CharterWave eNews

Charter Yacht Kai Involved in Extensive Damage, Injuries at Croatia Marina

The Croatian Times reported in a series of articles during the month of August that the 120-foot Benetti motoryacht Kai broke loose from her mooring lines with engines running at a Hvar marina, crashed into five other boats, and injured two Croatian men who had to be hospitalized.

Capt. Ashley Benns has reportedly been fined £1,250 (a little more than $2,000) for failure to obey security laws, according to the Croatian Ministry of Sea and Transport. Further financial action is apparently pending in terms of the human injuries and damage to other yachts. Benns previously ran the 124-foot Broward motoryacht Coco Loco as a charter vessel.

The reports from August 6 and 8 state that Kai had 13 passengers and 11 crew onboard at the time of the incident. Fraser Yachts Worldwide markets Kai for charter with 10 guests and seven crew at a weekly base rate of €110,000.

Fraser Yachts called the media reports coming out of Croatia “much sensationalized” and issued the following statement: “Fraser Yachts is aware of the recent incident onboard Kai in Port Hvar. The incident was reported by the captain in appropriate manner at the time and has subsequently been investigated, and we are in the process of making the proper reports to the flag state. There has been no damage to Kai and the yacht continues with her charter with no restrictions.  One crew member was slightly injured and after evaluation at a local hospital has returned to duties onboard with no further treatment.”

Kai has been featured on CharterWave several times, including in a May 2010 First Impression review and a December 2010 full-length feature. The crew have changed since those articles were published.

Charter Yacht Cocktails Runs Aground in New England

The 97-foot Hargrave motoryacht Cocktails ran aground in New England in early August, according to multiple news reports. CBS News in Boston reported the yacht hit some rocks that tore a 20-by-4-foot hole in the hull near Falmouth, Massachusetts. The NBC News affiliate in Providence, Rhode Island, says the captain then intentionally ran the yacht aground at the nearest shore to prevent it from sinking in deeper water.

A reputable source told CharterWave that nobody was injured during the incident and that Cocktails was not on charter at the time. International Yacht Collection released no official information about the incident.

Satellite News Service posted the following video of rescue and salvage efforts on YouTube:

Cocktails launched in 2006, which is the year that CharterWave published this First Impression review. When she originally launched, Cocktails was part of the charter fleet at The Sacks Group Yachting Professionals with a weekly base rate of $35,000 for eight guests. The Sacks Group is now part of International Yacht Collection, which markets Cocktails at a weekly base rate of $42,500.

The captain listed on current charter marketing materials is Capt. Todd Likins, a native of San Diego, California, who has been with the yacht for several years and has been in the yachting industry for more than 20 years. He has traveled more than 150,000 miles at sea, including six transatlantic crossings. It is unclear whether he was at the helm when the incident occurred.

America’s Cup Trials Coming to Popular Charter Destination of Newport

Longtime CharterWave sponsor Nicholson Yachts in Newport, Rhode Island, says the city has been selected to host the final event of the America's Cup trials next summer. Race dates for the America's Cup World Series regatta are expected to be June 23 through July 1, 2012.

Those dates also happen to be prime charter dates in New England, which means that bookings out of Newport can include race-spotting as well as after-hours fun ashore with some of the best yachting crew in the world.

Anyone who wants a day off from the hubbub can take a day or two to cruise to popular islands such as Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard, which are traditional waypoints on most charter itineraries out of Newport.

It’s too soon to say which charter yachts will be available in Newport next summer for the event, but it’s definitely safe to say that a good number of them will be part of the Nicholson Yachts fleet. The company is currently working with all owners who have previously made their yachts available in Newport to determine which ones will have charter availability for the America’s Cup trials.

If you are interested in booking a charter during the races, contact Nicholson Yachts or any reputable charter broker. Demand will almost certainly outpace supply, so it’s best to get your name onto the waiting list as early as possible.

IYC President: Think of Yachting as a Safe Financial Investment

As world stock markets continue to fluctuate wildly, President Bob Saxon of International Yacht Collection is telling charter yacht owners that there is perhaps no better hedge against economic uncertainty than a yacht.

“Doing business with the large-yacht industry works a whole lot better than wondering what next steps governments might take to ensure fiscal prudence,” Saxon says in the most recent newsletter from IYC. “Rest assured the entire team at International Yacht Collection is here to facilitate the reemergence of yachts and trickle-down economics.”

