Super Yacht of the Week: SEVEN SINS

The moment you board SEVEN SINS you will share our enthusiasm for this super yacht, she is 52m of incomparable luxury, from the dining, lounging and relaxing options. The pictures speak for themselves and illustrate the bespoke experience you will enjoy either in the Caribbean Islands or the western Mediterranean.

Our favourite feature has to be the large infinity pool that glistens on the aft deck! This is one step ahead of most yachts that have only a Jacuzzi, as you can fully take the plunge on the comfort and privacy of your yacht. Just below, there is a fantastic beach club, so you can anchor off the coast of Villefranche or Cannes where you can enjoy panoramic views as well as complete isolation to avoid the busy beaches. 

The Caribbean is also a cruising ground for SEVEN SINS; imagine sinking into the smooth and inviting waters from the luxury of your sun lounger. You can’t get closer to the water than that! 

The crew will willingly tender you ashore to explore the quaint towns of Eze, or the infamous Monaco, so you can have a coffee in the lovely Café de Paris and stroll around the F1 racetrack. When you are ready to return to your private yacht the chef will begin to prepare a delectable dinner. This is one of the many perks of chartering, a fantastic meal prepared around your preferences, in an exclusive and wonderful setting. Dine on the large aft deck table, with a gorgeous backdrop of colourful houses, hilltops and a sunset.

SEVEN SINS welcomes up to 10 guests in 5 stunning suites, each one being meticulously appointed and fully customised.

The best motor yachts get booked up fast, naturally, so get your enquiry in soon so we can help secure SEVEN SINS for you!

Broker Alice’s Top 5 Insights for Your 2019 Charter

1. Book your sailing boat to beat the winter blues and head to the Bahamas before its too late! Some of my top recommendations for the Bahamas are the Lagoon 42 and 450 catamarans and Pegasus, a 40 foot Jeanneau. Either charter in Nassau, island hop around the Exumas and visit pig beach or in Marsh Harbour to anchor upon amongst the idyllic Abaco Islands.
Catamaran – Lagoon 42
Catamaran – Lagoon 450
2. Get your friends together to book the ultimate vacation sailing around Croatia this summer. Starting from Split or Trogir a two-hour sail a day in crystal blue waters can take you from quaint fishing villages to the party islands of Hvar. I would suggest the Lagoon 52 for a skippered experience, the Saona 47 or a Sun Odyssey 449 for the ultimate sailing experience.
3. Guadeloupe- find France within the Caribbean. Navigate around the archipelago of islands and immerse yourself amongst the green landscapes of this fascinating mixture of the Caribbean and French influences.
Be sure to visit the waterfalls of Grande Terre, eat Creole dishes with the friendly locals and visit Jaques Cousteau’s dive site at Bouillante which offers some of the best diving in the world, the instructors will even pick you up from your yacht to take you diving!
Sailing around this island is rugged, inspiring and sophisticated at the same time. I would suggest the Sun Odyssey 509 for exploring and sailing performance or the spacious Catana 47 catamaran for the ultimate Guadeloupe sailing trip with friends and family.
Visit my Guadeloupe blog to see why this Caribbean island needs to be on your 2019 sailing to do list!
4. August on the French Riviera – Sail from Cannes to Monaco and spend the nights at anchor overlooking some of the most glamorous locations in Europe or in the slightly smaller ports of Golfe Juan or Villefranche to avoid the busy ports of Cannes or Nice. Boats to charter are the monohulls such as the Sun Odyssey 349  or the Oceanis 48 for a romantic break or a family holiday or add a hostess on a catamaran such as the Lagoon 450 to receive the five-star treatment of the French Riviera.
5. Summer island hopping the Cyclades from Athens. Start your bareboat charter in the ancient city of Athens and spend a week exploring the iconic Cyclades islands. Spend each night on a different island and explore some of the finest Mediterranean beach clubs, ancient ruins and the traditional white rooftops of Santorini and Mykonos. Catamarans are the best way to explore these islands with friends and family but if you want to profit from some of the most idyllic winds in the world take the Oceanis 62 and profit from its sailing capabilities.

