Mexico Bareboat Charters: New Base Opening October 2014

Here at Boatbookings.com, the bareboat team are constantly on the search for new and exiting places to go sailing, so it is with great excitement that we learn of a new charter base opening in Mexico.

A small fleet of charter yachts comprising of monohulls and catamarans will be available from La Paz. Described by famed French oceanographer Jacques Cousteau as “the world’s aquarium” and “the Galapagos of North America”, this beautiful region combines stunning desert vistas with world-class sailing in the Sea of Cortez. La Paz may be the region’s commercial and political center but this city has retained its’ laid back coastal vibe. Meaning ‘peace’ in Spanish, La Paz is set amongst ancient laurel trees, coconut and date palms and is surrounded by the beautiful yellow desert.

Start your charter from the exclusive Costa Baja resort which offers a full service marina, dive shop, supermarket and various restaurants, before heading out to the Sea of Cortez which has been drawing sailors to the peaceful corner of Mexico for generations. Set sail on the sporty Dufour 455 or choose from a range of Lagoon catamarans or a power cat – the Sea of Cortez awaits!

Whet your appetite with our 7 day sailing itinerary in Mexico perfect for your bareboat charter. If you have any more questions about chartering in Mexico, contact Boatbookings today!

Posted on September 22, 2014 by admin — No Comments ↓

Sailing Regattas in Phuket this July!

It’s time for another update from Boatbookings.com South East Asia expert Kevin who is looking forward to the July sailing regattas in Phuket, read on to find out more!

Proving that Phuket really is an all year round sailing destination, there are two racing events going on in Phuket this July.

Firstly, there is the Multihull Solutions Multihull Regatta from the 10th to 13th July, held at the Ao Chalong Yacht Club in Phuket. Over 20 catamarans and trimarans are already confirmed entrants. Kevin has been a regular visitor to some of the Phuket sailing regattas over the recent years and says that they are always “serious sailing by day, but great social fun in the bar afterwards!”.

The fantastic Multihull Regatta is followed by the Phuket Raceweek from the 16th to 21st July, with over 40 yachts entered in different categories this year’s racing is set to be spectacular! This regatta is based out of the Cape Panwa Hotel on the southeast coast of Phuket.

One of Kevin’s favourite small crewed catamaran charter yachts will be competing in Phuket Race Week, he’ll be watching how she gets on with interest….good luck little Cabriolet!

To charter a yacht in Phuket, or anywhere else in South East Asia get in touch with Kevin and start planning your dream sailing vacation.

Posted on July 9, 2014 by admin — No Comments ↓

Crewed Catamarans – a great value alternative to Motor Yachts, read on and discover what other people don’t know…

When thinking of a luxury yacht charter vacation it is often crewed motor yachts that spring to mind and not catamarans, in many respects it’s easy to understand why. It’s true luxury crewed motor yacht charters and super yacht charter are an ultimate luxury vacation but they can be prohibitively expensive, that’s where the crewed catamaran comes into play!

Boatbookings.com Charter Director Lambros thinks that, ‘Catamarans are in many ways as good – or even better than motor yachts’ read on to find out why!

HEMISPHERE - The largest Catamaran in the World! — HEMISPHERE – The largest Catamaran in the World!

Reasons to charter a Crewed Catamaran:

– Due to their width, they are very stable, not pitching and rolling on the seas as mono-hulls sometimes do (boats with just one hull sailing yachts and motor boats)

-A wide beam (width) also means that catamarans are extremely spacious – a 60ft catamaran has the same space overall as a 80+ Ft motor yacht,

– Modern catamarans have fly bridges similar to those found on motor yachts, offering a new dimension and element of space.

– Crewed Catamarans in the Caribbean are often ‘all-inclusive’ so there’s no need to worry about expenses.

– The only real minus points for catamarans vs motor yachts is the speed: where a fast m/y cruises at 25knots, a catamaran can only go up to 10-12knots – not a problem when you want to sit back, relax and enjoying the scenery.

Below is a small selection of our favourite crewed catamarans, just click on the picture or boat name to find out more!

Based in the Caribbean:

ALETHEIA:

ENIGMA:

GYPSY PRINCESS:

Awarded 'Best Catamaran under 50 ft at the BVI Yacht Show 2012' — Awarded ‘Best Catamaran under 50 ft at the BVI Yacht Show 2012’

Based in the Mediterranean:

ALLURES:

MOBY DICK:

MOYA:

Enquire today and speak to one of our experts to learn more about chartering a crewed catamaran!

Posted on February 28, 2014 by admin — No Comments ↓

The top three Mediterranean locations and yachts for your summer 2014 holiday – book now!

In a wet and cold January the summer can seem a million miles away, but don’t panic it will be here soon enough! It’s time to give you and your family something to look forward to and start planning a summer holiday, on a yacht of course!

