Vacationing Aboard Mega Yacht Charters

Vacationing Aboard Mega Yacht Charters - Market Day

Charles Mohaney, writer for the Luxury Yacht Charters Guide, offers some tips to planning your next vacation aboard a mega yacht charter. First, mega yacht charters can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars for a single week, so it's important if you're working under a budget to plan your mega yacht charter with a group in mind. Make it a family affair or a group of close friends, choose the right destinations, and time your vacation to get the best rates. Additionally, if you're willing to to do some of the cooking, cleaning, and sailing responsibilities yourself, the cost of the mega yacht charter can be less.

"If you have a large extended family or close friends that you enjoy travelling with then it’s easy to share the expense and make an affordable week-long trip." writes Mohaney, "With six sleeping cabins, for example, you can accommodate up to six separate families. If the week’s voyage runs about $30,000 (an easy to find fare) then each family is only spending $5,000 for a week of luxury and exciting site seeing. You can hardly get into the Disney theme parks with a family of four for that!"

Part of finding the right mega yacht charter is knowing where to look. At Fraser Yachts Worldwide, our yacht charter brokers has a comprehensive database of mega yacht charters. Just pick your destination and then choose the vessel that's right for you.

2006 Ft Lauderdale Boat Show

Fraser Yachts Exhibits Mega Yachts Worth More than $200 Million at the 2006 Ft Lauderdale Boat Show

Fraser Yachts will have 16 mega yachts on display at the 2006 Ft Lauderdale Boat Show, with a combined value of more than $200 million. Fraser Yachts fleet featured at this boat and yacht show includes:

• MEDUSE - 199' Feadship, 1998 - Central Agent Stuart Larsen
• HELIOS2 - 168' Palmer Johnson, 2002 - Central Agent Stuart Larsen
• DETROIT EAGLE - 153' Feadship, 2001 - Central Agent Stuart Larsen
• CAKEWALK - 150' Trinity, 2003 - Central Agent Stuart Larsen
• FINISH LINE - 123' Palmer Johnson, 2005 - Central Agent Stuart Larsen

2006 Ft Lauderdale Boat Show will run from Thursday, October 26 to Monday, October 30, encompassing more than 3 million square feet of space at six sites, both on land and in water connected by the Show Transportation Network. Considered the largest US boat show, 2006 Ft Lauderdale Boat Show will be showcasing $1.6 billion worth of boats, yachts, mega yachts, electronics, engines and marine accessories. Check out the Fraser Yachts exhibit which will on the F-Dock at Bahia Mar marina.

Superyacht Cup in Palma

Superyacht Cup : Yachting World Magazine

Yesterday was the start of the Superyacht Cup in Palma where 17 superyachts set sail. Sponsored by the Fortis Yacht Group, this yacht race is celebrating it's tenth anniversary. The fleet was sent off to the East of the Bay of Palma passing the eastern marks before a shy reach to round the Isle de Sech, and a final beat to the finish.

Anny, a 26m Baltic Yacht, led the fleet away from the start line at 1300. Second across the start was 'Metolius' (25.4m Royal Huisman) followed by 'Yanakee II' (35m), 'Aphrodite A' (43m) and 'Hyperion' (47.4m). The best start was made by the 34m Sparkman & Stevens design 'Zingaro' crossing the line exactly on their allotted start time.

First around the Isle de Sech was the 47m Bruce King designed 'Sheherezade', followed by Metolius (Royal Huisman 25m) and Victoria of Strathearn (Alloy Yachts 39m). The leading boats then split with Metolius staying inshore and the 29.9m Nautor's Swan Virago heading out to sea. As the fleet closed towards the finish under a dying breeze, Virago carved out a lead to cross the line first, helmed by proud owner Stuart Townsend (US). Second over the line was Metolius followed a mere four seconds later by Scheherezade in third place.

Sardinian Yacht Tax Backfired

ANSA.it - Sardinian yacht tax 'backfired'

Mega Yachts Blog covered Sardina's announcement of a new port tax for mega yachts in "New Port Tax for Sardina, Italy" back in June. Apparently, the government's decision to tax mega yachts has had a negative impact on Sardina's economy. The tax, which was applied from June to September, yielded only 2 million euros while the cost of setting up the office to handle it was 5 million, the UCINA association claimed.

"This levy has been counterproductive for the local economy," UCINA chief Anton Francesco Albertoni said, noting that there had been a 60% surge in yachts mooring in southern mainland ports over the summer, "Sardinia would do better to promote its ports and coasts rather than punishing people that go there."

Under the levy pushed through by Sardinia's centre-left governor Renato Soru, owners of yachts between 14m and 16m paid 1,000 euros for mooring, with rates rising to a maximum of 15,000 euros levied on boats over 60m. Albertoni said he had invited Soru to attend the Genoa show in order to discuss the tax but had received no reply.