Crewed Catamaran Charters

Let's face it - we live in a society obsessed with all things new.  Our hottest celebrities are the young greenhorns with the fresh faces, and shows like the X-Factor scour the land for the next new singing sensation.  Trendy restaurants and clubs come and go, sometimes in a matter of weeks, and who would rent a car from Hertz or Avis built more than 1 year ago?

The same pressure to look fresh and new consumes the luxury sailing charter market, but with one twist - older yachts can undergo wildly-expensive makeovers and resurface looking brand new!

How do they get away with it?   The simple answer is: classic, repetitive design.

Except for a few curved windows here and there, the basic styling of a sailing yacht never changes.  Driven by the laws of physics and what shape is best to propel a wind-powered sail boat through the water, the basic, classic shape of sailing yachts has changed little over the years. 

Can you tell which of these yachts is only one year old and which is nearly 20? 

 

The yacht on the right, sail yacht SEA QUELL was launched in 1992.

With continual maintenance and owners willing to spend thousands of dollars for modern interior upgrades, yachts like SEA QUELL can remain active and competitive in the rental market with newer-model Caribbean yacht charter vessels.

This summer (2011) SEA QUELL underwent a major makeover, called a "refit" in yachting terms. It was her second major refit in three years!

Here's a list of the upgrades completed this summer onboard SEA QUELL:

●  New Teak Decks
●  New Navigational Equipment
●  New Winches  
●  New Sails
●  New Interior upholstery and soft furnishings


New custom-built Jacuzzi hot tub ondeck
New Satellite radio and internet/communications equipment

●  Oh...one more makeover item - a New Crew!!! 


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Sea Quell joins a growing list of sailboats available this winter and spring in the Caribbean including:

  59' sail yacht ON LIBERTY (€11,000 per week, plus expenses)

   67'  sail yacht MORE MAGIC ($18,000 per week, plus expenses)

  75'  sail catamaran LADY ALLIAURA ($45,000 per week, all inclusive)

To plan your own luxury yacht charter vacation, contact the professionals at SailAway Yacht Charter Consultants at http://www.1800sailaway.com/contact_us.html . We offer the best price guarantee!

With the demand for luxury sailing charter catamarans on the rise, the team at Lagoon recently introduced the all-new 2012 Lagoon 620 catamaran at the Cannes Boat Show.  Designed by the architects Van Peteghem and Lauriot Prévost (VPLP), the Lagoon 620 is an innovative solution to the needs of today's discerning Caribbean yacht charter client.  The  yacht seamlessly blends strength, comfort, and performance in a charter-friendly cabin layout .

The 2012 version of the Lagoon 620, features luxurious and comfortable interiors by Nauta.  In the dining room, the settees have been redesigned, as well as the ceiling, enabling more indirect lighting.  On the starboard side, the master cabin has also been modified, with a washroom now placed aft on either side of the cockpit access stairs.  This modification creates more storage space in the bedroom fro the charterer's luggage.  The forward starboard cabin, can now be called a true V.I.P. suite, with additional volume created by the repositioning of the master cabin's washroom.

The Lagoon 620 catamaran will be built in 4, 5 and 6 cabin versions, all featuring Nauta interior layout packages and incorporating wood finish, upholstery, inner liners, and more…

Exceptional living space, both above and below deck will continue to define Lagoon catamarans for years to come as the sophisticated choice for multi hull yacht vacations.

Catamaran multihull sailboats are also available for bareboat vacations (yachts without crew).  SailAway offers bareboat charter, also.

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Several newer-model Lagoon catamarans are already in service and available for hire, including the Lagoon 560 sail catamaran BACCHUS and the Lagoon 450 sail catamaran OKEANOS.  Contact the SailAway charter department at http://www.1800sailaway.com/contact_us.html for a once-in-a-lifetime adventure.

Joining a growing list of luxury yacht charter vessels migrating to the Orient for the winter season, the 42 meter performance sailing catamaran DOUCE FRANCE will be available is Southeast Asia this winter.  Destinations will include Malaysia, Myanmar, the Andaman Islands, and most notably Phuket Island in Thailand - the "pit stop" on this week's installment of the reality TV show, The Amazing Race.

