Some 44 years ago, while on his honeymoon in Acapulco, Mexico, Bob Book fell in love yet again — with boating. He fondly recalls taking out a 16-foot outboard-powered boat and being “hooked forever.” In fact, the American had such a great time that he and his wife decided to buy their first boat just a few months later. After a while, wanting to cruise more, they bought another boat. And then another. And another. Each one was successively larger, “appropriate for a certain period of my boating life,” he says. Eventually, the Books stepped up into superyachts. A few years ago, while they were enjoying the long range and family spaces of a 130-footer, their 16th — yes, 16th — yacht, Book decided that a full-displacement, metal-hull yacht was in order. A transatlantic crossing was on the couple’s minds, so reliable range and stability seemed the right fit. He had a list of additional must-haves skewed heavily toward technical features versus aesthetic ones. (Spending abundant time with your captain and engineer can have that effect on you.) He visited several shipyards across the United States and throughout Europe. He even knew exactly what length overall he wanted: 180 feet.

Instead, in springtime 2017, two years into the search, the Books bought a 154-footer that was less than a month from completion at Heesen Yachts in the Netherlands.

The 13th hull in Heesen’s 47-meter series, started on spec, the yacht ticked a lot of boxes for the couple. In addition, “Heesen was the most impressive in terms of quality of facilities, and production excellence/best practices,” Book wrote in an email. What’s more, he said, Heesen made “an unswerving commitment to deliver the boat on time and on budget,” even while inviting changes that involved more than mere pillow swaps.

To be clear, the Books weren’t interested in starting a yacht project from the keel up. Having owned two semicustom superyachts, a Westport 112 and a Westport 40M, they were accustomed to shorter delivery times than are possible with a custom build. Their desire to cruise the Mediterranean in summer 2017 was another big factor in the purchase.

Book says the quality control built into each yacht and Heesen’s reputation for holding value made strong impressions. So too did Thom Conboy, Heesen’s director of sales for North America, Mexico, the Bahamas and the Caribbean. Conboy is the one who introduced the Books to Project Ruya, the yard’s in-build name. Since she was nearly finished, she would be ready for the summer season.

Project Ruya also had the technical features Book insisted upon. He wanted big MTU engines, for instance, along with a well-laid-out engine room. “I was always spending time with my engineer or captain, learning what could go wrong,” he says. The yacht’s 4,000-nautical-mile range was the same as the transatlantic figure he had in mind too.

Despite the smaller LOA than originally planned, Book Ends provides several good spaces inside and out for the Books and their family, which includes grandchildren. The sun deck is a favorite spot for entertaining big groups, while the bow seating is preferred for quieter moments.

Given that there were mere weeks to go before the yacht’s delivery at the time of the contract signing, you might assume Book Ends is the same as she was when Bob Book first laid eyes on her, save for a few throw pillows. Not so. “We knew we could make enough cosmetic changes to the interior of the boat that we could really put our signature on it,” he says.

The couple installed LED lighting on the main deck for ambience. Several additional TVs needed installation, out on deck and inside. The sky lounge underwent the most alterations. The family wanted a larger television and a games table. A bar that was already in place, forward to starboard, required changes as well. The original design, by Bannenberg & Rowell, concealed the bar behind doors. The Books wanted it out in the open. The colorful nature of the liquor bottles on display is reminiscent of the owners’ art collection.

“There are no perfect boats,” Book says. “Nothing is ever 100 percent, but if you get to 70 or 80 percent, I think that’s pretty darn good.”

On a scale of one to 10, he ranks Book Ends “a strong seven” and credits Heesen with embracing a philosophy he’s lived by as a consumer and as a businessman: “If you want to be successful, listen to what the customer says.”

And he is already a future customer for the yard too. “While I feel really comfortable and have nice volume on the boat, I think I’d be better off with a Heesen 55-meter or 60-meter. So, here I go again,” he says with a laugh.

Come June 2020, the Books are scheduled to take delivery of a yacht in the yard’s 55-meter steel class.

“Since I am early in the build,” he says, “this boat will be a nine out of 10.”

Oh, the Places You’ll Go

When the Books decided to cruise the Mediterranean, they planned on more than a South of France “milk run.”

During seven weeks this past summer, Book Ends cruised from Spain to Italy, visiting Barcelona, Ibiza, Capri, Positano, Portofino, Elba, Ischia, Rome and St. Tropez.

The post The Next Chapter appeared first on Yachting.

