Category Archives: Yachting news

Yachting Industry News

Pigs in Paradise

*******The pigs were completely untouched by Hurricane Dorian*******

Broker Alice shares her insight and experience of her time spent swimming with the pigs in the Bahamas.

Pig Beach – what and where?

The Bahamas comprises of over 400 islands. The most popular destination in this island chain that has become the mysterious pig beach. Thanks to social media platforms and to holiday experiences this has become an increasingly popular place to visit. The swimming pigs of the Bahamas are now known as one of the best tourist experiences. An Instagram must is to get a selfie with the swimming pigs.

Stunning wildlife

Nestled at the heart of the Exuma islands at Big Major Cay, a large family of swimming pigs awaits your arrival. Remember to bring some food! The island of Big Major Cay is inhabited only by pigs, there are no humans living on this island. 

As an experience, arriving at the beach is just as surreal as it sounds and one not to be missed on your Bahamas yacht charter. Although there is a lot of wildlife in the Exumas, the pigs are the rarest kind of wildlife known to the ocean.

Pig history: how did they get there?

The increase in ‘pig popularity’ has led to the big question surrounding the swimming piggies- just how did they end up on a beach? Tourists, boat captains, zoologists, and historians ask themselves this question every day.

Pig Myths: the good, the bad and the ugly.

  • The pigs were brought to the island to be eaten by hungry sailors in the late 1700’s. The sailors didn’t manage to catch all of the pigs to eat and created the pig family on the beach.
  • 2- The pigs were the only survivors from a shipwreck and managed to find their swimming capabilities once they were put in the ocean for the first time.
  • 3- The pigs are native to the island and love the beach and sea! They are truly the pigs of paradise. 

The mandatory Pig Selfie in the Exumas

Little piglet in a water at beach on Exuma Bahamas

Team the swimming pigs with other adventures in the Exumas and experience a charter like no other! From wild iguanas, Pablo Escobar’s sunken plane, James Bond’s Thunderball Grotto to Staniel Cay Yacht Club for an unforgettable conch lunch – Get the pigs ticked off the bucket list this summer and charter a yacht in the Exumas with Boatbookings! 

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5 reasons why you should book your bareboat CHARTER NOW!

Boatbookings outlines 5 main reasons to book your yacht charter now! With Charter protection policies, booking your bareboat charter has never been so easy!

Availability

Just like the supermarkets – the availability of the yachts is becoming less and less. Whether you are chartering a bareboat monohull in the BVI’s or a bareboat catamaran in Greece, most yacht charters scheduled for 2020 are now moving to 2021. This means if you want to charter in 2021 you have to book now! There will be a serious lack of availability during the early part of 2021 than compared to other years. Trust us, we can see all the yachts calendars!

Your first choice when it comes to yacht and destination

There are favorable weeks during the year which sees an increase in sailing charters such as the first two weeks of August in the Mediterranean, and the Christmas week in the BVI’s. These weeks are busy regardless, and as such 2021 will not only have the guests that want to charter during the year of 2021, you will also now see that all the guests that were previously booked in 2020 have moved their charter to 2021. This means that it will be increasingly hard to secure those best weeks of sailing in your desired location.

Discounts!

We all love a discount, by securing your yacht charter early you can benefit from various forms of early booking discounts. Most charter companies have specific covid19 policies meaning lower deposits and flexible rescheduling if your travel plans are affected by covid19.

Supporting the industry that you know and love

It is no shock that the travel industry has been severally affected, and was probably one of the first industries to really feel the hit of COVID19. By booking your yacht charter for 2021 or 2022, you are actively supporting an industry that relies on sailors and charterers from all over the globe. Without you, there is no industry.

Something to look forward to when the world returns back to normal

Sailors, charterers, and everyone at Boatbookings have one thing in common – a sense of adventure. The freedom to sail the seas and travel to some world-class destinations is our way of life. Staying home, and having our freedom taken away has his us all hard in different ways. By booking a risk-free charter it gives you something to look forward to, break up the day with some passage planning or speak to one of us today and bounce some ideas around!

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3 New Boats to Explore the Caribbean

The Caribbean is one of the most diverse yachting hotspots in the world. Offering everything from the chic beach clubs of St Barths to the isolated anchorages of the Grenadines, there really is a Caribbean island for everyone. We have shared the latest Caribbean crewed catamarans to inspire your next vacation.

