Caribbean Yacht Charter

A yacht charter in the Caribbean has so much to offer. So many different countries, islands, cultures, food and so much more. Perfect sailing conditions in picture postcard surroundings. The scent of fresh coconut and the sound of steel drums carried on a warm breeze. A Caribbean vacation is a truly tropical experience, it?s the ultimate romantic escape with long, sandy beaches and tiny desert islands. The main sailing season in the Caribbean runs from November to July with the period December to March as the busiest when escapees from the winter weather of North America and Europe arrive. The Caribbean is affected by hurricanes from late July to mid October although they are rare in the southern Caribbean along the coast of South America. Hurricanes are prevalent in the nortern Caribbean each year and have been more numerous in the last few years. It is best to avoid the central and northern Caribbean up to Florida and the Bahamas during the hurricane season. April to July is a nice time to charter a boat as there are less visitors in the area with some nice settled weather with a warm but steady breeze.

The Caribbean is made up of many different multi-nation (and multi-cultural) islands. There are amazing sailing grounds stretching from Cuba and Jamaica in the west, through the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, The Virgin Islands, The Leeward Islands and the Windward Islands, finishing with Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba and Curacao off the coast of Venezuela. Due to the scale and diversity of the different yacht charter areas of the Caribbean we have covered the major charter locations individually.

The Caribbean is the truely the king of yacht charter locations. It is an ocean laden with history and treasures, from tiny beach ridden coral atolls to substantial mountainous islands exuding rich and colorful cultures. You will be sailing over waters once sailed by pirates, buccaneers and Spanish treasure fleets which now offer wonderful locations offering so much choice to sailors and vacationers. Thriving bars and Caribbean nightlife; first rate cuisine; spectacular beaches; lush tropical rainforest; cloud-fringed mountain peaks; exotic birdlife; amazing diving and snorkeling and a serene blend of European sophistication and warm Caribbean hospitality. Yes it truely is a wonderful area to sail.

As the most popular charter ground in the world the types of boats available in the Caribbean include all the main types. Motor, sailing, bareboat charter, skippered, crewed yachts, catamaran, luxury yachts and the ever increasing super yacht charter. Both beginner and expert yacht charterers alike are drawn to the Caribbean for its warm winds, protected waterways and beautiful anchorages that lie snug and safe within the tropical island chain. A caribbean yacht charter is a truely wonderful experience for experienced and novice yacht charterers alike.

Bruce Walls is an author and webmaster. Read this article and more at CaribbeanYachtCharter

Yacht Charter in Northern Crete

Crete was home to one of world?s most important civilisations, the Minoans who ruled the eastern Mediterranean from 2800 - 1150 BC. The art that has survived shows a refined and peace loving culture. There is a good collection in the Museum at Iraklion. Through commerce, shipping and trade with other peoples, the Egyptians, Phoenicians and Syrians they built a powerful civilisation. The Achaians and the Dorians followed. The Romans occupied Crete 69 - 330 AD making Gortyn their major town. Crete fell into the Arabic hands in 824 and was not liberated until 961). Then in 1204, the island passed to the Venetians. They fortified the island with several new castles and broke the ground for new cities of Hania and Rethimno. Inside the walls the cities developed with narrow alleys and houses, interspersed with decorative churches, fountains, piazzas and palaces the remains of which can still be seen today. In 1645 the Turks set foot on the island for the first time and in 1669 the whole of Crete fell to them. Not until 1913 was the island reunited with the rest of Greece.

In the summer the prevailing wind is the infamous Meltemi from the NW ? WNW. July and August sees the winds at their strongest, force 5 ? 6 on the northern coast but more often a more gentle force 3 ? 4. The spring and autumn sees winds form the south, force 2 ? 4. The southern coast is notorious for strong squalls the blow down from the mountains. There is little in the way of warning and they can be violent close inshore. It gets very hot on the island during the summer months with the average daily temperature reaching 35 deg C in July and August and temperatures as high as 40 deg C are not uncommon.

Kissamoss lies in the NW corner of Crete. Yachts can berth alongside or anchor of in the harbour. There is good shelter from the W and NW but it is open to the E and SE. In a strong northerly getting away can be difficult, as the yacht will have to beat for 14 miles to escape the bay. Water is available and the re is a taverna close by. The nearest provisions are at Kastelli, which is a one mile bus journey away.

Khania is to the E. Entrance can be difficult in a strong northerly as the sea heaps up around the entrance. The marina is in the E basin. You will be directed to a berth where a laid mooring awaits. There is good shelter in all but northerly gales. There is water and electricity on the pontoons. A mini tanker can deliver fuel. All provisions can be obtained and there are good tavernas in the town. This Venetian city was for centuries the capital of Crete and much of the charming architecture remains.

