Sir Richard Branson’s Necker Island is an entire island with superlative facilities generally hired privately or by an individual group. Family Fun Weeks offers a rare opportunity for families to book rooms individually and share the island with others. This stunning 74-acre island with all-inclusive resort facilities offers a great opportunity to have some fun with the kids and awaken your inner child. Necker Island is a fabulous way to extend your yacht charter vacation with an island stay of three, four or seven nights.

Kids will delight in boat races around the island, grand slam tennis tournaments, beach Olympics with egg and spoon races, or somersault competitions from the aqua trampoline into the sea. In the evenings, little kids are whisked away for their own evening adventures, complete with Pirate of the Caribbean treasure hunts, where the big kids can pillage their own chest of buried treasure during a beach BBQ feast.

The impeccable staff of 60 pampers guests with everything from exotic cocktails and extraordinary meals to relaxing massages. Whether your sport of choice is windsurfing, kite surfing, snorkeling or fishing an expert team of instructors are always on hand to help perfect skills at any level.

Necker Island is an exclusive venue with limited reservations. Contact the yacht charter professionals at Boatbookings.com now to make reservations for an incomparable sail and stay Caribbean vacation. Please see also our Yacht Charter BVI Guide for further information about the BVI and our BVI Attractions Guide for additional great things to do while in the BVI!

Photo Credits: Virgin Limited Edition

Superyacht builder Kingship is set to reveal details about cutting-edge new designs at the Monaco Yacht Show. The Hong Kong shipyard is working with Donald Starkey and Azure Naval Architects in the design and development of a 156-foot megayacht. The profile reflects a striking yet subtle juxtaposition of classic and futuristic lines. While plumb bow hull design is a recent trend, it actually originated in classic commuter yacht design.

The plumb bow, circular port lights on the forward main deck and sweeping sheer line are reminiscent of the Golden Age of yachting. These elements integrated with a very futuristic dynamism of exterior styling succeed in producing what Kingship terms a “modern gentleman’s yacht”.

The general arrangement features six suites, spacious lounges and plentiful deck spaces for entertaining including a partially shaded sun deck with a bar/dining area and sizeable Jacuzzi on the forward sunning area.

Kingship also raises the bar on efficient long-range explorers, an increasingly popular alternative to the classic white yacht. The HT116’Explorer reaches a maximum speed of 13 knots with a 7,000Nm range. Two additional models in the series, a 148-footer and an 87-footer, are new versions that vary little other than in size. All three incorporate a novel stabilization system at anchor based on two non-retractable fins.

Channel-Port aux Basques, a quaint fishing village nestled on the extreme southwestern tip of the island of Newfoundland, Canada, is finally realizing plans for a recreational marina. According to a report in the local Gulf News, the marina will expand the existing government wharf with the addition of several floating docks and new wharves.

Channel-Port aux Basques is the gateway to Newfoundland and Labrador. To date, full advantage of the strategic location of the town has not been developed. Annually visited by half a million tourists that include many yachts from the Great Lakes and locations along the Eastern Seaboard, improvements in facilities are aimed to increase tourism and boost economic development.

The easternmost Canadian province comprises the island of Newfoundland and mainland Labrador. Newfoundland and the surrounding smaller islands offer an intriguing destination to adventuresome yachtsmen. Small communities sprinkled along the coast maintain French, English and Irish dialects and cultural traditions. In Labrador, Innu-aimun and Inuktit dialects are also spoken due to a significant presence of founding Algonquin and Inuit cultures.

For a dramatically beautiful and culturally rewarding charter itinerary, consider Newfoundland, Labrador, the  Great Lakes and amazing destinations along the Eastern Seaboard on your next charter.  We’d be happy to help!

Feadship anticipates making a big splash at their debut at the Cannes International Yacht and Boat Show this September 8-13, with plans to reveal the newest build in the SL39 modular series, the 128-foot luxury charter yacht GO.

GO is a superb Feadship charter yacht featuring stylish interiors, a variety of outdoor living areas and an extremely attentive crew. The pre-determined hull construction, technical systems and equipment of the series insure extraordinary seaworthy capability synonymous with the brand. Completely customized above the waterline, modern interiors are characterized by bright spaces and a relaxing earth-tone palette.

Among the notable features that contribute to make GO an exquisite charter yacht is the clever flexibility of space. The modular sofa in the main salon rotates to enjoy panoramic ocean views aft or a flick on the state-of-the-art entertainment system. On the lower deck, two of the four guest suites can be reconfigured as full-beam VIP suites. The bridge deck features adaptable seating and a quadruple sliding door that joins interior and exterior areas.

