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Yearly Archives: 2009

Sailing Superyacht Salperton IV Launches in New Zealand

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UPDATE!   Sailing yacht SALPERTON IV renamed PALMIRA, and had full refit in 2017.
Built by Fitzroy Yachts, the sailing superyacht Salperton IV has recently been launched.  Salperton IV is 45 meters in length.   In addition, she is the latest superyacht to be built by Fitzroy Yachts of New Zealand.  This yacht is one meter longer than Salperton III.

Salperton IV sailboat


Fingers are crossed that the Mediterranean yacht charter fleet will soon welcome yacht Salperton IV to the family.  Earlier incarnations of Salperton have spent years delivering mega yacht charter holidays to customers around the world.  Two of the earlier vessels are still available for sail boat charters under the current names of Northern Spirit (37 meters) and Drumbeat (53 meters).

Sail boat charters are extremely popular in the Caribbean, and all eyes are upon this latest incarnation. The superyacht cost an estimated $30 million.  She is 215 tons, took two years to build, and is the eighth megayacht that Fitzroy has built in the past 12 years.
Accommodations include four en suite state rooms and three crew cabins. For extra luxury, she also has a gym and a spa pool.
260,000 hours have gone into the construction of the (hopefully soon-to-be) luxury sailing charter vessel.  She has many features.  For instance, she is fully air-conditioned, has her own sewage treatment station, and can make 15 tons of water per day.  Additionally, she carries 30 tons of fuel, and has a 850-horsepower Cat engine, in case there is no wind.
It is the second yacht the company has built for British owner, Barry Houghton.  The earlier Salperton III was launched in 2007, the company’s 10th anniversary, and won two international awards the next year.  The design concept for number IV was for a yacht which sails and performs even better than number III.
As with number III, Adam Lay Studio came back to create the yacht’s interior design work.
It has been reported that the yacht departed New Zealand today, with her owner onboard, for a three month Pacific cruise. The sailing yacht will then cruise the Caribbean, before heading up in the Mediterranean in the summer of 2010.

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Sardinia Luxury Tax on Mediterranean Yacht Charter Vessels Abolished

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Photograph of a secluded cove in Sardinia. View from the top of a rocky cliff, looking down into a cove with turquoise water and beach.

 

LUXURY TAX ABOLISHED

The recent Mediterranean Yacht Charter show in Genoa, Italy, learned that the 3 year old Sardinia Luxury Tax is no more.

 

ABOUT THE TAX

The repeal of the Sardinia Luxury Tax is especially good news to charter enthusiasts. Anyone considering a yachting vacation in the Mediterranean is fortunate.  The law stipulated.  In specific, superyacht vessels berthed in any port in Sardinia had to pay up to €15,000 Euros for their sojourn.

Fulvio Luise, Managing Partner of Luise Group, made the announcement.  This was done at the Genoa gathering of 65 megayacht charter vessels.  Dozens of yacht charter brokers and yachting journalists were also in attendance.. Said Luise, for instance, “This is a very significant step forward for everyone who works in the yachting and luxury sector in Sardinia.”

ARTICLE 2

On Wednesday, May 6, 2009, the local regional government of Sardinia approved Article 2 of the Financial Regional Act. The approval of this act effectively cancels the law known as the “luxury tax” in Sardinia. This tax, in effect since 2006, was felt throughout the tourism industry and had a serious negative effect on the local tourism economy.

 

CONSORTIUM COMMENT

Il Consorzio Rete dei Porti Sardegna (The Consortium of Sardinian Touristic Ports) is pleased about the cancellation. In a released statement, the consortium said, “In the past three years, there has been a decline of approximately 50 per cent in the number of yachts present in Sardinian ports. This tax had a visibly negative result on Sardinia’s image as a premier vacation destination worldwide.”

Other regions in the Mediterranean actively try to promote their regions.  In particular with regards to high quality tourism, the tax in Sardinia had an opposite effect.

LUXURY TAX IMPLICATIONS ON YACHTING

“Despite our best efforts in the past three years to help clients understand this tax, we faced enormous challenges and incurred a drop of approximately 20-25 per cent each year in superyacht vessels traveling to Sardinia,” stated Renato Azara, Managing Partner of Sardinia Yacht Services. “We have been working very closely with the local authorities for the past three years, first in trying to have modifications made to the law, and secondly in its cancellation. We were successful on both points.”