One of the few silver linings that came with the devastating hurricanes Irma, Jose and Maria last year was the way that charter yachts rediscovered St. Vincent and the Grenadines, in the southern Caribbean. Traditionally, the hub of crewed charter activity has been up north, but as marinas there worked to rebuild, captains and charter brokers looked for alternatives. Quite a few yachts pointed their bows south, with some heading back this season as well.

Many people who’ve chartered in the Grenadines call the region “the Caribbean as it used to be.” That’s because the islands to the south are generally less developed than the northern areas, with fewer yachts around overall and even fewer of the largest superyachts dominating the harbors. It’s still possible in the southern Caribbean for a charter yacht to have a sandbar all to itself for an afternoon of sunning and swimming. Stepping ashore is occasionally done at a simple dock where local children are playing, as opposed to at a waterfront hub lined with Fifth Avenue-style storefronts and tony restaurants.

The way the Grenadines are geographically situated makes for easy charter itineraries too. Starting at St. Vincent, which has an international airport, the Grenadines arc to the southwest like a flung-out string of pearls, all in a row. If an itinerary ends just below the southern tip of the Grenadines, at Grenada, there’s an international airport as well as enough to do and see for anyone who wants to spend several days ashore. (The chocolate factory is particularly fun.)

Many brokers recommend 10- to 14-day itineraries for the Grenadines, to set a leisurely pace when cruising the archipelago. Take their advice. This is not the well-known Caribbean — which is exactly what makes a charter here worth considering.

The Yachts

This 146-foot Christensen is expected to charter in the ­Grena­dines in early 2019, through YachtZoo. Her lowest weekly base rate is $149,000, taking 12 guests.

Ocean Independence markets this 150-foot Delta at a lowest weekly base rate of $155,000 for 12 guests. She’s going to be in the Grenadines this winter with her waterslide.

Best boat name ever, right? She’s a 145-foot Christensen in the Northrop & Johnson fleet, taking 10 guests at a lowest weekly base rate of $150,000 this winter.

Top Islands to Visit

  The Tobago Cays are an archipelago of five uninhabited islands that have some great reefs for snorkeling and swimming with green turtles.

Bequia is the second-largest island in the Grenadines (after St. Vincent). Its Mount Gay Music Fest is planned for January 31 through February 3.

Mustique has long been known for its luxury villas. ­Creating a land-sea vacation with a charter yacht works well here.

Carriacou is known for its rum shops and wreck diving.

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When people talk about superyachts for charter, the conversation inevitably turns to the western Mediterranean — to ports such as Antibes, in the South of France, where so many large yachts dock that there’s a marina quay known as Billionaire’s Row.

Greece, by contrast, has had a different reputation. Even a decade ago, it was known for smaller and older yachts plying its islands, from Santorini to Rhodes.

In recent years, that has changed, and some new entries into the Greek charter market are poised to attract attention this summer.

One of the biggest is O’ptasia (shown at top right), a 278-foot Golden Yachts build that was scheduled to be delivered in May. She’ll take 12 guests in a layout built to accommodate 24 on private owner’s cruises, with 11 staterooms including a 1,000-square-foot owner’s suite. The VIP stateroom is more than 900 square feet with an adjoining cinema — the kind of superyacht space that charter clients would be more accustomed to finding along the French Riviera.

And while the Greek charter market continues to add new and larger yachts, the islands themselves remain filled with ancient ruins and historical sites. On Rhodes, in the Dodecanese archipelago, the medieval old town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with stone walls built in the mid-1300s and an acropolis excavated starting in the early 1900s.

Such sites to explore, along with sandy beaches and warm waters, are what have made the Greek islands so popular for charter. And this year, after touring ashore, guests can return to vessels that yacht-spotters think of as new wonders of the world.

Things to Do in Rhodes, Greece

Take a walk: The old town in Rhodes is a medieval city inside a 2 ½-mile stone wall. UNESCO calls the old town “dense with monuments,” and there’s no need for a plan when walking around. Just wandering the winding alleyways is part of the fun.

Catch some rays: Rhodes has numerous sandy beaches, including some known for good windsurfing breezes.

Head to nature: Butterfly Valley, from June to September, is filled with countless colorful wings to photograph.

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Hikes with a View

Yacht charter in the Pacific Northwest often includes itineraries in scenic Alaska or British Columbia’s Desolation Sound, but it’s worth the effort to look a bit farther south, between Seattle and Vancouver off the Washington State border. There, you’ll find the San Juan Islands, a region that is much less-traveled by charter yachts but that is absolutely brimming with wide-open views and outdoor adventures.

