The 164ft tri-deck Trinity yacht charter vessel yacht AMARULA SUN will set her course for the Caribbean this winter and will be in place in St. Martin in time to accept year-end inquires for Christmas and New Year’s Eve. The superyacht will remain in the islands throughout spring 2016.
Her weekly charter rate is $220,000 plus running expenses.
The news comes on the heels of the recent relocation announcement by Feadship yacht HURRICANE RUN to the Caribbean for year-end, 2015.
The 50 meter motor yacht AMARULA SUN is truly a one of kind. Her many unique amenities include a split-level Master Stateroom with panoramic views, fully body massage chair, grand player piano, and a cozy fireplace.
There are accommodations for 10 adults in 5 staterooms, plus two Pullman berths each suitable for a small child.
Adventurous travelers take note – this yacht is packed with a wide array of sports equipment and water toys. Here’s a partial list:
32 foot Everglades towed tender
21 foot custom Brigs tender with a killer six speaker sound system, GPS, and underwater lights
4 Personal watercraft includes 2 Yamaha 3-person supercharged wave runners (VERY fast!!!) and 2 SeaDoo Sparks wave runners (painted Hot Pink!)
2 SeaBobs (yes, just like James Bond 007 rode in Thunderball, only smaller and faster!)
The requirement for cutting-edge watertoys onboard private yacht charter vessels is nothing new. There’s an ongoing battle between charter yacht owners to make sure their yacht has better toys than their competitor; hence the inclusion of jet packs, personal submarines, waterslides, and flying saucer-style waverunners.
PRESENTING THE WATER BIKE
now, a piece of exercise equipment found in nearly every superyacht gym – the stationary exercise bicycle – has crossed over to join the long list of “must-have” watertoys.
THE SCHILLER S1 – SOCIALLY-RESPONSIBLE TOY
Engineered for the water, the Schiller S1 water bike merges modern design, technology, and engineering, to deliver a stationary workout bicycle in an aquatic environment. Why stay cooped-up in a yacht’s gym, riding a stationary bike, when you can do your biking outdoors, on the water?
Fans of television’s, “The Amazing Race” on CBS, saw the Schiller S1 in action in the season premiere, as contestants peddled from Marina del Rey to Burton Chase Park in Los Angeles, California.
HOW DOES THE S1 WORK?
Upon first glance, the S1 looks large and bulky, until you realize the pontoons that keep it afloat and provide stability are inflatable. In fact, the unit folds down to 3 cubic feet and only weighs 60 pounds – compact and light enough for any deckhand to carry and place the S1 near the swim platform for the use of the charter guests.
A drive train attached to the pedals connects to a small propeller. The company reports a good rider can achieve a speed of 5 miles per hour.
“We’re committed to increasing the eco-friendly yachting options we can offer our clients,” says Sheeder. “So many travelers are looking for ways to reduce their carbon footprint both at home and while on vacation.” Sheeder continues, “The Schiller S1 waterbike is quiet, sustainable, and human-powered. It’s part of a new generation of watertoys that merge the pleasures of a yachting vacation with the responsibilities of protecting our marine environment.”
SHE CONTINUES
Sheeder concludes with a smile,
“…and as we saw on the season premiere of The Amazing Race, it’s a lot of fun!”
A SOCIALLY-RESPONSIBLE GREEN VACATION
Enjoy the ultimate green vacation on a fully-crewed Virgin Islands catamaran yacht charter this winter. Catamaran sailboats are roomy, stable, loaded with watertoys. They also utilize the clean energy of the wind to cruise through the water.
Waverunners and jetskis, also known as personal water craft (PWC), have sale issues. Their sales have been on the decline for several years. This is in part because PWC have become so gigantic, powerful, expensive and fuel hungry.
WHY THE SALES CHALLENGE?
The price issue is of lesser concern to the owners of charter yachts. However, the size and fuel consumption issues do factor. The decision of whether or not a megayacht will carry one or more of these toys is important. They are used onboard for the use of the charter guests.
A SMALLER VERSION
Now, a smaller version is available for superyachts. Not only are they smaller, bu they are lighter and far more fuel-efficient. This might have an impact on smaller megayachts, particularly in the 80 to 100 foot range.
THE SEADOO SPARK
Sea-Doo “Spark” is approximately half the price, half the weight and half the power of a regular midrange PWC, and burns nearly ten times less fuel than other waverunners.
Storage space is a major concern on yachts in the 80 to 100 foot range. The aft garage on a mid-size megayacht is rather tight – yet carrying an assortment of watertoys is important as many charterers clamor for water-based activities during their time onboard. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine a Florida yacht charter vacation, in the warm, pristine Florida Keys, without spending time in the ocean, snorkeling, wakeboarding, and riding along on a waverunner. The Spark is smaller and lighter than other PWC, and it is easier to get in and out of a cramped yacht’s toy garage.
SUSTAINABILITY
Many vessels forego carrying a large PWC, not just because of the size but also because the typical PWC guzzles LOTS of fuel, requiring the storage of large amounts of gasoline to operate the waverunners. This is both problematic and, for yacht owners and crews concerned about sustainability, an ecological issue.
