25 Sept 2013

The MONACO YACHT SHOW is on ...


Aaah, the time of MYS or Monaco Yacht Show has come. And what a show it will be, I know ...|

I recently spoke with an old fisherman from the Croatian coastal town of Rijeka.
He complained how local government promised a new marina at the Delta, a run down part of this industrial town in the North of the country, set in the fabulous Kvarner bay, a number of years ago. It was supposed to attract new businesses, new investments, new mooring for his old barka, a traditional wooden boat used for fishing, so that he and others do not have to duck their heads when heading out into the kvarner and into the open sea.


The whole story was marred by bureaucracy, corruption, lies, promises and money that is there, but always ends in the pockets of a few. His life was supposed to be sweet and healthy, a typical fisherman's dream life with high quality catch, good prices offered by local merchants and plenty of new orders by luxury restaurants spread around the coast. In the past he said, there was a lot of interest from local people, from tourists, from yacht charter guests, from restaurants and from businesses which served or sold fish even though they were based hundreds of miles inland or abroad.

Nowadays, the national government is following a tough line with everyone who does not have a fiscal clarity and selling under the table has just become impossible. Making money by reporting all caught fish is not possible for years by the way. His only option he said was to move abroad, and as a EU citizen he could do so, or start a new business. For moving abroad he lacked language capacity and his age would not help. For starting a business he would need a big capital investment which he didn’t have either. The only realistic hope remaining to him was a change in government or indeed change of corrupt policies and practices in the Croatian society. He said he dreamed of Monaco and the perfection that rules within the principality.

Everything is simple, straight forward and well known there; he said. And there is also opportunity to earn money, so at least he would like to think. I certainly agreed with him on the part of everything being in order in Monaco. And what I mean is the fact that other Boat or Yacht Shows seem to lack something. Something of an x-factor probably. In Genoa it is the time of the year, in Mallorca the fact that boat show is mixed up with a water sport show, in Cannes, Southampton, London, Paris and Duesseldorf the fact they are almost identical in nature or presentation and the feeling one is left with afterwards, is one of emptiness, confusion or even outright frustration. I wonder how much does bureaucracy, corruption and any regulatory burdens are influencing the feel and success of these boat shows ?

This is not the case with the Monaco Yacht SHOW or MYS. In fact, this spectacular yacht show is a success simply for the fact it takes place where it does. The sheer number of yachts adds to the great excitement which one is exposed to from the moment you start packing to go there. I am packing as I write this and cannot wait to park the car in the Grimaldi Forum then head on foot to the Port Hercules, enjoying the lovely views as soon as I walk through the famous tunnel. The bay in front of the port will be full of super yachts, fabulous super yacht tenders and yacht charter crews wherever I fancy taking a look. The port itself will be lined up with the best mega charter yachts of the world and huge number of potential buyers, yacht charterers and super yacht crews will be there for me to admire. I look forward to visiting the fabulous 86m Quattroelle from Luerssen shipyard, as well as the 45m Latitude or fabulous 47m Palmer Johnson’s Blue Ice.

I genuinely hope you will be there too and that we will meet one day in order to discuss the latest news in the super yacht world. Given that we at SuperSailYachts.com are making a great new success in the super yacht charter market by expanding the number of boats on offer, publishing new information on a daily basis and are serving the mega yacht charter clientele in ever greater numbers, we hope that you will have the chance to enjoy our super or value service one day too.

Let's connect at MYS and enjoy the best yacht show and least corrupt government in the world.

SuperSailYachts.com

11 Sept 2013

SuperSailYachts - Super Yacht Charter Guide



Super Yacht Charter Guide blog



Deciding on a super yacht for your next luxury crewed charter holiday can be a daunting task. Here at SuperSailYachts, for that reason only, we have put together an eight step guide to help you narrow down your options and find you your perfect charter.

So … what next …

You have decided on the luxurious getaway of chartering a super yacht, but what are the next steps in making this decision a reality?  From researching on the web or at the next major boat show, to relaxing on an elegant super yacht, cocktail in hand, enjoying the stunning scenery you are cruising around can be a daunting task.  Let us make it very simple and much easier for you.
 As super yacht agents we will have your interest at heart without the need or pressure to offer you one specific boat because we have to.  For that reason, simply contact us now to discuss your requirements and preferences.  In the meantime, follow these eight steps to help you discover your ideal charter yacht:

Setting your budget:
For a start , the size of a super yacht is normally a good indication of how much your desired yacht charter holiday will cost.  On top, a classic yacht or a luxury gullet, is more than likely to cost much less than a modern designer yacht .   You also need to consider extra costs which on a super yacht with 3 powerful engines can be substantial, while on a supersail yacht where engine will be used mainly to get in and out of marinas, these costs are considerably lower.

