CharterWave eNews

Report from the 2010 Tortola Charter Yacht Show

Charter brokers Sandy and Tom Taylor of Taylor’d Yacht Charters attended the 2010 Tortola charter yacht show in the British Virgin Islands. They say the fleet of yachts—mostly sailing catamarans—was in very good condition, and that business appears to be picking up compared with the past two years during the global economic crisis.

“These boats are busy in the BVIs,” Sandy told CharterWave. “There are lots of big, huge boats in the Caribbean that still don’t even have Christmas and New Year’s charters booked, but these smaller boats are all getting bookings. Their calendars are starting to get full. They’re not entirely full, but they’re steady, which is a good sign for this particular market.”

Check out this full interview with the Taylors for more about what they saw at the show, including the yachts that they liked best.

Report from the 2010 St. Thomas Charter Yacht Show

Charter broker Kathleen Mullen of Regency Yacht Vacations attended the 2010 charter yacht show on St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She says that while the show was small, perhaps the smallest in years, there were good options to be found for clients seeking two-person charters, sailing catamarans, and smaller motoryachts.

“Boats are still struggling,” she said of the market’s economic state. “It’s going to be a season of last-minute bookings. We still have people calling now for Christmas, which is less than a month away. Things have improved—people who haven’t chartered in a couple of years are starting to come back—but it’s still a buyer’s market right now, and that’s across all size ranges of charter yachts.”

Our full interview with Mullen includes more details about the yachts that stood out at the St. Thomas show, as well as her opinions on where clients can find the best deals right now in the charter industry worldwide.

New Ed Hamilton Newsletter with Reports from Tortola and St. Thomas

For another take on the 2010 Tortola and St. Thomas charter yacht shows, check out the current newsletter from CharterWave sponsor Ed Hamilton & Co. It includes reports with exclusive photographs from both shows, where the company’s agents were diligently inspecting yachts and interviewing crew.

Antarctica: What You Need to Know before Booking a Charter

The International Association of Antarctica Tour Operators, known as IAATO, is working on an awareness campaign for private and charter yachts that want to visit Antarctica.

With well-regarded charter motoryachts such as the 288-foot Sherakhan and the 147-foot Big Fish on that list for this winter, CharterWave editor Kim Kavin interviewed IAATO Executive Director Steve Wellmeier about what charter clients need to know—so they can ask smart questions before booking a charter aboard any yacht in Antarctica.

Read the full interview with Wellmeier here.

We’re Scouting for You in Antigua

The largest charter yacht show in the world is scheduled to run from Dec. 6-10 in Antigua. CharterWave editor Kim Kavin will be on the docks, getting aboard as many of the 118 boats as possible.

Look for Kim’s updates at the end of each show day on the CharterWave Daily Editor’s Blog, as well as her news flashes from the show on the CharterWave Twitter feed.

Best of the CharterWave Daily Editor’s Blog

Utopia Now Demanding 14-Day Bookings. I’m hearing again and again, as the winter Caribbean season begins, that charter yacht owners are dropping their minimums. This means that yachts whose owners previously demanded 14-day or even seven-day bookings to secure dates are now willing to negotiate the length of charters, just to get clients onboard. The continuing economic climate is the reason my eyebrows popped up when I learned from Edmiston and Company that the 234-foot Feadship motoryacht Utopia will no longer consider any charter inquiries for less than 14 days in the Caribbean this winter … Read More …

Best of the CharterWave Sponsored Blogs

Yacht Charter Visit to Union Island, Grenadines, Caribbean. From the Northrop and Johnson Worldwide Yacht Charters sponsored blog. As part of the nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Union Island is the southernmost island in this nation of islands and a great stop on a crewed yacht charter while cruising in the Windward Islands of the Caribbean.  With a little over 3,000 residents, Union Island has two main towns of Clifton and Ashton and boasts an international airport … Read More …

Motoryacht of the Month: Big Fish

The 154-foot expedition motoryacht Big Fish is perhaps the most innovative, interesting yacht to become available for charter in at least a decade. Expedition and adventure are her mission, and she appears equipped to the task in spades.

