Nicole Caulfield is licensed, bonded, and a longtime member of FYBA and AYCA. She brings a unique perspective as a broker, having worked aboard yachts for nearly 10 years. Email Nicole
Sharon Bahmer is an expert at booking charters in the Americas, from Alaska to Brazil. She's also a member of FYBA and CYBA. E-mail Sharon
DJ Parker has been a leader in the charter industry since 1980. She is currently president of the American Yacht Charter Association. E-mail DJ
Trina Howes has 10 years of experience in the charter industry finding great pleasure in creating the best yachting vacations possible. E-mail Trina
Beverly Parsons has been chartering since 1969. She is a licensed, bonded broker and a founding member of the professional groups AYCA and CYBA International. Contact Beverly.
Reports Indicate Charter Market May Be Improving A good number of reputable charter brokers tell CharterWave that inquiries for Caribbean-season bookings have increased dramatically in the past few weeks. And while “dramatically” may be a loaded word given how little the phones have been ringing during the global economic recession, the current uptick in interest certainly indicates that the Caribbean charter season may be better than previously anticipated. Other hints that the market may be improving include a reduction in the number of discounts being publicly advertised, as well as this past month’s increase in winter bookings for dockage at popular charter locations such as the Bitter End Yacht Club in the British Virgin Islands. Some of the largest yachts—including the 252-foot motoryacht Samar—are currently advertising discounts as deep as 30 percent off their base rates, but far fewer deals are being publicized than just a few months ago for yachts about 125 feet and smaller. The October edition of CharterWave’s “Three Brokers Say” offers personal perspectives about the upcoming season from broker Ed Hamilton, who specializes in small- to mid-range bareboats and crewed yachts; broker Missy Johnston, who specializes in large crewed yachts; and fleet manager Karen Kelly, who represents a big fleet of sailboats at Nicholson Yachts. You might also be interested in this Sept. 4 blog post from BoatBookings.com, offering that retail charter agency's market outlook for the upcoming charter season.
Yachts Remain Available for Christmas, New Year’s The above news item notwithstanding, a good number of popular charter yachts remain available for Christmas and New Year’s bookings in Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean. Until last year and the global economic downturn, being able to find good charter yachts this close to winter holiday travel dates was all but unheard of. Management company Northrop & Johnson alone had eight motoryachts with availability as of October 1. See this post from the CharterWave Daily Editor’s Blog for additional information. Management company Sunreef Yachts reports also reports holiday availability aboard nine of its power and sailing catamarans in the Virgin Islands and Caribbean. See the Fleet and Management Company News section below for more charter yachts with holiday availability.
An Unusually Detailed Cautionary Tale Private yacht charter can be the vacation experience of a lifetime, but things sometimes do go wrong—and rarely do the details of a troublesome charter ever see the light of day. That’s why CharterWave proudly published this interview with broker Ali Kaufmann of The Sacks Group Yachting Professionals following a six-figure charter that involved multiple setbacks. The story that Kaufmann relates offers an unusually detailed look inside the nuts-and-bolts of the charter booking process. It also stands as yet another reminder of why it is best to book private yachts through reputable charter brokers, as opposed to directly with yacht owners.
We’re Scouting for You in Fort Lauderdale CharterWave editor Kim Kavin will be on the docks in Florida at the end of October for the 50th annual Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show. You can follow Kim’s news from the show on the CharterWave Daily Editor’s Blog, as well as on the CharterWave Twitter feed. Multiple charter yachts are expected to be available for tours. Stay tuned.
