A Caribbean yacht charter vacation is a great way to kick the blues. Now, a popular sailing charter yacht wants to help you sing the blues!
SAILBOAT MAKAYABELLA
Book sail yacht MAKAYABELLA during the Bequia Mount Gay Music Festival (January 26th – 29th, 2012). The yacht’s crew, John and Sue, provide the guests with multiple items. For instance, complimentary tickets to BOTH the Friday and Saturday night performances.
BEQUIA MOUNT GAY MUSIC FESTIVAL
Outstanding performances by local, regional and international artists has made this music festival one of the “must see” fixtures on the Caribbean season’s calendar. The event kicks off with Dana Gillespie and her London Blues Band’s performance on Friday night and lasts for four days. The festival has received rave reviews since its inception and precedes the 14-day Mustique Blues Festival.
MAIN STAGE – DE REEF
The main venue and stage is located at De Reef, right on the beach in Lower Bay, Bequia, with the big performances on Friday and Saturday night – followed by lazy Sunday afternoon “limin’” music to close out the weekend.
Sailing yacht, Makayabella
SAILBOAT ACCOMMODATIONS
The cozy sailboat MAKAYABELLA can accommodate 6 guests in 4 cabins. The Master cabin has a double bed, shower and toilet. 2 Guest cabins have a twin bed, shower and toilet. A Guest cabin has a double bed, shower and toilet. All cabins are ensuite. On warm evenings, the yacht offers air conditioning in the saloon.
John and Sue of sailboat MAKAYABELLA
SAILBOAT CREW
John and Sue have taken guests to this event for the last few years and they report everyone has a great time.
“We feel it’s a great event,” says John, “and very much worth promoting as a focal point of a charter here in the Grenadines.”
FREE GIFT WITH CHARTER
If you’re a music lover and looking for a unique charter experience, plan a yachting holiday onboard sail yacht MAKAYABELLA around the festival’s dates, and John and Sue will throw in the tickets – free of charge.
It’s hard to believe the 2012 London Olympic Games are less than one year from now. As the games draws closer, it’s expected more than a dozen luxury mega yacht charter vessels will be available for hire along the fabled Thames river.
SUPERYACHTS AVAILABLE
One of the first yachts to commit to the London games is the 75 meter motor yacht LEANDER. The massive superyacht will be available from the evening of the 27th July.
Yacht Leander accommodates twelve guests. She has ten luxurious staterooms, including two master suites on the main deck. In addition, accommodations exist for up to four staff members (nannies, bodyguards, etc.). White glove service is provided. In specific, by the yacht’s highly-trained crew of 25. Captain Julian Cope leads the crew.
LEANDER G DETAILS
She has multiple roomy saloons. In addition, spacious deck areas throughout. An assortment of amenities are available. For instance, a fully-equipped gym. Additionally, a swimming pool with counter current and Jacuzzi-style jets. A 2003 launch, Leander G maintenance is to highest standards. Her equipment is updated.
RATE
Leander’s weekly rate during the London Olympics is €455,000 plus all expenses.
Crewed catamaran charters are a wonderful vacation for active and adventurous travelers.
Most catamarans feature a large assortment of water toys. For instance, sea kayaks, towable tubes, snorkel gear, and towable bananas. Also included in watersports activities are hamster balls (clear ball for walking on water), trampolines (that sit on the water), SeaDoos, paddleboards, and skurfers. There are many fun activities and toys to enjoy on a catamaran vacation. The previous items are just a few.
Many catamarans also offer SCUBA for certified divers. If guests aren’t certified but want to try it, they are able! They can take a resort course from the yacht, as well!
Bahamas yacht charter catamarans receive special treatment. They are often visited by swimming pigs that live on Big Major Cay, better known as “Pig Beach.” The pigs swim out to the boats. You can also swim with them, give them approved treats, and take lots of selfies!
Ah, life is good for film star Leonardo DiCaprio. He is dating “Gossip Girl” actress Blake Lively. First, we see Leo relaxing onboard motoryacht SEVEN SEAS, Steven Spielberg‘s multi-million dollar superyacht, during the recent Cannes Film Festival 2011.
Now we hear di Caprio news. He is about to take delivery of a 2012 Fisker Karma hybrid luxury sports sedan. And not just any Fisker Karma – the very first one ever built.
LEONARDO DiCAPRIO HYBRID CAR
The actor leads the green enviro movement in Hollywood. His latest toy, like his Toyota Prius, is built with sustainability in mind. The Karma is designed by Henrik Fisker, formerly of Aston Martin, and has been developed around an aluminium chassis.
ABOUT THE KARMA
A pair of electric motors totaling 403hp powers The plug-in Karma. The first is a 22 kWh lithium ion battery. The second is a 175kW generator via a 2.2L gas engine.
Even with its eco-friendly background, the Karma features a 125mph top speed. It goes from 0 to 60 mph in 5.8 seconds.
WHO HAS HYBRID CARS?
Also waiting in line for his own hybrid is Al “An Inconvenient Truth” Gore.
