Monaco Grand Prix

Whether in the galley of a superyacht or the kitchen of a fine restaurant, Chef Geoffrey Fisher relishes the opportunity to blend creativity, talent and knowledge to transform everyday ingredients into stunning, delicious creations.

While the 35 year old Fisher, born in Manchester, England, is at the top of his profession, he continues to hone his skills.  "I push myself (sometimes) 16 hours a day,” says Fisher. “Being a chef is all about passion. If you don’t have it, don’t go there. It’s long, unsociable hours. It’s not a job; it’s a way of life. Being a chef, you learn something new every day, by working with other chefs, reading books, even watching cooking programs on TV."

His lessons in cuisine and hospitality began early in life, as Fisher washed dishes in his parents’ restaurant in Lancaster, England. He watched the chefs and thought, “I could do that!” His mom and dad recognized his talent and encouraged him to get a formal culinary education.

Fisher attended Lancaster & Morecambe College and took a three-year chef/catering course. He learned everything from general basics and waiting to theory and cooking. He won "best student chef" three years in a row and became runner-up in the national competition, Nestle Toque d’or. In between classes, Fisher worked for his parents in their restaurant.

By age 24, Fisher was head chef at the Swag and Tails, a restaurant in Knightsbridge where he stayed for nearly four years. “It was here I learned how to deal with people, order food, costing and the unpleasant duty of how to fire people,” he said.

Looking for a new adventure, Fisher decided to join a friend in Europe who was chef on the 47-meter M/Y Commitment, which happened to be on charter at the Monaco Grand Prix.  A week onboard and Fisher was hooked and started looking into a career in yachting.

With a little help from the chef onboard sail yacht TWIZZLE,  Fisher landed a job onboard motor yacht WHEELS, and quickly learned charter chefs must be flexible. “I make a point of having a chat with them (charter guests) as soon as possible when they arrive to find out not only what cuisine they like, but also what they don’t like, or if they have any allergies. Talking with the guests is important," says Fisher.

Fisher also learned the pressure of working on a yacht for hire can be intense.  "The pressure in restaurants is tense, but completely different on yachts. On yachts, it’s intense because you never stop cooking. When it’s not the guests, it’s the crew," states Fisher.

After his stint onboard M/Y WHEELS, Fisher joined the crew on motor yacht SLIPSTREAM, where he is still the executive chef.  As to his future plans, Fisher says, "In time I would like to own a small restaurant in Malta. In the kitchen, it’s said you’re only as good as your last service. In yachting, I always say, you’re only as good as your last charter.”

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Rent private yacht - Enjoy the gourmet services of the world's best chefs on a yaching holiday.  Contact the SailAway destination experts at http://www.1800sailaway.com/contact_us.html for further details. 

They say, "Time flies when you're having fun."  It seems like yesterday we were looking forward to the launchings of 2011's newest yachts, and planning charters for special events like the 2011 Cannes Film Festival and the 2011 Monaco Grand Prix.

As the year winds down and clients make their last-minute preparations for Christmas and New Year's Caribbean yacht charters, we take a minute to look back at our most popular yachting-related stories of 2011:  

Must-Have New Gadgets for 2012 - Our Top Three
Going on a Virgin Islands yacht charter is loads of fun, but getting there can be tedious.  Having a cool new gadget on hand is a great way to kill some time...

Blake Lively and Leonardo DiCaprio SailAway Onboard Steven Spielberg Yacht
While gossip websites circulated a series of photographs purporting to show the "Gossip Girl" actress posing naked, Blake and Leo were seen relaxing and laughing onboard motoryacht SEVEN SEAS, Speilberg's multi-million dollar superyacht, during the recent Cannes Film Festival 2011...

Leave Your Clothes Behind - Top 2 Clothing Optional Caribbean Yacht Charter Destinations
It has been said a great vacation is all about escaping. For many, that means escaping the confines of their homes and the rigors of their work.  For others, it is best achieved by escaping the confines of their clothes...

Top Three Well-Traveled Celebrity Couples
From après-ski private chalets in Vail, to multi-deck behemoth superyacht vessels in the Caribbean, some celebrity power couples take traveling to the extreme...

European Prince Encourages Superyacht Industry to Go Green
The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation has introduced a program to encourage the builders of the world's largest yachts to use timber from sustainably managed forests...

World's Newest and Largest Yachts on Display in Monaco
Jana Sheeder, President of SailAway reflects on the Monaco Yacht Show - one of the greatest showcases of luxury charter vessels in the world.  Each year, approximately 100 megayachts from 25 to 90 meters long are on display.  What makes this show truly unique is the number of new yachts on hand.  About 40 of the newest  superyachts delivered in the past 12 months are on exhibit...

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Make 2012 a year to remember.  Contact SailAway Yacht Charters at http://www.1800sailaway.com/contact_us.html to arrange an unforgettable yachting vacation with your family and friends.

