Our friend, James, manager of motor yacht DOUBLE DOWN, dropped us an email last week. He knows we are big fans of this 65 meter Codecasa. James seemed excited to share the news about the superyacht and her newest watertoy.
We were certainly intrigued. A multi-repeat client of ours enjoyed 10 days exploring Greece onboard this spectacular yacht. He raved about the vessel’s condition, amenities, and the crew’s outstanding silver-service.
“DOUBLE DOWN has a magnificent new towed tender for the Mediterranean season – a 42ft (12.8m) MTI with centre console and 4 x 300 HP engines,” wrote James.
“Wow!” we emailed in response. “What year and what does she look like?”
James replied, “She is in fact a 2015. Silver with black highlights on the hull. Black Mercury outboards. White radar dome is now painted grey.”
James was correct – we ARE excited! Performance-style tenders have replaced on-deck Jacuzzi tubs as the “must-have” amenity for many of our private luxury yacht charter clients. The days of hopping in the “dinghy” are long gone. As one of our clients explained to us, “I don’t pull up with my wife to Joe’s Stone Crab restaurant on South Beach in a Kia, so why would I come ashore in St. Tropez in an inflatable RIB tender?”
The MTI V-42 center console tender added to the stable of watertoys onboard Codecasa motor yacht DOUBLE DOWN is simply a beast. With quad 300hp power, this 42 ft tender can cruise at 40mph, and hit top speeds in excess of 70mph. The tender’s unique hull design yields straight, stable handling at all speeds.
Jana Sheeder, our company President, explains why this matters:
“A fast tender is an important component of a private yacht charter vacation, especially in remote areas, like the Ionian islands of Greece. If the seas get rough while taking charter guests sightseeing, the MTI V-42 design keeps the bow high in both head and following seas, and the tender can easily knock down big swells. In simple terms, this means a dry ride in extreme conditions.”
Indeed ride and performance are important, but so are luxurious amenities and comfort. The seats are quite comfy for long-range cruising with the double-wide forward lounge the most comfortable. Speakers seem to be everywhere on this tender, so listening to your favorite tunes is a breeze, even with the engines at full throttle.
Captain Charles and his crew of 17 are currently enjoying yacht DOUBLE DOWN in the summer Monaco yacht charter season. To kick off the season, the yacht secured a berth in Monaco at the Monaco Yacht Club for client who were interested in a Monaco Grand Prix yacht charter. They are on the ball! With 8 large guest staterooms, this 65 meter superyacht boasts excellent flexibility for guest sleeping arrangements.
It’s hard to imagine, but the perfect yacht for glamorous special events and summer private luxury yacht charter cruising in the Mediterranean is now even more appealing thanks to her newly-added 42ft high performance tender…
This entry was posted in News Yacht of the Week and tagged MTI, private luxury yacht charter, Watertoys, Monaco yacht charter, elevator, Double Down, Codecasa, MTI V-42, fast tender, center-cockpit tender
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She’s not scheduled to splash down until 2018, but that’s not keeping eager Greek yacht charter clients from placing deposits for vacations next summer on this new 40 meter yacht.
The Sunseeker 131 motor yacht AQUA LIBRA 131 is still in her build shed in Dorset, but the buzz surrounding the opportunity to secure a brand new yacht to explore the Greek islands has prospective customers stepping forward to secure prime dates.
“Two reservations have already been secured for summer 2018,” says a smiling Jana Sheeder, President of 1-800 Yacht Charters. “One client has secured 4 nights in late June and another grabbed the first 14 days of July. It’s always so great to see dates locked down a full year in advance.”
While it is true that affluent travelers are not inclined to secure private luxury yacht charter vacations so far in advance, they will pony up early when they see a unique opportunity. Motor yacht AQUA LIBRA 131 presents such a scenario.
For years, Greece has remained one of the most popular summer cruising destinations – dozens of islands can be visited, and the number of historical points of interest dated to the beginning of civilization are in the hundreds. Oh yeah – the warm weather in the summer is spectacular!
But for all the destination’s allure, the yachts that offered charters in Greece were often considered inferior in overall comfort and quality to those yachts HNWI’s could charter in France and Monaco, along the Côte d’Azur.
Greek yacht operators, in a testament to their seafaring heritage, often offered wooden ships, called motorsailers (or “gulets” as they are known in neighboring Turkey) to the charter market. As charming as these traditional vessels are, they simply lack the sophistication of ultra-modern superyachts. Whereas you are hard-pressed to find a motorsailer with an open-air Jacuzzi-style tub on the deck, it is nearly impossible to find a superyacht that doesn’t have at least one hot tub on deck – as well as other luxury amenities like onboard cinemas, spas, beauty salons, and helipads.
Yacht owners in Greece, and indeed the Greek people themselves, are a wonderful and proud lot – and they should be! They live in the cradle of civilization, and so much of our modern technical gains in math and the sciences can be traced back to the Hellenic culture. It is understandable to see why they have held to their traditional ways – and their traditional yachts.
Still, HNWI’s want what they want – and for the well-heeled, a superyacht filled with modern amenities is the preferred mode of transport during an ultraluxury holiday.
That leads us to Sunseeker motoryacht AQUA LIBRA 131, now accepting charter reservations a full year before her build is completed. The British-built tri-deck Sunseeker 131 epitomizes everything that HNWI’s seek in their superyacht experience: accommodations in sublime surroundings, immense scale, and a layout that lends to relaxing and socializing with friends and special guests.
