Looking down towards Zion's galley

It was a fun opportunity on a swing through Ft Lauderdale to be able to visit a few Luxury Charter Yachts on display at Bahia Mar Marina last week. Besides seeing a few of my dear broker friends, there were three interesting arrivals to the charter fleet to see.

Motor Yacht Zion – a sleek Feretti with a lot of “personality”. The layout of the boat is so interesting! It has that convertible roof hatch over the salon which is so popular with the Med style yachts. Plenty of space in the cabins. My favorite part is how you can look down from the salon/wheelhouse area to the galley – it just makes it so cordial,  you feel like it is perfect for a party! This friendly yacht an be chartered for $19,500 per week plus expenses and sleeps 8 in 4 cabins.

Child's Play is colorful and feels like fun!

Motor Yacht Child’s Play- Here is a yacht that is thinking family – it is colorful and fresh and very clean and tidy. New to charter, the young crew are eager to get going with lots of fun water sports. Can be as casual or as chic as you like! Child’s Play can sleep 8 guests in 4 staterooms and charters for $32,000 per week plus expenses. It is a great choice for a Bahamas luxury yacht charter or a Florida charter or cruise.

Elegant dining on Motor Yacht Salacia

The last little jewel in the show was Motor Yacht Salacia. Recently sold by a well know yachtsman, this 115′ Broward motor yacht was put through a huge refit by the new owner. It is now all set to go for Florida and/or Bahamas charters. Salacia was “full on” for the show with excellent hors d’oeuvres by chef Martha, friendly captains and a clean (though still wet from the Florida rains) boat. The stew really had a beautifully set table just to show how amenable your yacht charter would be! Salacia can be chartered for $38,000 per week plus expenses and sleeps 8 in 4 cabins.

Please do keep in mind that yachts that base in Florida may require a fuel based repositioning fee. For more information, call us at Select Yachts 1-954-246-3815.

Baraka - Breath of Life

If you are fortunate enough for a yacht charter this summer, a great choice is the very lively charter catamaran Baraka.

Capatain Yann of Baraka is an avid kiteboarder

From the moment the guest steps on board there is a feeling of nonstop action, whether with water toys, spirited sailing, or hospitable service and friendliness, this is the is the oh-so-fun yacht rental!

Kite board...or just relax!

On Baraka, kitesurfing is big. Captain Yann has become quite an expert. Some of their recent BVI charters and Grenadines charters have specialized in accommodating kitesurf groups. Although he prefers to start beginners with professional kitesurfing schooling, Captain Yann follows up with the coaching and assistance throughout the balance of the week for this extreme sport.

Beyond the kitesurfing, guests on board can enjoy a myriad of toys, from a clear bottomed canoe, to aqua loungers, all the snorkel gear of course, waterskiing, and excellent fishing…aka sushi for the table. Food never suffers on board, they feature healthy wholesome cuisine and lots of seafood, with some Portuguese and French foods from Yann’s heritage mixed with Carinne’s California style.

Baraka is also very eco friendly!

No need to go further into how well guests are cared for on Baraka. But another big point that makes this charter yacht stand out is their eco-friendly concept. Wind generation, solar panels, sails of course, boat-grown herbs, and a water catchment system all add up to this ecological, yet still luxurious yacht charter. BARAKA means Breath of Life – and that it is. Don’t miss the fun, call us at Select Yachts to hear more about this fantastic charter yacht.

Lion King - Greece or inquire

Select Yachts has a very nice selection of charter yachts available in the Mediterranean this summer. The stellar charter catamaran Nemo returns to Greece – hurry for a booking, her calendar is almost full. Also in Greece you will find Lion King, a popular Beneteau 56 sleeping 6 passengers.

Karuba 5 - Western Med

Performance yachts headed to Western and Eastern Med include Karuba 5 – the fast X65,winner of the trans-at. After a Western Mediterranean tour, she will be vying for the Trans-at title upon upon her Caribbean return. Speedy Swan Merel Four is heading out ofter Antigua Race Week and so is Spirit of Tradition beauty Lady Ann.

