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.
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
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
Trina Howes has 10 years of experience in the charter industry finding great pleasure in creating the best yachting vacations possible. E-mail Trina
Brokers Missy Johnston and Carolyn Titus at Northrop and Johnson Worldwide Yacht Charters in Newport, Rhode Island, have had a tremendous influence on the evolution of the charter industry. Missy served as the industry's liaison to the U.S. Coast Guard during the creation of the Passenger Vessel Safety Act, while Carolyn helped to create what is today the largest annual charter yacht show in Europe. Both are longtime members of the American Yacht Charter Association, which Carolyn helped to found. Northrop and Johnson Worldwide Yacht Charters is also a member of the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association.
Northrop and Johnson has been a pioneer in worldwide yacht charter, supplying unparalled service for more than 50 years, and is welcome in every port. With more than 50 years' combined experience in the yacht charter industry, Missy and Carolyn have extensive experience and knowledge of the world’s finest yachts, crews, and cruising locations. They both travel extensively inspecting yachts, seeing cruising locations, meeting with crews, and attending and speaking at worldwide industry seminars. They apply their high-quality standards and ethics to everything they do, making top-notch service the hallmark of Northrop and Johnson Worldwide Yacht Charters.
Walk through the Bodrum Castle of St. Peter as if you were there visiting on a crewed yacht charter, through this pictorial slideshow. Started in 1402, the Castle of St. Peter, guarding Bodrum Harbor, was built by the Knights Hospitalier as an outpost for the large fortification and walled city built by the Crusading Knights on the nearby island of Rhodes, all built to protect against the invading Ottoman Empire. Built with the latest design techniques for protective castle building, the Bodrum Castle of St. Peter has 7 gates for entry into the final compound with twisting pathways between each gate. Inside is a large compound with ramparts and towers that once housed the various Knight Orders.
Built on the same promontory in Bodrum Harbor where once stood the ancient palace of Mausolos, the famous king of Caria, much of the volcanic rock, carvings, sculptures and reliefs from this palace were re-used in the construction of the castle and many of these ancient stone remains can be seen inside the castle today. For over 100 years, the Castle of St. Peter was the second most important castle fortification within the Crusading Knight Orders. When the castle of Rhodes fell to the Ottoman Empire in 1522, the Castle of St. Peter was also lost.
Today, the Castle of St. Peter is a terrific example of medieval castle and fortification building and besides standing virtually fully intact, now houses the Bodrum Marine Museum of Archeology, the largest museum of this kind with great exhibits of artifacts excavated from ancient shipwrecks of vessels found that once sailed the ancient trading route in this area. Walking through the Castle of St. Peter and visiting the Bodrum Marine Museum of Archeology is a “must do” when visiting Bodrum on a crewed yacht charter.
Written by Northrop and Johnson Worldwide Yacht Charters
Tuesday, 27 November 2012 11:11
Amphorae Exhibit
Housed in the Castle of the Knights of St. John guarding the entrance to Bodrum Harbor, the Bodrum Underwater Archeology Museum is a “must see” while on a crewed yacht charter along the southern coast of Turkey. Many centuries ago, these waters were an ancient trading route plied by tradesmen over thousands of years in sailing cargo vessels And as wind and water can sometimes be cruel, these waters harbor the gravesites of many ancient wrecks. Since 1960, artifacts from ancient cargos that were strewn across the bottom from various shipwrecks have been excavated and are today on display in the Bodrum Underwater Archeology Museum. Be sure to visit this museum while on a yacht charter in this area to see the well organized displays of artifacts from shipwreck excavations from the very waters in which you may be cruising on your crewed yacht charter in Turkey.
Fatimi Shipwreck Exhibit
Today, while these waters lap the shores of Turkey, throughout the centuries these waters have lapped the shores of and been sailed through by various civilizations including Etruscans, Lycians, Carians, Greeks, Romans, Phoenicians, Egyptians and Venetians. Ship styles and cargos have changed over the centuries, including even the clay amphorae used for cargo storage. Those artifacts now on display in the Bodrum Underwater Archeology Museum offer a peak into ancient life; particularly providing a telling glimpse of everyday life on the seas.
