The Charter Connection Blog

‘Sayang’, a popular Jeanneau 54, is offering 8 days for the price of 7 through the month of July. Paul and Ratna also offer a ‘Romantic Getaway for Two’ special! We have had 22 successful charters on this boat. Flexible layout for up to six but particularly suitable for four. Excellent boat and crew.

‘Viking Dream’ was voted best multihull up to 50′ at the last two consecutive Tortola broker shows (2010 and 2009), which is almost unheard of! They are offering $1000 off for selected fall dates. Recommended.

‘NSS Pattam’, the 84′ classic DeFever motor yacht, is offering a $500 per person discount on fully crewed charters and $350 per person discount on B&B charters taking place in June or July.

Voyage is taking 20% off their fleet of bareboat sail cats and 15% off crewed sailing charters through July. Ask us for specifics.

We’ll find you the best value. Call us at 800 621 7855, email us at info@ed-hamilton.com, visit the Ed Hamilton & Co website, or let us suggest some boats and crews suitable for your group!

Right now we’re only dreaming of summer up here in Maine, but it will arrive before you know it! Our good friends Bonnie and Earl McKenzie have announced they will be running their Seamanship Classes in Maine again this summer, on their beautiful schooner ‘Bonnie Lynn’. This is of course in addition to the regular private crewed sailing charters they offer.

‘Bonnie Lynn’ is a beautiful 57′ schooner, built in 1998 and completed from the hull up by her proud owners. We have done many charters with this fine crew.

It’s not too early to book your New England holiday and planning it will help you get through the rest of the winter! Contact us at Ed Hamilton & Co and tell us your plans. You can call us at 800 621 7855 or email us at info@ed-hamilton.com.We would be happy to talk more about Bonnie Lynn or make other suggestions for your group.

Here’s a way of having an inexpensive romantic Valentine charter and renew your vows at the same time! Tim and Angela are offering a special for charters over Valentine’s Day on their lovely 46′ yacht ‘Spirit’.

In addition to all meals and open bar, they are including free champagne throughout the week (let it flow), engraved gifts, a DVD of your happy adventures above and below the water, and champagne beach picnics! On Valentines Day itself, you can join the traditional group wedding vow renewal ceremony, held just before sunset at beautiful Trunk Bay, St. John. A tropical fruit platter and (of course) champagne, will be served after the ceremony, on the beach. Also included is a tandem ride rendezvous parasail with a bird’s eye view of St. John, St Thomas and the western British Virgin Islands.
All this for a total of $5900 for two, for the week, plus gratuity. Preferred pick up is the US Virgin Islands for this special.

Feeling romantic? Ed Hamilton & Co can provide the perfect setting for any honeymoon yacht charter or celebration, so tell us your plans and call us at 800 621 7855 or send us an email at info@ed-hamilton.com.

P.S. See if you can guess the name of the beach in the photograph (hint it was taken a few years ago)! The answer is on our company FaceBook page.

Christmas is only 9 days away, but we are still getting last minute requests for the holidays. Almost more surprising is that we are finding suitable boats and booking them! The savvy shoppers are booking for NEXT year, where they can get what they want before the regulars rebook for 2011/12, but if you’re looking for a last minute get away, here are some suggestions for this year. Prices are holiday rates for one week and include all meals and open bar unless stated.

Open from Dec 27 - Jan 11, Tachyon has to be a deal in the Grenadines. Jacque is joining Eric for this charter, so this week she is fully crewed for up to 6 guests, for $11,900 (reduced from $14,900).

Magpie ($8,700/2, $10,300/4)and Sudiki ($9,400/2, $12,000/4) are two other options in the Grenadines, open for both holidays.

In the British and US Virgin Islands, the popular Sandcastle ($13,420/2, $14,420/4) is open for Christmas, up to Dec 27, and Reaction ($20,000 up to 8 ), with their fun crew, is open to Dec 28.

Honiara ($8,470 up to 4) and Crystal Clear ($8,950/2, $10,950/4) are open for both holidays and Amaryllis ($9,350/2, $10,450/4, $12,100/6) is open for New Year from the 30th.

123Relax ($5,445/2, $7,150/4, $8,778/6, plus bar in Leewards) is an inexpensive option in St. Martin but she needs to finish on the 1st.

Thinking of a different New Year in the uncrowded islands of Belize? Be pampered on the exciting Gunboat 66, Gazelle ($23,100 up to 4, $25,300/6), open from the 30th.

Check into flights first, but if you can get there, we can have you celebrating in the sunshine this holiday! Email us now at Ed Hamilton & Co.

The St Thomas charter yacht show was held for the third year at Yacht Haven Grande, in Charlotte Amalie. The setting is gorgeous with the landscaped area, host of restaurants and boutique shops surrounding the docks.

Twenty-eight yachts were in attendance, and brokers could see a wide range of boats from the 46′ Hunter SPIRIT, specializing in two guest vacations, to the 56′ Marquises Catamaran, GOOD NEWS, all the way up to the 120′ Broward, M/Y FREEDOM.

