We are sailing..
01-Nov-07
Owning a truly luxurious yacht is out of the question for all but a handful of the world's wealthiest people. Chartering, however, is another matter, and is an alternative to luxury resorts that many agents may not think of recommending.
"A yacht provides superb privacy, pampered attention and the flexibility to do and go wherever one pleases. It's no wonder that the truly wealthy choose yachts as their method of escape," says Maggie Vale, charter broker at US-based Rikki Davis Yachts at Churchill Yacht Partners.
Fluctuating oil prices and stock market plunges appear to have no effect on the market. "The overall trends in superyacht charter are 'bigger, faster and better' every season," says Natalie Baragwanath, business development director, UK, for online broker www.boatbookings.com. "Clients want the very best that money can buy. There is seemingly no upper limit, as demand for the superyachts far outstrips supply.
"It's all about size, both length of yacht as well as the amount of interior space, and quality - complete, unadulterated luxury with no expense spared. Great crews are a must, as well as a chef."
The charter market is enormous and there is practically no limit to what a client can pay, starting with a relatively simple six-berth catamaran for a week in the Mediterranean and extending to a vessel with 30 berths or more, swimming pool, helicopter, acres of teak deck, chefs, bartenders and all manner of water toys.
The question is, how can agents tap into this potentially huge area? "I think agents might feel charter is complicated, but it's not," says Paul Cleary, managing director of Caribtours, which has a yacht charter programme of four, six and eight-berth crewed sailing yachts and catamarans. "The tour operator and broker do the work for them." For large parties, a small cruise vessel can even be the answer.
One company that does well in the private charter market is SeaDream Yacht Club, which operates two 55-cabin megayachts in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean. "The size of SeaDream I and II, the facilities they offer, the security they afford and the standards they deliver make them perfect for private charter," says Ian Buckeridge, senior director of sales and marketing. "Charters from private individuals, families or parties of friends now represent a quarter of all charter sales at SeaDream, or about 9% of total annual sales." About 20% of SeaDream's private charter sales come from well-heeled individuals. Most charters are planned and booked one to two years in advance, which allows the charterer to pick the dates they prefer and plan the itinerary they want.
For an exclusive charter, though, clients should budget an extra 30% on top of the price for fuel, food and drink and port fees, all of which will be organised by the crew and presented to the client as an itemised list at the end of the charter. Crew gratuities should account for a further 10% of the charter fee.
There are also opportunities for packaging a yacht charter with add-ons, be it a private jet, transfers, car hire and excursions in port or a hotel stay. Some brokers, such as new UK operation White Star Cruises (www.whitestarcruises.com/0845 643 1878), are now catering for the growing demand for tailor-made boat charters with extras.
Because the market is growing, the choice of destinations is expanding, too. "The available charter yachts are now worldwide, from Alaska to the South Pacific, New England, Caribbean, the East and West Mediterranean, and almost all places in between," says Vale. Baragwanath adds: "There is a strong demand for luxury gulets in and around Turkey and Croatia. Most popular destinations for superyacht enquiries, however, remain the Rivieras - South of France, Italy, western Med and Corsica and in the Caribbean, St Barths, Anguilla and the US Virgin Islands. The Indian Ocean, Patagonia and Alaska are up and coming destinations, as is the South Pacific."
SMALLER YACHTS
THE MOORINGS SIGNATURE HOLIDAYS
Who are they: The Moorings is one of the world's biggest charter yacht companies with bareboat (sail-it-yourself) and crewed charters (with professional captain and cook), in some of the most desirable locations in the Caribbean, South Pacific, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean and North America. The Moorings has more than 800 yachts, in over 40 locations. The crewed charter division, Moorings Signature Holidays, offers 13 different types of catamaran or monohull yachts in nine cruising areas.
Client fit: Well-heeled families and groups of friends looking for a smaller sailing yacht without compromising on luxury. Each yacht comes with a captain and a chef so the guests don't have to sail at all, although many like to help. Singles or those who only want one cabin can book the Sail-Away dates.
Destinations: The British Virgin Islands, Bahamas, Belize, Grenadines, St Lucia, St Martin, Seychelles, Tahiti and Greece.
Sample yacht: Signature 4600 - 46ft catamaran sleeping six guests and two crew. Accommodation in double cabins with luxurious (although compact) private bathroom. Interiors are sleek and modern.
Price: From £785 low season to £1,175 per yacht per day for the Signature 4600, excluding flights, including all meals, snacks and beverages, bar, accommodation, snorkelling equipment and water toys. Gratuities extra.
Contact: 0239 2335 552; www.moorings.co.uk
CARIBTOURS
Who are they: Upmarket tour operator featuring mainly hotels and villas, but also including around 50 charter yachts in its programme. The yachts are not featured in the brochure; all charters are tailor-made.
Client fit: Couples, groups of friends and families; clients who are seasoned Caribbean visitors but have perhaps not tried yachting.
Destinations: Most of the charter yachts and catamarans are based in St Vincent & The Grenadines and the British Virgin Islands (BVI) and take four, six or eight guests. Managing director Paul Cleary recommends combining St Vincent & The Grenadines with Barbados or Grenada, and the BVI with Antigua or one of the resorts in the BVI themselves. The BVI are recommended for first-time charterers because of the short distances involved - maximum sail is about three hours, with secluded overnight anchorages.
Sample yacht: 50- 60ft monohulls and catamarans. All cabins with en-suite facilities. Variety of water toys, including, for example, dinghies and windsurf equipment. Crew of two, a skipper and a cook/first mate.
Price: Approximately £1,600 - £1,700 per person per week, including flights and full board on the yacht.
Contact: 020 7751 0660; www.caribtours.co.uk
SMALL CRUISE SHIPS
SeaDream Yacht Club
Who are they: SeaDream has been nominated two years on the run as best ocean cruise company in the Luxury Travel Reader Awards.
