MERRY CHRISTMAS!

News Update

If you want to watch the dramatic unfold of the battle for the 33rd America's Cup in February we have just the yacht for you! Have a look on our website to see the lovely Sheleila who will be based in the Dubai area.It will be quite spectacular to see the two enormous multihulls fighting on the water. It might not be what you expect from America's Cup racing but rest assured it will be the event where you need to be early February next year! Book now not to miss out on this highly anticipated and much discussed event!

Also if you are planning your winter holidays in the Caribbean, please book now as the bookings are coming in at a regular basis and if you want the yacht you are after, you better book now and not miss out!

Have a look on our website to see some good offers and get some cruising ideas. And don't hesitate to contact me charter@charterexperience.com for a personalised offer for your next dream holiday!

Gertrud

33rd America's Cup in Ras al Kaimah

Geneva, Switzerland - (2009-08-05)
The America's Cup Defender, Alinghi, and its yacht club, the Société Nautique de Genève, today announced the venue for the 33rd America's Cup in February 2010.
“We are pleased to announce that Ras al-Khaimah, in the United Arab Emirates, will be the Host Country for the 33rd America's Cup,” said Fred Meyer, Vice-Commodore of the Société Nautique de Genève (SNG). “This is a venue that offers perfect weather and great sailing conditions for a Match in February; the authorities have shown tremendous interest in, and support for hosting the America's Cup; and the country has experience in organising first-class sporting events such as ATP tennis, PGA golf and Formula One. They will make a purpose-built island available at the Al Hamra Village in Ras al-Khaimah to provide the America's Cup teams, sponsors and fans with an outstanding venue.”
Having won the 32nd America's Cup in 2007 in Valencia with its yacht racing team, Alinghi, the SNG is granted the right to choose the venue for the next America's Cup which is scheduled to start on 8 February 2010.
“Our absolute priorities in making this decision are the prevailing weather conditions and the resulting safety that they bring to both teams,” explains Alinghi skipper Brad Butterworth. “We looked everywhere for a venue that suited having good racing for the Match dates in February. We had trained in the UAE in the winter with Alinghi before and in the end we settled on Ras al-Khaimah in particular because of the infrastructure in Al Hamra Village and because it has a great building sea breeze during the day, similar to Mediterranean conditions in the summer, making it good for these boats and safe for all concerned.”
His Highness Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, Crown Prince of Ras al-Khaimah, expresses his satisfaction: “It is a great moment for us to host the America's Cup here. It is significant because it reflects how the Emirates have become a place for hosting international events. It is a reflection on what we have achieved in terms of becoming the destination for tourists and trade and industry and is a reflection of our integration in the world at large. This announcement reflects the nature of our country and its aim of becoming host to many nationalities who live side by side in peace. It is a hope and dream that this is the kind of space that we want to have on our globe. It is a great moment for us to host this prestigious event and to welcome all the sports people to the UAE and to Ras al-Khaimah to watch this great event; we are looking forward to its success.”
Background information on the 33rd America's Cup venue
» RAS AL-KHAIMAH
Ras al-Khaimah literally means ‘the top of the tent' in Arabic. One of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), it covers an area of 656 square miles (1,700km2) and borders on Oman, situated in the southern part of the Persian Gulf. The emirate has a population of approx 300,000 and is ruled by HH Sheikh Saqr bin Mohammad Al Qasimi. The Deputy Ruler is Crown Prince HH Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi. The capital city of Ras al-Khaimah is located 45 minutes from Dubai airport and is also served by the Ras al-Khaimah International airport.
» THE VENUE
A 22-hectare purpose-built island inside the Al Hamra Village lagoon will host the team bases and all the necessary facilities for the media, the sponsors and the public. The Al Hamra Village is a new luxury resort with more than 3,500 residences on the coast of Ras al-Khaimah.
» INTERNATIONAL EVENTS IN UAE
- Motorsport: Formula-1 in Abu Dhabi since 2009 (Hamilton, Alonso, Schumacher…)
- Golf: PGA in Dubai since 1989 and Abu Dhabi since 2006 (Woods, Els, Montgomery, García…); Tiger Woods has designed his first golf course in Dubai
- Tennis: ATP in Dubai since 1993 (Federer, Nadal, Murray, Roddick, Agassi…) and WTA in Dubai since 2001 (Williams, Hingis, Davenport…)
- Sailing: RC44 in Dubai since 2007 (Coutts, Spithill, Barker, Col…) and Alinghi winter training in Dubai in 2006/7
- Football: FIFA Club World Cup in Abu Dhabi in 2009 (FC Barcelona, Estudiantes, Auckland City…)
- Guggenheim Museum in Abu Dhabi (completion expected in 2011)
- New York Philharmonic Orchestra in Abu Dhabi in 2009
» INTERNATIONAL ACADEMIC INITIATIVES IN UAE
- École Polytéchnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL) is creating a new University campus in Ras al-Khaimah
- Harvard Medical School Dubai Centre was launched in 2004 through a joint effort by Harvard Medical and Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC) to develop an academic centre for health care delivery, medical education, and research
» INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES PRESENT IN UAE
- ABN-Amro
- Barclays
- BNP Paribas
- Citibank
- Credit Agricole Indosuez
- HSBC
- Lloyds TSB
- Standard Chartered Bank
- IBM
- GE
- UPS
- AT&T
- Pepsi
- FedEx
- GM
- HP
- Boeing
- Kellogg's
- Philip Morris
- MasterCard
- Oracle
- BMW

