Catamaran yachts are rapidly gaining popularity for their inherent stability, expansive exterior space and roomy interior layout. They are also notable for superior energy efficiency. One of the newest models to emerge from the drawing board is 81’ KHARIMA, designed by Antonio Luxardo of Pro Ship and under construction at a boatyard in Qingdao, China.
Innovative architectural features on the yacht include a main deck salon that encompasses 1,184 square feet and a foredeck owner’s suite with 180-degree panoramic views. Two VIP ensuite staterooms and two crew cabins are positioned on the lower deck. The spacious flybridge is the perfect spot for guests to enjoy magnificent views in sun or shade, or cocktails and dinner al fresco.

KHARIMA 81 incorporates significant new trends in catamaran construction beyond the apparent. To further enhance exterior space two concealed side platforms open out when desired to generously expand options for sun and fun. Ample storage space for tenders and toys is equipped with an interior crane for launching. The high performance hull is designed for greater speed, stability and energy efficiency. All things considered, KHARIMA 81 is shaping up as a very competitive build in an aggressively expanding sector.

Boatbookings.com has a superior selection of luxury catamaran motor yachts available for charter – feel free to visit our Catamaran Yacht Charter and Sailing Vacation 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.

Repeat Charter Discount

Boatbookings is delighted to announce a program where our bareboat clients receive repeat discounts when you book a 2nd bareboat sailing yacht (monohull or catamaran) through us anywhere in the world. As part of our “Boatbookings Sailing Discount Club”, we will give you 5% off of your next charter (and any ones after that!) anywhere in the world where we have yachts. If you chartered in the BVI last year, why not explore Croatia or Phuket this year, and save 5%!

Tell a Friend and Save!

Also, we want to give you a nice incentive to “spread the word” about our service. If you recommend friends to book a charter through us, we will give you a credit of 5% of their charter cost toward your next charter. Tell enough friends, and you could charter for free!

Please see our full program description and terms and conditions on the site, and start planning that charter for next year!

The Maldives Ministry of Tourism has extended the period that a visiting yacht is allowed to stay in the Maldives with a cruising license from 30 to 90 days, effective 1st of June 2010. The full regulations are as follows:

All foreign vessels categorized as yachts must pay an entry permit fee of MRF 5000.00 to the Ministry of Tourism Arts and Culture

A Captains Declaration describing the crew and passengers onboard must be submitted to the Ministry

A Government Passenger Tax is charged for each passenger on a charter yacht in the Maldives

Fees for Charter licenses are the following:

Vessels less than 25 m in LOA – USD 15.00 per day
Vessels from 25 meters to 35 meters in LOA – USD 200.00 per day
Vessels from 36 meters to 46 meters in LOA – USD 350.00 per day
Vessels from 46 meters to 75 meters in LOA – USD 450.00 per day
Vessels above 75 meters in LOA – USD 600.00 per day

Read more in our Maldives Yacht Charter Guide.

Meg Toppa, who is our Sailing Yacht Expert for the US and Caribbean, just attended the Oakland Boat Show last week.  Here is her report:

I just attended the West Coast’s only all-sail show, which was held  at Jack London Square in Oakland, CA.  “Big deal” you say, “just another boat show”.  Well in some respects, that’s correct.  There are monohulls and catamarans, sail makers, riggers and everything else that makes a boat show.  The thing about this show is that it is in the back yard of the new home of the America’s Cup!  The actual cup was on display from 12-6 today and show attendees were encouraged to take advantage of this unique opportunity to view the America’s Cup.

This past February, BMW Oracle Racing became the first American team to win the cup since 1992.  Larry Ellison and skipper Russel Couts have decided to take the cup on the road to promote the sport of sailing in the U.S.  The event includes sailing and design team members in an open and interactive Q & A session.  Video highlights of the winning campaign for the 33rd America’s Cup were shown.

Seeing the cup gave me goosebumps!  Growing up in Newport, RI, where the cup was contested for years, I have sailed on a 12 meter and worked for one of the syndicates during the 1983 campaign.  BUT I had never seen the cup until today and it was pretty cool.

Besides ogling the cup, Meg did find some great new yachts for charter in San Francisco and the San Juan Islands, as well as learning all about new models on the market that will soon be chartering in the BVI, Bahamas, Grenadines and the rest of the Caribbean. Feel free to give her a call in our Ft Lauderdale office for any questions you may have about a sailing charter.

Due to the austerity measures being implemented in Greece at the moment – the VAT rate on yacht charters has risen from 4.5% to 5.0%. But we certainly hope that won’t discourage charterers from visiting this Mediterranean charter paradise. In fact Greece is putting out the welcome mat more than ever to attract visitors.

To remind you of the wonders of sailing in Greece – Mykonos, Santorini, Corfu, etc. see our Greece yacht charter guide.

Boatbookings.com has launched a twitter feed that shows ONLY charter deals – all deals all the time as they say.  So if you are on twitter and you want to see the best specials, discounts, one-leg charters, unique availabilities and just plain great deals, just follow the feed here!

Follow Charterdeals!

There’s been a lot written about pirates in the Indian Ocean, off the coast of Somalia. And there has been some pirate activity within 60 miles of the Seychelles. So we’ve gotten a number of enquiries as to whether its safe to charter in the Indian Ocean.

A sea turtle in the Maldives

First off, the Indian Ocean is HUGE, and there have been no instances to our knowledge in the beautiful and inviting charter areas of the Maldives, Mauritius and Madagascar. So if you’re thinking of a charter in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, we recommend you choose one of these areas.

Secondly, the recent hijack of a British couple was in open waters as they were sailing to Mozambique from the Seychelles. It is far safer to stay in standard charter areas, near the coast.