The Very Best of Greek Gastronomy

Greek cuisine offers an incredibly rich and diverse array of foods and beverages that are the result of thousands of years of living, cooking, and eating. Greek gastronomy is known for its simple and elegant flavors, quality ingredients and nutritious and healthy content. It is a journey through Greece‘s history and the culinary influences that were left by numerous invasions, be them Roman, Venetian, Balkan, Turk…even English.

One of the many joys to be found in chartering a yacht in Greece is not just relaxing in such a tranquil area on your luxury yacht, but also being able to discover, taste, and experience the unique local Greek cuisine. On your yacht you might choose to charter in any number of fantastic areas, be it around Corfu and the Ionian Islands, Mykonos and the Cyclades Islands, Skiathos in the Sporades Islands or Kos in the Dodecanese Islands, but each of these areas and indeed each island in Greece has its own unique cultural heritage and cuisine.

Greece food

The Sporades islands for example are well known for their use of dairy products and produce the most delectable spoon sweets and thyme honey. The local cheese pie and lobster and spaghetti are highly recommended!

The Cyclades islands are known for their charcuterie tradition while the Ionian islands retain more of a western European influence in its cuisine as it was the only area not be be conquered by the Ottomans in the 15th century. It  is known for its braised veal sofrito, an exquisite dish flavored with garlic, parsley, and vinegar, its Semolina pie with almonds or perhaps its delicious spiced fig cakes.

The Dodecanese islands boasts a host of dishes based on bread and grains with bulgur and cracked wheat claiming a prominent place. Look out for delicious local dish of home-made pasta with caramelized onions that the islanders make throughout most of the Dodecanese! However, regardless of where you are on your yacht charter, you will come across some of the more famous Greek dishes such as the stuffed Paschal lamb and sun-dried octopus.

Our expert broker, Lambros Tsolakis, knows everything there is to know about the best greek delicacies. Varoulko Seaside, Funky Gourmet and Bill & Coo are his top 3 recommendations! At Boatbookings, we have years of charter experience in Greece and intimate knowledge of the yachts and the best places to go. Enquire today for a bespoke proposal.

5 Reasons to Charter a Yacht in Guadeloupe

After spending five months living as a local in Guadeloupe, our charter broker Alice, found many reasons to charter in this Franco-African archipelago known by many as “Gwada”. A mixture of languages, cultures and activities makes these islands among the most diverse that the Caribbean has to offer. Here is why:

1. Island Hopping
The sailing possibilities are endless around the five islands that make up the French Caribbean archipelago of Guadeloupe. Each Island of Guadeloupe has a distinct and raw vibe and still manages stay in tune with its African and French roots.

  • Grande Terre  Perfect for surfing, Creole inspired food markets and white sand beaches. 

One of the many stunning beaches on Grande Terre

A collection of Caribbean spices at a market in Grande Terre

  • Basse Terre  A perfect stop off to visit waterfalls, diving, natural beauty spots including the national park and natural hot baths. 

Basse Terre

  • La Désirade   

La Désirade

  • Iles des Saintes – This archipelagio within the archipelago is a sailors paradise, ideal for exploring on bike and for water activities such as paddleboarding. 

Iles des Saintes

  • Marie-Galante  Well known for beaches such as La Feuillère, its stunning coral reef and 19th century sugar-cane plantation. 

Or If you fancy visiting even more islands you can always sail to to neighbouring islands of Antigua (33 nautical miles), Dominica (26 nautical miles) or Martinique (52 nautical miles).  

2. The perfect blend of Rhum and Croissants
Due to its French legacy, every street in this Creole paradise will have a French Patisserie and, most definitely, a Rhumerie. Creole specialities are diverse from every other Caribbean island and typically include accras de morue (cod fritters), bananes flambées, fricassé de poulpe (octopus) and even a deep fried ‘Bokit’ sandwich with a variety of French fillings. It may be the only place in the world where a relaxing two hour lunch is acceptable. To begin, a Ti’Punch, a rum based aperitif, followed by a Caribbean curry and a bottle of French wine. From the finest of restaurants to street shacks, you are guaranteed to be able to find some of the most diverse food and drink that the Caribbean has to offer.

3. Diving
The diving schools on the Reserve Cousteau are among the most reputable in the world. There is even a Jacques Cousteau statue at one of the dive sites. The relaxed nature of these French dive schools will give you an authentic experience exploring these crystal waters, and the opportunity to see some of the largest varieties of fish in the Caribbean. There area multitude of diving options from snorkelling, first time diving, exploring or deep shipwreck dives.