Artifacts of Everyday Shipboard Life
Owned and operated by the Turkish government, the museum artifacts are beautifully displayed in rooms entwined within the medieval stone walls of the Castle of the Knights of St. John. There are artifact exhibits, and even an artifact reconstruction of an excavated ship hull from the Fatimi Wreck of 1077 AD. Many of the exhibits are still unfolding as certain excavations are ongoing with artifacts still being recovered, examined and preserved. An ongoing exhibit, still in the beginning stages, is of the oldest shipwreck ever found from the late Bronze Age known as the Uluburun Shipwreck which includes items possibly belonging to Nefertiti. A very interesting exhibit of amphorae displayed along a time line delineated by centuries and millenniums, which highlights evolving amphora styles, greets the visitor in the inner castle courtyard on first arrival.
Glass Artifacts
The Bodrum Underwater Archeology Museum, the largest of its kind, includes artifacts from the following shipwreck excavations:
Finike-Gelidonya shipwreck: 12th century BC
Bodrum-Yassiada shipwreck; 7th century AD
Bodrum -Yassiada shipwreck; 4th century. AD
Bodrum-Yassiada shipwreck; 6th century. AD
Ṣeytan Deresi shipwreck; 16th century BC
Marmaris-Serçe harbour shipwreck; 11th century AD
Marmaris-Serçe harbour shipwreck; 3rd century BC
Kaṣ-Uluburun shipwreck; 14th century BC
Tektaṣ Glasswreck; 5th century BC
Within the interior castle building is an exhibition of the Fatimi Wreck displaying many artifacts found on the sea bottom evocative of everyday life and especially on board ship life. Another interior hall features coins and jewelry, while another features raw glass chunks, and finished glass ornaments and household goods for the wealthy found from many different ancient shipwrecks.
Museum Marine Artifacts
Wander through the medieval castle of the Knights of St. John standing sentinel at the head of Bodrum Harbor and enjoy the Bodrum Underwater Archeology Museum beautifully housed within the castle. It is well worth stretching your legs while on a crewed yacht charter to visit this one of a kind museum of ancient shipwrecks from the ancient trading route, your yacht charter cruising grounds.
Written by Northrop and Johnson Worldwide Yacht Charters
Tuesday, 06 November 2012 10:04
Naxos Island-Town and Harbor
The only way to truly experience the majestic island of Naxos is on a yacht charter. Naxos is the most topographically diverse Cycladic Island in Greece; it boasts grand mountains and caves, cedar forests, plateaus, valleys, and sandy beaches. The geographic features and landforms complement the rustic architecture, exhibiting an appealing balance of nature and human development. A crewed yacht charter allows one to appreciate Naxos in a similar way that the Ancient Greeks would have done thousands of years ago, in an era before airplanes and automobiles.
Naxos Ruins of Temple of Demeter
The novelty of Naxos lies in the fabric of Greek mythology as well as the rich history of the island. Zeus was believed to have grown up on the island of Naxos until an adolescent. The island played an important part in the Persian War. Much later in history the island was conquered by Marco Sanudo. The Ottoman Empire controlled Naxos from 1564 to 1821, and it was finally established as a Greek city state in 1832.
Naxos Island Ancient Church
Because of the height of Mount Zeus at 1003 meters, clouds are trapped by the peak thus creating a greater amount of rainfall on Naxos than other Cycladic Islands. Naxos is the most fertile island of the Cyclades with large fields of vegetables, along with fruit trees and extensive pastures for grazing cattle. Naxos has many beautiful beaches enjoyed by the inhabitants of the 64 villages. Although Naxos is the largest Cycladic Island, it is not the most popular, so one never feels bunched or overcrowded. Explore the main town of Naxos, meandering through alleyways surrounded by the traditional Cycladic whitewashed buildings and visit the old Venetian fort. Inside the fort is the archeological museum of Naxos, where you will find early Cycladic and Roman artifacts. Naxos was the center of Ancient Cycladic culture and today there are several ancient sites that are easily accessible to visit. In addition to all on Naxos, there are plenty of quaint little shops, cafes and tavernas to enjoy.
Naxos Island Shops
As the island of Naxos is so fertile, there are many great culinary delights created on this island that are a treat to taste. Naxos is famous for four cheeses Graviera, Arseniko, Mizithra and Xinotiro, made from the milk from the free range cattle that graze in the many lush green pastures. The little small potatoes grown only on Naxos are prized throughout Greece. Look for local thyme scented honey, and Kitro, a dry liqueur used as an aperitif produced from the fragrant leaves of the Kitron tree grown locally while a lovely preserves is made from the Kitron fruit.