Viewers of this week's installment (episode 4) of the hit CBS

After struggling on the rock climb, the teams raced by boat back to a tiny fishing village on Phuket.  The frequent cutaway shots showing the nearby beaches were breathtaking. 

Click on the photo of the snowboarders to watch the full video (episode 4):   

Swaying palms, coral reefs, stunning rock pinnacles, shimmering emerald-colored seas, and charming island villages - these are just some of the attractions that await luxury yacht charter guests onboard sail yacht DOUCE FRANCE.  Captain Pascal and his professional crew have cruised these waters for many seasons and look forward to welcoming guests onboard to explore these stunning locations. 

The superyacht features accommodations for 12 guests in 6 identical cabins.  All are convertible and can display either a queen bed or two twin beds.   For active travelers, there is a great selection of aquasport toys including eight sets of SCUBA diving equipment. 

A list of other toys features:

21' Zeppelin semi-rigid tender
2 Laser Sailing Dinghies
Windsurfers
4 Sea Kayaks
Waterskis (adult, slalom, and skis for children & for acrobatics)
Wakeboard
Surfboard
Scurfboard
2 Donuts (single and double)
1 Flying Manta
Snorkeling equipment
Fishing equipment
BBQ

Rates begin at 90,000 EUROS per week plus all expenses.

Come and participate in your own amazing race onboard Douce France!

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For more information contact the SailAway destination specialists at http://www.1800sailaway.com/contact_us.html.

Last week, we took a look at several yachts offering value-oriented Virgin Islands yacht charters for the Thanksgiving holidays.   Now comes word from the crew of sail yacht catamaran BREANKER that they are also offering a special Thanksgiving charter - one with a unique twist.

Captain Kristian Søndergård and Chef/First Mate Marianne Rasmussen are Danish citizens with over 25 years of sailing experience.  Their plan for a Thanksgiving charter is to prepare a traditional American-style turkey but serve authentic Danish side dishes for a bicultural holiday feast.

Marianne recently contacted us with the basic menu details.  She said, "We will serve Hassel baked potatoes with roasted sesame seeds, pickled cucumber salad, beet salad with walnuts, and warm sweet and sour red cabbage.  These are all traditional Danish specialties.   For dessert, we will serve Danish almond and rice pudding. It's made with
chopped almonds and one single whole almond in the bowl.   The one who gets the almond wins a prize.  This is a common dessert and game played in Denmark."

To further "sweeten" the deal, Kristian and Marianne are offering a 10% price reduction off the regular charter rates for any full-week charter over the Thanksgiving holiday.  Sail catamaran BREANKER is priced at $14,500 per week for 2 to 4 passengers, $14,700 per week for 5 passengers, $14,900 per week for 6 passengers, $16,500 per week for 7 passengers, and finally, $17,500 per week for 8 guests. Charterers can take 10% off these rates.   Price includes the yacht, crew, and all meals and ship's bar and all local taxes. 

SCUBA is included in the price and offered for up to 6 passengers (must be certified divers).  Gear is available for rent for $150 per week per diver.

The sailing catamaran BREANKER is 55'  in length and features 4 queen cabins, each with ensuite bathroom. Onboard watertoys include a dinghy with 40 horsepower, water skis for children and adults, kneeboard, tube, and wakeboard, two kayaks, and snorkel gear.

SailAway aboard catamaran Breanker for the Thanksgiving holiday of a lifetime!

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Treat your family to a unique, sunny-weather yachting vacation this winter.  Contact our destination specialists at http://www.1800sailaway.com/contact_us.html today for more special offers. 

Often overlooked as people plan year-end Caribbean yacht charter vacations,  an island escape for the Thanksgiving holidays is a great way to enjoy great weather and uncrowded anchorages.

Officially the winter charter season kicks off in December, as crews return from their own vacations, and the yachts re-emerge from the shipyards after their annual summer maintenance.  Almost a secret, few charterers realize that 80% of the Caribbean fleet is already in place and ready to go by Thanksgiving!

