Author: blogger

Is September Ideal For Private Yacht Hire In Turkey

Posted on by blogger

Private yacht hire in Turkey is about spending quality time with your friends, family, loved ones, or simply alone. Your journey takes you to exciting destinations where you have the opportunity to explore remnants of history from past civilizations, and be where emperors once stood and conquered. It is also a cultural discovery. Between the countries of Turkey and Greece, there is so much of ancient culture, traditions, savory cuisine and more that makes the whole yacht cruise so unique. You may meet new people, experience different traditions and acquire interesting souvenirs that make it all the more memorable.

So its not just about being pampered by warm and friendly smiles, or even going for a swim in the cool refreshing sea. It also isnt about playing with all the water toys on board, or sunning under the relaxing sun of the Mediterranean; and its certainly not about soaking in a rejuvenating luxury jacuzzi on deck with panoramic views of nature at its best its more.

You can hire a yacht in Turkey to venture to the Greek Islands; such as Rhodes, Santorini, Mykonos, Kos or others. But if you just want to cruise within the waters of the Turkish Riveria, you could do that too. Visiting the famous Oludeniz in Fethiye, and the 12 islands of Gocek are popular places of interest. So are the thrilling nightlife of Bodrum harbor and the peaceful and charming villages of Marmaris. The alternatives are endless!

The luxury yacht cruises are most popular on Turkish yachts called gulets. These elegantly designed and quite traditionally characteristic of Turkey begin offering their blue cruises in May and they go on until the end of September. Then they go in for maintenance and a refit to get ready for another exciting gulet season.

The peak season is from July to August. This is where the temperatures in southern Turkey go as high as 50+ celcius. In May and September the temperatures are in the mid to high 20s; and in the low to high 30s in June. As it takes time for the sea to warm up, usually suitable during beginning in the first week of July, it stays warm right up until the end of September. There are those who do go in the water in October. But its a bit cooled down then. So ideally, if you are not keen on hot hot weather, September is a perfect time for a private yacht hire in Turkey!

Preparing Your Yacht For Sale

Posted on by blogger

Sooner or later every yacht owner is confronted with selling his/her boat. You want to sell her as quickly as possible yet get the best rate you possibly can.

Below are some hints to make the sale go as designed.

Prepare the Yacht for Sale:

Make any obvious repairs. Damaged glass, rotten or discolored wood, torn canvas or zippers, discolored upholstery, are damaging attention getters. Bear in mind that $5,000.00 spent up front to correct issues may net you an additional $10,000.00. As a rule purchasers do not desire to buy a boat and have to put it in the yard. Turn-key boats go for top dollar.

Clean, clean, clean! Clean heads, vacuum carpets, scrub cushions, clean windows, blinds, mirrors and of course, the engine room.

Remove the clutter. Eliminate all excessive stuff, personal property, rubbish, tools, knick-knacks, magazines etc. both inside and out including lockers and cupboards. You want your yacht looking ship-shape and near showroom perfect.

Check for any water leaks around windows, sinks, plumbing, thru hulls, rudder posts. Fix as required.

Dock attractiveness. Be sure your yacht has a good look to her from the dock. First impressions decide the stage for the real showing:

buff and wax gel coat

touch up all exterior varnish

clean and organize dock lines

pump up and clean fenders inflate dingy

varnish bright work

clean metals to remove surface oxidation

clean any growth on hull at waterline

take and analyze oil samples to show purchaser the health of engines. Your buyer will do it in the survey. We know how to aid you with that.

Get ready for Yacht Showings:

Keep her clean by frequent washings

Make up bunks with sheets

Make sure lights work in cabin and engine room

Make certain air conditioning/heat operates. If a purchaser thinks air conditioning is not cooling, he’ll think about the thousands it will take to replace it.

Rid vessel of any odor sources. This is a huge turn off.

Keep all maintenance records in easy-to-read binders. This encompasses operating manuals, logbooks, etc.

Prepare for Survey/Sea Trial:

Inspect all hose clamps. Replace all corroded clamps; ensure hoses are double clamped.

Inspect hoses. Change any cracked or worn out hoses.

Inspect the engine instrumentation. Change broken gages or adjust as required.

