Category Archives: Expert Commentary

Race in a Regatta from the Luxury of Your Own Home

A new phenomenon is taking a hold in the world of sailing fanatics, having already signed up some 300,000 players. “Virtual Regatta” is a fantastic new way to skipper your own sailboat, but from the warmth and safety of your own home. Think about this – you can navigate through day and night, storms and calm seas, all from a computer.

We think this is absolutely fantastic, and while 20 real-life skippers are navigating the globe for three months, a large group of virtual skippers are sailing the Vendee Globe too, but from their own homes.

The program has taken the sailing world by storm (excuse the pun), and with great additions such as a worldwide real-time weather simulator, virtual skippers are sure to experience all different types of sailing. Not only does this simulator encompass rain and sun, but accurate wind speed and direction.

Loads of extras are available throughout the regatta, one virtual skipper has paid €20 / $25 to have an autopilot for the night, and an extra choice of sales. It’s not just about being a one man team though, many a group have taken to joining, taking hours each and relaying the race, so they can be as fresh and awake as possible.

Although players don’t have to deal with real life situations of navigating storms and terrible tides, they might have to deal with more expected problems – the Internet. Unfortunately thousands of virtual skippers were left behind recently when the site was off limits for 5 hours due to a technical hitch.

Although we encourage people to give this great program a try, we also very much encourage you to look at being a real life skipper, with a bareboat charter of a catamaran in the BVI this Winter.  Interested in chartering a catamaran in the BVI? See our blog on the Top 3 Crewed Catamarans of the BVI Yacht Show 2012.

If you’re interested in chartering a yacht, please go to boatbookings.com, or email us at [email protected] and one of our charter specialists will get back to you shortly.

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Our Top 3 Crewed Catamarans of the BVI Yacht Show 2012!

Having recently returned from the BVI Yacht Show, one of our Senior Brokers, Lambros Tsolakis, let us know exactly what he thought of the yachts on offer. He ranked them based on the yachts themselves and the crew – to bring you a Top 3 which we couldn’t recommend highly enough!

Our Number 3 was TIGER LILY, a 66ft Gunboat, with a clean cut and modern interior. She has 3 cabins accommodating for 6 guests, and has a fantastic crew of 2. Lambros loved the crew, and the build of the yacht. He mentioned how there were plenty of water toys – brilliant for a family or a group of friends keen to have an adventure! It was not by chance that TIGER LILY was voted the Best Multihull over 55ft.

Number 2 is GYPSY PRINCESS, a stunning Lagoon 450, and winner of the Best Catamaran Under 55ft. She has 3 great cabins also accommodating for 6 passengers. She has a fantastic crew of 2, Achilleas and Cleo, who have always received fantastic feedback for their hosting, cookery and professionalism. Lambros loved her fly bridge, from which you have plenty of space to soak up the sun, and thought that the Captain was very knowledgeable and would be great for charterers of all ages and group sizes.

Our Number 1 of the BVI Yacht Show 2012 is the stunning BARBUDA BELLE. She is a 2011 Lagoon 620, offering ample space in 5 cabins for 10 guests with a crew of 2. She has another fantastic fly bridge and loads of water toys for guests to enjoy. She has a bright and spacious interior, which we absolutely love. Lambros added that the Captain was excellent and that the French chef had an excellent menu on offer for guests!

For the rest of our Top 10, please click here. If you’re interested in chartering a yacht, please see boatbookings.com or email us at [email protected] and one of our charter specialists would be delighted to help you with your enquiry.

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Top 8 Luxury Travel Gadgets for a Sailing Holiday Part II (From Guest Blogger Fraser Strand)

In Part II of this blog, Fraser discusses the last four items of his Top 8 Luxury Travel Gadgets for a Sailing Holiday. See Part I here.

