The Charter Yacht Brokers Association is CYBA. They announce 2017 winners of their campaign. This is the annual “Going Green To Save The Blue” cause. The crew onboard superyacht NERO places in the “Designer Water” contest. The contest recognizes crews of luxury yacht charter vessels. This award goes to crews acknowledging their “yacht-made” water. This is an effort to reduce. Disposable plastic water bottle use on yachts must decrease.
Jana Sheeder, President of 1-800 Yacht Charters and a CYBA member, explains the program. The underlying message is unquestionably urgent.
“Importantly, the campaign is designed to encourage yacht owners and crews to reduce, and eventually forego, the use of plastic water bottles by both the crews and the onboard luxury yacht charter guests. The goal is to raise awareness as to the massive volume of water bottles that are consumed during charters, and the impact disposable plastic has in our landfills and more importantly, our oceans.”
The “Designer Water” contest is annual. It occurs at the opening of the Caribbean yacht charter winter/spring season. At this time, the season sees more than a dozen private yacht charter vessels. In addition, crews showcase their “flavored” waters. Specifically, the waters generate from onboard watermakers that convert seawater into clean, safe drinking water.
This year’s winners are first, 111 foot sailing yacht REE for Hibiscus Martini Water. Second, 183 foot sailing yacht ROSEHEARTY wins for Moranga-infused Detoxifying Water. Third, 265 foot mega yacht NERO wins for Coriander and Passionfruit Water.
It should be noted that the CYBA campaign, “Going Green To Save The Blue,” strategizes dually . It encourages yacht owners and crews to offer eco-friendly options. Private yacht charter guests participate in this sustainable initiative. Hopefully, the guests return home with a clearer understanding of the impact of plastic pollution. In addition, how they can incorporate simple changes in their daily lives. They can make a difference in safeguarding our environment for future generations.
“The ‘Going Green’ campaign highlights the numerous opportunities and options available to our private yacht charter clients, yacht owners, and crews – from avoiding plastic water bottles, to using green cleaning products, reef-friendly sunscreens, and solar panels for energy,” says Sheeder. “We congratulate motor yacht NERO and her owner and crew and all of the other Caribbean yacht charter teams for their commitment to the long-term health of our oceans and the marine environment.”
In conclusion, turn to 1-800 Yacht Charters for yacht rentals. We are the company with the industry-leading Best Price Guarantee. In addition, we charter a fleet of Eco-friendly yachts around the world. Call us toll-free in North America at +1.800.922.4824 or local and international at +1.305.253.7245 to plan your yachting vacation.
This entry was posted in Educational News and tagged CYBA, member, motoryacht charter, go green, designer water, Awards, designer, Nero, Jana Sheeder, campaign, protect the environment, eco campaign, solar, say no to plastic, president of 1-800 Yacht Charters, water bottles, caribbean yacht charter, Ree, protect the ocean, Rosehearty, award-winning, Charter Yacht Brokers Association, eco-friendly
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Don’t ask me to accurately describe the new exterior color scheme of super yacht POLAR STAR. Either way, I just love it!
For the past 12 seasons, the 63 meter yacht has traveled around the Mediterranean each summer. She travels to the Caribbean in the winter. This pretty lady is instantly recognizable with her striking deep blue hull. At this time, an extensive 6-month refit in Spain is complete. It includes a 3 meter swim platform extension. Lürssen private yacht charter vessel now turns her image on its head.
The blue color is no more! She now wears a shade of white…or is it grey…? Hmmm.
Immediately after the refit, Charl van Rooy, editor of Superyacht Times described the new exterior colors as, “…military light-grey.” Fast-forward to this week, and van Rooy now says it’s a, “…light sand coloured paint scheme.” In fairness to van Rooy, it’s not his fault – the colors are subtle and faint, and depending upon the sunlight, and refection of the water, it does appear to be different shades of off-white.
That, of course, is the point. The owner was looking for something fresh – a new image for an iconic yacht that has visually dominated the Monaco yacht charter market for more than a decade.
If you’ll be in the South of France this summer, keep an eye open for Lürssen yacht POLAR STAR as she charts a new course and showcases her new colors!