Let's look at a handful of Caribbean-based yachts available in late November:

NAEJ - leading the value parade is sail catamaran NAEJ, a 49' yacht with room for 7 guests.  Built by Alliaura Marina in 2006, her all-inclusive weekly rate of $13,500 per week equates to just $275 per person per night.

SORANA - the 68' motor yacht SORANA was built in 2006 and features accommodations for 6 guests.  Her homeport is Saint Martin in the French West Indies, just a short cruise from St Barts, a favorite winter enclave for celebrities.   Weekly rate is $20,000 plus all running expenses, such as food, bar and dockage.

MOTU - the 61' Privilège 615 catamaran MOTU was built in 2006 and features 4 double cabins for 8 passengers.  She returns from a summer of Bahama yacht charters in time to take a Thanksgiving booking from her winter base in Pointe-à-Pitre on the island of Guadeloupe.  Weekly rate is $23,000 - ALL-INCLUSIVE. 

MAEVIE - built in 2009 by CNB Bordeaux, sail catamaran MAEVIE is one of the stars in the crewed catamaran charters market.  The Lagoon 620  catamaran offers accommodations for 6 guests in 3 double cabins. Her weekly rate is $23,500 including all meals, and she is available in the British Virgin Islands (Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada, Jost Van Dyke, and over fifty other smaller islands and cays).

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This winter, spend your holiday vacation onboard a private yacht with your family and friends.   For a list of yachts offering special holiday rates, contact our SailAway destination experts at www.1800sailaway.com/contact_us.html.

Here's the deal:  Pay just €6,000 per week for crewed catamaran charters in Greece on the 47 foot sail catamaran NEMO for select dates in September.

Here's the story:  The owner of Nautitech 47 catamaran NEMO is anxious to fill the remaining available charter dates on his booking calendar, to close out the summer Mediterranean yacht charter season.   As an incentive to potential customers, he is offering his yacht at a discounted rate of €6,000 per week -- a 54% savings off the regular, published rate, which is €13,000
 


Launched in 2009, this twin-hulled yacht is designed with comfort and relaxation in mind. Four queen-berth cabins offer roomy, private accommodations for 8 passengers. Each cabin has its own ensuite bathroom, for total privacy from the crew and other guests. For active travelers, the yacht carries watertoys such as snorkel gear and two sea kayaks.
 
Available dates are:

17 to 24 September
and
24 September to 1 October.

There are two itineraries available for Greece yacht charters onboard Nemo:

- The Cyclades islands (starting and ending in Athens),
or
- The Ionian islands (starting and ending in Lefkas).
 
The offer includes the yacht with skipper and hostess, all bed linens and towels, and use of the onboard watertoys.
 
Items not included are food and beverage provisioning, fuel, port fees, and any special requests.

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Don't delay!  Take advantage of the deepest seasonal discount offered by any crewed catamaran this summer.  Book now at http://www.1800sailaway.com/inquiry.php?y=nemo

Opa!

Organizers of the Caribbean's only Superyacht rendezvous and regatta have added a new racing division to include catamarans in a four-day Spring event, March 14 -17, 2012, in the British Virgin Islands (BVI).

Boat International and Yacht Club Costa Smeralda,  the organizers of the 2012 Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous announced the addition of a catamaran category to the second edition of this unique event. 

The racing will now be divided into three classes: performance, cruising and catamaran, with the entire fleet competing for the overall winner of Silver Cup, the Boat International Media Trophy, made by Garrard of London.

Organizers hope to bring together owners of  motor yachts and luxury sailing charter vessels for four days of racing, fun activities and glittering social events in the idyllic surroundings of Virgin Gorda and her neighboring islands. 

Participants of the 2012 Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous will be among the first to experience the brand new Clubhouse at YCCS Virgin Gorda Marina, and enjoy the fabulous facilities of Oil Nut Bay, making this event a truly unique occasion not be missed.

Participation is open to sail and motor yachts over 80ft, and catamarans longer than 60ft.  Sail yacht Marie, Salperton, P2, and sail yacht Twizzle have already expressed their intention to participate. 

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Take the family, rent a private yacht, and come explore the Caribbean.  For details and pricing options, contact our destination specialists HERE. 