After debuting in Cannes, GO will join larger Feadship yachts on display at the Monaco show. Currently for sale, GO is available for summer charter in the Mediterranean and winter in the Caribbean. This exciting luxury yacht promises to be extremely popular on the charter circuit, especially over the holidays. Contact a Boatbookings professional now to reserve this splendid yacht for an incomparable yachting experience.

LOA: 128’

Beam: 30’

Draft: 9’

Fuel: 10,568 GAL.

Water: 3,170 Gal.

Engines: MTU 12V 2000 M70

Maximum speed: 14 knots

Guests: 10 in 5 cabins

Crew: 7

Sri Lanka’s English newspaper, the Sunday Observer, highlighted plans to promote yacht chartering from the island’s cities of Galle and Colombo. In a brief interview with the country’s Deputy Minister of Ports and Aviation, Dayasritha Tissera, it appears that the government is enthusiastic about immediate investment in the marine sector.

The South Asian island country, located about 20 miles off the southern coast of India, is a destination of primal forests, pristine beaches, breathtaking landscapes and rich cultural traditions. The Ministry hopes to entice both local and foreign tourists to depart from hotel stays and embark on “luxury boat safaris” to destinations around the exotic island. To this end, Tissera outlined plans to purchase four luxury yachts with four to six cabins, suitable for up to 20 guests.

The Ministry also wants to launch a luxury passenger liner yacht service to connect the harbors of Colombo, Trincomalee, Kankesanturai and Galle, with extended service to neighboring India. Plans also include construction of a first-class yachting center and marina in the old port area of Galle.

The Ministry is undertaking these initiatives with confidence that the now peaceful country’s lighter security restrictions will enable passenger travel unencumbered by red tape. The Ministry has set a November goal for the luxury yacht launch, however exact dates remain uncertain. Perhaps this is because, according to Tissera, the Ministry is presently seeking investors for the projects.

If you are planning to dive or snorkel the reefs on your next charter voyage to the Caribbean, Bahamas or Florida Keys you may encounter the astonishingly beautiful lionfish. Beware, the graceful profusion of colorful fins belies venomous spines that, although not known to be fatal, are extremely painful and can (rarely) come with severe complications. In addition, some scientists consider them as one of the top 15 threats to biodiversity worldwide.

Lionfish are native to the Indo-Pacific region but in recent decades have invaded the waters of the Caribbean, the Bahamas, the east coast of the Americas as far north as Rhode Island, and as far south as Columbia. Their infiltration is likely the result of releases from tanks of saltwater hobbyists. With few known natural enemies, lionfish present a major threat to coral reef ecosystems as predators and competitors for food.

Humans are becoming the most lethal threat to date, as the fish emerges as a gourmet delicacy. Facebook groups promoting lionfish consumption include “I Spear Lionfish,” “Lionfish Derby” and “Eat the Lionfish.” According to an article published by the Washington Post, July 7, 2010, chefs, spear fisherman and seafood distributors are plotting to eat the fish out of non-native existence. The REEF Environmental Education Foundation, a leading organization in the research and development of lionfish control programs, is preparing to publish a cookbook this fall on how to prepare the lionfish, described with a flavor between snapper and grouper.

What you should you do if you see the foot-long lionfish? They are glamorous and peaceful creatures, so use the photo opportunity. Otherwise, unless you are a savvy fisherman, or have the proper training and equipment, leave it alone but report the sighting location to the local island authorities and/or REEF when you surface.

Photo credit: REEF

Visit REEF Environmental Education Foundation: www.reef.org/lionfish

Lionfish Recipes: www.lionfishhunter.com/Lionfish%20Recipes.html

www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/06/AR2010070601003.htm

Peter Island is traditionally a very popular destination on every BVI charter itinerary. This season Peter Island Resort features two exceptional opportunities; photo documentation of your snorkel or dive adventure and professional cooking classes. Both will let you cherish a bit of the island color and flavor long after your return home.

Peter Island has some of the most awe-inspiring reefs in the BVI. Hundreds of brilliantly colored species of fish, coral and numerous shipwrecks set the stage for an extraordinary underwater quest. Armando Jenik is available to escort charterers undersea and professionally photograph their experience.

Armando is a highly acclaimed underwater photographer and cinematographer, with published images in Geo Magazine, GQ and others. His work has appeared in commercials, documentaries and feature films and he was honored with the Mobius award for best commercial in 1990. He will organize the optimum snorkel or dive adventure and create a personalized photo document that captures your experience as a work of art.

