CharterWave eNews

January 2007

Sherakhan Stands Out at St. Maarten Charter Yacht Exhibition
CharterWave editor Kim Kavin began the month of December on the island of St. Maarten, where she toured yachts and interviewed crew at the annual industry-only show. It included everything from 40-foot sailboats to the whopping 228-foot motoryacht Sherakhan.
“Sherakhan was actually my favorite boat in that show,” Kim reports. “Of all the gigayachts I’ve been onboard that take more than 12 guests—boats like Annaliesse, Christina O and RM Elegant—I like Sherakhan the best. Its layout and décor made me feel at home, as opposed to onboard a massive ship. If the crew is as good as the boat, then in my opinion, Sherakhan is the best gigayacht out there right now.”
The St. Maarten show itself was relatively small, but the yachts that did attend were in lovely shape with enthusiastic crew. You can read Kim’s First Impressions of several of the standouts by going straight to that section of CharterWave, or by clicking on the links at the end of this month’s eNews to go directly to reviews of yachts like the 130-foot motoryacht Arms Reach and the 147-foot motoryacht Tooth Fairy.
Also be sure to read Kim’s exclusive interview with St. Maarten show “Chef of the Year” Elizabeth Lee, from the 73-foot sailing catamaran Wonderful. Elizabeth’s comments are newly posted in the Crew Interviews section of CharterWave.

The Falcon Lands in Antigua
There were so many charter yachts at this year’s Antigua show, CharterWave editor Kim Kavin had to extend her time on the island to five full days. Even given that full week’s dedication, she had to pick and choose the yachts to tour along the crowded docks—and wait until several days into the show to get her turn onboard the staggering new 286-foot sailing yacht Maltese Falcon.
“The Falcon was definitely the talk of the docks,” Kim reports, “and I did find the boat to be technologically impressive. As far as charter goes, though, it was not one of my favorites. I know it’s blasphemy to say something like that about an impressive new Perini Navi sailing yacht, but I really did think there were a lot of other boats at the Antigua show that CharterWave readers might prefer for their own vacations.”
You can read Kim’s extended comments about the Maltese Falcon in the CharterWave First Impressions section, where you’ll also find information about yachts Kim liked at Antigua show including Braveheart, Felicita West and Tivoli.
Also be sure to check out Kim’s exclusive interview with Antigua cooking competition winner Geoffrey Fisher, chef onboard the 115-foot motoryacht Wheels. His interview is newly posted in the Crew Interviews section of CharterWave.

CharterWave Crewed Yacht of the Month: Melinka
We here at CharterWave are proud to be able to introduce you to Melinka, an 80-foot sailing yacht that offers charters in the Caribbean during the winter months.
You won’t find this beautifully maintained, fabulously crewed sailing yacht in any major charter company catalogs, as the owner uses the boat so much himself that he doesn’t promote her the way other owners advertise their boats. Instead, he leaves it to knowledgeable charter brokers like Sandy Carney to introduce insiders like us to Melinka, and boy are we happy that she did. We liked Melinka and her crew so much when we stayed onboard in Antigua that we’re naming her the January 2007 CharterWave Crewed Yacht of the Month.
CharterWave members can read our full review of Melinka beginning this month. If you’d like to learn more but aren’t yet a CharterWave member, please click here.
To read about previous CharterWave Crewed Yachts of the month, click here.

Bareboat of the Month: Crusader 58
Sometimes, a so-so charter boat in a spectacular cruising destination can be even better than a brand-new boat in the same old waters.
Such is the case with the 58-foot Crusader powerboat that CharterWave contributor Liz Britten called home on Ireland’s River Shannon. It’s a fabulous bareboating destination where the boats themselves pale in comparison with the scenery, but where the scenery makes the experience one of the best for bareboaters anywhere in the world.
If you’re looking for a lazy-river tour full of relaxation and great pubs onshore, then this just might be the bareboating vacation for you. CharterWave members can check out Liz’s full review by clicking here. If you’re not a member yet, click here.
To read about previous CharterWave Bareboats of the Month, click here.