It's been said the Maldives are the picture-perfect location for diving, swimming and blissful relaxing, and motoryacht MOECCA is prepared to prove that adage is true.  

The 150'  luxury mega yacht charter vessel plans to call the island archipelago its home, from November, 2011 through March, 2012.

 

The Maldives offer visitors the chance to enjoy crystal clear water and snow white, sandy beaches.   Located in the Indian Ocean,  the Republic of Maldives is an island nation formed by a double chain of twenty-six (26) atolls. The water temperature is amazingly warm, about 31c (87f), and the opportunities for snorkeling and diving seem endless. There are hundreds of reefs, some in the shallow waters of enclosed lagoons.

 

MOECCA is a 150' jet drive vessel offering crewed catamaran charters.  The twin hulls create a very large stable platform at anchor and while cruising. She has a spacious interior volume and a 2150 sq ft (200 sq m) sun deck.




Accommodations for 12 passengers are offered in 6 staterooms, each with ensuite bathroom, 20" flat screen TV, and full entertainment systems. Guest may use a 7th cabin as an onboard private office.  High speed WIFI internet is available throughout the yacht.
 
Rates:
November - 15 December:  $155,000 USD/ per week plus expenses
15 December - 15 January:  $195,000 USD/ per week plus expenses
15 January - on: $155,000 USD/per week plus expenses

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FREE sample itinerary!  Interested in learning more about a Maldives Island cruise?  Contact our office and we'll email to you a custom 7-day itinerary for exploring the Maldives onboard motor yacht  MOECCA.

What is the difference between a yacht, a ship, and a boat?



One naval recruit said that it is common lore that a ship rolls outward in a turn, while a boat rolls inward.

Other definitions:

• You can fit a boat inside a ship, but you cannot fit a ship inside a boat.
• A ship is a commercial vessel such as a passenger ship, a freighter, or a tanker. A boat is smaller - could be a fishing boat, a dinghy, a sailboat, a row boat, a charteryacht tender, etc., and could actually be fairly large. A yacht is a personally-owned pleasure "boat," often used for super yacht charters or crewed catamaran charters, either a sail boat or a power boat, but is not a ship.
• A ship is used for commercial purposes, whereas a yacht is used purely for recreational purposes, like yacht charter vacations. Size does not matter.
• The distinction between a ship and a boat varies depending on regional definitions, but as a general rule, a boat can fit onto a ship, but a ship cannot fit onto a boat. A ship, in other words, is a very large oceangoing vessel, while a boat tends to be much smaller. Additionally, a ship usually is defined as having a displacement larger than 500 tons. During the age of sailing, a craft with three or more rigged masts was considered to be a ship, but this definition has been superseded, as different methods of power generation are used on modern ships.
• Watercraft that we typically associate with the category of “ship” include cruiseships, container ships, aircraft carriers, destroyers, tall ships, and frigates. All of these ships are extremely large and are designed to endure potentially long ocean voyages. Traditionally, they required a very large crew of skilled sailors to manage them, although some ships, especially container ships, are growing increasingly easier to run with only a small crew. This is thanks to the development of sophisticated computer systems and improved mechanization, among other things. These ships are also capable of carrying a large volume of cargo, people, or a combination of both.
  
• Typical examples of boats include powerboats, rowboats, canoes, kayaks, umiaks, and tugboats. Boats tend to be easier to maneuver than ships, but they are not capable of carrying as much cargo. Boats are also not equipped for long voyage, and some boats will not fare well on the open ocean.
• A ship requires a crew of people to run smoothly, while a boat can often be handled by one person, alone. The system of authority on board a ship is also very clear-cut, with crew members organized into ranks. When a boat is large enough to have a crew, the members of the crew often work together under the captain. Depending upon the size of the yacht and the amenities and lifestyle promoted aboard, private luxury yacht charter vessels can carry as few as 2 crewmembers to as many as 40, with crew members including captain, first mate, mate, chef, hostesses, masseuse, and others.
• Ships also usually carry boats on board, in the form of life rafts and rescue boats. These boats are also sometimes used to transport people and supplies between the ship and the shore, since very large ships cannot fit into some harbors, due to their draft or inability to fit under a particular bridge. [Thanks, wisegeek!]