Check all electronics. Make note on disclosure any item that will not operate.

Inspect all sea cocks for operation. Exercise as required.

Run yacht up to operating temperature. Any high reading must be investigated.

Have engine(s) tested for operating temperature, belts, fuel or oil leaks, mounts. Rectify deficiencies; add oil or coolant as necessary.

Have underside and props and shafts cleaned by diver.

Get running gear checked. Clean and replace zincs. Test all appliances, toilets, inverters, stereos for operational condition. Repair as required.

Inspect all strainers. Scrub as necessary.

Inspect batteries. Top off wet cells.

Start and run all engines. Any wavering in starting or strange performance should be investigated.

Inspect all bilge pumps and floats. Replace as necessary.

Inspect flares and other safety equipment. Replace as necessary.

Yacht Charter in Croatia

Posted on by blogger

Yacht Charter in Croatia

Since sailing is held in such high regard in Croatia, taking a trip in a boat here would be nothing short of perfection. Rest and relaxation while enjoying this country’s ancient charms and secrets is best achieved by sailing its 1778km of irregular coastline (among the most indented of the whole Mediterranean).

A country with a long history in tourism, Croatia was first used as a summer retreat by wealthy Romans and emperors who built castles and even small settlements along the shores, many of which can still be admired today. The great weather coupled with the calm and clean seas, not to mention the deep green of the pine woods which often grow right to the sea’s edge make the Croatian landscape unique and enjoyable.

Among the most frequented and appreciated sailing regions in the country there are Istria, the Kvarner Bay, Dalmatia and the heralded Kornati archipelago, a virtual maze of small islands and islets off the shores in central Croatia. These offer plenty of sailing opportunities and are especially suited to water-loving tourists because they also provide mooring and service facilities to yacht charter aficionados.

Istria, the largest peninsula in the Adriatic, is home to some of the oldest cities in Croatia that today have in turned into attractive tourist resorts that also welcome yacht charter holidaymakers, the Kvarner Bay is home to some of the biggest ports in the country as well as some very beautiful islands such as Cres, Krk and Mali Losinj. The Kornati archipelago can be found off the coast of Dalmatia, a region famed for its vineyards, olive groves and ports such as Dubrovnik, the -Pearl of the Adriatic-.

Croatia has close to 50 marinas along its shores, a number which is increased by commercial harbors and small fishing village ports, as well as countless anchoring points up and down the country. The Croatian marinas also uphold a very high standard of services for variable prices. The total number of berths is close to 16000 and that’s not counting the 5000 dry berths. Since almost all the marinas are built in the last 30 years, they are all in good shape (some are very similar to exclusive country clubs) and they all occupy excellent positions in city waterfronts or on some picturesque cove on a secluded island.

Another bonus of Croatian marinas lies in their relative density which ensures the yacht charter sailing crew plenty of stops along the way so that you don’t need to cover great distances in search of anchorage and/or resupply. But when and if you do get caught by darkness or bad weather, you can always moor at any of the 1500 coves in Croatia, out of which close to 200 qualify as anchorage points for up to 20 vessels.

Ultimate proof that in Croatia sailing is a big thing is the ACI organization (Adriatic Croatia International) which is a club of marinas that offer high standards of quality and also set up regattas all over the Mediterranean, not to mention the fact that they have close ties with German and Slovenian sailing associations.

So there you have it, in a nutshell, Croatian sailing is fast becoming a serious contender for summer holidays in the Mediterranean, due to its relative low prices and the fine conditions, landscape and weather one can find while sailing here. But don’t take our word for it, try it for yourself at least once in order to get the full experience.

For more information on the best deals for yacht charter Croatia and all across the Mediterranean and the rest of the world, check out Yachtbooker.com, the world’s largest database for yacht charter reservations.

Yacht, Ship, Or Boat Watercraft Terminology By Joshua Kerrigan

Posted on by blogger

For those who are not sailing aficionados or members of a navy, watercraft terminology can be a somewhat mysterious topic. Joshua Kerrigan, a captain and owner of Yacht Management, raises some of the fog by tackling a frequent question: whats the difference between a boat, a yacht, and a ship?