She is truly a glass boat, with more and larger windows than other charter yachts, by a factor of three or four. Her outdoor decks are covered in a flexible granite that the owner invented, so as not to cut down any trees for traditional teak boards. A 35-foot-tall video wall graces the main foyer. Several terraces fold out from both the middle and the stern of the yacht, creating an expanse of open-air space that is simply unavailable aboard other boats of any size.

And that’s just part of the story. Learn more by reading our newly posted First Impression review of Big Fish, complete with photos.

Sailing Yacht of the Month: Early Purple

It’s rare for a charter yacht to become available on Norway’s west coast, where fjords create one of the most majestic backdrops of scenery in the world. Thus, when the 62-foot Swan sailing yacht Early Purple invited CharterWave editor Kim Kavin for a few days of cruising, she hopped on a plane to the city of Bergen with great anticipation.

Check out Kim’s destination feature about all that she saw and experienced, from a bustling fish market to coves so quiet that you can hear sails fluttering in the breeze—and take note of her advice to pay special attention to blackout curtains when choosing a charter yacht in this part of the world, where the sun barely sets.

Captain of the Month: Shane Reid

While other charter yachts have been struggling to find business as the global recession continues, the 130-foot Westport motoryacht Arioso landed six weeks of charter this summer—and that was in New England, a region far less popular for summer bookings than the Mediterranean.

One of the big reasons Arioso remains so popular is that brokers have come to respect and trust Capt. Shane Reid and his longtime crew.

Our exclusive interview with Capt. Reid includes his take on what makes charters successful, as well as his thoughts about which type of charter clients are ideal for Arioso.

Chef of the Month: Caro Uy

Caro Uy was still in shock when a charter broker approached her at the 2010 Tortola charter yacht show. The event’s culinary competition had just ended. The broker leaned in and said, “My dear, you’ve just swept the awards.”

Uy gave this exclusive interview to CharterWave about her lifetime of adventure in cooking and travel, and how her experiences contribute to the food she prepares for guests aboard the 58-foot sailing catamaran Toucan Play. She’s certainly the first charter chef we’ve seen onboard a boat of that size who offers a five-course degustation menu—noteworthy, indeed.

Broker of the Month: Leslie Adams

After many years of running the charter operation at Fort Lauderdale-based Allied Marine, broker Leslie Adams became manager of the Feadship Charter Division on November 1.

We caught up with her for this exclusive interview the day after she returned to Florida from her first tour of the Feadship facilities in Holland. She talks about the company’s plans for the future, including her ambition to grow the charter fleet by keeping new Feadship launches in-house and part of the Feadship brand.

Fleet and Management Company News

Athens Yachts, which just moved into new offices in the Marina of Flivos, welcomes the 137-foot Mondomarine motoryacht Panther 2 to the charter fleet in Greece. The 2008 build will take 12 guests at a lowest weekly base rate of €100,000…

BCR Yachts says the 78-foot Baltic sailing yacht Lupa of London is still available for a racing charter during the 2011 Sint Maarten Heineken Regatta, which is scheduled March 3-6…

Blue Latitude Yachting welcomes the 62-foot sailing catamaran Elysium to the charter fleet. She is still available for a Christmas charter, and will be offered all this winter in the Caribbean… The 61-foot sailing catamaran Motu has had a cancellation and is once again available for a charter before the Christmas holiday in the British Virgin Islands, or the Caribbean Windward or Leeward islands…

Boatbookings told us on November 23 that several charter yachts are still available for holiday bookings. They include the 67-foot Princess motoryacht Sorana in Sint Maarten, and the 74-foot Horizon motoryacht Viaggio in the British Virgin Islands…

Bradford Marine Yacht Charter still has several motoryachts available for holiday charters. They include the 120-foot Heesen Sun Ark, the 106-foot Lazzara Secret Spot, the 100-foot Broward Christine, the 95-foot Broward Golden Rule, the 92-foot Cheoy Lee Yoly, the 85-foot Lazzara Hail Mary, the 70-foot Johnson Charmer, and the 70-foot Hatteras All My Girls…

Burgess Yachts welcomes the 151-foot Delta motoryacht Katya to the charter fleet. She will take 10 to 12 guests this winter in the Caribbean at a lowest weekly base rate of $161,000… Also new to the fleet is the 197-foot Proteksan Turquoise motoryacht Yogi. Due to be delivered from the shipyard in 2011, the yacht will take 12 guests with 15 crew during summer 2011 in the Mediterranean. The lowest weekly base rate will be €357,000… Also new to the fleet is the 205-foot Icon motoryacht Baton Rouge, a 2010 launch that will take 12 guests with 16 crew this summer in the Mediterranean at a lowest weekly base rate of €420,000…

