Information to leave for your house/petsitter when you go on your yacht charter vacation

Friday, December 4, 2009 by News SailAway

Ahhh....you are going on a St. Barts and St. Martin yacht charter over the holidays on one of the largest yachts in the fleet.  Only a few weeks before you'll be relaxing on the deck of your yacht while being served tropical drinks and exotic appetizers.  Because this is a fun trip for a group of girls from college, your two dogs will stay at home, and you need to make sure that they are taken care of while you're away.  No problem!  

Here is information to leave for your petsitter as you ready to journey aboard your private yacht.


Your professional pet sitter will care for all of your pets while you are on your private luxury yacht charter

Veterinary Information

Your veterinarian's name, address, phone number and office hours. If your veterinarian does not handle off-hours emergencies, be sure to also include the same information for the closest veterinary emergency clinic. If you subscribe to pet insurance for your pets, make sure the policy packets are together with your dogs' health records, in the event emergency care is needed in your absence.
 

Letter of Authorization for Emergency Veterinary Treatment

Write up a simple "To Whom It May Concern" letter authorizing your pet sitter by name to seek emergency care for your dogs. Also either leave signed blank checks (write "for veterinary care only" in the check memo), or make arrangements in advance with your veterinarian, either by leaving a credit card authorization, or by asking them to bill you upon your return. Understand that not all veterinarians will agree to the latter; a lot depends on your previous relationship with them.

Your Itinerary and Cell Phone Number

Encourage your pet sitter to call you if she has any questions about your dogs' care in your absence, and particularly if she sees something amiss healthwise. Your 1800yachtcharter broker is available  24 hours a day for your calls, texts, or emails, and your broker will also furnish you with communication information for your yacht so that you can leave it with your sitter.

 

A List of Your Dogs' Medications

If your pets are on daily medications, it is imperative that you have your pet sitter come to your home before your trip, so that s/he can practice giving your dogs their daily medications. If you have any doubts at all about your pet sitter's ability or dedication to giving these medications, it would be wise to consider boarding your cat at a veterinary clinic, instead, during your St. Martin yacht charter.


A List of Your Dogs' Food -- and instructions for their feeding

Make sure your pet sitter also understands the importance of providing fresh, clear water for your dogs at all times. An automatic water dispenser is the best way of ensuring fresh water for pets while you're away on your St. Martin yacht charter or sail boat charters.


A List of Your Pets' Information

Include:
Microchip numbers
Rabies tag numbers
Immunization records
Medical histories
Phobias (like thunder), and how you deal with it when away from home (i.e., turn on radio or television for them) 



Getting Your Home Ready

Stock up on everything the pet sitter will need (i.e., food, medication, treats)

Have all toys, treats, food, medications, and cleaning equipment set out so that the pet sitter will have everything close at hand 

MAKE SURE YOUR PETS ARE WEARING COLLARS WITH CURRENT TAGS AND THAT THEIR 
MICROCHIP INFORMATION IS CURRENT!  (Most of the pets who end up at animal shelters are not wearing collars or tags and are not microchipped. Those that ARE wearing tags and are microchipped have inaccurate information on file, and their families are never found.)

Have a neighbor, relative, or friend who knows your pets well on standby just in case pet sitter needs advice or needs to drop your pets by for any reason. Write down that information for the pet sitter and keep it with the pets' food, etc.

As long as you provide enough information for your pet sitter, then there should be no problems. Have a WONDERFUL yacht charter vacation - your pet sitter will make sure that your pets enjoy their home vacation, too!

To book your private luxury yacht charter vacation,
contact 1-800-YACHTCHARTER 
by phone via 1-800-YACHTCHARTER or 305-253-7245
by email via info@1800yachtcharter.com
via twitter @yacht_charters (follow us!)
or via our contact form at http://www.1800sailaway.com/contact_us.html

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Planning a Luxury Yacht Charter Begins with Visit to Fort Lauderdale Boat Show

Monday, October 26, 2009 by News SailAway

With over 25 annual shows for megayacht and superyacht vessels around the world, one show continues to be the biggest and best - the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.  

Ft. Lauderdale International Boat Show FLIBS

The list of exhibitors reads like a "Who's Who" of the superyacht industry. Trinity yacht charter, Feadship yacht charter, Lurssen Yacht Charter, and Benetti yacht charter enthusiasts will be mesmerized by the sheer number of yachts gathered in one location. 

"This show affords us an opportunity to educate our luxury yacht charter customers," states SailAway President, Jana Sheeder. 

"We can take our clients on a tour of several equal-sized yachts and let them compare deck space, cabin size, and onboard amenities." 

"Some of our most popular mega yacht charter vessels will be here, such as ANJILIS and BIG CITY (both along the Face Dock between slips 9A-D) and MARAYA (docked at Bahia Mar in slip A1)." 

The 2009 showcase of luxury sail and motoryachts takes place  October 29th through November 2nd. 

To visit SailAway Yacht Charter Consultants' fleet of superyachts, visit 1800sailaway.com ; then to book your vacation of a lifetime, contact us at 305-253-7245 or 1-800-SAILAWAY (724-5292) or email info@1800sailaway.com  We are at your service!

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Yachtspeak - nautical phrases for charter guests

Sunday, October 25, 2009 by News SailAway

Taking a vacation by automobile doesn't require any particular vocabulary skills; however, when you go on a private yacht charter, whether it's a Virgin Islands yacht charter or Croatia yacht charter, it's sometimes nice to know some of the terminology used when onboard.

Here are some nautical terms for you that might be helpful to know.