Best of the CharterWave Daily Editor’s Blog
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Tsunamis Appear to Have Spared Charter Spots. The above report from TV New Zealand is the best I've found this morning about yesterday's earthquake (reported as being between 7.9 and 8.3 in magnitude) and the resulting tsunami that has killed at least 100 people on Samoa and American Samoa. While the situation in those islands is of course tragic, I am relieved this morning to report that the yachts and crew in surrounding islands popular for charter appear to have been spared the worst of the devastation… Read more…
Best of the CharterWave Sponsored Blogs From the Northrop & Johnson Worldwide Yacht Charters sponsored blog. Sailing on Signe in Newport Harbor. September is one of the nicest times to sail out of Newport, Rhode Island, as the weather is still warm, the water warmer, and the air crisp and clear. Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters was invited on an afternoon sail on Signe, the 115-foot Renaissance Sailing Yacht designed by Bruce King and built in Maine… Read more …
Motoryacht of the Month: Natori The 137-foot Baglietto Natori was one of our editor's favorite new yachts to enter the charter market this summer, with a 1920s-inspired interior that is simply drop-dead gorgeous. Natori is now preparing for her first winter charter season. Our First Impression review includes exclusive photographs of Natori that you won’t see anywhere else, plus details about the captain and chef (including some tantalizing specialties that you might see on your plate if you charter this particular yacht). Sailing Yacht of the Month: Hic Salta Gulets available for charter in Turkey can be hit or miss in terms of quality. The 141-foot Hic Salta has an owner who continuously invests in upgrades and maintenance. “I have spent 25 years on gulets,” he told our editor. “I like them. I have put many years and effort into them. But there are some very badly built ones, many trying to imitate us and doing so poorly. Plus, gulets are hard to maintain, which harms the secondhand market. If an amateur buys one, it quickly can fall to ruin and destroy the image of the gulet. People have developed an image of the gulets that is difficult to change.” Read how he is trying to overcome that image in our exclusive First Impression review of Hic Salta.
Captain of the Month: Mike Buzzi Mike Buzzi left a decade-long career as a high school athletics coach and gymnastics instructor to join the world of yachting. He now is captain aboard the 75-foot motoryacht Lucky Me, which was built by Hatteras. Interestingly, Buzzi also previously was a delivery captain for Hatteras. Of Lucky Me, he says: “As a person who has seen a lot of Hatteras yachts, this is definitely the nicest one I’ve ever been aboard. She really is special.” Read more about the charter program he runs aboard in our exclusive interview.
Chef of the Month: Christie MacConnell Christie MacConnell cooks everything from scratch aboard the 53-foot sailing yacht Ashlana, whose galley is so small that she says she had to “trade her Kitchen-Aid for a wooden spoon.” The yacht, which she lives aboard with her husband (the captain), was originally built as world-famous designer Ted Hood’s personal boat. Learn more about how MacConnell and her husband perform charters, and about Ashlana’s beautifully maintained wooden interior, in this exclusive interview.
Broker of the Month: Katie Wray Katie Wray learned to love yachts as a child, when her father booked a charter vacation for her family. She has since worked at several leading charter agencies, including International Yacht Collection, where she has been a retail broker for more than three years. Her basic, down-to-earth advice to anyone booking a charter: “In our industry, you really have to feel like the broker is looking out for your best interests. And unfortunately, that’s not always the case.” Learn how Wray looks after her clients’ interests in our exclusive interview. Fleet and Management Company News 37 South has two motoryachts available for charter during the Gold Coast A1 GP World Cup motor racing series in Australia from October 22 through 25. The 98-foot Hillsy takes eight guests, while the 100-foot Huntress has three guest cabins… The 115-foot McMullen & Wing motoryacht Surprise is available for charters in Tahiti through April…
Absolute Yachting in Greece says that anyone who books before November 30 can receive discounted rates for April and May charters aboard the 112-foot sailing yacht Troia, the 52-foot sailing catamaran Elvira, the 117-foot sailing yacht Iraklis L, the 147-foot motoryacht Bella Stella, and the 92-foot sailing yacht Liana H…
Asia Pacific Superyachts says the 134-foot sailing yacht Queen of Andaman will be available for charters in India beginning in February. The weekly base rate is €45,000...