C U Yacht Charters says the 76-foot Ferretti motoryacht Sioux Empress will be based out of Nassau, Bahamas, beginning in January. The 2005 build takes eight guests with three crew at a lowest weekly base rate of $24,000. Day-charter rates are also available… The 78-foot Hatteras motoryacht The Big Kat is offering a 20-percent discount on charters through December 15 in South Florida. She takes six guests with three crew at a lowest weekly base rate of $15,750… The 90-foot Crescent motoryacht Yianoula is offering an all-inclusive, eight-day rate of $27,000 for six adults and two children in the Bahamas…

Camper and Nicholsons International welcomes the 134-foot Abeking & Rasmussen Silver Cloud to the charter fleet. She will take 12 guests this winter in the Caribbean at a lowest weekly base rate of $160,000… Also new to the fleet is the 103-foot sailing yacht Eros. A classic yacht built in 1939, Eros takes eight guests and is available this winter in the Caribbean at a lowest weekly base rate of $42,000… The 112-foot Westport motoryacht Symphony II, whose regular weekly base rate is $49,500 for eight guests, is available at a rate of $44,900 during February in the Virgin Islands… The 163-foot Codecasa motoryacht Lady Ann Magee has reduced her weekly base rate by 17 percent, from $225,000 to $200,000, beginning this month in the Caribbean…

Churchill Yacht Partners welcomes the 75-foot Friendship sailing yacht Isabel to the charter fleet. Designed by Ted Fontaine, the 2010 launch takes four guests in two equally sized staterooms. She is available with two crew this winter in the Caribbean at a lowest weekly base rate of $40,000… Several yachts are still available for holiday bookings, including the 88-foot Rayburn motoryacht Victoria in the Bahamas, the 110-foot Broward motoryacht Kaleen in the Caribbean, the 121-foot Crescent motoryacht Olga in the Bahamas, the 145-foot Heesen motoryacht At Last in the Bahamas (at a reduced weekly base rate of $100,000), the 80-foot Palmer Johnson sailing yacht Volterra in the Caribbean, the 82-foot Frers Nautor Swan sailing yacht Clevelander, and the 116-foot Holland Jachtbouw sailing yacht Whisper…

Edmiston and Company welcomes a number of new yachts to the charter fleet. The 296-foot motoryacht Lauren L will take 40 guests this winter in the Caribbean at a lowest weekly base rate of €695,000… The 280-foot motoryacht Moonlight II will be available during summer 2011 in the Mediterranean at a lowest weekly base rate of €695,000 for 36 guests... The 226-foot Oceanfast motoryacht Tu Moana will have a weekly base rate for 49 guests this summer in Polynesia of €260,000... The 182-foot Feadship motoryacht Illusion will take 12 guests in the Caribbean this winter at a lowest weekly base rate of $250,000… The 164-foot Proteksan motoryacht Odessa will take 12 guests this winter in the Caribbean at a lowest weekly base rate of $200,000… The 164-foot Codecasa motoryacht Mariu will take 12 guests starting this summer in the Mediterranean at a lowest weekly base rate of €185,000… The 151-foot Feadship motoryacht Northern Light will take 10 guests this winter in the Caribbean at a lowest weekly base rate of €150,000… The 144-foot Baglietto motoryacht Apache will take 12 guests year-round in the Western Mediterranean at a lowest weekly base rate of €130,000… The 139-foot Mondomarine motoryacht Kimberly II will take 12 guests this winter in the Caribbean at a lowest weekly base rate of $135,000… The 127-foot Hakvoort motoryacht Snowbird will take 10 guests this winter in the Caribbean at a lowest weekly base rate of $150,000… The 120-foot Benetti motoryacht Mamma Mia will take 10 guests year-round on the West Coast of Mexico at a lowest weekly base rate of $105,000… The 256-foot Lurssen motoryacht TV (formerly known as Madsummer) will take 12 guests this winter in the Caribbean at a lowest weekly base rate of $850,000… The 144-foot Feadship motoryacht Kingfisher is offering a 15-percent discount on all charters of at least seven days this winter in the Caribbean… The 150-foot Leopard Arno motoryacht Pure One is also offering a 15-percent discount on seven-day charters this winter in the Bahamas and Caribbean… The 169-foot Alloy sailing yacht Mondango is offering a 15-percent discount for the Christmas and New Year’s holiday in the Caribbean…