Best of the CharterWave Daily Editor’s Blog

Motoryacht Jana Available for Abu Dhabi Grand Prix. Ocean Independence tells me the 152-foot Feadship motoryacht Jana is going to be available for charter at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix from November 11-13 (race day is the 13th). Jana is being offered at a minimum of five days with a base rate of €100,000. In addition to traditional expenses such as food and fuel, charter clients would also have to pay extra for a berth at the event. The owner can help organize the berth at an additional rate of €31,500… Read more…

Best of the CharterWave Sponsored Blogs

Yacht Charter: Family time at Historic Mystic Seaport, Connecticut. From the Northrop and Johnson Worldwide Yacht Charters Sponsored Blog on CharterWave. Cruise into Historic Mystic Seaport on a crewed yacht charter in the New England area, dock right in front of the re-created seaport town of yore, and let the fun begin. Docking in Historic Mystic Seaport on your crewed yacht charter is docking in the middle of the hustle and bustle of an active seaport from yesteryear, and is an outstanding family adventure for children of all ages… Read more…

Motoryacht of the Month: Baton Rouge

Baton Rouge is a 205-foot motoryacht that launched in September 2010 from the Icon shipyard in Holland. She is the second in a series of motoryachts that began with the 205-footer named Icon, which is also available for charter. While the two yachts are similar and both boast impressive teak swim areas at their sterns, they also have distinct differences—most substantially, that Baton Rouge has a fifth deck for guest use.

After Baton Rouge launched in September 2010, she spent the winter season doing finishing work at the shipyard. The yacht’s first charters were scheduled to take place during the summer 2011 season in the Mediterranean, which means that this coming winter season will mark her debut in the Caribbean.

Learn more about the charter program that she offers in our newly posted First Impression review of Baton Rouge.

Sailing Yacht of the Month: Mystery

Mystery is a 112-foot Nautor Swan sailing yacht that was built in 2000 as No Logic. She got a new owner in 2009, and he renamed her as well as refit her. She’s been available for charter ever since that refit.

She is also a true sailing yacht that is available for racing charters and regattas. She placed third in the Swan regatta that was held in 2010—and the crew re quick to say that they took that honor with cruising sails as opposed to racing sails onboard.

“The crew on this boat are really fun,” chef Bryony Johnson says. “We love families as well as adult couples. We really enjoy doing theme parties.”

Lear more about the charter experience that you can expect in our newly posted First Impression review of Mystery.

Captain of the Month: John Drugach

John Drugach became captain of the 154-foot Admiral motoryacht Ohana in December 2010, after the yacht got a new owner.

“The name of the boat is the same, but our entire program is new,” he says. :We have all new crew, including a number of people who previously worked with me aboard the 124-foot Delta motoryacht Seven C’s. The open positions we had after that, I really took a while to fill them. I wanted to know who the new people were, not just look at their resumes. All of my crew mates from Seven C’s had input into my hiring decisions, to make sure we would be a cohesive team.

“We’ve also been doing a lot of mechanical upgrades, and the owner just bought four new Jet Skis, a water slide, and a 37-foot Intrepid tender for charter clients. We’re really getting geared up to be a great charter yacht.”

Learn more about what you can expect during a charter aboard Ohana in our exclusive interview with Capt. John Drugach.

Chef of the Month: Shane Burke

Shane Burke joined the 113-foot motoryacht Eleanor Allen in April 2010, and immediately won that month’s culinary competition at the annual Antibes Boat Show.

“It was amazing,” he says. “Everyone was around cheering—even the chefs who had lost in the earlier rounds. I was so thrilled to win, and I made a couple of really good friends out of the experience, too.

Burke holds a culinary degree in pastry and baking—“They used to call me the soufflé kid,” he says—and he also has a flair for molecular gastronomy. He adds both to a cuisine of what he calls “regular, healthy food” aboard Eleanor Allen.

Learn more about the charter experience that you can expect in our exclusive interview with Chef Shane Burke.

Charter broker of the Month: Jennifer Saia

Jennifer M. Saia, executive director for the Luxury Yacht Vacation Division at International Yacht Collection, was recently a guest of Camper and Nicholsons International aboard the 132-foot Amels motoryacht Monte Carlo. She cruised from St. Lucia to Mustique, in the Grenadines, during the month of August—which is traditionally the “off-season” in the Caribbean.

