CharterWave eNewsJuly 2008
 Large Motoryachts Dominate Newport Charter Show
Seven motoryachts larger than 120 feet—and four of those larger than 143 feet—swelled the docks at June’s annual, industry-only charter yacht show in Newport, Rhode Island. The show, which typically hosts smaller yachts and a good number of sailboats, was predominantly power-based this year. Only six sailboats registered amid the 25 motoryachts on display.
The biggest motoryacht in the show was the 165-foot Oceanfast Mystique, part of the fleet at Fraser Yachts Worldwide. It’s a 1988 build that got a new owner a few months ago and is entering charter for the first time, according to the stewardess who was giving tours. Mystique was docked right next to the 130-foot Sojourn, a custom one-off that’s also part of the Fraser fleet. Built in 1999, she’s been in charter for the past few years on the California coast. She has been lovingly maintained by her original owner—and had a lot of brokers offering compliments on the docks.
At the other end of the motoryacht size spectrum in Newport was the Fleming 55 motoryacht Fabiola II, part of the fleet at Neptune Group Yachting. She entered the charter market just a week before the Newport show, offering a nicely maintained interior at just $11,000 plus expenses for four guests.
“From the biggest to the smallest yachts, there were a lot of great charter vessels at this year’s show,” CharterWave editor Kim Kavin says. “Unfortunately for the market—but fortunately for charter clients—I heard a lot of talk about how most of these yachts still have summer availability. The New England charter market seems even slower this year than last year, which means last-minute inquires are most certainly going to be welcome for yachts in all size ranges.”
 Brokers Swamped with Discount Charter Offers
Several reputable charter brokers on the docks at the Newport charter show reported “being swamped,” as one put it, with offers to book charters this summer at discounted rates from Maine to the Mediterranean.
“I’m getting several e-mails a day,” one broker said, lamenting the fact that her U.S. clients simply weren’t interested in chartering in the Mediterranean because of the weak U.S. economy and the strong euro. “It’s like we can’t give these charter yachts away.”
On a similar note, a few brokers mentioned that rising airfare costs seem to be affecting the smaller-crewed-yacht market in the Virgin Islands and Caribbean, making it financially difficult for clients to book the same $20,000 to $30,000 charters that they have booked in the past. Fears are that this trend will worsen into the upcoming winter season, thus leaving Virgin Islands and Caribbean yachts sitting idle just like some of their sisterships are doing in New England and the Mediterranean this summer.
 Feadship Opens Charter Division
As we first reported on the CharterWave Editor’s Blog, the Dutch boatbuilder Feadship has opened its own charter division.
The new division will operate out of Feadship’s office in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. DJ Kiernan, who will head up the new division, told CharterWave that one of its goals will be to offer charters to prospective Feadship buyers on more “gentleman’s terms” than typical charter contracts provide.
So far, the Feadship charter fleet consists of one yacht: the F45 Vantage Harle. It booked its first charter through the company last Easter.
 U.S. Bill Aims to Improve Cruise Ship Safety
On June 25, U.S. Senator John Kerry, D-Massachusetts, introduced legislation titled the Cruise Vessel Security and Safety Act of 2008. If enacted as law, it would:
• require cruise ships to report crimes to the U.S. Coast Guard and Federal Bureau of Investigation;
• require cruise ships to carry medications that prevent sexually transmitted diseases following sexual assaults;
• require cruise ships to carry medical kits that would determine whether patients had been raped;
• mandate an increase in the height of most guard rails;
• require that peep holes be installed on guest cabin doors;
• require technology to notify the crew when passengers fall overboard;
• require the cruise ship indusstry to publicly post statistics about crimes committed onboard;
• require crime scene training for crew members;
• enforce existing environmental rules and regulations.
The legislation followed a previous week’s hearings chaired by Kerry, Rep. Christopher Shays, R-Connecticut, and Rep. Doris Matsui, D-California. It was at least the third set of cruise ship crime hearings before U.S. congressional committees in as many years.
“Murky legal jurisdictions in international waters are no longer an excuse for failing to report serious crimes so that they may be effectively prosecuted,” Kerry stated. “ If U.S. passengers are at risk, then U.S. law should hold the [cruise ship] industry accountable for their safety.”
 New Vidcast: In the Galley Onboard Maraya
Chef Lindsay Wilson graciously allowed us to videotape him preparing a three-course luncheon for charter guests onboard the new 177-foot motoryacht Maraya. Watch his chocolate soufflé go from oven to table, and see exactly what kind of food presentation you can expect onboard this 300,000-euro-per-week motoryacht, in our exclusive vidcast.
