Meg Toppa From the Rail: Heineken Regatta Day 3

Three races took place yesterday and the competition was fierce in a light breeze of 8 to10 knots. Once again, AQUARIUS proudly finished first in her class in the first race. But tragedy struck in the second race when the main ripped and forced the disappointed crew to return to the dock for the replacement.

Although moral remained high AQUARIUS was only able to garner a fourth place position in the third race, which brought them to a fifth place standing for the day in their class. I was fortunate to be able to visit AQUARIUS where she was moored thanks to the SNSM (Societe National de Sauvetage en Mer), the national search and rescue team on the French side of St. Martin, and reached the yacht bouncing over the waves via one of their imposing orange rescue inflatables. After an all too brief stay I rode back to the dock accompanied by several of the exhausted crew to prepare for the evening events.

This evening a gala affair took place in the delightfully charming harbor town of Marigot, in French St. Martin. The town is much admired for fine French wines, gourmet French cuisine and a variety of shops selling everything from French novelties to high fashion. It is an incredibly picturesque harbor and on this night the Heineken and rum were flowing freely! Of course the lively banter was focused on the trials and tribulations of the day, with several boats strategizing prior to their convergence on the protest room in an attempt to resolve some “issues” occurring on the race course. Again, competitors, spectators and locals were treated to huge video screens broadcasting the highlights of the day’s racing. The biggest difference in the crowd of party goes this evening? Sunburns!!!

Today’s race, Sunday March 6, is the final day of racing, with a course from Marigot back to Simpson Bay where the awards ceremony and final big bash is scheduled to take place at Kim Sha Beach.

Click here for a comprehensive list of Upcoming Yachting Events, Regattas and Boat Show Dates Worldwide. Wish you could be a spectator or on the race team like the fortunate competitors on AQUARIUS? Click here to Charter a Yacht for a Regatta or Sailing Event.

Posted on March 7, 2011 by admin — No Comments ↓

Meg Toppa: Heineken Regatta Day 2

Today was a picture perfect for both competitors and spectators. I am watching all the excitement from a graceful Jenneau Sunfast43. An array of majestic parti-colored spinnakers billowing on a breeze, much gentler today than on day one of the races, propel these magnificent boats downwind. AQUARIUS was a spectacular sight out on the water and we are elated to learn that she finished first in her class.

Posted on March 5, 2011 by admin — No Comments ↓

Regatta Expert Meg Toppa Reports Live from the Heineken Regatta

Thursday saw the crew on board charter yacht AQUARIUS having a great first day of sailing, in which they valiantly defied a 90 minute morning squall. By the time of my evening arrival everyone was in fine form to party, having already finished taking the winches apart and cleaning them after this challenging day of racing.

The party, located at Dutch Sint Maarten’s Port de Plaisance on picturesque Simpson Bay, was tremendous fun, featuring rockin’ music and delightful cuisine. The eclectic crowd included jubilant local families, whose little children danced energetically about the grounds. Not to mention of course, the yacht crews, finally able to relax, drink lots of Heineken and eye the many local beauties. Big screens broadcast videos with highlights of the races.

I had dinner on board an elegant Jeanneau 43, which was moored out in Simpson Bay (a bit of a rolly polly place) and gliding on the water from the marina to the mooring on the dinghy the dense forest of glittering masthead lights was truly breathtaking. I am delighted to report that the number of boats in the harbor has easily doubled from last year, including an array of imposing mega yachts. I anticipate a brilliant day of events tomorrow and will keep you posted, with luck right from the rail!

Posted on March 4, 2011 by admin — No Comments ↓

Boatbookings Meg Toppa Reports on Sailing Yacht AQUARIUS: Delivery to Victory in the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta

Boatbookings regatta expert Meg Toppa is keeping her fingers crossed for her highly skilled charter client and his race crew who will be racing to win in the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta on board charter race yacht AQUARIUS.

AQUARIUS is a Nauter Swan 601 high performance sailing yacht with lightweight design for sailing at top racing speed. AQUARIUS classic lines and meticulously handcrafted interiors belie the most advanced building techniques and materials used in construction. AQURIUS features custom interiors and deck layout while maintaining hull shape and rig configuration that comply with one-design class rules.

Meg explains that AQUARIUS’ charter client has an impressive history of previous race participation aboard his own yacht, but this will be the first time he will be racing the superb charter Swan 601, AQUARIUS. He will set the agenda, although the captain of AQUARIUS will be on board (as per insurance requirements), and is sure to lend a most valuable hand to the team.