We’ll revisit the yacht’s refit in another blog – coming soon. Until then, if you are interested in The Superyacht Experience™ in the Med on this or another Lürssen (or Benetti or Feadship or Abeking & Rasmussen or…) yacht charter vessel, visit our selection of Mediterranean yachts for charter at https://www.1800yachtcharters.com/monaco-yacht-charters/ today!
This entry was posted in News Yacht of the Week and tagged Monaco yacht charter, Lurssen, caribbean yacht charter, private yacht, yacht charter Mediterranean, Polar Star, yacht charter Caribbean, paint, motoryacht charter, light sand, Lurssen yacht charter, shades of grey, Mediterranean yacht charter, luxury yacht charter, Refit
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Word recently came in that one of the largest private luxury yacht charter vessels in the market was just sold.
The 85 meter (279 foot) spectacular Lurssen motor yacht SOLANDGE has been sold. The deal closed on March 22, and the new owner has already taken delivery. The buyer was represented by Moran Yacht and Ship, and terms of the sale have not been released. She was listed for sale by Moran at an asking price of €155,000,000 (yes, boys and girls, that IS 6 zeros!)
The massive yacht was scheduled to participate in the Palm Beach International Boat Show, March 23 -26, 2017. Needless to say, the new owner saw no need to put the yacht on display, instead choosing to enjoy his new watertoy.
Launched in 2013, Solandge Lurssen motor yacht features the sleek exterior styling of naval architect Espen Øino, with a rich, rather eclectic interior design by Aileen Rodriguez.
“She is an amazing luxury yacht charter vessel,” says Jana Sheeder, President of 1-800 Yacht Charters. “Imagine a floating resort with a gym, spa, saunas, and cinema. There’s even a DJ booth on the party deck, and a 5.5 meter swimming pool on the aft. Best of all, this floating spa is private – only you and your family and friends are onboard!”
Yachtsmen and -women the world over want to know — will we be waving goodbye to Lurssen yacht Solandge…or will she remain in the charter fleet??? Is it Adios – or just Hasta luego? Do we say Tchau – or just Ate mais, beijo? Is it Ciao — or Addio?
Often, a new owner will remove the yacht from the private yacht charter marketplace, so he and his family and friends can enjoy her for extended cruising.
“For now, she remains listed for hire, but that could change,” says Sheeder. “Of course, for the benefit of our clients, we certainly hope she remains in the marketplace. Only a handful of the world’s largest yachts are available for hire, and motoryacht Solandge stands at or near the top of that elite list.”
Solandge accommodates 12 guests in a 7 elegant stateroom configuration. Her weekly rate is €1,000,000 plus running expenses. Her current schedule has her available for hire in the Caribbean through Spring, then in the Mediterranean for the summer.
To view and charter some of the world’s largest yachts, click https://www.1800yachtcharters.com/superyacht-charter/. Then contact us to discuss, text, or WhatsApp about any yachts that interest you. Even if you do not want to charter, we are happy to answer any questions about them for you!
This entry was posted in News Yacht of the Week and tagged Addio, sold yacht, motoryacht charter, Hasta luego, superyacht Solandge, Lurssen yacht charter, Adios, Solandge, Ate mais, motoryacht, Beijo, yacht sales, Moran, yacht charter price, price to charter a yacht, sales price of yacht, largest yachts, Tchau, private luxury yacht charter
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Please be an eco-hero and remove trash from our waterways
This is a photo from the beautiful Yachts Miami Beach Boat Show. Our inspections included several private luxury yacht charter vessels docked at the Deep Harbour Island Gardens marina, near downtown Miami, Florida. As we walked along the docks, I noticed our company President, Jana Sheeder, often pausing, bending down, picking up something, and putting it in her “Eco-Hero” tote bag. I asked Jana what she was picking up, and she paused and poured a few of the contents of her bag onto a locker box on the dock.
“Take a look,” she sighed. “This debris can easily end up in the water where it becomes part of the ocean pollution problem, as well as a threat to birds and marine life.”
So, I snapped the photo you see here.