Avoid the crowded beaches and escape to the Cannes Islands!

Whether you’re a sailor or prefer a motor yacht , or perhaps you don’t know and are looking for some impartial advice…Boatbookings.com is the place to start. Our experts are based all over the world with a particually strong representation in the Mediterranean. Not only do we know all of the yachts here, many of their crews and Captains, we also know the coastlines, islands and best places to spend an unforgettable day, a week or more!

Monaco harbour – Stunning by night

Our top 3 recommendations for an unforgettable Mediterranean charter this summer:

1. The French Riviera:

The South of France still remains one of the most popular holiday destinations for families, couples, celeb hunters (and the celebs themselves!) in the world and it’s easy to understand why…This stretch of hallowed coastline still conjures up images of times gone by, effortless elegance, an abundance of glamour and wealth, all thats changed is the yachts, they’re even bigger now! We fully appreciate that not everyone is a Premiership footballer or film star, at Boatbookings.com we cater for all budgets, groups and tastes.

EMOTON and RHINO, two of our favourite luxury yachts based in the South Of France:

Charter the superb Super Yacht EMOTION – recently visited by the Boatbookings team

RHINO is a sleek and sexy motor yacht perfect for the glamour of the French Riviera

2. Sardinia:

We’ve been talking about Sardinia for a while now, we can’t fault it, great boats, breathtaking scenery and friendly people. With two airports Sardinia is easily accessible from mainland Europe with regular connecting flights from Rome. Crystal clear waters, gorgeous mediterranean weather and a yacht to match, whats not to like?

Sardinia’s proximity to Italy the Italian and French Rivieras and Corsica make it a great place to start a charter, why not combine all three destinations. In a week or longer a trip to the glamorous French Riviera to visit St Tropez, Cannes or Monaco could be something to consider whilst taking advantage of the lower rate of Italian VAT.

BALTHAZAR and LADY CAROLA, two of our top picks for Sardinia:

Gorgeous Sunseeker Predator 92 BALTAZAR ready for charters in Sardinia this summer

LADY CAROLA – recently visited by the team, great for families with an exceptional Captain

Greece:

With several different islands to visit, Greece is an extremely versatile charter destination.Why not check out Mykonos in the Cyclades Islands, Corfu or Kefalonia in the Ionian Islands or Rhodes in the Dodecanese Islands. ‘Island hopping’ can be a fantastic way to see the sights, history and sample all that Greek Island culture has to offer, including the fantastic cuisine! For a sample 14 day sailing itinerary in the Cyclades islands click here!

NOVA and XTREME, two great yachts for experiencing Greece:

Luxury catamaran NOVA – perfect for seeing the Greek Islands

XTREME – packed with water toys, great for thrill seekers!

To secure your first choice yacht in your preferred Mediterranean destination, enquire today and one of our experts will be in touch with you to discuss your charter and to ensure that you get on the best yacht at the best price,

Posted on January 5, 2014 by admin — No Comments ↓

Best in show – the Lagoon 39!

As we travel back to Cannes and reflect on what we saw and learnt from the Paris Boat Show, one yacht still stands out, the Lagoon 39. Lagoons have quickly become the most popular catamarans to charter and after being on board one of their latest models; it’s easy to understand why.

Lagoons are designed with the needs of families in mind. They’re designed to be spacious, practical, stable but luxurious, exactly what the majority of our clients are looking for.At over 6ft Charles from the Boatbookings.com team usually dreads being on board catamarans and sailing yachts for fear of continually banging his head on low ceilings and door frames, on the Lagoon 39 he didn’t have to bend down once!

The vertical saloon windows ensure that even tall charter guests like Charles can stand up straight and enjoy the view; the story is the same in the cabins and bathrooms. Full height showers, self-contained thanks to stylish sliding glass doors mean that the bathroom can be kept dry. This particular Lagoon was an owner’s version with a whole hull given over to the owner’s accommodation. A large cabin and double bed, small study area with desk and couch as well as a large bathroom mean mum and dad will have plenty of space and privacy. There are two further double guest cabins sharing a spacious shower room, great for kids or couples.

Outside there is a spacious aft deck dining area with seating for 6-8 comfortably, the open plan nature of the main saloon and galley mean that whoever is on cooking duty can still join in the fun and conversation with those outside.

We have a considerable fleet of Lagoon catamarans located all over the world. Catamaran charters are particularly popular in the Caribbean, but they are also a fantastic and relaxing way to see the Mediterranean, or Asia for that matter!

No sailing experience, no problem! We have many Lagoons and other catamarans available with skippers or full crews who will look after you and your guests and ensure you have the holiday of a lifetime.

Enquire with one of our experts today and we will get you on the best boat, that suits your needs at the best price for the best experience possible!

Posted on December 9, 2013 by admin — No Comments ↓