Fraser Yachts Worldwide welcomes the 180-foot Vitters sailing yacht Marie to the charter fleet. The 2010 build will take eight guests this winter in the Caribbean at a lowest weekly base rate of $200,000…

International Yacht Collection, now incorporating The Sacks Group Yachting Professionals, says the late-October Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show resulted in “one very significant booking on a large Trinity for the holidays.” The company also says that several clients who toured charter yachts at the boat show are working on bookings for the holidays… New to the charter fleet are the 223-foot Nobiskrug motoryacht Sycara V at a lowest weekly base rate of €585,000 and the 150-foot Burger motoryacht Sycara IV at a lowest weekly base rate of €225,000. Both yachts are available this winter in the Caribbean…

International Yacht Register tells us the 219-foot Lurssen motoryacht Apoise has lowered its asking rate for the Christmas and New Year’s holidays to $450,000 for 12 guests…

Kappa Yachting welcomes the 85-foot Royal Denship motoryacht Amnesia to the charter fleet in Greece. She will take eight to 10 guests with four or five crew at a lowest weekly base rate of €38,500…

Luxury Charter Group says the 82-foot Alia sailing yacht Aiyana is available through April in the Caribbean. The 2010 launch takes six guests at a lowest weekly base rate of $37,500…

Neptune Group Yachting has a slew of charter yachts offering discounts. The 120-foot IB/Sabba motoryacht Zenith has reduced her weekly base rate in Brazil from $87,500 to $75,000… The 112-foot Westport motoryacht New Moon II has dropped her weekly base rate in the Bahamas from $47,000 to $42,500… The 112-foot Westport motoryacht Alicia is now asking $49,500 versus the regular $54,500 in the Bahamas… The 110-foot Delta motoryacht Intrepid has dropped her rate from $43,500 to $39,500 in Florida and the Bahamas… The 103-foot Johnson motoryacht Diamond Girl is now asking $47,000 versus $52,000 in the Caribbean… The new weekly base rate on the 102-foot Palmer Johnson motoryacht Banyan is $29,900, down from $33,000 in the Caribbean… The 100-foot Broward motoryacht Turnin’ Left is now being advertised at $29,500 instead of the regular $32,500 in Panama… The 97-foot Hargrave motoryacht Gigi now has a base rate of $37,500 in the Bahamas, down from $41,500… The 87-foot Johnson motoryacht 4MAL is now asking $30,000 instead of $33,000 in Florida and the Bahamas… The 84-foot Palmer Johnson motoryacht Captivator is asking $23,000, down from $25,500 in Florida and the Bahamas… The 83-foot Marlow motoryacht Alexandra Bear has lowered her base rate in the Bahamas from $30,500 to $27,500… The 80-foot Lazzara motoryacht Jody Lee is now $25,000 in Florida and the Bahamas, down from $28,000… The 80-foot Leopard motoryacht PF Flyer is asking $21,000 instead of $23,500 in Florida and the Bahamas… The 78-foot Hatteras motoryacht Bella Sophia, once $17,000 in the Bahamas, is now asking $15,000… The 76-foot Hatteras motoryacht Temptation is now asking $19,500 instead of $21,500 in the Bahamas—and is still offering eight days for the price of seven… The 76-foot Lazzara motoryacht Tres Hermanos III is down to $19,500 from $23,500 in Cozumel, Mexico… The 75-foot Hatteras motoryacht Mac is now available in Florida and the Bahamas at $18,000 instead of $20,000… The 74-foot Hatteras motoryacht Invictus has dropped from $15,500 to $14,000 in Florida and the Bahamas… The 73-foot Ocean sportfishing yacht Sarita is now $15,500 instead of $17,000 in Palm Beach, Florida… The 66-foot Alaskan motoryacht Lexington is asking $10,000 versus the regular $12,000 in Seattle… The 62-foot Fairline motoryacht Lady Z is now $24,000 versus $26,500 in the New York area… The 58-foot Hatteras sportfishing yacht Reel Left is asking $12,000 compared with the regular $13,500 in Panama… The 55-foot Fleming motoryacht Fabiola II has dropped her rate from $12,500 to $11,000 in Florida and the Bahamas…

