PIMEX 2014 – Boatbookings review of this year’s Phuket International Boat Show!

Kevin, our Charter Director based in Southeast Asia attended the Phuket International Boat Show and has given us his review of this year’s turnout. Established in 2003, PIMEX has grown into a well-establish marine and lifestyle show in Southeast Asia’s tropical hub of yachting, Phuket. This year the show was held at Phuket’s five-star Royal Phuket Marina with a specially constructed exhibition space overlooking the in-water display. This sublime setting provided fine dining and amazing views of the many luxury yachts.

This year Kevin was particularly impressed with one of Boatbookings’s favorite charter yachts, the Lagoon 620, on display at the Phuket International Boat Show. Based in Langkawi, Malaysia, this yacht is available for charters between Langkawi and Phuket all year round. This is a 2011 yacht but is only used by the owner a couple of weeks each year, so this charter catamaran is in almost pristine condition!

The Phuket Boat Show gets Wider and Wider

Don’t you mean bigger and bigger we hear you ask?? No….Wider and Wider!

Probably the most innovative yacht at the show and showcasing in Thailand for the first time, the Wider 42 was part of the in-water display. If you feel that you don’t already have enough space on board, this fast and sleek power boat expands on either side whilst at anchor to provide extra storage or sunbathing space! Kevin reliably informs us at Boatbookings that 18 sqm makes a astonishing difference to the deck space.

Flying the German Flag!

Almost lost amongst all the big Sunseekers, Princesses and Azimuts, our Asia Charter Director found one of the great dependables of charter fleets all around the world – the Bavaria 33.

This is a 2013 yacht and is only in it’s first Phuket charter season, having arrived in Thailand in late 2013. There is also a full range of larger Bavaria bareboat charter yachts to choose from in Phuket.

More cats in Phuket!

The cruising waters around Phuket are made for catamarans….and Multihull Solutions from Australia agree.

Multihull Solutions are Australia’s leading multihull specialists and officially launched their expansion into Southeast Asia at the Phuket International Boat Show this year. They are the exclusive distributor for Fountaine Pajot and Catana catamarans in Southeast Asia.

Their in water display included this lovely Salina 48 Evolution!

For more information about any yachting events, feel free to contact our brokers by email or submit an enquiry form here!

Posted on January 15, 2014 by admin — No Comments ↓

Open a Toy Box Full of Surprises

When you think of a bareboat motorboat, you do not immediately think of luxury or glamour. Its celebrity sibling, the crewed motor yacht, steals the show more often than not, while the humble bareboat provides more affordable yet equally unforgettable charters.

Ones over 10 metres are hard to come by, and ones with jacuzzis are practically unheard of. Let alone ones that come equipped with a state of the art entertainment and gaming system, wine cooler, air conditioning, wifi, 115hp dinghy, and a plethora of water toys including wakeboard, kayaks and advanced fishing equipment.

With all of these fantastic amenities and then some, Toy Box definitely stays true to her name. At a staggering 24m she is the perfect boat for a family or group of friends who have extensive sailing experience. Moreover, she is based in British Columbia, Canada, one of the most exquisite cruising spots in North America. With activities such as whale watching on offer and some beautiful, unspoilt areas to explore both on and off the water, this is for all those who love nature, while enjoying the benefits a luxury yacht has to offer.

If you want to enquire about Toy Box or have any other questions, do not hesitate to contact us here.

Posted on November 28, 2013 by admin — No Comments ↓

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 Spots : Boat Rental Cannes to Explore on Your Luxury Cote D’Azur Yacht Charter

We’re often asked to recommend itineraries around the French Riviera for boat rental Cannes and surrounding areas, taking in the best bays and islands this golden stretch of coast has to offer. You can find an exclusive list of boat rental Cannes at boatbookings, but if you are looking for some hidden secrets please read our recommendations below.

From the glamour of a lunch at St Tropez’s Club 55, to the tranquil swimming spots off the Lerins Islands, the Cote d’Azur is a paradise for anyone looking to charter a yacht for a day. Below we’ve listed our personal top go to spots to take in if you’re chartering from Cannes, St Tropez, Antibes or any of the other popular French Riviera ports.

Iles de Lérins

The Iles de Lérins, made up of Ile Sainte-Marguerite and Ile Saint-Honorat, are found just off the coast of Cannes and are a popular choice for those who prefer to anchor their boat and spend a few hours swimming in turquoise waters before indulging in a relaxing lunch at one of the restaurants on Sainte-Marguerite, or sampling the local wine produced on Saint-Honorat.
Mooring your yacht between the Iles de Lérins is one our our hot spots for a Sunday afternoon, relax in the tranquil waters. This is recommended early on in the season as after June the narrow stretch of water becomes overcrowded with a variety of yachts.

St Tropez + Club 55

Made famous by Brigitte Bardot in ‘And God Created Woman’, St Tropez is now recognised worldwide as one of the most extravagant and spectacular summer resorts. Aside from the A-listers and nonstop summer events, the town itself is set in stunning surroundings, with views across the bay to the Maures mountains. The bustling Pampelonne beach is home to perhaps the most famous restaurant on the whole of the French Riviera, St Tropez’s Club 55, where you can enjoy the local Rose wine before checking out the hedonistic lifestyle of Nikki beach later in the evening.

Port Grimaud

On the north shore of the Golfe de Saint-Tropez lies Port Grimaud, a truly unique village in a Venetian style designed so that each house could have it’s own personal boat mooring at the end of their garden. The village is made up of four islands, linked by canals and bridges, and visitors to this charming and popular town can explore it by barge or by chartering a small day boat. With it’s own sandy beach looking out over St Tropez, this is a fantastic destination for day charters.

Antibes

Home to the Chateau Grimaldi which houses the Picasso Museum, Antibes is a thriving port town with all sorts of attractions for day visitors. From the impressive Fort Carre to the charming winding streets of restaurants and bars, Antibes is a fantastic destination for those wanting to spend a day soaking up the sun on the sandy beach before enjoying a pastis in the bustling weekend market square.

Check out our great boat charters to book your charter for entertaining and celebrating in the South of France.

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Tom Virden — No Comments ↓

A chance to bareboat across the Atlantic!

We haven’t seen this before – we now have a deal where you can cross the Atlantic Ocean, from Rodney Bay, St Lucia to Alcudia, Mallorca – total charter fee only EUR 6000! The boat is a nice, new (2008) Bavaria 50 cruiser with 5 cabins and 3 heads. Includes GPS, plotter, autopilot, radar, Epirb, SSB, bowthruster, dingy with outboard.

This charter is for 6 weeks – 17th of April – 29th of May 2010.

So this is your chance. If you’ve dreamed about it, now you can do it!

Posted on October 13, 2009 by Tom Virden — No Comments ↓