Coral - England 2012, Balaerics 2013

1902 amazingly restored classic Coral of Cowes will be at Cowes week (!), then summer and winter in England, then summer of 2013 in the Balaeric Islands! 70′ Jongert Alina, after a long time in Holland, is now on her way to the Canaries and Madiera for the summer before a Caribbean Charter return for the 2012-2013 season. Another returning beauty is Runaway Bunny, the 74′ Finot, who completed a ’round the world tour, wintered in the Caribbean and is now ready for a Mediterranean charter summer.

Worlds End - based Cannes

One last thing! Two new listings in the works, too soon to post but please inquire for: a new Lagoon 500 catamaran, popular charter model, basing in Corsica, and a classic Scorpio 72 4 cabin yacht rejoining our fleet under new ownership basing in Cannes.

And one of the best, Catamaran Worlds End, a 65′ Fountaine Pajot with 5 cabins returns to France, veteran skipper Jose will tke the summer off but award winning chef rene returns as well as uber competent stew/mate Jules.

Croatia - So much to see!

With mirad islands scattered about, you just can’t help but think of the spots on the Dalmatian hound…

Dusk at Hvar harbour, Croatia

Hvar is called "the party island"

Croatia’s coast is random spots of islands and islets (called Otok in Croatian), each one special and unique. Really a perfect venue to for a Mediterranean yacht charter, either power or sail. The people there are warm and friendly and most all around the coast speak English.

Some islands have towns from the 1200′s, with their old stone walkways and carved window fitttings, full of shops and nightlife. Others are quiet and barely developed.  All are pristine, so perfect for that luxury yacht charter.

Jacques Cousteau called the Adriatic the clearest waters he had ever seen. Limestone isles prevent muddy wash into the sea, what you have instead is clean, clear water just waiting for you to jump in! Your yacht rental in the Med this year awaits!

Church tower through the pines

Peaceful scene - Vis on the Dalmatian out islands

Croatia's Dalmation coast is full of historical intrest everywhere

I really enjoyed being on St. Barth’s last weekend and seeing the absolutely gorgeous monohull sailing yachts entered in “The Bucket”.

Long live the true spirit of sailing! If anyone wants to/can charter big impressive monohulls for your own luxurious, yet exciting, travel adventure give us a call, it is possible to charter some of these. Hats off to all of the interesting Owners and Crews who invest time and money in support of this glorious sporting event!

Colorful spinnakers in a close race finish

Meteor - Bring it on with Full Sail

Grace and Wind Power - a perfect combination

Axia - Runnin' on 2 Sea-Horse Power

Y Not Under Sail Power!

If anyone is asking me, I will always say, in general, I consider a crewed yacht charter vacation to be a good value anyway. I’ve compared crewed vs. bareboat many times, and crewed always wins for me, hands down. I mean, come on guys, give the girls a break, ummm, choice:…sip pina coladas under a palm tree or wash dishes; and, guys;…change the belt on the engine or play volleyball on the beach? Get it? Leave the work part to the crews please!
I can do comps on bareboats another time, but the figures for an inclusive Caribbean yacht charter holiday come out less 9 times out of 10.
Now we can look at the Crewed Yacht Fleet and wonder; where are the bargains within the bargins? OK, there are many and we can find a yacht to suit needs. But here is a favorite Sailing Monohull, Power Yacht, and Catamaran just for starters.

Y NOT: After 2 years of systems improvements, this powerful cruiser returns to charter at the same rates as before! New climate controls, nav controls, sound insulation, electrical and mechanical upgrades…you know, the things a charterer doesn’t think about but, let’s face it, can make or break a charter. Fresh new crew of Donnie and Adam plus one are really enthusiasic (they have been on through the refit but are now ready for the fun stuff – your charter!)…I love the big forward master with 2 heads, the privacy of the cabins (one forward, one midship, and one aft) and the fact that the bunks can be joined or separated to fit the needs of most charter parties. But most of all, sailing on Y Not is an experience no one should miss, she is fast yet solid and comfortable under way with her sunken cockpit…or enjoy the bunny pads aft of the cockpit for a great view, cool breeze and adventure underway!