The New BVI Scuba Diving Boat

SCUBA DOO 50 | Lagoon 50 Crewed Catamaran

Join Captain Jesse and Christian onboard SCUBA DOO 50 and enjoy one of the most breathtaking BVI yacht charter vacations. Captain Jesse has been delivering memorable charters in the Virgin Islands for over 5 years. Therefore, he will show you his favourite anchorages designed around your snorkelling and scuba diving preferences.

Chef Christian has worked in some of the British Virgin Islands top restaurants. As your dedicated private chef, she will dazzle your tastebuds. Their joint passion to pamper and entertain your guests make this BVI charter crew the perfect team to guide you through this Caribbean gem.

The New BVI Gourmet Charter Boat

GRACE | Lagoon 52 Crewed Catamaran

Are you looking for the ultimate diving and water sports experience in the British Virgin Islands? Look no further than chartering the brand new Lagoon 52 GRACE with Captain Joseph and Britta next year. No matter whether you’re a beginner snorkeler or advanced scuba diver, Britta’s knowledge and expertise always deliver unforgettable experiences.

Joseph and Britta have fantastic connections with the local Virgin Islands community. Their contacts ensure that they have access to the freshest ingredients. Chef Joseph spent 5 years perfecting the art of fine dining with Caribbean influences aboard 120 Broward Motor Yacht Freedom. Get ready to be mesmerised by his incredible creations.

The New Grenadines Catamaran

ILLUSION | Nautitech 46 Crewed Catamaran

Join Captain Bruno and his daughter aboard the brand new Nautitech 46 in Martinique and the Grenadines. As one of the only crewed catamarans with a flexible cruising area, you will have unrivalled flexibility to discover a new Caribbean island. Captain Bruno loves nothing more than showing his guests the beauty of the different islands aboard sailing catamaran ILLUSION.

Chef Jessica has been sailing with Bruno ever since she was a toddler! Jessica has an extensive culinary repertoire, specialising in French and Mediterranean cuisine. As a result, she can easily adapt her menu to suit any guest preferences. Her hosting skills will make you feel right at home aboard ILLUSION!

So, what are you waiting for?

The Caribbean crewed catamarans book 12 months in advance. So speak to the Boatbookings Team today to plan the best 2021 yacht charter.

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3 off the beaten track destinations

You want to go sailing, but want to avoid the crowds. But where? How? Can I still go to Greece and escape the crowds? Find the Boatbookings secrets below to ensure you have a crowd-less charter!

Foki Bay – Ionian

Northern Hemisphere

Places like the Mediterranean see thousands of sailors flock to visit these gorgeous islands and quaint medieval towns. The only issue is is that these islands can get so saturated over the summer it leaves some sailors lusting for the quiet secluded bays. find below the top 4 places in the Northern Hemisphere that offer perfect sailing, in quiet destination

Number one: The Azores

Say goodbye to the crowds of Athens, and say hello to nature, dramatic land formations and some of the best sailing in the Atlantic! The Azores offers long-distance sailing for the gung-ho sailor type during April/May/June, and island hopping with the family during the July and August months! Check out our 7-day itinerary and our 14-day itinerary for some inspiration!

Number two: Corsica

Calanches de Piana in Corsica, France, late spring.

Corsica, a French island located south of the French Riviera and north of Sardinia. This rocky oasis offers some of the most picturesque bays that the Meditteranean has to offer. There’s only a small amount of yachts based in Corsica so our advice would be to start on the northeastern tip of Sardinia and sail up towards the east coast of Corsica stopping off at one of our favorite anchorages: Santa Guilia. Check out of Corsica sailing itinerary for some inspiration!

Number three: Croatia

Croatia has seen the rise in nautical tourism over the past 5 years, with it nearly topping the sailing capital of the world – Greece. This long skinny country, with thousands of islands, is the perfect playground for sailors. Islands such as Brac, Hvar, Solta are heavily visited during the summer months (unsurprising as they are truly unique). One area which is sometimes forgotten is the national park – Kornati. Located north of Sibenik, and just south of Zadar, the Kornati national park provides some of the most exquisite sailing. The islands are easy to navigate through and offers protection from Jungo and Bora winds. Read our various Croatia itineraries to get a feel for what you can experience!

Number four: Turkey

Turkey, where east meets west. A culturally diverse corner of the Mediterranean perfect for first-timers looking for some stress-free sailing. As the political unrest comes to a halt, Turkey is dying for people to come back sailing, it has the infrastructure to berth thousands of yachts and used to be an exciting hub of sailing. Turkey is mainly coastal sailing with a few islands laying close to Gocek and Fethiye.

If you are looking to explore and off the beaten track location, speak to one of our worldwide brokers today!

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