VAT News – Charter Yachts in France Will be Subject to Up to 19.6% Tax Beginning 15 July

The French Tax Authority has announced that VAT will be applicable to all charters in France for contracts signed from the 15th July onwards, even on the commercial yachts that were previously excluded from taxation.

Regulations are still being clarified, but it appears that any charter that goes beyond French territorial waters (that is 12 nautical miles) will receive a 50% reduction in the VAT rate to 9.8%. Regardless of this reduction, we highly recommend that you book your charter before Bastille Day!

See our French Riviera Charter Yachts and book now to avoid extra costs on your charter!

Posted on June 28, 2013 by admin

Luxury Shirts for Your Summer Yacht Charter (From Guest Blogger Fraser Strand)

When it comes to this time of year there are few better luxuries in life than setting out on the open water and soaking up the fabulous sailing conditions of your ocean of choice. Perhaps the balmy waters of Fiji where you can settle into a steady 10 knots along its reefs, or the comfortable heat of the Caribbean seas which offer tantalising glimpses of the exotic sea life underneath. Wherever you choose to set sail, it pays to pack well for the occasion and deck out your wardrobe with some suitably luxury apparel.

A good pair of boat shoes and some tanned chinos are a given, but recently I have found myself investing in a wide range of tailored shirts and I haven’t looked back. After a conversation with a good friend of mine (who always looks frustratingly well dressed), I decided to investigate the famous series of traditional tailors in London’s Piccadilly. I was amazed by the range of tailors and menswear boutiques available, each with sophisticated shop fronts that exude historical elegance and invite you in for measurements and luxury apparel. After a while browsing around, I was perhaps most taken with Budd Shirtmakers (pictured below) who welcomed me warmly and began sizing me up before I could think twice.

Following in the sartorial tradition for over 100 years, like many shirtmakers in London, Budd is steeped in history from the ornate glass shop windows to the extensive classical range of materials, designs, and textures that adorn the interior. Surprisingly, they make all of their shirts by hand in their own cutting room above the shop (pictured below), which gives the whole experience a very genuine and timeless feeling. My personal request was to make a shirt with enough room to breathe as I’m sailing, but that didn’t make me look 5 stone overweight and they succeeded with flying colours.

After wearing my shirt a few times, I am converted. I love the feeling of a tailored fit and it looks so much better than before. In fact I have trip planned very soon during which I will be yachting near the South Pacific and can’t wait to christen my new attire on those sunny seas.

In addition to the bespoke “in-store” service, you can also get ready-made shirts from Budd via their new website along with bow ties, cufflinks, handkerchiefs and lots more men’s accessories to really deck out your boating gear on your next luxury yacht charter.

If you want to become Boatbloggings latest guest blogger, email us today at [email protected]!

Posted on June 25, 2013 by admin

Beijing Buys Out The Very Best of British Yachting

Sunseeker is Britain's largest and most recognised yacht builder, renowned for stunning aesthetics and build quality. Based in Dorset, Sunseeker produce the iconic Predator motor yacht series, as well as the classic Manhattan line and Portofino model.

The Snapper Luxury Sunseeker Motor Yacht

For a company whose success is heavily based upon tradition, a radical change to the management and culture of the company is naturally going to face some serious opposition. This comes with the news that Dalian Wanda, the Chinese property group are set to pay around £300 million for a 92% stake in Sunseeker International.
Sunseeker's are popular because of their spacious accommodation and deck areas, making them very popular with sporting icons, such as French footballer Marcel Desailly, as well as Formula 1 veterans Eddie Jordan and Nigel Mansell. This takeover follows the growing trend for Chinese companies acquiring top end British companies, in search of bringing western luxury to the country. Mr Wang of Dalian Wanda has been a lifelong fan of the Sunseeker brand, illustrated by the acquisition of a custom built Sunseeker Predator 108, which featured in James Bond, Casino Royale.

Brand New Eddie Jordan Sunseeker Yacht

The Snapper was Eddie Jordan's first Sunseeker motor yacht. This 37m fully crewed motor yacht features accommodation for up to 10 guests in 5 cabins, as well as stunning decks throughout. However, Mr Jordan has recently commissioned Sunseeker for a larger yacht, which will blow The Snapper out of the water. The 155ft new build project will feature four decks, accommodating up to 12 guests. The Sky deck is likely to feature a Jacuzzi and a bar, which would be the perfect place to enjoy cocktails while watching the sunset.

If spending £25 million on a brand new Sunseeker motor yacht is out of your budget, try your hand as owner by chartering your very own luxury Sunseeker! We have a host of stunning Sunseeker motor yachts all over the world, but it is hard to find one that is better equipped or better placed than Natalie, a Sunseeker Predator 84, based in the Golfe of St Tropez. She has incredible deck spaces to both the bow and aft, perfect for soaking up the summer rays with your family. Accommodation is provided in 4 cabins, making her perfect for up to 8 guests in stylish surroundings! We look forward to receiving your enquiries and helping you to plan your summer vacation in St Tropez.