5. Belkin Rockstar Multi Headphone Splitter

Make sharing your music a fun experience with Belkin’s headphone splitter.   Fantastic if you want to listen to music or watch a film with someone using headphones.  A highly functional purchase , this gizmo is the perfect solution for sharing music with friends.  It is also compact so won’t take up precious packing space and won’t break the bank either.  You can connect up to 5 different headphones with this exciting gadget – great if you are lounging on the beach with friends and all want to listen to music together.

6. Bose QC15 Noise-cancelling Headphones

So you’ve got your iPad and your Belkin Headphone splitter, now all you need is a pair of decent headphones.  Bose’s QC15 noise-cancelling headphones will reduce any unwanted ambient noise.  Not only are these headphones comfortable, cocooning your ear in a little audible heaven, they also have the latest and most sophisticated technology, featuring microphones on the inside and outside of both cups which picks up and cancels out noise over a broad range of frequencies.  With an average of 35 hours of battery life as well as being immensely portable these headphones are a must-have travel accessory.

7. The Bear Grylls Ultimate Multi-Tool

This is the latest answer to an Swiss Army Knife courtesy of expedition extraordinaire, Bear Grylls.  The multi-tool is a long time coming.  With over 70 years of knife and apparatus expertise, this piece is an essential accessory for any intrepid adventure.

The Ultimate Multi-Tool features 12 stainless steel, weather resistant components including: needle nose pliers, fine edge knife, saw, serrated Knife, 3 types of screwdrivers, bottle opener, can opener, scissors, wire cutters and lanyard ring.  The makers of the multi-tool have literally thought of all manner of hairy situations and circumstances that you might find yourself in.  This device also comes with a high quality, military-grade Nylon Sheath that’s lightweight and mildew resistant to protect it.

8. Handpresso Outdoor Set

Whether you are up a mountainside or sailing on the great ocean you don’t ever have to go without your caffeine fix again thanks to the ingenious handpresso outdoor set.  This easily transportable, super light-weight machine makes a rich, velvety smooth and delicious espresso using a patented high pressure extraction system.  All you need to get it to work is pump up the handle to 16 bar, add water to the mini reservoir, insert  a coffee pod, and hey presto, you’ve got yourself one tasty espresso. This truly brilliant and highly innovative invention makes drinking coffee on the go easier than ever before.  It also comes equipped with a chic shoulder bag full of essential items for an impromptu tea party including four unbreakable cups, a thermo-insulated flask and napkins.

Conclusion

If you’re inspired by these travel gadgets and still haven’t booked your spring holiday then why not see the sailing holidays available at Boatbookings.com.

Author Bio

Fraser Strand is an avid technology writer with a passion for traveling and sailing around the world. On his own blog (UK Gadget Review) he writes about luxury watches, premium sailing gear, and innovative technology.

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Chartering in the BVI on our Top 5 November Crewed Catamarans, Part II

Part I of this blog introduced our top 5 with the excellent CATTITUDE, followed by the modern IN THE WIND, two fantastic options for a Crewed Catamaran in the BVI. Part II will follow on in the same vein, exploring some of those best crewed catamarans available for charter in the BVI that we highly recommend.

MOTU is a stunning crewed catamaran, available for charter. She is a 2006 61 foot Privilege, with the space to accommodate 8 guests in 4 large cabins easily. She has an excellent fly-bridge, a perfect space for viewing the oceans around you whilst you sail on board. MOTU always makes her clients feel at home, and chartering her is one of the most extraordinary experiences one can have. One charterer said “The Motu experience was the best vacation I have taken. First, simply being on a boat living in luxury with the flexibility to roam wherever your heart pleases may just be the perfect combination. We did the BVI`s under the Motu, a 60 foot cat that is in excellent condition. Additionally, there are fun toys like the waterskiing, wakeboarding, tubing, kayaking, snorkeling, exploring, hiking, fishing and of course sailing. Captain Luc and Freddie were dynamite. Freddie is one of the best cooks I know.” MOTU does not disappoint, and she is the perfect crewed catamaran for charter, let alone just in the BVI! MOTU is currently available between November 18th and December 14th for charter, and in mid January too. She would love to have you on board!