When I look at this photo, I see beautiful superyachts that serve as a gateway to experience the wonders of our oceans. I see a segment of the tourism industry – private luxury yacht charter – that generates millions of dollars of revenue annually. I see a support network of thousands of crewmembers, dockhands, marina workers, and maintenance and repair staff. They all support their families from a livelihood that is inextricably dependent upon healthy oceans.
For me, the trash in the photo is a harsh reminder that the refuse we see floating in marinas and along the seawalls and walkways is a direct threat to the health of our waterways. It is also, therefore, a threat to our own livelihood.
As you read this blog, I can guess what some of you are thinking. “I’m not part of the problem – I would never throw trash in the water.” Good intention, but you or someone you know might still be directly responsible for pollution in our waterways.
It’s a common misconception that most trash comes from people throwing things directly into the water.
“Believe it or not, much to the trash in our waterways comes from litter thrown out of cars, litter that blows from surrounding areas into the waterways, illegal dumping, and this item really irks me – cigarettes left on the ground,” says Jana. “During a big rainstorm, all that junk ends up in the watershed, and some of it eventually makes its way down to the bays, harbors, marinas, beaches, and worse – onto our fragile coral reefs and into the stomachs of marine life (like fish and turtles) and shorebirds.”
Efforts are underway to rid our waterways of trash. In Baltimore, Maryland, two (rather cute) trash wheels are pulling debris from the harbor before it flows into Chesapeake Bay. “Mr. Trash Wheel” (male) and “Professor Trash Wheel” (female with eyelashes) are solar and hydro-powered trash interceptors in place in Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. Over a million pounds of trash has been pulled out of the water by Mr. Trash Wheel since it was installed in May 2014 (Professor Trash Wheel was installed in December 2016).
John Kellett (a true ECO-HERO!) invented the trash wheels and tracks the debris collected. Since May 2014, when Mr Trash Wheel went operational, almost nine million cigarette butts and over 300,000 plastic bags have been collected. Additionally, Mr. Trash Wheel picks up an average of 14,000 Styrofoam containers a month – second only to cigarettes.
Kellett echoes Jana’s thoughts that the problem starts on shore. “I thought we were being ambitious with the harbor, but now people are talking about cleaning up the ocean,” Kellett said. “But I think the most effective solution is to get the trash before it gets there.”
No matter where you live, you CAN make a difference and help protect our natural resources. Let’s review some simple steps we can all take:
What do I hope will happen? I look forward to the day that Mr. Trash Wheel and Professor Trash Wheel are forced to take days off because there is no debris for them to clean up!
Jana Sheeder, President of 1-800 Yacht Charters and 1-800 BAREBOAT, with Eco-Hero Reusable Tote Bag
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If you are ready to make a difference, text HERO to 305-720-7245 and we’ll send you an “Eco-Hero” tote bag – just like the ones Jana carries with her and also uses at boat shows. It’s Jana’s gift to you – from Jana and our team at 1-800 Yacht Charters!
This entry was posted in News Educational and tagged John Kellett, Professor Trash Wheel, protect the ocean, female trash wheel, free gift, eco-tote, styrofoam, karma, RAK, cigarette butts, Yacht Shows, good karma, Yachts Miami Beach Show, fishing line, ocean plastic, hydro-powered, Make A Difference, eco-totes, Baltimore, random acts of kindness, tourism, Maryland, Be the Change, trash in marinas, say no to plastic bags, solar, responsibility, feel the churn, eco-hero, be a role model, Mr. Trash Wheel, myth busting
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Spain wants more private luxury yacht charter business in the Balearic Islands. However, they have a funny way of showing it.
Regular readers of our blog might recall the controversy. Previously blogged, it surrounds Spain’s 13.7% yacht charter Matriculation Tax (blog September 14, 2013). Heavy lobbying by the Spanish yachting and marina industries saw that tax removed. Unfortunately, Spain is still imposing far greater taxes on charters. This is as compared to fellow European Union countries like France, Italy and Malta.
Case in point. Picture a specific yacht that is legal for charter in both Spain and France. It incurs TWICE as much VAT liability in Spain. This is even though the tax percentages are nearly identical!
