Yacht Charter Destination: Monaco

Monaco is a must-visit destination during any yacht charter itinerary that includes the French Riviera, the charter heart of the western Mediterranean. Start in St. Tropez and then cruise east along the mainland coast of France to Cannes, Antibes, Nice, and Villefranche, ending at Monaco’s Port Hercules—the gateway to one of the finest cities not only on the Côte d’Azur, but anywhere in the world. Monaco is a sovereign state less than a single square mile in size, smaller only than Vatican City among all recognized independent nations around the globe. Monaco’s lack of income tax, superb banking facilities, high-end real estate, and superyacht marina infrastructure make it a haven for millionaires and billionaires, who, on a per-capita basis, are more prevalent in Monaco than in anywhere else on the planet.

As your charter yacht pulls in, you may recognize the port area from films like the James Bond thriller GoldenEye and the action-packed Iron Man II, both of which show off the breathtaking scenery of the superyacht-packed marina. Iron Man II, actually, takes place during Monaco’s Historic Grand Prix, an annual event that sees classic racecars zipping through the streets two weeks before the modern Formula One speedsters arrive for the Monaco Grand Prix. Both events usher in the Mediterranean charter season each spring, luring the newest and most spectacular megayachts that money can buy.
Given Monaco’s size, it is an eminently walkable destination. The Casino de Monte Carlo is the first place that you should visit. It originally opened in 1858 and is still operating in the same breathtaking building with stunning fountains leading to the entrance. The casino looks like a palace both inside and out, and, interestingly, is open only to tourists. Residents of Monaco are stopped at the door and forbidden from gambling. (Not that they have much to complain about, since the lucrative casino business is what led to Monaco eliminating its income tax more than a century ago.)
The Monte Carlo Opera House is also an architectural stunner, originally built in the late 1800s and most recently renovated in 2005. Classics by Verdi, Puccini, and Bellini can sometimes be found on the seasonal calendar of performances, if you are interested in taking in a show. The opera house is worth a visit even if the stage is dark, too, simply for a chance to appreciate the building’s beauty.
Larvotto Beach is popular with residents and tourists alike, with many of the locals accustomed to the option of sunbathing topless. Other beaches along the French Riviera have more sand than the pebble-filled Larvotto, but this beach is easy to reach from town and fun for an afternoon of playing in the water and people-watching.
On not-so-sunny days, options in Monaco include visiting the Oceanographic Museum and Aquarium, touring the Prince’s Palace and Napoleon Museum, observing a moment of silence at the grave of Grace Kelly at Monaco Cathedral, or touring the Museum of Antique Automobiles that was created by Prince Rainier III. Whichever of these options appeal to you, one thing is for sure: Monaco is a destination that's not to be missed.

Portofino: Perfect Port on the Italian Riviera

There's a reason why Portofino makes most lists of perfect charter getaways. This Italian Riviera port has it all: a moonshaped harbor, lots of boat traffic, and historic architecture including a 16th century castle.

Portofino, one of the most charming ports in the entire Mediterranean, is a half moon shaped seaside village lined with pastel houses.

No matter the size of visiting yacht, there is always room for tenders and small fishing boats on the gentle sloping sands of the harbor.

Narrow stone-lined streets and twisting cobble paths burst with flowers, and hanging plants. Small shops and outside dining verandas just a shout from the harbor give the town a personal, intimate feeling.

Lush hillsides host an array of hotels and restaurants with a simple village ambiance, while the moorings and stern-to dockage make it one of the most desirable ports on the Italian Riviera.

Lagoon 52: Four Cabin Charter Catamaran

The Catamaran Company, which both sells and charters sailing catamarans, has a new flagship that will be sailing out of their base at Hodges Creek Marina on Tortola in the British Virgin Islands. The 2013 Lagoon 52 has a four-cabin and four-head layout, and will be available for charter in October.

The newly-introduced model, designed by naval architects Van Peteghem-Lauriot Prévost (VPLP), has quite a few innovative features including comfort and performance elements we’ve not seen before—but which certainly make sense. The mast has been set farther aft, like on racing cats, which has multiple advantages including less pitching, a smaller and therefore more manageable mainsail that’s easier to reef, and more room on the foredeck which now includes a second cockpit.

