But we keep getting such consistently superb feedback on SOULS CALLING that we felt we needed to single it out for special mention.  SOULS CALLING is captained by Alex Mulder, who is a very skilled skipper, knows the BVI like the back of his hand, and basically doesn’t know the word “No”.  He loves his job, always goes the extra mile, and wants his guests to have the best holiday of their lives. And he always seems to deliver.  Carla is a superb cook and takes great care that the guests are happy. The two together work magic.

SOULS calling is a 2007 Lagoon 500 catamaran, with 3 spacious cabins and large common areas.  Lagoons are famous for their great panoramic windows in the salon, giving beautiful views and lightness to the galley and salon.  The boat is immaculately clean and all details are cared for lovingly.

We think, however, it’s best to hear testimonials from the charter guests themselves – here are just a few!

Patti Said:

“Just want to let you know we had the most amazing time on Souls Calling. We cannot wait to go again. Thanks for your help with the booking. If you need recommendations for them let me know, the crew was by far amazing and very attentive. The food was gourmet. What a wonderful experience, by far one of our best vacations we ever took. Thanks Patti”

See all about SOULS CALLING and additional testimonials on the Boatbookings website.

See all of our 5 Star Rated Charter Yachts!

Show producers provide a free smartphone app, MyBoatShow, available on iPhone and Android platforms. Attendees will be able to access show maps, search for exhibitors, manufacturers, product categories and boats by specifications and size, show schedule, seminar information, show transportation schedules and maps, food and drink locations, restroom locations and emergency services.

Diamond Girl

Also new to this year’s Yacht & Brokerage Show in Miami Beach is TrawlerPort, which will offer an impressive display of long-range cruisers in lengths ranging from 35 to 90 feet that are designed for long-term cruising of regional and worldwide destinations.

The Show features many yachts available for crewed luxury charter, including DIAMOND GIRL, a very popular Johnson 103 currently available for charter in the Virgin Islands and DAMRAK II a stylish and sophisticated Sunreef power catamaran. Please contact Sharon@boatbookings.com to arrange for a personalized viewing of luxury charter yachts on display.

DAMRAK II

BOAT SHOW SCHEDULE:

Thursday, Feb. 16: 10am – 7pm

Friday, Feb. 17: 10am – 7pm

Saturday, Feb. 18: 10am – 7pm

Sunday, Feb. 19: 10am – 7pm

Monday, Feb. 20: 10am – 6pm

Follow these comprehensive links for information about Luxury Yacht Charter and Charter Destinations Worldwide.

Entering the main deck salon and dining area there is a lovely bar to starboard with excellent views, making this spot an immediate lure to guests onboard.

The master suite on SECRET SPOT has notable features, especially generous closets inside the bathroom as well as a walk in closet for excellent storage capacity. Adjacent, a cozy office or lounge area with two means of egress can be converted for children or nanny quarters.

While we are visiting SECRET SPOT, the talented sous-chef, Tom Williams, is extremely busy creating delicacies for the guests onboard in the spacious country kitchen.  Today we are served jumbo shrimp stuffed with crabmeat and lobster; jerk chicken, baked stuffed jalapeños, conch fritters and tortilla shells with guacamole and sour cream.  Besides his tempting culinary abilities, charming Captain John Costenbader explains that he is also the skilled First Officer onboard.

The sundeck on luxury yacht SECRET SPOT has a very happy vibe about it, from the vibrant upholstery to the central Jacuzzi, the area is exceedingly inviting. Spacious sun pads beckon sun worship while protected seating offers a cool alternative.

SECRET SPOT is based out of Rybovich Marina in Palm Beach and offers cruising destinations in South Florida and the Bahamas.

Please follow this useful link for detailed information on chartering SECRET SPOT. Here is a helpful link to explore Luxury Crewed Yacht Charter Worldwide.

On board CALLIOPE, the immediate impression of sophistication and refinement is augmented by impressive design innovations that are the result of input from an experienced Owner. On CALLIOPE the details are as remarkable as the overall ambiance. For example, the custom made, graceful mermaid door pulls, which stand alone as works of art, were designed by the Owner.