Best of the CharterWave Editor’s Blog
New Feature: Boat Show Reports. I have slowly but surely been working on adding a new section to CharterWave, and I think it’s now ready for its public debut. It’s called Boat Show Reports and will feature interviews with reputable charter brokers who attend boat shows and charter events. … Read more …
Best of the Sponsored Blogs
From the V.I. Sailing Blog: Details About AA Cuts. Details have emerged of the cuts to be implemented by American Airlines on its Caribbean routes as it grapples with record-high fuel prices. Most of the cuts appear to originate from the San Juan hub, involving both AA and its commuter arm, American Eagle. This means almost all destinations are affected. … Read more …
 Crewed Motoryacht of the Month: Hokulani
Looking to go nearly 30 knots in a sexy 150-foot machine? This “metallic olive gold” motoryacht is just the ticket, complete with pirate flag mounted proudly on the bow.
We got onboard the Palmer Johnson Hokulani for a firsthand tour with the captain in Genoa, Italy.
Here’s our exclusive First Impression review.
 Crewed Sailing Yacht of the Month: Titan XIV
It’s hard to get onboard the 115-foot sailing yacht Titan XIV because she’s always so darn booked solid with charters. Her appearance at the Newport, Rhode Island, charter show in June was a rarity, and we were thrilled for the opportunity to interview Capt. Peter Pexton before taking a firsthand tour.
Here’s our exclusive First Impression review.
 Captain of the Month:
Virginia Wagner
Virginia Wagner is one among a handful of female charter captains in the worldwide industry. She’s now bringing her big-boat expertise to the 65-foot sailing catamaran True North, which she joined in May and is preparing to do her first charter aboard this summer in New England.
Learn more about that, and about Wagner’s background in the boating business, by reading our exclusive interview.
 Chef of the Month: Lindsay Wilson
From a four-year apprenticeship in Australia to England's Isle of Wight to a job in the galley onboard a brand-new, top-dollar, 177-foot motoryacht—Lindsay Wilson has seen quite a bit of the cooking world. His gourmet treats were a hit at the industry-only Genoa charter show in May, including a chocolate fondant that left brokers raving (and, in some cases, practically drooling).
Click here to read our exclusive interview with Wilson, or click here to watch our vidcast of him at work in the galley onboard Maraya. (And yes, we do have some shots of that fabulous chocolate fondant!)
 Broker of the Month: Carolyn Titus
With nearly 30 years' experience in the worldwide yachting industry, Carolyn Titus knows how to book charters onboard everything from luxury motoryachts to racing sailboats. She recently left her own company to join Northrop & Johnson Worldwide Yacht Charters in Newport, Rhode Island, where she will do everything from booking charter vacations to helping manage charter yachts in the company's new and growing fleet.
Our exclusive interview with Carolyn is online here.
Fleet and Management Company News
37 South, in conjunction with Fraser Yachts Worldwide, is offering the 107-foot Codecasa motoryacht Bolicondorian for charters in Fiji. The yacht recently completed a rebuild of all systems, a refit of exterior paint and interior furnishings, and the addition of zero-speed stabilizers and onboard WiFi. She takes eight guests with four crew… The 86-foot powercatamaran Bel’Mare is still available for August charters in Turkey and Greece…
Absolute Yachting in Greece says the price has been reduced onboard the 80-foot Falcon motoryacht Ellinia. Her lowest weekly base rate, previously 33,600, is now 30,100 for August and 28,000 euro for July and September… New to the fleet (and accepting last-minute bookings) is the 98-foot motoryacht Nitta V, which takes 10 guests with five or six crew at a lowest weekly base rate of 52,500…
Athens Yachts says the 110-foot Cantieri de Pisa motoryacht Astir has completed a refit. Her weekly base rate is 74,500 euro. … The 115-foot CRN motoryacht Ragazza and the 80-foot Mangusta motoryacht Chrysanthe S both have nearly wide-open calendars for charter bookings this summer…
BCR Yachts says the 118-foot motoryacht Sunliner X is open for last-minute inquiries with plenty of summer availability still left. She’s based in Antibes, France. … The 85-foot motoryacht Indulgence of Poole has a wide-open calendar and is available for charters after July 21 in the Mediterranean… The 78-foot sailing yacht Midnight Sun of London is offering a 500-euro bonus to brokers who book charters onboard this summer in the Eastern Mediterranean… The 65-foot Oyster sailing yacht Blue Destiny, new to the fleet, has reduced its weekly base rate to 18,000 euro for six guests with two crew in the Western Mediterranean…