Yachts that charter in the San Juans are typically based there during at least part of the year, because tax laws make it unfavorable for out-of-region yachts to move into the market. The downside of that reality is limited supply — charter clients have to book early to get the best yachts — while the upside is having captains and crew with virtually unlimited local knowledge. They usually know the captains of the local whale-watching fleet, to get the scoop on pod positions. They know the harbors that remain empty come sundown, to ensure a quiet night on the hook with a good view. And they’re familiar with local fishing fleets, which provide the chef with the freshest catch.

Want to wet a hook yourself? Charter yachts here usually have fishing and crabbing equipment, and tow center consoles with fish boxes and other gear. Guests can leave their own rods and reels at home but will want to pack a favorite pair of hiking boots, as well as clothing that can be layered. Early morning climbs can lead to stunning views in the crisp air, followed by gunkholing or paddleboarding in a bathing suit and T-shirt under the midday sun.

Pro tip: Think layering when researching charter yachts too. Those with open as well as enclosed lounging areas will let everyone enjoy the views in any weather.

About the San Juan Islands

Remember the little guys: While most activity in the San Juans takes place around the four biggest islands — San Juan, Orcas, Lopez and Shaw — there are actually 172 islands and reefs to explore.

Arrive by seaplane: A 45-minute flight from Seattle can land guests right at the harbor where the charter yacht awaits at anchor.

Watch the whales: The orcas are generally around from spring through autumn, as are the sea lions, bald eagles, porpoises and, well, charter yachts.

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Nicholson Yachts has four boats still available for spectator charters at the America’s Cup in Bermuda.

The 108-foot Alloy Marae has a VIP Flag, which means charter guests have up-close access to all the action on the water and in the America’s Cup Village. Marae’s weekly base rate is $65,000 for six overnight guests, or she’ll do day charters at $15,000 and can take as many as 20 guests for parties at the dock. Her open dates include Louis Vuitton America’s Cup Challenger Playoffs and the Superyacht Regatta in mid-June.

The 115-foot Brooks Motor Craft Eros, built in England in 1939, is a classic schooner that recently got new teak deck furniture—perfect for watching events in the harbor. She’s open at a base rate of $42,000 per week, or $9,500 per day, taking eight guests overnight or 12 guests for day charters. Her open dates include qualifier racing, the playoffs and the finals.

The 57-foot Bowman Emily Morgan is open for spectator charters at most remaining America’s Cup events. The weekly base rate is $20,000 for eight guests, and day charters are $3,334 (also for eight guests).

The 72-foot Marten Sirona accommodates six guests overnight at a weekly base rate of $35,000. She comes with a Protector Targa 28 tender that has a cuddy cabin, head and partial hardtop for zipping around the harbor to see all the America’s Cup action.

Find all of Yachting‘s coverage of the 35th America’s Cup here!

The post Still Time to Book America’s Cup Yacht Charters appeared first on Yachting.

King Baby

The sky lounge aboard King Baby has an 84-inch television with what is marketed as a “mega sound system,” allowing charter guests to immerse themselves in a theater-quality movie night.

Eros

Britain’s Brooks Motor Craft built Eros in 1939 as a private yacht. The Royal Navy then commandeered her for use in World War II. She has since been restored to her original glory for charter.

Cocktails

Cocktails has all the luxury comforts you would expect on a charter yacht of her size, plus she gives fishing enthusiasts a 35-foot, fully rigged Intrepid with twin 350 hp Yamaha engines for offshore runs.

Siete

Siete made waves in New England last summer when her chef and stewardess both earned awards in the Newport Charter Yacht Show’s culinary and tablescaping competition.

Victorian Rose

Victorian Rose, launched in 1963, was stripped to bare metal and restored. She is now ideal for two couples or a family, with a master and a twin-berth stateroom.

The post Chartering Newport appeared first on Yachting.

Victoria Del Mar finished a nine-month interior and exterior refit in 2014 that left her with a welcoming, fresh style. Everything from the exposed wood floors to the furniture is new. The guest spaces feel open.

Victoria Del Mar

THIRD TIME’S THE CHARM

QM of London just finished her third refit since 1998. The owners kept what worked — such as the foldout balcony at left — adding contemporary elements in the interior.

QM of London

ARMANI RE-IMAGINED

Odessa got a new owner in 2015 who mixed lighter fabrics into the existing Armani/Casa decor. Neutrals now complement the grays and blacks. The owner kept the green stonework in the master stateroom head, shown at left.

