APRIL 2010

Dear Charterer,

Recent seasons have seen an increased enquiry rate for long term charters (up to 6 months), mostly in the Mediterranean, although it is also possible to take delivery of a yacht in France, sail the Med and then sail across the atlantic to the Caribbean to enjoy great weather for twelve months.

In Europe this is becoming increasingly popular with people renting out their houses and taking a sabbatical while the kids are young or as empty nesters.

Although not cheap, the costs are justified when comparing buying, insuring, fitting out and later selling your own boat.

For those who can take the extended time I believe it represents the best lifestyle imaginable and truly the stuff
dreams.

For those of us with less time, last minute deals to the Mediterranean have never been better at up to 30% discount if you can move quickly - the deals for both air and yacht can be exceptional.

CHARTERER IN FOCUS - MICHAEL MORGAN

Michael Morgan likes to holiday afloat and has been a prolific charterer with us for over fifteen years. Michael and Meg have a close group of friends and in the early days chartering 50' Beneteau's in the Mediterranean, often two and three boat groups were a biannual event. In recent times Michael and the boys have continued to charter, last year 14 nights on a 52' monohull from Langkawi to Phuket and this coming June a 43' cat to New Caledonia's Loyalty Islands.

Michael always books early as he knows from experience (and as a previous charter yacht owner) that the newest and best backed and equipped yachts go first.

Aside from the bareboat yachts Michael has previouslychartered Canal boats in France and has recently booked the flagship Pénichette 1500 for four couples in Venice, Italy for 2011.

Michael and Meg's feedback over many charters has been invaluable to us and future clients and we have always enjoyed arranging their fantastic holidays afloat.

LICENSING - WHAT DO I NEED?

Recent events in the ocean racing arena have many thinking about the need for owners and skippers to have a certain level of qualifications.

The reality is that most of us do not have anything other than the mandatory state based boating licenses.

A Coxswains certificate is no small feat involving many hours of study and practical experience and examination. This is the level required to legally operate as a skipper of a charter yacht in Australia although surprisingly to bareboat in some states nothing is required, not even a state based license.

Over recent seasons, the Mediterranean countries now want to see some type of boating license, where once providing an experience resume would suffice.

Currently there is no push to demand a minimum or standard qualification. The fact is that charterers arrive in Greece from over 50 countries, each with their own licensing systems, so as it has always been, if it looks official it is usually acceptable.

Croatia has however taken a further step by making it mandatory for charterers to have a radio license. This has been a barrier to some, however nearly all of our charterers who do not have one end up getting one and enjoying the experience.

If you are interested look at: http://www.amc.edu.au/omc

YACHT REVIEW - SUPER YACHTS

Super Yachts have continued to stretch in length - with newer and more spectacular vessels being launched each year.

It was only a couple of years ago that Alpha Nero at 276' was the newest and largest of vessels offered for charter, with a going rate of Eu120,000 per day. Capable of 20 knots Alpha Nero has a crew of 28 for a maximum 12 guests.

Australian James Packer's Arctic P is 10' larger but a completely different style of vessel and not available for charter.

As an aside a regular client of ours, Richard Tewes, had a brief chat with James while having lunch at the Bora Bora Yacht Club. Richard later told me he was trying to work out how many of his chartered 47' Beneteau would fit end to end into Arctic P.

Chelsea Football owner Roman Abroamavich obviously found his 288' Ecatasea a bit tight and late last year launched the largest built at the time (the 560' aptly named Eclipse) as it would certainly block out lots of sun.

The attached list of who's who in the big boat stakes makes interesting reading with many names that are known but most unknown - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_motor_yachts_by_length

WINTER GETAWAY

$1000 is not a fortune these days but if you get a group together you can spend a week sailing in Thailand this winter (and this includes airfares from Australia!)

Air Asia is Malaysian Airline's Tiger or Jetstar equivalent and have recently been offering direct flights to Kuala Lumpur from Melbourne, Perth and the Gold Coast. Return fares to Phuket can often be purchased for as little as $600 per person return.

Combine this with our super chartering specials such as $58 per person/per day sharing a 2007 Beneteau Cyclades 50, and you have bargain holiday. A big powerful yacht with extras such as flat screen TV, microwave and for an extra charge individual air- conditioning to all cabins and saloon.

This offer is valid 01 May - 01 November 2010. Please call to discuss sailing itineraries and weather etc.

LOVE IT ON A GULET

I felt I was embarking on a Homeric Odyssey when I stepped onto the beautifully timbered gang plank connecting the stone wharf to what was to be my new home for two weeks. For a fleeting moment I imagined I could hear the tom tom sound of the war drums and the crack of the whip keeping the oarsmen in time. Perhaps my passion for Sunday afternoon movies would hold me in good stead for our forthcoming voyage.

"Welcome! Welcome!" bellowed a bronzed, heavilymoustached Turk who introduced himself as Ozden, our Captain. Our bags were collected by Memhet, another crew member, leaving us simply to negotiate the narrow gang plank to the large aft deck where our hostess Adelet, had prepared some light refreshments.

We had experienced a bareboat sailing holiday further north in Turkey before, but this was certainly different. On the advice of Charter World's Brook Felsenthal, we had decided to try the traditional timber-built sailing Gulets which are being revived as charter boats.

This time our group comprised three couples and although the boys were all sailors, my fellow female charterers could see the advantages of a vessel which offered basically inertia sailing. The idea of being waited on, hand and foot, sounded pretty good too... continue...

Good chartering!
Brook Felsenthal
and the Charter World Team