BOW - The forward part of a boat.

STERN - The back of the boat.

BEAM - The greatest width of the boat.

BUOY - An anchored float used for marking a position on the water or a hazard or a shoal and for mooring.

CABIN (or "stateroom") - A compartment (bedroom) for passengers or crew.

CATAMARAN - A twin-hulled boat, with hulls side-by-side.  Can be sail or power, but is usually sail.

CHART - A map for use by navigators. 

HELM (or "Navigation Station") - The area from where the Captain steers/pilots the boat.

CLEAT - A fitting to which lines are tied.  They are usually in somewhat of a "figure8 shape." Cleats are located on the dock and on the boat. (They are often tripped over, if you don't watch your step!)

COCKPIT - An opening in the deck from which the boat is handled. (Visualize a large sailboat - the "steering wheel" of the boat is located in the cockpit.)

DINGHY (also known as a "tender") - A small open boat. 

"T/T BOATNAME" - Means "Tender To...[boatname]."   NOTE: Most yachts only have 1 tender.  Those with more than 1 tender (aka, dinghy) often have "TTT's....or tenders for/to their tenders."

FENDER (also known as a "bumper") - A cushion, placed between boats, or between a boat and a pier, to prevent damage.

Yacht fenders - bumpers - cushions placed between boats, or boat and pier, to prevent damage

GALLEY - The kitchen of a boat.

SAILBOAT - A boat powered by wind through sails (with ancillary engine).

POWERBOAT - A boat powered by engine and fuel.

STINKPOTTER - A powerboat enthusiast.

HEAD - A marine toilet/bathroom. 

DAY HEAD - The bathroom that is used by all guests, usually in main area of the boat and not located within a stateroom.

INTRACOASTAL WATERWAY - AKA, "The ICW."  Bays, rivers, and canals along the coasts (such as the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico coasts), connected so that vessels may travel without going into the sea.  Evening charters in Florida often cruise along the ICW to see the holiday lights of the condos lining the waterway, for example.

KNOT (relating to speed) - A measure of speed equal to one nautical mile (6076 feet) per hour.

LOG - A record of courses or operation, kept by the captain/crew. (Charter guests often fill out an entry in a "guestbook" or "logbook" after a charter, as well, to describe their trip.)

PLANING ("on a plane") - As a boat evens out above the water when it is moving/underway, as opposed to still being partially underneath the water, as in before it starts moving. 

PORT - The left side of a boat looking forward. (Also refers to a docking location)

STARBOARD - The right side of a boat, looking forward.

SCREW - A boat's propeller.  (A "twin screw" is a boat with 2 propellers.)

UNDERWAY - Vessel in motion.

WAKE - Moving waves, track, or path that a boat leaves behind it, when moving across the water.

YACHT - A boat used for pleasure.

There are many other phrases used by "yachtees," but these are basics that will help you navigate your way when onboard a private yacht!

To book your private luxury yacht charter vacation (and practice your "yachtspeak"),
contact 1-800-YACHTCHARTER 
by phone via 1-800-YACHTCHARTER or 305-253-7245
by email via info@1800yachtcharter.com
via twitter @yacht_charters (follow us!)
via our contact form at http://www.1800sailaway.com/contact_us.html

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Superyachts sold in September 2009

Friday, October 23, 2009 by News SailAway
Luxury yacht sales bode well for the economy

Megayacht charter customers take heart - the luxury yacht industry is alive and well as Superyacht sales soar in September 2009.

Without the active buying and selling of Mediterranean yacht charter vessels among the world's elite, there would be no viable luxury sailing charter or megayacht rental industry.

Recent sales bode well for the future. 
 
September saw a number of 2009 brokerage sales records broken, with 24 superyachts reported sold at asking prices totalling nearly 374 million EUROS. This was well above the combined total of July and August of 340 million EUROS and, indeed, the first four months of the year when, between January and the end of April, yachts with total asking prices of 372 million EUROS were sold.

It was also the month when very large yachts came into their own, as Lurssen’s 59.4m OASIS, the 70.5m BOADICIA from Amels, Benetti’s 56m ALLEGRO, and the 64.5m MY SHANTI, again from Amels, all found new owners. 

Boat International magazine wonders, "So we moved from the slough of despond to the broad, sunlit uplands of increasing volumes and values of sales?"

Charlie Birkett of YCO comments: “Understandably, expectations for what was once the start of the busiest season for yacht sales were conservative across the industry this year, and major brokerage houses reacted cautiously even to the apparent signs of recovery in August. However going into September we saw recovery consolidated somewhat with sales of the 60m+ yachts of prestigious yards and, speaking to other leading brokers at this year’s Monaco Yacht Show, the mood was certainly more optimistic.”

Contact the professionals at SailAway Yacht Charter Consultants at 1-800-YACHTCHARTER or email info@1800yachtchater.com to charter a luxury motor yacht or sailing vessel.
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Trinity Yacht Charter Fans to Delight at FLIBS

Thursday, October 22, 2009 by News SailAway

Numerous Trinity megayachts will be in attendance at the FLIBS2009 show in Ft. Lauderdale, FL

If there is one name that is echoed time and time again by our charter clients, it is Trinity Yachts. 

While Perini Navi, Benetti, and Feadship enthusiasts will be well represented, the record number of Trinity luxury yacht charter superyachts attending the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS 2009) is amazing.

Andrew Doole of Show Management reports this years Golden Anniversary of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) has attracted an amazing 149 superyachts over 30m to be displayed.

Using the standard definition of superyachts as being luxury yachts over 24m, the figure rises even higher, to 209 yachts.