Queen of Andaman in Asia

Visit Charter Experience for a wide array of luxury yachts available for charter

Ever thought of cruising South East Asia? We have a perfect yacht for you!

Queen of Andaman will be based in the amazingly diverse and geographically beautiful region of South East Asia with its exotic beaches, pristine waters, year-round warm temperatures and charming, friendly local people.

There are also many deserted, tropical islands within close proximity of Phuket with lush vegetation, glistening white sandy beaches and an abundance of sea life. Phang Nga Bay, just north of Phuket, is particularly spectacular with a wealth of towering limestone rock formations, azure waters, deep caves and sheltered lagoons. A truly fascinating area to explore!

Add to this a number of wonderful possibilities to explore the un-spoilt Andaman Islands, Myanmar’s multitude of deserted islands, the adventurous Borneo and the striking beauty and diversity of Indonesia’s numerous islands, and it is clear to see that the region offers countless possibilities for a unique luxury yacht charter experience aboard the Queen of Andaman.

Contact us for more information and your booking - charter@charterexperience.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Gertrud

Chartering in Sardinia/Corsica

Contact Charter Experience or visit our website for a wide array of charter yachts.

Below a suggestion to explore Sardinia and Corsica this summer on a luxury charter yacht. There are many more places to go and to see. This will give you an idea of what you could do and expect when you charter a yacht through Charter Experience.

Arrive at Olbia airport and transfer to your yacht. Most transfers on Sardinia won’t take longer the 45 minutes. Get settled, explore your new destination, top up the provisions and relax.

The "Gallura-region" became known thanks to the Costa Smeralda and its emerald-green sea. But furthermore is characterised by bizarre granite rock formations, chiselled by the wind, antique cork oak forests, Vermentino wineries and the culinary speciality Zuppa Gallurese.

After a good night sleep have a short sail to the “Maddalenas” a group of islands of the north eastern coast of Sardinia. The Archipelago of Maddalena puts up the national Park of the same name, constituted in 1996 for the protection of fauna and flora. La Maddalena is the only island of the archipelago that presents a steady urban settlement. Around the island you can visit the small beautiful beaches as Monti d'Arena, beach of Bassa Trinità or of the Giardinelli Island.

Getting more relaxed and totally settled on your charter yacht its time to leave again. Leaving the Maddalena and passing through the breakwater of Passo della Moneta that joins the islands you can reach the Island of Caprera (l'Isola di Caprera). This island was partially acquired by Giuseppe Garibaldi who has lived there and died in 1882, a hundred years later the natural reserve was established and united to the National Park of Archipelago of Maddalena.

It's time to cross the Strait of Bonifacio to Corsica and sail up the East Coast to Porto Vecchio. The untouched beaches of Porto Vecchio are surrounded by wild perfumed maquis and backed by umbrella pines. This chic cosmopolitan resort, and number one tourist town, has as its backdrop the spearing needles of the Col de Bavella. From its shadows arise the fortress of the quaint old town with its designer shops and restaurant terraces.