Learn more about what she experienced, and about the charter program that Monte Carlo is offering, in our exclusive interview with charter broker Jennifer Saia.

Fleet and Management Company News

Atalanta Golden Yachts sends word from Greece that the 161-foot motoryacht O’Rama is available for charter throughout the Western and Eastern Mediterranean at no delivery costs… The 118-foot Perini Navi sailing yacht Gitana also has remaining availability this summer in Greece. She takes as many as nine guests in three cabins at a lowest weekly base rate of €49,000… The 86-foot Canados motoryacht Anassa has remaining availability this summer in Greece. She takes eight or nine guests at a lowest weekly base rate of €45,000…

Athens Yachts says the 130-foot Westport motoryacht Endless Summer is now available at a lowest weekly base rate of €90,000, down from €115,000, in Greece…

C U Yacht Charters sends word that the 130-foot Westport motoryacht Mary Alice II, whose regular weekly base rate is $100,000, is being offered during the Labor Day holiday at a weekly base rate of $95,000. She is based in Fort Lauderdale and can accommodate 10 guests…

Camper and Nicholsons International tells us the 100-foot Broward motoryacht Insatiable is available during the Labor Day holiday in the Bahamas at a lowest weekly base rate of $29,500 for eight guests… The 183-foot Benetti motoryacht Galaxy is offering nine days at her regular seven-day weekly base rate of €255,000 for 12 guests in the Mediterranean… The 112-foot Westport motoryacht Symphony II is now being offered in the Bahamas at a reduced weekly base rate of $49,500 for eight guests… The 175-foot Feadship motoryacht Hurricane Run, whose regular weekly base rate is $350,000, has dropped that rate by 15 percent to $295,000 for the next two charters that get booked. The yacht is currently in the Mediterranean and will be available this winter in the Caribbean…

CharterPortBVI says the 72-foot sailing yacht Pacific Wave has just completed annual maintenance work and is available for charter in the Grenadines. The weekly base rate includes two free dives for certified scuba enthusiasts, and a $1,500 discount is being offered on all charters through October 31…

Churchill Yacht Partners says the 116-foot Holland Jachtbouw sailing yacht Whisper, whose regular weekly base rate is $69,000, is being offered at a base rate of $55,000 this winter in the Caribbean for anyone who books before October 31. The yacht takes six guests with five crew… The 154-foot Perini Navi sailing yacht Andromeda la Dea is available September 12-28 in the Western Mediterranean at a lowest weekly base rate of $125,000. She takes eight or nine guests… The 145-foot Heesen motoryacht At Last is available until December 15 in the Bahamas, and still has availability for a New Year’s charter out of Nassau. She takes 10 or 11 guests at a lowest weekly base rate of $110,000… The 161-foot Trinity motoryacht Destination Fox Harb’r Too is available until the first week of November in the Western Mediterranean. The lowest weekly base rate is $230,000…

Edmiston and Company sends word that the 135-foot motoryacht D’Angleterre II is now being offered at a base rate of €10,000 per day for a minimum of five days. If you book 10 or more days, an extra day is included for free… The 112-foot Leopard motoryacht Anita is offering a 20-percent discount on all charters of at least one week… The 206-foot Feadship motoryacht Lady Britt is now available in the Western Mediterranean at a lowest weekly base rate of €470,000 for 12 guests… The 183-foot Perini Navi sailing yacht Rosehearty has dropped her weekly base rate from €225,000 to €205,000 for 12 guests… The 168-foot Schweers motoryacht Legend is offering a 20-percent discount on her regular weekly base rate of €185,000 for 12 guests… The 164-foot Codecasa motoryacht Mariu is offering a 20-percent discount on her regular weekly base rate of €185,000 for 12 guests… The 161-foot Feadship motoryacht Teleost is offering a 30-percent discount off her regular weekly base rate of €165,000 for 10 guests in the South of France… The 155-foot Mondomarine motoryacht Princess Iolanthe is offering a 20-percent discount on her regular weekly base rate of €135,000 for 10 guests…The 145-foot Intermarine motoryacht Balaju is offering 20-percent off her regular weekly base rate of €135,000… The 144-foot Baglietto motoryacht Apache II has dropped her lowest weekly base rate from €130,000 to €100,000 for 10 guests…