The Trinity list is headed by the 196' BACARELLA and closely followed by the 177' KATHERINE. 

Not to be missed are ANGILIS, WHEELS, BLIND DATE, BIG CITY, LADY LINDA, VITA, and MY IRIS.

We mention these yachts simply to give you an idea of the quality of yachts on show, but there will surely be something on display to fit all tastes and pockets.

There is a Prime Time preview on Thursday, October 29th from 10am to 7pm and the show is open to the general public at the same times from Friday, October 30th to Sunday, November 1st.  The show closes at 5pm on Monday, November 2nd.

Your SailAway Yacht Charter representatives will be on hand to offer personal inspections and discuss custom itineraries for upcoming Thanksgiving and year-end holidays.  We are standing by ready to assist you.

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Record Number of Luxury Yacht Charter Superyachts at FLIBS 2009

Wednesday, October 21, 2009 by News SailAway

FLIBS Ft. Lauderdale International Boat ShowWhether you are a Trinity, Benetti, or Feadship enthusiast, your toes will certainly tingle at the record number of luxury yacht charter superyachts attending the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS 2009).

Andrew Doole of Show Management reports that this year's Golden Anniversary of the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) has attracted an amazing 149 superyachts over 30m to be displayed.

Using the standard definition of superyachts as being luxury yachts over 24m, the figure rises even higher, to 209 yachts.

The list is headed by Feadship's mighty 65m TRIDENT, followed closely by the 62m FORTUNATO, another Feadship, plus Trinity's 54m KATHERINE and Heesen's 50m MAN OF STEEL. 

We mention these four simply to give you an idea of the quality of yachts on show, but there will certainly be something on display to fit all tastes and pockets.

There is a Prime Time preview on Thursday, October 29th from 10am to 7pm, and the show is open to the general public at the same times from Friday, October 30th to Sunday, November 1st.  The show closes at 5pm on Monday, November 2nd.

Your SailAway Yacht Charter representatives will be on hand to offer personal inspections and discuss custom itineraries for upcoming Thanksgiving and year-end holidays.  We are at your service.

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Sales Price Cut for yacht MINE GAMES, star of Caribbean Yacht Charter Fleet

Monday, October 19, 2009 by News SailAway
Trinity motor yacht MINE GAMES for yacht charter by 1800yachtcharter and for sale

The 164’ motor yacht MINE GAMES represents one of the major challenges in yacht design - creating a look that is distinctive but not outlandish. Trinity yacht MINE GAMES, a trideck superyacht, seems to have hit just the right balance. Her deckhouse side windows are nestled into two elongated ovals that diminish the visual mass of her full-beam superstructure, while her prominent bow and raised bulwarks give her forebody the look of a much larger megayacht.

Now, news comes in of a $1.5 million price reduction for the 49.9m superyacht.

St. Martin yacht charter enthusiasts need not worry - the superyacht remains available for luxury yacht charter in both the Bahamas and throughout the Virgin and Leeward islands of the Caribbean.

Built in 2007 to ABS class and MCA compliant, the superyacht accommodates up to 12 guests in a master, three doubles, and a twin, plus a Pullman berth and cruises at 18 knots. The megayacht is helicopter-capable and has a very large swim platform/beach deck. To sweeten the deal, a Triton two-person submarine is included in the new asking price of $31.45 million.

Click here to view MINE GAMES' online brochure here.

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Motoryacht PARTYGIRL 146 Ready for Caribbean Yacht Charter Action

Tuesday, September 1, 2009 by News SailAway
At the end of the Caribbean yacht charter season, most megayacht vessels like
Christensen Motor yacht PARTY GIRL 146 leave the confines of the island life behind, and
begin the three-week migration "across the pond" (the Atlantic ocean). Once there, they prepare for the popular Mediterranean yacht charter season. Super yacht PARTYGIRL 146, however, is not like other luxury yacht charter vessels. 
 
Motoryacht PARTYGIRL 146 luxury yacht charter

The owner of this 2008 Christensen motoryacht prefers the warmth and privacy found only
in the Caribbean. While the other owners take their lavish toys to see and be seen in Monte Carlo, this 146' megayacht nearly has the entire Caribbean to herself (and her fortunate few yacht charter customers).
 
Based in the warm waters of St. Lucia, this wonderful charter yacht and her crew are ready to share their rain-forest island home with anyone intrigue by the slow-paced lifestyle of the Grenadine chain of the Caribbean.
 
Water-oriented travelers will love the toy inventory found aboard this 44.50 meter luxury megayacht. The list includes a 37' Intrepid tender, two smaller (18') tenders, a three-person waverunner, towable toys such as a Banana and a kneeboard. For onshore activity, the yacht offers an assortment of beach games, along with volleyball, badminton, horseshoes, kites, and a football.
 
The onboard amenities are amazing; so impressive that the megayacht was selected as the 2008 "Best of the Best" by the luxury lifestyle magazine, Robb Report. 
 
To entice summer travelers to spend a few days in the waters surrounding St. Lucia, the owner of the yacht is offering a special rate of $135,000/wk (plus all running expenses). The regular rate is $185,000/wk. This is a limited time offer and only applies for charters in the months of September and October.
 
To further sweeten the deal, the owner is waiving the standard $3500 weekly fee for the use of the 37' Intrepid. The Intrepid is now offered free of charge during this promotional offer.
 
This superyacht can accommodate 12 guests in 6 luxurious staterooms.
 
