CharterWave eNews
March 2008

Merrill-Stevens Unexpectedly Shutters Charter Management Division;  
Retail Charter-Booking Department Remains Open
On Friday, February 29, worldwide yachting company Merrill-Stevens abruptly ceased operation of its Yacht Services Division. The company will no longer offer yacht management, charter management, or crew placement services to yacht owners. Employees who previously served clients in these areas have been fired.
    The owners of charter yachts that used to be managed out of the Fort Lauderdale office are being given a choice of having their boats shifted into the company's European-based fleet, or of taking their boats elsewhere for charter management services. Merrill-Stevens says its remaining employees will ensure that existing charter bookings onboard these yachts go smoothly, no matter where the owners decide to take their business in the future.
     Original rumors were that the firings at Merrill-Stevens also included the retail charter brokers—who book charters onboard yachts from multiple worldwide fleets. A high-ranking source inside Merrill-Stevens told CharterWave editor Kim Kavin on March 1 that this rumor was false, and that the retail charter-booking department at Merrill-Stevens indeed remains open. (See our Editor’s Daily Blog post for the original news report.)
     For now, the upshot seems to be that if you want to book a charter, you can still do so through the reputable brokers at Merrill-Stevens. Longtime broker Sue Flammia remains at her desk in Fort Lauderdale, and charter director Marta Iglesias remains at her desk in Palma de Mallorca, both ready to help organize your charter yacht vacation.

Welcome New Sponsor: C U Yacht Charters
We’re pleased to welcome C U Yacht Charters as a new CharterWave sponsor this month.
     C U stands for Crew Unlimited, an agency with offices in Florida and Rhode Island that helps yacht owners find crew members. The company’s owner, Ami Ira, worked onboard charter yachts as a stewardess before becoming managing director of the company in 1993. She created the C U Yacht Charters division in 2005 so that she could put her in-depth knowledge of charter yacht crew to use for clients who want to book charter vacations.
     Ami is a member of the Florida Yacht Brokers Association as well as CYBA International, two key professional organizations in the worldwide charter industry. We are thrilled to have a broker of her caliber supporting CharterWave, and we encourage you to check out both her sponsored page as well as her company’s website.

Welcome New Sponsor: Abiego Yachts International
Our second new sponsor here on CharterWave this month is Abiego Yachts International. It's a charter company owned by Heather Krebs, a reputable broker who is a member of CYBA International, the Florida Yacht Brokers Association, and the Better Business Bureau.
     Abiego offers worldwide crewed charter yacht bookings, including in the Mediterranean, Caribbean, New England, Alaska, Florida, the Bahamas, and Costa Rica.
     We encourage you to click over to the new Abiego Yachts International sponsored page here on CharterWave, as it will soon include a blog written by Heather herself. You also can go directly to Abiego's own website by clicking here.


Emerald Star, Serenity Shine at Miami International Boat Show
There were only a handful of charter yachts at the Miami International Boat Show in February, and organizers named the 141-foot Emerald Star (see photo below)—which we have been blogging about and featuring here on CharterWave for several months now—the belle of the show.
     An interesting find that’s new to CharterWave readers was at the Lazzara Yachts booth, where the builder was displaying its new flagship, a 116-foot motoryacht called Serenity. As we first told you on the CharterWave Daily Editor’s Blog, this yacht is one of the few in the world available for charter that is specifically designed to be wheelchair accessible—on her main and guest cabin decks, as well as on the stairs leading down to her swim platform.   
     Serenity is not currently part of any charter company’s fleet, but the folks at Lazzara say the yacht is quietly being booked for charters through Lazzara itself by reputable brokers whose names we here at CharterWave recognize. Contact any reputable charter broker for more information.
     Look for our First Impression review of Serenity here on CharterWave soon, as well as reviews of a other charter yachts that Editor Kim Kavin saw at the Miami show, including the 60-foot power catamaran Slumber Venture, part of the Moretti Yachts fleet, and the 97-foot motoryacht GiGi and 80-foot motoryacht Dolce Vita II, both part of the Camper & Nicholsons International fleet.