A yacht charter example.
Formula 1’s Eddie Jordan has a Sunseeker 155 motor yacht BLUSH for charter. He often keeps her in the Balearic Islands for the summer charter season. When there is demand, the yacht can easily reposition. She moves to the South of France for clients who prefer a French yacht charter vacation. Additionally, she can go to the coastal areas of Italy and nearby islands of Sardinia and Corsica. Her weekly charter rate remains the same between both destinations. The rate is €220,000 per week in high season. VAT rates are almost identical: 20% in France and 21% in Spain.
A client who charters Sunseeker 155 yacht BLUSH in Ibiza, however, will see a tax of €46,200 on his charter agreement, while a client chartering the yacht in Cannes, will incur a charge of just €22,000.
If you’re the client taking the yacht in Spain, one word comes to mind (well, maybe a few words…), most notably, “OUCH!”
So what is the explanation? Why the drastic difference if the tax rates are nearly identical? The answer can be found in Article 58 of European Union Council Directive 2006/112/EC.
We’ll let our company President, Jana Sheeder, explain why this is the case:
“The European Union directive on VAT, as it relates to private yacht charter revenue, has a clause entitled, ‘criterion of effective use and enjoyment.’ This clause allows member states to implement a VAT reduction scheme. However, it is not compulsory. Popular cruising destinations like France, Italy, and Malta all take advantage of this opportunity to reduce VAT. Unfortunately, Spain does not.”
In our example above, the client who charters motor yacht BLUSH in France, ends up with an effective tax rate of 10%. The client who charters this yacht in Spain pays the full rate of 21%.
Note – the tax savings only kicks in when the chartered yacht cruises beyond 12 nautical miles – in essence, into international waters and out of the borders of the European Union. This is a simple task and almost all charter yacht captains will implement this strategy in order to save the charter customer 50% of the VAT rate. However, even if a yacht in Spain sails beyond the 12 nautical mile boundary, the Spanish government still insists on collecting the full VAT fee.
The Member States of the European Union include:
For those readers who enjoy the technical details, here is the verbiage of the directive:
In order to avoid double taxation, non-taxation or distortion of competition, Member States may, with regard to the supply of the services referred to in Article 56(1) and with regard to the hiring out of means of transport:
Alex Chumillas, the director of Tax Marine explains the directive and the result of Spain’s decision: “As is clearly defined in paragraph (a), the provision seeks to minimise VAT taxation applicable to certain services, among them the hiring out of means of transport (for instance charter),” “However, the provision has not been implemented in Spain. Therefore, chartering in Spain is subject to a flat VAT rate which does not benefit from any reduction, even when sailing beyond 12 nautical miles.”
Paragraph (b) allows Spain to levy VAT charges on certain services that have been provided outside of Spain – if the services are enjoyed inside of Spain. Let’s say a charter starts in Gibraltar. The yacht will need to register for VAT and pay VAT on the length of the charter in Spain (and of course, pass then expense on to the charter customer).
By choosing to implement paragraph (b) only, the Spanish government has chosen to only apply the more burdensome element of the directive. Is this the right thing to do to people wanting to experience travel in your country?
Like they did with the repeal of the oppressive matriculation tax in 2013, let’s hope the legislators in Spain come to realize a reduction in VAT will make the Ibiza yacht charter market competitive with neighboring France and the rest of the European Union states that derive strong financial benefits from the private luxury yacht charter industry.
VISIT https://www.1800yachtcharters.com/yacht-charter-monaco/ for a sampling of private yachts for hire in the Balearic Islands and throughout the Mediterranean this summer, courtesy of 1-800 Yacht Charters.We will be happy to create The Superyacht Experience™ for you.
This entry was posted in Destinations News and tagged Ibiza yacht charter, Tax Marine, Blush, Corsica, Sardinia, South of France, VAT, Balearic Islands, Jana Sheeder, yacht charter matriculation tax, president of 1-800 Yacht Charters, European Union Council Directive, Sunseeker, Member States, Spain yacht charter, Article 56(1)
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