While these words are frequently used interchangeably, they in fact have far more specific meanings than those they are normally given in colloquial conversation. These distinctions mostly rely on issues of size and purpose, rather than more intricate distinctions of whether or not they have an engine, their shape, or any other attributes one would need to have a deeper grasp on sailing to understand. Heres the general rundown:

Boats

Boats are generally smaller watercrafts (meaning a vessel that floats or otherwise operates on top of the water) shorter than 60 meters in length overall. They can be used for a variety of purposes, from business to military use to use as a living quarters to pleasure. Some sources may highlight that boats tend to be used for shallow-water travel, but again, this is a result of their size – you wouldnt want to try to traverse an ocean with an 8-meter craft!

Ships

In contrast to boats, ships are larger vessels, generally 60 meters and up. A common way to remember which is which states that you could fit a boat on a ship, but you couldnt fit a ship on a boat! Among non-motorized vessels in particular, the definition of ship sometimes includes the requirement for three masts. Typically, ships sail deeper waters than boats, as they are more equipped for these types of journeys based on size.

Like boats, ships may be used for a wide variety of purposes.

Yachts

What separates yachts from ships and boats is their purpose. Unlike ships and boats, yachts are used only for pleasure and recreation, either by their owners or a third party.

Yachts come in a wide variety of sizes, which of course fall into ship and boat categories. However, for yachts, these sizes have alternate names. These designations are somewhat flexible but mostly when talking about yachts, you will find that a day yacht is under 6 meters, a weekender yacht is between 6 and 9.5 meters, a cruising yacht ranges from 7-14 meters, and a luxury yacht is at least 25 meters. Furthermore, a mega yacht is generally at least 30.5 meters, and a super yacht is over 47.5 meters.

Therefore, while most yachts could be classified as boats, super yachts and luxury yachts can frequently fall into the ship category.

Sources:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/notesandqueries/query/0,,-197783,00.html
http://www.westlawn.edu/student_center/definitions.asp

What’s the difference between a boat and a ship?

Auckland The Super Yacht City

Posted on by blogger

While New Zealand will always be something of an out-of-the-way spot in the midst of the Pacific, it has been receiving increasingly more attention in recent years from multi-millionaire super yacht owners. Auckland has traditionally been known as the -City of Sails-; however, the city’s Viaduct Harbour has been showcasing more luxury yachts than usual in recent years.

The city of Auckland is having to make some adjustments to accommodate this high class crowd, and additions have been made to the city’s marina to make some more space. The addition of two new 90 meter docks and 65 meter pontoons has provided more space for new vessels in Auckland, and the capacity of the Silo Marina has doubled its capacity within the last three years.

Despite any hassles, the newcomers do a great deal of good for the city’s economy. According to Luke Wigglesworth- waterfront manager of Auckland marinas- a super yacht based in Auckland injects an estimated $2.5 million to the Auckland economy. Photographers have been flocking to the harbor area to capture striking images of the beautiful vessels. The harbor almost offers as many vessels as broker websites such as this informative resource. This past November has been the Auckland waterfront’s busiest time ever regarding boat tonnage in and around the harbor and revenue for the city.

Some of the visiting making their home in Auckland

The following is a brief summary of some of the biggest and most famous vessels to become stationed in Auckland in recent years:

SuRi This vessel reaches a length of 63 meters, and an extensive was recently added in San Francisco. Chartering the SuRi costs voyagers about $450,000 each week. The yacht features luxury interior designs and offers impressive spaciousness and attractive entertainment possibilities.

ArcticP The ArcticP is owned by James Packer, an Australian billionaire. This yacht is the 50th largest in the world, and it has transported such renowned passengers as Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes. The boat was custom-built for the current owners father, Kerry Packer. Mega yacht -A’ One of the largest vessels to be situated in Auckland, the Mega yacht -A’ has an interior that is about 15 times the size of a typical home. This super yacht is a possession of Russian billionaire Andrey Melcichenko. It was designed by Philippe Starck and has a master suite design that stretches over 240 square meters.

Ethereal This vessel is owned by American couple Bill and Shannon Joy. These two owners are involved with marine conservation efforts and the run the charity known as the -Joy Foundation-. This is a highly energy efficient super yacht that is endowed with the latest technology to minimize the watercraft’s carbon footprint.