DESTINATIONS

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.

The 54 meter Perini Navi sail yacht PARSIFAL III has committed to relocate to the Caribbean for the upcoming winter season and will introduce lower, competitive rates to entice charter clients.

The yacht's managers made the announcement today.  The Mediterranean-based luxury sailing charter vessel should arrive in the islands by December 1st and remain through April, 2012.

Normally priced in Euros, lowered rates will be introduced in US Dollars for the winter season, to encourage American travelers stung by the low currency exchange value between Dollars and Euros.  Rates for charters in the Caribbean are $250,000 per week for Christmas or New Years and $200,000 per week for all other dates.  Running expenses such as food, bar, fuel and dockage are extra.
    
Built by Perini Navi SpA, the 177'  sail yacht PARSIFAL III offers guest accommodations for 12 in 6 staterooms.  When launched in 2005, she set new standards in performance while maintaining levels of comfort rarely found on a sailing yacht. The sleek lines of her jet-black hull contrast against her brilliant-white superstructure. 

In perfect harmony with her striking exterior, her interior was designed by Remi Tessier and is a magnificent blend of dark ebony, wenge, and light sycamore with stainless steel and fine leather accents. Craftsmanship is exquisite and is complemented by natural textures and textiles that give this ultra modern yacht a warm, inviting, and restful feeling.

Sailing yacht Parsifal's vast outside space includes an on-deck Jacuzzi and barbecue area -  ideal for entertaining.

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Other yachts similar to PARSIFAL III and available this winter in the Caribbean include sail yacht PANTHALASSA and charter sailboat charter FIDELIS.  To arrange your Caribbean yacht charter, contact the SailAway team at http://www.1800sailaway.com/contact_us.html NOW.

Motor yacht SILVER ANGEL has announced plans to relocate to the Indian Ocean this winter. The 64 meter superyacht will be available for Benetti yacht charter vacations in the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, the Seychelles, and Madagascar.

Built by Benetti and launched in 2009, the 211 foot yacht offers accommodations for 12 guests in 7 staterooms. A crew of 21 are onboard to attend to the guests.

The Indian Ocean is an idyllic paradise.  Here you will experience white-sand beaches lapped by aquamarine waters, bright blue skies, and year-round sunshine. 

Opportunities for diving and snorkeling abound in this pristine eco-tourism region.

Memories of your time aboard Benetti yacht SILVER ANGEL in the Indian Ocean will stay with you long after your tan fades!

The winter rate is set at USD $450,000 per week, plus all expenses (items such as food, fuel, and dockage).










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Several other luxury yachts will depart the Mediterranean and re-locate  to the Indian Ocean this winter, including motor yacht MOECCA and sail yacht PERLA DEL MARE.  For more information on this exotic locale, contact our SailAway destination experts at  http://www.1800sailaway.com/contact_us.html.

Pop superstars Beyonce and Jay Z enjoy a boat ride

Want to experience a Caribbean yacht charter like a celebrity?  Then look no further than the exclusive island of Saint Barthélemy, better known as St Barts.

Always sunny with very little rain, the tiny island has become famous for celebrity sightings, especially during the year-end holidays where all-night New Year's Eve yacht hops and parties capture the attention of the global newswires.  

Singer Gwen Stefani and husband Gavin Rossdale relax ondeck

A playground for billionaire superyacht owners and pop culture icons, the scene in St Barts between Christmas and New Years is unlike anywhere else in the world.  From Mariah Carey and Sean "P Diddy" Combs, to Beyonce , Jay Z and Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore - all have spent time lounging on the sundeck of a multi-million dollar luxury mega yacht charter vessel dockside in the island's Gustavia marina.

Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore seen leaving motor yacht A, to go ashore in St Barts





So just where is St Barts, the island paradise dubbed, "Hollywood South?"

St. Barts is a tiny island situated in the French West Indies.  Located 17°55’ north and 62°50’ west, just below the Tropic of Cancer, and north of the chain of the Lesser Antilles.  Puerto Rico is 240 km (about 160 miles) to the west. 

