David Burgess says he grew up with a fishing rod in his hand on forays with his dad to North Carolina’s Outer Banks. Over the years, he’s owned a variety of vessels from builders including Carolina, SeaCraft and Fountain. As an equity-fund manager, he can work from anywhere. These days, he keeps his 30-foot center-console on a river near his home off Chesapeake Bay, and his 26-foot twin V-drive cat at his Florida condo. But the jewel of his current fleet, for rambling through the British Virgin Islands with family and friends several times each year, is his Moorings 464PC My Wish Too. It’s at the charter company’s base on Tortola.

The 464PC is the second power catamaran from South African builder Robertson & Caine that Burgess has purchased through The Moorings’ yacht-management program. He’s happy to rattle off several of the program’s benefits: Dockage, maintenance and insurance are all covered; he receives a monthly check from The Moorings, which charters the vessel when he’s not aboard, giving him guaranteed revenue that exceeds his regular finance payment and puts cash in his pocket; and he can enjoy a number of cruises each year while having access to charter vacations on power cats (and sailboats, for that matter) at any Moorings destination. For Burgess, this way of owning a power cat is a win-win-win.

There is, however, one caveat that he wishes to make clear: “If you’re just going to go once a year, or every other year, just charter a boat, don’t buy it. But if you’re going to go three or four times every year, on trips that can cost up to $25,000 apiece, this is a great program.”

The program has been around for a long time, initially with sailboats, says Franck Bauguil, senior vice president of yacht ownership and product development at The Moorings. “We first started getting involved with powerboats around 2003,” he says. “Some private owners buy a boat and put it in charter for a few weeks to offset expenses. That’s not what we do. We’re an established company with multiple bases globally, and we operate out of fully staffed bases with mechanics, technicians and boatbuilders. As with our sailboats, we offer bareboat charters where you drive your own boat, but we also have fully crewed options with a skipper and chef.

“Our fleet of boats, including the three power catamarans in the program, are all privately owned, but we take care of operations and management,” he adds. “You buy the boat, you own it and name it; it’s very much a regular purchase. But with that purchase comes a management agreement where we maintain the boat on behalf of the owner and charter it to a third party when they’re not using it. We take all the issues out of the owner’s hands and incur most of the expenses. We make sure the maintenance is done, the warranties are checked, the vessels are clean, the batteries are topped off—there’s nothing for owners to do except enjoy it when they’re aboard.”

As with any boat purchase, owners can lay down the cash or go the finance route. According to the boat-show special at last fall’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, when it comes to the Moorings 403PC, most owners put down 20 to 25 percent of the cost of the yacht (about $1 million). The down payment is just shy of $200,000. At an 8.25 percent interest rate on a 20-year loan, the monthly payment of about $6,700 is offset by a guaranteed income of just under $7,500.

Bauguil says The Moorings continued those guaranteed payments after Hurricane Irma decimated the fleet in 2017, and during the height of the pandemic, when chartering essentially ceased. Management contracts generally run five to six years, after which the owner can keep the boat, trade it in, or have The Moorings’ brokerage operation place it for sale.

As far as usage is concerned, owners receive 84 points per year, with the cost of trips equating to two points per day. Of those 84 points, 42 can be used to reserve trips in advance, and 42 can be employed on short notice. (Owners can’t sublease their vessels, but they can offer them to friends or donate the time.) Generally, this breaks down to four to six weeks per year of in-season cruising, or up to 12 weeks per year in the offseason. Yachts are standardized across the company’s destinations, with identical engines, watermakers, electronics and so on, so if an owner chooses to charter a boat in a distant location, no surprises await.

Burgess generally divvies up his journeys among his pals, his family or other couples. With his retirement on the not-too-distant horizon, as well as that of one of his boating friends, he’s gone in half on a partnership for the new boat. And while he’s always used his boat in the BVI, for the first time he’s planned his next adventure on a sistership in the Bahamas.

It’s always good to have options, and with The Moorings’ yacht-management program, he’s found plenty.  