Finally, the megayacht industry is an important economic component of Sardinia’s tourism industry.  This is especially important as it relates to luxury yacht charter.  Owners of mega yacht and superyacht vessels attending the Genoa show expressed pleasure.  In conclusion, as one owner stated, “We now have a positive relationship with the local authorities.  In addition, they have a full understanding of the potential of the Sardinia market.”

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Seventh Heaven Yacht Club Opens for Megayachts on Island of Ischia

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MEDITERRANEAN YACHT CHARTER

You are planning a luxury mega yacht charter this summer on a Mediterranean yacht.  The Luise Group, leaders in maritime agency services to the superyacht industry, makes an announcement.  They took over management of the Ponente Quay (Molo di Ponente) of Lacco Ameno on the Island of Ischia.

NEW MARINA NAME

The marina known previously as Heaven’s Quay.  Further, it is renamed The Seventh Heaven Yacht Club.

 

WHERE IS ISCHIA?

It is a volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea.  In specific, about 30 kilometers from Naples, Italy, at the northern end of the Gulf of Naples.  It is a frequent destination for sail boat charters and mega yacht charters.

Ischia Island superyacht marina

IS IT A LARGE MARINA?

The Seventh Heaven Yacht Club, located on the northern part of island of Ischia, can accommodate twelve mega yachts, and the marina covers an area close to 16,000 square metres. The pier, which is 140 metres in length, offers all essential necessities including water, electricity, and mooring posts.

The renamed facility will now figure prominently among the most prestigious ports and marinas that are currently managed by the Luise Group.

Luise Associates is the branch of Luise Group with an exclusive dedication. In specific, to maritime agency services for mega yachts. They work with over 600 yachts cruising. Further, in the Gulf of Naples each year.

 

LUISE GROUP COMMENTS

Francesco Luise, Managing Partner of Luise Group commented, “We are very proud to be able to take under our management the main dock in Lacco Ameno, Ischia. Although the area of Lacco Ameno is one of the smallest counties on the Island of Ischia, it is a prestigious and visually beautiful location for superyachts to berth. The Seventh Heaven Yacht Club will permit us to have a permanent presence in the area while continuing to provide the best in maritime agency services to our clients.”

 

HOW TO BOOK A YACHT CHARTER IN ITALY

Are you ready to plan your yacht charter in Italy?  Contact us at 1-800 Yacht Charters at https://www.1800yachtcharters.com/book-now-contact-us/, and we will get it started for you!

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Sharks No Problem On Yacht Charter

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NORTH AMERICAN SHARK ATTACK!

Yikes, did that get your attention?  Perhaps you are planning a mega yacht charter or a luxury sailing charter. You are wondering if “Jaws”  is out there in the deep blue.  A giant shark waiting to take a bite out of your vacation.

 

NO PROBLEM ON YACHT CHARTER

If you’re planning a Florida or Bahama yacht charter, for example, you have little to worry about.  Shark attacks of people swimming from their luxury yacht charter vessels an unheard of occurrence!  These incredible creatures don’t want to be around a lot of activity and motorized toys and large yachts…

 

GO GREEN – NO SHARKS

Before people became green and eco-conscious travelers, boaters used to often throw garbage overboard. Now, the real danger is to those land lubbers putting a toe in the water at the beach.

Photograph of a shark under water. It is swimming over a rocky reef.

LIST OF THE TOP 10 BEACHES WITH SHARK ATTACKS

Here is some educational information, in case you have friends who aren’t lucky enough to own a superyacht or prefer luxury sailing charter vacations. Feel free to share this information with them.

  1. New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

    Due to its thousands of annual beachgoers, and toothy inhabitants hunting offshore, New Smyrna is the shark attack capital of the world. That’s according to the International Shark Attack File (ISAF), which cites 210 attacks in the beach’s home county of Volusia, Florida.  However, gorgeous weather, miles of white sand, and consistent surf breaks draw vacationers into New Smyrna’s waters.

  2. North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii

    No. 2 on the ISAF for unprovoked attacks is Oahu, where Tiger, Galapagos, and Sandbar Sharks congregate in high numbers, especially near beaches on the island’s north shore. This doesn’t stop surfers, who flock to Velzyland Beach, the Leftovers Break, and dozens of additional wave-beaten beaches where apex predators search and swim.