After spending a night in beautful Porto Vecchio it's suggested to sail south to the Iles Lavezzi and be amazed by the rock formations. Many sailors have broken their ship on these terrible stumbling blocks, the sea cementary of Furcone and of the Archiarino are the silent proof. During the wreck of The Semillante in 1855, 750 men died. Since that the Lighthouse of Lavezzi watches over this strait and these magnificent isles of granite.

From Lavezzi it is just a short hop around the corner to the magnificent Bonifacio. Get in early to secure a berth for the night. The entrance is spectacular and cannot be missed! The city itself is a bustling tourist town with plenty souvenir shops and restaurants. You can walk to the tip of the island and see Sardinia across the water.

From Bonifacio it is a approx. 100Nm sail up the westcoast of Corsica to Calvi on the Nothern tip and then ¨bay-hop¨back south. Or stop overnight in Ajaccio the main city on Corsica and worth a visit and a dinner. And do not forget to visit the fruit and fish market in the morning.

Spend some time in Calvi on the northern tip. The home town of the French Foreign Legion, you will see many of these infamous men around town.

The Citadel is the main part of town. It was a military outpost in the 15th century that helped guard the city against international attacks. It sits high above the port, towering over the sea. There are many brick walls, tunnels, and long, winding stairways in this area, as well as plenty of narrow walkways tucked between quaint old houses.

Set sail early to the lovely bay of Girolata. Accesible by yacht or a very long walk through the country side. Be early and make reservations in one of the restaurants overlooking the bay. If it gets too crowded move before sunset to Sagone.

From either Girolata or Sagone it is a great daysail back to Bonifacio. Stop for an afternoon swim and explore at the Isles Sanguinaires just off Ajaccio. The islands are a designated reserve for sea birds and other wild life.

From Bonifacio it is just a hop back to Italy and spend a night in Pto Rotondo, worth a visit and a dinner ashore with dazzling Italian atmosphere.

Time to pull the anchor and set sail to Portisco, have a last swim, snorkel and sunbath before you start packing your bags full of fabulous memories.

We hope you've enjoyed your little tour around Corsica and Sardinia on your superyacht.

We still have amazing yachts available for early August in this magic destination!

Gertrud

Carbon Offset your Yacht Charter

Charter Experience offers Carbon Offsetting to its Charter clients.

Now any yacht, large or small, can act to address greenhouse gas emissions as part of the arrangements for your charter. Based on the quantity and type of fuel used during your stay, specialists calculate the carbon emissions from the yacht’s engines– then balance them with equivalent savings achieved by approved projects, worldwide, funded through your Offset.

The full performance, range and capabilities of the vessel are unaffected, and the cost is modest. You can talk to your friends or in public about the action if you choose. Through the specialist service of Yacht Carbon Offset, you can be secure in the knowledge that real, properly verified savings in greenhouse gas emissions have been arranged on your behalf.

It is a positive touch that provides an effective balance to the carbon emissions of your charter. You can have the satisfaction of knowing that where you lead, others follow.

Email us at charter@chartereperience.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for your booking or check Charter Experience website for a wide array of luxury yachts available for charter.

Gertrud

Charter Experience on Facebook

Charter Experience has now its own page on Facebook. Become a fan and join us on Facebook.

I will post a link whenever I update the newsletter or when we have other significant news.

And visit our website for more available yachts and summer deals.

Thanks and see you on Facebook!

Gertrud

Summer deals!

I have just put a number of really good yachts and their offers on our website.

D'Angleterre II is recently refitted and is in great condition. Captain Anders Lauridsen and his crew will make your charter the best ever!

Teleost is a much sought after luxury yacht and has an amazing offer at the moment!

Sailingyacht Signe is available in the New York/Maine area for a very good price.

and the amazing Ramina has an opening due to a cancellation in Greek waters.

Please check our website for more information and contact us ( charter@charterexperience.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) for your booking.

Gertrud

Charter a Classic Yacht

VISIT THE WEBSITE OF CHARTER EXPERIENCE FOR A WIDE ARRAY OF LUXURY CHARTER YACHTS

Here's one of my all time favourites! AS YOU LIKE IT is a lovingly restored 26 meter Cammenga (again, I am not biased because it is a Ducht built).