The Destinations

The Moorings has 18 worldwide destinations, including six islands in the Caribbean, a trio of bases in the Mediterranean, and locations in the Seychelles, Tahiti and Thailand. The 403PC and the 464PC are available at the Bahamian bases in the Exumas and the Abacos, as well as the BVI, Greece and Croatia. In addition, the 403PC is available in the Seychelles. 

The Alluring British Virgins

Perhaps the most popular of all of The Moorings’ cruising bases is the original location on Tortola, where the bareboat charter industry was basically launched in 1969. With Tortola’s easy navigation and protected anchorages, this spot remains the company’s crown jewel. Currently, there are seven 403PCs and two dozen 464PCs in the BVI charter fleet.

The Boats

As of this writing, The Moorings has a pair of flybridge power catamarans available in its yacht-management program, both built in South Africa by Robertson & Caine, which also produces the Leopard line of sail and power cats. The Moorings 403PC is powered by a pair of 320 hp Yanmar diesels with a cruising speed of 15 knots and a top hop of 17-plus knots. The Moorings 464PC is also powered with a pair of twin Yanmars and has a four-stateroom, four-head configuration. 

Take the next step: moorings.com

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Scenic seaside Bar Harbor is the gateway to Maine’s Acadia National Park, one of the 10 most popular national parks throughout the United States. The Pine Tree State’s abundance of breathtaking scenery and stellar dining options satisfies all the senses—on and off the water.

Top Acadia Sights

It’s worth the early start and extra layers to watch the sunrise at the summit of Cadillac Mountain, elevation 1,530 feet, the highest point on the Eastern Seaboard. The effort will be rewarded with stunning views of the glaciated coastal and island landscape, overlooking Frenchman Bay out toward the Schoodic Peninsula and beyond. Allow a good half-hour for the drive up the mountain. From May through October, both a national park pass and a car reservation are required; the latter can be booked on recreation.gov.

The 27-mile Park Loop Road accesses the park’s top attractions, including Otter Cliff. The 110-foot-high granite precipice is a popular scenic overlook for photos. Nearby, Sand Beach is noted for its (chilly) aquamarine waters and stunning views, as well as for ranger-led stargazing programs. In between these two attractions on the 2.2-mile Ocean Path Trail is Thunder Hole, where the churning waters one to two hours before high tide create a deafening roar and wave sprays as high as 40 feet.

Read More: Cruising to Historic Portland, Maine

Sieur de Monts is referred to as the “heart of Acadia.” Its nature center has exhibits on the science behind the park’s scenery. Its Wild Gardens of Acadia include more than 400 plant species native to the park. Its short hiking trails range from steep Schiff Path, which connects to the summit of Dorr Mountain, to the leisurely Jesup Path boardwalk favored by birdwatchers on the lookout for the park’s 20-plus warbler species.

Dining

Bar Harbor’s dining scene satisfies at any time of day. After the sunrise atop Cadillac Mountain, refuel with breakfast at Café This Way, known for its blueberry pancakes and corned beef hash. Partake in a park tradition by booking afternoon tea at Acadia’s Jordan Pond House. Enjoy the delicious popovers, first served in 1893, while looking out over the luxuriant lawn along Jordan Pond. Mount Desert Island Ice Cream is considered a requisite stop in Bar Harbor. Order a flight to sample several of the creative, ever-changing flavors, which range from Maine Sweet Cream to Bay of Figs to Salt Wildflower Honey.

A lobster meal is mandatory in Maine. The Travelin’ Lobster, a casual outdoor venue, is worth the wait for its lobster bisque, lobster bake and flavorful, generously sized lobster rolls. (Save room for blueberry pie.) The Reading Room Restaurant serves up a refined seafood repast along with spectacular harbor views and live piano music. And don’t miss Havana for its award-winning wine list, craft cocktails and inventive Latin-inspired fare.  

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Several charter yachts are advertising availability for Thanksgiving bookings at the end of November.

HMY Yachts says the 98-foot Princess No Curfew is available for the holiday in the Bahamas. It’s a 2012 build that most recently was refitted in 2021. Accommodations are for eight guests in four staterooms—two of them with king-size berths, which makes this yacht an option for couples who want to charter together and split the weekly rate.

