Spetses – the new ‘go-to’ destination for the global jet-set! Set sail from Athens and set a course straight for the little island of Spetses; arriving in the tiny port of Dapia you will find yourself surrounded by smart cafes and stylish boutiques, set against a backdrop of whitewashed, Neoclassical houses. Just around the corner from the port the cobbled road opens into an expansive piazza that acts as the forecourt for the Poseidonion Grand Hotel once visited by the likes of Elizabeth Taylor, Bobby Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe and Ingrid Bergman. There are three great sandy beaches to chose from for a day of sunbathing and swimming.
Category Archives: Regattas and Races
Cannes Regatta & Les Voiles de St Tropez: Racing on the Riviera
The Panerai Classic Yachts Challenge in Cannes and the Voiles de St Tropez follow the Cannes Yachting Festival and Monaco Yacht Show as part of autumn on the French Riviera. It’s time to test the speed of some of the sailing yachts!
Classic sailing yachts line the Vieux Port in Cannes at the end of September when the city welcomes the Cannes Royal Regatta, and a range of sailing yachts will race against each other in the bay of Cannes, with its iconic views of the hotels lining the Croisette.
As the Cannes Regatta comes to an end, the Voiles de St Tropez is just beginning, and continues in to early October. Les Voiles de St Tropez is said to bring together the pleasure of sailing and the party spirit that St Tropez is so well known for. This regatta almost marks the end of the summer season on the Riviera, and is one of the best opportunities to make the most of the still warm weather that the south of France has to offer.
Would you like to sail on a classic yacht? THE BLUE PETER is the perfect opportunity! Enjoy a day charter on the Riviera; you can organise a team building event where everyone gets stuck in to sailing, or just relax on a prime example of a classic yacht.
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The Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Festival in London
With the world of charter closely focused on the modern sailing yacht it is easy to forget the ships of years gone by still sailing our high seas. This weekend saw the arrival of the largest fleet of Tall Ships to visit London in a quarter of a century, throwing the Thames back in time as around 50 tall ships, barges and traditional vessels decorated its waters.
With their towering sails billowing in the wind, the ships set sail from Falmouth racing to the Isle of Wight before heading up the River Thames for the Royal Greenwich Tall Ships Regatta.
Ships from around the world came to take part in this event including the Shtandart, a modern replica of a Russian navy flagship built for Peter the Great in 1703.
Also on show was Tenacious, the largest wooden tall ship of her kind which is operated by the Jubilee Sailing Trust and Telca who is almost 100 years old. The ships are moored at four sites along the Thames – Woolwich, Maritime Greenwich, Greenwich Peninsula and Canary Wharf and while based in the capital, they can be viewed from the land as well as on board.
The festival will end on Tuesday with a grand parade of sail down the river as the ships head back to the open sea for their onward voyages.
Has this made you want to sail the seas? With the upcoming Voiles de St Tropez and Cannes Royal Regatta you can try sailing at speed and get some hands on experience of racing! Contact Boatbookings to organise your own sailing charter today.
Racing on the East Coast of England
The summer sailing season is in full swing and while for many charterers that means heading to the Mediterrean for blue skies and turquoise waters, there are those among the Boatbookings team that like to brave the chillier waters of the United Kingdom.
Once a year on the East Kent Coast the annual Swale Smack and Sailing Barge Race takes place in the River Swale. Run by the Kentish Sail Association each race draws together perhaps the biggest fleet of historic vessels that can be seen at any one time anywhere in the county.
This year saw a particularly early start to the race with the first boats setting off at 6:00 am. Cries of “don’t worry, we’ll be home and on the gin by 11” proved false as a particularly light and fluky wind saw to it that it was one of the longer races we have had for several years. After drifting round the first two marks, the wind began to pick up for the homeward journey and the competition really began. Leading our class we were cruising nicely towards some silverware when a halyard snapped and down came the topsail. One sail change later (we like to think executed as smartly as aboard a JCLASS but probably not), we were speeding along again and over the finish line well ahead of our competition. Prize giving and celebratory drinks lasted well into the night because in the end, isn’t that what we all go to sea for?
The Boatbookings Team cater for all of your yachting wishes and requirements, from sailing regattas to super yachts. Our team provide hands on experience, expertise and unrivalled knowledge in all areas, ensuring that your charter is as memorable as possible.
Cutting Edge Technology Unveiled in Monte Carlo
Racing is as much a part of Monaco as tennis is a part of Wimbledon. Earlier this year, thousands of spectators watched as Nico Rosberg and Lewis Hamilton furthered Mercedes domination at the Monaco Grand Prix in a season which has seen a huge step forward in the engineering in the cars and a move to hybrid engines. The racing in Monaco is far from over however and the boating world is certainly not being left behind in terms of innovation as the Solar1 cup came to Monte Carlo.
29 teams from 11 different countries arrived with their entirely solar powered boats for a weekend of racing. The President of Solar1, Sergei Dobroserdov, sees Solar1, “As a great opportunity to animate and excite a new generation.” The likes of Mangusta are as popular as ever in the yachting industry but, just as the Toyota Prius has come to rival V8 powered sports cars, so we might anticipate a new range of luxury yachts in the near future.
For those of you who are worried that a new era of fuel efficient yachts will come at the expense of design, luxury and comfort, look no further than M OCEAN. She showcases fine Italian design with every conceivable comfort whilst 8 solar panels power all of the electrics on board and the hybrid engine allows her to travel up to 8 knots in total silence.
On board, the stunning aft deck is vast and merges seamlessly with an elegant and airy, open-plan salon. Those looking to work on their tan can happily spent hours on large sun pads on the flydeck or soaking in the jacuzzi on the forward main deck.
Below deck the saloons are magnificently lit by large windows offering panoramic views but pull the blinds down and enjoy an intimate cosy atmosphere in which to enjoy a film in the evening.
M OCEAN is available to charter in the South of France. If you are interested in chartering her or any of our extensive range of yachts, please don’t hesitate to contact the Boatbookings team.