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.

Posted on November 21, 2012 by admin — No Comments ↓

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.

Posted on November 15, 2012 by admin — No Comments ↓

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

Whether you’re touring around the BVI on a Catamaran, or to the Bahamas on a luxury super-yacht, make sure you’re prepared with these 8 must-have gadgets. Whether functionality is your main criteria or you just fancy the latest quirky gizmo, we give you the lowdown on next year’s top ten exciting gadgets:

1. Pebble portable charger

If you are embarking on an intrepid voyage or you think you might be away from a power socket for several days then the Pebble Portable Charger is the ideal travel accessory. Retailing at only £39.99, this heavily anticipated gadget has enough power to charge your phone 4 times over. This serious and essential bit of kit can charge anything from an iPhone, iPod to any other USB-friendly gizmo. What’s also great is that it is compact, highly functional and will even tell you how much charge you are on.

2. Breitling Transocean Chronograph

Wherever you are in the world, don’t lose track of time. Breitling’s stunning Transocean Chronograph Unitime 18-carat Rose Gold Chronograph watch is an indispensable travel gadget. This luxury Swiss watch made by watchmaking supremo Breitling reinstates their reputation as a leading luxury Swiss watch brand. This timepiece is a harmonious marriage of spectacular engineering, exquisite design with the finest materials.

The most exciting feature of this watch is its ability to show the time in all 24 time zones at the same time, an innovative and highly practical characteristic. Made from Rose Gold this watch oozes luxury and sophistication. It is also made with 56 jewels, has a minimum power reserve of 70 hours and glare-proof scratch resistant sapphire crystal as well as being water resistant to 100 metres-perfect if you are going sailing or scuba diving. The Unitime has a stunning brown crocodile leather strap with a rose gold pin & buckle.

3. Apple iPad

An iPad. I know it might be a cliched option but there is a reason why Apple remain at the forefront in terms of technology as their extensive portfolio of gadgets and gizmos are not only exciting and practical but also affordable. The key features of the iPad are the truly wondrous, crystal clear display, the processor, the cameras and the wireless connection. All these features work together to create a magnificent experience for the user and with 10 hours battery life, this will give you ample quality time with your Apple gadget. Discover a world capable of so much more than you ever imagined. With so many exciting features built-in, watch a movie, read your favourite newspaper, magazine or even a best-seller, send messages or check your emails – the options are endless and with over 275,000 apps to choose from, there is something for everyone.

If the iPad is too big for your liking then the iPad mini has all the same features of its counterpart but is more compact, fitting into the palm of your hand.

4. Izzi Orbit

Transform your iPhone with an Izzi Orbit. This state of the art camera accessory is the latest and greatest way to jazz up your iPhone. It features 3 lenses: the Fish Eye, Wide Angle and Telephoto options to enable you to create an extensive and diverse portfolio of images. These skillfully crafted lenses will revamp your iPhone in no time allowing you to take high quality, wide, super zoomed photos, quirky angles and dramatic perspectives. The newest addition to iPhone photography and a must-have travel accessory, invest in an Izzi Orbit to ensure you capture the greatest moments of your holiday.

Author Bio

Posted on November 15, 2012 by admin — No Comments ↓

Environmentally Friendly Luxury Yacht Charter on “Island E Motion”

With global warming and the production of greenhouse gases both attracting huge media attention, Swiss company MCM and Future Island of Australia have joined together to create “Island E Motion” – a truly unique, environmentally friendly luxury motor yacht which is said to encompass “sustainable luxury at its best”.

Designed by Swiss duo Milena Cvijanovich and Dennis Muller, Island E Motion is based on the idea of creating a sustainable luxury lifestyle by “harnessing the power of the wind, the sun and the waves.” It has an ecological footprint that is up to 60% lower than that of more traditional yachts.

Built as part of the ‘Floating Island’ series, the yacht is made from recycled materials and is powered through the use of alternative energies. This includes a combination of thermal and electronic solar panels and the use of both wind and wave energy. The yacht also uses an advanced propeller technology with liquefied natural gas, a recycled water circuit filter for collecting rainwater and a specially-designed desalination system. Bubbles generated by forcing air underneath the vessel reduce friction, meaning that it requires lower amonts of energy to propel her forward.

Cvijanovich and Muller have managed to create an environmentally friendly yacht without compromising on luxury and design. Guests can enjoy a truly luxurious experience within in a natural environment that includes permaculture vegetation such as grass and palm trees, and sandy beaches.

Island E Motion features a large dining room for twenty-four guests, several lounge areas, spas, a gymnasium, massage room, home cinema, library, and indoor/outdoor bars. The larger model, which offers private helipads and a swimming pool, is perfect for hosting big events such as fashion shows and art exhibitions.

A percentage of the profits made by Island E Motion will be donated to the Global Life on Water (GLOW) foundation – a side project that is looking into the construction of floating hospitals.

Other recent environmentally friendly yacht designs include the E-Max Ultra Green Pure Care Carrier by Sauter Carbon Offsets Design and Project Atlas, a joint collaboration between H2 Yachts and Laurent Gilles Superyacht Designs.

For more information on chartering a luxury yacht, please have a look at our website or send an email to [email protected].

Posted on November 12, 2012 by admin — No Comments ↓

Boatbookings reaches 1 million visits in 2012

We are proud to announce that charterers and yachting enthusiasts have visited Boatbookings.com over 1 million times this year, a new record for us. People come to Boatbookings to charter yachts of course, and also for our itineraries, charter advice, destination guides, technology suggestions, and our famous route planner that allows you to plan the distance, fuel consumption and course of virtually any itinerary.

While 1 million visits is an important milestone for us, we know it is just the beginning – we have plenty of new content, yachts, features and site functionality coming in the next few months. Stay tuned to this blog for all the news.

And, of course, thanks for visiting!!

Posted on November 7, 2012 by Tom Virden — No Comments ↓