Blue Latitude Yachting has four yachts, each taking eight guests, available for Christmas and New Year’s charters. Matira and Tahuata will be in the Caribbean; Ocean’s Seven will be in the British Virgin Islands; and Emotion2 will be in the Maldives…
BoatBookings.com, the CharterWave home page sponsor, has opened an office in Mauritius. The office will focus on booking charters in Mauritius, the Seychelles, the Maldives, and Madagascar…
Burgess Yachts, in conjunction with the Dutch builder Feadship, has released details about the 200-foot motoryacht Secret, which launched in 2007. She takes 12 guests with 16 crew at a lowest weekly base rate of 371,000 euro. Her base this summer is the Mediterranean…
Camper & Nicholsons International says the 112-foot motoryacht Symphony II is heading to the ABC islands this summer. (That’s Aruba, Bonaire, and Curacao, in the Southern Caribbean.) She takes eight guests with five crew at a lowest weekly base rate of $49,500. Symphony II plans to head to Alaska in 2009…
Churchill Yacht Partners says the 95-foot Feadship motoryacht Zazu has completed an extensive, 10-month refit of major systems and metalwork, as well as interior and exterior cosmetics. She is now available for charter in the Turks & Caicos Islands, after which she will be based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The lowest weekly base rate for six guests is $29,500, and the all-new crew includes a massage therapist… The 121-foot motoryacht Olga will be available for charter in the Virgin Islands beginning July 7. She takes eight guests with five crew at a lowest weekly base rate of $65,000. Olga will cruise south from the Virgins this summer, arriving in Trinidad by the end of August…
Edmiston & Company welcomes the 154-foot sailing yacht Scheherazade to the fleet. She takes six guests at a lowest weekly base rate of 85,000 euro in the Mediterranean…
Folio Charter, which offers yachts built by The Ferretti Group under the brand names Ferretti, Pershing, and more, has appointed Puck Yachts & Charter as a subdivision in Italy…
Fraser Yachts Worldwide announces that senior charter broker Jan Henry, who is based in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, has been appointed president of the American Yacht Charter Association.
Henry (shown in the photograph at left) has nearly 30 years’ experience in the yachting industry, including six years as an AYCA Board member…
Hargrave Yacht Charters says the 94-foot motoryacht Sassy is available for charters beginning July 3 in the British Virgin Islands. She takes 11 guests with four crew at a lowest weekly base rate of $38,000… The 115-foot Missy B II is available in the Florida and Bahamas, taking eight guests with six crew at a lowest weekly base rate of $54,000…
International Yacht Collection welcomes five new yachts to its fleet. The 88-foot Serenity Atlantic is available in the Western Mediterranean at a lowest weekly base rate of 48,000 euro. The 125-foot Cheoy Lee motoryacht Namoh takes 10 guests with seven crew at a lowest weekly base rate of $125,000 this summer in New England. The 112-foot Westport motoryacht Kelly Sea is also in New England this summer at a lowest weekly base rate of $49,500. The 112-foot Westport motoryacht Lucky Seven takes eight guests with four crew at a lowest weekly base rate of $42,500 this summer in the Bahamas. Last but not least, the 80-foot motoryacht La Dolce Vita takes six guests with two crew at a lowest weekly base rate of $27,500 in the Bahamas this summer…
Merrill-Stevens Yachts has appointed Fort Lauderdale-based Lynette Hendry to handle retail charter booking requests. Hendry will work in partnership with broker Marta Inglesias, who remains based in Palma de Mallorca, Spain…
Neptune Group Yachting is offering a “Newport Boat Show” special rate on the 62-foot Fairline motoryacht Lady Z through July 31. The special rate for four to six guests is $19,500, plus expenses, in New England… New to the fleet is the 55-foot Fleming motoryacht Fabiola II, which takes four guests with two crew at a lowest weekly base rate of $11,000. She, too, is in New England this summer… The 170-foot expedition motoryacht Latitude is available for summer charters in and around Panama at a reduced weekly base rate of $100,000 for any charters confirmed by August 15 (excluding Christmas and New Year’s week)… Also new to the fleet is the 78-foot Hattaras motoryacht Bella Sophia, located year-round in the Bahamas at a lowest weekly base rate of $16,000…
Nicholson Yachts has three sailing yachts available for charter this summer in the Mediterranean. The 81-foot Capercaille takes two to six guests at weekly base rates from 24,000 to 26,000 euro, and is available in the Western Mediterranean after July 3. The 80-foot Coconut takes six guests at a weekly base rate of 19,000 euro, and is also available in the Western Mediterranean. The 70-foot Mira takes two to six guests at weekly base rates from 16,000 to 18,000 euro, and is available in Croatia… The 58-foot sailing catamaran Alidade is offering a 10-percent discount on all charters in the Caribbean between July and October…