Here is a link to the yacht's online brochure:
http://www.1800sailaway.com/brochure/party-girl-146 
 
For further details, please contact the charter specialists at 1-800-Yachtcharter
or email info@1800yachtcharter.com
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A One-Day Caribbean Yacht Charter Can Be Fun!

Tuesday, June 30, 2009 by News SailAway
While crewed sail boat charters and bareboat charter vacations normally last 5 to 7 nights, not everyone has the time for a multi-night term luxury yacht charter. In this economy, saving up for a special bareboat charter or luxury yacht charter holiday might mean postponing until 2010.
 
Now for the good news - sail boat charters can be as short as one day and are the perfect compliment to a land-based Caribbean island vacation.
 
Let's take a look at a single-day luxury yacht charter escape in the British Virgin Islands (also known as, the BVI):
 
There are four major inhabited islands in the BVI, as well as dozens of (nearly 60) smaller islands, cays, and rocks scattered throughout the archipelago. Of course, the fun way to see these sights is by boat on a luxury sailing charter.
 
You can rent a small Caribbean yacht charter sailboat or a fast powerboat for the day in Road Town, Nanny Cay, West End, or several other locations. Some experience driving a powerboat or basic chart-reading skills are important to ensure you have a pleasurable day.
 
A great trip could start from Road Town, Tortola and head south across the Sir Francis Drake Channel to Peter Island. You can tie up to the dock in Sprat Bay or anchor off the beach in Deadman's Bay and swim ashore (remember to wear your water socks). Visitors are welcome in the public areas, the boutique, and the beach grill. 
 
Sir Francis Drake Channel

From Peter Island, it's a short boat ride to Norman Island. This is author Robert Louis Stevenson's legendary Treasure Island, and the source of countless tales of pirates and buried chests of gold. Today, the island is uninhabited except for a small restaurant on the beach in the Bight. Anchored in the bay is the old ship, William Thornton, affectionately known by bareboat charter lovers and the locals as the "Willy T," a trading vessel converted to a bar and restaurant. It's a great stop for a little "pirate" ambiance. Be warned - on holiday weekends, the Willy T is not appropriate for kids as it takes on a bawdy "adults only" atmosphere.
 
Just outside the bay are the Caves. These are more like grottoes and are a true snorkeler's delight. You can tie up your boat to one of the National Park moorings and swim in. Don't be surprised if a school of tropical fish swim alongside you, looking for a handout. The locals ask that you resist the temptation to feed the little critters, however. Human food is not healthy for the fish and may do them great harm in the long run.
 
After snorkeling at the Caves, it is a short boat ride to The Indians. These rock outcroppings are the size of houses and full of nesting seabirds in the summer. The waters around the rocks are teeming with fish of every shape and color. One local describes a swim here as a magical experience: "Floating among the fish, corals and sea fans will make you feel like Peter Pan flying through an enchanted forest."
 
If the sun is still high in the sky, and you still feel fresh for more adventure, zip over to Salt Island. You can tie up to the dock and walk around the abandoned houses to the salt pond where workers harvest and sell sea salt. If you still have any get-up-and-go in your tank, hop back on your boat and cruise around the corner to the wreck of the HMS Rhone, the BVI's first underwater park. Snorkel over the wreck and try to imagine what it looked like before it sank in 1867!
 
By now, you realize you are on "island time." There's little reason to hurry back to Tortola, unless you have an early dinner reservation at your hotel or resort. Assuming you are in the island groove, we suggest a cruise east to Cooper Island. Accessible only by boat, this island has a few rental homes and a tiny resort that's looks like a vacation postcard from the water - palm trees and long, white sand beach. By now, you must be hungry from a morning/afternoon of exploring. Drop in a local restaurant for a late lunch. With a full belly and a big smile, it's just a short sail or cruise back to Tortola.
 
There are many other itineraries for a day trip by boat. Your hotel concierge can recommend the best local boat rental operators and give you some ideas as to where to go and what to see there. You can go fast on a powerboat or slower on a sailboat - the choice is yours. Either way, a day boat trip around the British Virgin Islands will be the highlight of your land-based island holiday! 
 
For more information, call the yacht charter specialists at 1-800-YACHTCHARTER, email them at info@1800yachtcharter.com, or visit the website at 1800yachtcharter.com
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Moonlight Madness on a Virgin Island Yacht Charter at Bomba's Shack

Monday, June 29, 2009 by News SailAway
What luxury sailing charter is complete without a little silliness and merriment with friends? 

Although full moon parties take place in different corners of the world, any Virgin Island yacht charter enthusiast will tell you the parties that take place in the British Virgin Islands (aka, the BVI) are some of the most renowned - celebrating both lunar madness and traditional island culture.
 
The rowdiest of these takes place at Bomba’s Shack in Cappoons Bay.

It may not look like much, but Bomba's Shack is a happening bar set alongside the beach on Apple Bay, at the West End of Tortola, BVI. Each month, the legendary Full Moon Party draws loads of locals and visitors, especially luxury sailing charter passengers looking to experience real island life.  

Bomba Shack, Full Moon Party, Tortola, British Virgin Islands

Held monthly on the night of the full moon, moonlight madness spills into the street, the beach, and everything in between.
 
Enjoy live entertainment while you dance the night away, try a Bomba Punch (rum punch) or sip on a Bomba "mushroom tea."  
 
If you are planning a Caribbean getaway on the water, the lunacy on Tortola, BVI takes place on the following days:
August 5, 2009
September 4, 2009
October 4, 2009
November 2, 2009
December 2, 2009
December 31, 2009 (What a perfect way to ring in the New Year!)
 