According to HMY, charter guests aboard No Curfew can be out and about, having some serious fun while the crew and chef are preparing Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings. The yacht charters with a 27-foot Boston Whaler center console tender, a pair of Seadoo Spark three-seaters, a couple of Seabobs for underwater exploration, paddleboards, snorkeling gear and a floating dock to expand the available real estate for watersports.

Churchill Yacht Partners, meanwhile, is advertising no fewer than six yachts that still have Thanksgiving availability from its fleet.

First is the 157-foot Christensen Lady Joy, whose owner is accepting inquires for the Bahamas or the Caribbean. This is a 2007 build that accommodates 12 guests in six staterooms, and that charters with 11 crew. The yacht is scheduled to make its way to Nassau, Bahamas, this month, following a summer charter season in the Mediterranean.

Also available for Thanksgiving in the Churchill fleet is the 142-foot Palmer Johnson Lady J. It’s currently in the shipyard in Florida, and is being advertised for the Bahamas on Thanksgiving. For the winter season, this yacht is expected to be in the Caribbean, taking 10 to 12 guests in five staterooms.

Churchill’s team also says the 142-foot Richmond Far From It is available for Thanksgiving. It will be in the Bahamas, following a summer of cruising up in New England. Accommodations aboard Far From It are for 10 guests in five staterooms. The yacht is a 2008 build that most recently was refitted in 2016.

Yet another “Turkey Day” option is the 130-foot Westport Dona Lola, which is available for Thanksgiving in the Caribbean. This yacht accommodates 10 guests in five staterooms, and it charters with seven crew. As of this writing, Dona Lola is in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for a shipyard period to make sure everything is in top shape ahead of the winter charter season.

Intervention is yet another yacht with Thanksgiving availability. It’s a 100-foot Azimut that will be based in Florida and the Bahamas, with accommodations for eight to 10 guests in four staterooms. This yacht charters with five crew.

Isn’t there one more yacht in the Churchill fleet that’s open for Thanksgiving? Yes. The 95-foot Azimut Sorridente is available for a Thanksgiving charter. This yacht bases year-round in the Bahamas, with accommodations for eight guests in four staterooms. It charters with four crew.

How to book a week on board: contact a charter broker at hmy.com or churchillyachts.com

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Few harbors showcase as salty a New England scene as Nantucket’s does during the annual Race Week festivities. This year’s celebration is scheduled to take place August 14-18, with regattas, events and parties for sailors of all ages. Powerboaters get a free show, with colorful sails and some seriously competitive skippers filling the water views.

On shore, Nantucket is a favorite destination all summer long too. The local culture and tourism department has maps for self-guided walking tours, birding enthusiasts, and pocket parks where cruisers can get off the boat to enjoy a snack or read for a bit. During the summer months, there are two guided walking tours daily, each of them with about 60 minutes’ worth of island and whaling history included.

Straight Wharf is a great place for a stroll through the shops, with the Nantucket Peddler offering island-themed T-shirts, sweatshirts, sweatpants and jackets for wearing the whole rest of the year. Straight Wharf Restaurant has dinner seating as well as spots in the bar, where the finger foods include house-spiced olives and smoked bluefish pate.

Another memorable stop is the Egan Maritime Shipwreck & Lifesaving Museum, which is expected to have two new exhibits this summer. The Monaghan Gallery will showcase the US Coast Guard and its Nantucket missions of rescue, environmental protection and maritime law enforcement, while the recently renovated boathouse will host the exhibit Risk, Rescue & Recognition: Nantucket’s Heroes of the Sea. During July and August, this museum also offers outdoor activities for the whole family.

For boaters who prefer to visit Nantucket in the autumn months, after all the summer tourists are gone, September and October offer an unusual sight: the flooding of the Milestone Cranberry Bog for harvesting. This is the largest bog in North America, and it turns red during this time of year. On Columbus Day, there’s an Annual Cranberry Festival.