 Northrop & Johnson says the 145-foot Christensen Aghassi will be available for charters in Alaska beginning in August. She takes 10 guests at a lowest weekly base rate of $170,000… The 87-foot sailing yacht Jess-Sea (shown in the photo at left) is available for charters this summer in Western Mexico, based in the area that includes Baja, La Paz, and Cabo San Lucas. She takes eight guests at a weekly base rate of $30,000…
Ocean Independence reports that the 228-foot Nomad (formerly Floridian and Aussie Rules) is back in the charter market after an extensive refit. She’ll be in the Mediterranean this summer and the Caribbean this winter, taking 12 guests…
Primo Yacht Charter says all offers are being considered for bookings onboard the 147-foot Feadship motoryacht Secret Life, which is available near Naples, Capri, and Rome in Italy. The yacht, which now has WiFi onboard and new carpeting on the main deck, is advertised at a lowest weekly base rate of 90,000 euro… New to the fleet is the 88-foot Pershing motoryacht Alven 24, a 2003 build that was refit this year. She is based in Rome, Italy, and takes eight guests with four crew at a lowest weekly base rate of 50,000 euro… Also new to the fleet is the 92-foot Mangusta motoryacht Number Five, based in the South of France. She takes eight guests with four crew at a lowest weekly base rate of 60,000 euro… Three more new-to-fleet yachts are the Baglietto 115 motoryacht Pure Insanity, based in Monaco; the Peri 29 Bibich, based in the South of France; and the Princess 95 motoryacht Mimi La Sardine…
Queen of Andaman, a 134-foot classic-style sailing yacht, has launched and is en route to Indonesia to begin offering charters. She will remain there until early this fall, when she is scheduled to cruise through Singapore and Malaysia on her way back to Myanmar…
R.N.R. Charters is back in full-time business now that owner Ray “Rags” Weldon has left Ocean Independence to re-start his own booking agency in Florida. …
Seascape Yacht Charters in Greece says the 78-foot motoryacht Hanja is available for the entire months of July and August. She has a weekly base rate of 32,000 euro and takes eight guests with four crew… Also available in July and August is the 75-foot Maiora motoryacht Kavouras, taking eight guests at a lowest weekly base rate of 35,000…
Sunreef Yachts Charter has had a cancellation onboard the 62-foot sailing catamaran Anassa. The yacht is now available for charter from August 8 to 22 in Greece. Her home base is Athens, and her weekly rate is 22,000 euro plus expenses… The 74-foot sailing catamaran Che is available from August 21 to 28 in Nosy Be, Madagascar, for six guests with four crew at a base rate of 34,545 euro…
Sunseeker Charters is promoting six motoryachts in the Western Mediterranean this summer. The 60-foot Alannah Rose is cruising the French and Italian Rivieras; the 75-foot New Beginnings and Tinkerbell Rose are cruising the French Riviera and Amalfi Coast; the 82-foot Low Profile is cruising the French Riviera; and the 90-foot Fire & Ice and In All Fairness are cruising the French Riviera… Coming into the fleet at the end of July in the South of France is a 105-foot motoryacht…
Nautor's Swan says the 82-foot sailing yacht Nikata is still available for charters in July along the French and Italian Rivieras…
The Sacks Group Yachting Professionals says the 140-foot Monaliza has become the first Westship motoryacht to earn commercial registration. Some 74 changes were made to achieve this designation, including raising safety railings and updating safety manuals. The new designation allows Monaliza to charter in the Mediterranean, taking 10 guests with eight crew at a lowest weekly base rate of 100,000 euro…
Virgin Islands Charter League member yacht Irie, a 75-foot Irwin sailing yacht, now has a scuba diving instructor onboard. Longtime first mate Derek Hall recently earned his PADI certificate, and thus Irie is now offering scuba lessons in addition to recreation for certified divers.
New First Impression Reviews Posted on CharterWave This Month:
Cristalex, 100-foot motoryacht
Fabiola II, 55-foot motoryacht
Hokulani, 150-foot motoryacht
ReAction, 55-foot sailing catamaran
Starship, 143-foot motoryacht
Sudami, 111-foot motoryacht
Titan XIV, 115-foot sailing yacht
New Crew Interviews Posted on CharterWave This Month:
Captain Virginia Wagner, 65-foot sailing catamaran True North
Chef Lindsay Wilson, 177-foot motoryacht Maraya
New Broker Interview Posted on CharterWave This Month:
Carolyn Titus, Northrop & Johnson Worldwide Yacht Charters
New Vidcast Posted on CharterWave This Month:
In the galley with chef Lindsay Wilson onboard the 177-foot motoryacht Maraya
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