Boasting a color scheme more common at the Monaco Grand Prix, the 37-Meter Heeson motor yacht AURELIA has announced plans to relocate this winter to Saint Martin, just in time for the launch of the Caribbean yacht charter season.  The stunning, brand new Heesen yacht, with a highly experienced charter crew, is available from mid December, 2011 through April 2012.

Inspired by the owner’s passion for racing cars, motor yacht AURELIA features an unusual exterior paint job from Dobroserdov Design.  The Bannenberg & Rowell interior of motor yacht AURELIA is race-inspired as well. Luxury yacht charter guests will be impressed by the richness of materials and elaborate details used to create the yacht’s interiors.

Accommodations are offered for 8 guests in four staterooms, each cabin named after racing car designers. The master suite is located forward on the main deck and three double guest cabins are positioned on the lower deck. Bertone (orange Lamborghini), Pininfarina (red Ferrari), and Zagato (green Aston Martin) are the racecar designers who inspired the décor of the guest cabins.

The yacht's key features include:

● Kaleidescape entertainment system
● Stabilizers to minimize rocking and heighten onboard comfort
● Huge outdoor deck space for entertaining and relaxing
● Impressive list of aqua-sport toys
● Highly experienced charter crew

Motor yacht AURELIA is available at the rate of €105,000 - €120,000 per week, plus running expenses (items such as food, fuel, bar and dockage).

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For further information or to charter your own private luxury racing yacht, contact the SailAway yacht charter specialists at  http://www.1800sailaway.com/contact_us.html. 

The Washington Redskins are currently 3-1 and in 1st place in the NFC East Division, heading into week 5 of the NFL regular season.  What better way for team owner Dan Snyder to celebrate the squad's early season success than to purchase a 224-foot superyacht?

The Washington Post recently reported Snyder's recent purchase, Amels motor yacht LADY ANNE, one of the 100 largest  yachts in the world. Snyder purchased the Mediterranean yacht charter vessel with a group of investors for approximately the same price that he'll spend on two-thirds of his Redskins payroll for the year (or, as one sports journalist described it, "...the yacht cost $30 million less than it took to secure the rights to Albert Haynesworth in free agency!").

Motor yacht LADY ANNE was listed for sale at $86 million when it went on the market earlier this year, but sold for considerably less (sources estimate the price at or near $70 million - about one half of the cost to build the vessel). 

The yacht was custom-made by Dutch shipbuilders Amels for Jerome Fisher in 2006 and named after his wife.  Fisher co-founded the shoe company Nine West and sold his interest to Jones Apparel Group for $885 million in 1999. The couple lived the grand life in Palm Beach until 2008, when, according to the New York Post, they lost $150 million in the Bernie Madoff investment scandal.

The Fishers, who spent last month cruising on the LADY ANNE off the coast of France, did not respond to requests for comment about the sale.

Jana Sheeder, President of SailAway Yacht Charters reports no expense was spared on what is regarded as one of the finest yachts afloat.  "The owners were intimately involved in every aspect of the yacht's design...from period furnishings to modern pieces.  The yacht has the unique feel of an early 20th century ocean liner.”  The massive yacht boasts vast shaded outdoor areas, together with a large pool and sunbathing space. Indoors, there is a comprehensively-equipped gym, massage area, sauna, and home theater.

Accommodations include 6 beautifully-appointed staterooms, each with ensuite Jacuzzi bathrooms, for a maximum of 12 guests. The master suite is designed as a self-contained apartment with his and her bathrooms featuring rare, pure white Thassos marble, as well as a private study and adjacent VIP cabin.

According to Sheeder, there is no need to be an NFL team owner, or a fan of the Redskins to spend time aboard this yacht.  Sheeder teases, "While we might offer a discount to fans of my hometown team, the Miami Dolphins, we will happily charter LADY ANNE to anyone who loves spending private time with their family and friends." 

LADY ANNE is available for hire this winter in the Caribbean at a rate of  $497,000 per week for year-end (Christmas/New Year's Eve) charters, and $476,000 per week for all other weeks.  The yacht returns to the Mediterranean for the summer of 2012 and is available at a rate of €497,000 per week for July, August, and special events (like the Monaco Grand Prix) and €476,000 per week for all other weeks. Food, drinks, fuel and dockage are extra expenses.

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Other yachts built by Amels and available for hire include motor yacht IMAGINE, motor yacht SPIRIT, and motor yacht Bel Abri.  For more information, contact Jana Sheeder at 305-720-7245 or 1-800-SAILAWAY (that's 800-724-5292).

Every year, two annual events make a visit to the city of Monte Carlo a must for yacht charter clientele - the Monaco Grand Prix and the Monaco Yacht Show.  With the Grand Prix a distant image in our rearview mirrors, focus turns to the yacht show. 

Currently underway, the Monaco Yacht Show presents one of the greatest showcases of luxury charter vessels in the world.  Approximately 100 megayachts from 25 to 90 meters long are on display from Wednesday, September 21 to Saturday, September 24.

