Charteryachts prove winners at Design Awards over private boats.
THE WINNERS
Elegant CMN Yacht CLOUD 9 was just one luxury yacht charter vessel to catch the attention of the judges at the recent ShowBoats Design Awards. Of the 10 winning private yacht entries, 6 are currently available for either Caribbean or Mediterranean yacht charter. The newest and largest yachts in the rental marketplace improves every year, as owners push the design envelope to new heights.
THE YACHT RENTAL AWARDS CEREMONY
The inaugural yacht awards ceremony took place in October at the exclusive Mar A Lago Club. The facility is Donald Trump’s private club in Palm Beach, Florida. It was sponsored by ShowBoats International. It began with a two-day Superyacht Design Symposium. On the 3rd day, 350 guests enjoyed an evening of cocktails. The evening also featured a gala dinner and an awards ceremony honoring the yachting industry’s creative talents. Those talents included architects, designers, stylists, craftsmen, and innovators in yacht technologies.
ShowBoats Design Awards came about as a former part of the Boat International Media World Superyacht Awards. They introduced a number of new categories. The jury included 4 superyacht owners, 2 naval architects, a senior yacht captain, an experienced yacht chef, and six design professionals with no links to the industry. The awards resulted from more than 200 yacht nominations.
Joining the 60-meter charteryacht Cloud 9 on the winner’s stage were:
HURRICANE RUN – Best Interior Design: Displacement Motor Yacht
SLIPSTREAM – along with sistership CLOUD 9 – Best Exterior Design & Styling: Motor Yacht
LIARA – Best Naval Architecture: Sailing Yacht
SYCARA IV – Best Naval Architecture: Motor Yacht
SALPERTON IV – Best Exterior Design & Styling: Sailing Yacht
THE NEXT AWARDS SHOW
The next yacht award event is the 2011 World Superyacht Awards, and it will be hosted by the editors of Boat International Media. The awards honor the finest new vessels delivered to their owners in the past twelve months. The award presented is The Neptune Award, or the “Oscar” of the megayacht industry.
The ceremony is scheduled for May 7, 2011, and it is attended by yacht owners from around the globe. Others who attend are influential players in the boating business.
CHARTERYACHT FINALISTS
62 finalists are in contention to receive a coveted Neptune Trophy, including the 56-meter Panthalassa and the 60-meter MARY JEAN II.
Horse racing. For centuries it has been known as, “The Sport of Kings.” An obsession which borders on an addiction. To illustrate, she is a mixture of both royalty and aristocracy.
YACHT OWNERSHIP
Modern day royal families and billionaire capitalists keep alive this grand tradition. They own and race horses. In addition, some horse owners also own luxury yachts. Specifically, a few have chosen to name their yachts in honor of their prized steeds.
HORSES AND LUXURY YACHTS
Below are 3 extraordinary equine athletes and their namesake yachts.
First, THUNDER GULCH Thoroughbred Thunder Gulch left the starting gate at 25-1 odds in 1995. He went on to win the Kentucky Derby. Born in 1992, the champion American racehorse was ridden by Hall of Fame jockey, Gary Stevens. He was trained by legendary horseman, D. Wayne Lukas. Thunder Gulch then won the 1995 Belmont Stakes, the Florida Derby, and more.
On the other hand, motor yacht Thunder Gulch was “born” in 1999. The 164′ Mediterranean yacht charter vessel accommodates 10 guests in 5 staterooms. Recently sold and renamed TJ ESPERANZA, ex-Thunder Gulch is available for charter at $250,000 plus running expenses per week.
NEXT TWO
Second, HURRICANE RUN
Irish horse Hurricane Run launched an illustrious career with wins at the 2005 Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe Lucien Barriere, and the Irish Derby. He was named the European Horse Of The Year at the 2005 Cartier Racing Awards.
In the same way, motor yacht Hurricane Run was launched in late January 2009. She was born at Feadship Koninklijke De Vries Scheepsbouw yard in the Netherlands, The 53.50 meter megayacht accommodates up to 12 guests in six cabins. Rental rates start at $315,000 per week, plus expenses.
Third, MI SUENO
Leading US filly Mi Sueno saw her promising career cut short by a condylar fracture of her off-fore cannonbone in 2009. She won the Grade 1 Darley Debutante at Del Mar. Mi Sueno was retired as a broodmare by trainer Eric Guillot. The daughter of Pulpit also won the Grade 3 Sorrento Stakes at Del Mar. After that, she beat Grade 1 winner Blind Luck in the Debutante.
Consequently, 190 foot motoryacht Mi Sueno, launched in 2010, is was a standout. She has WiFi and Kaleidescape central movie/music server throughout. She is also equipped with a 2-person, wheelchair-accessible elevator.