  3. Long Beach Island, New Jersey
    Source material for “Jaws,” a 1974 novel by Peter Benchley – and later a movie by Steven Spielberg – came from incidents at this New Jersey beach in 1916. In an unprecedented 11 days, five major attacks took place along the Jersey Shore, four of which were fatal. Reports cited blood turning the water red and sharks following victims toward the beach. Today, sharks are rare there, but the legend lives on in the surf and swells of these tepid Atlantic waters.

    THE NEXT 3

  4. West End, Grand Bahamas Island

    Though it didn’t happen at a beach, the death of an Austrian lawyer who was diving with them in February 2008 off the Bahamas has sharpened attention in these tropical waters, which Patrick Douglas, owner of Shark Diver, an ocean guiding outfit in San Francisco, said are “among the shark-iest places on the planet.” He has seen 14-foot-long tiger sharks offshore from beaches were thousands of tourists swim and sun each year.

  5. Stinson Beach, California

    In the shadow of Marin County’s Mt. Tamalpais, Stinson Beach is a spot where great white sharks swim into the shallows. Patrick Douglas said he has sighted them at Stinson – which is a neighboring stretch of sand east from Bolinas Beach (No. 3 on the list) – in less than 20 feet of water. “They’re coming to feed on seals, though it’s not uncommon for surfers to see them,” he said.

  6. Beaches of Brevard County, Florida

    In the past 100 years, there have been 90 reported shark confrontations on beaches in this county on Florida’s east coast. Visitors head east from Orlando to the ocean to dip their toes in the tepid waters at Cocoa Beach, Jetty Park, and Klondike Beach, a 24-mile-long wilderness beach accessible only by foot in Canaveral National Seashore preserve.

3 More

  1. Horry County (Myrtle Beach), South Carolina

    South Carolina has seen more than 50 total shark attacks over the past century, according to the International Shark Attack File. Of those, 16 attacks are recorded off the beaches of Horry County, where the town of Myrtle Beach is famous as a tourist destination. The good news: The International Shark Attack File cites no fatal shark attacks in South Carolina since 1852.

  2. Solana Beach, California

    A freak great white attack in 2008 at Solana Beach in San Diego County, California, killed a 66-year-old swimmer. He was on a morning swim, training with a group when the attack occurred. Solana Beach, home to a population of seals, is at the periphery of the corridor where great sharks commonly roam.

  3. Galveston, Texas

    The International Shark Attack File cites one fatality and 12 attacks since 1911 at the beaches of Galveston, Texas, which is a city on an island on the Gulf Coast. It is by no means an attack hot spot, but swimmers are justified in their concern as to what’s roaming offshore.

AND THE FINAL

  1. Zihuatanejo, Mexico

    Over the course of a month last spring, the beaches near Zihuatanejo, a city on the Pacific Coast north of Acapulco, saw three shark attacks and two fatalities. A shark hunt ensued, with local fisherman baiting lines and patrolling waters where surfers regularly bob.

HOW TO RENT A PRIVATE YACHT

You are ready to rent a yacht, so who do you call? Contact 1-800 Yacht Charters at https://www.1800yachtcharters.com/book-now-contact-us/ TODAY, and we’ll plan a wonderful vacation with you!

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Snorkeling is a Must During Bahama Yacht Charters

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Sure, you can see the tropical fish and marine life while standing in a crowded tunnel of a glass aquarium at a glitzy high-rise Bahamian resort.
Is that why you chose to enjoy a Bahama yacht charter vacation on  luxury sailing charter yacht?  Of course not!  

It’s time to get up-close and personal with Bahamas sea life, and the best way to do that is to rent a private yacht and snorkel with them!

To really get to know and understand the fish, coral reefs, and all those ship wrecks is to put on a pair of goggles, grab some flippers, and dive right in.

 Explore on your own, right off the stern swim platform of your luxury sailing charter vessel.
 
boy snorkeling on a reef of tropical fish

Bahama yacht charters offer you a chance to snorkel in warm, clear, blue water that is calm almost every day.  The sunlight that pierces the surface actually sparkles as the light reflects back from the white sandy bottom of the ocean floor. It is an unforgettable experience.

There are miles of lush coral reefs all around the islands of the Bahamas. This means snorkeling during Bahamas yacht charters is soooo easy for first-timers, yet is filled with plenty of excitement for repeat luxury sailing charter customers, as well.  You see different fish and marine life on each dive.
Every island is surrounded by shallow reefs, many of them within a few feet of the surface.
The only prerequisite for a fun snorkel adventure (“skin diving”) is the ability to swim. In addition, a general curiosity for the world under the sea!