What makes this show truly unique is the number of new yachts on hand.  About 40 of the newest  superyachts delivered in the past 12 months will be on exhibit.

Here are several yachts from the SailAway charter database scheduled to be on display:

Motor yacht ICON  - a 62.50 meter custom built yacht launched in 2010.

Motor yacht CARPE DIEM - a 58.20 meter vessel launched in 2011.

Motor yacht MIA ELISE - a 2010, 49.90 meter custom built motoryacht by Trinity Yachts.

Motor yacht QUINTA ESSENTIA - a 55 meter yacht built in 2011 and known for her unique color scheme.

The show is open daily, from 10am to 6.30pm and takes place at Port Hercules, Boulevard Albert 1er, in the Principality of Monaco. The main entrance to the show is the Darse Sud entrance, with other entry points at the Chicane and Parvis Sud.   General admission tickets are available at the entrances for €65 per day.

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Can't make the show?  Our charter department personally inspects dozens of yachts each year on behalf of our clients.  To plan a private Caribbean yacht charter vacation this winter, contact the SailAway charter team at http://www.1800sailaway.com/contact_us.html for yacht and itinerary suggestions  

Watching an auto race is exhilarating. The elements of speed and danger seem fused together by the power of high-torque engines and the drivers with nerves of steel.  But let's be honest - sitting in the hot grandstands with thousands of strangers is less than the ideal way to view the glamour, the cars, and the grid girls of a Formula 1™ event.

Thus, it's little wonder why the Port Hercule marina in Monaco is filled to capacity in May for the annual running of the Monaco Grand Prix.  With the cars zipping by the marina, there's no doubt the best seat in the house is on a luxury yacht.

Unfortunately, the rest of the 2011 Formula 1™ races take place on tracks far removed from the oceanside.  That is, all but one other - the 2011 Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

It's rare for a Mediterranean yacht charter vessel to make the sojourn to the Middle East, but one superyacht is anxious to secure a reservation for the 2011 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix - motoryacht JANA.

The classic 46 meter Feadship is actively seeking a booking for the November 11-13 racing event. 
 
Built in 1986, the yacht has received several refits throughout her charter career, the most recent being in 2009, in which she had the majority of her hull and superstructure repainted and most of her of soft furnishings replaced.  The Dutch-built masterpiece accommodates 10 - 12 guests in 5 cabins.  With a large sun deck, motor yacht JANA can easily host race day soirees for 20 to 40 guests.

According to JANA Sheeder, President of SailAway Yacht Charters, "This yacht offers the best in accommodations, cuisine, amenities, and service, plus she has a wide array of aquasport toys for guests to enjoy in the warmth of the Middle Eastern sun."

The yacht is available for the Grand Prix at the rate of €100,000 for 5 days, plus running expenses (items such as food, bar, dockage, etc.).

Sheeder says her office will assist in securing a premium berth to view the race. "We have a first-class team in place to handle all concierge-related requests, from dockage - to ground transportation - to catering a cocktail reception on the yacht."

The race takes place on the Yas Marina Circuit, located on Yas Island, about 30 minutes from Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Approximately 50,000 spectators can view the action on the circuit from permanent, covered grandstands that protect visitors from the desert sun. Of course, the best viewing areas are the most secure and private - the decks of the yachts in the Yas Marina.

The circuit is 5.55 kilometers long, with a total of 21 corners with 9 right turns and 12 left turns. The track features a lot of hairpins and long straights, and there are few potential overtaking places. The pit lane entry is very challenging, as is the exit, which runs underneath the track in a tunnel.

The world’s largest indoor theme park, Ferrari World Abu Dhabi, is also located on Yas Island. The park hosts more than 20 rides and attractions. One of the attractions, Formula Rossa, has the same G force one would feel driving in an F1 car and braking at maximum speed. It is the world’s fastest roller coaster, powered through the 2.07 km track at speeds up to 240 km/h, reaching 0-100 km/h in less than two seconds.

Sheeder believes the popularity of Abu Dhabi is on the rise, and a Grand Prix yacht charter is a great opportunity to explore the area by yacht. "In addition to the race and related social events onboard motoryacht JANA, there is so much to see and do in Abu Dhabi," says Sheeder.  "The people are warm and hospitable and the weather in November feels like the summer in the Med." 

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For further details about the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix, please contact our special events team HERE.

One of the yachts available for a Monaco Grand Prix Yacht charter this year is the spectacular and elegant superyacht, Cloud 9. One of the largest yachts in its fleet, Cloud 9 can comfortably accommodate up to 12 yacht charter guests. She has a master full beam duplex suite complete with office, his and her bathrooms, and separate dressing rooms. In addition, stairs lead up to a raised private observation lounge which allows guests panoramic views of the sea ahead.  She also features a VIP cabin on the bridge deck which has its own private balcony where guests can relax.

To book your private luxury yacht charter vacation aboard Cloud 9 or any other charteryacht, contact SailAway Yacht Charter Consultants by phone at 1-800-YACHTCHARTER (800-922-4824) or click here.