Planning An Event On A Florida Yacht Charter

A Florida Yacht Charter is a perfect destination for your next trip. The weather is ideal for sailing all year round. Hurricane season in the summer and early fall can be unpredictable, but in the absence of a hurricane the sailing conditions are beautiful.

Companies offering charters and luxury yacht sales are abundant in Florida. The company will help you plan your trip, set your itinerary and find activities. In addition, many offer packages that include your air flight and hotel reservations. For the best possible experience, work with a reputable company that has been around for a long time.

Florida Yacht Charter Destinations

There are many locations on both the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of Florida for luxury yacht charters. On the Atlantic coast, Jacksonville offers an excellent location for watching Pilot whales. Daytona and Jacksonville are great spots for a fishing charter. On the Gulf coast, Fort Myers and Clearwater offer beautiful beaches and small coastal islands to explore. The scuba diving is excellent along the entire coastline.

For beautiful islands and clear blue water, consider sailing to the Florida Keys. This island chain boasts more bareboat charters than anywhere else in the world. If you prefer to sail a bit farther, the Bahamas are a popular destination for boats chartered in Florida.

Choosing a Florida Yacht Charter

Bareboat Charter

With a bareboat, you are renting the ship only. You are responsible to either skipper the boat or hire someone to do it for you. This charter includes no supplies or food. You will need to bring everything you need for your voyage. If you plan to skipper the boat, you will be required to show proof of your sailing experience and demonstrate your skills.

Crewed Charter

A crewed charter can range from just a captain and a cook to a full crew. This depends on the size of the boat, number or guests and length of the trip. The crew cabins are separate from the guest cabins. This is a great way to travel in luxury. The crew supplies your meals and helps plan activities.

Sailing School

Sailing schools are offered by charter companies throughout Florida. The trip will generally last between four and seven days, depending on the course you are taking. The average bareboat charter certification course lasts for five days and costs about $3000. Once certified, you can sail your own bareboat charter.

Planning an Event

A yacht is the perfect choice for a wedding, honeymoon, or corporate event. Weddings at sea offer a unique setting. The captain of the ship performs the ceremony. In most cases, you will use a crewed yacht for your wedding. You have the option of having the company cater the event or hiring your own caterer to supply the food. A representative of the company will help you plan your big day.

Consider having your next corporate event or sales meeting at sea. Charters are available for the day or for several days. Doing business at sea is relaxing and great for morale. The crew will supply meals, or you can choose to go ashore for meals. The size of the charter will depend on the number of people and duration of the trip.

Ciara McNamara releases often to the information source at http://www.luxury-yacht-charters-guide.com. She is writing on topics like florida yacht charter

Yacht Charter in Southern Crete

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.

Nisis Gramvousa lies off Crete???s S coast. There is a sheltered bay on the SE side of the island. Yachts can anchor in the bay or go bows to the quay. There are no facilities but water is available fro a well by the chapel

Palaiokhora is near the SW tip of Crete. Go alongside or bow or stern to in the new harbour on the E side of the rocky headland. Or anchor in either of the two bays to the E and W of the headland depending on the winds direction. There is water and fuel in the village and all provisions can be obtained. The tavernas here are good.

There are anchorages on either side of Ak Mouros. Ormos Loutra to the E where a yacht can anchor of the village and Ormos Foinikias to the W. There are a few tavernas and limited provisions can be obtained in the village.

Further to the W is Skafion. Yachts can anchor of the village in calm weather. There are tavernas ashore and all provisions can be found. The once tiny village is now a booming tourist resort

At Ay Galini yachts can go bow or stern to or alongside the quay. There is good holding on the sandy bottom and shelter from the Meltemi. There is water on the quay and fuel in the town. All provisions can be obtained and there are good tavernas. Another recently developed tourist resort.

Matala is a horseshoe shaped bay on the W side of Ak Latinos. Yachts should only use it in calm weather. Most provisions can be obtained and there are good tavernas ashore. Matala is mentioned in Homer???s Odyssey. Here Menelau???s ships were wrecked returning from the Trojan wars. It was an important port in Roman times.

Kali Limenes is a small bay on the E side of Ak Litinos. Yachts can anchor in the bay in depth of 3 ??? 6m. There is good shelter from the N and W but it is open to the E and S. Limited provisions can be found in the village and there are a few tavernas.

Lerapetrais a medium sized harbour. Yachts can go bow or stern to on the N or W sides. There is water on the quay and fuel from the town. All provisions may be obtained and there are good waterfront tavernas. The town and harbour date back to Minoan times but sadly little of the ancient architecture remains.