Best of the Blog
An outfit called The Luxury Institute recently distributed its end-of-2006 Wealth Report, which included the tidbit that nearly 20 percent of wealthy Americans read blogs on a weekly basis. The younger wealthy and men read blogs the most, and are even likely to publish blogs of their own.
With that in mind, we offer you here the Best of the CharterWave Blog from December 2006. Several readers e-mailed editor Kim Kavin with praise for this posting, from December 5:
That Extra Something
Here at the St. Maarten Charter Yacht Exhibition, all the boats are trying to outdo one another. The idea is to make a lasting impression on all the charter brokers taking tours, to be the yacht that the broker remembers when you–the client–call to ask which yacht might be right for your upcoming vacation
You might think that only the newest, fanciest, most expensive yachts are able to leave lasting impressions, but a chat that I had with Capt. David Linebaugh onboard the 112-foot motoryacht Symphony II helped me to remember that the opposite is true. His yacht isn’t the newest in the show, nor the biggest, nor the fanciest. It’s decidedly middle-of-the-pack when compared with the other crewed motoryachts at this boat show
However, when Capt. Linebaugh was showing me around following a luncheon hosted by management company International Yacht Collection, he began to point out all the artwork hanging onboard. Each one of the 21 paintings, I soon learned, was a reproduction of a masterwork that the yacht’s owner commissioned specifically for the boat. There were copies of Picassos, Chagalls, Hodgkins, Matisses, Miros, Monets, Toulouse-Lautrecs–you name it, it was onboard Symphony II.
Even better, the crew had compiled a book that explains everything you see on the walls. “It’s like an art tour when you walk around the boat,” the captain said. “You get the history of each painting, plus you can learn about the artist.”
That’s the kind of “extra something” that helps any boat stand out in the pack, no matter how big or new or fancy it is. The simple fact that Symphony II went to the trouble of creating and documenting all that artwork tells me that this is a yacht owner and a crew who are thinking creatively about how to enhance your vacation experiences more than the guys on the next boat down the dock
And that, in the end, is what you hope to buy when you plunk down your money for a charter vacation: terrific service onboard a memorable yacht.

Cricket, Anyone?
The talk on the charter boat docks this winter is the 2007 ICC Cricket World Cup, which begins this March and will boast matches on multiple Caribbean islands—ending with a spectacularly planned finale on Barbados at the end of April.
Charter brokers are already reporting heavy demand for yachts to cruise from island to island for the matches (including those in Jamaica, St. Lucia, Antigua and Grenada). Whether you’re interested in a small sailboat for viewing just one match or a large motoryacht to crisscross the Caribbean onboard during the entirety of the tournament, you should contact a reputable charter broker today to make your booking.
The boats, it seems, are being snapped up fast.

Flotilla Bareboat Charters in Maine, Croatia
The well-known Offshore Sailing School recently announced that it will organize two flotilla cruises this year, in Maine and Croatia, for anyone who wants to put their bareboating skills to use with a group.
You can participate in the flotilla cruises whether you’re an Offshore Sailing School graduate or not, but the company recommends taking one of its three- to five-day courses before signing up for the flotillas. The cruise in Maine will be from June 30 to July 7, while the cruise in Croatia will take place August 10 through August 18.
For information, go to www.offshore-sailing.com/sail-adventures.asp.

10% Off Charters from Fort Myers, Florida
Southwest Florida Yachts is offering 10 percent off any charter of three days or longer in January or February. The company is based in North Fort Myers, Florida, and offers bareboat and skippered powerboats and sailing yachts alike.
All you have to do to get the discount is mention the company’s advertised “New Year’s Special.” For information, go to www.swfyachts.com.

Good News from Fiji
Anyone interested in chartering in the South Pacific had to be a bit concerned in recent weeks as news of yet another government coup in Fiji became clear.
Luckily, we here at CharterWave have an inside and highly trustworthy source in Fiji: Capt. Carol Dunlop of the crewed motoryacht Surprise. Following is her appraisal of the situation, sent in conjunction with the very reputable Capt. Allan Jouning of Fraser Yachts Worldwide. We’ve edited it down for space, but rest assured it makes us feel quite comfortable about continuing to recommend charter bookings in the area.
“The past three coups in Fiji have been fairly benign. At no time were the outer islands affected, and that is our normal cruising area for charters. At no time was the international airport closed. We would stress that any charter client would not even know there was anything amiss. We cruise in the beautiful outer islands, where the islanders welcome guests. Safety is our first priority. Obviously we are monitoring the situation, but right now everything is fine for charter.”