She was originally built in 1974 and now cruises the Mediterranean at leisure pace.

Her interior is in pristine condition and restored to her old glory.

I've been in the engine room and even there everything is in absolute immaculate condition. It is a must to have a look here when you charter her.

She is rarely available for charter but this year she has a gap at the end of August. Be quick to secure this fabulous beauty of bygone era and imagine yourself living the life of past jet setters on this gorgeous yacht.

Please contact us on
charter@charterexperience.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for your booking or more information on worldwide yacht charter.

Gertrud

Explorer Yacht

Visit the website of Charter Experience for a wide array of charter yachts.

Sorry not to have posted lately. I've been hit by the flu.
Business comes first, so we had to deal with our clients first and then there was no more left to update the blog.

There are still amazing yachts available for this summer in the Med and looking out of my office window and seeing the rain I know where I'd rather be at this moment!

We do have a wonderful visitor in New Zealand though. The amazing PANGAEA is moored in the famous Viaduct Basin. At first glance you think it's Peter Blake's Seamaster but at closer inspection you can see it's a different yacht.

Have a look at the website of Mike Horn the intrepid explorer who takes teenagers on life changing expeditions.

Meanwhile I shall work on getting rid of the flu.

Please do contact us for your late bookings for this summer! We can still help you to find your dream yacht in a dream location.

Gertrud

O'Ceanos in Greece with 40% discount!

The beautiful O'CEANOS is available in June (1-13 June) and the owner has offered a whopping 40% discount! She's now available for EURO 100,000 a week plus expenses!

Have a look at this magnificent yacht on our website - click here

49 meters, 7 staterooms, 300 sq. m sundeck with jacuzzi and BBQ. Soak up the rays in early June in Greece! It doesn't get much better than this.

Visit our website for more information and sign up for our email updates.

gertrud

Info bits on Yacht Charter

I’d like to share some information and news from the yachting industry with you. It‘s mostly links to interesting stories and news bit from around the globe, regarding new builds, sailing regattas and races, charter destinations and opinions on what’s happening in our treasured industry.

Did you know you can now sign up on our website to receive regular email updates from Charter Experience. Go to Charter Experience to sign up.

I’d like to link you to an interview I had with Kim Kavin about the boatshow in Poros, Greece I visited last month. You can find the article here.

The superyacht sailing season will be kicked off by the Loro Piana Superyacht Regatta in Sardinia hosted by the prestigious Yacht Club Costa Smeralda. The line-up is impressive and the social program will be glamorous.

Then just when you’ve caught your breath from racing in Porto Cervo you should dash over to Palma de Mallorca where The Superyacht Cup is gearing up for its annual regatta from June 24 – 27. It is, as they claim, the longest running superyacht regatta in Europe. It is an incredible spectacle with many well known superyachts participating in this fun race. It has a staggered start which means that the slowest boat will start first and the fastest last. Result is they all get to the finish line at the same time, which makes good watching for spectators.

And here a link to another article of Charterwave on cruising in the Balearics.

Contact me if you’d like to charter a yacht in Porto Cervo or Palma de Mallorca to watch these regattas.

The International Superyacht Society (ISS) is seeking nominations from the yachting industry and yachting public for its annual recognition programs. You can read more about this here.

Sarah Meek from The Yacht Report writes about the plans from the Tahitian Port Authorities to improve the security and services for Superyachts visiting Papeeta during this cruising season. You can read more about it here.

Also from The Yacht Report is the update on the launch of the 65.22 m Feadship Trident by Royal Van Lent Shipyard. I might be biased being Dutch but Van Lent is a very good yard!

This is it for today. I will keep you posted on news from the yachting industry.

Gertrud

PS Don't forget to visit our website Charter Experience for a wide array of luxury yachts available for charter and sign up for our email updates.

Junglebook afloat?

Please visit the website of Charter Experience for a selection of luxury yachts available for charter.

I will soon do a post on my favourite charter yachts but this yacht deserves a bit of private attention. MY Sherakhan is I think my most favourite charter yacht at the moment. I've known the (also Dutch) General Manager Jan Verkerk for a long time and have followed him and his yacht progressing from being a bare hull to this most amazingly luxury vessel.