Essence Awaits your Charter - Hurry, Special Rates through May 31, 2012

ESSENCE: The 88′ Broward Essence has THE most gorgeous classy, but not overdone, interior, with huge interior and exterior space. The owner has decided to do an ALL INCLUSIVE chater rate for the remainder of the Spring Yacht Chater season through the end of May. Very favorite things about the boat – (just me folks) the granite topped country kitchen where you can hang out and watch the chef in action, the little turtle insets on the bathroom upholstry(so cute!), the well thought out forward lounge area. And the food from the galley is totally top shelf! Yum!

Catamaran Akka at Anchor

AKKA: I don’t know if there are any other charter cats at 68′ in this price range. This is not your run-of-the mill catamaran, she is a performance machine, light and graceful and unbelievably lovingly attended to and maintained by her dedicated crew of 15 years. I love the modern kevlar sail and daggerboard system that makes this baby fly! I love sitting on the bow in search of porpoises. I love the cozy cabins with always clean bright fresh paint and cheerful patterns. An ambience that makes you want to be there, kick back and stay for a while while hosted by the very genuine crew of John and Spike.

Dick Reed at the helm of S/Y Piggybank

COUPLE IN THEIR 80′S SAILING STRONG

It’s not every day you go sailing with a couple as young as Dick and Claire Reed. For the 2012 Heineken Regatta last week S/V Piggybank was chartered for the race, a crew of good sailors was brought aboard by Glenn Reed and Heather Dawson. Favorites were Glenn’s parents, Dick and Claire, aged 87 and 84 respectively. Dick was excellent on the starboard Genoa winch throughout the race, handling all of the tacks and jibes. Claire was the tailer for the main. They hopped around a bit as “railmeat” although with their lean fit figures they didn’t provide much ballast!

Dick and Claire brought a nice history of sailing experience, having owned a Charlie Morgan 36 centerboarder which they kept on Long Island Sound and in the Abacos in The Bahamas. They were an inspiration for their entire young family as evidenced by Glenn chartering Piggybank to keep up the family tradition .What do Dick and Claire do in the meantime? They organize bicycling tours, a favorite spot is biking around Lake Como in Italy. Hmmm, the old adage prevails here… “Life is like a bicycle, as long as you keep peddaling you never fall off”!

Piggybank sailing

Lady Margaret available for charter - Virgin Islands and Sint Maarten

At a recent minishow to Charter Brokers, we were so happy to be aboard the pristine 65′ Horizon Motor Yacht Lady Margaret. The show featured 6 yachts available for charter. Motor Yachts included Essence, an 88′ Broward, and Lady Margaret. Sailing monohulls: Sun of Moondance, a 56′ Jenneau Sun Oddesey and Karuba 5; and catamarans Rocketeer and World’s End. The brokers were super impressed by this excellent selection and are sending them out as suggestions to their charter clients as we speak!

Chef/Hostess Bruna on Lady Margaret wowed us with some tasty Salmon Cakes topped with a Mango Tartar Sauce for one of her brunch selections. She has been gracious enought to provide the recipe, enjoy everyone! The Salmon Cakes were great but the Sauce really ‘topped it off”!

Photo courtesy Captain Jan Robinson - Ship to Shore Cookbooks

Spicy Salmon Cakes with Mango Tartar

Ingredients

Tartar Sauce:

·         1 cup peeled, diced ripe mango (1 large)

·         1/2 cup mayonnaise

·         1 tablespoon capers, drained and chopped

·         Pinch salt and freshly ground black pepper

Salmon Cakes:

·         Vegetable oil, for frying

·         1 lb cooked salmon, flaked

·         1 cup panko

·         2 eggs, lightly beaten

·         3 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley leaves

·         3 tablespoons chopped shallots

·         1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste

·         1/4 teaspoon salt

·         Freshly ground black pepper

·         1/3 cup cornmeal

Directions

To make tartar sauce, whisk together the mango, mayonnaise, capers, and salt and pepper, to taste, in a medium bowl. Cover and refrigerate until ready to use.