Here’s how Sunseeker describes their own 131 model:
“Expertly finished using ultra-modern materials and techniques, the 131 Yacht is one of the finest examples of modern day superyacht building. The main deck features a lounge, separate dining area and full galley, while on the upper deck you’ll find the sky lounge, cocktail bar and access to the skydeck; where comfort and lavishness reach new levels. As impressive out in open water as it is in the harbour, this icon of design is unlike any other.”
Guest accommodations are available for up to 10 passengers in 5 staterooms:
As you would expect, all staterooms offer ensuite facilities.
For indoor entertainment , the yacht offers a Sonos AV System, with video on demand, as well as Apple TVs, and full satellite services. Of course, the yacht offers Wi-Fi on all decks.
Don’t plan on staying indoors too long, because Greece is all about the scenery and the warm Aegean sea. To enjoy the ocean, this new yacht will have a complete inventory of watersports equipment, including:
There are many other Sunseeker models currently in charter in the Mediterranean. While builders with classical style yachts such as Lurssen and Benetti tend to attract older charterers, Sunseeker yacht charters appeal to young entrepreneurs and their families. There’s a modern, contemporary “Vibe” onboard a Sunseeker. No shot at Lurssen and the classic models – Sunseeker simply offers a different feel, and for a different charter client.
Additional Sunseeker vessels currently available include:
Motoryacht Sunseeker 116 FLEUR
Sunseeker 130 yacht THUMPER
155 Sunseeker superyacht PRINCESS AVK
As the new AQUA LIBRA 131 Sunseeker continues to attract attention – and bookings, it is likely that more and more owners of new-build yachts will forgo the traditional Western Med ports of France and Monaco, and position for the summer in the Eastern Med in Greece – Opa!!!
Even the little Kallikantzari hobgoblins will crawl out from the underground when this beautiful, new yacht is delivered to Greece next summer — like a Christmas gift during the summertime!
#yachtcharter #thesuperyachtexperience
This entry was posted in Destinations Yacht of the Week and tagged opa, yachtcharter, thesuperyachtexperience, Sunseeker 131, luxury yacht charter, Aqua Libra, water sofa, private luxury yacht charter, motoryacht charter, Monaco, yacht charter Greece, Sunseeker
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There’s no escaping them, drones are everywhere. From sporting events, to backyard parties, and even battlefields, UAV’s are here to stay.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
These UAV’s evolve quickly. They may deliver groceries to my front door someday soon, so let’s hope they develop rapidly. #UAV inventors are amazing.
Of course, it doesn’t take long for the latest technology and toys to find their way into the world of #luxury yacht charter. It only makes sense.
As yacht charter brokers, we constantly tout the advantages of private yacht charter vacations. The benefit is that they go where others cannot.
The reality is this. There are places that even a yacht (or the yacht’s tender) can’t take you. For example, exploring deep in hidden caves along the Amalfi Coast, or uncovering new coves to drop the anchor before nightfall rolls in.
There’s also the simple, fun aspect of small UAV’s. For instance, flying them from the sundeck and filming your kids as they frolic in the ocean alongside your yacht.
Our charter department sat down this week, and after consulting with several superyacht captains, came up with our 3 favorite drones to use and enjoy on a luxury yacht charter vacation. So before you turn in your guest preference sheets to your charter broker, make sure to jot down your request for one of these UAV’s to be added to the yacht’s inventory of guest toys!
In no particular order:
1. GoPro Karma – Many drones are bulky, but the Karma drone has foldable arms and a long flat body that can tuck in tightly inside a tote bag or backpack. This makes it easy to take on the tender to the beach, or fly from the yacht’s sundeck. Works with the GoPro Hero 4 or Hero 5 cameras. The video game-style controller makes this model a breeze to use by first timers.
2. OpenROV Trident – Thought all drones are for “flying?” Guess again. Ok…technically this is not a UAV, but it does “fly” along – under the waves. The Trident by OpenROV is an underwater drone that can cruise at 4 knots and dive as deep as 100 meters. It comes with a built-in high def (1080 pixel) camera configured for low-light environments. Considering how much time you spend in the water during a yacht charter vacation, this is a great toy to use to capture sea life and have fun while the gang is swimming and snorkeling.
3. Airdog – Just the name alone tells you this a cool, must-have toy. Forget the controller – the Airdog flies itself, completely unaided from takeoff to landing. The aim of this UAV is to film you while you are moving (e.g. paddling along on a SUP, bouncing along on a towable toy pulled behind the yacht’s tender, or zipping by the yacht’s beach club deck on a waverunner). The drone films your every move, by tracking a small, waterproof device called the AirLeash, attached to your wrist. The manufacturer calls it, “the only drone built for action sports.”
So there you have it – from high above, to deep below, and as fast as you want to go – there’s a perfect UAV drone for your next superyacht experience.
Few vacations compare to the luxury and privacy of a superyacht charter by 1-800 Yacht Charters. Let our consultants help you select a great destination and the perfect yacht for your friends and family. Click 1800yachtcharters.com/superyacht-charter for a sampling of 1-800 Yacht Charters superyachts ready for your luxury vacation.
This entry was posted in Good Times Educational Gadgets and tagged underwater drone, charter photos, best drones, Luxury Yacht Gadgets, top 3 drones, Foldable drone, GoPro Hero, luxury, unmanned aerial vehicles, UAV, yacht toy ratings, #gowhereotherscannotgo, drone, toys on yachts, GoPro Karma, yachtvideography, Airdog, yacht videos, OpenROV Trident drone, yacht photography
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