Churchill Yacht Partners to Focus Exclusively on Charter
On Monday, March 3, Churchill Yacht Partners announced that it will from now on be a company that focuses exclusively on yacht charter.
     The company, which was founded about four years ago, had grown to include yacht sales in its Fort Lauderdale and Newport offices. Moving forward, yacht sales are no longer a part of Churchill’s business plan. The company will instead focus on growing its existing fleet of charter yachts as well as its stable of in-house charter brokers, who work in a division called Rikki Davis Yachts at Churchill Yacht Partners.
     Reputable brokers who are currently with the company include Rikki Davis, Tracey Gulbranson and recent CharterWave broker of the month Maggie Vale. 
     The moves at Churchill should not affect you as a person seeking to book a charter. If anything, down the road, the company should have even more crewed yachts and charter brokers available to serve you.


Report Released on Lady Candida Fire
MAIB, the Marine Accident Investigation Branch, released its report last month on the fire that led to the sinking of the 97-foot Lady Candida—which was on charter with a family, including several children, at the time of the incident in July 2007 off the coast of Corsica.
     There is an excellent post that went online February 25 detailing the report on the Megayacht News blog written by industry expert Diane Byrne. As you will see in her synopsis, the report highlights a lack of crew training and simple safety measures onboard the popular charter yacht.
    This is surprising to us here at CharterWave, since Lady Candida was part of the fleet at the venerable Camper & Nicholsons International--which so far has been mum on details surrounding the fire and subsequent investigation.
     We’re looking into steps that charter clients can take to ensure charter yachts are following basic procedures, and we hope to have a new Special Report feature here on CharterWave soon offering tips and suggestions in the wake of this report.


OceanStyle Building Fleet of 65- to 125-foot Charter Yachts
As we first told you on the CharterWave Editor’s Daily Blog, the company OceanStyle—a sister company to worldwide powerhouse Burgess Yachts—has quietly begun building a fleet of 65- to 125-foot charter yachts.
     The move aims to fill a niche in the worldwide charter market, where companies typically focus on building fleets of yachts that are smaller or larger than that size range. As of mid-February, OceanStyle had five charter yachts in its fleet. The company’s goal is to have as many as 25 charter yachts signed on by the end of this year, primarily in the Mediterranean.
     We here at CharterWave look forward to inspecting the first few  yachts that OceanStyle signs up, and of course to sharing our First Impression reviews here before you can get the information anywhere else.

Martha Ann to Enter Charter Market at 600,000 Euros Per Week
The folks at International Yacht Collection tell us construction is progressing on time for the launch of a yacht that is sure to be the most talked-about entry into the Mediterranean charter market this summer: the brand-new, 230-foot Lurssen Martha Ann.
     Her weekly base rate is being promoted as 600,000 euros (about $880,000 at presstime), which would make Martha Ann one of the most, if not the most, expensive charter yachts in the world for 12 guests.
     No word yet on whether bookings are coming in at that record-setting rate. We’ll keep you posted as we learn more. 

California Law Would Require Peace Officers on Cruise Ships
The Los Angeles Times reported last month that newly proposed state legislation would require peace officers to be onboard cruise ships that travel in California’s waters.
     The move is intended to ensure that cruise ships are following environmental regulations, as well as responding to crimes against passengers in a way that aids criminal investigations instead of covering up violent acts at sea.
     On the heels of that announcement at the state level, federal Rep. Doris Matsui of California issued a press release stating that she was working on legislation to be put before the U.S. Congress in an attempt to stem the continuing problem of crimes against passengers onboard cruise ships.
     We’ll keep following this story for you here on CharterWave, as always making the point that charter yachts are quite simply a safer vacation option than cruise ships.

We’re Scouting for You in Brazil
CharterWave editor Kim Kavin will be on the road again this month, bound for the Rio de Janeiro area in Brazil—which has had many industry insiders intrigued in recent years as a potential new charter destination.
     Historically, yacht owners in Brazil have had a cultural bias toward putting their boats into charter, believing that doing so would make it seem as though they had financial problems. This is the opposite of the opinion taken by many U.S. yacht owners, who see charter as a business opportunity.
     Keep an eye on the CharterWave Editor’s Daily Blog for Kim’s reports straight from Brazil, onboard sailing and motoryachts alike that are trying to open up the market to international charter clients.  


Best of the CharterWave Editor’s Daily Blog
Doggone Pirates. I was on the radio again this weekend to promote the new edition of my charter book, Dream Cruises. This time it was a station that simulcasts in Montreal and Toronto, which I thought might be a little different than the stations I’ve been on so far in the United States. But about halfway into the interview, as seems to be a pattern with these things, the host got a call from a listener who was worried that charter yachts get attacked by pirates. ... Read more...

