Mediterranean Yacht Charter

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.

38m Superyacht ODYSSEY Relocates for Western Mediterranean Charters

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 by News SailAway

Motor yacht ODYSSEY for sale and charter MIPIM Monaco Grand Prix

As 2010 draws near, the owner of mega yacht ODYSSEY has relocated this Mediterranean yacht charter vessel for close proximity to Monaco and the South of France.

Now, MIPIM yacht and Monaco Grand Prix yacht charter enthusiasts have another superyacht for their 2010 consideration.

The 38m super yacht ODYSSEY is now based in San Remo, Italy.

Her new close proximity to Monaco makes this one of the largest yachts available for Monaco Grand Prix charters, as well as static event charters in Cannes, France, such as the 2010 MIPIM.

Built in 2008 by Italy’s Rodriquez yard, she sleeps up to 11 guests in five cabins and has proven her worth as a Mediterranean yacht charter megayacht.

Asking 11 million Euros, superyacht ODYSSEY is now available for inspection by prior appointment for both sale and charter.

Click here to view MIPIM yacht Odyssey's online brochure here.

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

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.

Sailing Superyacht Salperton IV Launches in New Zealand

Friday, June 19, 2009 by News SailAway

Built by Fitzroy Yachts, the sailing superyacht Salperton IV has recently been launched. At 45 meters in length sailing yacht Salperton IV is the latest superyacht to be built by Fitzroy Yachts of New Zealand, being one meter longer than Salperton III at 44 meters.

Fingers are crossed that the Mediterranean yacht charter fleet will soon welcome yacht Salperton IV to the family. Earlier incarnations of Salperton have spent years delivering mega yacht charter holidays to customers around the world. Two of the earlier vessels are still available for sail boat charters under the current names of Northern Spirit (37 meters) and Drumbeat (53 meters).

Sail boat charters are extremely popular in the Caribbean, and all eyes are upon this latest incarnation. The superyacht cost an estimated $30 million. She is 215 tons, took two years to build, and is the eighth megayacht that Fitzroy has built in the past 12 years.

Accommodations include four en suite state rooms and three crew cabins. For extra luxury, she also has a gym and a spa pool.

260,000 hours have gone into the construction of the (hopefully soon-to-be) luxury sailing charter vessel. She is fully air-conditioned, has her own sewage treatment station, can make 15 tons of water per day, carries 30 tons of fuel, and has a 850-horsepower Cat engine, in case there is no wind.

It is the second yacht the company has built for British owner, Barry Houghton. The earlier Salperton III was launched in 2007, the company’s 10th anniversary, and won two international awards the next year. The design concept for number IV was for a yacht which sails and performs even better than number III.

As with number III, Adam Lay Studio came back to create the yacht’s interior design work.

It has been reported that the yacht departed New Zealand today, with her owner onboard, for a three month Pacific cruise. The sailing yacht will then cruise the Caribbean, before heading up in the Mediterranean in the summer of 2010.

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...

Seventh Heaven Yacht Club Opens for Megayachts on Island of Ischia

Thursday, June 18, 2009 by News SailAway

If you are planning a luxury mega yacht charter this summer on a Mediterranean yacht, you'll be pleased to know Luise Group, leaders in maritime agency services to the superyacht industry, has taken over management of the Ponente Quay (Molo di Ponente) of Lacco Ameno on the Island of Ischia.

The marina known previously as Heaven's Quay, has now been renamed The Seventh Heaven Yacht Club.

Ischia is a volcanic island in the Tyrrhenian Sea, about 30 kilometers from Naples, Italy, at the northern end of the Gulf of Naples, and is a frequent destination for sail boat charters and mega yacht charters.

Seventh Heaven Yacht Club yacht charters Ischia Luise Group

The Seventh Heaven Yacht Club, located on the northern part of island of Ischia, can accommodate twelve mega yachts, and the marina covers an area close to 16,000 square metres. The pier, which is 140 metres in length, offers all essential necessities including water, electricity, and mooring posts.