FUEL-EFFICIENT
The Spark is the most fuel efficient PWC on the market, burning just 7.3 liters (1.9 gallons) of fuel per hour on the 60-horsepower model, or 9 liters (2.4 gallons) per hour on the “High Output” model. Compare this to a 250-horsepower Sea-Doo RXT-X model, which swallows 76 liters (20 gallons) per hour, and the Yamaha FX Cruiser requiring 80 liters (21 gallons) per hour. Carrying a Spark on a charter yacht would require less gasoline to be stored, and leave a far smaller carbon footprint on the environment.
Yes, there is a trade off in top-end speed, but many charterers have little-to-no experience on a PWC, and high speed can be quite dangerous. In fact, operating a large PWC often requires a special license. Consider the typical language used on most charter agreements between clients and the owners of the yacht for hire. There is often a clause that states:
“The use of any personal watercraft (waverunners) is at the operator’s sole risk and is only permitted subject to the operator having the applicable license, if required, and meeting local regulations. Any liability arising from noncompliance regarding the use of personal watercraft is entirely at the operator’s risk.”
For most charterers, the speed of the Spark should not be an issue, as the Spark can easily hit 80 kilometers per hour (around 50 mph)!
It’s too early to tell how the charter industry will react to the Spark. Owners of mid-size megayachts may choose this new PWC for their toy garages. They are approximately half the price and half the weight of normal PWC’s. The Spark delivers 90% of the speed (and fun) of a more expensive PWC. Hopefully that will be enough to “spark” an interest in eco-friendly yacht owners…
FREE GIFT WITH COMMENT
WHAT do you think? Will the Spark catch on with megayacht owners and crews?
Share your comments with us at info@1800yachtcharters.com , and we’ll send you a complimentary eco-friendly tote bag, courtesy of 1-800 Yacht Charters.
There’s no escaping them, drones are everywhere. From sporting events, to backyard parties, and even battlefields, UAV’s are here to stay.
What does UAV stand for?
Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
THE FUTURE OF UAV’s
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.
LUXURY YACHT CHARTER
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:
OUR TOP THREE UAV’s
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.
Anyone who follows our daily nautical blogs knows we love two things. Specifically, the world’s largest yachts, and gadgets. We especially like gadgets that can be utilized and enjoyed during a luxury yacht charter vacation.
CONSUMER ELECTRONICS SHOW
The 2012 Consumer Electronics Show is underway in Las Vegas. It is time to pick our favorite new gadgets for 2012. Here are our top three new gadgets of CES 2012.
FIRST, GRIFFIN TWENTY
Megayachts like LADY BRITTand DIAMONDS ARE FOREVERfeature iPod docking stations integrated into their audio systems. Then there are yachts without centralized audio systems. The Griffin Twenty is a popular addition to onboard entertainment options.
The Griffin Twentystreaming audio device turns any Apple AirPort Express into a full stereo system.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
The device has a simple, elegant design, just a plug for the AirPort Express and a large dial for volume. As its name implies, the Twenty has an internal 20-watt amp and outputs for left and right stereo speakers, plus a kickin’ subwoofer. The concept is simple – the dial controls the volume, while the rest of the interface is taken care of through your iPhone, iPad or computer.
SECOND, ROKU STREAMING STICK
Many Caribbean yacht charter vessels offer satellite TV as well as WiFi while dockside. What’s often missing is the charter guests favorite online content.
Using the new HDMI MHL standard, theRoku Streaming Stick plugs into a port on newer TVs. The stick instantly gives any compatible set access to all of Roku’s online content, from providers such as MLB, Netflix, and Pandora. The stick requires no dedicated power, features built-in WiFi, and is set to launch in 2012 for under $100.
THIRD, GO PRO Wi-Fi BACPAC
You can enjoy a bareboat charter or a vacation on a fully-crewed yacht. Waterproof cameras are a must when yachting. YouTube is saturated with amateur vids of adrenaline junkies riding waverunners, bananas, and zipping along with underwater scooters.
The Go Pro name has become synonymous with adventure/sports photography, and the Wi-Fi BacPacand remote combo kit will users even more control over their favorite cameras. Just snap the BacPac onto an HD Hero2 and you can control the camera from a durable, waterproof wrist-ready remote. Using the Go Pro app, you can also control the camera from a smartphone, tablet, or computer via a peer-to-peer Wi-Fi connection.
The BacPac also lets you stream a live view from the camera to your mobile devices, making sure you’re getting just the right shot.
It was always fun to watch the famous space cartoon, The Jetsons, and imagine what it would be like in the future — transporting in rapidly moving little flying vehicles, getting ready in the morning by hopping on a conveyor belt and being automatically coiffed and dressed, and racing around wearing rocket-powered backpacks.
If you think about it, some of those wild cartoonish theories are seemingly becoming realities!
Flying cars DO now exist, although they are not yet mass produced.
Conveyor belts DO now exist, although they have not been perfected to prepare us in the mornings.
…and jetpacks DO now exist, although they were first seen in James Bond 007 movies as gadgets…and they now appear on Mediterranean yacht charter superyachts as the latest and greatest watersports toy!
Move over, Elroy!
