Last year here at the Newport charter yacht show, the biggest motoryacht on the docks was the 145-foot Curt-C. This year, she’s one of seven motoryachts in the show larger than 120 feet, and one among four motoryachts larger than 143 feet (the largest is the 165-foot Oceanfast Mystique).

What’s odd about this is that the New England show, historically, has featured far smaller yachts–and primarily sailing yachts, at that. This year, in addition to so many larger motoryachts, there are more motoryachts in general, with just six sailboats among the 25 charter yachts in the show.

What’s going on? Word on the docks is that the economy has forced a larger number of motoryachts to stay on this side of the Atlantic for the summer (some are sitting idle in Florida, not even wanting to pay fuel costs to come to New England). Instead of seeking charter business in the Mediterranean, these yachts are hoping to find it in New England.

Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem like that is happening. New England is traditionally a market where charters are booked at the last minute, or close to it,  but it’s already the end of June, and more than one motoryacht captain told me today that he was still without a July Fourth holiday charter. The captain of a 125-foot motoryacht (a stunner) told me his yacht didn’t have a single charter booked yet for this summer from Newport to Maine.

None of this is good for the charter industry, of course, but it could be good news for you as a client seeking a last-minute charter in New England. Boats sitting idle sometimes have owners who are willing to entertain offers below their regular weekly rates. Not all charter yachts deal this way, but some definitely do.

It’s a good time to call a reputable charter broker if you want to figure out which of these gorgeous yachts wants and needs your business more than the next.

The photograph above is of Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida, where the National Football League will hold Super Bowl XLIII on February 1, 2009. As the actual football season won’t start for another few months in the United States, it’s a bit hard to say who’ll be playing–but you can be sure there will be a party to be had, just a few blocks from one of the busiest boating areas in all of Florida.

I was reminded of this by Merle Wood & Associates, which is encouraging its charter clients to call now,while availability is still good, for a yacht with a berth close to all the excitement. The stadium is just inside the peninsula between Hillsborough Bay and Old Tampa Bay, with easy access from Tampa Bay and the many marinas of Tampa’s sister city, St. Petersburg.

As the Merle Wood team says, the marinas in this area can accommodate charter yachts of every size with a full range of services and amenities. I’m guessing that includes awesome tailgate parties, too–something you definitely don’t get to enjoy during just any ol’ charter vacation.

As you know if you read our recent interview with broker Missy Johnston from the May charter yacht show in Greece, catamarans available for charter are a rare find in the Eastern Mediterranean. Yes, the stable, spacious boats are all the rage in the Bahamas and Virgin Islands, but over in Europe, they have yet to make a dent in the marketplace full of traditionally styled motor and sailing yachts.

Interestingly, one of the nicest crewed powercats I’ve ever seen (look at that bright, airy saloon in the photo above), the 86-foot Bel’Mare, happens to be cruising in Greece and Turkey right now–and she still has charter weeks available this August, according to management company 37 South.

It’s a rare opportunity to get onboard this particular yacht in this location, as the crew told me during my tour that they believed Bel’Mare would be returning to the owner’s home waters in New Zealand come 2009. It’s also a rare opportunity to enjoy cruising aboard a fast catamaran (25 knots!) in an area where the traditional charter yachts, such as Turkish gulets, typically move no faster than about 6 knots from port to port. You’ll be to the archaeological ruins and back to your yacht for a swim before the other charter yachts even arrive for the day.