The renamed facility will now figure prominently among the most prestigious ports and marinas that are currently managed by the Luise Group.

Luise Associates, the branch of Luise Group which is exclusively dedicated to maritime agency services for mega yachts, works with over 600 yachts cruising in the Gulf of Naples each year.

Francesco Luise, Managing Partner of Luise Group commented, "We are very proud to be able to take under our management the main dock in Lacco Ameno, Ischia. Although the area of Lacco Ameno is one of the smallest counties on the Island of Ischia, it is a prestigious and visually beautiful location for superyachts to berth. The Seventh Heaven Yacht Club will permit us to have a permanent presence in the area while continuing to provide the best in maritime agency services to our clients."

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."

Exercises to do to prepare for your Greece yacht charter vacation

Wednesday, June 10, 2009 by News SailAway

You've decided to charter a motor yacht in Greece for a week. What an exciting idea! You can't decide whether you want to go on a Trinity Yacht Charter or a Feadship Yacht Charter, and you're also thinking that sail boat charters are also a romantic way to vacation. Regardless, all Greece yacht charters are fun, educational, and adventurous - no matter what kind of private yacht you enjoy.

If you haven't exercised in a long time, you'll want to prepare your body with some basic exercises before heading to the Aegean.

Since you'll be hiking up rocky hills and exploring historic landmarks like the Parthenon and the Acropolis, do a series of ankle stretches, ankle rolls, and knee bends to prepare.

The Parthenon in Greece will be one of your land excursion tours on your yacht charter

Since all megayachts have stairs that you'll descend and ascend each day on your boat, practice climbing stairs with a stairmaster, walking manual stairwells in your area, or just simply walking an inclined area where you live.

Visiting landmarks is wonderful, but it does entail a lot of walking. To maximize your cardio (heart) and overall fitness, just walk. Park your car far from a store when you grocery shop. Walk around the block and enjoy nature. Take your dog for a long overdue walk. Hop on the treadmill and go for a stroll.

No worries. The best thing is that you really don't NEED exercise for your Mediterranean yacht charter event - it is just good for your heart, your mind, and your overall attitude! Your crew will do the majority of the exercising during your yacht charter, but you will also be exercising for fun in your daily activities onboard!

Mega yacht charter vacations, whether on a sail boat charter or a superyacht, are a great way to travel - they are good for the mind as well as the body!

For more information and to book your Mediterranean yacht charter, call 1-800-YACHTCHARTER or email info@1800yachtcharter.com

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."

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.

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).

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.

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.

Make or Break Mega Yacht Charter; it's All about the Crew

Tuesday, June 2, 2009 by News SailAway

The success of a mega yacht charter, indeed the entire yacht charter season of a superyacht depends upon the ability of the vessel's crew to meet the needs of the paying customers. The best cruising grounds and good weather matter little if the megayacht charter crew does not provide excellent service.

The success of your 1800yachtcharter.com megayacht charter depends largely on your professional crew

A luxury yacht charter client should be treated the same as you would treat the owner. The only difference is that the crew knows the preferences of an owner (e.g. his or her favorite restaurants, the time he or she likes to wake up in the morning, etc.). The crew does not know these preferences for a new mega yacht charter client.

This provides the crew with a challenge - to ensure that they learn as quickly as possible what the client expects to gain from the Mediterranean yacht charter experience.

It all comes down to this - the happiness of the lead charterer and his family and guests hinges on the effort expended by the staff of the superyacht, especially the Chief Stewardess and the Chef.

A good skipper will introduce the stewardess and chef to the lead charter client early on in the charter. This way, the stew can get a feeling of the level of service or distance expected by the customer, and the chef can get a sense of the level or formality needed with each meal presentation.

Whether a Mediterranean yacht charter or a Caribbean yacht charter, the captain's role is challenging. He is legally bound to ensure the safety of the guests and crew and he has a priority to ensure that the owner's property is safeguarded. At the same time, he has to keep the charter guests happy while they are on board, since the paying guests have a significant degree of freedom to decide the nature of the charter.