Best of the CharterWave Sponsored Blogs
From Gail Hartman, charter broker with V.I. Sailing, BVI Music Festival. The annual BVI Music Festival is coming up the weekend of May 23-25, 2008. The event is promoted with the slogan, “Where the sounds of music meet the sounds of Nature.”  The BVI Music Festival invites all music lovers to dance to the beat of genuine Caribbean tunes. ... Read more...

Crewed Motoryacht of the Month: Reverie
With seven decks and more than 20 crew members to tend to just 12 guests, the 230-foot Reverie is one of the most jaw-dropping charter yachts in the world. The photo at right was taken from the top  level of her two-level sundeck, facing aft, just to give you an idea of the yacht's sheer size.
     We got onboard at the recent, industry-only charter show in Sint Maarten for a tour of the entire vessel. Check out our exclusive First Impression review with photos and information that you won’t find in any brochure, anywhere else.

Crewed Sailing Yacht of the Month: Viking Dream
The 46-foot sailing catamaran Viking Dream is new to the crewed charter market in the Virgin Islands, and her owner-operators are quickly making a winning impression. She not only did well at the recent industry-only boat show in Tortola, but she also wowed several longtime brokers with a day sail that included a fresh-fish lunch.
     Here’s our exclusive First Impression review, which includes an interview with the yacht’s owner-operators.


Captain of the Month: Emile Coetzee
Capt. Emile Coetzee and his crew onboard the 164-foot motoryacht HIgh Chaparral are known for offering some of the best service and dining standards on the world's waters. We caught up with Coetzee during the recent, industry-only charter show in Antigua for this exclusive interview.
     Learn how he came to be in command of such a well-regarded charter yacht, and more about the level of service offered onboard, by clicking here.

Chef of the Month: Eduardo Garcia
At age 26, Eduardo Garcia is already making a name for himself as one of the most enthusiastic chefs in the worldwide charter industry. We caught up with him onboard the 135-foot motoryacht Blind Date during the recent, industry-only charter show in Antigua.
     Read our exclusive interview to learn more about Garcia’s background and specialties.

Broker of the month: Kathleen Mullen
Longtime charter broker Kathleen Mullen is based in the Virgin Islands, so she can offer charter clients in-depth local knowledge and insider information about boats that are available for charter there.
     She’s also one of the reputable brokers who is a CharterWave sponsor, regularly blogging with news and tips that you can’t find anywhere else.
     Our exclusive interview with Kathleen includes her history in the industry as well as the way her company is expanding into the worldwide megayacht market.

Fleet and Management Company News:
Allied Yacht Charters welcomes the 83-foot Marlow motoryacht Alexandra Bear to the fleet…  Rates had not been announced as of presstime…

BCR Yachts has the 118-foot motoryacht Sunliner X available for Monaco Grand Prix and Cannes Film Festival charters… The 82-foot sailing yacht Aqua Equinox V is available for charters this month in the Caribbean and Venezuela… the 75-foot sailing yacht Sunday Morning is available this month in the Maldives…


Camper & Nicholsons International is touting the 183-foot Perini Navi sailing yacht Selene (a CharterWave favorite---see the photo of the master suite at  right), which the company says has  made the short list in the World Superyacht Awards category for best sailing yacht larger than 45 meters…


Churchill Yacht Partners is promoting the 154-foot sailing yacht Andromeda La Dea, which will available this summer in the Mediterranean at a weekly base rate of at least $125,000 for eight guests… Also available for summer charters are the 114-foot motoryacht Camille in New England at a weekly base rate of $35,000 for nine guests, and the 88-foot motoryacht Lady Victoria in the Bahamas at a weekly base rate of $30,000 per week for six adults and two children… In the unusual destinations category, the 90-foot motoryacht Trilogy will be available in the Great Lakes while the 97-foot Odysseus will be chartering in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska…

Fraser Yachts Worldwide has appointed a new director of Charter Retail. Her name is Lania Rittenhouse, and she most recently worked for Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line… The company also is promoting the 155-foot motoryacht Axioma for charters in Thailand at a lowest weekly base rate of 165,000 euros for 12 guests…


International Yacht Collection welcomes two new motoryachts to its fleet. The 124-foot Hakvoort-built  Perle Bleue (a CharterWave favorite--see the photo of the main saloon at right) is available at a weekly base rate of $145,000 for 10 guests, and the 161-foot Trinity-built Lohengrin is available at a weekly base rate of $217,000 for 10 guests…


