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Alluring Alaska: Luxury Yachting Destination of Breathtaking Beauty and Awesome Adventure

Alaska has a longer coastline than all the other United States combined, which makes it an unparalleled yachting adventure with endless possible itineraries and ports of call. Captain Josh Kaberon, of the classic Burger 68’ LONGHORN, has lived in Alaska for decades and is intimately familiar with the region. He shared with us his favorite destinations for a weeklong yacht charter embarking from Ketchikan. Here, an overview of his Alaska itinerary reveals some highlights.

Ketchikan is both an air and marine transportation hub for Southeast Alaska, and facilitates international travelers with numerous convenient flights. Ketchikan is located on Revillagigedo Island, 90 miles north of Prince Rupert, British Columbia. It is a charming point of embarkation, known as the Salmon Capital of the World and boasting the most standing totem poles on the planet.

Ketchikan is also the gateway to the Misty Fjords National Monument, one of the areas major attractions. The protected area spans over two million wilderness acres of Tongass National Forest and is called “The Yosemite of the North” for its similar geology. Pale granite, 50 to 70 million years old, sculpted by glaciers, forms glacier valleys and natural canals filled with seawater. Here, near vertical walls soar an astonishing 3,000 feet above sea level.

Captain Josh’s itinerary includes time spent hiking around picture postcard Hugh Smith and Ella Lakes, where wild animals are ever-present and trout fishing is renowned. By day four, yacht charter guests have reached the spectacular destinations of Rudyerd Bay and Punchbowl Cove that are notable for dramatic sheer rock walls and breathtaking landscapes. Day five reveals spectacular waterfalls along the lake trail at Manzanita Bay.

The day prior to departure, Josh advocates a soothing soak at Bell Island Hot Springs where yacht charter guests will enjoy first class resort facilities and the opportunity to relax and share their experiences with other travelers over hors d’ oeuvre and cocktails.

Boatbookings.com features numerous exceptional itineraries, normally written by Captains who know the regional waters intimately and are experts at local attractions and intriguing points of interest both above and below the waterline at Yachting Itineraries

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Luxury Superyacht 144 ft. OCEAN EMPIRE LSV: Uber Green SuperCat

Sauter Carbon Offset Design, dedicated to advancements in alternative energy for the marine industry, presents OCEAN EMPIRE LSV, a solar hybrid, totally self sufficient, zero carbon, luxury superyacht.

OCEAN EMPIRE LSV has a streamlined, dark and stealthy superstructure straddling dual hulls and supporting an impressive exoskeleton of photovoltaic cells. Although solar power is the primary energy source that propels OCEAN EMPIRE LSV and runs her operating systems, the superyacht is also equipped with a SkySail for wind propulsion, and a third source of kinetic energy derived from wave motion.

Energy from the sun powers solar cells that cover the entire surface of the vessel, illuminate two innovative hydroponics farming systems and power high tech fish “harvesting” equipment on board. Wind powers an auxiliary automated SkySail, capable of driving the OCEAN EMPIRE LSV to speeds in excess of 18 knots, while charging her GM ESS2 batteries through power sailing KER.

A third energy source is derived from the motion of the waves and is captured through Motion Damping Regeneration (MDR). The MDR system is basically an ATMD (Adjustable Tuned Mass Damper) more commonly utilized in skyscrapers to reduce their swaying motion. Essentially, the weight of 16 tons of batteries create a resistance to the rocking motion of waves that channels power to linear generators that produce up to 50 kws of electricity as they dampen the motion of the vessel.

Richard Sauter, head of design commented “The OCEAN EMPIRE life support superyacht liberates the superyacht community from its strict dependence on unsustainable resources by harnessing the renewable collective power ever present in the Earths Biosphere”.

OCEAN EMPIRE LSV is competitive in terms of cost, operation and features, with conventional superyachts. The hybrid design offers guests every luxury yet boasts a range from a 50% reduction in fuel consumption and CO2 emissions to Ultra Green Carbon Neutral and Zero Carbon cruising capability. As a charter, a plugged in OCEAN EMPIRE LSV is capable of feeding 360+Mwh of electricity to the grid, or enough energy to make up to 12,000 nautical miles of chartered carbon neutral voyages every year.

LOA: 144.3 ft.

Beam: 51 ft.

Draft: 2.62 ft.

Cruising speed: 12 knots

Maximum speed: 18 knots

Guests: 10

Crew: 8

Follow this link Green Chartering – Low Carbon Emissions Charter for Boatbookings.com pertinent information about environmentally friendly yacht charters.

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Luxury Charter Yacht BIG FISH Aids Victims of Chilean Tsunami

When the crew of luxury charter yacht BIG FISH heard of the plight of  629 residents in the tusnami-ravaged coastal village of Juan Bautista on Robinson Crusoe Island, Chile, their response was compassionate and immediate.

The island, formally known as Juan Fernandez, is most famous as the scene of the adventures of Scottish sailor Alexander Selkirk, marooned on the island from 1704 to 1708, and immortalized in Daniel Defoe’s novel Robinson Crusoe, hence the present name.