You deserve to join the fun! Charter a sailboat and partake of the Florida Keys festivities!
WHAT IS FANTASY FEST?
Key West has parades, street parties, and thousands of adult revelers in zany costumes at Fantasy Fest. It happens for one week in October. This year’s event is October 21 through 30, 2011.
CATAMARAN SURPRISE
Sail catamaran SURPRISE is offering a unique Florida yacht charter opportunity to sail to Key West from Miami, Florida. Guests also enjoy the Fantasy Fest festivities from the comfort of this 48′ luxury sailing charter catamaran.
AQUATIC AFOLIC THEME
Similar to the Mardi Gras-themed events in New Orleans, Fantasy Fest is an adult-oriented Halloween festival. This year’s theme is “Aquatic Afrolic” and offers a sea of opportunities to create a one-of-a-kind costume extravaganza, ranging from marvelous mermaids to outlandish ocean-faring sea creatures.
COSTUME VARIETY
While full nudity is not permitted, many scantily-clad party goers wear outrageous, brightly-colored costumes, or simply opt for strategically drawn body paint and glitter in lieu of shirts and bikini tops.
PRETENDERS IN PARADISE COSTUME PARTY
There are parades and costume contest each evening, the largest being the “Pretenders in Paradise” Costume Party hosted by the Pier House Resort and Caribbean Spa. Major event sponsors include Captain Morgan Rum and the Florida Keys Tourism Association.Sailing yacht SURPRISE is a 48′ catamaran with accommodations for 2 couples. Her crew of two, Corky and Sue Clark have sailed for years throughout South Florida and the Caribbean. During Fantasy Fest, charter guests can spend the days sailing and exploring the beaches and shallow reefs of the lower Florida Keys, and at night hit the streets for the endless parties and festivities.
CATAMARAN CHARTER RATES
Standard charter rates apply: $8,500/wk for 2 passengers and $9,950/wk for 4 guests. Rates are all-inclusive (include meals and ship’s bar). Local taxes apply.
We profiled the new Mercedes Benz-style helicopter, the EC145. Its use as an air tender on mega yacht charter vessels is popular.
Several readers contacted us. They said the future air tender might be a plane, and not a helicopter. We decided to investigate further.
As we stated in June,
“In the rarified air of multimillion dollar superyachts and gigayachts, helipads on luxury mega yacht charter vessels like motor yacht AIR and motor yacht MOONLIGHT II commonplace…”
4 REASONS FOR SEAPLANES
To illustrate, there are four compelling reasons behind the seaplane advantage. Specifically, acquisition cost, maintenance cost, payload, and range outweigh helicopters.
Similarly, it is often more affordable to buy and maintain a seaplane. Compared to a helicopter; we found payload comparisons vary. This is because of the type of airship. Seaplanes far exceed the range of typical helicopters.
SPECIAL LIGHT SPORT AIRCRAFT
The new generation of planes, specifically, Special Light Sport Aircraft, are the new item.
In general, sports aircraft are cheaper to build than most helicopters. With fewer training hours required, it is also easier and less expensive for people to get a sport pilot license as compared to a traditional pilot’s license.
ICON A5 PLANE
As a tender to a luxury yacht charter vessel, the most interesting new sports plane is the Icon A5, slated for full production later this year. The A5 is a 2-seat composite amphibian. Weighing just 1000 pounds, the plane features folding wings, allowing the aircraft to be stored onboard a yacht in a space no larger than 28 by 9 feet.
With a price of just $135,000, the Icon A5 could prove to be the low cost air tender of the future.
Readers ask for more information on superyacht Air – the largest Feadship offered for rent – so we deliver! In the past, we profiled the launch of motor yacht AIR, which prompted discussion.
Superyacht AIR surpassed all expectations during her sea trials and her owner is scheduled to take delivery in just under two weeks. Shortly after, she will depart Holland and head straight to Monte Carlo to undertake her July Mediterranean yacht charter booking commitments.
WHERE IS SHE LOCATED?
Joining a fleet of the largest yachts for hire, the gigayacht still has open charter dates in the months of August and September. At the conclusion of the summer season, the yacht will re-position across the Atlantic and join the St. Martin yacht charter fleet.
WHAT MAKES AIR SPECIAL
Feadship yacht AIR is helmed by co-captains Stephen Warren and Mark Finch and boasts a young and enthusiastic crew, including an excellent young British chef, new to the industry. They are all looking forward to a spectacular season.
The yacht features a sleek, elegant exterior with a unique matte black steel hull. The minimalist interior, created by Remi Tessier, is stunning. Amenities include an 8 meter-long pool located on the main deck forward, and a sun deck with full gym and Jacuzzi. Other features include an elevator to all decks, massage and steam rooms, and a fully-certified commercial helicopter pad (helipad).
You’ve been looking forward to this day for months. You’re at the airport, and you are ready to board a flight that will take you to your rented yacht. You finally proceed to begin your Virgin Islands yacht charter vacation. As you pass through the new airport body scanner, it crosses your mind that you may be concerned about the radiation and what this exposure could mean for you.
Some researchers agree.