Boat Basin

Renovated cottages at the Nantucket Boat Basin reopened in April, giving visiting boaters a place to kick back and relax on land if they need time ashore. The marina has high-season rates from June 20 through September 8, with boats smaller than 60 feet paying as much as $11.50 per foot and yachts larger than 125 feet paying up to $16.50 per foot. Services include bicycle rentals, help with taxis, restaurant reservations and daysail bookings. Check-in is at 1 p.m., and the Boat Basin monitors VHF channels 9 and 11. The fuel dock sells gas and diesel, and has pump-out services. Pump-out can also be done slipside during certain hours.

Whaling Museum

This popular attraction is less than a half-mile walk from the Nantucket Boat Basin. Four centuries of history are documented in the museum’s nine galleries, which contain more than a thousand works of art and artifacts. Cranberry pickers is one notable recent acquisition by Eastman Johnson, the primary artist of national importance associated with Nantucket in the late 19th century. Kids activities include a historic properties scavenger hunt, along with activity books about locally inspired topics such as scrimshaw and whale ships. The museum shop sells apparel, house and home items, and art objects including Nantucket lightship baskets. 

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We’d slipped through the drawbridge at the entrance to Simpson Bay Lagoon on the southern shore of St. Maarten at the 1030 opening late last March, bound for the island of Dominica, some 170 nautical miles more or less due south. My old sailing buddy Hank Schmitt’s well-found Swan 48, Avocation, was headed for the second annual Yachting Festival in support of PAYS (Portsmouth Association for Yacht Security), a recently formed group dedicated to serving cruising sailors calling in the island. It sounded like a cool event, but what I was really savoring were the overnight sails to and from in the steady easterly trade winds. It had been a while since I’d spent a night at sea.

The derivation of the word “posh” is supposedly from British passengers who booked tickets for steamships bound for India. They were happy to pay a premium price for staterooms on the shady side of the vessel, which meant to port on the way over and to starboard on the way home (POSH: port out, starboard home). But the word also described our passage down the trades, a port tack (wind coming from the port side) heading south, and a starboard tack on the return trip to St. Maarten.

We were closehauled on the voyage south, and it was a bumpy ride, but there were some definite highlights. Off St. Barths, we caught a glimpse of the fleet of superyachts competing in the annual St. Barths Bucket regatta. At sunrise, we enjoyed a respite from the relentless easterlies, sluicing down the lee of Guadeloupe. The last 17 miles were sporty, but Dominica was straight ahead, the light at the end of the tunnel. Exactly 26 hours after passing through the bridge, we picked up a mooring in the coastal town of Portsmouth on Dominica’s northwest coastline.

It was a good, hard sail. The one back to St. Maarten a week later was even better.

As it was a relatively short passage, Hank did not set up a watch schedule, and I took the opportunity after our departure to hit a bunk for a few hours. I wanted to get the full night-sailing experience. And man, did I ever.

Read More from Herb McCormick: Reflections on Offshore Sailing

I popped up on deck at exactly midnight and was greeted by something I really didn’t expect: the Southern Cross, sitting pretty above our transom. Who knew it was visible in this part of the Caribbean? The moon had not yet risen, and the sky was brilliant, a virtual planetarium full of stars, including many a shooting one. It was mesmerizing. The rising of the three-quarter moon dimmed the light show a bit but was also magnificent.

We had to point a bit higher to skirt the windward side of Montserrat, but the wind had freed a little, and once around that volcanic isle, we were able to crack off a few degrees onto a powerful reach. I’d grabbed the wheel and was in no hurry to let go. The sailing was as good as it gets. The gusty trades fluctuated between 15 and 22 knots, the absolute sweet spot for a thoroughbred like Avocation. The boat was locked in at 8.5 knots of boatspeed, with the occasional burst over 9 and even 10 knots. We were definitely hauling the mail.

There’s never a better place to catch a sunrise than on the ocean, and with St. Kitts on the horizon, it was a pretty great one. We shaved a couple of hours off the trip on its return leg, and precisely 24 hours after departing Dominica, we dropped the anchor off Simpson Bay to await the next bridge opening, with plenty of time for a refreshing swim.

I’ll always recall with fondness the lush island of Dominica, but what I’ll really remember is sailing through those Caribbean nights.  

The post Unforgettable Caribbean Voyage: Sailing Through St. Maarten and Dominica appeared first on Yachting.

