Day 1: Long Island
Long Island is known as the most scenic island in the Bahamas. Ideally our guests will arrive by private or charter plane, rather than make the crossing by yacht from Nassau. We anchor OLGA offshore from the Flying Fish Marina. It’s a funny thing; we never see any other superyachts here but many people spending big money to fly fish. This is a charming little marina, very friendly, easy to get in and out and really well protected. You see nurse sharks and other marine species found in the Exumas, and tons of turtles all the time. There is a stunning stretch of beach here.
Day 2: Eastern Jumentos
The first jump is the longest, 59 nautical miles from Long Island to the eastern point of Jumentos. Here we are only 50 or 60 miles from Cuba. The Jumento Cays are a rarely visited, beautiful group of islands rimming the southern edge of the 330-mile-long Great Bahama Bank in a hundred-mile arc. Only the southernmost island of the chain, Ragged Island, has about 40 inhabitants. There are several well-protected areas for mooring.
In the Exumas the water is shallow, but in Jumentos the water is very deep, so you can anchor very close to shore and be very well protected. There are reefs and coral heads everywhere on one side of the island and on the other the ocean floor drops from 700 feet to 7,000 feet, fantastic for fishing and diving. It’s the dream for the divers and fishermen to be that close, just a few hundred yards by tender. There are marlins, turtles, groupers, hammerheads and huge lobsters. We spend the first day here, fishing and diving in the morning and water sports after lunch.
Day 3: Water Cay
It’s only 20 miles to the next stop, Water Cay. Here guests are going to see the bank where you have three authentic blue holes. We anchor out in 20 feet of water and snorkel, or you can dive, and the holes are full of fish and marine life. People from Nassau now come here to pick up conchs because overfishing has left none close to Nassau. Here they are plentiful and Water Cay is also great for catching lobsters. It is easy to make our charter guests very happy here. We snorkel in the morning and catch 14 lobsters. Then we head for this pristine little beach. There is nobody here, no houses, and no yachts. Perfect for a lobster barbeque.
Day 4: Flamingo Cay
The next destination is just 9.5 miles and one of my favorite places. Flamingo Cay offers anchoring with total protection. Even in 20-knot winds the water in the bay is going to be flat. The island has an elevation of about 300 feet with lots of lush greenery. A powdery white sand beach rims the beautiful bay. We are all by ourselves. There is an old ferryboat sunken in seven to 12 feet of water that is great for snorkeling. It is the perfect distance to go with our guests from the beach to the boat and return to the beach. Chef Claire always makes a magnificent paella on this beach. This is also an amazing place for fishing because there are pinnacles that jut up from 7000 feet of water to just 26 feet. Here you are one hundred percent guaranteed to catch grouper and yellowtail because they like things that go up, so they live around the pinnacles. If guests want to catch really big grouper, anywhere from 30 to 80 pounds, we go out a little bit further and let the line drag down to 400 or 500 feet. We chum for yellowtail. When you know the area and know where to go the fishing is easy.
Today we cruise 28 nautical miles to another splendid spot, Buena Vista, again a well-protected area, although not as good as Flamingo because you are open to the north. We anchor in 11 feet and take the guests drift snorkeling along the wall. It takes about 45 minutes and is an ideal excursion, especially for children, because it is not tiring and islands on both sides make people feel safe. There is a small but stunning beach on the northwest side of the island. Divers enjoy the amazing reefs and coral heads and there is also a small yet marvelous beach. Nearby Nurse Cay is home to a lot of baby nurse sharks hiding in the rocks. It is really nice because the sharks are not deep and you can touch them and take pictures.
Day 6: Ragged Island
Ragged Island is part of the Jumentos Cays and Ragged Island Chain and lies about 20 miles from BuenaVista. In Duncan Town, the only settlement in the entire chain, most of the inhabitants are the direct descendants of the original settlers. These islanders rely heavily on the mail boat for transportation, freight and commerce. The island is renowned for great bone fishing and there are four or five of sunken fishing boats that provide interesting snorkeling. We like to go ashore for a walking tour of the island, which is culturally unique and distinguished from Nassau and the Exumas.
Ragged Island is located on the passage between the Bahamas and Cuba where currents from the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean flow into the Gulf Stream. The amount of marine life here is astonishing. We ride the tender for 20 minutes to reach
Columbus Bank. There is a six-foot deep area that is surrounded by a depth of 60 feet, which then drops off to 4,000 feet. There are thousands of fish here including spectacular jumping tuna. South of Ragged are more sensational coral heads with a delightful sandbar in the center. Magalenese Bank is another great spot for deep-sea fishing.
This is an itinerary for families and friends that want to spend quality time together. There are no shops, no restaurants, no casinos and no bars. This is an unsurpassed charter itinerary for those interested in exploring nature and an environment that has changed little since Columbus sailed these same Caribbean bays.
Charter OLGA with Captain Bernard and enjoy a rare opportunity of discovery while living in absolute luxury.
