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August 10, 2010

Here's an outstanding offer on a luxury motor yacht in the Bahamas:
111.5' / 34m Motor Yacht SUDAMI
Built 2007 by Inace.  10 guests in 5 staterooms
Charter one week at $68,500 plus 4% tax and expenses, get a second week FREE. Your first week must be used between now and October, and the second week can be taken until May 2011, excluding holidays.
 

July 13, 2010
 

New:  California Yacht Charters

New:  Turkey Yacht Charters
 

June, 16, 2010
 

Here's a stunning value on a luxury motor yacht in Croatia:
97' Motor Yacht ANNABEL II
Horizon, built 2009, 8-10 guests in 4 staterooms
June + September: EUR 42,500 discounted 30% to EUR 29,750 per week + all expenses
July + August: EUR 50,000 discounted 30% to EUR 35,000 per week + all expenses


June 3, 2010
 

Summer is officially here, and here are some new options just added:

PACIFIC NW:  65' Classic yacht DEANZA III, 4 guests, $32,667/week
PACIFIC NW:  92' Classic yacht OLYMPUS, 8 guests, $37,333/week
PACIFIC NW:  55' Sailing yacht EPILOGUE, 6 guests, $6,125 - $12,950/week
 
And for 2011, a new option in Alaska:
74.7' Classic yacht PACIFIC CATALYST, 12 guests
ALASKA: $38,000 "7 days, 6 nights"
INSIDE PASSAGE: $39,000 "11 days, 10 nights"
SAN JUAN ISLANDS in September: $14,400 for "6 days, 5 nights"
Included: Yacht, crew, meals, beer and wine.
Not Included: Customary crew gratuity, fishing licenses, liquor and spirits

 

April 6, 2010
 

83' Motor Yacht MORNING MIST charters for up to 6 guests in the San Juan Islands of Washington State, and can extend into Southern British Columbia, Canada.  Jack and Tricia have added a free dockside sleep aboard night with 4+ nights of charter, and added new less expensive charter options that reduce the weekly rate from $17,500 with 3 crew down to $11,000 with 2 crew, plus some expenses.


February 4, 2010

Ever wondered what chartering a yacht in Alaska? Check out this Alaska Yacht Charter video.

ALASKAN STORY takes 9 guests in 4 cabins plus a TV lounge.  This is an ideal yacht for Alaska. Geoff and Debbie are legends in the Alaska charter business. Remaining dates for Summer 2010:

* Late April / early May: Seattle to Alaska Inside Passage
* May 10–16, a superb time to see Glacier Bay (yacht has permits)
* June 2-8
* August 21+

 

January 25, 2010

Motor Yacht NORTHERN SONG has new rates for Alaska in Summer 2010:

PRIVATE CHARTER with INCLUSIVE RATES:
1-4 guests: $24,500 - 7 nights on yacht
5 guests: $27,500 - 7 nights on yacht
6 guests: $30,500 - 7 nights on yacht
7 guests: $33,500 - 7 nights on yacht
8 guests: $36,500 - 7 nights on yacht
9 guests: $39,500 - 7 nights on yacht

6 NIGHTS PRORATED:
1-4 guests: $21,000 - 6 nights on yacht
5 guests: $23,571 - 6 nights on yacht
6 guests: $26,143 - 6 nights on yacht
7 guests: $28,714 - 6 nights on yacht
8 guests: $31,286 - 6 nights on yacht
9 guests: $33,857 - 6 nights on yacht

The Charter Fee includes standard meals, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, house beer and wine; taxes; yacht fuel for cruising up to 6 hours per day at 7.5 knots averaged over the charter; generator fuel; tender fuel.

The Charter Fee does not include fishing licenses; spirits/hard liquor; fine wine upgrades; yacht fuel for additional cruising time or cruising at higher speeds; special request food and non-alcoholic beverages; guest communications; guest laundry; dockage.

A few weeks are also available BY THE CABIN:
7 nights/8 days
Various itineraries between Juneau, Sitka, Petersburg and Ketchikan.
* Master Stateroom: $12,000
* Standard Stateroom: $10,000 for two guests, $12,000 for three guests
* Age 16+, unless otherwise agreed.
* Staterooms are 50% to reserve, balance due 3 months before charter.
 

December 14, 2009

Hi from New York City, on my way back from the Antigua Charter Yacht Show, where I viewed a vast array of crewed yachts available in the Caribbean this season, from $6,500/week up to new super yachts.  It's best to inquire as there are several hundred yachts not shown online, but you can Search for Caribbean Yachts, or Browse Caribbean Yachts.  From both pages, click each yacht photo or name for details.
Michael Sawyer
 

December 4, 2009

WESTERN GRACE is offering Pacific Ocean sailing passages.  Book a cabin from $2,750 per person, total, for the entire voyage.

