We were fortunate to be invited aboard the marvelous M/Y Starship which was docked at the Monaco Yacht Show last week to mingle with industry folk who came from a variety of ports dotted around the world.

After taking a tour to view this magnificent, well equipped charter yacht, guided by Judy Smith, Starship’s private helicopter pilot, we were in awe of the plush mahogany interior, updated electronics, elliptical machine and water toys available to those guests who would be eligible to take a charter vacation of this sort.  She offers 3 King and 1 Queen, 1 twin and one 1 pullman accommodations for up to 12 guests with TV’s DVD’s,CD’s in all cabins.  Dining facilities for 10 guests inside and 12 outside.

She is available for charter in the Mediterranean as well as the Caribbean Islands.

A bit of the show happenings and gossip from our resident Kiwi:

The Monaco Yacht show was glorious as always – weather, yachts, people, exhibits.  There’s really nothing like it.

We scoured the show for 3 days for all the boat news. Clearly, the boat of the show was the Oceanco “Alpha Nero”, with its infinite swimming pool, enormous decks and sheer size.  There was a constant jam of interested show goers in front of the yacht, trying to scam their way into a visit.

We look primarily for Charter Yachts, and of course there were some amazing ones on display. Our favorites were:

M/Y Sensation  (Sensation Yachts) – we finally got to see this beautiful New Zealand Yacht, with light, warm interior, sleek hull and peppy speed. It’s been on the market for a while but has a great new captain who’s putting together a world-class charter crew.

M/Y The Snapper (Sunseeker) – a Sunseeker 82 Yacht with modern but very tastefully done interior

M/Y Lady Michelle (Trinity) – classic interior, nice cruising speed, elegant. 49 Meters, 5 Cabins.

M/Y Starship (Van Mill). A classic 44 meter superyacht with all the amenities. Excellent finishings, top quality materials.

More updates from the show coming soon, as we sort through all of our compiled information!

If you’re in the yachting business, the end of the busy summer high season very quickly rolls into an even busier September, with the Cannes Boat Show, Monaco Yacht Show, Cannes Royal Regatta and the Voile St Tropez.  That’s a whole lot of Champagne to consume!  Our next post will feature the “inside scoop” from the Monaco Yacht Show, which just wound up last weekend.

For a relaxing cruise with beach, sun, shopping, people watching, and world famous watering holes, try this relaxing cruise in Miami, Coconut Grove, Biscayne Bay, Elliott Key and Boca Chita.  One of the joys of Miami is that it is so close to deserted beaches with great diving and swimming, but you can also stroll through Coconut Grove or Miami Beach.

Jost Van Dyke, a largely uninhabited island in the BVI, boasts two of the most renowned and intriguing beach bars in the world.  Foxy’s is known for Foxy’s guitar playing, Beach BBQs and New Years Eve parties.  The Soggy Dollar Bar, is famous as the inventor of the “Painkiller” Drink, and because you need to swim from your boat to get to the bar – there is no dock (but a wire is provided to dry your soggy dollars, euros, etc.)

Both of these bars were established by local entrepreneurs and have remained unpretentious and largely unspoiled since their founding (although you’ll find a few hangers on at Foxy’s ready to take advantage of you by “finding” your lost dinghy for a few bucks.

They’re gotten their fame because of the interational nature of the BVI, with so many sailors arriving there and speading the recommendation to their friends.

We highly recommend both, but please don’t blame us for the hangovers!