The shorter boom creates a higher aspect ratio main which is less susceptible to the effects of “dirty” or disturbed air from the headsail. It also allows for more versatile headsail configurations that now include a self-tacking jib or genoa, a Code 0, and a large spinnaker for blasting downwind even in light air. With the weight of the rig moved farther aft, the design of the hulls has changed as well, making them fuller in the aft sections but finer in the entry so the boat slices through chop and will theoretically point higher. Long fixed keels and elliptical rudders help the boat track well. According to Lagoon, a 20-percent increase in performance is expected over the 52’s predecessor, the Lagoon 500.

Control of the big cat is relatively intuitive from the helm station on the fly bridge, which is accessed on one side from the cockpit and on the other side from the deck. All lines are led to three winches positioned just aft of the mast. Because the winches are close to the mast, the lines are short, thereby reducing friction. A unique tilting pedestal swings the wheel right or left of center by about a foot and presumably affords the helmsman the choice to steer more from leeward or windward. However, the boat is wide and the visibility from the raised station is already good so it remains to be seen if this feature will be useful or just interesting.
What is very useful up here are the cushions that form the large settee behind the helm. Their Velcro attachments can be reconfigured so the backrests may be moved around for different lounging options. Even the cabin hatches serve a comfort purpose: when raised, each forms the back of an aft-facing chaise.

The cockpit is level with the salon and includes a fridge, an ice maker and a dinette, where the table can be either full sized or a cocktail sized and is exchangeable with the table at the interior dinette. Inside, the galley is to port and has plenty of countertop space and an island for better traffic flow and easier participation by multiple cooks. There are two additional refrigerators and freezers inside; one in the galley and one in the starboard hull. All the cabins have double beds and ensuite heads with separate stall showers. The port aft cabin is the master with a large desk and a separate entrance from the cockpit.

The price of a charter-equipped version of the 52 is $1.4 million but if you don’t have that kind of cash, you can go play on this model starting at just $16,400 per week during the high season. Requirements for bareboat charter on this model include having previous experience on a cat of at least 44 feet and bringing along a competent first mate to help.

5 Tips For Self-Provisioning Bareboat Charters

If you've elected to do a bareboat yacht charter or a captain-only charter, this usually means you'll be in charge of stocking the boat with the food and drink yourself. Some companies offer provisioning services, but even then you must pick and choose the specific types and quantities of items you want stocked aboard. Here are some tips that I've picked up, after a dozen years of provisioning for yacht charters.

1. Be organized. First, sit down and do a detailed daily menu plan for the meals you intend to eat onboard – breakfast, lunch, and/or dinner (including herbs and spices) plus snacks and beverages. Try to estimate quantities you'll consume each day, and use this to estimate your consumption for the week. Using this menu and snack/drinks plan, make a shopping list of all the food and beverage items you’ll need for the duration of your charter. It doesn't matter if you stick to the order of the meals on your menu once you're aboard; the object is to have all the supplies you'll need on the boat, at hand, when you're miles away from the nearest mini-market or grocery store.
2. Don't forget the staples. Assume that nothing – even salt and pepper – will be on a boat without crew when you board. On a separate sheet of paper, write down what you think you'll need for basics such as salt, pepper, and sugar, as well as supplies like garbage bags, paper towels, napkins, dish sponges, dishwashing liquid, bath soap, Kleenex, and toilet paper.
3. Keep your destination in mind as you plan meals. If you're headed for a foreign country, remember that all of the products you may take for granted at home simply may not be available abroad. In many places, certain fresh fruits and vegetables are only available seasonally, or may even be unfamiliar to you. If you can, do some research about the local diet and the types of foods that are eaten and are available in your destination locale. Try to plan meals using basic ingredients that can be found almost anywhere, and avoid menus that rely on specialty items or even items such as canned soup or canned beans, which may not be widely available in some places outside the United States.
4. Don't send the whole group to the grocery store. An all-too-frequent mistake bareboat clients make is to visit the grocery store en masse before their charter – with no plan, no list, and no consensus on what's needed and what's not. This always results in chaos, buying more than is actually needed, and taking far more time than it should. When this happens, ultimately there's lots of food and drink left on the boat at charter's end, and long-distance travelers can't take that food home with them. Sometimes it goes to charter-company clean-up crews; sometimes it's simply thrown out. A better option is to designate one or two people in your group to be in charge of provisioning. They should poll the rest of the crew about food and beverage likes and dislikes, plan the menus, make the lists, and do the shopping for the charter. Ultimately, this saves time and money – not to mention avoiding mid-aisle group debates about what and how much to buy.
5. Ask your company or broker about the availability of supplies in the places on your sailing itinerary. Are there small markets en route, where you'll be able to top off the supplies if need be? Even if the answer is yes, be aware that prices on small islands or other remote locales are often drastically higher than they are in chartering hubs.
Bonus Tip: Have a "joker" day. If, for example, you plan to eat seven lunches aboard during a week-long charter, make a menu plan for only six days. On your last day of sailing, create a smorgasbord using all the items that would otherwise have been left over or thrown out. Whether it's a delicious minestrone or a simple pasta dish and assorted salads, you'll be amazed at the last-day feasts you can create using what you have left in the fridge and lockers.
Self-provisioning for a bareboat yacht charter doesn't have to be a task to be dreaded. With a bit of foresight, planning, and organization, it can be a fun part of your vacation – and a wonderful chance to explore the culinary delights offered in markets around the world.