The future I dreamed of as a child is finally here!
Excuse me, but I have to go feed my dog, Astro…
=====================
What futuristic item are you most looking forward to seeing and experiencing? Please leave us a comment to join Team 1-800 Yacht Charters on this fantastic voyage!
LUXURY TAX ABOLISHED The recent Mediterranean Yacht Charter show in Genoa, Italy, learned that the 3 year old Sardinia Luxury Tax is no more. ABOUT THE TAX The repeal of the Sardinia Luxury Tax is especially good news to charter enthusiasts. Anyone considering a yachting vacation in the Mediterranean is fortunate. The law […] read more
The world of luxury yacht charter has finally arrived in the Seychelles. Motor yacht SEA STREAM, a 76 foot Ferretti with room for 8 guests, is now available for Caribbean yacht charter enthusiasts looking for a new destination. Ferretti yacht SEA STREAM is now available as the only high quality, luxury crewed motor yacht available […] read more
PLAN AND PACK Yikes! What to pack? In just over three weeks, you leave on a week-long Bahama yacht charter vacation. You choose a sleek, performance, basic sailing yacht with crew. Your menu provided to your yacht through your charter broker, and your crew is ready to welcome you aboard. Seriously, what do you pack? […] read more
Smaller PWC Better Fit for Private Yacht Charter Vessels Under 100 feet?
Posted on by Jana Sheeder
WAVERUNNER AND JETSKI SALES STATUS
Waverunners and jetskis, also known as personal water craft (PWC), have sale issues. Their sales have been on the decline for several years. This is in part because PWC have become so gigantic, powerful, expensive and fuel hungry.
WHY THE SALES CHALLENGE?
The price issue is of lesser concern to the owners of charter yachts. However, the size and fuel consumption issues do factor. The decision of whether or not a megayacht will carry one or more of these toys is important. They are used onboard for the use of the charter guests.
A SMALLER VERSION
Now, a smaller version is available for superyachts. Not only are they smaller, bu they are lighter and far more fuel-efficient. This might have an impact on smaller megayachts, particularly in the 80 to 100 foot range.
THE SEADOO SPARK
Sea-Doo “Spark” is approximately half the price, half the weight and half the power of a regular midrange PWC, and burns nearly ten times less fuel than other waverunners.
Storage space is a major concern on yachts in the 80 to 100 foot range. The aft garage on a mid-size megayacht is rather tight – yet carrying an assortment of watertoys is important as many charterers clamor for water-based activities during their time onboard. Indeed, it’s hard to imagine a Florida yacht charter vacation, in the warm, pristine Florida Keys, without spending time in the ocean, snorkeling, wakeboarding, and riding along on a waverunner. The Spark is smaller and lighter than other PWC, and it is easier to get in and out of a cramped yacht’s toy garage.
SUSTAINABILITY
Many vessels forego carrying a large PWC, not just because of the size but also because the typical PWC guzzles LOTS of fuel, requiring the storage of large amounts of gasoline to operate the waverunners. This is both problematic and, for yacht owners and crews concerned about sustainability, an ecological issue.
FUEL-EFFICIENT
The Spark is the most fuel efficient PWC on the market, burning just 7.3 liters (1.9 gallons) of fuel per hour on the 60-horsepower model, or 9 liters (2.4 gallons) per hour on the “High Output” model. Compare this to a 250-horsepower Sea-Doo RXT-X model, which swallows 76 liters (20 gallons) per hour, and the Yamaha FX Cruiser requiring 80 liters (21 gallons) per hour. Carrying a Spark on a charter yacht would require less gasoline to be stored, and leave a far smaller carbon footprint on the environment.
Yes, there is a trade off in top-end speed, but many charterers have little-to-no experience on a PWC, and high speed can be quite dangerous. In fact, operating a large PWC often requires a special license. Consider the typical language used on most charter agreements between clients and the owners of the yacht for hire. There is often a clause that states:
“The use of any personal watercraft (waverunners) is at the operator’s sole risk and is only permitted subject to the operator having the applicable license, if required, and meeting local regulations.
Any liability arising from noncompliance regarding the use of personal watercraft is entirely at the operator’s risk.”
For most charterers, the speed of the Spark should not be an issue, as the Spark can easily hit 80 kilometers per hour (around 50 mph)!
It’s too early to tell how the charter industry will react to the Spark. Owners of mid-size megayachts may choose this new PWC for their toy garages. They are approximately half the price and half the weight of normal PWC’s. The Spark delivers 90% of the speed (and fun) of a more expensive PWC. Hopefully that will be enough to “spark” an interest in eco-friendly yacht owners…
FREE GIFT WITH COMMENT
WHAT do you think? Will the Spark catch on with megayacht owners and crews?
Share your comments with us at info@1800yachtcharters.com , and we’ll send you a complimentary eco-friendly tote bag, courtesy of 1-800 Yacht Charters.
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This entry was posted in News and tagged free gift, eco-friendly, Luxury Yacht Gadgets, Personal Watercraft (PWC), Please comment, motoryacht charter, Gadgets, Watertoys, Sea-Doo, eco-tote
Posted on by Jana Sheeder