In a recent press release, AQUARIUS, a middle range contender, was described as “a dangerous presence” in the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta, the first of three competitions that the AQUARIUS team will undertake. Prior to the Rolex Regatta in St. Thomas, March 25-27 and the Tortola BVI Spring Regatta, March 28-April 3, a between race cruise week is scheduled for March 17-23, when the charter client onboard AQUARIUS will get a little respite.

The St. Maarten Heineken Regatta is scheduled from March 3-6, which puts AQUARIUS in the delivery mode at present. Toppa explains, “there are three modes that the race yacht can be in; delivery, cruise, or race modes. Each of these three modes requires changing the sheets, halyards and sails.”

The delivery mode entails lots of logistics, shipping the container with gear, and hotel and flight arrangements for the crew of six, required by any transit exceeding 300 miles. This allows two watches of three crew; one navigating, one helming and one trimming.

This is also a critical time of preparation, which the Captain of AQUARIUS, ChrisRingdahl, describes as very labor intensive. In fact just a couple of days ago, he and his wife were still sanding the keel past midnight. This is all part of playing to win.

Coming up is racing mode on AQUARIUS, when on each exhilarating race day the yacht is stripped to reduce weight and the forward berth becomes the sail locker. At day’s end, numerous chores include removing the drums from each of the nine winches for cleaning.

Keep checking Boatbloggings for AQUARIUS updates from Boatbookings racing expert Meg Toppa. She will be reporting up to the minute news (hopefully from the rail) throughout the St. Maarten Heineken Regatta.

Here is an informative link with valuable information on chartering a racing yacht and regatta information: Regattas and Sailing Events, Charter Racing Yachts

Posted on February 4, 2011 by admin — No Comments ↓

Boatbookings Onboard Oceanco 168 LAZY Z: The Quintessential Luxury Family Charter Yacht

What makes a truly superlative family charter is the combination of a magnificent luxury yacht and a long term, professional yet playful crew. LAZY Z not only meets but also exceeds these criteria.

Oceanco built LAZY Z in 1997, but you’d never guess her age because this stunning superyacht is graced with a timeless beauty of design and blessed by an owner and crew who keep her meticulously maintained, from the smallest knob on up.

Interior spaces are furnished with an elegant simplicity of design, featuring plush carpeting, supple leather upholstery and rich Indonesian bubinga hardwood against a backdrop of soft silk paneling. The palette of warm wood tones and golden hues is relaxing and inviting. The wide central staircase is a stunning and unusual architectural feature.

LAZY Z has accommodations for twelve guests in 6 spacious staterooms with a special cabin designed to delight children, right down to the teddy bears. With a 29 foot beam the true full width master suite, from porthole to porthole, is wonderfully spacious and filled with natural light. There is also a dedicated gym and the elegant observation lounge is an inspiration.

Even the radio room on LAZY Z is impressive, housing racks of state of the art equipment, including the Kaleidescape entertainment system storing over 3,000 movies, a capacity that exceeds yachts twice the size of LAZY Z.

We are not surprised when we are told that there is nothing on the bridge that is more than 12 months old. The CCTV was upgraded ten months ago; two new radars were upgraded eight months ago. The Servowatch integrated ship control system, which monitors the main engines, generators, bilges, water tight doors, all of those sort of systems onboard, is just eight months old. From comfortable banquette seating guests can peer at the high tech electronic chart system and the forward facing sonar, which gives a 2D display of what the seabed is like ahead.

Out on deck, LAZY Z has fabulous seating under a huge shade awning, and surrounding the Jacuzzi pool, which is only a couple of years old, there’s lots of sunbathing and, of course, you cannot miss the slide. This is a huge hit with all charter guests who, we are told, opt to use it every day. The owner of the boat is 72 years old and he uses the slide, preferring to go down backwards or head first. It’s simply awesome, they’ve had girls as young as three slide down it.

It is quite evident why LAZY Z is a very busy yacht featuring charters in the Caribbean and Mediterranean directed toward young families who, at the end of their charter, eagerly book a slot for the following year. The youthful and energetic crew boasts a guarantee that if you are a charter client on this boat you’ll be back again next year. We have no doubt.

Boatbookings.com features an extensive selection of charter yachts for every destination, type of clientele and information on family charters. Here are a couple of helpful links:

Chartering with Children, Super and Mega Luxury Yacht Charter

Posted on November 28, 2010 by admin — No Comments ↓