How to Book a Wheelchair-Friendly Charter Yacht

The 113-foot Codecasa Mimu surprised me. As I stepped from her aft deck through the glass doors and into her main salon, I expected my bare feet to go from feeling teak decking to being atop plush carpeting. That’s what most motoryachts have in their salons, after all.

Instead, I felt the cool chill of tile beneath my toes, and I looked up to see an entire room of the crisp, white stuff. The tile wasn't there as a design element, nor as a mini-foyer of any kind. It ran clear through the salon to the formal dining room and the master cabin all the way forward on the main deck. While many motoryachts have marble or granite in their companionways on this deck, I think Mimu is the first I've seen in some thirteen years of touring boats that has an entire deck covered in the smooth surface.

Of course, the design element immediately made sense—and it got me to thinking about charter yachts that are advertised as “wheelchair friendly.” There used to be maybe one or two out there on the water with, shall we call it, decent accessibility. But today, more and more yacht owners are installing features that allow for the comfort of all types of charter guests, including those who use wheelchairs.

The 190-foot Trinity Mi Sueno has a wheelchair-sized elevator and an entire guest cabin built for accessibility, including over-sized entry doors to the cabin and to the bathroom, where the shower has a large handrail. The 148-foot CRN Stella Bella has onboard furniture sized and arranged to let a wheelchair maneuver around it, as well as a small elevator on the aft deck that carries a person in a wheelchair down to the swim platform. The 116-foot Lazzara Serenity has wheelchair-friendly features including a chair lift that helps guests navigate the rounded staircase from the main deck to the staterooms one level below.
What’s especially noteworthy about all of these examples is that the yachts span the bulk of the size range for charter yachts overall, and that they are available in lots of popular destinations. It used to be that only the largest megayachts were making space for features even remotely like these; today, these features and more can be found aboard charter motoryachts barely longer than 100 feet.

Wheelchair accessibility is not only becoming available on more and more yachts, but it’s also becoming available in more and more price ranges and places—making the charter experience itself accessible to an even wider range of people. And that, of course, is a really great thing.

Hargrave Gigi II: Superyacht Space in a Megayacht Package

A brand-new launch from the award-winning builder Hargrave Custom Yachts, Gigi II is the second yacht built for an experienced charter-yacht owner—and he put a lot of thought into making his new boat as charter-friendly as she can be.

For starters, instead of jamming five or six guest cabins inside the boat, he stopped at four. He also made them nearly equal in size, so that any couples chartering together could split the weekly base rate and feel like they got the same experience for their money. Two of the cabins have stationary, walkaround king-size beds, while the other two have twin beds that convert to walkaround kings. That makes Gigi II even more flexible for charter, depending on whether adult couples or kids are part of any given party.
The fact that Gigi II has just four guest cabins also means that they seem huge when compared with cabins aboard other yachts in the same size range. It’s not only the length and width of each cabin, but also the height.
Most yachts in this size range have 6 feet, 8 inches of headroom, Hargrave Yachts CEO Michael Joyce told me. “This boat is 7-6,” he says. “And on the aft deck, it’s 7-10. It just feels bigger. It’s the impact of cubic space. That plus a king-size cabin, and you have the feeling that it’s huge.”
Gigi II is also earning high praise for her contemporary interior décor, as well as her fit and finish inside and out. “When I walked through Gigi II, I felt like I was aboard a much bigger motoryacht,” charter broker Gina Robertson of Yachtstore said, after her tour. Several other longtime charter brokers offered the same opinion, always quickly adding that the décor was as stylish as what they are seeing aboard much larger yachts coming out of the shipyards today.
Neptune Group Yachting managed Gigi II for charter just after her launch, at an introductory weekly base rate of $85,000. As of this writing, the yacht has been moved from the charter market to the brokerage sales market, and it is hoped that Gigi II will again have charter availability soon. If she follows the same cruising pattern as the first Hargrave Gigi, then Gigi II should be seen during winters in Florida and the Bahamas, and during summers in New England.