Yachts can anchor in the large sandy bay of Kato Zakros. There are a couple of tavernas ashore but the main attraction is the ruins of a Minoan palace at the foot of the dramatic gorge.

Ormos Grandes is a large bay on the N side of Ak Plaka. Yachts can seek shelter from the Meltemi at Kouremenos in the N of the bay. 2 miles to the N of Kouremenos is Vai. Here yachts can anchor of the sandy beach and there are tavernas ashore.

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

Areas To Visit On Mediterranean Yacht Charters

Mediterranean yacht charters are one of the most popular destinations for a sailing vacation. This area is the birthplace of modern civilizations. You can explore ruins dating to 3000 BC. The area offers a unique blend of the old and the new. The landscape is the result of a variety of geological activity over millions of years, including earthquakes, volcanoes and shifting of the earth?s plates. The result is breathtaking scenery for sailing.

Options for Mediterranean Yacht Charters

Bareboat Yacht Charters

Bareboat charters work just as it sounds. You are chartering the ship and nothing else. If you are qualified, you can skipper the boat yourself. You will have to show proof of your sailing experience before you are allowed to skipper a chartered yacht. Most companies will take you out on a short trip and have you demonstrate your abilities. If you are unable to do this, you will not be able to take the boat without a crew.

If you don?t have the sailing experience, you will need to hire a skipper. In most cases, the charter company or yacht broker can help you find someone. In some cases, you can arrange for sailing lessons, at an additional cost. Bareboat trips include no supplies or food. You will need to shop before you arrive at the marina.

Crewed Charters

With a crewed charter, you can generally take a larger yacht. The size of the crew varies according to the ship and number of guests. You will at least have a captain and a cook. The cook will prepare your meals according to your tastes. The menu will be discussed prior to the cruising.

Some people choose this method because they aren?t qualified to sail. Others can sail, but prefer to relax on a yachting vacation and not have the responsibility of being the captain. You will have more time to relax in luxury or enjoy activities like water skiing or scuba diving with a crew to look after the boat.

Flotillas

A flotilla is a group of yachts sailing together. This is a great option for less experienced skippers. You captain your ship and gain experience in sailing. The flotilla leader is on a nearby yacht to offer guidance, assistance and support as needed. If this is your first time sailing on your own, a flotilla is an excellent option. A charter broker can put you in touch with a group and help you plan your trip.

Areas to Visit

Once you have decided how you will travel, you will need to decide where you want to go on your holiday cruise. When you charter sailing yacht in Greece, the company will help you set your itinerary. The Ionian Sea offers seven islands: Paxos, Antipaxos, Corfu, Ithaca, Lefkas, Zakynthos and Kafalonia. There is plenty to explore in this area that ranges 180 nautical miles from the northern to southern islands.

The Ionian boasts beautiful weather and excellent wind conditions for smooth sailing. The islands offer beautiful beaches and lush vegetation. For evening, there are lively ports bustling with activity and night life. Your crew will help you find activities that interest you and assist in making reservations.

You may prefer to sail the Aegean. The Greek Cyclades Islands consist of fifteen islands in the Aegean. Your charter company will help you set an itinerary and decide which islands to visit. The beautiful waters of the Aegean offer great sailing. The summers are cool and the winters are mild. There is a good mixture of villages and country side to visit on your trip.

Choosing a Company for Mediterranean Yacht Charters

You can either book your trip through the charter company or through a charter broker. The fees for a broker are paid by the charter company. In either case, look for a reputable company that has been in business for ten years or more. Brokers deal with charters in Europe, the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. A good broker will be familiar with the charter companies and the ships. Ask for references from people who have travelled with the company in the past.

Bianca Bartegi publishes often to the information source at http://www.luxury-yacht-charters-guide.com. She writes about mediterranean yacht charters.

The Luxury Of Traveling With Yacht Charter Companies

Luxury is something everyone deserves from time to time. Such an indulgence can make a vacation a truly rejuvenating experience. One of the best ways to get the luxury of the rich and famous to fit into your budget can be yours through yacht charter companies. These companies specialize in creating custom sailing vacations that redefine travel.

Planning Your Luxury Trip

With your budget in mind, it is easy to plan a chartered yacht vacation. Companies often have a fleet of sailing vessels that can accommodate parties of various sizes. You may want to make it a more intimate trip with only close family. There are charters that can be rented for as few as two people. These include either a sailboat or motorboat and can come with or without a crew and captain to sail the ship for you. If you choose not to hire a crew, you will have to show that you are knowledgeable of sailing and can handle the ship competently.