A sail boat charter or a luxury mega yacht charter is a breeze to arrange.  Contact the pros at 1-800-YACHT CHARTERS or email info@1800yachtcharters, and we will have you snorkeling right away!

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Superyacht Sales in September 2009

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Aerial photograph of superyacht BOADICEA.  She has a grey hull and a white superstructure. She is underway and is headed toward upper right corner of the photo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SELLING NEWS IN THE YACHTING INDUSTRY

Megayacht charter customers take heart – the luxury yacht industry is alive and well.  Superyacht sales soar in September 2009.  Without active purchases and sales of yachts, there is no viable luxury sailing charter or megayacht rental industry.  All sales bode well for the future.

 

YACHT SALES BREAK RECORDS

September saw a number of 2009 brokerage sales records broken.  In conclusion, 24 superyachts sell at asking prices totaling nearly 374 million EUROS. This is well above the combined total of July and August of 340 million EUROS.  January to the end of April add to the number of superyachts with new owners – all to the tune of 372 million EUROS.

 

ACTUAL YACHT SALES

A few sample yachts finding new owners include:

  • 59.4m Lurssen OASIS
  • 70.5m Amels BOADICEA
  • 56m Benetti ALLEGRO,
  • 64.5m Amels SHANTI

YACHT MANAGER COMMENT

Charlie Birkett, a yachting employee, comments:

Understandably, expectations for what was once the start of the busiest season for yacht sales were conservative across the industry this year, and major brokerage houses reacted cautiously even to the apparent signs of recovery in August. However going into September we saw recovery consolidated somewhat with sales of the 60m+ yachts of prestigious yards and, speaking to other leading brokers at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show, the mood was certainly more optimistic.

 

Basically, what his quote expresses is that the season starts slowly due to the economy, and as sales pick up, optimism grows.

WHO TO CALL TO CHARTER OR BUY A YACHT?

Contact the professionals at SailAway Yacht Charter Consultants at 1-800-YACHTCHARTERS or email info@1800yachtcharters.com to charter a luxury motor yacht or sailing vessel.

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Trinity Yacht Charter Fans to Delight at FLIBS

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Trinity Yacht Bacarella photograph. Picture taken at the waterline as the yacht is at anchor. She is facing the right side of the picture frame.

TRINITY YACHTS AT FLIBS

If there is one name that is echoed time and time again by our charter clients, it is Trinity Yachts. 

Perini Navi, Benetti, and Feadship enthusiasts appear at the show, and above all, the record number of Trinity luxury yacht charter superyachts attend the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) is amazing.

SHOW MANAGEMENT COMMENTS

Trinity fans smile.

Andrew Doole of Show Management reports this years Golden Anniversary of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) attracted an amazing 149 superyachts over 30 meter on display. 

 

YACHTS IN ATTENDANCE

The Trinity list is headed by the 196′ BACARELLA and closely followed by the 177′ KATHERINE.

Not to be missed are ANGILIS, WHEELS, BLIND DATE, BIG CITY, LADY LINDA, VITA, and MY IRIS.

The aforementioned Trinity superyachts are only a sampling at the show.  However, there are megayachts on display for all desires.  As a result, all yacht charter fans rejoice.

WHAT TIME IS THE SHOW? 

Prime Time Trinity preview is on Thursday, October 29th from 10am to 7pm.  The show is open to the general public at the same times.  FLIBS is held from Friday, October 30th to Sunday, November 1st.  Finally, the show ends at 5pm on Monday, November 2nd.

 

1-800 YACHT CHARTERS IS HAPPY TO ESCORT YOU

Your 1-800 Yacht Charters representatives will be on hand to offer personal inspections .  We will also discuss custom itineraries for upcoming Thanksgiving and year-end holidays.  We are standing by ready to assist you. 

 

HOW TO REACH 1-800 YACHT CHARTERS?

In conclusion, simply contact us at https://www.1800yachtcharters.com/book-now-contact-us/ to plan your show attendance.

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What Kind of Island Vacation to Take this Summer?

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You have a few island vacation options for this summer:
Cruise vacation to the British Virgin Islands?
Self-drive sail or motor bareboat charter in the Bahamas?
Hotel stay in the Florida Keys?

Hmm.  Your choice?

Bareboat Bahama yacht charters, of course!

Island fun in the Bahamas. Photograph of two swimming pigs in the Bahamas. They are climbing up on the back of a powerboat. One pig is pink. One pig is black.  The pink pig seems to be smiling. The water behind them is clear and turquoise. the boat is white.  They are hanging on with their front legs.