We first brought 2011 motor yacht HURRICANE RUN to our readers’ attention as a yacht named after a famous race horse.
FEADSHIP DISCOUNT
Now, the owner of this 54 meter Feadship yacht charter vessel wants to encourage you to race forward and claim a $55,000 discount on a Caribbean yachting holiday this winter(between December 1, 2011 and April 30, 2012)!
YACHT SPECIAL
On behalf of the owner of megayacht HURRICANE RUN, we are pleased to extend a special offer of $295,000 per week for the next two charters booked in the Caribbean. This represents a savings of $55,000 from the regular winter season rate of $350,000.
(Note – all running expenses, items such as food, fuel bar, and dockage, are extra)
WHERE IS THE YACHT LOCATED?
Currently booked December 21 to 29, 2011, Feadship yacht HURRICANE RUN can be available for a New Year’s celebratory charter starting December 31st, 2011, in St. Maarten.
HURRY TO GET THE SAVINGS
The offer only extends to the first two reservations (click here to book Hurricane Run!) so hurry and take advantage of this exceptional rate and spend a week with your family and friends on this extraordinary yacht!
HOW TO BOOK A YACHT CHARTER
Looking for a great price on a last-minute summer getaway in the Mediterranean? Click HEREfor discounted offers in August and September, 2011.
In catching up on technical reading, I studied the launch of the 96 meter Feadship yacht VERTIGO.
For many of our clients, the epitome of luxury is a Feadship yacht charter vacation. These fabled Dutch builders have placed a number of their award-winning vessels into the superyacht charter market. Vessels like yacht HURRICANE RUN, motor yacht JOY, and the the 81 meter yacht AIR, the second largest Feadship currently available for charter, hold a coveted ranking among the most popular luxury yachts for hire in the world.
As I reviewed photos of yacht VERTIGO, Feadship hull 1066, I was floored by her massive size. At 96 meters in length (about 315 feet), she is longer than an NFL football field, from bow to stern. Even her onboard amenities are grand – like the 9 meter x 4 meter swimming pool and the below-deck helicopter hangar.
I thought to myself, “Our charter clients will be amazed when they see this yacht.”
AMAZED — BUT WILL clients be????
Is it possible vessels like Feadship yacht VERTIGO and similar sized yachts are too big for a superyacht charter, no matter how impressive their onboard amenities might be. Too ostentatious? An appropriate size to maneuver? Is sher affordable?
IS THERE A BEST SIZE FOR A CHARTERYACHT?
So just how big is too big – and is there an optimal size yacht for charter?
As a person might expect, there is no simple yes or no answer. More importantly, there IS a correct answer – and it comes from understanding not so much what the charterer wants, as what the charterer needs!
While the charter rate and yacht’s appearance and amenities are important, those details initially take a back seat to the primary factors used to determine the optimal size of the yachts we recommend to our clients.
Our charter consultants focus on two primary criteria when determining the right yacht. For instance, destination and intended use.
DESTINATION DICTATES YACHT SIZE
“Where” the client wishes to charter is the first factor in determining how large a yacht they can enjoy. Simply stated, some yachts are too large, and draft too deeply in the water to safely navigate certain destinations.
COMPANY PRESIDENT COMMENTS
Jana Sheeder, our company’s President best explains the challenge:
“A client who enjoyed a 175ft Feadship yacht charter vessel in the Mediterranean in the summer, might ask for a similar yacht to explore the Bahamas in the winter. However, the Bahamas are a shallow destination and many of the best beachfront anchorages are too shallow to be enjoyed by a Feadship with a typical 12ft draft. Instead of quoting a Feadship, we would probably recommend a yacht like the 164ft Mangusta MOONRAKER. She’s just 10 feet shorter in length than a comparable Feadship, but drafts just 6ft – half the draft of a Feadship!”
USE DICTATES YACHT SIZE
“What” the charterer wishes to do during the rental period is the second factor in recommending a yacht based on size. If the yacht is to be used for a corporate event, like the Cannes Film Festival, accessible dockage is crucial to the success of the charter. Our friend Hansel describes the importance of analyzing dockage requirements in relation to the yacht’s size.
“For a static charter, the yacht is normally positioned stern-to (perpendicular to) the quay so VIP guests can come and go. If the yacht is too long, it will have trouble docking stern-to, and it’s bow will jut out, and possibly restrict the passage of yachts entering and exiting the marina. It is far better to provide the client with a yacht shorter in overall length, but greater in volume via multiple decks for entertainment and socializing.”
Once the destination and use issues have been addressed, we can present the largest yachts that won’t compromise the needs of the client. At this point, the focus shifts to cost and amenities, with many clients seeking the biggest yacht in line with their budget, as well as a vessel with unique watertoys.