If you’d like to charter in the Indian Ocean, but have any safety concerns, we recommend that you speak to our Indian Ocean office – please contact them here.

We were fortunate to be able to get a thorough viewing of DAMRAK, a 70 ft Sunreef Power Catamaran, and talk to the captain at the Monaco Yacht show.  DAMRAK is a great example of why we believe that power catamarans are a major trend in  the charter market.  She has excellent space – in the cabins and in the living areas – which is great for a family or group of friends.  And she’s amazingly economical  – only consumes 40 litres per hour of fuel, far less than a comparable monohull. So you can cruise for long distances without constantly worrying about the fuel bill (not to mention the carbon footprint).

Her interior, like all Sunreef Catamarans, is modern with beautiful use of light woods.  Plenty of amenities, such as a hot tub on the flydeck, wireless light switches, and all the requisite water toys.  You get an enormous amount of boat for her price, and she is a yacht that we can highly recommend!

So if you’re planning your next motor yacht charter, think about a power catamaran, for all of the above reasons!

DAMRAK is still available for Xmas and New Years in the Caribbean.

Regina Laqua, one of the newer members to the Boatbookings team, is the local charter representative for Sardinia, Italy.  She has lived on this beautiful Mediterranean island for  5 years and is constantly discovering something new and wonderful to share with others about this not-so-secret hideaway of the rich and famous.  Here are some of her impressions about yacht charter on the Island of the Emerald Coast.

Q – Sardinia is best known as the holiday-hot-spot for celebrities and the rich.  What makes it so special for you?

In a word, beauty.  Unique untouched nature, incredible scenery, and pristine waters and beaches are a large part of what makes it a special place to call home. Even though it’s known as a celebrity hot spot, the vast majority of the island is virtually untouched and timeless.  I need also to mention the sincere friendliness of the inhabitants.

Q – How does it compare to other European island destinations?

Sardinia is truly unlike any other place in the Mediterranean – weather, water, wind all in the right places keep every type of yachting enthusiast happily coming back to Sardinia to discover more. The Emerald coast is legendary for exclusive experiences, on land or on board your yacht.

By cruising along the coastline under motor or sail, or by making an excursion inland, away from the glitz and glamour, you will discover that Sardinia remains surprisingly anonymous and you will find enchanting coves and deserted beaches as well as ancient villages forgotten by time.

Q – As you’ve described, Sardinia has been attracting the rich and famous for years. Has the economic crisis impacted the charter business?

Surprisingly no. Many charter seekers have kept their holiday plans intact. The wide variety of options through our partners give Boatbookings.com customers every advantage to enjoy their personal charter experience in this special place.

Also, the fact that the Italian government got rid of the luxury tax they had imposed on private yachts and jets (which was keeping people away), helped increase the numbers of the well-heeled who come here.

Q – What makes Sardinia such a perfect destination for any kind of yacht charter?

Sardinia’s coastline remains uncluttered from high rise hotels and is an extraordinary sailing destination with hundreds of secluded coves, picture-book beaches and dramatic rock formations as well as numerous beautiful natural anchorages.

The excellent infrastructure of Sardinia’s marinas, which have about 30 sea miles between each of them, provides for comfort at any time when cruising coast or exploring the islands.

It doesn’t matter if you are on board a mega yacht or at the helm of a modest sail boat, you will always find a point on the horizon that begs to be discovered.

See our Sardinia Yacht Charter Guide for more complete information.

Q – What are the weather conditions like during a typical season?

Sardinia enjoys long warm summers with predictable winds and ideal conditions for the intermediate to more experienced sailor. The more constant winds along the north-eastern coast means that most sailors favour  the Emerald coast.

Two winds ensure the perfect conditions for dynamic sailing: The Chirocco, coming from the  South (Sahara) and the Maestrale (Mistral), which blows down from the North. The Maestrale mostly blows along the west coast, and is a very powerful west to northwest wind, while the south to southeast wind prevails on the east coast.

If you take on any sailing foray in Sardinia’s waters you should either be a very competent sailor yourself or take an experienced skipper with you (which of course we can arrange!). It is also very important to familiarize yourself with the area’s nautical literature and navigational requirements.

Q – What kind of Charter Yachts do you have, and where do people normally charter from?

The variety of yachts for charter in Sardinia is amazing – you can get anything from a water ski boat to a Super Yacht, Monohulls, Catamarans, you name it.  If you give us enough lead time, we can generally find just about any boat you need (things get a bit more difficult in July and August!).

We have yachts available from 15 ports, all over the island. The ports with the most yachts are Porto Cervo, Portisco and Alghero, but if you have a destination in mind, let us know!  Here is our up-to-date list of charter yachts available in Sardinia.

Q – Do you have a favourite story from a charter?

Well it’s not a favourite story because my client wasn’t able to really go on his charter, but it does highlight the love of the sea and the special friendliness of the Sardinians:

A Danish couple – he is an advanced sailor – booked and paid for a weekly  bareboat charter at the last minute.  Everything was ready and prepared, and the water and wind conditions perfect.

On the day of embarking I received a phonecall: the charterer had broken his arm on his way to the airport to catch the flight to Sardinia.  He had cancellation insurance but after our phone call the couple decided to come anyway instead of canceling, just one day later. They felt they would be in “good hands” with us and wanted to sniff the sea breeze. In the end they spent a very happy week onboard their  sailboat…  at base!… without sailing (but of course enjoying being in a lovely Sardinian port).

One day before disembarking the charter company sent a skipper onboard who took them out for half a day – free of charge. This is Sardinia and how people tick even if it is high season. By the way, the clients want to charter this boat again next year, but hopefully with 2 unbroken arms…