Bartram & Brakenhoff has added a Florida Charter Division. Kaisa Joy-Pace, formerly of Fraser Yachts Worldwide, will manage the new office in Fort Lauderdale…
BCR Yachts says the 147-foot motoryacht Fathom has been taken off the charter market and is now actively for sale…
Blue Latitude Yachting tells us that Luc Gaborit and Frederique Avizou have returned as crew aboard the 58-foot sailing catamaran Tiputa, which is available this winter in the Caribbean… New to the fleet are the 61-foot sailing catamaran Bolero and the 62-foot sailing catamaran Maevie, both available this winter in the Caribbean…
Boatbookings.com announced several specials on September 11. The 100-foot Broward motoryacht Insatiable is available at a weekly base rate of $27,500, down from $31,500, including a 28-foot tender that typically comes at an additional charge of $2,000 per day… The 55-foot sailing catamaran ReAction is offering five free dives for as many as five scuba enthusiasts, including equipment and air fills, for weeklong charter bookings… The 98-foot Azimut motoryacht Leonardo is now available at a weekly base rate of €66,000, down from €110,000, for charters in the Maldives… The 75-foot Princess motoryacht Gilliana is available in Spain at a reduced weekly base rate of €35,000…
CharterPortBVI fleet catamaran Pas de Deux, a 60-footer, has dropped its winter 2009-10 rates to 2007 levels. The rate for two guests this winter in the Virgin Islands will be $16,500; for three guests, $17,000; for four guests, $17,500; for five guests, $18,500; and for six guests, $19,500. See this post on the CharterWave Daily Editor’s Blog for information about recent renovations to Pas de Deux… The 47-foot sailing catamaran Swish has a new crew. See this post on the CharterWave Daily Editor’s Blog for a photograph and biographical information… The 47-foot sailing catamaran Viking Dream is available for a Christmas charter in the Virgin Islands from December 19-26 due to a cancellation… New for charter this winter in the Virgin Islands is the 44-foot sailing yacht Oteka. The yacht will stay in the Virgins until May, when it will become available for charter in the Turks & Caicos Islands…
Churchill Yacht Partners says the 114-foot Hatteras motoryacht Camille is based in Sint Maarten for the winter and is still available for a Christmas and New Year’s booking. The weekly holiday base rate is $45,000… The 121-foot Crescent motoryacht Olga is based in the Grenadines and taking charters through mid-December. She is also available for a Christmas charter ending December 26 in St. Maarten or December 27 in St. Barth’s… The 63-foot Burger motoryacht Victorian Rose is offering a 10-percent discount on charters that take place before December 15. The weekly base rate is now $11,700 for four guests…
Edmiston & Company tells us the 252-foot motoryacht Samar is offering a 30-percent discount for charters of 10 days or more out of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, during Christmas, New Year’s, and Easter. The new rate is €475,000, down from €675,000 for 12 guests… The 194-foot Schweers motoryacht Senses will be available in Madagascar beginning early December before spending the rest of the winter season in the Seychelles (see this post from the CharterWave Daily Editor’s Blog for details)… The 226-foot motoryacht Tia Moana is open for bookings from November 30 through December 16 in French Polynesia’s Tuamotu islands…
Fraser Yachts Worldwide says the 124-foot Delta motoryacht Aerie is offering a special weekly base rate of $60,000 for any Christmas charter that ends in St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands, on December 26… The 115-foot Christensen motoryacht Ocean Pearl is offering an all-inclusive rate of $30,000 for four days on Mexico’s west coast, as well as a $25,000 all-inclusive rate for four nights during this month’s Catalina Jazz Festival off California’s west coast…The 111-foot Inace motoryacht Sudami is offering a special weekly base rate of $58,000 for any Christmas charter that ends in the British Virgin Islands on December 26… The 197-foot Paraffin has been sold to a new owner and will remain available for charter in the Fraser Yachts fleet…
International Yacht Collection is offering the 145-foot Heesen motoryacht At Last for charter in the Bahamas and Caribbean this winter following a recent refit that included a wheelhouse reconstruction, a new interior by designer Claudette Bonville, the addition of a day head in the sky lounge, and a new access corridor to the master stateroom. The weekly base rate is $150,000…
Neptune Group Yachting tells us the 78-foot Hatteras motoryacht Bella Sophia is available for a Christmas charter in the Bahamas. The weekly rate is $15,000 for six guests…