Witnesses described the situation immediately following the disaster. “Everything that had been along that three-kilometer stretch just disappeared,” said Fernando Avaria, the first pilot to fly over the area. “It was devastating, really out of a horror film,” said Margot Salas, a local who toured the area with Chilean state television some 24 hours later.

The island has been let down twice by their government. The first time was February 27, when a tsunami estimated at five meters in height, hit the island without warning of the onrushing wave that virtually flattened the town, destroying houses, government offices, church, businesses and the village’s only school. After much finger-pointing between the Chilean government’s Navy and its official tsunami-warning agency, the Navy admitted it relayed incorrect information in advance of wave.

The second failure has been the government’s continuing inability to provide the villagers with sufficient aid to rebuild the community and its infrastructure. The tsunami killed an estimated 19 people on the island.

The islanders continue to await governmental assistance, and some aid is trickling in from private donations. The 148 foot luxury charter yacht BIG FISH, on her way from Fort Lauderdale to the Antarctic Peninsula for charter operations, stopped in Robinson Crusoe Island after learning of the villager’s plight from Mark Drewelow, a former yacht captain, who is the founder and director of  Yacht Aid Global, a private organization dedicated to empowering visiting yachts to aid remote populations in their travels.

BIG FISH is an extraordinary new launch from Aquos Yachts with an extraordinary crew. Captain Joyce-Clarke and the crew have their own grass-roots charity called Crew4Change. They immediately teamed up with Yacht Aid Global in the humanitarian relief effort. Crew4Change, which has successfully solicited numerous donations, agreed to purchase and distribute a variety of needed goods to the school on Robinson Crusoe Island. The gifts, totaling more than US$8,400, included laptop computers, printer, numerous school supplies, and sports equipment for the 150 children left without a school in the tsunami’s wake.

“We are delighted to be participating with Yacht Aid Global in this important effort,” said Richard Beattie. “BIG FISH was built to visit the most remote and pristine places of earth in safety and comfort,” he said. “We want to leave all the places we visit in our travels as good, if not better, than before our arrival. Yachts are conspicuous for their size and beauty, and we must also help make them equally conspicuous for the benefit they can provide to the remote populations they visit. Just as we experience joy from yachting, we must also leave joy in our wakes.”

Boatbookings recently visited BIG FISH and reported enthusiastically on the launch of this superb luxury charter yacht, designed for guests who are young at heart and yearn for limitless adventure in supreme style and comfort.

Please follow these links for Boatbookings.com additional information on BIG FISH and worldwide yacht charter Destinations.

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TÛRANOR PlanetSolar: Eco Catamaran Destined as a Luxury Yacht

TûRANOR PlanetSolar reminds me that visionaries of the past, like Isaac Asimov, were closer to future reality than fiction. The goal of the PlanetSolar team is to pioneer the circumnavigation of the globe in a boat driven exclusively by solar power.

Even before embarkation from Monaco on September 27, the TûRANOR PlanetSolar team made impressive advancements in the production and application of composite materials and structures, and the production and storage of solar energy, that will likely set a precedent for future yacht design.

The vision of the project is to enlighten the public about the possibilities and importance of renewable energy as well as practical applications in the increasingly eco conscious marine industry. According to the company, construction costs were a primary consideration, and builds will be kept reasonable and competitive through the use of materials and technologies available today, which have the potential to be mass-produced.

PlanetSolar, which will be home to four sailors during the circumnavigation, is designed as a luxury catamaran yacht with a crew of six, and can accommodate up to forty people while in port. The vessel is presently at the Beach Marina in Miami after cruising 61 days 34 minutes from Monaco with stops in Las Palmas and St. Maarten.

The TÛRANOR PlanetSolar website is informative and fun, with many features including; Google Earth RSS-Feed, live current boat location, photos and logbook. There is even a Virtual Regatta that lets you be the skipper!

If you are interested in eco-friendly charter yachting, Boatbookings.com offers pertinent information that can be found at: Green Chartering – Low Carbon Emissions Charter

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YCO Yacht Company Sponsors Charity Expedition to the South Pole

Apparently nobody to date has attempted to travel the 1400 miles roundtrip from Hercules Inlet to the South Pole and back without support or assistance of any kind. Go figure. However, this week Chris Foot will attempt to complete this mission of charity to raise funds and awareness for Combat Stress, an organization dedicated to the mental health of former military personnel.

Chris, who joined the Royal Marines in 1996, has always pushed himself beyond the limit. At the age of 21 he joined the elite Special Air Service as the youngest serving member to gain acceptance. In this capacity and throughout his military career he conquered cold weather and attained mountaineering skills that prepared him for the demanding challenges of polar exploration.

Combat Stress dates back to 1919 and the welfare needs of British servicemen following World War I. Today the organization plays a major role in assisting ex-service people with mental disorders such as Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome. While the expedition costs are covered by corporate sponsorships including YCO, donations in support of Chris’ endeavors are being solicited that will go directly to Combat Stress.

Antarctica is a breathtaking region of pristine natural beauty and extraordinary wildlife. Boatbookings.com features information on luxury yacht charters in this spectacular region.

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