October 24-31 is the resort’s first Guest Chef Program of the season, with Corporate Executive Chef Jason Drysdale of the Norwegian Caribbean Line. Jason is the Culinary Trainer for NCL America and a genius at preparing trendy gourmet cuisine. Jason, along with the resort’s executive chef, Lisa Sellers, offer this creative, intimate cooking class limited to ten couples. The class will ferry to a working farm on Tortola to select produce, then return to the kitchen at Falcon’s Nest to create signature items that will be featured on the restaurant’s menu. This is an ongoing program so if you are interested please inquire as to future dates.

To participate in either the underwater photography experience or the Guest Chef Program at Peter Island Resort charter guests are not required to be guests of the resort but should consider program registration in advance, especially during peak periods, due to very limited space. Please read more about Peter Island in our Peter Island Yacht Charter Guide.

Tel Aviv, with two overly congested marinas at the Jaffa Port and Atrium Square, has developed a fast-paced, two-year construction plan to ease the situation. The construction of a third marina at Tel Aviv Port, located within steps of numerous stimulating venues, will introduce an exciting new alternative for luxury yachts.

The first ships arrived in the Tel Aviv port in 1938, which remained a bustling hub of naval activity until its closure in 1965. Now Israel’s Transportation Ministry recognizes both the pressing need and economic viability of renewing marine activity at the old port.

Plans are in place to construct a new luxury marina able to accommodate smaller yachts in slips, with anchorages for larger yachts located just outside the marina. Plans include dredging the harbor to increase depth and construction of a new breakwater and docks.

Otzar Mifalei Yam and Atarim companies infused new energy into the old port about ten years ago with commercial development that today houses numerous restaurants, retail shops, offices and nightclubs. To further enhance facilities at the port plans for a major hotel and supermarket are also in the works.

Tel Aviv is a unique destination situated on the Israeli Mediterranean coastline. For architecture enthusiasts, Tel Aviv’s White City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, comprises the world’s largest concentration of more than 4,000Bauhaus or Modernist buildings built in the 1930s by immigrant German Jewish architects.

Tel Aviv is the wealthiest city in the country and evidences a very cosmopolitan lifestyle. Its beautiful beaches (ranked ninth-best among world beach cities by National Geographic), upscale shops, restaurants, cafes and nightclubs keep the city vibrant 24 hours a day. For information on charter yachts worldwide visit Boatbookings.com yacht charter.

Located just eight miles from the Greek Island of Chios at the western tip of Turkey’s Izmir Peninsula on the shores of the Aegean, Çesme Marina is fast becoming a priority destination for international yachtsmen. A yacht charter bound for destinations on the Aegean Sea offers an experience of spectacular beauty as well as inspiring cultural and historical significance. Plus, onsite customs and immigration offices at Çesme Marina facilitate smooth sailing between Turkey and the Greek Islands.

Çesme Marina, located in a naturally protected harbor, can moor 350 yachts with a 200’ LOA. Marine facilities include a full-service boatyard with 80-ton travel lift and ships store. The marina also features a boutique hotel and yacht club, and an enticing selection of restaurants and retail outlets. Incorporating architectural elements that reflect Turkish civilization within an upscale context gives the marina an overall ambiance of exotic luxury that is aesthetically delightful.

Highlights of the area include some very beautiful, white sand beaches and nearby Çesme Hot Springs. The calm shallow waters of the beaches are ideal for families and the hot springs are said to cure just about anything that ails you.

For more information on chartering in Turkey – please see our Turkey yacht charter guide.

Sunreef Yachts announces the launch of their largest custom-built superyacht catamaran, the Sunreef 114′ CHE, the third largest catamaran in the world. Although details have not yet been made public the sloop-rigged catamaran promises to be an extremely popular option for chartering in the Caribbean this winter. An open architecture floor plan allows for unobstructed central social areas plus three staterooms and two crew cabins nestled comfortably within the hulls. CHE benefits from expansive and beautifully appointed exterior space ideal for sun worship, dining al fresco, or having fun on one of two trampolines. CHE will be completed at the Sunreef docks in Gdansk, Poland, within the next couple of months.

Sunreef 102′ Double Deck IPHARRA, the second largest build launched from the yard last April, has successfully completed sea trials, achieved systems certification by Bureau Veritas and has set sail. Most notably, her double deck flybridge brings this yacht to a whole new level, comfortably furnished for dining, relaxation, or taking a turn at the helm. IPHARRA can currently be spotted in the Eastern Mediterranean prior to making her way to the Caribbean for the winter charter season.

Click here for more about Sunreef Luxury Catamaran Charters.