For more information, please call your SailAway luxury yacht charter specialists at 1-800-YACHTCHARTER (800) 922-4824 or visit the yachting website at 1800yachtcharter.com
 
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Hargrave Yacht SEAFARER Joins Bahamas Yacht Charter Market

Thursday, June 25, 2009 by News SailAway
There are many production 100-foot motoryachts in the Bahamas yacht charters market, but owners Dr. and Mrs. Emmons of luxury charter yacht SEAFARER didn't want a cookie-cutter boat, particularly one costing $6 million. They wanted something that they could personalize to reflect their taste, their love of literature and the arts.
 
As a result you will see throughout the boat bookcases built specifically for the Emmons, and nooks created especially to fit their fine collection of marine artwork. 

Private Luxury Motoryacht SEAFARER
 
Luxury charter yacht SEAFARER motor yacht is a 30-meter megayacht available for a Bahamas yacht charter vacation. Yacht SEAFARER has accommodations for eight (8) guests in four (4) cabins. This new mega yacht was built by superyacht builder Hargrave and was launched in 2008.
 
Bahama yacht charters are all about outdoor adventure in the sun, so a large inventory of waytertoys are important. This mega yacht charter vessel carries a 15' widebody Nautica tender with 90hp Yamaha engine, two 2-person kayaks, snorkel gear, towable toys and tubes such as Boogie Boards, plus beach toys such as volley ball, Frisbees, and 4 bicycles. 
 
Click to view luxury motor yacht SEAFARER's online brochure.  

You, your family, and friends can enjoy a week-long odyssey in the Bahamas onboard this yacht for only $42,500 for 8 guests. Running expenses (items such as food, fuel, and dockage) are extra. For more information, contact Jana Sheeder, CEO of 1-800-YACHTCHARTER at jsheeder@1800sailaway.com. 1-800-YACHTCHARTER - providers of the Newest and Largest Yachts in the World's Best Destinations.
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10 Reasons for Luxury Yacht Charter Customers to Purchase Travel Insurance

Tuesday, June 23, 2009 by News SailAway
Anyone who has booked a Benetti yacht charter or a Feadship yacht charter vacation knows that charter agents heavily promote trip cancellation insurance.

For mega yacht charter agents, trip cancellation insurance is a substantial profit point.  Commissions of 20% of the insurance cost for selling this product for a Feadship yacht charter or a Benetti yacht charter are common.

Charter brokers often offer this coverage to their Caribbean yacht charter customers who fear trip delays due to summer tropical weather disturbances.   Mediterranean yacht charter customers also hear the pitch to purchase this coverage, as concerns for lost baggage are common with long, international flights.

Putting aside the fact that someone "profits" from the sale of these policies, a luxury yacht charter customer should give serious consideration to this coverage option.  Whether you rent a private yacht, a megayacht, or a superyacht, for a Caribbean yacht charter or elsewhere, or whether you plan crewed catamaran charters or sail boat charters - the facts remain the same: you are spending a lot of money and you may wish to protect your investment!

There are hundreds of circumstances that could cause you to cancel your trip, return home early, or force you to seek emergency medical treatment while traveling.  What if you booked a MIPIM yacht or a Monaco Grand Prix yacht for the yearly event in Cannes and Monte Carlo, and suddenly you could not attend?

To demonstrate the importance of purchasing travel insurance, and emergency travel services, here are 10 common examples of what could go wrong.
 
1.  It's 10 p.m. and you and your immediate family arrive at the airport for a connecting flight, only to find that your flight has been cancelled. Who can assist you with finding new flights to get everyone home?
 
2.  Your bag is lost with your insulin inside. You need help to locate your bag as soon as possible and have your emergency prescription filled. Who do you call?
 
3.  It's your first visit to Europe, and your passport and wallet are stolen before you board your Monaco Grand Prix yacht. Where do you turn for emergency cash, and how will you get your passport replaced?
 
4.  You're involved in an accident during your Benetti yacht charter, and adequate medical treatment is not available. Who will help arrange and pay for a medical evacuation?
 
5.  Your sister-in-law becomes seriously ill and you must cancel your MIPIM yacht trip. What happens to your non-refundable deposits or pre-payments?

Reason for purchasing travel insurance for your MIPIM yacht charter - illness
 
6.  You arrive for your Feadship yacht charter in Jamaica, and your luggage doesn't. If it's lost, who will help you find it? If it's delayed, who will pay for your necessities? If it's stolen, who will pay to replace it?

Reason for travel insurance - lost luggage

7.  Your luxury sailing charter tour operator goes bankrupt. Who will pay for your non-refundable expenses? Who will help get you to your destination?
 
8.  You're walking down a street in Rio and twist your ankle. Who can help you find an English-speaking physician?
 
9.  Three weeks before your scheduled arrival for your Croatia yacht charter, a terrorist incident occurs in the city that you are planning to visit. Who will pay if you want to cancel your trip?

10. You are at a beach resort in the Florida Keys during your luxury sailing charter vacation, and you are forced to evacuate due to an approaching hurricane. Who will help you evacuate and who will reimburse your lost vacation investment?
 
There are so many circumstances where your vacation may be interrupted.  It's important to understand your options to safeguard your holiday investment.  Remember travel insurance is optionaland should be analyzed before each vacation begins.
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A Year in the Life of a Superyacht

Friday, June 19, 2009 by News SailAway

The yachting industry has long held to the belief that a successful luxury yacht charter vessel can expect 12 weeks of charter business a year.  This expectation included both Caribbean yacht charter and Mediterranean yacht charter business.