Sherakhan is almost 70 mtr of sheer luxury and abundance. Whether it be the incredible dining room or the amazing luxurious cabins or the onboard Spa (see picture left) the interior design is quite spectacular.

The crew of MY Sherakhan is among the best you will ever find on a charter yacht and they will make sure that everything will happen before you even finish thinking about it!

She takes an amazing 26 guests in 13 luxury cabins (there are not many yachts that take more than 12 guests) and her summer destination will be the Eastern Mediterranean.

Her weekly rate is EURO 380,000 plus expenses.

Please contact us ( charter@charterexperience.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ) for more information and the availability of MY Sherakhan.

Gertrud

Champagne in Palma

Please visit the website of Charter Experience for a wider selection of charter yachts.

I just come off an amazing "little" boat in Palma de Mallorca, the yacht charter hub in the West Med. Champagne O Clock is a 86' Falcon and has an amazing amount of space for a yacht this size and she is legal to charter in Spanish waters.
What do you get for your EURO 40,000 + 16% VAT and expenses?

A fully refitted, refurbished yacht in excellent condition with lots of space for 8 guests in 4 cabins. You can have a master with a King size bed, a VIP with King size bed and the other two cabins can be converted in either double or twin! any configuration is possible.
The sound system is up to date and you will find iPod docking stations throughout the yacht. The power showers are brand new and fantastic!

I don't think I've ever seen such a huge fly bridge on this size yacht. A perfect place to lounge and enjoy sun drenched days in Ibiza and sneak over to Formentera for a swim in the bluest water in the Med.

You better hurry in booking this gem! She's almost fully booked for this summer but still has a couple of gaps for you to grab and enjoy a week of Spanish life style in the fantastic Balearic Islands.

Contact us at charter@charterexperience.com

Gertrud

Sardinian Tax Cancelled

Please visit the Charter Experience website for a wide array of luxury charter yachts.

The following press release has been issued by Sardinia-based companies Luise Group and Sardinia Yacht Services in reaction to the cancellation of the luxury tax in Sardinia, which will affect superyachts visiting the island and comes at the perfect time for those vessels looking to charter in and around it: Sardinia Yacht Services, the concierge and maritime agency services in Sardinia for Luise Group, is pleased to communicate that the Sardinia Luxury Tax that has been in effect since 2006 has been cancelled.

On Wednesday, 6 May, the local regional government of Sardinia approved Article 2 of the Financial Regional Act. The approval of this act effectively cancels the law known as the “luxury tax” in Sardinia. This tax was felt throughout the tourism industry and had a negative effect on the local tourism economy. Il Consorzio Rete dei Porti Sardegna (The Consortium of Sardinian Touristic Ports) is pleased about the cancellation. In the past three years there has been a decline of approximately 50 per cent in the number of yachts present in Sardinian ports. The law, which has now been cancelled, stipulated that yachts berthed in any port in Sardinia had to pay up to 15,000 euros for their sojourn.

This tax had a visibly negative result on Sardinia’s image as a premier vacation destination worldwide. As other regions in the Med are actively trying to promote their regions, in particular with regards to high quality tourism, this tax in Sardinia had the exactly opposite effect. Fulvio Luise, Managing Partner of Luise Group commented today, “This is a very significant step forward for everyone who works in the yachting and luxury sector in Sardinia. Despite our best efforts in the past three years to help clients understand this tax, we faced enormous challenges and incurred a drop of approximately 20-25 per cent each year in superyachts travelling to Sardinia.”

Renato Azara, Managing Partner of Sardinia Yacht Services said, “We have been working very closely with the local authorities for the past three years, first in trying to have modifications made to the law and secondly in its cancellation. We were successful on both points.

The megayacht industry is an important economic component of Sardinia’s tourism industry and we are very pleased that we have a positive relationship with the local authorities and that they have a full understanding of the potential of this market for Sardinia.”

The above means that Sardinia is again a very sought after destination this summer. Be quick to book your charter yacht for the early weeks of August. In one of my earlier posts (which is here) you can find a great itinerary for Sardinia and Corsica. There is much to see and do and enjoy. Contact us for your booking charter@charterexperience.com

Gertrud

PS meanwhile i have arrived in Palma de Mallorca on the Balearic Islands and shall inspect the local fleet here and report back to you.