Yacht Charter in the Marshall Islands

Anytime I see the words “island nation,” I wonder if there is a yacht charter with my name on it. Unfortunately, in the case of the Marshall Islands, the answer has long been "no." These twenty-nine atolls and five islands, all part of greater Micronesia, are more than 2,000 miles to the northeast of Australia. Basically, if you look at a map of the Pacific Ocean and squint just north of the equator, you might be able to make them out.

I recently took a newfound interest in the Marshall Islands when Nicholson Yachts  announced that one of the boats in its charter fleet was going to base there. The 80-foot Radford Ke Ama II (read 80 Foot Sailing Yacht Joins Respected Charter Fleet) is calling the Marshalls home, occasionally venturing farther afield to destinations such as Vanuatu and the Solomon Islands, taking six guests at a weekly base rate of $25,000. Nicholsons tells me that Ke Ama II plans to return regularly to the Marshalls, which means they are now officially a destination where international-caliber crewed yacht charter exists.
Heck yes, sign me up—especially now that I’ve learned more about all that the Marshalls have to offer.
They’re officially known as a constitutional republic in free association with the United States, which basically means that American tax dollars pay for a good bit of life on the islands. The United States has “full authority and responsibility for security and defense of the Marshall Islands,” according to the U.S. Department of State, and invests in infrastructure, health, and social programs. The U.S. government also has a deal that’s good through 2066 (with an option to extend through 2086) for use of a U.S. Army missile test range at Kwajalein Atoll. The U.S. dollar is the official currency, and the two official languages in the islands are Marshallese and English.
Now, I’d be remiss if I failed to mention a little trouble in this paradise. A 2011 report on human rights practices said the Marshall Islands are facing challenges, including poor prison conditions, government corruption, violence toward women, child abuse, and lack of worker protections. None of that, of course, sounds good—but similar reports have been written about other far-flung destinations where charter yachts visit, including Fiji in the South Pacific. I've visited Fiji twice in the past 10 years or so, and the charter-yacht captains knew exactly where to cruise to keep me safe and happy, much like captains in the Caribbean know how to avoid the islands there where crime becomes a problem from time to time.

What I take from all of the above is that a yacht like Ke Ama II, run by a crew with extensive local knowledge and backed by a strong American charter company, should be able to offer a pretty awesome charter experience in the Marshall Islands. It’s a remote destination, to be sure, and general safety precautions for travel would apply, but the language is English, the currency is the U.S. dollar, and the U.S. military is keeping the region safe. Those are a lot of check marks that many other island nations can’t even begin to claim.
The Marshall Islands also offer something that you can’t find anywhere else in the world: a more than 770,000-square-mile swath of ocean that is reserved as a shark sanctuary. It’s earth’s biggest, at least on paper. How they patrol it I have no idea, but I love the idea of a remote destination that is eco-friendly in its thinking.
Year-round in the Marshall Islands, the water temperature is 82 degrees Fahrenheit—warmer than a lot of swimming pools. Air temperatures fluctuate between the mid-70s and the low 90s from January straight through December. The dry season is from December through April, and the biggest rainfalls tend to occur between July and October. Typhoons are possible from July through November, though they usually stay to the west of the Marshall Islands region in Micronesia. Climate change is threatening the lowest-lying atolls, so those weather patterns may adjust in the coming years.
We all so often say that we wish we could have visited our favorite destinations before they became crowded or spoiled. Ke Ama II is the first charter yacht I've heard about in the Marshall Islands in recent years, and it may be many more years before a second one comes along. It seems to me like a vacation option well worth considering, a best-of-both-worlds scenario with a professional yacht in a developing region.