Nautor’s Swan in the United Kingdom has 15 yachts available for cruising and/or racing charters this summer in the Mediterranean, on the southern coast of England, and in Northern Europe. The yachts range from 41 to 82 feet, with weekly base rates from £8,400 to 32,000 euros… And if you’re looking for an Easter charter, the company still has 62- and 82-foot Swan sailing yachts available in the Caribbean…

Nicholson Yachts reports that there is a new skipper onboard the 76-foot sailing yacht Tabasco. Capt. Paul Preston will be onboard as the yacht offers charters the rest of this winter in the Caribbean, and in New England this summer, at a weekly base rate of $20,000 to $24,000 for two to six guests… The 112-foot sailing yacht Gitana has nearly finished its refit in the south of France. In early April, the yacht is scheduled to set sail for its summer charter ground of the Baltic Sea at a weekly base rate of 44,000 euros for eight guests… The 70-foot sailing yacht Mira is going to be available for charters this summer in Croatia at a weekly base rate of 16,000 to 18,000 euros for two to six guests…



Northrop & Johnson announced that 19-year industry veteran and CharterWave favorite Ann Landry (see photo at right) has joined the company as a retail charter broker. She will be booking crewed charters onboard yachts from 110 to 180 feet long out of the company’s office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida… The company also is promoting the 115-foot motoryacht Watercolours with charter availability, based in Sint Maarten until May, when she is scheduled to move to the Bahamas. The yacht recently took on a new chef, Dawn Meunier. Its $49,500 weekly base rate includes use of a 32-foot Intrepid center-console fishing boat…


Primo Yacht has several motoryachts with charter availability for this summer’s Monaco Grand Prix and Cannes Film Festival. They include the 147-foot Secret Life, the 146-foot Costa Magna, the 116-foot Dry Spirit, and the 74-foot Vogue of Beaulieu… Primo also says the 86-foot motoryacht Blue Chip will be based in Capri this summer with no delivery fees for clients who want to charter there…

Select Charter Services recently added three new yachts to its fleet. The recently refit, 151-foot Palmer Johnson motoryacht Putty VI is available at a weekly base rate of $188,000… The 140-foot Christensen motoryacht Daydream is available at a lowest weekly base rate of 82,000 euros… The 82-foot Swan sailing yacht Maligaya is available at a weekly base rate of 26,000 euros per week…

The Sacks Group Yachting Professionals reports that the 139-foot Feadship motoryacht Dreamseeker is joining its fleet. A new owner is finishing an extensive refit of the yacht, including a new interior with a full gymnasium and new water toys for guests. Dreamseeker takes 10 guests and will have a weekly base rate of $80,000 when she begins chartering this summer in the Bahamas…

The Shipyard Group announces a rate change for the 78-foot Hatteras motoryacht Bella Sophia. She is now $17,000 per week, plus expenses, an increase of $1,000…The 73-foot Ferretti motoryacht Seadrop becomes available for charters this month in the Bahamas at a weekly base rate of $28,500 for eight guests…

Yachting Partners International announces that the 150-foot Holland Jachtbouw sailing yacht Windrose has sold to a new owner, but will remain available for charter through the company at a lowest weekly base rate of 56,000 euros for eight guests.

New First Impression reviews posted on CharterWave this month:
Glory, 37-foot sailing yacht
High Chaparral, 164-foot motoryacht
Lady Joy, 157-foot motoryacht
Milk ’n Honey, 125-foot motoryacht
Nimrod, 80-foot sailing yacht
NOA VII, 158-foot motoryacht
Reverie, 230-foot motoryacht
Tabasco, 76-foot sailing yacht
Viking Dream, 47-foot sailing catamaran

New Charter Vacation Article posted on CharterWave this month:
Onboard the 172-foot motoryacht Taipan III in Thailand

New Crew Interviews posted on CharterWave this month:
Emile Coetzee, captain, motoryacht High Chaparral
Eduardo Garcia, chef, motoryacht Blind Date

New Broker Interview posted on CharterWave this month:
Kathleen Mullen, Regency Yacht Vacations

New Vidcast Posted on CharterWave this month:
Three minutes in Thailand onboard the 172-foot motoryacht Taipan III

Please support the reputable companies and brokers who support CharterWave:
BoatBookings.com

Regency Yacht Vacations

International Yacht Charter Group

V.I. Sailing

Fine Yachts

C U Yacht Charters

Broker Agnes Howard

Broker Gail Hartman

Abiego Yachts International