Charter fleet in the Balearics

The traveling for me has not yet come to an end. I am preparing to go to Palma de Mallorca to inspect the charter fleet based in the Balearics. You can find some more information on chartering a luxury yacht in the Balearics on our website. In the picture you see MY Mizar, one of the yachts I will be seeing and many others that are permanently based in Palma and are legal to charter in Spanish waters.

Spain has a special stipulation for yachts and commercial activities. Therefor any yacht willing to take on paying charter guests has to have a special charter license. Consequence is that the owner has to charge 16% VAT on the charter fee. or many years the charter industry has been lobbying to change this situation and bring it in line with the French and Italian situation but until the law is changed we can only offer yachts that are legal to charter in Spanish waters. Luckily the fleet is growing every year. The number of yachts and the quality is absolutely increasing.I shall report back with my findings and some real gems that are still available for this summer!

Having lived and sailed in Palma de Mallorca for 6 years I can wholeheartedly recommend the Balearics as charter destination and we know where to go and what to do!

Our Charter Experience is your free local knowledge.

Contact us (charter@charterexperience.com) for more information on chartering in Spain or check our website for a wide array of luxury charter yachts.

Gertrud

Carbon Offset Yacht Charter

Charter Experience offers Carbon Offsetting to its Charter clients.

Now any yacht, large or small, can act to address greenhouse gas emissions as part of the arrangements for your charter. Based on the quantity and type of fuel used during your stay, specialists calculate the carbon emissions from the yacht’s engines– then balance them with equivalent savings achieved by approved projects, worldwide, funded through your Offset.

The full performance, range and capabilities of the vessel are unaffected, and the cost is modest. You can talk to your friends or in public about the action if you choose. Through the specialist service of Yacht Carbon Offset, you can be secure in the knowledge that real, properly verified savings in greenhouse gas emissions have been arranged on your behalf.

It is a positive touch that provides an effective balance to the carbon emissions of your charter. You can have the satisfaction of knowing that where you lead, others follow.

Email us at charter@chartereperience.com for your booking or check Charter Experience website for a wide array of luxury yachts available for charter.

Gertrud

Poros - Part III

The Poros yacht charter show is over. All yachts have returned to their respective home ports and life goes on. The lovely crew of Magna Grecia has been very kind and offered me a small cruise back to Piraeus. It is a serious beautiful yacht, with a fantastic crew! See picture, her weekly rate is Euro 231.000 - plus expenses but it is absolutely worth it.

Further news from the show. I had the honor to be invited on the new Iraklis L. a brand new Gulet (work was still being carried out at the show to get her ready) She is an amazing top class Gulet. The food on board was top standard Greek food, souvlaki, tzaziki, giros and all the famous Greek dishes. A new class of Gulet in Greece is born.

Also have inspected a wide array of smaller (65-76') powerboats and they are ready to take you for a spin. I promise you, you will have a great holiday on one these yachts. Prices are all very reasonable and the quality of the yachts, the crew and service are outstanding. Contact me for more details on these little gems!

Meanwhile, keep sending the enquiries, we will answer you in shortest possible time and offer a personal service from start to finish of your charter.

Gertrud

More Poros

Visit the Charter Experience website for a large selection of quality charter yachts

Yesterday was a gorgeous day in Poros, sunshine galore and hardly any wind, a typical Greek spring day.

A perfect day to have lunch on boad of Lady Ellen, moored just across the bay and a dinghy ride in the sun away, sometimes work is really a pleasure! Lady Ellen is the latest addition of the Greek fleet. She's a 112' Benetti and in excellent condition. The chef prepared some really good courses and finished with a devine cheesecake!Soon more information on her on our website.

I've been onboard a couple of amazing Swan sailing yachts - Callisto and Aristarchos. We shall add pictures of the latter to our website shortly. Callisto is a popular 80' Swan charteryacht and in excellent condition. She has a new captain who's an avid sailor and the stewardess has been onboard for the last 13!! years, she knows the boat inside out and the cruising grounds and all the right places to go and especially not to go.