With 365 cays to choose among, the Exumas chain in the Bahamas offers something for every day of the year. Cruise around the chain’s three major areas—Great Exuma, Little Exuma and the Exuma Cays—to explore its wildlife, sapphire waters, beaches and waterfront dining.

Natural Attractions

Big Major Cay is home to one of the Exumas’ biggest attractions: the world-famous swimming pigs. The 20 or so frequently photographed feral pigs and piglets are the only residents of this uninhabited cay just a short cruise from Staniel Cay. Arrive early to avoid the crowds.

On Allen Cay off Great Exuma, boaters will find a literal mess of its namesake Allen Cays rock iguanas—that’s the term for a group of these scaly creatures. This endangered species can grow up to 4 feet long, but they’re gentle giants.

The 112,000-plus-acre Exuma Cays Land and Sea Park, established in 1957, was the first of its kind in the world and remains a model of marine preservation and biodiversity. A visitors center and hiking trails provide a lay of the park’s land, while moorings make it easy to explore the pristine waters and vibrant reefs. They are part of the second-largest coral barrier reef in the Western Hemisphere.

Thunderball Grotto became a requisite dive and snorkel spot in the Exumas after its appearance in two James Bond films. Located just west of Staniel Cay, this underwater cave system teeming with marine life is best entered at ebb tide.

Breathtaking beaches stretch across the entire island chain. The white-powder crescent of Tropic of Cancer Beach straddles its namesake latitude along the coast of Little Exuma. Secluded Cocoa Plum Beach, known for excellent shelling, is a cruisers’ favorite, far easier to access by water than by road. The beaches of Stocking Island, just across from Georgetown’s harbor on Great Exuma, range from tranquil coves to legendary hangouts.

Refuel and Refresh

Visitors from the world over flock to the landmark Chat ’N’ Chill on Stocking Island. This quintessential beach bar, known for a family-friendly vibe, has it all: a sizable drink menu, a delicious Sunday pig roast, freshly made conch salad, live music, volleyball courts, and a chance to feed and swim with stingrays.

Boaters will find a more upscale atmosphere at the Sea Level restaurant at Staniel Cay Yacht Club, a longtime hub for cruisers. Reservations are required for dinner, which can include such refined fare as duck confit and rack of lamb.

On Little Exuma, the casual beachfront Santanna’s Bar & Grill is a must-stop for freshly prepared seafood, particularly lobster and grouper dishes. Save some cash and appetite for the adjacent Mom’s Bakery, where the delectable desserts include rum cake, cinnamon rolls and banana bread.  

The post Cruising The Exumas appeared first on Yachting.

Here’s something you don’t see on the charter market all too often: larger motoryachts offering all-inclusive rates in the British Virgin Islands and Bahamas.

Typically, larger motoryachts are listed for charter with weekly base rates. Those base rates cover the boat and crew, but not expenses such as fuel, food, drinks and gratuity. The idea is that different clients want to do different things on charter, so the variable costs are adjustable.

By contrast, smaller crewed boats that stick to generally fixed itineraries and can better predict the associated costs—in particular, catamarans in the Virgin Islands—are offered with inclusive rates.

That’s what makes the news so interesting about the 135-foot Horizon Stay Salty and the 120-foot Sovereign Real Summertime. Denison Yachting says these larger yachts are now offering all-inclusive charter packages in the British Virgin Islands and Bahamas.

“This is an exciting initiative to simplify and encourage new charter clients to try one of the most epic travel experiences imaginable,” Ben Farnborough, Denison’s chief operating officer, stated in a press release. “Often we’re made aware that there’s a perception outside of the yachting industry that chartering a yacht is inherently complex. Our goal here is to change that. These all-inclusive Denison charter options are straightforward and seamless.”

The two yachts are being offered with inclusive rates based on fixed itineraries and menus, without the standard preference sheets that charter clients typically fill out so the crew can provision whatever guests request to have on board. Denison’s team instead worked with the yacht owners and crew to determine defined dates, docking prices, fuel costs, cocktail lists and menus.