The Judges Decide: 2011 BVI Charter Yacht Show Best in Show Awards
The Charter Yacht Society of the BVI hosted the 30th Annual BVI Charter Yacht Show, November 8-11. There were many wonderful events organized for attendees that culminated with a gala Farewell Dinner for all charter brokers and yacht crews at the Scrub Island Resort, Spa and Marina. Highlighting the event was the Best in Show awards ceremony,
which took place following cocktails and a sumptuous buffet dinner.
This beautiful, sunny evening saw several yachts set sail over to Scrub Island, while other attendees were transported by complimentary ferry from the dock in Roadtown, Tortola. 
Scrub Island is located about three miles offshore from the Tortola airport. The development opened in 2010 and offers rental and residential vacation properties with docking and resort facilities on site including two restaurants, retail shops and a first class spa.
This year Sol petroleum, providers of fuel for the majority of marinas in the BVI,
provided some of the prizes for winners in five different categories. Prizes included two round trip tickets from Beef Island, Tortola to San Juan, Puerto Rico. The panel of judges, comprised of anonymous charter brokers, viewed seventy participating yachts and met their crews in order to submit their votes in each category. After the votes were tallied the winners were:
Best in Show
First Place: AVALON
Second Place: AKASHA
Best Multihull Over 51 Feet
First Place: CATSY
Second Place: FELICIA
Best Multihull 50 Feet and Under
First Place: NUTMEG
Second Place: DREAMING ON
Best Monohull
First Place: TAKAPUNA
Second Place: BLUE PASSION
Best Motor Yacht
First Place: FREEDOM
Second Place: OBSESSION
The Charter Yacht Show is the largest of its kind in the Virgin Islands and is an important annual event that provides an opportunity for charter industry professionals to develop a personal knowledge of yachts and relationship with
crews. BVI yacht charters contribute more than $35 million dollars in revenue annually from the many
charter guests who enjoy this exquisite cruising region.
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Awards Dinner at Tortola`s Scrub Island Resort, Spa & Marina: New Options for Yachtsmen at Upscale Marina
Scrub Island Resort, Spa and Marina, located on a 230-acre private island east of Tortola a couple of miles from Tortola Airport, hosted the Tortola Charter Boat Show Awards Dinner for yacht crews and brokers. The buffet was laden 
with excellent food and despite the crowd of about 200 guests there was more than enough for seconds and thirds.
The property opened for business in mid-2010 with resort accommodations and residences for purchase. Due to the 
BVIs strict development controls, and despite what became years of controversy, this private island resort is the first to open in the BVI in more than 15 years.
The Scrub Island staff kindly took those interested on a tour of the property, which offers a new, upscale destination for yachtsmen and vacationers. The marina boasts dockage for five megayachts with an LOA of up to 170 feet and 53 deep-water slips available for short or long term docking.
On site, the Marina Village shops include the Scrub Island Boutique, the well-equipped Dive BVI shop and the Gourmet Market & Café, with offerings 
that include a tempting deli counter and fine wine selections. The most opulent crew bathrooms we’ve seen to date are in this area, decorated in marble they house multiple sinks and huge glass showers.
Charter guests will enjoy stretching their sea legs on a bit of shore leave at the multi-level pool, the lovely terrace restaurant with great sea views, the spa with an impressive menu of treatments, or perhaps a work out in the fitness center or hike on a nature trail.
Accommodations are available in one bedroom or two bedroom suites handsomely decorated with an island flare, with impressive full kitchen, large living room and lovely balcony. These condominium apartments are also for sale starting at $1.5 million. Contact the resort for details.
For comprehensive information on the BVI access the following links:
Tortola Yacht Charter and Beach Guide
Heesen`s 164ft. Superyacht YN 16750: Swift, Efficient, All-Aluminum, Transoceanic Explorer
YN 16750 is a swift, lightweight all-aluminum explorer yacht under construction at the Heesen shipyard and scheduled for delivery in 2015.
The revolutionary Fast Displacement Hull Form (FDFH) developed by famous Dutch naval architects Van Oossanen and Associates allows significant improvements in fuel efficiency.
Thanks to the FDHF’s low resistance characteristics, YN 16750 can reach a maximum speed of 18.5 knots powered by two 1.000kW MTUs. Hence an ocean-crossing range is achieved with minimal fuel capacity; only 45.000 liters are required to comfortably transit the Atlantic, leaving plenty of reserve.
Perry van Oossanen, naval architect at VOA, comments: “Modest propeller tunnels have been defined allowing for 1.5m diameter propellers. The hull will be fitted with Quantum XT zero-speed fins, and bilge keels, allowing for a maximum reduction in roll angle when at anchor. The design of the hull, the appendages and the propulsion arrangement have been focused on obtaining the best fuel efficiency possible, without sacrificing performance and comfort when running in waves.” Carrying less fuel also means that the yacht is lighter which further improves efficiency.