Other subtleties on board CALLIOPE, not immediately visible, raise the level of livability and service. The main deck salon is furnished in understated elegance featuring neutral tones with touches of delphinium blue, and connects to the formal dining room. The space can be left open for entertaining or separated by sliding shoji doors for a more intimate setting. Cleverly concealed cabinetry allows for easy access to tableware and the crew can provide discreet service through an electronic pocket door leading to the pantry and commercial galley.

The guest staterooms on board luxury yacht CALLIOPE, located on the lower deck, are finished in a soft lime oak with French provincial decor. The crew is able to service the guests by way of a secret, soundproof door in the paneling that leads to the crew quarters.

The bridge deck is a very popular area with guests and the main social area on CALLIOPE. State-of-the-art equipment allows the space to transition from a library to a media room to a party deck. The salon’s full width folding French doors open up to the aft deck providing a seamless transition from interior to exterior creating an even larger al fresco dining and entertaining area.

CALLIOPE is an intrinsically chic yacht that even the most demanding charter clients will recognize as superior in all respects. This unparalleled superyacht is an excellent charter option for corporate retreats, or families and friends that demand five star service and luxurious accommodations aboard a prestigious vessel.

Follow this link for detailed information about charter on board CALLIOPE.

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The interior of this luxurious Heesen 130 was designed by Clifford Denn and features contemporary architecture and furnishings in opposing dark and pale tones with dark wood highlights and rich hardwood floors. The atmosphere is sophisticated and stunning. The main deck on LIONSHARE features a plush lounging area with only the suggestion of separation from the dining area produced by two columns and a buffet cabinet.

LIONSHARE features accommodations for 11 guests in five ensuite staterooms. Crisp white linens, soft lighting and minimal furnishings create a zen-like environment conducive to relaxation.

LIONSHARE features plenty of open deck living space and an especially awesome, forward facing Jacuzzi with a generous surround of sun pads. It was easy to imagine sitting in the Jacuzzi, making a grand entrance into a new and exciting port of call, tropical cocktail in hand, magnificent view all around.

LIONSHARE is currently available for charter in the Caribbean with plans for summer 2012 charters in the Eastern Mediteranean region. This is an excellent yacht for discriminating guests who require the utmost in service and appreciate nautical tradition with a contemporary aesthetic.

Please follow this link for detailed information about chartering LIONSHARE.

Here is a useful link to explore all the possibilities of Luxury Superyacht Charter in destinations worldwide.

Side swim platform is ideal for launching water toys

James Bond is right at home in this superbly elegant environment of cutting edge design. PANTHALASSA`s sumptuous teak sole and saddle leather wall paneling integrate seamless social spaces defined by functional furniture groupings. Interior accents are bathed in natural

The acrylic stairwell connects levels and streams in daylight.

light that flows through a sweep of windows and an array of skylights.  The area is designed for guests to melt into a state of blissful relaxation amongst throw cushions, cashmere throws, ergonomic chairs, sprawling couches and handmade silk floor rugs.

The huge skylight, left of Captain Greg, replaced the Jacuzzi

PANTHALLASSA is number nine in the series of ten 56m hulls built by Perini Navi.  Built to spec for individual owners, each has special details.  For example, on the upper deck of PANTHALASSA, the Owners opted for a huge skylight in place of the on-deck Jacuzzi, a better fit with their ideology. They feel that the deck is for relaxing and the ocean is for swimming.

The Captain has been on the yacht from the design stage at the Perini Navi shipyard. He describes the build process as “fascinating, a real challenge and something as a yachtie I’ve always wanted to do…the timing was pretty bad though. It was all through the real horror of the financial crisis, not the best time to be building a big yacht.  Perini though, if anybody is recession proof those guys are. They’ve boomed, that’s the only word for it.” PANTHALAASSA emerged as proof in 2010.

PANTHALASSSA is a high performance sailing machine that finished well in the Perini Cup this year, winning the race on day two. Her helm display is an amazing array of state-of-the-art navigation equipment, computer screens, gages, dials and controls, and the Captain is adept with optimizing the technology in any sea conditions.

Just off the helm is the cylindrical video chamber, which, with the touch of a button, becomes completely enclosed by a curved sliding door. The space can also serve as a dining area or a massage and relaxation room. However, we are told that this room gets used the most for the PlayStation.

