The idyllic Maldives has long been associated with honeymooners and romantic getaways for couples wanting to enjoy each other’s company without the familiar sound of children screaming and jumping in the pool – so it may come as a surprise that one of the top resort hotels, Diva, is now pushing and promoting their kids’ clubs, and many other top resort hotels are following suit. Despite worries that young families on holiday might ruin the tranquility that so many holiday makers in the Maldives love, there is plenty of beach to go around.

The Maldives make an ideal destination for a family holiday; shallow waters, white sandy beaches, all the water sports in the world under a perfect blue, sun drenched sky, and now is the perfect time to book up and go! There is still time to charter a yacht in the Maldives to get some winter sun, and now you can take the whole family with you!

 Information courtesy of the Times online.

A world record has already been achieved in the first leg of the gruelling Volvo Ocean Race (formerly the Whitbread Round the World Race) by Sweden’s Ericsson 4 team.  The yacht managed to achieve smashing the previous 24-hour monohull distance record by travelling an astounding 589 miles (1,085km) in the journey from Alicante in Spain to Cape Town in South Africa.  The previous record was 562.97 miles and was set by ABN Amro 2 in January 2006 in the Indian Ocean.

The Ericsson 4, looks set to enjoy a healthy lead as the race reaches Cape Town, currently leading by 30miles ahead of the US Puma Racing team and could even break the record again with the prevailing weather conditions. The race is due to take in 10 legs encompassing Africa, Asia, the Americas and finally Europe before finishing in St Petersburg after covering 42,600 miles.

Some information courtesy of ChannelNews Asia.

Today the yacht is symbolic of luxury vessels that cruise the oceans and seas elegantly in pursuit of leisurely indulgence.  However, its origin is a little distant from this current image and heralds from a time when Pirates pestered the shallow waters of the Low Countries of Europe.  The word yacht comes from the Dutch word jacht which means to hunt, the vessels described as jachtships where light, fast and used for pursuing (or hunting) the pirates and bucaneers that hounded the waters of these countries.  It wasn’t until King Charles II of England famously chose the vessel for his return to Britain from the Netherlands for his restoration to the throne that the yacht was then identified as a vessel to transport important people and consequently as a luxury item for the rich and famous. Today this luxury has become accessible to more people than ever with the facility to charter a yacht available to everyone who considers themself to be important.
Some information courtesy of Wikipedia

As we look to take more responsibility of our effect on the environment around us, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection along with the Clean Boating Partenership have been recognising steps to protect our Earth in the boating community.  The Fort Myers Yacht Basin in Florida has recently been added to a growing list of Clean Marinas in the state, setting the benchmarks for environmental stewardship whilst providing a public service.

There are more than 2000 marinas dotted along Florida’s coastline and the effects of year-round boating activity contributes to the growing pressure on Florida’s sensitve aquatic and marine ecosystems.  Marinas awarded with Clean Marina status go above and beyond the required environmental regulations by adopting practices that keep solvents, sewage, fuel and oil out of the water and look to protect the native manatees and other marine creatures.  As a yacht charterer, you too can help to protect the environment and ensure the sustainable future of our planet and the yachting industry wherever you are by making concerted green chartering decisions and efforts, including reducing your carbon footprint and taking responsible care of your waste.  If we all try to make a difference, we can help to keep our seas and oceans as glorious as they are today for the yachting lovers of the future.
Some information courtesy of News-Press.com

Sir Richard Branson spoke via satellite today from his 99ft sailing yacht VIRGIN MONEY about the assault on the yacht by 40ft waves in the Bermuda Triangle.  The huge waves stripped the boat of one of its life-rafts, took out the spinnaker and ripped the main sail, leaving the boat to limp along until the decision is made as to whether they can still break the record if they repair the damage and carry on.  Branson remains confident as the crew of the British 2009 America’s Cup team ‘Team Origin’ form part of the 30 strong crew and are adept at coping in such situations.  Teambut if the weather worsens accepts that the day to break the record will have to wait for another time.

The intention of the attempt is to break the current trans-atlantic record of 6 days, 17 hours, 52 minutes and 39 seconds, joining him on this attempt are his two children Holly and Sam Branson and the Olympic hero, Ben Ainslie.
Information courtesy of the Telgraph online

During these uncertain times, one thing the most families don’t want to cut back on is their holiday.  People are looking to spend less, and insisting on only the best value for their holidays this year.

The same applies for yacht charter.  If you are looking to charter but want to make sure you stretch every dollar, euro or pound, here are some tips that will help you get the best charter this year as possible:

- Charter Sailboats and Catamarans – Sailboats and catamarans are significantly less expensive than motor boats, and may offer even more room.  Catamarans offer very large saloons, lots of privacy in the staterooms located in the pontoons, and of course  an infinitely lower fuel consumption.  There is no longer a dichotomy between motor yachts and sailboats when it comes to comfort, but the price can be 2/3rds less when all expenses are added up.