Anyone can charter, but the carefree decadence on board suits clients who appreciate fine food and fine wine, a world-class spa, watersport toys and a high level of service.
Client fit: These megayachts have 55 cabins so are used for private celebrations and parties, or corporate entertaining at big events such as the Monaco Grand Prix. SeaDream is keen to stress that it is not a cruise line, but a yacht company providing a yachting experience including an open and unstructured ambience that provides each guest the opportunity to enjoy it at their own pace and in their own style.
Destinations: Both yachts cruise the Mediterranean in summer and the Caribbean in winter, visiting destinations where larger vessels cannot go, offering late evening or overnight stays in port to allow guests to experience the nightlife of such yachting playgrounds as Monte Carlo or St Barts.
Charterers can choose where they go (within the cruising area) but favourites include the Amalfi Coast, the Greek Islands and the Adriatic, including the classical yachting ports of Nice, Monte Carlo, Cannes, St. Tropez, Santorini, Barcelona and Portofino. In the Caribbean, the more intimate harbours include St John, St Croix, St Martin, Virgin Gorda, St Barts, Jost van Dyke, Barbados, the Grenadines, Saba and Nevis to name but a few.
Sample yacht: SeaDream I and SeaDream II are identical. Each has 55 luxurious cabins, a Thai-themed spa, gym, inside and outside bars, elegant dining room (with dining on deck as well), small casino, golf simulator, library, retractable watersport platform with jetskis, waterskis and other equipment; and double sunloungers on deck.
Price: Five nights in the Caribbean cost from $299,000- $375,000 (£147,000-£184,000), including all meals, 24-hour room service, open bar, complimentary wines at lunch and dinner, onboard gratuities and complimentary use of watersport toys.
Contact: www.seadreamyachtclub.com
CAMPER & NICHOLSONS INTERNATIONAL (CNI)
Who are they: A leading authority in the world of luxury yachting since 1782, building and designing yachts and, since the 1960s, operating charter brokerage. The company is based in Monaco with 11 offices worldwide, including London. Claims to have strongest retail charter division in the industry. CNI charter brokers are currently securing more than 900 bookings each year, many of which are repeat business and referrals.
Client fit: Owners, investors and charterers of the world's largest, most exclusive and most exceptional private superyachts. Many are highly successful, self-made professionals and entrepreneurs. All well travelled, intelligent and highly regarded in the most exclusive social circles worldwide. Have almost unlimited disposable income but are highly discerning.
Destinations: Worldwide; all itineraries are bespoke.
Sample yacht: Sherakhan, 69.95m and carrying 22-26 guests. Features include an open main saloon with a dining area for 24, bathed in natural light filtered through the glass-bottomed Jacuzzi located above on the sundeck. Themed guest suites, two with children's cabins. Toys include jetskis, wave runners, windsurfs, laser sailboat, floating trampoline, kayaks. On board there's a beauty saloon, sauna, spa and library. Cruise areas include Caribbean, eastern and western Mediterranean.
Price: From £380,000 per week.
Contact: 020 7009 1950; www.cnconnect.com
BURGESS
Who are they: Formerly Nigel Burgess but recently rebranded. Wide range of sailing and motor yachts, specialising in the world's most lavish vessels, mostly over 40m-long. Also the world's leading broker in buying and selling megayachts. The company has private and corporate charter divisions and prides itself, it says, on personal service. This includes arranging limousine transport, private aircraft hire and special events on board at the request of the client.
Client fit: Extremely high-net-worth individuals, families, groups of friends, corporate charters. The company specialises in the very biggest yachts worldwide so most clients have a charter budget of well over EUR200,000 (£139,891) per week.
Destinations: Worldwide but with the biggest choice of yachts in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean. Also features yachts based in the Maldives, Pacific, Great Barrier Reef and Southeast Asia.
Sample yacht: Leander, one of the largest yachts built in the past decade at 246ft and arguably one of the finest yachts available for charter today. Accommodation is spread over three deck levels, including totally private VIP apartments. There are three double and five twin-bedded cabins. The huge decks and spacious reception areas are perfect for entertaining, and there is a vast array of watersports equipment plus a swimming pool and gymnasium.
Price: From EUR385,000 (£269,406) per week. Sailing areas are the MEDITERRANEAN AND CARIBBEAN.
Contact: www.nigelburgess.com; 020 7766 4300.
www.boatbookings.com
Who are they: Leading online broker with portfolio of more than 5,000 yachts. Informative and helpful website with divisions for sailing or motor yachts, gulets, crewed or bareboat and charters for big sporting events.
Client fit: Complete spectrum from the extremely wealthy to those looking for a more modest yacht. The website also features a long list of traditional wooden Turkish gulets, which start at just EUR600 (£420) per day.
Destinations: Worldwide, including the Mediterranean, Aegean, Caribbean, East Coast USA, Thailand and the Indian Ocean. Offices in Cannes, the UK and the USA.
Sample yacht: RM Elegant, regarded as one of the most impressive yachts in the world for a corporate event or celebration, accommodating 30 guests in 15 luxurious staterooms. Lavish dining room, bar, business centre, gym, beauty salon, massage room and sauna. Toys include wave runners, snorkel gear, water skis, banana boats, Xbox and home theatre. Boatbookings says the RM Elegant is the hottest event yacht in the Mediterranean and Caribbean - used for the most exclusive celebrity parties at the Cannes Film Festival, Monaco Grand Prix and similar events.
Price: From EUR65,000 (£45,478) per day, including full board, some alcoholic drinks, three hours per day main engine fuel, laundry, flowers and beauty treatments.
Contact: www.boatbookings.com; 020 7193 5450.