Crewed Yacht Fleet News & Discounts
Several crewed yacht management companies recently announced discounts and new yachts in their fleets. Here’s a look at what we’ve heard through the grapevine.
Camper & Nicholsons International has some exciting news with the addition of VvS1 to its charter fleet. This 112-foot motoryacht, named for a high grade of diamond, is due to launch in April from the Alloy yard in New Zealand. The expedition-style yacht will include a teppanyaki grill (a la the Benihana restaurant chain) and will be outfitted to support the activities of hard-core fishing and diving enthusiasts. VvS1 is also expected to be the first Camper & Nicholsons yacht based in the South Pacific, an emerging destination for crewed charters in general.
International Yacht Collection is offering a eight nights for the price of seven for any charters in January onboard the 112-foot motoryacht Symphony II (yes, this is the same Symphony II that’s so highly praised in our “Best of the Blog” item in this month’s CharterWave eNews). Also from IYC, two new yachts have joined the fleet: the 157-foot Azzurra II and the 94-foot motoryacht Golden Times. Look for our First Impression of Azzurra II in the February edition of Charterwave eNews.
Luxury Yacht Group has taken on a smaller crewed motoryacht than we're used to seeing in its fleet, namely the 56-foot Beach House. She looks good to us from the photographs, and is based in Fort Myers Beach on Florida’s West Coast—a tough destination in which to find good crewed motoryachts, especially in that size range. Beach House’s base rate is $17,000 per week for six guests with two crew, or about $3,500 per person with typical 25-percent expenses included.
Merrill-Stevens Yachts has welcomed the 105-foot motoryacht Lady J to its fleet. Charters are available immediately in Florida and the Bahamas. The yacht takes eight guests at a weekly base rate of $32,000 per week.
Nigel Burgess has some exciting news with the brand-new, nearly 300-foot motoryacht Nero joining its fleet. Nero’s design was inspired by classic steamships of the early 1900s, making this yacht the first of her style to be launched in about 60 years, according to the company. Nero will be in the Mediterranean starting this summer at a whopping base rate of $525,000 per week for 12 guests.
Northrop & Johnson is offering a last-minute deal onboard the 91-foot motoryacht Windscape: a free eighth day for any charters booked before January 15 of this month. The charter itself can take place later in the year, but the booking must be immediate. Also from N&J, the 115-foot motoryacht Kapalua (formerly known as Blind Faith) has joined the fleet, and the 122-foot motoryacht Shogun is headed to the California coast to begin offering charters in that rarely offered destination for summer 2007.


Interest Spikes for Have the Whole Boat
CharterWave editor Kim Kavin’s new book, Have the Whole Boat: The Insider’s Guide to Private Yacht Charter Vacations, sold nearly seven times as many copies in October as it did in its initial release month of September, according to publisher iUniverse. Support is coming from good reviews within the charter industry, as well as from reviews like the one that recently appeared in U.S.-based Power & Motoryacht magazine, stating that “anyone thinking about chartering needs this book.”
An autographed copy of Have the Whole Boat is one of the prizes being auctioned off at the upcoming New York Travel Expo, and additional reviews are forthcoming in magazines including Boat International, Cruising World, PowerCruising, Offshore and Motorboating. The book will also be mentioned alongside some of Kim’s upcoming charter articles in the magazines Robb Report, Stratos and Celebrated Living (the first-class cabin magazine of American Airlines).
You can beat the crowds and order your copy today by clicking here. If you’re interested in bulk purchases, e-mail This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for discount options.

Crewed Yacht Reviews Added to the CharterWave Database This Month:
s/y Melinka, 80-foot sailing yacht

Crew Interviews Added to the CharterWave Database This Month:
Elizabeth Lee, chef onboard 73-foot sailing yacht Wonderful
Geoffrey Fisher, chef onboard 115-foot motoryacht Wheels
Eric Melanson, chef onboard 147-foot motoryacht Tooth Fairy

First Impressions Added to the CharterWave Database This Month:
Arms Reach, 130-foot motoryacht
Braveheart, 54-foot sailing yacht
Conundrum, 62-foot sailing yacht
Fearless, 72-foot sailing yacht
Felicita West, 210-foot sailing yacht
Fredrikstad, 60-foot motoryacht
KingFisher, 141-foot motoryacht
Maltese Falcon, 286-foot sailing yacht
Patient Falcon, 93-foot sailing yacht
Symphony II, 112-foot motoryacht
Sherakhan, 228-foot motoryacht
Tivoli, 90-foot motoryacht
Tooth Fairy, 147-foot motoryacht
Triumph, 64-foot sailing yacht
Unforgettable, 83-foot motoryacht