- Check the fuel consumption -  A similar sized boat may have dramatically different levels of fuel consumption, and therefore cost.  A 40 meter Benetti Super Yacht may consume less than half of the fuel of a Mangusta. Yes, it will not go quite as fast, but the savings could pay for many meals and shopping excursions along the way!

- Look for deals – Not surprisingly, it’s more of a “buyer’s market” than we’ve seen in many years in the yacht charter market. If you would like a certain class of boat, let us know what your budget is and we’ll see what we can do to find a boat for that price.

- Charter where your money stretches further – Areas such as Southeast Asia have a lower cost of living than, say, Western Europe, and once you’re there, your currency will stretch much further for provisioning.  Also, within Europe, Croatia and the Canary Islands offer some of the lowest prices for yachts, with no compromise in the beauty of the charter area!  Similarly, the cost of living varies dramatically in the Caribbean Islands, with Mexico having some of the lower charter and cost of living costs in the region.

- Book Early! There are plenty of discounts if you book early – before January for the Mediterranean, before September for the Winter season in the Caribbean.  You can easily save 10% to 20% on your charter fee, and your flights will be cheaper as well!

The reason lays in regulation.  Once a vessel carries more than 12 passengers, even if it is being used as a private yacht, it is considered to be a passenger ship and has to comply with the SOLAS convention (Safety of Life at Sea) set out by the IMO (International Maritime Organization).  The SOLAS convention involves adhering to a comprehensive list of stringent safety restrictions that are very expensive to implement and this is consequently reflected in the chartering cost increase between boats licensed for up to 12 passengers and boats licensed for more than 12 passengers.  As most yachts are rarely requested to carry more than 12 passengers the additional cost does not make economical sense both for the boat owner and the charterer who would have to pay the extra cost regardless of their party’s number.

But, do not worry, this does not mean that boats with licenses for carrying up to 12 passengers are not safe.  They also have to adhere to a certain set of standards set down by the local authority or the code of charter practice to achieve their license. If in doubt it is always worth asking to see a boat’s license to charter to ensure the boat is covered by insurance in case of an accident.  Most importantly, enjoy yourself, but sensibly!

Follow this link for more information about boats that are licensed to carry more than 12 passengers.

Croatia is fast becoming the hottest place to charter a yacht and this season saw a huge increase in charter companies popping up and offering some of the best deals on the world’s oceans.  Croatia is quite simply fantastic.  Alluring azure waters that lap gently against the Adriatic coast of this as yet unspoilt destination along with the hundreds of beautiful islands, medieval towns and pristine beaches all together make her an attractive package and it is hard not to see why it is so up and coming.   Now is the perfect opportunity to book a charter in Croatia and see the Mediterranean how it was in its former glorious years.

That’s right, you can get on board the yacht used as the BLACK PEARL in the Pirates of the Caribbean films and re-enact your own Captain Jack Sparrow moment. The UNICORN Brig is a 140ft masterpiece replica of an 18th Century Brig Tall Ship and is a beauty to behold without the tattered sails given to her in the film.
Built in 1948 in Finland, she now offers daily tours starting from Rodney Bay Marin on St Lucia, taking in either the Botanical Gardens or the Toraille Waterfalls & Gardens and the Sulphur Springs of St Lucia in the Caribbean.  The trip even includes a hearty meal and traditional pirate rum punch, perfect for a fantasy family day out.

So what is it that attracts so many people to this tiny island in the Caribbean that has two names?  The answer is not too far from the reason the island has two names, it is split between the two nations of France (Saint Martin) and the Dutch Antilles (Sint Maarten) and has consequently become a unique and truly cosmopolitan place with the relaxed and laid-back atmosphere the Caribbean is famous for.  The peaceful co-habitation of the French and Dutch dominated sides of the island over the past 350 years has created an unusual serenity and the perfect environment in which the culture has grown to include 80 nationalities, world-class duty-free shopping, 37 pristine beaches, a vibrant and eclectic nightlife and the name ‘Gastronomic Capital of the Caribbean’.

With its proximity to neighboring islands, including Saint Barthelemy (St. Barths / St. Bart’s), Anguilla, Saba, Sint Eustatius, Saint Kitts and Nevis, St.Maarten is ideal as somewhere to start or include in your Caribbean Yacht Chartering Adventure. The island has become the center of the Caribbean yachting industry and home to some of the world’s most extravagant mega-yachts.  Book now for your perfect yacht charter experience under the gently warming Caribbean sun and follow this link to find out more information about the fantastic St. Martin/St. Maarten.