THE SUPERYACHT OWNER’S PERSPECTIVE
As an interesting side note, the owner’s perspective on what is the ideal size for a superyacht for charter differs from that of the charterer and charter broker. With many owners, bigger is better. Driven in part by ego, yacht owners continue to build larger and larger yachts. In a recent interview with Superyacht Times, John Rosatti, the owner of 65m yacht DOUBLE DOWN, commented on the growing trend to build bigger yachts:
“Everyone’s going bigger now, just look around. In 1988, I had a 34m Thunderball and it was in the top 100 largest yachts. Now I have a 65m, which may have just slipped out of the top 250. These boats get bigger and the ports get smaller. Where do you put them? It’s tough. If you look around there’s virtually nothing under 150 feet now.”
MANAGEMENT WEIGHS IN
Yet even when ego seems to dictate the size of yachts, there is still some semblance of reason for a few yacht owners. Paolo Casani, managing director of C&N, believes new-build growth in charter yachts will be in the 45-65m sector. Casani told Superyacht Times:
“They’re (45-65m yachts) easier to manage and you have more berthing options. Yachts this size are the most appealing for charter. We had a 60m that did 96 days of charter in one season. The owner offset his running costs and actually made a profit. The pricing for charters becomes far less attractive for the market when you get above 65 meters.”
FINAL YACHT SIZE THOUGHT
While affluent owners will continue to push the bar and build yachts in the 100 meter range, and larger, for most charterers, the ideal charter vessel will be the yacht that is best suited for the client’s desired cruising destination and specific use. Whether that yacht is 50 meters or 100, should remain a secondary factor in selecting the right yacht for the ultimate superyacht experience.
After extended summer use by her owner, Feadship yacht HURRICANE RUN has committed to the upcoming winter 2015 Caribbean charter season.
As of the date of this post, the yacht’s calendar is wide open for bookings in St. Martin, St Barts, and the Virgin Islands. For year-end reservations over the Christmas or New Year’s holidays, the yacht requires a minimum 10-night reservation. Charters of 5 nights or longer will be accepted for all other open dates.
Her weekly rental rate is $350,000 for the holidays, and $295,000 for all other winter dates. Rates are plus all running expenses – items such as food, fuel, dockage, etc.
Built in 2009, Feadship yacht HURRICANE RUN was the recipient of the 2010 world Superyacht Award for “Best Interior Layout and Best Interior.” Her bright, contemporary interior was designed by the famous Terence Disdale.
Onboard amenities include:
Excellent sundeck layout
Large swim platform
Enormous saloon
Mini gymnasium which can be converted into a guest cabin for a nanny or security staff
Zero-speed stabilization for comfort while at anchor
Fast, reliable WIFI internet
Full-beam master suite with private study
Her crew received an excellent testimonial from a charterer last December:
“It is not possible to have another New Year celebration experience like we had on Hurricane Run! No words can describe the Hurricane Run crew. Our children, grandchildren, nanny and I have made lifetime friends with each one. We can never thank you enough for such a special week!”
There’s an old joke that goes something like this: “Where does a 200-ton elephant sit?”
The answer of course is, “Anywhere he wants!”
THE SIZE OF A SUPERYACHT
Unlike the mighty elephant, superyachts aren’t as lucky. Their massive size is certainly impressive, but when it comes to sufficient space to dock, there just aren’t enough marinas with enough room to berth the world’s largest yachts. Owners onboard large luxury yacht charter vessels often are forced to anchor at sea and use tenders to come and go ashore.
BERTH FOR SALE
Thus the news of a megayacht berth for sale along the French Riviera is certain to draw the attention of yachtsman tired of the ordeal of tendering ashore.
A rare 50-meter berth has just been listed for long-term lease in Cap d’Ail. Cap d’Ail is perfectly positioned on the Cote d’Azur and serves as a gateway to Monte Carlo, just a short drive or cruise from Nice, France, and northern Italy.
Cap d’Ail Marina in Monaco
DOCKAGE DETAILS
With large yacht berths rapidly becoming a rare find, this slip will surely sell quickly. The berth measures 50 x 10 meters and comes with fenders (is there anything worse than a scratched paint job on a fancy yacht?). The berth’s lease expires December 31, 2027.
HOW MUCH IS A YACHT SLIP?
The asking price of berth number 6 is € 4,500,000.
Sounds like a steal!
LARGE YACHTS
Some of the newest yachts in the 50-meter range include Perini Navi motor yacht EXUMA, racehorse-inspiredMotoryacht HURRICANE RUN,and the Trinity yacht charter superstar, motor yacht MIA ELISE.
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