Exterior styling and general arrangement has been entrusted to Frank Laupman from Omega Architects & AB Studios. They describe the elegant lines emphasized by contrasting bands of wraparound glass as “complex simplicity” the parallelism of line is in fact an illusion.
The cozy and inviting interior décor will be based on the color contrast between swamp oak paneling and dark joinery details. Ten guests can be accommodated in five cabins. 61 square meters are dedicated to the master suite, traditionally located forward on the main deck. The four guest cabins (two VIP and two twins) are positioned on the lower deck.
Guests will enjoy 237 square meters of outdoor living space. The main and rescue tenders are placed on the fore deck under way, while the toys are stored in the forward garage. This configuration allows the aft part of the yacht to be used as a large beach club equipped with sauna and hammam.
The design of YN 16750 proves that high speed cruising can be achieved without sacrificing either luxury or efficiency.
Follow this link to view Heesen Yachts for Charter worlwide.
Please visit Super Yacht and Luxury Yacht Charter to explore the possibilities of a superb yachting vacation.
10 Day Dive Itinerary through the Turquoise Waters of Belize on 156′ Luxury ISA Trideck AXIOMA
Day 1: Belize City to Rendezvous Cay
After embarkation in Belize City, cruise east to Rendezvous Cay for lunch. A blue fish camp and coconut palms greet guests at Rendezvous Cay. Take pleasure in a purely relaxing afternoon on board with time to play on the yacht’s exciting array of toys. This evening a beach barbecue dinner sets the pace for your luxurious Caribbean charter.
Day 2: Turneffe Atoll (Southern End – Big Cay Bokel)
Sail to Turneffe Atoll, the largest of Belize’s three atolls that spreads over 30 miles north to south. The islands consist of hundreds of mangrove cays rimming both the east and west side of a shallow reef-fringed bank. The southern part of Turneffe is well known for fishing and diving. For many, the Elbow is the most exciting dive (for advanced divers only). Often hampered by strong currents, it is these same currents that make it so spectacular. Large predatory sharks, big groupers, eagle rays and sea turtles are often seen. Spend the day diving and fishing and savor gourmet lunch and dinner on board.
Day 3 & 4: Lighthouse Reef Atoll
Lighthouse Reef Atoll is a must see. It’s exceptionally clear water of aquamarine blue is adorned with numerous jewel-like beads of reef. The beaches are beautiful and miles of virgin coral reefs offer great snorkeling and scuba diving. In the morning board the tender to the world-renowned Blue Hole for the first dive. After lunch cruise to Half Moon Cay, a nature reserve where 4,000 red footed booby birds have made their home. Take the well marked trail to the observation platform for spectacular views.
Day 5: Glovers Reef Atoll
In the morning cruise to Glovers Reef Atoll, the southernmost atoll that is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Glovers Reef Atoll is a circular stretch of coral islands surrounding a shallow lagoon that closely resembles a South Pacific atoll. A few minutes away are more than 600 coral pinnacles and patch coral heads reaching toward the surface. Sheer walls beginning at 25 feet plummet vertically in a dramatic 2,700-foot drop.
Day 6: Queens Cay and Laughing Bird
Queens Cay is a pristine island with gleaming white beaches and fabulous turquoise waters. Anchor in about 20 feet of water surrounded by coral reefs, an excellent spot that is home to more than 80 species of fish. Dive along sheer walls, grottos, and canyons, with wall dives that start at 35 feet then drop off plunging into an abyss of 3,000 feet. Enjoy a noontime cruise to Laughing Bird and lunch ashore. This spectacular snorkeling location is also known as a corridor for migrating whale sharks.
Day 7 & 8: Sapodilla Cay
Sapodilla Cay, the southernmost Cay on the Belize Cay barrier reef, is an ideal spot for a daytime anchorage. Head north from Sapodilla Cay to reach Nicholas Cay and an exploration of the renowned gap locally known as “the Aquarium”. Spend the afternoon enjoying numerous water sports and games. In the evening the chef prepares a sumptuous beach barbecue.
Day 9: Monkey River and Placencia
Drop anchor at the mouth of Monkey River. An expert guide will escort guests on a tour to explore the amazing and abundant flora and fauna onshore. Later, depart for a serene anchorage off the quaint town of Placencia. Have lunch at the five star Francis Ford Copolla Resort’s Turtle Inn Restaurant. Spend the afternoon exploring the unique shops, bars and sites of Placencia. In the evening dine at the French Connection restaurant, voted best cuisine in Belize. To enjoy an evening of local culture, Garifuna dancers and drummers may be hired to perform on board or guests may view a performance at one of the local resorts.
Day 10: Middle Ground Range and Belize City
Enjoy a delightful morning swim with the dolphins at Middle Ground Range. Cruise north to Belize City for disembarkation. Time for a few final photos and a fond farewell to your Captain and crew.
Please follow these informative links for further information on chartering AXIOMA and details on Superyacht Yacht and Luxury Yacht Charter.