The next part of planning is to determine your starting and ending ports. This could be a place close to home and sail in one area or start and finish at two different ports. Generally, starting and stopping in the same port will save you money and is usually more convenient.

You can also fly to a destination far from home and then sail another exotic sea. There are luxury yacht charter companies that cruise the Caribbean and Mediterranean seas or around Alaska, the Panama Canal, or anyplace you can imagine.

Determining the type of cruise is another aspect of planning a chartered yachting trip. You can have as little or many crew members as the ship will hold. A captain takes all the worries out of navigating and onboard housekeeping services make it a real vacation that rivals the finest hotel services. You can also choose to have a chef and service crew as part of your vacation package.

If you like the idea of knowing what it is really like to sail, but don?t want to risk safety, you can charter a sailing cruise that puts you in the role of deck hand. A competent crew will direct you as to your ?chores? for keeping the ship in top shape and on course.

Destinations & Ports of important Charter Companies

One of the greatest benefits of choosing a chartered cruise as a vacation is the choice. You will most likely have a rough itinerary and that can be affected by weather. However, you are flexible in deciding how long you want to stay in a particular port and if you want to add or subtract stops along the way.

Your yacht is your hotel that travels with you. There is only one flight and one hotel to book! Then you take all of your luggage and unpack it just once to enjoy several days of new destinations.

If you have never experienced cruising before, a chartered experience is a great way to get your feet wet. It is different from cruise lines with thousands of guests because the people on your ship will be your friends and family. The personal touches of a chartered trip will help you develop your love for the sea with all the best benefits of commercial cruises.

Clinton Maxwell distributes very often to the spezialised website http://www.luxury-yacht-charters-guide.com . Amongst his works he is trying to help people on topics around http://www.luxury-yacht-charters-guide.com/yacht-charter-companies.html and sailboat charter.

Monaco Yachts

 by: Laura Ciocan

Sea and rich people: where else to find a better combination than in Monaco! A real yacht parade can be admired throughout the year in the Hercule Port besides the local yearly yachting events. From imposant, big-sized ones to neat, small, jewel yachts. If you are a yachting amateur or if you are hardly interested in the matter (as I was before seeing this impressive display) you will find something to like here.

There is a restraint, exclusivist rich group that has a thing for yachting, mainly because they can afford to! You and I, we both know that we'd like to own even a small, "unpretentiuos" sailboat, don't we? And have at least once dreamed to relax on the deck of a luxury yacht in Monaco. But, hey, who needs a yacht in a so busy world? Do we wake up in the morning with nothing better to do than dress in white completely (maybe some blue too), have our cafe au lait (maybe a croissant also if not on diet) and go to the quay ordering around the employees to rub up better that side? We certainly don't! If you say you do, that's another story!

What better place (and object) for a competition: who has the bigger, more expensive model, envies arise, disputes start... Shirley Bassey reportedley complained of the big size of "Le Grand Bleu" belonging to the Russian billionaire Abramovich. The yacht appearantly spoiled the view on the port of her uphill apartment. Well, what else would you like rich people to do?...

Besides occasional cruises and constant care some rich peolpe find a practical use to their yachts: some rent them, others live there. Owning a yacht can be extremely useful if you are a tax exile, especially UK citizens who live in Monaco but work in the UK. Renting is very profitable, especially during holidays season or when big events happen in Monaco: prices go from EUR25,000 per week to EUR365,000 per week, depending on the size and facilities.

Some of world's famous yachts rest in the waters of the bay. Some of them are so big that they have helicopters on their top decks. Among worlds' 100 largest yachts are:

• Octopus - owned by Paul Allen, the Microsoft cofounder;

• Tatoosh - owned also by Paul Allen;

• Atlantis II - owned by the Niarchos family, descendants of Onassis rival Stavros;

• Le Grand Bleu - owned by the Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich;

• Delphine - owned by the American car magnate Horace Dodge;

• Montkaj - owned by Prince Mohammed bin Fahd, son of Saudi Arabias King Fahd.

Following its policy of capitalisation of all (though scarce) natural resource, the Principality quickly became aware of the potential of the Hercules Bay and started a yachting tradition. There is a Yacht Club founded in 1953 by Prince Rainier and it was all along supported by himself and his son Albert, who is also its President. The Yacht Club de Monaco gained international fame attracting worlds' greatest names in sailing to came and do battle on the Monegasque waters.

Naturally, there are also prestigious yachting events of international interest, excellent opportunities for yacht owners all over the world to show off. There is Primo Cup Trophe Credit Suisse, Challenge Inter-Banques, Monaco Classic Week, Fte de la Mer, Rgates Corporatives, Monaco Yacht Show. The events are organised with the support of H.S.H. Prince Albert I and of H.S.H. Prince Rainier III. All of these events have display and competitions parts, except for Monaco Yacht Show which is the greatest in-water yacht exhibition in Europe, without competitions show.