But what is there to do on a bareboat charter in the tropics?

Sail to Allan’s Cay in the Exumas and feed the friendly iguanas that live there

Visit the famous swimming pigs on Big Major Cay

Relax on the pink sand beach of Harbour Island

Learn to scuba dive in Freeport

Have a romantic, private picnic on Three Sisters Beach

Snorkel among tropical fish on Rainbow Gardens Reef

Go ashore and visit the Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park

Gamble at the casino or see a live concert at the Atlantis Resort on Paradise Island

Haggle with vendors of handmade merchandise in Nassau’s famous Straw Market

Rent a scooter and tour Grand Bahama Island

Swim with dolphins with UNEXSO in Freeport

…or if you’d rather, you can simply remain onboard your bareboat yacht and just enjoy the calm waters and smooth sailing of the beautiful Bahamas!

Who do you call to plan that picture perfect vacation?  Contact your professional bareboat yacht charter brokers at 1-800 Bareboat and 1-800 Yacht Charters at https://www.1800yachtcharters.com/book-now-contact-us/, and we will plan your vacation for you right away!  With access to the newest and largest yachts in the best destinations, we’ve got you covered!

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What to Pack for a Sailboat Vacation

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Person in horizontal blue and white striped shirt. He is holding a duffle bag. The bag is navy blue with a yellow vertical stripe.

 

PLAN AND PACK

Yikes! What to pack?  In just over three weeks, you leave on a week-long Bahama yacht charter vacation. You choose a sleek, performance, basic sailing yacht with crew.  Your menu provided to your yacht through your charter broker, and your crew is ready to welcome you aboard.  Seriously, what do you pack?

WHAT TO BRING?

Most importantly, remember that you need to pack in soft-sided luggage (duffel bag) since space is at a premium on sail boat charters.

Since you’ll be enjoying fun in the sun and a tropical environment, the most important essentials to bring are:

  • Sunscreen (lotion, not oil, on a boat)
  • T-shirts
  • Shorts
  • Swimsuit
  • Oversized beach towel
  • Sunglasses (Costas are a favorite when on water)
  • Sun visor or hat
  • Long t-shirt or light cover-up for over your swimsuit for sunburn
  • Summerweight clothing for going out at night, if you choose
  • Pants
  • Skirts
  • Sundresses
  • Tops

PACKING FOR DRESS CODE

The Bahamas are very casual and tropical!  Some finer establishments require jackets for the men, so use common sense when planning your “dining out attire,” and don’t wear blue jeans, should you choose to to go nicer restaurants.

Chefs on yacht charter boats are amazing. You may always want to dine and stay onboard and not even worry about bringing dressy casual clothing!

Most charter guests are barefoot for the majority of their vacation time onboard, but if you choose to wear shoes, pack and wear soft-soled shoes without black soles (that can scuff the deck) for above deck.

 

CAUTION, SUN WORSHIPPERS

You don’t want to get sunburned on day 1 of your trip, then spend the rest of your vacation in pain or peeling.  Don’t forget to pack a protective sun hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, oversized beach towel (not supplied by most yachts), and anything that you like to wear or have with you when spending time on the beach.  If you DO get sunburned, you’ll want to have aloe or burn cream with you (it’s expensive in the islands, and some primitive islands don’t not sell it at all) for protection.

 

CREW GRATUITY

To leave a gratuity for the crew at the end of your charter, most charter guests pack and bring an envelope to put on the Captain’s navigation station upon disembarking. (Customary gratuity for the crew is 10-15% of your yacht charter fee)

 

HOW TO PACK SUMMARY

Bottom line – do not worry about what you pack for your vacation.  Rule of thumb is that you only use half of what you pack, anyway, so you’ll surely have enough with you.  Soft-sided luggage is the key to convenient storage on Bahama yacht charters. If there is anything else that you need on your trip, you can surely get it during your charter.

Sail boat charters in the Bahamas are relaxing, casual, and stress-free.  (Remember, STRESSED is DESSERTS spelled backwards.  Since you are enjoying the total opposite of “stress” on this vacation, enjoy all of the gourmet desserts that you can!) Boat chefs are amazing!

 

HOW TO BOOK YOUR YACHT CHARTER

For more information and to book your sail or motor yacht charter vacation, contact 1-800-YACHTCHARTERS at https://www.1800yachtcharters.com/book-now-contact-us/

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