Naxos Ancient Ruins
Whether people go to learn history or just relax on a Mediterranean island, Naxos is a picturesque destination exuding the epitome of serenity. It is also only inhabited by an estimated 20,000 locals, although there are many eager to visit and no better way to reach the Cycladic Island of Naxos than through a yacht charter.
In Hamam Bay, or Ruins Bay within Manastir Bay, within larger Gocek Bay, are lovely ruins of an ancient bath house sitting in shallow waters, which are perfect to explore by snorkeling and swimming while on a crewed yacht charter along the southern coast of Turkey. Legend says that these baths were built for Cleopatra to enjoy the hot springs laden with minerals that come to surface in the bath area, by her friends as a present when Cleopatra spent time in this area of the coast which is now southern Turkey. Close inspection of the bottom sands underwater today show spring waters still gurgling into this area. It is the minerals in this hot spring water that ancient lore says contributed to Cleopatra’s beauty. Whether or not this is true, you too can enjoy this mineral water and more uniquely, enjoy the experience of snorkeling and swimming over the ancient bath ruins while on a yacht charter visiting Cleopatra’s Baths in Gocek Bay, Turkey.
The springs were thought to have come in ancient times from a volcanic crater lake, which is dry now. Time and earthquakes have reduced the built structures of the Baths to ruins today, however there are still walls standing in the shallow waters along with many foundations which can be seen just under the surface of the water. The waters in Hamam Bay are crystal clear with beautiful shades of turquoise blue and green creating a very inviting spot for a refreshing swim and snorkel over the ancient ruins. However arrive either early or late in the day, as Cleopatra’s Baths are a very popular spot to visit in Gocek Bay while cruising on a crewed yacht charter.
Written by Northrop and Johnson Worldwide Yacht Charters
Tuesday, 06 November 2012 09:55
Gocek Town Harbor
Many yacht charters along the southern coast of Turkey for the “Blue Voyage” begin or end in the port town of Gocek. Just 20 minutes from the Dalaman Airport, the main airport that services this southern part of Turkey, Gocek offers 6 marinas for boarding and disembarking your charter yacht. Sitting at the head of Gocek Bay, Gocek is very convenient, as there are a variety of beautiful anchorages close by to anchor overnight after boarding or just before disembarking on your crewed yacht charter along the southern coast of Turkey.
Gocek Town Center (Above and Below)
Sitting at the head of Gocek Bay, the town of Gocek, known as Kalimche in Ancient Times, has had a long history as a safe port. Kalimche, in ancient times, was located between Fethiye, (known then as Telmessos) and Dalyan, (known then as Caunos), and in those days was a port town for boarding the chrome ore mined out of the nearby mountains. Today Gocek is known as a yachting town, and while ships for trade rarely visit, many yachts do cruise in and out of this protected harbor. There are many ship services on shore, including chandleries and marine maintenance services.
Gocek Shopping Street
After boarding, or before disembarking in Gocek, spend time in Gocek Bay, which is part of the larger Fethiye Bay. Gocek Bay is dotted with little islands often referred to as the “12 Islands”, and throughout there are lovely protected anchorages. The shoreline is filled with green pine trees and lovely beaches with shallow clean waters in beautiful shades of blue and green, which are very inviting for a refreshing swim. Anchorages within Gocek Bay, in easy reach of Gocek, are Ruins Bay where the ruins of an ancient bathhouse, said to be that of Cleopatra, stand in shallow waters that are great for snorkeling; Wall Bay, where an ancient fortress wall comes down to the water’s edge; Tomb Bay, where ancient Lycian Tombs can be seen in the cliff sides above, and Tersane Bay, with several ruined ancient buildings, said to have been a location for ancient shipbuilding. And throughout Gocek Bay, especially in the summer months, are little local Tavernas serving fresh Turkish food, right on the water’s edge.
Icarus is said to have landed in Gocek Bay near Gocek, after his ill fated flight. Today, it is far easier to visit Gocek and Gocek Bay on a crewed charter yacht with a flight into the nearby Dalaman Airport.
