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
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.
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
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
| What is your most memorable Christmas charter booking? |
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| Three Brokers Say |
 Liz Howard, Fraser Yachts WorldwideI spent almost two years planning a Christmas charter with one of my favorite clients. It was a family of 12, all adults. They are very well traveled, and they came to me with the Antarctic on their bucket list. First, I found them the only private, ice-classed charter yacht available in the world today. Then, after a great deal of planning, they spent Christmas 2008 on the motoryacht Hanse Explorer in the Antarctic. The best part was that on Christmas night, the entire family spent the evening camped out on a floating glacier. They traveled two and a half miles on this iceberg while they slept. Upon return, the entire family said that this holiday will never be topped. It was awesome!  Gertrud Annevelink, Charter ExperienceThis particular charter was for an elderly couple from the United States who wanted to cruise the Norwegian fjords, with just the two of them and the crew on board. Now, Norway is very unspoiled and not your everyday destination to charter a yacht, but I found them the perfect yacht, suitable for only a couple, not too big and not too small, just right. Together with the captain, we prepared the itinerary that took them from Bergen up and down the coast for the most spectacular nature and scenery. We were all set to go and counting down the days for the couple to leave the States. Then disaster struck when, at the very last minute, the lady broke her hip and was unable to fly. The accident brought an unexpected end to a well-prepared charter in an amazing country. Those are the moments you need to have your charter booked through a knowledgeable broker who will deal with the paperwork, cancellation clauses, and refunds. After all the preparation and sailing with the clients in my thoughts, I was left with a closed folder and a charter that never happened. Yes it was most memorable indeed!  Michael Sawyer, Infinity Yacht ChartersThis charter touched me deeply. A Texas family was referred to me by previous clients from Texas. The family was in the middle of a divorce, with Mom and Dad splitting the time with the children over the Christmas and New Year’s holidays. Flying to the Caribbean was too far in the limited time, and many yachts are looking for 10 days of charter in this period, but I was able to locate a reasonably priced Bahamas yacht charter beginning and ending at Staniel Cay for four nights. We used affordable scheduled flights to and from Fort Lauderdale, so they were able to spend their entire time in the magical Exumas. I knew that even in the event of strong winds, they could enjoy private beaches, sheltered coves and calm anchorages and snorkeling. They said the charter was a huge success, “their best vacation ever,” with the youngest child moved to tears as he was leaving! They called to repeat for this year, but a possible football bowl game captured the eldest child, so we are standing by to see how the football season goes. I was honored to get this family a much-needed, much appreciated experience in a challenging time. |