Aristarchos is a brand new 100' Swan, one in a kind and very beautiful. The crew spent the last two years up in Finland at the yard of Swan and have had a huge say in the lay out of the yacht. The result is a very good looking and very good performing sailingyacht, with a distribution that works perfect for the guests onboard and the crew. Absolutely worth chartering for those who are into sailing or if you want to try sailing, she's comfortable and has very capable crew who are all sailing instructors and happy to show you the ropes.

Today we continue our "running around" to make sure we have all the latest information on the yachts, the crew and the inside information for you.

Meanwhile please check our website for more luxury yachts and dream destinations and follow us on Twitter.

Gertrud

Poros Greece Yacht Charter Show

Visit the Charter Experience website for a wide array of luxury yachts available for charter.

Reporting from a delightful little island called Poros in Greece. Reason for being here suddenly? The annual yacht charter show for Greek yachts. As you know at Charter Experience we personally inspect the yachts we offer to our clients (we try to see them all but sometimes there is just not enough time). Why we do this? To ensure you - our valued custome - get what you deserve (and pay for). We meet the crew, see the entire yacht (if needed even the engine room), and get to eat amazing lunches and dinners on board these yachts. This way when we offer you a yacht we know that the yacht meets our and your standards. We know the food is excellent and the crew will do all to ensure you have the best time ever.

So far i've see a number of great Gullets (wooden motor sailors) Tomorrow i will have lunch on a brand spanking new Gullet and I will let you know how it was.

Yesterday I had the most wonderful lunch onboard a 58 m. mega yacht Magna Grecia. They very young chef surprised us with a number of small well presented, very tasty and colorful courses to show his versatility and skills. This is what you may expect on a yacht of this calibre. Michelin star quality food.

Also the number of good quality luxury yacht available for charter in Greece is impressive. There is no reason to think you could only charter a luxury yacht in a luxury location like Monaco or the Costa Smeralda. Greece is an amazing place to go "yachting". More on that in another post. Right now I must start preparing myself for yet another day running up and down yachts and meeting those who matter in Greek charter circles. Back with more soon.

Gertrud

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Poros Yacht Charter Show Greece

Visit the charter Experience website for a wide array of luxury charter yachts.

I think I should travel more often. My inbox got swamped the last couple of days with amazing deals, invites to be a judge for a chef's competition, an interview for Charterwave and invites for lunches, dinners and parties in Greece.

As you know at Charter Experience we personally inspect yachts to make sure you (our clients) get what you deserve. At the moment I am traveling to Greece to visit the Poros Yacht Show to inspect an extensive fleet of yachts available for charter in Greece.

I will try to update you as much as possible on the latest news of the show, so please check back regularly.

Meanwhile business goes on as usual. Please don't hesitate to send us your enquiries at charter@charterexperience.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or visit our website for a wide array of luxury charter yachts available for charter.

Gertrud

PS I write this from the Netherlands where I did stop on my way to Greece to say Hello to my family :-)

Up the East Coast

Visit the Charter Experience website for a wide array of luxury yachts available for charter

This is one of the most exciting opportunities I've seen lately!

Cruising north along the East Coast of the United States from Savannah, Georgia to New York and then to the Great Lakes. Imagine that trip!

All the magic stops in historic places. Charleston with its art galleries and musea, Myrtle Beach with its endless beaches, Wilmington, Jacksonville, Chesapeake, and on and on the list goes. So many places to stop and explore and get mesmerised by them all. Meanwhile getting pampered by the crew. Seriously the best way to travel is by yacht. Get settled in your cabin and no worries about packing, unpacking, catching planes, trains and automobiles. Relax and enjoy and get totally spoiled on board your own private moving hotel. There is no better way of travelling!

Imagine to sail into New York, past the statue of Liberty? I've always wanted to sail into New York. That must be such a grand experience.

How to do this? Fairly simple actually. The lovely MY Trilogy is preparing to make this epic trip North and you can join them. Below a selection of pictures for you to get an idea of Trilogy and start dreaming about this fabulous opportunity.

She's 90 ft has had an interior refit in 2007 and is in great condition. The crew of 4 is well experienced and ready to take you on the trip of your lifetime! And she sleeps 8 guests in four cabins (master, VIP, and two twins), you could even change guests in some ports and invite even more of your best friends or business associates on this magic experience.

Contact me at charter@charterexperience.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for more information or visit our website with more luxury yachts avaialable for charter and charter ideas.