Excluding the small sail boat charters that dominate the Caribbean market, in the world of megayacht and superyacht vessels, there are about 830 yachts 80 feet and larger available for a luxury yacht charter worldwide.  What might be surprising to many is this fact: some 600 of these vessels do no more than 3 or 4 weeks of chartering each year.

Thus the upcoming Mediterranean yacht charter summer season has a lot riding on it for boat owners and captains who have -- perhaps ill-fatedly from the start -- factored 12 weeks of megayacht charter business into their calculations.

So what does a 52 week year in the life of a superyacht look like?  A recent industry survey breaks it down like this: 
*Owner's personal use - 6 weeks.
*Yard time (for repair and maintenance) and crossing time to reposition (Caribbean to the Mediterranean, etc.) - 26 weeks.
*Undesirable charter dates - 14 weeks
*Actual Possible Charter Time:  14 weeks.

With these facts in mind, charter fleet managers now believe a realistic goal for a luxury mega yacht charter vessel is no more than 8 weeks per year...

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CEO of 1-800-YACHTCHARTER Balances Work with Passion for Animal Rights

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 by News SailAway

Arranging luxury yacht charter vacations for celebrities and corporate titans requires Jana Sheeder to mix and mingle with the rich and famous at cocktail parties and special events like the Super Bowl and the Sony Ericsson Open tennis tournament. While it sounds glamorous, Sheeder is quick to tell you she is happiest in a pair of workboots, cleaning a horse stable at an animal sanctuary.

“Arranging  a Caribbean or Mediterranean yacht charter vacation on a megayacht is my vocation, but my passion is animal welfare,” says Sheeder, CEO of 1-800-YACHTCHARTER. 

Jana Sheeder CEO 1-800-YACHTCHARTER

It is a balancing act that requires tight scheduling and unwavering commitment to protecting abused and homeless animals. A typical day begins with releasing butterflies that Jana has raised to help pollenate the environment, then on to business meetings and emails to prospective megayacht charter customers.  Throw in the occasional personal inspection of a newly built superyacht, as its crew prepares the yacht for entry into the yacht charter marketplace. Later in the day, Sheeder exchanges her business suit for a pair of bluejeans and heads to the local animal shelter to assist in a pet adoption event.

Weekends are a blur as Sheeder often volunteers to help transport 5 to 20 rescued dogs and cats to a sanctuary 100 miles away. When not transporting animals, Sheeder spends time at a horse sanctuary, feeding and caring for abused and abandoned horses and other livestock, like goats, chickens, cows, and pigs.

Jana Sheeder - transport of rescued dogs

Recently, Sheeder drew the attention of TV’s Animal Planet as well as radio and newspapers after a serial cat killing spree left over two dozen dead and mutilated cats in South Florida. Sheeder worked with local animal rights advocates to arrange a safety seminar for hundreds of residents. A suspect was arrested just three days before the seminar. Sheeder cancelled the seminar and used the allocated time to spend the day volunteering at the county animal shelter!  

"It's all about making a difference in others' lives - we're all God's creatures."

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Sharks No Problem During Luxury Yacht Charter Vacations

Wednesday, June 17, 2009 by News SailAway
The Top 10 North American Shark-Attack Beaches! 

Yikes, did that get your attention?  Perhaps you are planning a mega yacht charter or a luxury sailing charter, and you're now wondering if "Jaws"  is out there in the deep blue, waiting to take a bite out of your vacation.

Well, if you're planning a Florida yacht charter or even a Bahama yacht charter, you have little to worry about.  Shark attacks of people swimming from their luxury yacht charter vessels are a extremely rare - actually an unheard of occurrence!  

Before we all became green-friendly eco-conscious travelers, boaters, (from crews on Caribbean yacht charter vacations to bareboat enthusiasts to cruise ships), used to throw garbage overboard. Now, the real danger is to those land lubbers putting a toe in the water at the beach.

Harmless shark - shark feeding - divers searching for shark teeth on ocean floor

In case you have friends who aren't lucky enough to own a superyacht, or they prefer luxury sailing charter vacations, you might warn them about these beaches:

1.  New Smyrna Beach, Fla.

Due to its thousands of annual beachgoers, as well as its toothy inhabitants at hunt offshore, New Smyrna is the shark attack capital of the world. That's according to the International Shark Attack File, which cites 210 attacks in the beach's home county of Volusia, Florida. But miles of white sand and consistent surf breaks continue to draw vacationers and locals alike into New Smyrna's waters.

2.  North Shore, Oahu, Hawaii

No. 2 on the International Shark Attack File for unprovoked attacks is Oahu, where tiger sharks, Galapagos sharks, and sandbar sharks congregate in high numbers, especially near beaches on the island's north shore. This doesn't stop surfers, who flock to Velzyland Beach, the Leftovers Break, and dozens of additional wave-beaten beaches where sharks search and swim.

3.  Long Beach Island, New Jersey

Source material for "Jaws," a 1974 novel by Peter Benchley - and later a movie by Steven Spielberg - came from incidents at this New Jersey beach in 1916. In an unprecedented 11 days, five major shark attacks took place along the Jersey Shore, four of which were fatal. Reports cited blood turning the water red and sharks following victims toward the beach. Today, sharks are rare, but the legend lives on in the surf and swells of these tepid Atlantic waters.

4.  West End, Grand Bahamas Island

Though it didn't happen at a beach, the death of an Austrian lawyer who was diving with sharks in February 2008 off the Bahamas has sharpened attention n these tropical waters, which Patrick Douglas, owner of Shark Diver, an ocean guiding outfit in San Francisco, said are "among the shark-iest places on the planet." He has seen 14-foot-long tiger sharks offshore from beaches were thousands of tourists swim and sun each year.