There are many design aspects about PANTHALASSA that make it unusual. The six- cabin configuration has no master, but rather two identical aft cabins and four equal guest cabins with Pullmans. The hierarchy is there, but it is very subtle. This is an optimal layout for situations in which two families are chartering together.

Needless to say, PANTHALASSA is a very popular yacht with an enthusiastic repeat clientele. Although there are still openings available for charter this winter in the Caribbean as well as next summer in the Mediterranean, they are filling up quickly.

Charter PANTHALASSA and be guaranteed a spectacular, one-of-a-kind experience in flawless surroundings,with impeccable service and gourmet cuisine on board a true sailing machine.

Click here for details about chartering PANTHALASSA.

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MUSE is a spacious Sunreef 70 that features three doubles, two twins, one single and a Pullman, making it an ideal option for families with children. The yacht is very informal, not showy or ostentatious, guests can relax without worry that their young ones will endanger artwork and décor. The Owner successfully designed interiors with the charming ambience of a house in the south of France.

While the heart of MUSE is home, the soul is food. Chef Caro and her husband, Captain Jez Fletcher, are world travelers and both love to cook cuisine incorporating menus and ingredients from distant lands. Captain Jez invites guests of all ages to assist with the handmade pasta that they can hang on a rail above the galley counter.

Our lunch on the aft deck of MUSE that day started with a course of delicate prawns dusted in coconut and served on a locally grown pineapple wedge. This was followed by pork belly confit marinated overnight in a dry rub of coriander, cumin, rosemary and sea salt and slow cooked, also baked pork ribs inspired by Vietnamese cookery, finished in a Vietnamese caramel sauté with balsamic and tamarind glaze. These innovative and delicious dishes were a testimony to the creative talent that seems to come quite effortlessly to Chef Caro.

The dessert was a delightfully effervescent champagne jello, which we all decided was perfect for any final course, but particularly for the forthcoming holiday celebrations. We asked Chef Caro for the recipe, which, transcribed below, presents a very clear picture of how easy it is to do at home, as well as the endearing charm of Chef Caro.

Champagne Jello
Ingredients:
12 sheets or 2 packets of Knox unflavored gelatin
1 coffee mug water
1 coffee mug sugar
1 bottle champagne

“You start off with ½ a coffee mug of water at room temperature. I’m very low tech. Dump in either 12 sheets or two packets of unflavored gelatin and stir it through the water, this is called blooming the gelatin. You let it soak up a bit of the water so that its easier to dissolve later.

Take a small pot and pour another ½ coffee mug of water and a full mug of sugar. Warm up gently until the sugar is dissolved, kind of like bartender syrup, and pour this into the bloomed gelatin. At this stage it will look like a grainy mess. Stir it through to dissolve it nicely and just let it sit to cool. You can do this in the morning, then have a cup of coffee, or do your face, that’s what I do.

Here’s the trick; the sugar and gelatin syrup, which has been well mixed through, should be just nice and cool, not setting. It should be in a big mixing bowl because the next thing to do is get a bottle of champagne, cava or prosecco. This is really important; you resist the temptation to just down the champagne yourself. Instead you must dump the entire bottle into the bowl, a very liberating experience.

Give it a quick whisk through, pour it into a non-reactive container, plastic or good stainless, give it a quick taste, but not for the reason you think. You taste it to see if you want a little squisher of lime or lemon juice. I used a quarter spoon for brut champagne, if you’re using a demi-sec that somebody mistakenly gave you and you think, well I’ll make a bit of champagne jello, you may want to use a bigger squisher.

Pop it in the fridge for four or five hours. If you prefer you can pour it into nice little shot glasses or martini glasses and layer it with berries soaked in Cointreau. Do not use pineapple or kiwi because they have an enzyme that dissolves the protein in the gelatin, use any other fruit you please.

The trick to preserving the bubbles in the champagne is to be sure the syrup mixture is cool but not yet set. Do not put it in the refrigerator to cool because the sides of the container will start to gel to quickly. As you can see, it’s dead easy and tends to be very popular!”

Thanks so much Caro! Happy Holidays!

Click here for details and information about chartering MUSE in the Caribbean or Mediterranean.