4. The Beaches
There are 270 beaches spread across the islands of Guadeloupe and all are known to be gorgeous. There are both white and black sand beaches and even volcanos in the distant landscape. Each beach has a different vibe and many have quaint beach bars that serve planteur until the early hours.

5. Accessibility
There are direct flights from Miami, New York and Paris to Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe’s main airport, which makes this archipelago of islands a must-visit for your next charter. There is also a ferry service from Antigua and many flights from other Caribbean islands.

Boatbookings has been organising charters in the Caribbean for over 14 years. If you are interested in chartering a yacht in Guadeloupe, please do get in touch with our expert brokers here. We have yachts available for charter in many amazing Caribbean destinations.

For further information about passports and visas when visiting Guadeloupe, click here.

La Vie en Rosé!

Rosé is undoubtedly the drink for warm summer days, with its pink hue and delicate palette perfectly complimenting blue skies and sparkling seas. France is known to produce some of the most exquisite wines in the world; from Provence to Bordeaux and Bandol, there are hundreds of unique wines to choose from. This is why we have rounded up a selection of stunning rosés that are suitable for sipping on your fabulous yacht charter, lounging along the Riviera, or to enjoy anywhere across the globe…

CHTEAU ROUBINE – Côtes de Provence Cru Classé 
InSpire rosé 2017
Tibouren 90%, rolle 5%, grenache 5%
Medium-pale in colour, with complex sweet, fruity flavours, it is fresh on the palette and has a long finish.

CHTEAU SAINTE ROSELINE – Côtes de Provence Cru Classé 
Roseline Chapel 2017
Mourvèdre 55%, cinsault 30%, Grenache 10%, rolle 5%
Incorporates an aroma of spices and exotic fruits, highlighted by lovely acidic notes of grapefruit and pale in colour.

CHTEAU BROWN – Bordeaux Rosé
Rosé 2017
Merlot 100%
A deep pink hue in colour, this wine is dominated by flavours of strawberry, with light hints of vanilla and cinnamon, creating a rich and intense flavour.

BAUDRY-DUTOUR – Chinon 
Marie-Justine rose 2017
Cabernet-franc 100%
This deep pink rosé gives notes of sweet fresh fruits make this wine ideal to accompany spicy dishes and fine cured meats.

JOSEPH MELLOT – Sancerre
The Rosé Rabault 2017
Pinot noir 100%
This elegant wine incapsulates floral notes with accents of raspberries, strawberries and redcurrants, giving a delightful flavour of fresh fruit, presented in a medium-pink hue.

DOMAINE DE FONTENILLE – Luberon
Rosé 2017
Grenache 50%, Syrah 20%, Cinsault 20%, Mourvèdre 10%
With delicate flavours of rose and peach, the wine offers a smooth touch and an intense culmination of flavours to match its pale rosy hue.

ÉLIE SUMEIRE – Côtes de Provence Sainte Victoire 
Rosé 2017
Grenache 60%, cinsault 30%, syrah 10%
A light freshness with plum notes and a lingering sweetness makes this wine very drinkable; the colour is pale with a coral hue.

ROSELINE – Côtes de Provence
Roseline prestige rosé 2017
Cinsault, Grenache, Syrah
A lively and intense rosé with a freshness associated with the vineyards of Provence, the flavour on the palate is lengthy and extremely pleasant.

DOMAINE DE LA MORDORÉE – Tavel 
The rosewood queen 2017
Grenache 60%, Clairette 15%, Syrah 10%, Cinsault 15%, Bourboulenc 5%
This rosé has a strong and intense colour, accompanied by complex floral aromas of white and red flowers and fruits, as well as minty notes, making its finish airy and light.

CHTEAU PILLOW – Côtes de Provence Sainte Victoire
César with Sumeire rosé 2017
Grenache 60%, Syrah 40%
With a pale pink colour and a delicate flavour of citrusy grapefruit and pineapple, this rosé is underpinned by floral notes of carnation and hawthorn.

These delicious rosés are the perfect compliment to a day charter, week-long charter or a corporate event, as you sit on deck; the Boatbookings team would be happy to give recommendations to find you the perfect wine to accompany whatever you choose to do!