The idea is similar to the way that Denison worked with Magellan Jets to offer a coordinated package for jet travel from Teterboro, New Jersey, to Nassau, Bahamas, at a fee of $48,000 for 12 passengers.

Stay Salty is a 2010 build that most recently was refitted this year. The yacht accommodates 12 guests in six staterooms, including an upper-deck master. Tenders for watersports fun include a 34-foot Jupiter.

Real Summertime is a 2000 build that most recently was refitted in 2022. Accommodations on this yacht are for as many as 12 guests in five staterooms, including a main-deck master. Onboard amenities include an outdoor cinema, and tenders include a 37-foot Boston Whaler Outrage.

Is there any wiggle room in the all-inclusive plans? Yes, for an extra fee. Denison Yachting says the inclusive rate is intended to appeal to people who want to avoid the planning process, but that guests who want bespoke elements in their all-inclusive charter can work with Denison’s team to accommodate those requests at an additional cost.

Where to learn more: contact a charter broker at www.denisonyachting.com

The post Luxury Yacht Charters: Inclusive Options Await appeared first on Yachting.

Most years, new launches depart from shipyards bound for the Mediterranean in time for the summer charter season—with savvy clients strategizing to be among the first parties welcomed aboard. The pandemic caused a blip in that pattern, making new launches a lot harder to book for a couple of years, but quite a few charter companies are now advertising 2023 and 2024 builds with itineraries available in the most popular cruising grounds all along the West and East Mediterranean.

As you can see in the images on the opposite page, these new builds come in all kinds of styles, from eco-friendly power catamarans to motoryachts with sole-to-ceiling glazing. Some are among just a handful of newer models out cruising anywhere on the world’s waters, for private or charter use.

The Benetti Alluria, for instance, was one of just eight Motopanfilo 37M hulls when it launched last year. Amenities include a full-beam master stateroom, a foredeck pool and sun pads, and an Axopar Brabus 900 chase boat for looking sharp when heading into port.

The Sunseeker 86 Mowana is also a notable newer build, with a top speed of 28 knots and a cruising speed of 19 knots for making the runs easy between waypoints. Guest areas are forward and aft, letting charter clients avoid prying eyes no matter how the yacht is situated in an anchorage. Inside, one of the four staterooms has a bunk-style Pullman along with twin berths, creating an enclave for the kids.

Yet another interesting new offering is Catallaxy, a Sunreef 60 Eco sailing yacht. It has a full-beam bow terrace in addition to a guest area on the flybridge and an outdoor relaxation area aft.

Of course, destinations in the Mediterranean are classics, but visiting them in the comfort of a brand-new yacht only enhances the charter experience.

The Adriatic Sea

• Croatia has become a full-on popular summer charter destination, with its coastline full of villages, cities and islands to explore. An increasing number of charter yachts offer itineraries here each year.
• Vrbnik is in the north, while Split and Dubrovnik are popular destinations farther to the south.
• Dubrovnik is especially popular with fans of the HBO series Game of Thrones, which filmed many of its episodes in and around the city.

The post New Mediterranean Charter Options appeared first on Yachting.

Early on in my offshore sailing career, I discovered something that has been driven home repeatedly in the ensuing years: At sea, many miles and days from the solid comforts of terra firma, a person’s true character is revealed. It’s not always pretty. On a small boat of defined length, the opportunity to take even a short walk to push the reset button is unavailable. It’s definitely rare, but I’ve certainly encountered my fair share of stifling bores, outright slobs and dangerous clowns. (No doubt, of course, that some of them would say the same of me.)

Why bring all this up? Because I was recently reminded that it makes me really appreciate one of my favorite dudes with whom to set sail, a Renaissance man of sorts from Seattle named Dave Logan.

Together, Logan and I have put a lot of water in our collective wake, well over 30,000 nautical miles. One of our earliest adventures was the 2005 Transpac from Los Angeles to Honolulu aboard our mutual friend Mark Schrader’s Cal 40, Dancing Bear. An incident at the very end, screaming past Diamond Head at double-digit boatspeed with the spinnaker up, sort of speaks to our respective temperaments.