Soudhas is further to the E. It is the Greek navy?s southern base and yachts have been refused entry at times. If allowed in go bow or stern to on the S quay. Shelter is extremely good. There is water on the ferry mole and fuel can be delivered. All provisions can be obtained and there is a good choice of tavernas. The military presence tends to put a bit of a dampener on things and this is not a must visit.

Yioryiopolis is a small harbour at the mouth of the river Almiros. Go alongside the quay or anchor in the bay to the north. There is good shelter except with winds from the N ? NE. There is water in the village and most provisions can be obtained and there are several tavernas. The village is both attractive the locals are friendly making a visit well worthwhile.

Rethimon is an old Venetian harbour. Go alongside inside the N jetty or bow or stern to the E jetty. There is good shelter even from the Meltemi tucked under the E jetty. There is water on the quay and fuel can be delivered. All provisions can be obtained and there are some good tavernas including several fish restaurants in the Venetian harbour. This should be one of the highlights of the charter. The Venetian harbour and town are attractive and the buildings with wooden balconies are a reminder of Turkish occupation.

Iraklion is the capital of Crete. Proceed to the Venetian harbour at the W end of the main harbour. Go bow or stern to at the ?marina? in the S or on the N quay. There is water on the quay and fuel can be delivered. There is excellent shopping and fresh fish is sold in the harbour. There are good tavernas many of which serve fresh fish. Try those around the market in town. The city itself has little to recommend it but visits to Knossus, an archaeological site, go early in the morning or late in the afternoon to avoid the tourists. And the museum containing a collection from the Minoan times is worthwhile.

Khersonisos is a small harbour. Go bow to the mole or anchor off. Care is needed because depths vary throughout the harbour and the holding is poor on sand and rock. There is good shelter from the N as the harbour is open only to the SE. Water, fuel and provisions can all be found in the town. The town is a modern tourist development, full of bad architecture and obnoxious holidaymakers.

Spinalonga Lagoon is situated in the N of the larger bay Kolpos Merembellou. Yachts can anchor anywhere in the lagoon. Most provisions can be obtained at Elounda. Take a look at Nisis Spinalongas. The setting for the Venetian fort and deserted settlement are most attractive.

Further to the south is Ay Nikolaos. There is a marina on the S side of the headland. Yachts should bow or stern to where directed and use a laid mooring. There is water and electric on the pontoons. Fuel can be delivered to the yacht. There are numerous tavernas and most provisions can be obtained. This fishing village is now a large tourist development although the marina is sited some way from the noisy area.

Pahia Ammos is situated at the S end of Kolpos Merembellou. There are depths of up to 3m at the extremity of the mole. The harbour is exposed to the Meltemi. Limited provisions can be obtained in the village and there are several tavernas

Further W lies Sitia. Go bow or stern to the inner N mole. The bottom is sand and weed with some rocks. There is good shelter from the Meltemi. There are both fuel and water in the harbour. All provisions can be obtained in the town and there are several good fish restaurants. The inner harbour with its tree lined esplanade is pleasant and watching dusk fall over the harbour while tucking in to a nice sea bass is the perfect end to a day?s charter.

Ak Sidhero is the NE tip of Crete and to the S there are several anchorages in small inlets. There are no facilities but the scenery is imposing with a desolate feel.

Crete?s cuisine is similar to that found throughout the Aegean. Fish plays a large part in the form of tuna, swordfish, sea bass, urchins, octopus, squid and cuttlefish. You will find beef, pork, lamb and goat. A rabbit stew is a speciality. As is cheese pie and fried cheese (staka). For those with a sweet tooth try yogurt and honey tarts (kaltzounia). Cretan wine is fairly good.

Buying Your First Yacht

The Luxury of Your Own Yacht

Not many of us can afford to own a luxurious yacht. Most of us see it as a symbol that someone has made it big financially. If you are someone who expects to make millions of dollars, you've probably been planning on buying a yacht.

It is extremely expensive to buy most yachts. You can expect to pay thousands of dollars, if not millions, if you are looking for a brand new yacht. A luxury yacht can cost more than what most people earn in a lifetime. It is probably far out of our reach to owning a yacht, such as the types that many famous celebrities and socialites own.

There are ways to buy a gorgeous yacht more reasonably. It would mean going without the hot tub, sauna, and bar. A truly workable idea is to buy a yacht with friends, family, or business associates. By sharing the costs, you have a much better chance of attaining your goal.

If you intend on sharing the cost of a yacht with several other people be sure to establish how it will work when two people want to use the yacht at the same time. You may want to establish at the beginning of each year, or even years in advance, what days, weeks, or months each person can use the yacht. This will give everyone a good chance to plan vacations around the schedule.