Nicholson Yachts welcomes the 90-foot Andre Hoek Truly Classic sailing yacht Atalante to the charter fleet. Launched in August, she takes six guests this winter in the Caribbean at a lowest weekly base rate of $40,000… Also new to the fleet is the 104-foot Performance Yachts sailing yacht Liara. Launched this year, she will take six or seven guests in the Caribbean this winter at a lowest weekly base rate of $55,000… Also new to the fleet is the 88-foot Jongert sailing yacht Icarus. She will take six guests in the Caribbean at a lowest weekly base rate of $50,000—or $45,000 if you book before December 15… The 65-foot sailing catamaran True North has a new crew who will offer scuba diving to charter clients this winter. They replace Capt. Virginia Wagner, who is now aboard the sailing catamaran Matau, which has the same owner… The 104-foot sailing yacht Kalikobass II is offering inclusive pricing of $57,500 for eight guests in the Caribbean for all bookings made before October 31… The 80-foot sailing yacht Coconut is offering 11 days for the price of 10 during a Christmas or New Year’s booking in the Caribbean. The weekly holiday base rate is $24,000 to $26,000 for two to six guests…
Primo Yacht says the 86-foot Falcon motoryacht Antalex is based in Nice, France, and has immediate charter availability…
Sail Connections broker Jeni Tidmarsh tells us the sailing catamaran Ombre Blu remains available for charters this month in Italy’s Gulf of Naples. Weekly base rates are €8,800 to €11,500 for two to six guests…
Sapphire Seas welcomes longtime broker Steve Elario, who joins the Florida firm after a decade of booking charters at International Yacht Collection. Elario will have “a leadership role” at Sapphire Seas, according to company owner Capt. A.J. Anderson…
Seascape Yachts welcomes the 164-foot Benetti motoryacht Alexandra and the 141-foot CRN motoryacht Alexandra K to the charter fleet. Each yacht takes 12 or more guests at weekly base rates from €69,500 to €215,000. Both are based in Athens, Greece…
Sunreef Yachts announces introductory base rates of €32,000 per week in the Caribbean aboard the newly launched, 70-foot powercatamarans Damrak and Sea Bass…
Sunsail has a new 38-foot sailing catamaran that will be available in the Caribbean, Asia, and Mediterranean. The 38-footer is the first charter yacht in a large fleet to include solar panels…
Sunseeker Charters welcomes the 88-foot motoryacht High Energy to its fleet in the United Kingdom. Based in Southampton, the yacht will be the largest of its kind available for charter in the region…
The Catamaran Company tells us the 58-foot sailing catamaran Best Revenge 5 is offering a 10-percent discount for a Thanksgiving week charter in the British Virgin Islands. All-inclusive rates are now $19,350 to $22,050 for two to eight guests. Additional discounts apply to guests who have chartered Best Revenge 5 in the past…
The Sacks Group Yachting Professionals welcomes the 112-foot Westport motoryacht Milk Money to the charter fleet. Previously known as Rainmaker, Milk Money was recently purchased and rechristened by a repeat charter client of Sacks broker Barbara Stork…
YCO welcomes charter broker Alicia McDonald to its offices in Chelsea, United Kingdom… New to the fleet is the 137-foot Elena, a newly built reproduction of the classic, early-1900s racing schooner by the same name. See this post from the CharterWave Daily Editor’s Blog for photographs of both yachts and additional information…
New Crew Interviews Posted on CharterWave This Month Mike Buzzi, captain 75-foot motoryacht Lucky Me Christie MacConnell, chef, 53-foot sailing yacht Ashlana
Nicole Caulfield is licensed, bonded, and a longtime member of FYBA and AYCA. She brings a unique perspective as a broker, having worked aboard yachts for nearly 10 years. Email Nicole
Sharon Bahmer is an expert at booking charters in the Americas, from Alaska to Brazil. She's also a member of FYBA and CYBA. E-mail Sharon
DJ Parker has been a leader in the charter industry since 1980. She is currently president of the American Yacht Charter Association. E-mail DJ
Shannon Webster is a longtime AYCA member. She books yachts worldwide from 80 to 400 feet long. Email Shannon
Trina Howes has 10 years of experience in the charter industry finding great pleasure in creating the best yachting vacations possible. E-mail Trina
Beverly Parsons has been chartering since 1969. She is a licensed, bonded broker and a founding member of the professional groups AYCA and CYBA International. Contact Beverly.
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