Nicholson Yachts says the 90-foot Doggersbank motoryacht Tivoli is offering a Christmas and New Year’s special. The weekly base rate for the holidays has been reduced to $25,000, which is the same as the yacht’s low-season base rate. She takes six guests and is available anywhere in the Caribbean… The 104-foot sailing yacht previously known as Kalikobass II has a new owner and is now called Oceans 7². She will take eight guests in the Caribbean this winter at a lowest weekly base rate of $60,000…

Northrop and Johnson says the 98-foot MCP motoryacht Eagle’s Nest will be available this winter in the Grenadines. The 2008 build takes eight to 10 guests at a lowest weekly base rate of $45,000… The 115-foot Crescent motoryacht Kapalua has reduced its asking price to $39,000, down from $44,000—and is offering eight nights for the price of seven at the lowered base rate. Charters must be confirmed before the end of 2010 (but may be taken in 2011) to get the new rate…

Ocean Independence welcomes the 105-foot Konjo sailing yacht El Aleph to the charter fleet. She’s a traditional sailing vessel built with 100-year-old teak and iron wood. She’ll take 12 guests this winter in Thailand, Burma, and the Andaman Islands at a weekly base rate of $60,000…

Primo Yacht says the 146-foot Proteksan motoryacht Costa Magna is offering a 20-percent discount on all charters for the rest of December, including day charters and event charters…

Regency Yacht Vacations tells us that a client’s option has expired to book the 44-foot sailing catamaran Blue Bayou during the New Year’s holiday in the Virgin Islands. The yacht is once again available and interested in confirming a charter… The 47-foot sailing catamaran Tachyon is available in Grenada beginning on December 28… The 44-foot sailing catamaran Catalyst has opened its calendar for charters during the first two weeks of March… New to the fleet is the 72-foot Irwin sailing yacht Sandcastle. She is available for charter immediately in the British Virgin Islands…

Select Yachts congratulates the 58-foot Beneteau Blue Passion on being named “best monohull” sailing yacht in the 2011 Tortola charter yacht show… Congratulations also to the 77-foot CNB sailing yacht Cap 2 for taking first runner-up…

Sunreef Yachts Charter welcomes the 95-foot Blubay sailing catamaran Rafoly to the charter fleet. She will be available beginning June 16 in the Western Mediterranean…

Verpeka Yacht Brokerage welcomes the 96-foot Princess motoryacht Solaris to the charter fleet. The 2009 build will take eight guests in the Mediterranean this summer at a lowest weekly base rate of €60,000…

YCO Yacht welcomes the 111-foot Leopard Arno motoryacht Cheeky Tiger to the charter fleet. She has a cruising speed of 34 knots and a top speed of 37 knots, and takes eight or 10 guests at a lowest weekly base rate of €60,000… The company sponsored ex-Royal Marine Chris Foot in his attempt to become the first polar expeditionist to travel solo unsupported and unassisted from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole, and make an historic return journey. The journey benefited the charity Combat Stress.

New First Impression Reviews Posted on CharterWave

Big Fish, 147-foot McMullen and Wing motoryacht
Life’s Finest II, 132-foot Northcoast motoryacht
Mi Sueno, 190-foot Trinity motoryacht

New Charter Destination Feature Posted on CharterWave

Early Purple, 62-foot Swan sailing yacht, in Norwegian fjord country

New Crew Interviews Posted on CharterWave

Shane Reid, captain, 130-foot Westport motoryacht Arioso
Caro Uy, chef, 58-foot sailing catamaran Toucan Play

New Broker Interview Posted on CharterWave

Leslie Adams, manager of Feadship Charter Division

New “10 Best” Lists Posted on CharterWave

10 Best Lessons Learned at the 2010 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show
10 Best Charter Yachts Still Available for Thanksgiving
10 Best Charter Yachts Still Available for Christmas
10 Best Charter Yacht Captains