Decide on Destination:
Yachts normally charter in set destinations such as the Eastern or Western Mediterranean. Other popular destinations include Florida, the Caribbean and the Bahamas, British Columbia and Alaska and some more remote locations such as Thailand and the Seychelles.  At times, the owner will accept challenging itineraries such as Venice – Dubrovnik or even Venice -  Monaco, yet the utmost care will be given to safety first, relaxation and enjoyment second.  The duration of such yacht charters is therefore a key.

Number of guests & cabin configuration:
First, you will need to know the number of guests that will be invited on board of your super yacht in order to work out cabin requirements.  Super yachts with master suite and twin cabins area a great choice for small families.  For group charters or larger families additional VIP stateroom as well as at least one or two double cabins may be better option.   With more complex groups, use of a number of twin cabins or flexible accommodation with Pullman berths will be needed in order to sleep all guests in comfort.  Some yachts are also perfect for a group of friends such as four or five couples; others have a fully flexible accommodation so that cabin layout can be changed to accommodate your specific group.  In any case, once the budget and destination of your choice are chosen, we can provide a list of all super yachts available for yacht charter locally and then choose the best or most suitable model.

Facilities:
You will probably have your own list of requirements in terms of what is important to you. Prioritised facilities usually include well-equipped master cabin, extensive range of water toys and zero speed stabilizers for comfort both at sea as well as at anchor.  If taking children with you, it is important to consider facilities to keep them occupied.   A number of entertainment systems such as a cinema, playstation as well as water sports are to be sure to do this.  Some super yachts are also more suitable for children simply because certain yachts are both well experienced to handle such charters and prefer to have parties with children on board.  Other superyachts on the other hand will not accept yacht charters with kids on board simply because of the owners wish, the set up of the crew or the area in which they sail during particular period of time.

Type of a superyacht:
There are various types of super yachts to choose from.  These are motor yachts, sailing yachts, power catamarans and sailing catamarans as well as gullets and motor sailors.  Which one will be most suitable for your next yacht charter holiday, it will probably depend on your own desires but also on availability of such yachts locally.

Crew:
All super yachts come with crew, be it only three members whom are to be found on some sailing catamarans or smaller motor yachts or thirty plus, which are found on some of the largest, billionaire superyachts of this world.  Professional crew members are on board to provide a variety of services from chef to fitness trainer to bodyguard.  They are always carefully chosen and vetted and very well qualified so that your stay on board is as good as in any 5, 6 or 7 star hotel.

Food and Drink:
Matching the skills of the chef to the palette of the charter guests is very important. Chefs on board of a super yacht are well trained and use excellent quality produce from the areas your charter yacht cruises to, creating delicious menus.   In some cases, choosing a specific chef before deciding on a yacht can also be your first choice when planning your next luxury crewed charter.   Chefs are therefore very important and although very flexible to accommodate all your wishes, they are most of the time specialised in one or two specific type so cooking ie. Italian.  Yacht provisioning is always taken very seriously and is either done by the crew and chef themselves or by professional yachting supply companies.  In both cases, your wishes and desires are fully considered before anything is ordered, taken on board or served on the table during your luxury crewed charter.

Itineraries and berth reservations:
For every booking, we will create a unique, tailor made super yacht charter itinerary to match your desires, requirements and preferences.  Berth reservations in marinas along the way can also be made, sometimes in advance, most of the time on a last minute basis through the captain or chief stewardess.  We are also always standing by to ensure you are able to get in a location of your choice, for example in St Tropez old harbour during busy August holidays, Port Hercules in Monaco during F1 Grand Prix or Cannes old harbour during Cannes Film Festival.

Contact us at Super Sail Yachts:
Our expert and knowledgeable team will assist you with any queries and questions regarding your ideal charter and will help you with all requirements to help find your perfect charter yacht!  We will also provide super yacht service to match anything you are used to in the past or best value service to provide both best service possible as well as best value on the super yacht charter market.

You can also see a more formal advice regarding super yacht charter on our web site at SuperSailYachts Charter Guide