).

motor yacht, crewed motor yacht, cannes, iles des lerins, lerins islands, yacht charter, cannes yacht charter, boatbookings yacht charter

When it was time to leave, we cruised slowly through the islands before heading full speed towards Saint Laurent du Var, the nearest port to the airport. This was great fun, as we were going about 30 knots and we managed to see the fabulous 143-meter sailing yacht ‘A’, the largest private sail-assisted motor yacht in the world!

sailing yacht a, sailing yacht, crewed sailing yacht, luxury yacht, superyacht, yacht charter, boatbookings

We arrived at the port of St Laurent du Var for disembarkation and myself and one of the other brokers headed off to the airport. The day was a really great way to see exactly how clients finish their holidays, disembarking by the airport. SHAWLIFE truly is a stunning yacht and having been on board, she is definitely one of my favourite yachts based on the French Riviera!

Being able to meet other brokers, as well as the owner of this gorgeous yacht is an experience I will treasure and appreciate forever. Boatbookings gives interns a hands-on experience of the industry, offering responsibility that few other internships can beat. This is only topped by being surrounded by others who are passionate about their jobs and, of course, the opportunity to spend the day on a yacht!

Posted on August 14, 2018 by Ben Sutton

A Day in the Life of an Intern Part VIII

Whoever said the life of an intern was filled with those horrible jobs that nobody else wants to do? A sunny September’s day saw broker Ben and I heading off to the glamorous St Tropez for an amazing day at sea aboard the beautiful KIDI ONE.

Strolling through St Tropez, it’s not hard to see why so many return to this stunning town year after year. St Tropez is a beautiful little fishing village at first glance, however, through the windy cobbled streets, lined with charming terracotta buildings lies a vibrant shopping capital. Designer boutiques nestled into petite, classically French buildings with shuttered windows and golden walls. Eventually the narrow, windy streets open up to the port, a fascinating juxtaposition of beautiful, quaint buildings against immense, modern Super Yachts and bustling bars. St Tropez truly is a sleepy, fishing village that has been brought to life and doused in glamour and I was instantly enchanted.

Upon meeting our fellow travellers, a lively and welcoming group of brokers from other companies, I was gifted with a beautiful little bracelet to commemorate my day at sea in St Tropez! We were all split between 3 beautiful yachts NEGARA, OF VILLA ROMANA and ours, KIDI ONE. KIDI ONE glided toward us, effortlessly cutting through the water, a vision in sparkling white with royal blue detailing. KIDI ONE was beautiful, with the theme of turquoise running throughout the exterior, hints of blue in the salon and then glossy, cherry brown and crisp white with splashes of gold spreading elegance and class throughout the guest cabins and bathrooms, the photographs truly do not do it justice.

Ben and I sat on the sun pads on the bow of the yacht and the views were breath taking, stunning yachts, towering mountains flourishing with green and the sparkling sea, St Tropez is paradise. Finally, we came to a halt and anchored beside Plage de L’Escalet, the hillside teeming with lavish villas and the sea, an incredible shade of turquoise. Now it was time for water toys! My first choice, the humble paddleboard – easy! Or so I thought. My first attempt at standing up resulted in my first plunge into the icy cold water, the September Sea is beautiful and wonderfully energising. I powered through, yet round 2 was still unsuccessful and resulted in another soaking, perhaps paddleboarding is not for me. On to the big boy toys, the Sea Bob, whizzing across the surface of the sea was the most incredible feeling, though I didn’t dare dive beneath the surface, it was an amazing rush to skim across the surface of the water like a human jet ski, that’s a new one for the Christmas list!

The afternoon was spent munching on Foie Gras sandwiches, sipping wine and getting to know everyone in an incredible setting. Too much food and too much fun resulted in a quick power nap on the sundeck in the warm glow of the sun – bliss. After an amazing day in dazzling St Tropez we finally cruised back to dry land.

Being able to meet so many wonderful people and experience such an incredible yacht in the most enchanting place was truly surreal and an experience I will never forget! Boatbookings internships are definitely not your average internship, with so much responsibility making way for valuable experiences and, of course, it doesn’t hurt getting to charter for the day on a stunning luxury yacht!

Posted on September 27, 2017 by Ben Sutton