Gertrud

Explore Sardinia and Corsica

Contact Charter Experience or visit our website for a wide array of charter yachts.

Below a suggestion to explore Sardinia and Corsica this summer on a luxury charter yacht. There are many more places to go and to see. This will give you an idea of what you could do and expect when you charter a yacht through Charter Experience.

Arrive at Olbia airport and transfer to your yacht. Most transfers on Sardinia won’t take longer the 45 minutes. Get settled, explore your new destination, top up the provisions and relax.

The "Gallura-region" became known thanks to the Costa Smeralda and its emerald-green sea. But furthermore is characterised by bizarre granite rock formations, chiselled by the wind, antique cork oak forests, Vermentino wineries and the culinary speciality Zuppa Gallurese.

After a good night sleep have a short sail to the “Maddalenas” a group of islands of the north eastern coast of Sardinia. The Archipelago of Maddalena puts up the national Park of the same name, constituted in 1996 for the protection of fauna and flora. La Maddalena is the only island of the archipelago that presents a steady urban settlement. Around the island you can visit the small beautiful beaches as Monti d'Arena, beach of Bassa Trinità or of the Giardinelli Island.

Getting more relaxed and totally settled on your charter yacht its time to leave again. Leaving the Maddalena and passing through the breakwater of Passo della Moneta that joins the islands you can reach the Island of Caprera (l'Isola di Caprera). This island was partially acquired by Giuseppe Garibaldi who has lived there and died in 1882, a hundred years later the natural reserve was established and united to the National Park of Archipelago of Maddalena.

It's time to cross the Strait of Bonifacio to Corsica and sail up the East Coast to Porto Vecchio. The untouched beaches of Porto Vecchio are surrounded by wild perfumed maquis and backed by umbrella pines. This chic cosmopolitan resort, and number one tourist town, has as its backdrop the spearing needles of the Col de Bavella. From its shadows arise the fortress of the quaint old town with its designer shops and restaurant terraces.

After spending a night in beautful Porto Vecchio it's suggested to sail south to the Iles Lavezzi and be amazed by the rock formations. Many sailors have broken their ship on these terrible stumbling blocks, the sea cementary of Furcone and of the Archiarino are the silent proof. During the wreck of The Semillante in 1855, 750 men died. Since that the Lighthouse of Lavezzi watches over this strait and these magnificent isles of granite.

From Lavezzi it is just a short hop around the corner to the magnificent Bonifacio. Get in early to secure a berth for the night. The entrance is spectacular and cannot be missed! The city itself is a bustling tourist town with plenty souvenir shops and restaurants. You can walk to the tip of the island and see Sardinia across the water.

From Bonifacio it is a approx. 100Nm sail up the westcoast of Corsica to Calvi on the Nothern tip and then ¨bay-hop¨back south. Or stop overnight in Ajaccio the main city on Corsica and worth a visit and a dinner. And do not forget to visit the fruit and fish market in the morning.

Spend some time in Calvi on the northern tip. The home town of the French Foreign Legion, you will see many of these infamous men around town.

The Citadel is the main part of town. It was a military outpost in the 15th century that helped guard the city against international attacks. It sits high above the port, towering over the sea. There are many brick walls, tunnels, and long, winding stairways in this area, as well as plenty of narrow walkways tucked between quaint old houses.

Set sail early to the lovely bay of Girolata. Accesible by yacht or a very long walk through the country side. Be early and make reservations in one of the restaurants overlooking the bay. If it gets too crowded move before sunset to Sagone.

From either Girolata or Sagone it is a great daysail back to Bonifacio. Stop for an afternoon swim and explore at the Isles Sanguinaires just off Ajaccio. The islands are a designated reserve for sea birds and other wild life.

From Bonifacio it is just a hop back to Italy and spend a night in Pto Rotondo, worth a visit and a dinner ashore with dazzling Italian atmosphere.

Time to pull the anchor and set sail to Portisco, have a last swim, snorkel and sunbath before you start packing your bags full of fabulous memories.

We hope you've enjoyed your little tour around Corsica and Sardinia on your superyacht. Don't hesitate to contact us for more information or visit our website.

Our charter experience is your free local knowledge!

Gertrud