It is a delicate balancing act to ensure the clients' demands do not compromise the crew.

The skipper must also comply with the laws of the territorial waters through which the superyacht passes, with particular importance placed on drug restrictions. The captain must impose his authority in the event of discovering the use of recreational drugs. In all superyacht cruising areas, this is illegal. The captain is potentially liable for any breach of the laws. Additionally, in many jurisdictions, the discovery of recreational drugs on board can result in the confiscation of the vessel by the local authorities.

It is essential that the captain ensures that all charter guests (and crew) obey these laws. Should there be an issue with this, the captain may need to refer to the owner/broker to agree on termination of a specific charter. Charter agreements provide the captain with full authority to prohibit the use of recreational drugs by the charter guests.

A seasoned yacht charter broker understands this delicate balancing act faced by a charter captain and crew. If the broker has previously handled a particular client on another vessel, he or she will discuss the characteristics of the client with the new captain, as well as the chef and stewardess.

Brokers also try to gather as much personal information about the charterer by means of a preference sheet. On such forms, the clients can spell out their food and beverage likes and dislikes as well as the recreational pursuits they hope to enjoy during the trip (shopping, swimming, quietly reading a good book, etc.). Such preference sheets help give the crew a deeper understanding of the charter guests desires and expectations.

At the conclusion of the luxury mega yacht charter vacation, it is equally important for the crew and broker to discuss the trip. The feedback of the captain and senior crew enables the broker to build up a comprehensive picture of the client's preferences for future engagements.

When the captain, crew, broker and customer work together, the odds are quite high for a successful and memorable holiday at sea.

Genoa Yacht Charter Show Puts Spotlight on Mediterranean Yacht Charter Vessels

Sunday, May 24, 2009 by Special Events SailAway

May 8 marked the conclusion of the 21st Annual Genoa mega yacht charter yacht show. The industry-only event that draws the top luxury charter brokers and charter journalists from around the world. Held at Marina Molo Vecchio, the Genoa boat show showcased 65 mega yacht Mediterranean yacht charter vessels, although it attracted 100 fewer brokers than last year, most likely due to the economy.

The number of megayacht and superyacht vessels that are actually in the show is based on the number that can fit at the available dockage. As is the case each year, several mega yacht owners were disappointed, as a few superyachts were left on the waiting list.

Organized by the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association (MYBA), many yachting-related vendors set up booths along the docks and represented diverse products, from yacht insurance to hotel and tourism destinations. The most common yachts desired for Mediterranean yachting vacations are motoryachts, in contrast with the private sailing yachts that dominate the Caribbean yacht charter marketplace. Supporting this distinction, the majority of yachts in the Genoa show were motoryachts, with the largest being the 70+ meter superyacht models, Boadicea and Haida G.

Genoa Yacht Charter Show 2009 1800yachtcharter.com

There were also a number of new yachts with new crew at the show, which bodes well for an industry aching to expand beyond the economic downturn. New private luxury charter yachts include LEOFUN, BIG CITY, PAOLYRE, SALU, SLIPSTREAM, and many more.

While the 2008 season was sluggish due to the global economic meltdown, many brokers in attendance cite an uptick in the number of inquiries for a summertime charter. Indeed, brokers, owners, and crew are all optimistic for a rebound in luxury mega yacht charter vacations this summer.

The buzz on the docks this year seemed to be the increased interest by both yacht owners and charter customers to explore more areas outside of the standard cote d'azur yacht charter locale. As potential charter customers inquire about Croatia yacht charter vacations and Greece yacht charter outings, the word begins to filter back to the yacht owners via the charter brokers. As more clients express interest in a region, more owners are then willing to relocate their megayachts to non-traditional destinations such as Turkey, Greece, and Croatia, for a portion, if not the entire summer charter season.

To learn more, contact 1-800-YACHTCHARTER. Prime high season dates remain available on many of the newest yachts and largest yachts in the world's best destinations.