ARE AIRPORT BODY SCANNERS SAFE?
“We are very concerned about that being imposed on travelers,” says Dr. Robert Stroud, a professor of biophysics at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF). In a letter sent to the White House, Stroud and his researchers shared their concerns. “I don’t think we do know what risk we are taking. X-rays are intrinsically ionizing radiation. They damage human tissue,” says Stroud.
The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and the Federal Government assure the public that passing through the body scanner is safe. A TSA spokesperson even stated, “We consider it a miniscule amount of radiation.”
SCIENTISTS DISAGREE
The scientists at UCSF believe that it is time for outside scientists to take a closer look at airport body scanners and their risk.
“I do think it is time for an independent investigation that really allows people to understand what the risk is that they take going through the scanner,” says Stroud.
“If you have a concern about the exposure to x-rays coming from the body scanner, simply opt for the pat down,” says Sheeder. “When you are on your way to enjoy a luxury yacht charter in the islands, the last thing you need is more travel-related stress!”
Small to mid-sized luxury sailing charter yachts often offer all-inclusive charter packages. Specifically in the Virgin Islands. Their larger megayacht counterparts are hesitant to do the same. Superyachts opt for a la carte pricing. They simply charge customers for each and every expense incurred. For instance food, alcohol, dockage, etc.
This summer, Captain Bernard Calot and his crew of 5 buck that trend. They offer all-inclusive mega yacht charter vacations in the Virgin Islands onboard the 121′ motor yacht OLGA!
From May 15 through September 1, 2011, an all-inclusive rate of $69,900 per week will be offered. In addition, a price of $55,000 per week for shorter 5 day odysseys.
Rates are valid for up to 8 persons. They include fuel, food, soft drinks, ship’s bar, and selective dockage. Specialty items such as vintage wines and premium spirits are available. Subsequently, at extra cost.
This special rate even includes spa treatments. In addition, manicures. More importantly, from the yacht’s onboard certified massage therapist! (What a perfect wedding anniversary vacation!)
Launched in 2003, Crescent motor yacht OLGA is an incredibly clean and well-maintained yacht. She is a Jack Sarin design. The yacht features a beautiful hard wood interior. In specific, Sapele and Pomele Mahogany. The woods are complimented by tasteful, upscale furnishings.
The yacht’s full-time chef, Claire, is Cordon Bleu-trained. Captain Bernard, Mate Clem, and deckhand Rafael can help you burn off the extra calories. Specifically, through water activities including Scuba diving from the yacht for certified divers. In addition to SCUBA, this well-equipped yacht is set up for fun on the water. It carries an extensive inventory of toys. For instance, snorkel gear, kayaks, and a Hobie Wave catamaran. In addition, waterskis, towable toys, fishing equipment, and a 22’ highspeed tender.
When it comes to a keen sense for talent, creativity and style, few can argue with Simon Cowell’s success. The television and music industry mogul has helped launch the careers of dozens of entertainers, while his brutal honesty has made him a household name in America.
SUPERYACHTS
Amazingly, his sense of style and panache extends far beyond the entertainment industry, into the realm of the world’s newest and largest luxury yachts, as witnessed by Cowell’s own show-winning vessel, motor yacht SLIPSTREAM.
SLIPSTREAM AND COWELL
We first introduced you to American Idol Simon Cowell motor yacht SLIPSTREAM at the 2009 Genoa yacht show. Built by France’s CMN Shipyard, their largest yacht to date, Simon Cowell’s yacht SLIPSTREAM is one of the chicest crafts on the water.
YACHT DECOR
Cowell’s yacht décor is a super-stylish mélange of modern and nautical, taking full advantage of the yacht’s panoramic windows. The vessel’s interiors are finished in a neo-Art Deco style combining dark ebony joinery and red leather paneling. The sun-deck is fitted with a spa, sun-pads, bar with BBQ, and al fresco dining area, and the yacht comes equipped with a cutting-edge home entertainment system including video on demand and a satellite communications center.
Like her owner, most often seen wearing a crisp, black T-shirt, the yacht presents a dramatic appearance with her gleaming black hull.
ACCOMMODATIONS
With room to accommodate up to 14 Guests, and 200 square meters of outdoor decks, expect to see this vessel hosting fellow entertainers and celebrities at events like the upcoming Cannes Film Festival 2011 and the Monaco Grand Prix.
PRODUCTION COMPANY
Cowell has a U.K.-based production company, SYCO. They produce BAFTA Award-winning show, The X Factor. Specifically, it has topped the charts in England. He also produces and judges Britain’s Got Talent. Of course, here in the states he is best known for starring in American Idolfor 9 seasons, and for serving as executive-producer of America’s Got Talent.
AWARD-WINNING YACHT
What a strange twist. The man who professionally judges style and talent had an experience. He saw his beloved superyacht placed before a jury of judges. In October 2010, Cowell’s yacht won the prestigious ShowBoats Design Award for Best Exterior Design & Styling.
RATES
Prices onboard Simon Cowell’s yacht SLIPSTREAM begin at 315,000 Euros per week.
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