WORLD’S END is a 65 foot Fountaine Pajot with 5 luxurious cabins accommodating up to 10 guests. She is a fantastic charter for families and groups of friends alike, providing both great facilities in and out of the water. She has plenty of water toys, ranging from kayaks, fishing gear, to waterskis for both adults and children, as well as wake boards. On board, she is fully air conditioned and has plenty to keep you busy, if you’re not exploring the wonderful islands of the BVI! She also has loads of deck space for all passengers to enjoy sailing from. If you haven’t booked plans for Christmas, she is currently available for a charter in the Caribbean!

SOON COME brings our top 5 luxury crewed catamarans blog of November to a close. She is a 62 foot Sunreef, with 4 great cabins to accommodate 8 on board. Her interior is made up of light flooring and upholstery, blended with the red-looking American Cherry wood of all her furniture. She is a first class catamaran, stylish, sophisticated, and perfect for charter in the BVI. She is air-conditioned throughout, and has a brilliant deck with a table to sit all guests. She is available January through to March and would love to have you on board!

If you are interested in chartering a yacht, please visit www.boatbookings.com, or email us at [email protected] and one of our charter specialists will get back to you shortly!

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Chartering in the BVI on our Top 5 November Crewed Catamaran’s, Part I

Following on from October’s edition of our top 5 luxury charter yachts in the West Mediterranean, November’s edition aims to bring you the very best crewed catamarans for the upcoming BVI and Caribbean season. There is no better way to spend your christmas vacation than in the natural beauty of the BVI with both friends and family on a luxury crewed catamaran charter, which allows you to relax and spend time with loved ones. Tortola is renowned for being one of the leading sailing destinations in the world, with beautiful white sandy beaches and turquoise waters. The north coast of the island is where you will find the best beaches, perfect for sailing, surfing, scuba diving and snorkeling. The turquoise waters of Smugglers Cove, on the western tip of the island, are particularly popular with snorkelers but never feel overly crowded. It really is paradise.
Screen-Shot-2012-11-09-at-10.48.43The first of our top crewed catamarans is CATTITUDE, a 75ft Privilege Alliaura with 4 beautiful cabins and a great crew. She is brand new and offers a sumptuous black and white decor throughout, giving a contemporary yet elegant feel to the vessel.  All four cabins have en-suite bathroom facilities, making this a great option for chartering with a close set of friends, as each couple will have their own suite. The master cabin features a generous suite, with a king sized bed, his and her sinks, a jacuzzi bath tub and a hydro massage shower. Guests will find all the modern technology that they will need, including the very latest iPod music system, as well as a large set of water toys to keep the kids happy! She is booked over Christmas and New Year, but remains at your disposal for many weeks in December, January and February so don’t miss the opportunity of a lifetime to charter her in the BVI or the Grenadines.

Screen-Shot-2012-11-09-at-10.49.24The second of our favourite crewed catamarans is IN THE WIND, a 62ft 2011 Sunreef with 4 stunning cabins. The Boatbookings.com view of this yacht is simple: “A high performance luxury sailing catamaran – guaranteed to exceed expectations” She is a great choice for your Christmas luxury yacht charter and will not disappoint even the most discerning guests. She has plenty of water toys and games on board, including water ski’s, Sea-doos, kayaks and diving gear to satisfy the whole family. Her styling is bold and incorporates dark wood with bold fixtures and fittings, making her quite unique in the crewed catamaran market. Her cabins are spacious and comfortable and provide excellent sleeping quarters for both friends and family. There is no better way to enjoy this luxury crewed catamaran than on her Flybridge, offering great space for the whole family to relax, socialise and soak up all that the BVI has to offer.

If you would like to find out more information on how to charter in the BVI or anywhere else in the world, please do so via our website www.boatbookings.com. If you are interested in any of the boats listed, please enquire through the page links to the yachts or send an email to [email protected]. Watch this space for Part II of our favourite November luxury crewed catamarans. To view our top 5 yachts for the upcoming season in the Western Mediterranean, please click here.

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