St. Barts lies 35 km southeast of Saint Martin, separated by the Saint-Barthélemy Channel. It lies northeast of Saba and St Eustatius, and north of St Kitts. Some small satellite islets belong to St. Barts including Île Chevreau, Île Frégate, Île Toc Vers, and Île Tortue. A much bigger islet, Île Fourchue, lies to the north of the island, in the Saint-Barthélemy Channel. Other nearby islets include Coco, the Roques (or little Turtle rocks), and Sugarloaf.  

Seven thousand kilometers separate St Barts from Paris, but it is just 2500 from New York (about a 4 hour flight).

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Why not rent a private yacht and join your favorite celebrities this winter for a week in a tropical paradise?  Contact the SailAway destination professionals at http://www.1800sailaway.com/contact_us.html for more information.

If you are planning a luxury sailing charter, or a week cruising on a motoryacht, Sardinia is truly a cruising paradise, with crystal clear waters and quiet anchorages.

Last week, we introduced our readers to the enchanted island of Sardinia's location off the coast of Italy.
 
Today, we take a look at the island, itself, and our top four recommendations for things to do in Sardinia.

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1.  Visit BOSA:  Away from the coast, much of the countryside is mountainous,  but with innumerable charming villages, hotels, restaurants and incredible views.  Along the coast, however, is a special small town worth a visit  - Bosa.  This 12th century town is situated on the west coast, north of Oristano, in a valley on the Temo, the only navigable river in Sardinia. 

The city is overlooked by the Castello Malaspina, which dates to 1112.   To the south of the Castle, on the north bank next to the bridge, is the Bosa Cathedral. This structure was constructed in the fifteenth century. Inside is a splendid interior of marble statues and nineteenth century frescos.  The nearby Bosa Marina Beach, is regularly voted the cleanest beach in Italy.

Travel Tip - if arriving via a luxury mega yacht charter vessel, the Bosa Marina is just 2 kilometers from the town of Bosa.  While the marina can accommodate yachts up to 50 meters, most of the slips are for smaller yachts so call in advance to secure a reservation during peak summer periods.

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2.  Ride the TRENINO VERDE - In the summer, the Trenino Verde tourist train runs from Palau south through the mountains.  It's a beautiful route that meanders its way slowly through the hills, and a way to see the interior of Sardinia. One of the stops along the way is the small village of Sant'Antonio di Gallura, a true farming village on a hillside overlooking the Diga Liscia lake. The old center of the village is charming, grouped around the piazza and church of Sant'Antonio.  The town has few visitors in the summer, but is very much a typical Gallurese working village.  If you prefer to be surrounded by local residents rather than other tourists, this is the place for you.

Travel tip -   stop by the Capichera winery and pick up several bottles of their famous Classico white wines - with dry, rounded and mouthfilling flavors of juicy, aromatic fruit, and a long, lingering finish, rich in tangy minerals.

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3.  See the NURAGHI:  Looking like man-made beehives, the Nuraghi are stone dwellings dating back to the bronze age, and found nowhere on earth but on Sardinia. The exact use of these structures remains unknown, but scientists speculate they were either used as religious temples, or military strongholds. With over 6000 on the island, the most famous Nuraghe is Nuraxi su Barumini, which has been designated a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.  Barumini is located at approximately 60 kilometers north of Cagliari, the capital of Sardinia.

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4.  Explore PARCO NAZIONALE dell' ARCIPELAGO di MADDALENA:  La Maddalena is a national park located in the north of Sardinia. On clear days, you can see the coastline of the French island of Corsica from the most northern island of La Maddalena, Isola Razzoli. Luxury sailing charter guests love this destination as most of the islands in this archipelago can only be reached by boat.  Here, visitors are offered a glimpse of unspoilt nature, stunning views, and the kindness of friendly, local residents.

Travel tip - hire a local guide for a hiking excursion.  A handful of residents are trained environmental hiking guides licensed by the national park to lead hiking tours of the islands.   Scuba is another popular adventure in the archipelago and several dive operators have shops on La Maddalena including Area 11 Diver and Scuba Point.

Dazzling beaches, clear water, ancient fortress cities, and modern port towns make Sardinia a "must" stopover for any Western Mediterranean yachting vacation.