Chef Caro Uy won third place in the Concours de Chef at the 2011 Antigua Charter Yacht Show.

Follow this link to explore Yacht Charter in the Caribbean.

Hemisphere

The annual World Superyacht Awards, held in London for the last three years, are moving to Istanbul, Turkey. Next year’s event will be held on May 5 in Çiragan Palace Kempinski, a former Ottoman palace situated on the European shores of the Bosphorus.

Nominated yachts include the 70.5m (231ft) Talisman C, built by Proteksan Turquoise, the 63m (207ft) Feadship Lady Britt, the 50m (164ft) Satori by Heesen Yachts and the 44.2m (145ft) Pendennis-built Hemisphere.

The basic requirement for the awards is that the nominated yacht must be of over 30m (98ft) in length and have been completed and delivered to its owner between January 1st and December 31st, 2011.

Follow this link to explore Yacht Charter in Turkey.
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Center: Emma Beckett at awards ceremony

The culinary challenge is a much anticipated annual event that gives charter yacht chefs the opportunity to participate in an extravaganza of epicurean artistry and splendor, and be recognized and rewarded for their extraordinary talents. This year marked the 50th anniversary of the Antigua Charter Yacht Show, which served as the underlying theme for both the Concours de Chef and the Table Setting Competition.

Chefs were instructed to prepare a Caribbean Celebration Banquet pared with an alcoholic or non alcoholic drink offering. Stewards and stewardess participating in the Table Setting Contest were instructed to incorporate the number 50 and a bottle of Piper Heidsieck, a sponsor of the event, in the centerpiece arrangement of a table setting suitable for a 50th anniversary.

Prizes included magnums of Piper Heidsieck, accommodations at five star resorts, Liat airline tickets, William and Sonoma gift certificates and spa treatments.

And the winners are……

Rene Kappetein, Worlds End

YACHTS 160ft AND OVER

1st place: Tim Macdonald, Huntress

2nd place: Heather Kaniuk, yacht Numptia

3rd place: Thomas Francque, yacht Passion

YACHTS FROM 101 TO 159 FT
1st place: Emma Beckett, Lady J

2nd place: Gabrielle Scott, Va Bene

3rd place: Jerry Bond,  Arioso

YACHTS UNDER 100 FT

1st place: Rene Kappetein, Worlds End

2nd place: Adrian Martin, Lady Alliaura

3rd place: Caro Uy, Muse

STEWARD/STEWARDESS TABLE SETTING

Caro Uy in action on MUSE

160FT AND OVER

Theone Penn, Troyanda

100 TO 159  FT

Hilary Gibbson, Andromeda La Dea

UP TO 99FT

Julia Fluhrer, Matau

SEAQUELL

After viewing all of the impressive table settings the judges were inspired to spontaneously create an additional award category for the Creative Use of the Number 50 and Champagne Bottle. The winning yachts were Passion, for an artistic rendering of 50 made with glass pieces and labels from Piper Heidsieck bottles, and Sea Quell, for an elaborately Caribbean construction of palm fronds and banana leaves.

The winners of the 2011 Antigua Charter Yacht Show Concours de Chef and Table Setting Competitions add a special ingredient for clients chartering aboard their magnificent yachts!

Follow the links above to charter the award-winning yachts and click here for comprehensive destination descriptions and detailed information on Caribbean Yacht Charter.

The boats left Cape Town yesterday on the race`s second leg to Abu Dhabi, which requires navigating exceedingly dangerous waters off the Eastern African corridor. The solution is to transport the vessels under armed guard to the waters of Sharjah, UAE and an undisclosed safe port somewhere in the Indian Ocean, where they will be less than a day’s sail from Abu Dhabi.

“Once unloaded, race management will decide where exactly to re-start the race for a short competitive sprint into Abu Dhabi, which is hosting the event from December 31 to January 14,” said a statement “The sailors will not be on board the ship.”

Organizers said the scoring system on this leg would be different from previous legs. Eighty per cent of points will be accumulated through the safe haven port, and the other 20 per cent will be gained in the final race from Sharjah to Abu Dhabi.

Follow this link to get in on the action and Charter a Yacht for a Regatta or Sailing Event.