As we bore down on the finish line, I started to panic at the tiller when we couldn’t douse the spinnaker. “Cut the sheet!” I screamed. That is when Logan casually climbed the forestay and tripped the sheet with his marlinspike, immediately defusing the situation. No damage, no worries. I could feel my face go red; my heartbeat immediately settled back into its usual rhythm. “Thanks bro,” was about all I could manage.

Read More from Herb McCormick: And The US Sailing Capital Is?

But our major voyage was a 28,000-mile circumnavigation of North and South America via the Northwest Passage and Cape Horn on a 64-foot steel cutter called Ocean Watch. Logan served as the first mate/engineer, and we shared the same watch the entire journey, through calms, gales, ice, snow—the whole shooting match. Logan likes to cast himself as the silent, stoic type, and we were 18,000 miles and seven months into the trip when we rounded the Horn. Suddenly, standing on the foredeck with my pal, we were both overcome with emotion. “I didn’t think I was going to feel this way,” he blubbered.

“Me neither,” I sputtered.

It was my favorite moment of the best sailing day of my life.

This passage down memory river was triggered last March, when Logan showed up for a Florida family vacation, and I invited him for a sail aboard my Pearson 365, August West, on Sarasota Bay. Logan has always raised an eyebrow at my rather liberal-arts approach to mechanics and maintenance, and I could almost hear the gears in his brain grinding as he cast a critical glance around my deck as we were getting underway. “That backstay could really use tightening,” he said, among other observations, and I felt like a kindergartner getting scolded by his teacher. But, of course, he was right.

And then we went sailing. There was zippo breeze at the outset, and I feared we were in for a drifter. But a northerly filled in soon after, and I literally couldn’t get Logan off the wheel. As always, his pure joy being aboard a sailboat gurgling to weather was infectious. We might as well have been back off the coast of South America, cracking jokes, calling puffs, just enjoying the hell out of the entire situation. It was terrific.

It also reminded me, yet again, that when you go to sea, some of the shipmates you encounter may be some of the worst. But also true, and why you keep going back, is this: A few of the souls you meet along the way are some of the best.  

The post Reflections on Offshore Sailing appeared first on Yachting.

The charter team at IYC has just welcomed not one, but two Custom Line yachts into the fleet for bookings this summer in the East Mediterranean.

First up is the 93-foot Custom Line At One. This is a brand-new build that was just delivered to its owners for 2024. The yacht has a bunch of modern bells and whistles—including high-speed Internet connectivity via Starlink, and dual stabilizers with a gyro and fins for added guest comfort at anchor and underway.  

Accommodations aboard At One are for 10 guests in five staterooms. Those guests will have access to a bevy of tenders and toys, including a nearly 12-foot Highfield tender, a pair of Seabobs, standup paddleboards, a Hobie Eclipse, water skis, wakeboards and snorkeling gear.

Inquiries for bookings aboard At One are being accepted this summer in Greece, where the yacht is expected to remain at least through the end of September. Bookings are also being taken now for the 2025 summer season in Greece.

Also new to the IYC fleet is the 108-foot Custom Line Daloli. This is a 2011 build that most recently was refitted in 2022, and that is also accepting inquiries for Greece yacht charter this summer.

Daloli accommodates as many as nine guests in five staterooms, including a master on the main deck. 

Onboard amenities include an outdoor hot tub and barbecue. The yacht has stabilizers for added guest comfort, and it charters with a crew of seven that has spent many years together as a team. 

Tenders and toys for guests to use during a charter aboard Daloli include a 26-foot ZAR tender, a 13-foot Grand tender, a Sea-Doo, a trio of Seabobs, water skis for adults and children, wakeboards, a water slide, standup paddleboards and fishing gear. An unusual offering from the yacht’s toybox is a pair of canoes for guests who want to paddle around quiet anchorages.

Greece Yacht Charter Options: The Greek Isles are some of the world’s most popular cruising grounds during the summer season. There are numerous archipelagos to explore, whether a charter booking is for a week or a month. Many of the islands have ancient ruins along with local tavernas and beaches. Land-and-sea itineraries can also be fun in this part of the world, with Athens on the mainland filled with landmarks from ancient Greek civilization.

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