5.  Stinson Beach, California

In the shadow of Marin County's Mt. Tamalpais, Stinson Beach is a spot where great white sharks swim into the shallows. Patrick Douglas said he has sighted them at Stinson - which is a neighboring stretch of sand east from Bolinas Beach (No. 3 on the list) - in less than 20 feet of water. "They're coming to feed on seals, though it's not uncommon for surfers to see them," he said.

6.  Beaches of Brevard County, Florida

In the past 100 years, there have been 90 reported shark confrontations on beaches in this county on Florida's east coast. Visitors head east from Orlando to the ocean to dip their toes in the tepid waters at Cocoa Beach, Jetty Park, and Klondike Beach, a 24-mile-long wilderness beach accessible only by foot in Canaveral National Seashore preserve.

7.  Horry County (Myrtle Beach), South Carolina

South Carolina has seen more than 50 total shark attacks over the past century, according to the International Shark Attack File. Of those, 16 attacks are recorded off the beaches of Horry County, where the town of Myrtle Beach is famous as a tourist destination. The good news: The International Shark Attack File cites no fatal shark attacks in South Carolina since 1852.

8.  Solana Beach, California

A freak great white attack in 2008 at Solana Beach in San Diego County, California, killed a 66-year-old swimmer. He was on a morning swim, training with a group when the attack occurred. Solana Beach, home to a population of seals, is at the periphery of the corridor where great sharks commonly roam.

9.  Galveston, Texas

The International Shark Attack File cites one fatality and 12 attacks since 1911 at the beaches of Galveston, Texas, which is a city on an island on the Gulf Coast. It is by no means an attack hot spot, but swimmers are justified in their concern as to what's roaming offshore.

10.  Zihuatanejo, Mexico

Over the course of a month last spring, the beaches near Zihuatanejo, a city on the Pacific Coast north of Acapulco, saw three shark attacks and two fatalities. A shark hunt ensued, with local fisherman baiting lines and patrolling waters where surfers regularly bob.
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How to choose a sunscreen to bring on your yacht charter vacation

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 by News SailAway
Your summer plans involve a week-long luxury yacht charter in the Bahamas. You have fair skin that burns easily, and you want to make sure to bring the right skincare product to protect you from the sun on your yacht charter vacation.

Important terms to consider are SPF, UVA, UVB, waterproof, and water resistant.

SPF stands for Sun Protection Factor.  The higher the number, the more protection you are offered from the sun's harmful UVB rays.  The SPF number shown on the bottle is equal to the amount of time you can stay in the sun without burning.  If a sunscreen is SPF 30, you can stay in the sun 30 times longer without burning than you could if you weren't wearing any.  This is particularly helpful for Bahamas yacht charters, where you are enjoying the beach and the water sports toys, and you don't realize that you are burning.

SPF sunscreen ratings go above 50.  The difference between an SPF 30 and an SPF 50 is only 1 to 2%, so save your money and don't purchase the highest SPF you can find. Just be diligent about making sure that you're always wearing your SPF 30 on your Bahama yacht charters.

Wearing sunscreen is essential on your Mediterranean or Caribbean yacht charter

Do the UVA and UVB ratings on the sunscreen matter?  YES!

UVA rays are primarily responsible for the aging effects of the sun on your skin (UVA rays break down the collagen in your skin, which causes wrinkles), and UVA rays can cause skin cancer.

UVB rays, on the other hand, are responsible for sunburns and skin cancer.

Always choose a sunscreen product that has both UVA/UVB protection or is a "broad spectrum" protectant.

Since you'll be jet skiing, water skiing, snorkeling, and likely spending a lot of time in the water on your Caribbean yacht charter, make sure to select a sunscreen that is either waterproof or water resistant.  Waterproof sunscreens provide longer protection in the water than do their water resistant counterparts.

Bottom line - choose at least an SPF 30 sunscreen that is waterproof or water resistant and provides protection from both UVA and UVB rays, and you'll be all set for your superyacht vacation!
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Ferretti Yacht SEA STREAM brings Luxury Charter to Seychelles

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 by News SailAway

The world of luxury yacht charter has finally arrived in the Seychelles.  Motor yacht SEA STREAM, a 76 foot Ferretti with room for 8 guests, is now available for Caribbean yacht charter enthusiasts looking for a new destination.

Ferretti yacht SEA STREAM is now available as the only high quality, luxury crewed motor yacht available in the Seychelles, year round. 

Motoryacht SEA STREAM underway

Built in 2006 yacht SEA STREAM is a Feretti 761 with accommodations for 8 guests in 4 cabins. Designed with speed and comfort in mind, her interior is light, clean and comfortable.  Cabins are spacious and the layout is functional - everything you could want on a yachting holiday in the Seychelles.

In addition to usual luxury yacht charter amenities, the vessel has also been extensively retrofit with the latest state-of-the-art game fishing equipment such as forward-facing sonar, fish finder, fighting chair, bait rigging station, and outriggers.  A comprehensive range of rods, reels, and lures are onboard, rivaling any professional big game fishing collection internationally.

SEA STREAM is based in Mahe, and the crew looks forward to welcoming you onboard.

Her standard charter rate is € 29,000 per week plus tax and all expenses (items such as food, fuel, and bar). 

Introductory special: 25% discount on any charters (except Christmas/New Year dates) booked prior to July 31st, 2009. That is a savings of over € 7,200 for a private luxury mega yacht charter!

