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.

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Charter Luxury Yacht Gypsy Princess in 2013

GYPSY PRINCESS is perfect for sailing around the Virgin, Leeward and Windward islands. GYPSY PRINCESS was one of our top Crewed Catamarans of the BVI Yacht Show 2012, where she was the winner of the Best Catamaran Under 55ft award.

Get your bookings in quick! She currently has a special offer of 10% off any charter of 4 days or longer in 2012 or 2013. Charters must be booked before December 14th 2012.

For more information on how to charter your very own crewed catamaran yacht, please visit our Luxury Crewed Catamaran page or send an enquiry email to [email protected]. We would be delighted to help you to organise your winter vacation!

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Luxury Yacht Charters in Cancún, Mexico

Screen-shot-2012-11-20-at-12.48.33Cancún is located on the northeast coast of the Yucatán Peninsula in Mexico, just north of the Riviera Maya. The Riviera Maya is a collection of all-inclusive resorts, small boutique hotels and fantastic restaurants that straddle Mexico’s Caribbean coast along the coastal highway 307.

Cancún is a popular tourist destination due to the wide variety of aquatic activities available in the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef, which stretches for over 1000km towards Guatemala. This is the largest coral reef in the Western Hemisphere and the second longest barrier reef in the world. The shallow coral reefs and crystal clear waters make it one of the best locations for snorkeling and scuba diving in the world.

On top of more than 500 species of fish, divers and snorkelers have the opportunity to visit the Cancún Underwater Museum. This is a series of more than 400 sculptures by British artist Jason de Caires Taylor, which have been placed underwater in the Cancún National Marine Park at depths from 9-20 feet. If you don’t feel like diving or snorkeling, however, you could always relax on one of the many fantastic beaches such as Playa Caracol or Playa Langosta.

The northern areas of the reef system near Isla Contoy (only a short journey by boat from Cancún) are home to the largest fish on the planet, the Whale Shark. During the summer, hundreds of Whale Sharks gather here to take advantage of the plankton rich waters, which are created at the border of the Gulf of Mexico and the Caribbean Sea.

Cancún is also one of the most popular sportfishing destinations in the world. Depending on the season that you visit, catches can include kingfish, barracuda, blue marlin, sailfish, tuna and mahi-mahi. On top of fishing, whale watching, snorkeling and scuba diving, holidaymakers have the opportunity to go swimming with dolphins, take guided jungle tours or visit one of the many historical sites such as the Mayan Ruins. In the evening, Cancún is well known for its parties and nightlife. Whether you like hip-hop or heavy rock, live reggae music, salsa dancing, or simply relaxing a sophisticated bar, the city offers it all.

One of our favorite yacht charters available in Cancún is AGUILA, a stunning Sunseeker Predator 73 with accommodation for 10 guests in 5 cabins. AGUILA is ideal for crewed charters in the Gulf of Mexico and the Yucatán Peninsula. If you would like more information on the yachts available for charter in Mexico, please have a look at our guide to Chartering a Yacht in Mexico or send us an email to [email protected].

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Crewed Luxury Motor Yacht Charter in Angra Dos Reis, Brazil.

Angra Dos Reis is quickly becoming one of the most talked about yachting destinations on the planet, graced with a fantastic climate, beautiful anchorages and some of the best beaches around. Located 150km south of Rio, Angra dos Reis offers 365 islands to discover with over 200 beaches, making her the ideal destination for sun worshippers. However, Angra has more to offer than just a beautiful beach with some of the finest Brazilian cuisine, ecological walks in the rainforest and even shopping. Therefore, Angra really does have something for the whole family and it is no surprise that it is becoming one of the up and coming holiday destinations.

Ilha Grande or the Big Island is sparsely populated and is renowned for offering 192 square kilometres of vegetation and forests that are waiting to be explored. The island is steeped in history since the 1500’s, like many other European colonies with stories of pirates, treasure, slavery and smuggling. The true paradise of this area lie with the crystal clear waters and untouched beaches. The coastline is truly striking and can be appreciated the most from the water, making chartering a luxury crewed motor boat or catamaran a great idea. Lopes Mendes has one of the finest white sandy beaches and Preta beach has dark monazite sand, which shows the diversity present in Brazil. If you want to be seen, head down to Dentista Beach where you are likely to find around 100 boats on summer weekends partying in the search of spotting a Brazilian celebrity or two! Did you know? In the summer, the island of Ilha de Caras attracts the largest amount of famous people per square metre in Brazil.

 

 

 

 

 

One of our favourite crewed luxury motor yachts is VINTAGE which is berthed in Angra dos Reis, making her an ideal choice for chartering around the islands. This crewed motor yacht is ideal for both friends and families, offering vast amounts of space to entertain and socialise. Her interior is elegant and minimalistic while her cabins  offer great comfort. Captain Mario is vastly experienced and is the perfect man for showing you the natural beauty of the area and the best local spots to swim, sunbathe and explore. Make sure you make the most of VINTAGE and her water toys which are perfect for keeping the kids entertained, leaving you to enjoy a good book on the aft deck.

There is no time like the present to visit the unspoilt Brazilian coastline. To enquire about chartering your own motor boat, sail or catamaran, please enquire via our website or send an email to [email protected]. We would be delighted to help you organise an experience of a lifetime.

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Our Top 3 Crewed Catamarans of the BVI Yacht Show 2012!

Having recently returned from the BVI Yacht Show, one of our Senior Brokers, Lambros Tsolakis, let us know exactly what he thought of the yachts on offer. He ranked them based on the yachts themselves and the crew – to bring you a Top 3 which we couldn’t recommend highly enough!

Our Number 3 was TIGER LILY, a 66ft Gunboat, with a clean cut and modern interior. She has 3 cabins accommodating for 6 guests, and has a fantastic crew of 2. Lambros loved the crew, and the build of the yacht. He mentioned how there were plenty of water toys – brilliant for a family or a group of friends keen to have an adventure! It was not by chance that TIGER LILY was voted the Best Multihull over 55ft.

Number 2 is GYPSY PRINCESS, a stunning Lagoon 450, and winner of the Best Catamaran Under 55ft. She has 3 great cabins also accommodating for 6 passengers. She has a fantastic crew of 2, Achilleas and Cleo, who have always received fantastic feedback for their hosting, cookery and professionalism. Lambros loved her fly bridge, from which you have plenty of space to soak up the sun, and thought that the Captain was very knowledgeable and would be great for charterers of all ages and group sizes.

Our Number 1 of the BVI Yacht Show 2012 is the stunning BARBUDA BELLE. She is a 2011 Lagoon 620, offering ample space in 5 cabins for 10 guests with a crew of 2. She has another fantastic fly bridge and loads of water toys for guests to enjoy. She has a bright and spacious interior, which we absolutely love. Lambros added that the Captain was excellent and that the French chef had an excellent menu on offer for guests!

For the rest of our Top 10, please click here. If you’re interested in chartering a yacht, please see boatbookings.com or email us at [email protected] and one of our charter specialists would be delighted to help you with your enquiry.

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