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Help us round out our list from a "Top four" to a "Top five"  review of the best Sardinia has to offer.  Tell us your favorite thing to do in Sardinia!  Contact  the SailAway yacht charter destination team with your travel tips for sightseeing in Sardinia.

Sardinia has been on everyone's radar for the past few weeks.  First, we heard how Steven Spielberg, with Gwyneth Paltrow in tow, ran afoul of the local authorities as the tender to his superyacht, motoryacht SEVEN SEAS cruised too close to island beachgoers.

Then, we reported on the Perini Navi yacht charter fleet preparing for early September's sailing regatta against the beautiful backdrop of Porto Cervo, Sardinia.

So exactly where is Sardinia and what is the allure that draws so many sailors and visitors?

Sardinia is Italy's second largest island as well as the second largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. It is famed for its beautiful beaches and fascinating history. The nearest land masses are (clockwise from north) the French island of Corsica, the Spanish Balearic Islands, and the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, and Tunisia.

For Atlas lovers, the island of Sardinia is situated between 38° 51' and 41° 15' latitude north and 8° 8' and 9° 50' east longitude. To the west of Sardinia is the Balearic Sea; to Sardinia's east is the Tyrrhenian Sea.

Over many centuries the island has survived countless invasions by the Phoenicians, Carthaginians, Romans, and Arabs.  Local festivals on the island still reflect the long-lasting impact of those cultures.

Numerous castles, villages, temples and tombs cover the countryside, and with its perfect summer weather, tourists arrive in droves, some via Mediterranean yacht charter vessels, but many more via ferry service from the Italian mainland.

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Have you been to Sardinia?  Please tell us about your experiences!

For a sample yachting itinerary of the Italian Riviera, including Sardinia, contact our destination specialists.

With the tight economy forcing American boaters to reconsider expensive trips abroad, the appeal of Florida yacht charters has increased dramatically in the past two years.  Perhaps not on par with a Virgin Islands yacht charter, there are still plenty of points of interest while cruising along the South Florida coast, especially for charterers who also enjoy scuba diving.  

While the Florida Keys may be known for their fishing and scuba diving locations, both Broward and Miami-Dade counties have some of the best spots to scuba dive in the nation. From natural reefs to sunken ships, it's amazing what can be found off the shores of Miami and Fort Lauderdale.   Many of the reefs and wrecks can be found in 60 to 80 feet of water, making South Florida a great choice for both novice and advanced divers.

Here are some of our top picks:

Tugboat Jay Scutti (off Ft. Lauderdale)
Sunk in Sept. 1986, this 95 foot tug was seized by the government in a drug smuggling operation. It was bought at auction by a man who renamed it the "Jay Scutti," after his son. The wreck lies in 70 feet of water and is centered between a 45 foot wreck named "Moonshot" and another named "Pride," a 95 foot sailboat.  All three wrecks are tethered together by a cable. Divers can usually explore two of the wrecks in one dive. Lots of fish inhabit the Jay Scutti, and it's possible to enter the wreck through various openings.

Hammerhead Reef (off Ft. Lauderdale)
Located just south of Port Everglades and running to the Dania Pier, this two and a half mile reef is famous for its sharks, rays, and large grouper.  The front portion of the reef is in 60 feet of water, while the back side plunges to 80 feet.  In some spots, the reef rises to nearly 20 feet. Tons of marine life call this reef home and make it a great spot for reef diving.

Miami Beach Wreck Trek (off Miami Beach)
It's pretty impressive how artificial reefs have been created by linking multiple wrecks together via a guide cable. The Miami Beach Wreck Trek is a shallow dive, about 50 to 60 feet of water.  It begins with a pair of army tanks on the southern end. As they swim north, divers encounter several tons of limestone boulders and more wrecks like the "Rio Miami," a 105 foot tug which sits upright in about 65 feet of water.

Also off the Miami Beach coast is a trio of sunken tug boats. The "Belzona Ona," lies in 85 feet of water.  About 75 feet away is the second tug, "Belzona Two," in 60 feet of water. The deepest of the trio, "Belzona Three," is a 100 foot tug at a depth of 85 feet.