It probably sounds fine in the beginning to just make verbal agreements since you're all friends. When it comes to money though disputes can arise abruptly. It would be far better to draw up a legally binding contract that will state how much each party is paying, how the scheduling will be done, and any other legal issues that might come up. Once everyone has signed, settling disputes will be much easier.

If a yacht isn't in your future, think about buying a sailboat in its place. They can be a lot less costly and you can still take long sea excursions. Most of them have some type of sleeping quarters and kitchens. Luxury sailboats can also be very expensive, so again you may want to think of a sharing arrangement.

Alternatively, you can always rent a yacht for a few days. You can rent yachts for anywhere from $300 to $1000 a day, although sometimes it can cost even more. Renting a yacht is a great idea for events such as a birthday party, anniversaries, big company events, and even weddings. What a great way to turn an average party into an elegant, grand affair.

If you are interested in renting a yacht, take a walk around the marina in your area. There most likely be signs indicating which yachts are for rent. You can learn more about it by talking with other boat owners or people employed there.

It would be wonderful to own a yacht, so if it's feasible for you, you should definitely buy one. You will love it and have many exciting voyages over the years.

Glyn Wilsons is the owner and operator of Star Yacht, the best place on the internet for information about yachts. For more articles on yachts why not visit:
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Nautical Holidays - Croatia Yacht Charter - I

Croatian waters are part of Adriatic Sea, witch extends northwest between 40° and 45° 45' and is part of a Mediterranean sea. Adriatic is surrounded by Mediterranean countries Italy, Slovenia, Croatia, Montenegro and Albania.

The most beautiful part of Adriatic coastline for yacht charter is in Croatia. There are 5,835 kilometers of coastline, of which 1,777 kilometers are mainland and over 4,000 kilometers of coastline belongs to hundreds of beautiful islands, which are a perfect scene for enjoying your nautical holidays. Croatia yacht charter agencies offers a wide range of boats (sailboats, powerboats, luxury boats, gullets, super yachts) and many options of charter: bareboat charter, crewed charter, skippered charter.

The charter fee includes charter of a yacht with its equipment and full insurance for the yacht and crew. Fuel expenses, skipper or/and hostess and other extra services are not included in the charter fee. The chartered yacht with complete equipment can be used only after the payment was regularly settled:

• 30-50% of the charter fee (down payment) upon booking.
• 50-70% of the charter fee four weeks before commencement of the charter.

You also have to make a security deposit, when you are taking over the yacht. Security deposit can be made in cash or credit cards. The security deposit shall be refunded in its full amount, unless there is damage or a defect on the yacht or the equipment, and unless there are no claims filed or announced regarding you by third persons, which are connected to the usage of the yacht.

Charter agency is obligated to hand-over at yours disposal completely equipped, faultless, with full fuel and water tanks in the agreed time and place. If there is any reason that chartering company didn't fulfill above-mentioned conditions you have a right to ask for money refund, for the days he has not been using the yacht. Also if the charter agency cannot place the yacht at disposal at the agreed place 4 hours after the expiry of the time period for the takeover, or provide another, at least identical or better characteristics, you have a right to give up the contract and demand the total amount of the charter fee or demand the amount for as many days as he could have not disposed of the yacht.

After taking possession of the yacht, you shall bear all coast of the daily berth in the port, or in marina, coast of fuel, oil, water, cleaning and all other necessities. You are obliged to sail within the Croatian territorial waters. For leaving Croatian territorial waters you are obligated to ask charter company's special permission and certificate.

You undertake to respect custom and other regulations and rules, to take care of the yacht and its equipment and navigate it carefully and according to the rules of a good navigator. Number of persons aboard must correspond to the crew list. The keeping of pets (dogs, cats, birds and similar) on the yacht is not allowed, unless a previous agreement was reached in that regard.

The insurance is determined by the terms defined by the insurer with which yacht is insured. The yacht is insured against third person damages and fully insured for all the damages resulting from force majored up to the registered amount of the value of the yachts for the risks according to the insurance policy. The yacht crew is insured.

Insurance covers all the damages by franchise caused by weather or from the other natural disasters, but not the damages made on purpose. Charges for purpose made damages are not limited by deposit; in that case you must pay all expenses caused by damage made on purpose. The personal belongings are not covered by the insurance.

You have to take over the yacht in agreed time and place. When taking over the yacht, you are obliged to check and carefully examine the condition of the yacht and its equipment according to the inventory list. The chartering company reserves the right not to hand you over the yacht if in the judgment of their representatives you are not competent for any reason to operate the yacht.

I've got my navigating license and VHF station certificate at age of 16. Since than I've spend all of my holidays at sea with my friends. I also began working as a skipper during my holidays in 2001. So far I’ve skippered several sailboats and power boats. The biggest was a Ferretti 530. Because of my good experiences I decided to share some of my adventures with you on my website.