Breaching whale on yacht charter vacation
The biggest highlight of snorkeling during a Caribbean yacht charter is usually swimming among schools of fish, or seeing sea turtles and sting rays from afar. However, one charter yacht hopes to offer visitors the chance to frolic with a much larger marine animal.
Richard Branson’s yacht, the sail catamaran NECKER BELLE, is offering two humpback whale watching charters this spring in the Silver Bank, a region in the Atlantic midway between Turks and Caicos and the Dominican Republic.
Necker Belle catamaran whale watching
From January to March, humpback whales mate and calve in the Silver Bank, before migrating to colder waters. According to Jana Sheeder, President of 1-800 Yacht Charters,
“you can slip into the water and snorkel with the calves as their mothers watch from a safe distance below.”
Two weeklong expeditions are scheduled on the 105′ catamaran NECKER BELLE, owned by adventurer and business tycoon Sir Richard Branson. Charterers may choose either 16 – 23 February or 8 – 15 March, 2012.
Launched in 2003 and rebuilt in 2009 at Azzura Yachts, Australia, the sail yacht NECKER BELLE was a finalist in the World Superyacht Awards 2010 in the “Best Refitted Yacht” Category. The yacht received a Judges’ Special Commendation.
Four guest cabins accommodate for 8 guests. The master cabin features a queen bed on the back wall. Two VIP staterooms can convert from double to twin berths. The fourth cabin offers a double bed.
All staterooms offer ensuite bathrooms.
Two more guests can be accommodated in the saloon, where the sofa converts to a double bed.
The two aft deck sun pads can be transformed into outdoor berths, which are removable tent-style structures with outdoor element protection. A shower is available in the day head for those using the outdoor berths or saloon.
The price per week is $130,000 and includes the yacht, professional crew, and the guidance of whale expert Tom Conlin of Aquatic Adventures. Running expenses such as food, bar, and fuel are extra.
When whales are sighted, charterers leave the yacht on an inflatable raft, led by naturalist guide Tom CONLIN, to go closer. Snorkeling is not possible sometimes. For instance, when two males are fighting for territory or a few males are trying to impress a female whale. Calves are curious and non-aggressive. Snorkelers approach them using slow, gentle movements.
Swimming with Whales on yacht charter
“Being in the water and seeing a whale is a life-changing experience,” says Sheeder. “You’ll never forget it.”
This entry was posted in Yacht Charter and tagged Necker Belle, Sir Richard Branson, Jana Sheeder, president of 1-800 Yacht Charters, catamaran yacht charter, award-winning, World Superyacht Awards, swim with whales, swimming with whales
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Triton Submarine
It sounds like the plot of a Jules Verne science fiction novel – three teams of intrepid explorers are locked in a race to reach the deepest depths of the ocean. Each team is scrambling to build and launch a high-tech submarine capable of withstanding a dangerous journey seven miles straight down to the bottom of the sea.
It’s a landscape of pitch blackness and freezing cold temperatures – an abyss where strange, pale-colored sea creatures dart between the rocks. The dangers are immense – the pressure is so great that a human would be instantly crushed into a small clump of flesh and bone.
But this story isn’t science fiction. It’s the real-life drama of the race between three teams to reach the sea floor of the Mariana Trench, the most isolated and extreme environment on Earth.
Sir Richard Branson on Necker Belle catamaran
Two of the teams are headed by famous celebrities with deep pockets and an unending quest for adventure.
First team is led by British entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson. He owns 32 meter (111 foot) luxury yacht charter catamaran NECKER BELLE.
Second team lead is Hollywood filmmaker, James Cameron. Cameron, the director of Avatar, Titanic and The Abyss has already pumped $10 million into his sub. Its design is a closely-guarded secret.
Third team is the underdog. Led by Patrick Lahey. In a novel or movie, Lahey’s character is Everyman. He is the little guy with the big dream and the courage to take on bigger, more powerful foes.
Lahey is president of tiny Central Florida company Triton Submarines. The blue-collar diver and his band of submariners are heavy underdogs to their wealthy competitors. But if they can dive their uniquely designed sub to the bottom of the trench before Branson and Cameron do, they’ll be heroes. They also hope to persuade the reality television producers of the Deadliest Catch to film the whole race, in which case Everyman Lahey and his team might even get rich.
Lahey’s motivation, however, is not money. His dream is to open the deep sea to thousands of people. Triton plans to take tourists two at a time to the trench, and Lahey hopes to sell the transparent-hulled subs to megayacht owners around the world. Bahama yacht charters motor yacht MINE GAMES is one of the first charter vessels to carry an onboard submarine as part of the yacht’s watertoy inventory.
“We’re interested in getting more people to give a sh** about the ocean,” Lahey says. “The future of our species depends on it, yet 95 percent of the ocean has never been explored. It really is the last frontier on Earth.”
Unleash the explorer spirit within you! Contact YOUR 1-800 Yacht Charters broker HERE to arrange your private luxury yacht charter in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, South Pacific, Southeast Asia, Bahamas, Florida, and beyond.
This entry was posted in Special Events News and tagged The Abyss, Everyman Lahey, catamaran yacht charter, Deadliest Catch, James Cameron, Patrick Lahey, Necker Belle, ocean race, Triton Submarines, Sir Richard Branson, Jules Verne, movie director, Avatar, Titanic
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