Check out our website, www.boatbookings.com, and start searching for your luxury yacht charter on the French Riviera for this summer. We have a team of highly skilled professionals who are extremely knowledgeable in their destinations and will be able to help you bring together the yacht, the crew and all the other aspects that make your charter special.

At Boatbloggings we will keep you updated on the latest industry show releases, news and gossip in the yachting world. If you are looking for more information on yachts, charters and other yachting gossip, please become a fan and like our Facebook page to receive up to date information on our publications. Follow us on Twitter and Google Plus too.

Posted on June 20, 2013 by admin

A Day in the Life of an Intern, Part V

Following on from 'A Day in the Life of an Intern Part IV', Part V will keep you informed as to what else the interns have been up to, including more time spent sailing around Cannes! Now that the summer season is in full swing, the atmosphere is heating up and everybody is looking to get out on the water.

So, some of the interns did! We jumped at the chance to spend a morning on a bareboat with skipper and we took the brand new Sacs 680 Rib out for a spin from Golfe Juan. It really is worth doing the trip, so we know exactly what our clients get when they charter, and it is a great experience.

We headed out from Port Gallice, and at Ben's request, our skipper Baptiste sped up. We flew across the water, at 45 knots, past Palm Beach in Cannes, around to the Iles de Lérins; it was an exhilarating ride, with the wind in your hair (or in Charlotte's case, her hair in her face!).

We anchored between Ile Sainte Marguérite and Saint Honorat, where the water is as crystal clear as the waters in the Caribbean Sea. Of course, we took the chance to swim, but as it was still early June the water was still quite fresh! Still, the sun was shining and we couldn't miss out on the turquoise water. We headed away from the islands, and back towards Cannes to have a look at the Croisette from the sea, it's good to see it from a different perspective!

We stopped off at Billionaire's Bay, or translated from French 'Fake Money Bay' at Cap d'Antibes, home to the famous Hotel du Cap-Eden-Roc, where many of the big names stayed during the Cannes Film Festival. One of the morning's highlights had to be when we inflated the donut, and all took turns at being towed along behind the boat, at speed; our skipper was definitely trying his hardest to get us in the water! It is obvious why people look for a long list of water toys on their charter, as we had so much fun with just the donut – we can't wait to try and get our hands on a jet ski!

Apart from spending our weekends out at sea, we do like to get our heads down in the office as well. Charlotte has been spending her time working away on the Boatbookings Newsletter. She works with all of the Brokers to get their suggestions for their favourite yachts of the moment for all of our worldwide destinations, and brings together all the yachts, destinations, descriptions and images to put in our newsletter.

It's quite a task to bring it together, working with the whole team for the yacht choices, the layout, inputting all the information and bringing together the final edit, before sending it out to our subscribers. See our most recent Boatbookings Newsletter here.

Boatbookings.com provide a truly unique Internship program and there is no better place to learn about one of the worlds most luxurious sectors than in the South of France. If you are interested about enquiring about our internships or would like to apply, please contact our Managing Director, Capucine De Vallée: [email protected]

Posted on June 18, 2013 by admin

Brand New 2013 Heesen Super Yacht: CRAZY ME

We are always excited when we hear about the release of a brand new super yacht, especially when it comes from the Heesen Shipyard. Founded in 1978, Heesen has become one of the leading yacht builders, synonymous with excellent build quality, elegance and impressive design features. The latest release from Heesen's Oss facility is the YN 16250, a 50m all-aluminium constructed semi-displacement super yacht, which has been christened Crazy Me.

Her new owner is a complete visionary, pushing the design boundaries and creativity of the Heesen team to create one of the most advanced super yachts yet. Gary Grant was responsable for the striking exterior lines, achieving his signature swoosh from bow to stern. Another impressive design feature sees the use of formed glass, which provides stunning aesthetics as well as fantastic sound insulation throughout the yacht.

Italian designer Christiano Gatto was appointed for the interior design, creating a linear and contemporary design, which seeks to enhance the space on board. One of our favourite design features is the glass bottomed pool, enhancing light to the aft deck below. In terms of performance, the maximum speed is 21 knots at half load. She will be able to accommodate up to 12 guests in 6 staterooms, including one owner's suite, a VIP Cabin and four double cabins. She is due to be delivered in June 2013.

If you cannot wait to charter a stunning Heesen luxury crewed motor yacht, we have a host of impressive vessels that will provide you and your family with an unforgettable yacht charter holiday. One of our favourites this month is DALOLI, a Heesen 120, available for charter from Athens. Accommodating up to 8 guests in 4 cabins, she is the ideal choice for families looking to explore the Ionian Sea in style. We have a great sailing itinerary, which includes stops in Kefalonia, Lefkas and Zakynthos. If you are interested in water sports, DALOLI has a host of exciting toys to keep everyone entertained for hours!

Check out our website, www.boatbookings.com, and start searching for your luxury yacht charter in Greece for this summer. We have a team of highly skilled professionals who are extremely knowledgeable in their destinations and will be able to help you bring together the yacht, the crew and all the other aspects that make your charter special.

Posted on June 14, 2013 by admin