All about Boats, Yachts and Sailing

Jay asked:


Does anyone know of any groups who might be sailing the Atlantic this summer from New York area to the U.K.?
I was hoping to find a flotilla going that way so I’m not totally alone.
Thanks for any advice, J.

Louis

dmps1065 asked:


If the wind is blowing in one direction, how does a sailing ship travel in any other direction? It would seem that it could only move with the wind.

Tessa

EYachtCharter asked:


For vacationers who haven’t fully discovered the benefits between a cruise vacation and a private yacht charter, the cuisine is definitely one of the major differences. While most cruise ships host all you can eat buffets and stringent meal times often compared to a cattle call, the relaxed structure of a personalized yacht itinerary totally justifies the marginal expense differences. With a fully crewed private yacht charter, guests are able to enjoy their own personal chef who prepares exotic gourmet cuisine tailored to their guests’ tastes. Also on a crewed yacht charter, meal times and snacks in between are always flexible.

The luxury yacht charter industry takes menu and provision preparation very seriously when coordinating dream vacations for its affluent clientele. Some of the best chefs in the world have been recruited from five star kitchens to work on luxury yachts. Since the industry is so detail oriented, it is often its own toughest critic which keeps the caliber of talent extremely high.

There are two definitive charter shows each year in December that allow the industry professionals to inspect the world’s finest yachts for charter and sample chef cuisine. The St. Maarten and Antigua Yacht Charter shows attract the most talented yacht crews and charter experts looking to make their recommendations for the best charter vessels for the upcoming Caribbean Yacht Charter and Mediterranean Yacht Charter seasons.

The shows fill up two weeks worth of non-stop events including captain conferences, wine tasting events and most importantly, gourmet cuisine competitions. The 2007 winner at the Antigua Yacht Charter Competition, was Emma Rye who works aboard Lazy Z. She received accolade in several of the judging categories including best table display and best overall cuisine.

Emma Rye was an England native who developed a passion for cooking as a child when she would vacation in France and make exotic deserts with her father. Rye got her start as a chef when she won a scholarship in a one-day cookoff to attend the Academie de Culinaire in France. She then went on to study as an apprentice at the Savoy Hotel and the Michelin restaurant in London.

After college, Emma got her first call from the head chef of the 416 foot mega yacht, The Octupus which was owned by one of the Co-Founders of Microsoft, Paul Allen. She went to work as their villa chef in the South of France and became accustomed to cooking on boats. Rye also gained experience as a second chef on a yacht before she found a home as head chef on Lazy Z.

Lazy Z is a 165’ Oceano that can accommodate a party of 12 for a motor yacht charter. The vessel is maintained by a crew of 12 who are available to facilitate each guest’s wish. A one week luxury yacht vacation aboard Lazy Z is like a stay aboard a floating 5 star luxe resort with every amenity you can imagine. The 165 footer comes with all of the toys, she has a top of the line Jacuzzi 2 wave runners, water skis that are pulled by a versatile tender, compressor, scuba & snorkel gear, ski-biscuit, skurfer, kneeboard, volley ball set-up, beach tent and games.

The vessel has one king and two queen staterooms with six single berths. The yacht typically charters in Caribbean locations such as Leeward Islands, Virgin Islands during the winter months and Mediterranean locales such as French Riviera, Gulf of Naples and Sardinia in the summer months.

Lazy Z is just one of the many luxury vessels that provide excellent service and decadent fare, the worldly lifestyle of the yachting industry has attracted the most talented chefs from across the globe and contributes to some vacationer’s most memorable travel experiences. If you plan a luxury yacht charter vacation, you can be sure that the menu will be one of the most extravagant elements of your experience and unparalleled to any commercial cruisline vacation.



Chelsie

Ian Morris asked:


There are three key fundamental elements to selling your yacht; enlist the services of a yacht broker, present your yacht in good condition and set the price at market value.

Presentation

First impressions are very important and buyers expect to see a well maintained vessel both inside and out. A badly presented boat will significantly diminish in value. Work on the exterior of your craft to get it looking clean and appealing to buyers. Have her looking like new with a wax and a polish tending to any poor varnish work.

Just as you would if you were selling a house, have a good de-clutter of the interior and remove any personal belongings making sure everything is clean and tidy. Check that the bilges are dry and fresh to avoid a damp and musty smell that may be off-putting to buyers. Get the hull as clean as you can get it paying attention to detail, and hire professionals if necessary.

Engine and Mechanics

Before you bring buyers on board make sure the yacht is in satisfactory working order. Keep sufficient fuel to ensure services operate and be prepared for prospective buyers to test everything on board. Make sure the lights, radio, autopilot, toilets, water systems and other amenities are all in good working order as any defects could encourage buyers to make a lower offer. If the bilges are dirty, clean them as an oil spill can give the impression of an oil leak. Keep the engine room clean and organize a service, if the last one was a while ago. Above all else ensure everything is presentable and in working condition.

Price

To avoid setting the wrong price for your yacht, a common mistake made by many unaided vendors, always do your market research. An unrealistic price that does not reflect your yachts true value is likely to discourage potential buyers. Do not be temped to set a high price with a view to lowering the price through negotiations. There is plenty of choice on the market for used boats and if you price too high this could result in your yacht being passed up in favour of a more reasonably priced vessel or worst still your yacht could remain unsold for months on end, whilst still costing you money. The age of the yacht, condition and accessories all need to be taken into account when comparing other similar yachts for sale. The initial asking price must be checked regularly which is why it’s best to seek the advice of a yacht broker to get an honest appraisal of the current market value of your yacht. Even the most well presented vessel will not sell quickly if the price is not right.

Documentation

The more paperwork you can provide the better. Assemble all the manuals and service history you have for your craft and store them in a safe place. Make copies for the broker and keep manuals onboard for prospective buyers. Appropriate paperwork should include a Declaration of Conformity (if built after 16th June, 1998), and the original sales invoice which will show that VAT has been paid.

There is also advertising/marketing of the vessel and a pre-sale survey to consider. The process of selling your yacht should not be rushed into and as a seller you will undoubtedly benefit from the expertise and skill of a yacht brokers selling service who will work to ensure you a successful sale.



Justine

scooterbnutty asked:


I having trouble finding this info on the internet.
That is good but what about sailing and rocketry??

Jorge

rsnipes29512 asked:


I am an armchair sailor and want to know what firearms I can carry when I actually get out there: flying sting rays, sharks, pirates etc. This is never mentioned in any of the many boating magazines .

Jarred