To view the yacht's online brochure, visit http://www.viewyacht.com/seastream

For availability and to reserve SEA STREAM for your Seychelles yacht charter vacation, please contact Jim Araiza at 1-800-YACHTCHARTER or email info@1800yachtcharter.com

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Sardinia Luxury Tax on Mediterranean Yacht Charter Vessels Abolished

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 by News SailAway
During the recently concluded industry-only Mediterranean Yacht Charter show in Genoa, Italy, it was announced that the 3 year old Sardinia Luxury Tax has been abolished.  
 
The repeal of the Sardinia Luxury Tax is especially good news to charter enthusiasts considering a Mediterranean yacht charter vacation this summer. The law stipulated that mega yacht and superyacht vessels berthed in any port in Sardinia had to pay up to € 15,000 Euros for their sojourn. 
 
Sardinia - the perfect location for a Mediterranean Yacht Charter

Fulvio Luise, Managing Partner of Luise Group, made the announcement at the Genoa gathering of 65 megayacht charter vessels and dozens of yacht charter brokers and yachting journalists. Said Luise, "This is a very significant step forward for everyone who works in the yachting and luxury sector in Sardinia." 
 
On Wednesday, May 6, 2009, the local regional government of Sardinia approved
Article 2 of the Financial Regional Act. The approval of this act effectively cancels the law known as the "luxury tax" in Sardinia. This tax, in effect since 2006, was felt throughout the tourism industry and had a serious negative effect on the local tourism economy. 
 
Il Consorzio Rete dei Porti Sardegna (The Consortium of Sardinian Touristic Ports) is pleased about the cancellation. In a released statement, the consortium said, "In the past three years, there has been a decline of approximately 50 per cent in the number of yachts present in Sardinian ports. This tax had a visibly negative result on Sardinia's image as a premier vacation destination worldwide."
 
As other regions in the Mediterranean were actively trying to promote their regions, in
particular with regards to high quality tourism, the tax in Sardinia had an opposite effect. 
 
"Despite our best efforts in the past three years to help clients understand this tax, we faced enormous challenges and incurred a drop of approximately 20-25 per cent each year in superyacht vessels traveling to Sardinia," stated Renato Azara, Managing Partner of Sardinia Yacht Services. "We have been working very closely with the local authorities for the past three years, first in trying to have modifications made to the law, and secondly in
its cancellation. We were successful on both points." 
 
The megayacht industry, especially as it relates to luxury yacht charter, is an important
economic component of Sardinia's tourism industry. Owners of mega yacht and superyacht vessels attending the Genoa show expressed pleasure.  As one owner stated, "We now have a positive relationship with the local authorities, and they have a full understanding of the potential of this market for Sardinia."
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Itinerary: Venice and Croatia Beckon, and Motoryacht MARAYA Answers the Call

Tuesday, June 9, 2009 by News SailAway
The siren song of the Adriatic Sea has drawn luxury yacht charter mega yacht MARAYA to the area. The 54 meter superyacht just started a Mediterranean yacht charter vacation in the Adriatic Sea this morning.
 
Translated as "Many Mirrors" in Arabic, the luxury charter yacht MARAYA will then be available on 10th June for a Northern Croatia charter for one week. 
 
Motor yacht MARAYA

Co-Captains Richard Hodgson and Paul Were have prepared a suggested sample itinerary, beginning and ending in Venice, Italy, to maximize a mega yacht charter holiday in the Adriatic Sea:
 
June 10th
  AM: Venice Guest arrival 
  PM: Porec Port for custom clearance arrival
 
June 11th
  AM: Brijuni Islands
  PM: Mali Losinj
 
June 12th
  AM: Otok Havr
  PM: Hvar Port
 
June 13th
  AM: Otok Brac
  PM: Trogir Port
 
June 14th
  AM: Otok Kornat
 
June 15th
  AM: Unije
  PM: Rovinj Port. Custom clearance departure
 
June 16th
  AM: Venice
  PM: Venice 
 
June 17th
  AM: Venice. Guest departure
 
The Mediterranean yacht charter vessel, MARAYA, is priced at € 325,000 per week plus running expenses (like food, fuel, dockage, and bar).
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Planning a Trinity Yacht Charter Has Never Been Easier

Friday, June 5, 2009 by News SailAway
While European luxury yacht charter customers tend to request superyachts built in Italy, Holland, and France, their counterparts in America have a strong preference for a Trinity yacht charter vessel.
 
The Trinity yacht charter fleet stands toe-to-toe with the Benetti yacht charter, Lurssen yacht charter, and Feadship yacht charter fleets in terms of luxury amenities and interiors. 

Trinity Yachts has earned its place as one of the world's elite builders of custom superyachts, with an emphasis on European quality, steel and aluminum constructions.  Their goal is to build a truly custom yacht that fulfills all of your unique cruising desires. 

Trinity motoryacht MINE GAMES

In a world where most superyachts are constructed on a semi-production basis, this builder is renown for creating the largest yachts available for mega yacht charters, up to 400 feet (123 meters). They work with a number of the world's most renowned naval architects and interior designers. 

Now planning a Caribbean yacht charter or Mediterranean yacht charter holiday on one of these magnificent yachts has never been easier. Currently, there are 17 rent private yacht Trinity-built models available. 

The newest and largest yachts include 54 meter KATHARINE, 50 meter MINE GAMES, and 49 meter yachts LOHENGRIN, ANJILIS, and DESTINATION FOX HARB'R TOO.
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