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.



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.

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.



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!

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. 
 


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."

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).

Enthusiasts of Bahama yacht charters are quick to tell you, "It's Better in the Bahamas." The waters are warmed by the summer sun, and the blinding white sand beaches seem to stretch from here to the horizon.
 
Of course, a great summer special rate on a Bahama yacht charter makes it even better, and motor yacht Golden Times is ready to oblige.  Based in Nassau this summer, luxury motoryacht Golden Times is offering a deep discount on a mega yacht charter vacation in June or July.
 
A 10 night holiday is now priced at $33,500 for a family of 6 to 7, or a group of friends. (This is a savings of $8,600 on mega yacht Golden Times' standard summer rate.)
 
This 94’ Hargrave motoryacht was built in 2001 and is maintained to the highest standards of safety, comfort, and appearance.
 
Her main salon is well-equipped for audio visual entertainment. With a comfortable arrangement of sofas both to port and starboard, plenty of guests can gather for movies in front of the large flat screen TV.  The formal dining salon is separated from the salon ever-so-slightly by granite-topped cabinetry of light cherry wood and maple inlay.
 
Accommodations are provided in 3 guest cabins. The Master Stateroom is below amidships and has a King bed and en suite head with adjoining central shower for his and her use. Plenty of closet and drawer space is reserved for charter guests. There is a large flat screen TV with satellite and DVD player.
 
The VIP Stateroom is situated below amidships to port side with a Queen bed and en suite head with shower. There is a 13” TV with DVD player.
 
The Twin Stateroom is below amidships to starboard side with two twin beds and one Pullman plus en suite head with shower. It is also equipped with a 13” TV with DVD player. 
 
Of course, Bahama yacht charters are all about the views, the sun, and the sea. On the skylounge deck, a couple may have a cocktail at the bar while enjoying the panoramic view or choose to entertain in a more cozy setting with an additional TV here as well. Leading out to the sundeck, there are teak chaise lounges for reading and relaxing, or there are comfortable sunpads for soaking up the Bahamian sun's rays. The Jacuzzi may be inviting during the day or for a romantic evening under the stars.
 
Almost forgot to mention the watertoys! What would a yacht charter holiday be without some fun in the surf?  Her extensive toy list includes a 27’ Boston Whaler sport tender with twin 225hp Mercury engines (perfect for some quick exploration of the nearby coves and inlets), a second tender - a 16’ Novurania with 90hp power (good for wakeboarding, etc.), snorkel gear, a Laser sailboat, and extensive fishing gear.
 
Captain Jay and Chief Stewardess Breanna return in June as newlyweds. They are joined
by award-winning chef, Jeff Ciucevich.
 
Come enjoy a fabulous mega yacht charter experience with a fun, professional crew in the uncrowded and unspoiled islands of the Bahamas.
 
For availability and other pricing options, contact Jim Araiza at 1-800-YACHTCHARTER or email jaraiza@1800sailaway.com 

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.

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. 
 


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.