Not far away is the "Belcher Barge #27," a 195 foot steel barge that was sunk in 1985. The barge flipped on its way to the bottom, but experienced divers can penetrate it and swim the ship's entire length.

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Please comment to let us know about your experiences diving these awesome Florida dive sites!

In addition to cruising in south Florida, Bahama yacht charters are great options for closer-to-home getaways.  Contact our local charter guides for more details in Miami, the Florida Keys and nearby Bimini, Bahamas.
 

No sooner did we blog about "Where" is St Thomas that a person called our charter department to ask "What"  to do in St Thomas. Seems like a fair question - after all, part of the fun of a Virgin Islands yacht charter, is the opportunity to get off the yacht, take in the sights, and meet the island residents.

Considered the hub of the United States Virgin Islands, St Thomas, and her bustling port city, Charlotte Amalie, offers visitors the best of shopping, dining, and sightseeing.

Whether enjoying a luxury sailing charter, or passing through during a cruise ship vacation, you'll enjoy the multitude of things to see and do while visiting St. Thomas. In no particular order, here are the top 4 things not to be missed while you are enjoying your time on the island:

Magens Bay Beach - both National Geographic and Conde Nast have pegged this as one of the finest beaches in the world. The bay is almost always calm, the water is turquoise-blue, and the white sand beach is blinding.  This is a great place to relax and unwind after a day of sightseeing.  For more active visitors, you can rent water sports toys such as kayaks and snorkel gear there.

St.Thomas Skyride - similar to the enclosed lifts you see at ski resorts, this unique attraction offers visitors a tram ride up to Paradise Point. It's a short ride to the 700 foot summit, where you'll enjoy sweeping views of Charlotte Amalie harbor.  At the top, you can not only take in the amazing scenery, but also visit shops and a popular restaurant and bar.

Duty Free Shopping in Charlotte Amalie - St. Thomas is considered the best shopping spot in the Caribbean.  Duty free shops are everywhere, offering bargains on goods such as perfume, liquor, electronics, china, jewelry, and clothing. Many of these items can be found at prices that are 40 to 60 percent lower than in the United States.  The waterfront area is especially popular.  Old seventeenth-century warehouses that once stored rum and spices for wooden trade ships are now home to a variety of shops filled with modern day treasures.

St. Peter Greathouse Botanical Gardens - nature lovers will truly enjoy hiking this beautiful estate's 11 acres. You can follow one of several self-guided nature trails.  Visitors will find over 200 varieties of tropical plants and trees, plus an orchid jungle and an art gallery featuring local works by native artists. The gardens are located 1,000 feet above sea level, and a deck in the gardens provides a breathtaking view of the other islands that make up the Virgin Island chain.

St. Thomas is a colorful, vibrant island where nature, history, and yes, even upscale shopping, come together to create the perfect vacation destination.

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Which St Thomas hot spots have we missed?  Help us round out our Top 4 picks into a "Top 5" list!   Contact us HERE with your favorite places to go or things to do on St Thomas.

Yesterday, a potential (and first-time) Virgin island yacht charter customer asked, "Where do we fly, to catch the boat?"  As we answer a dozen times a week, we replied, "St. Thomas."

For many years, St. Thomas has been the gateway to the Caribbean, and the embarkation port for thousands of Caribbean yacht charter odysseys.  With a major international airport and a large, protected bay in the capital city, Charlotte Amalie, St Thomas is a boater's paradise.

St Thomas is one of three main islands that comprise the United States Virgin Islands (USVI).  The other two islands are St John and St Croix. 

Located in the area of the Caribbean known as the West Indies, St Thomas is 1100 miles southeast of Miami, Florida, USA, and just 35 miles to the east of the island of Puerto Rico. 

Average flight time from Miami to St Thomas is 2 hours and 50 minutes, and from San Juan, Puerto Rico to St Thomas is 30 minutes.

Once onboard a luxury sailing charter vessel in St Thomas, the sailing time to the nearby British Virgin Islands is approximately 2 hours.  Motoryachts can make the trip in less than 1 hour.
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Click HERE for a selection of the newest yachts available for a St Thomas yacht charter vacation.