Odessa

ROCK ‘N’ ROLL FLASH

In-demand designer Francesco Paszkowski did the interior refit aboard Mischief, adding some personality to the modern furnishings with artwork of, among other things, Mick Jagger and Keith Richards from The Rolling Stones.

Mischief

Mischief

CLASSIC ELEGANCE

Callisto looked resplendent this winter as she returned to charter for the first time in seven years. She recently finished a multimillion dollar refit, but the owners retained all the best parts of her Terence Disdale interior decor.

Callisto

The post Charter File: Recent Refits appeared first on Yachting.

Havana Panorama in the evening

Almost two years have passed since the United States began to normalize relations with Cuba, setting off a frenzy among ­Americans wanting to charter in the long-forbidden destination. While other Caribbean islands remain ­welcoming, ­Cuba’s siren song is mesmerizing: a chance to meander amid the architecture and classic cars in Old Havana, smoke a cigar with the virtuoso who rolled it or simply follow in Hemingway’s wake (from the fishing grounds straight to the bars for a Bucanero or mojito).

Demand for charters has far outpaced supply as yacht managers and captains untangled the red tape that had tied everyone’s hands in a kind of tourism hostage situation. For the current winter season, we’re finally starting to see serious availability — and in fact, several yachts offering Cuba itineraries are from such top builders as Benetti, Trinity, Feadship and Westport. The thing to keep in mind is that Cuba still comes with conditions. Yes, the yachts and crews are international-caliber, but the Cuba charter experience is still an evolving concept. For starters, last-minute bookings are virtually impossible.

Charter managers and captains need a good three weeks or so to get all of the paperwork organized to keep a Cuba itinerary legal.

Second, expect a more regimented experience than you have found aboard charter yachts in other destinations. Visits to Cuba require “people-to-people” exchanges, which means guests need to go beyond typical tourism activities. Whether it’s visiting a school, meeting with artists or some other cultural interaction, the exchanges are required and must be documented.

Third, choosing the right charter yacht is paramount. While the rest of the Caribbean has marina infrastructures to support luxury yacht charter, Cuba, for the most part, does not. Book a charter yacht that has everything you could want or need.

That is, with the exception of the local congri (a tasty plate of rice and beans) and son cubano music. For those, you will have to take to the streets, where you can rejoice.

GETTING THERE

Benetti Ulysses

One of the challenges with the emerging vacation market in Cuba is that five-star accommodations are hard to find ashore. Ulysses is a yacht that eliminates this problem. Her interior decor is rich, traditional and regal.

Westport Second Love

Cuba is less than 300 miles from South Florida, a distance that feels considerably shorter aboard a charter yacht with a top hop of 24 knots. That’s what Second Love provides, at a rate that includes Cuba fees, gratuity and more.

Dunya Axioma

Not only does Axioma have the infinity swimming pool that you can see to the right, but inside, her main salon spans two decks with an open mezzanine at the top. Few yachts in the world’s charter fleet can offer this ballroom effect.

Trinity Aspen Alternative

A baby grand piano in the main-deck salon is just one of the amenities charter guests will find aboard Aspen Alternative. She also has a sun deck hot tub and a seating area on the main deck aft that is ideal for checking out Cuba’s scenery on the hook.

The post Dawn of a Destination: Chartering Cuba appeared first on Yachting.

Ocean Independence has welcomed the 98-foot Sunseeker Emrys to its charter fleet, with itineraries available out of San Francisco.

“Several unique features allow this sexy Sunseeker to stand out among her few competitors in charter on the West Coast of North America,” the company stated in a press release. “Besides an experienced crew and versatile layout inside and out, guests will feel the features aboard are typical of larger yachts.”

Emrys accommodates eight guests in four staterooms, including two with king berths, making her a good option for couples who want to charter together and split the weekly base rate of $50,000.

The post Now for Charter in San Francisco appeared first on Yachting.

The Moorings 514PC

The Moorings has registered its whole fleet of power catamarans in the British Virgin Islands as fishing vessels, which means charter clients can now fish from their vessels instead of having to organize rendezvous fishing with local providers.

The fleet ranges from 39 to 51 feet length overall, and each yacht now has a government-issued fishing registration number. Charter guests will still have to obtain a separate fishing license.

“Fishing is an important part of the charter experience for many of our guests, and we are excited that they can conveniently enjoy this activity while we have them aboard in the BVI,” Josie Tucci, general manager of The Moorings, stated in a press release.

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