Fraser Yachts Worldwide tells us the 164-foot Pichiotti motoryacht Exuma is available in French Polynesia through October, and then in Fiji, Tonga, or New Zealand for a New Year’s charter. The lowest weekly base rate is €175,000 for eight or nine guests… The 159-foot Feadship motoryacht Audacia, previously at a weekly base rate of $150,000, is now being offered at $140,000 for 12 guests throughout the duration of the summer season in the Mediterranean… The 143-foot Sterling motoryacht Antinea is offering a 15-percent discount on one-week charters or a 20-percent discount on charters of two consecutive weeks through the end of September in the Western Mediterranean. The regular weekly base rate is €125,000 for 12 guests…

Infinity Yacht Charters says several motoryachts have limited, remaining availability this summer in Alaska and the Pacific Northwest. They include the 114-foot Pacific Yellowfin, taking eight to 12 guests at an inclusive weekly base rate of $65,000; the 112-foot Surfbird, taking 10 guests at a lowest inclusive weekly base rate of $30,000; the 92-foot Alaskan Story, taking eight or nine guests at a lowest weekly base rate of $22,100 (which includes two hotel nights ashore); the 81-foot Sumdum, which takes eight or nine guests at a lowest weekly base rate of $38,500; the 80-foot Toy Box II, taking six guests at a lowest weekly base rate of $18,000; and the 74-foot Northern Light, taking six guests at a lowest weekly base rate of $20,500…

International Yacht Collection welcomes the 106-foot Lazzara motoryacht Stop the Press to the charter fleet. She will take eight guests in the Caribbean this winter at a lowest weekly base rate of $44,000…

Luxury Charter Group says the 121-foot Dubois sailing yacht Bliss is available for a New Year’s charter in the Caribbean. She takes six to 10 guests at a lowest weekly base rate of $98,000… The 108-foot powercatamaran Haumana is available for as many as 20 guests in French Polynesia at a lowest weekly base rate of €85,000…

Neptune Group Yachting welcomes the 75-foot Hatteras motoryacht Sheer Bliss to the charter fleet. She takes six guests in Florida and the Bahamas at a lowest weekly base rate of $18,000… The 97-foot Hargrave motoryacht Gigi still has availability this summer in Maine. She takes eight guests at a lowest weekly base rate of $43,000…. The 112-foot Westport motoryacht Alicia is available in the Bahamas with no delivery fees to Nassau. She takes eight guests at a lowest weekly base rate of $49,500… The 85-foot Pacific Mariner motoryacht Seas the Moment still has summer availability out of Newport, Rhode Island. She takes eight guests and is being offered at a weekly base rate of $33,500 for all charters completed by September 30…

Nicholson Yachts tells us the 104-foot Trehard sailing yacht Oceans Seven Squared has reduced her weekly base rate to €42,500 (down from €50,000) for the remainder of the summer charter season. She is based in Croatia and available throughout the Eastern Mediterranean for eight guests. This winter, Oceans Seven Squared will move to the Caribbean at a weekly base rate of $54,000… New to the fleet is the 73-foot schooner sailing yacht Jambalaya, which takes six guests at a lowest weekly base rate of $11,500. She will be in the Caribbean this winter…

Northrop and Johnson says the 164-foot Feadship motoryacht Inevitable is available this winter in the Caribbean. She takes 10 guests at a weekly base rate of $190,000… Also available in the Caribbean this winter is the 198-foot Feadship motoryacht Blue Moon, taking 12 guests at a lowest weekly base rate of $395,000… The 154-foot Admiral motoryacht Ohana still has summer availability in New England, taking 10 guests at a lowest weekly base rate of $130,000… The 98-foot MCP motoryacht Eagle’s Nest, previously with a lowest weekly base rate of $45,000, is now being offered in the Caribbean and Bahamas at a base rate of $38,000 for eight to 10 guests… The 122-foot Flagship motoryacht Shogun still has September charter availability in Alaska. She takes eight guests at a lowest weekly base rate of $69,000…