  • Puerto Vallarta Mexico to Hawaii,  Jan 21 - Feb 14: 3 berths available
  • Hawaii - Papeete, French Polynesia, Feb 22 -  Mar 15: 2 berths available
  • Bora Bora, French Polynesia to Honolulu, Apr 1 - 21: 2 berths available
  • Honolulu to Victoria BC, Apr 28 - May 22: 4 berths available


November 13, 2009

I have just returned from 10 days in the British and US Virgin Islands.  I personally inspected over 100 charter yachts in the BVI and USVI.  Simply stated, the Virgin Islands offer superb value in yachts and crews.  We can frequently offer you owner-operators, and contractually guarantee they will personally act as your crew.  There are a number of impressive brand new yachts, and some new yachts to charter that are offering amazing values.  You can Search for Caribbean Yachts, or Browse Caribbean Yachts.  From both pages, click each yacht photo or name for details.
Michael Sawyer


September 1, 2009

I have just returned from 10 days in Fiji, cruising aboard South Pacific motor yachts Vvs1 and Bel'Mare.  Here's an interview about the trip:

How did you find the island culture in Fiji compared with other charter destinations?
    The local culture is unsurpassed. Experiencing a welcoming ceremony with rich singing and dancing is spectacular. People are genuine and extend a warm, heartfelt welcome.

You traveled to Fiji from Vancouver, Canada.  How long did your travel take, and how might charter clients make the trip easiest?
    I flew nonstop approximately 10½  hours on Air Pacific from Los Angeles, departing Los Angeles at 11:30 p.m.  On arrival, I transferred to a hotel in the Denarau Island resort area in about 30 minutes.  
    This is logistically convenient and connects with a lovely hot air balloon experience, but the manmade island has beaches that are just okay, and the water off the beaches does not really beckon.  Alternately, one could arrive to an island resort with lovely beaches, swimming, and snorkeling. We could look at flight arrival times and the interests of the party to make the most of their time before boarding their charter yacht.

Were the Mamanucas and Yasawas what you expected?

    I had few expectations, as historically there have been few yacht charter options in Fiji.  
    Fiji is a vast cruising ground, with five major areas offering different attributes.  Selecting the best area to fit the charter party’s interests would be important.
    The Mamanucas are very close to Denarau. We cruised about two hours, then stopped and enjoyed a spectacular snorkel along a reef, and we snorkeled directly off the anchored yacht. Seeing the island used in the Tom Hanks movie “Castaway” was quite interesting.  
    The Yasawas are a world-class cruising ground. The scenery is mountainous and combines lovely golden grasses with lush vegetation. Our late-August travel dates were during Fiji’s winter, with modestly high temperatures by day and cool temperatures at night. I was able to sleep with my hotel door open, and a hatch open in my stateroom on the boat, which was very nice.
    We covered all this in a short period with a fair amount of cruising, but one could position the yacht in a prime location and arrive or depart by seaplane to reduce the cruising time and distance.

How did you find the actual cruising in these islands compared with other charter destinations?
     It’s lovely, and so uncrowded! Some nights, you can have an entire stunning bay to yourself.  This combination of world-class quality and off-the-beaten-track atmosphere is fantastic.
Tell me your favorite two things about Bel’Mare.
The crew are utterly charming, and will win your hearts.
    Bel’Mare is a large, fast, stable catamaran. Fast cruising at up to 20 knots saves considerable running time in the vast areas of Fiji. The boat's stability allows consideration of a wider variety of anchorages, including some highly remote locations. Screening a movie outdoors on a 100-inch projector screen is a perfect way to complete a day!

Tell me your favorite two things about Bel’Mare’s crew.
    Bel’Mare’s crew members are gracious and elegant. They serenade you with lovely singing, and extend a warm welcome. They welcomed us aboard with a ceremony where we drank kava together.
    I was greatly impressed with Capt. Neal Adams, who looked after countless details for us all, both before boarding and during the charter.  Neal has a keen sense of humor and is a continual delight to chat with in any setting.

What was the best part of your charter in Fiji?
    Getting to know a new, world-class cruising ground, and having world-class yachting experiences on Bel’Mare and the 112-foot Alloy motoryacht VvS1, which cruised with us in this exotic setting (see photo below). I also spent a full day on VvS1, diving with its dive instructor, having lunch, cruising all afternoon, and visiting with Capt. Andy Grocott, so I can contrast the two charter experiences precisely for clients seeking different types of boats and crews in the same location.  
    From the hot air balloon ride before boarding, to stunning island scenery with rich cultural experiences above the water, to lovely snorkeling and diving below the water, Fiji has it all—provided you are willing to spend the time to get there. New legislation is opening Fiji to new charter yachts, but for now, I recommend both Bel’Mare and VvS1 on my website.
If time allows, take a day or two ashore before boarding your boat to adjust to the travel time and time zone change. This makes great sense to me. You can rest and be richly entertained in a beautiful place.
Michael Sawyer

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