So, rich or less rich, you can enjoy for free at least a great show if you happen to be in Monaco at the right time. Welcome aboard!

Laura Ciocan writes for http://www.ilovemontecarlo.com/ where you can find all you want to know about living in Monaco

Please feel free to use this article in your Newsletter or on your website. If you use this article, please include the resource box and send a brief message to let me know where it appeared: mailto:lauracio@gmail.com.

Solent Sailing & Yacht Charter

The Solent is a magnificent sailing playground on the South coast of England between the mainland and the Isle of Wight. Approximately 30 miles long and 3 to 5 miles wide, it encompasses an amazing variety of geography and sailing conditions. You could choose a quiet natural harbour like Newtown Creek nature reserve or a busy cosmopolitan city like Southampton. Nowhere is more than a few sailing hours apart and it is all protected from the worst of any weather by the Island itself. That's not to say there are no challenges for the yacht sailor and for sailing instruction courses there is no better spot to learn due to the wide variety of navigational obstacles some natural and some man made. To give you an idea, here are some of the obstacles that you may find.

· An historic ship wreck
· Tides in excess of 4 knots
· Dangerous rocks
· Ferries
· A curved ledge with a trap in its hook
· High speed catamarans
· Oil tanker and container ships with moving prohibited zones
· An offshore sandbank suitable for hosting a cricket match
· The biggest yacht race in the world
· Radar speed traps
· Pile moorings
· In excess of 30 marinas
· A National Trust nature reserve
· Hovercraft
· Underwater submarine barriers
· Mid channel defensive forts
· Cross Channel ferries
· Ocean going liners
· Warships & a naval dockyard
· A small boat channel
· Fishing vessels
· Active minesweepers
· Floating dead whales
· Railway sleepers adrift
· Lighthouses, lateral buoys, cardinal buoys, safe water and isolated danger marks
· Locks
· Firing range danger area
· Sand bar
· Chain ferry
· Submerged pipelines marked by a fresnal lens

As a result of this variety, the Solent is a paradise for sailors and Cowes at its centre can rightly describe itself as the home of yachting. The annual Cowes week regatta sees the Solent filled with so many yachts, taking part in so many simultaneous yacht races, that its virtually impossible to navigate a straight course. But it is also this huge variety that enables so many sea schools and yacht charter companies to flourish in the area. It may not be as beautiful as the West Coast of Scotland, but I know where I would rather learn or instruct.

Martin Thomas BSc FCA
Commercially endorsed Yachtmaster & Cruising Instructor
Member of the Royal Institute of Navigation
Member of the Royal Naval & Royal Albert Yacht Club
http://www.solentsail.co.uk

Inflatable Dinghies For Yacht Owners

 

Inflatable dinghies work best as sailing boats or as a tender for a yacht. Yacht owners often prefer a dingy that will inflate because traditional dinghies are famous for scratching the side of a yacht. They are ideal as a tender because they are light weight and buoyant. They can be lifted on and off the yacht easily. An inflatable is best for both easy storage and preventing damage to the side of the ship.

A dinghy is a necessity on a sailing vacation. The best sailing dinghy is an inflatable model. The dinghy takes you ashore and allows you to find the best places to explore, places you couldn’t reach in a full sized sail boat. Better materials and construction methods make these dinghies as durable as non inflatable models.

Storing the dingy is easy with an inflatable model. You can deflate the dinghy and store it on the boat. If you will be using it frequently to go back and forth to the shore, it may be better not to keep inflating and deflating it. This can be a hassle, although it doesn’t take much time to accomplish. You can inflate the dinghy for the first trip ashore and then tow it behind the sail boat for the time you will be anchored near shore. They are as easy to tow as traditional sailing dinghies, and neither type should be towed far from shore because weather conditions can be unpredictable.

Because inflatable dinghies require little storage space when deflated, you can easily bring one with you on your next camping trip. Lightweight dinghies are made to fit in a backpack for easy traveling. The lighter weight boats are smaller and seat fewer people, but for a couple or three people, they work best as portable fishing boats or sail boats. The larger inflatables weigh up to fifty pounds, and are more difficult to carry on a camping trip where you will need to carry the dingy for larger distances.

Kevin Urban is the editor for Inflatable-Boats-N-Kayaks.com, a comprehensive resource on the best inflatable boats and kayaks, inflatable fishing boats, sailing catamarans and dinghies.