Ocean Independence sends word that the 133-foot motoryacht Polycarpus is now based in Naples, Italy, and will consider all offers for charters during the rest of the summer season. She takes 12 guests at a lowest advertised weekly base rate of €65,000… The 91-foot Holland Jachtbouw sailing yacht Whirlwind is being offered at a lowest weekly base rate of €19,950 through October in the Western Mediterranean, and then again until December 16 in the Caribbean. She takes six guests… The 82-foot Sunseeker motoryacht Serenity is willing to consider all offers for charters in Turkey. The regular weekly base rate is €36,400 for eight guests…The 152-foot Feadship motoryacht Jana is available for the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix in November. See the CharterWave Daily Editor’s Blog for more details…The 70-foot Azimut motoryacht Wini is offering a low weekly base rate of €13,500 from November through February in Spain’s Balearic Isles. During the summer in the same location, her base rate climbs to €29,500… The 88-foot Tecnomar motoryacht Andea is now available in Naples and Sicily with no delivery fees. She takes as many as nine guests in three cabins at a lowest weekly base rate of €40,000… The 128-foot motoryacht Moonmaiden II is currently available at a 50-percent discount, making her lowest weekly base rate €26,000 for 10 guests, for charters during September from Sicily to the South of France…

OceanStyle says the 116-foot Azimut motoryacht Hyeseas II is based in Singapore and available for charter in Thailand, Burma, Malaysia, and Indonesia at a lowest weekly base rate of $80,000 for 10 to 12 guests… The 105-foot Sunseeker motoryacht Beachseeker is based in Naples, Italy, for the rest of the summer season. The owner is willing to be flexible on the lowest weekly base rate, which is €49,000 for eight guests… The 136-foot ISA motoryacht Ti Voglio Tanto Bene has a berth secured in Monaco and is available at a lowest weekly base rate of €120,000… The 130-foot Mangusta motoryacht Ability is being offered at a 25-percent discount, now with a lowest weekly base rate of €112,000 out of Genoa or Nice… The 110-foot Evolution motoryacht Benita Blue is being offered at a 10-percent discount, now with a lowest weekly base rate of €65,000 in the South of France… The 100-foot Sanlorenzo motoryacht Solona is offering a 15-percent discount on one-week charters and more than 25-percent off charters of two weeks or more in the Western Mediterranean. The regular weekly base rate is €45,000 for eight or nine guests…

Paradise Yacht Charters says the 68-foot Maiora motoryacht Wil Power has availability this winter in the Windward Islands….

Primo Yacht tells us the 86-foot Canados motoryacht Valentina has remaining availability this summer o the Italian coast. She takes eight guests at a lowest weekly base rate of €43,000… The 113-foot motoryacht Shaha is now willing to consider all offers on a lowest advertised weekly base rate of €42,500 for 12 guests in the Western Mediterranean…

Regency Yacht Vacations reports a solid number of inquiries for Christmas charters aboard sailing catamarans this winter. Catamarans that still have availability for holiday charters in the Virgin Islands include the 57-foot Aldebaran, taking six guests at a lowest weekly base rate of $24,900, and the 47-foot Dreaming On, taking six guests at a lowest weekly base rate of $14,575. In the Grenadines, the 47-foot Tachyon is available for four guests at a lowest weekly base rate of $14,900. In South Florida, the 44-foot Double Exposure is available for four guests at a lowest weekly base rate of $7,150…

Sunreef Yachts Charter tells us the 62-foot sailing catamaran In the Wind will be available for charter this winter in the Caribbean. She takes eight guests at an inclusive weekly base rate of $24,000… The 70-foot sailing catamaran Mamma Mia is now being offered at a weekly base rate of €27,000 for as many as 10 guests out of Athens, Greece.

New First Impression Reviews Now Live on CharterWave

Baton Rouge, 205-foot Icon motoryacht
Mystery, 112-foot Nautor Swan sailing yacht
Zoom, Zoom, Zoom, 161-foot Trinity motoryacht

First Impressions Reviews Newly Updated on CharterWave

Ohana, 154-foot Admiral motoryacht

New Crew Interviews Now Live on CharterWave

Shane Burke, chef, motoryacht Eleanor Allen
John Drugach, captain, motoryacht Ohana

New Broker Interviews Now Live on CharterWave

Jennifer Saia, International Yacht Collection, onboard motoryacht Monte Carlo

New "10 Best" Lists Now Live on CharterWave

10 Best charter yachts headed to unusual winter destinations
10 Best charter yachts for winter 2011-12 in the Caribbean