I had the honor of having lunch aboard the latter, and had an outstanding meal by chef Quinn Corbett, who incidentally hails from Maine. Quinn showcased his talents well and his menu was amazing. The starter was sauteed shrimp with house smoked bacon and sweet corn, finished with white wine, fresh thyme and butter and served on southern grits.

The main course consisted of a mixed grill of chicken breast with a cranberry-orange chutney, quail with dried fruit and nut bread stuffing, Merguez sausage with traditional Harissa sauce, and a fresh goat cheese crumble, served with grilled veggies and an Israeli couscous. And just when we thought we’d eaten too much, out came the dessert. A Chef’s selection of truffles, fruit fondu, mini whoopie pies, rosemary shortbread, mini ice cream sandwiches, peanut butter cups and blondies. There were clean plates all around. FREEDOM can host up to 9 guests in 4 cabins, the Master Cabin has a King bed, there are two Queen cabins and a cabin with twin beds and a pullman.

I was also treated to lunch aboard the 54′ Lazzara, Verna Breeze. Chris and Kelly are wonderful hosts and the online brochure does not do the boat justice. This comfortable sailer features amazingly spacious, flat decks.  Kelly prepared prosciutto wrapped asparagus spears, yin yan soup, and grilled lobster.  Dessert was grilled pineapple with dipping sauce. Stellar. VERNA BREEZE is a great boat for a single couple or a family with one or two kids. Her master has a queen and an additional cabin offers over/under singles.

The boat show was a great success, and I had the opportunity to visit with crews and yachts I was already familiar with as well as see some exciting new options for charter. Email us or give us a call at 800 621 7855, and we can help you find the perfect yacht and crew for your vacation!

In the Mediterranean, Anahita is using the same figures, but instead of Euros, they are now US dollars! $8,500 for 2, $10,000 for 4 and $11,500 for 6, plus expenses. In addition, she is offering 8 days for the price of 7. She can charter in the Western or Eastern Med or Croatia with no delivery fees.

In the Caribbean, the popular 65′ catamaran True North has shaved $5,000 of their price for this summer and next winter. She is now $24,500 for 6 and $26,500 for 8 ($3,313 per person) for 7 nights, and this includes all meals, open ships bar, and scuba diving (scuba courses also available at extra cost). During August and September she moves to the Grenadines, but otherwise she is available anywhere from the British Virgin Islands and Antigua, to Grenada, depending on her booking calendar.

Further north, in New England, the 123′ luxury ketch Galileo G has dropped her rate to $39,000 plus expenses. This glorious yacht was designed for world cruising by Sparkman and Stephens and built by Palmer Johnson. The classic interior was done by John Munford. All are great names in the yachting industry! She accommodates up to 6 guests in three comfortable cabins. The master is however so huge and magnificent (it comes complete with a private study/reading room) that she could also be the ultimate private yacht charter for just two guests! Extravagant? Of course. Worth it? Absolutely!

We can find you the best value in every price range. You can call us at 800 621 7855, email us at info@ed-hamilton.com, read more on the Ed Hamilton & Co website, or tell us about your plans so we can suggest some suitable boats and crews!

Charter Yacht SUBLIME is offering a special deal for recent Grads in the month of June. One graduate goes free with a June booking of five or more guests for a week long charter in the British and US Virgin Islands.

Crew Brian and Stephanie Johnson are fun, accommodating hosts and offer free diving and dive instruction.

For those who do not have an interest in exploring the ocean from below, they also have a 90hp outboard on their tender, capable of pulling adults and kids alike on waterskis, wakeboards, tubes, etc. For a quieter activity, there are floating sun mats, snorkel gear, a kayak and fishing gear.

SUBLIME is currently available for the remainder of June. Contact us at info@ed-hamilton.com, check out the Ed Hamilton & Co website, or fill out a form for more information about this and other exciting offers!

Fran & Stu are presently half-way between Panama and the Galapagos en-route to Tonga on their catamaran, ‘Two If By Sea’. They report fair winds, clear skies and an uneventful passage so far. The Canal transit was great, without dramas or problems.

They have produced a new website to promote their venture, which covers everything from flight information, activities and what to expect from a vacation aboard ‘Two if by Sea’ in Tonga.

We have had many successful charters on this boat.  She made her name in the British Virgin Islands, but Stu and Fran love exploring less known places, so decided to relocate to unspoiled Bocas del Toro, Panama (see our past newsletter article), where they spent last season.

They plan to charter in Vava’u, Tonga for 2 years starting this September, eventually moving on to Fiji and New Caledonia. Tonga is traditionally a bareboat destination and there are few boats based there that have a full-time professional crew. In addition, ‘Two if by Sea’ can offer scuba diving at any level (Stu and Fran are both PADI instructors), plus a wealth of water toys for guests’ use. Based on our past experience with this great boat and crew, we feel they will be very popular and look forward to helping them fill their calendar.

Sounds interesting? Email us for more information on ‘Two if by Sea’ and start planning a holiday of a lifetime in the Pacific Islands. Considering other areas? We can suggest other crewed sailing charters in all kinds of romantic destinations. There’s more information on the Ed Hamilton & Co website.