Yield: 1 1/2 cups

Heat 1/4-inch of oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

Put the salmon in a medium bowl and break it up with a fork, watch for bones. Add the panko, eggs, parsley, shallots, cayenne and salt. Season with black pepper, to taste, and mix well. Form the mixture into 12 cakes and coat them with the cornmeal

Carefully put the cakes in the oil, 5 or 6 at a time, and cook until golden brown; about 3 to 4 minutes per side. Transfer to a paper-towel lined plate to drain. Arrange them on a serving platter and serve immediately with tartar sauce.

Want some more yacht recipes? Go to www.shiptoshoreinc.com  Tell Captain Jan Select Yachts sent you!

 Lady Ann has attended this year’s Grenada Sailing festival and St. Maarten’s Heineken Regatta, great experiences. She is ready to participate at some more serious and fun regatta’s, with the Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta and the Antigua Sailing Week coming up as from April 17, 2012.

 Lady Ann is a beautiful, elegant yet fast ‘modern classic’ 65ft sailing yacht, that offers you racing in style: a classic looking yacht, but with all modern-day creature comforts, and great sailing performance due to a modern underwater design and high-performance rig. With a genaker and spinnaker, they are well equipped for all the Caribbean racing weather.

 She is run by very experienced couple Boogie and Marlies as skippers, who are regulars on the Caribbean regatta circuit and will help you to get the most out of your racing in the sun! They are known for their fun, relaxed and safe way of running their boats, yet remain very competitive.

 Lady Ann is available for charter for both regatta’s on a full boat charter for a group of friends or for a company charter. She is also available for charter of up to 12 guests, based on individual bookings. They offer a package with 6 guests staying on board overnight with the remainder of the group sleeping ashore. They would join lady Ann every day to go racing.                        

 About Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta. This year will see the 25^th edition of the regatta; one of the World’s premier classic yachting events which brings a fantastic collection of boats and people together, for some great sailing and fun, in the ideal conditions of the Caribbean. The Antigua Classic Yacht Regatta is the largest and longest running classic regatta in the Caribbean.The ACYR will kick off on April 19^th with the judging of the participating yachts for the National Concours d’Elegance. The following four days will see the actual sailing competition. For the evenings and impressive and fun program has been organized for the participating crews; with a musical, dinners and parties and of course the prize giving ceremony.

About Antigua Sailing Week.  Awe-inspiring race courses coupled with a fantastic social scene make Antigua Sailing Week irresistible to sailors. Antigua Sailing Week attracts a huge variety of yachts and people from the four corners of the world. It will be an exciting week of live music, wet games, some laid back nights and above all the camaraderie that is Antigua Sailing Week.  The ASW will start at April 28 with the preliminary Yachting World Around Antigua Race. The following 5 days (up to May 4) will see the actual races and of course the after race partying.

Your schedule and our prices would be as indicated below on this page.

ANTIGUA CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA
April 17:                travel to Antigua – embarkation

April 18:                acclimatizing and sea training

April 19:                sea training and beauty contest

April 20/23:         daily starts at 10.00 AM

April 24:               return travel                                                                          

ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK

April 26: travel to Antigua

April 27: acclimatizing and sea training

Apr 28/May 4: daily races

May 5: return travel

 Price indication and Bookings

Lady Ann is available on full boat charter basis for € 14.000. Individual bookings at € 1.500 for those staying overnight, and € 800 for those joining for the sailing (and the after sailing) but sleeping at a hotel. Prices are excluding flights marina and regatta entry fees, and include breakfast (for those staying overnight), lunches. Prices are indicative only, we would be happy to discuss individual wishes and/or group requests, to make your stay with us, and the regatta participation, an unforgettable experience.

 Lady Ann Yacht Charters – Spirit of Tradition sailing sloop Lady Ann offers sailing with a capital ‘S’ of Style: a classic yacht, all modern day creature comforts, and competitive sailing due to a modern underwater design and high performance rig. She is available for charters throughout the year, alternatively in the Med and in the Caribbean.

$5,000 off the all inclusive price…click here!