The Charter Connection Blog

We occasionally hear from clients interested in exploring the Turks & Caicos. This beautiful cruising ground, just a short 2 hour flight from Fort Lauderdale, consists of 8 main islands and more than 20 smaller islands, with over 230 miles of beach front. The area has also been rated by some, as one of the top 10 Scuba diving destinations in the world.

There are relatively few yachts who charter here, but Arabella, the 160 schooner has added another trip to this destination after their first cabin-charter cruise to the Turks & Caicos sold out!  This trip will be held from May 30th - June 5th. She books charters by the cabin and rates for staterooms vary from $1050 - $1750 per person (based on double occupancy).

If you are interested in getting more information on this chance to charter in a new cruising ground, call us at 800 621 7855, email us, or contact us through the Ed Hamilton & Co site, and tell us about your plans. .

Alton Brown, star of the Food Network’s Good Eats, and main commentator on Iron Chef America is taking on a new adventure. He and his producers have chartered two catamarans to dine their way through The Caribbean in the 4 part series ‘Feasting on Waves’.

If you missed the premiere last night, it will be repeated at 8pm Sept 10th, 6pm Sept 13th and 2pm Sept 14th, all on The Food Network.
The second show in the series starts at 10pm Sept 14th.

‘Chef de Mer‘ is one of the yachts featured in this special TV program.

See how Ed Hamilton & Co can help you plan your own gourmet private yacht charter in The Caribbean!

You don’t have to be a celebrity to get married like one! MTV contacted us a short while ago, looking for couples between 18 and 28 who are getting married on a yacht or in an exotic location during August. We can email you the details and contact information. The new show is called ‘True Life’ and provides a window into the lives of young Americans. Subjects for the series include living with a disorder, living in poverty, returning from Iraq, etc. MTV is currently casting ‘True Life: I’m Having a Destination Wedding’ and are looking for couples with interesting stories to tell about their wedding/relationship. They are particularly interested in why you wanted an unusual wedding and why you chose the destination you did. If you’re interested, email or call Ed Hamilton & Co at 800 621 7855. You could make your wedding even more extraordinary by having MTV document your journey!

We can show you how a private yacht charter can be the ultimate honeymoon, or romantic setting for exchanging vows. You can choose to be pampered by a private crew (some crews specialize in honeymoons and know how to spoil you while still giving you plenty of privacy), or qualified sailors can enjoy the freedom of a bareboat charter. Either way, there is no timetable - the itinerary and each day’s activities are up to you. Even the menu on a crewed yacht is planned around both your preferences!

If a Honeymoon Yacht Charter sounds romantic, we can help you find the right boat, and more importantly, the right crew. We know them well and have over 25 years experience matching personalities and interests. Call us at 800 621 7855, email us, or contact us through the Ed Hamilton & Co site, where you can tell us about your plans. Check out our Honeymoon guideline pages and wedding requirements for the more popular Caribbean Islands. To get the feel of a typical charter, take a look at our Bareboat Slide Show in The British Virgin Islands or our Crewed Yacht Charter Slide Show in The Grenadines.

We are particularly pleased to welcome back Geoff and Bambi Alexander, crew of ‘Alexis‘. Catamarans tend to be expensive for just two guests, but this 38′ Admiral is a perfect choice for a couple, though she can actually accommodate up to 4 guests in her two double cabins. ‘Alexis’ charters in the BVI and US Virgin Islands at a very reasonable inclusive charter fee - $6500 for two guests and $7900 for four. This South African crew offers high quality dining, conversation and hospitality. If you are interested in receiving more information about ‘Alexis’ and her crew, or any other private yacht charters, please email Ed Hamilton & Co or go to our website.

The recent private yacht charter show in Tortola, in The British Virgin Islands, was a great success. Because this is a smaller show, there was plenty of time for charter brokers to really sit down with crews and get to know them.

I felt there were two major stand-outs among the new boats exhibiting at the show, a 2007 44′ Dean Catamaran, ‘BLUE BAYOU’ and the 47′ Catana Catamaran ‘GENESIS’.

‘BLUE BAYOU’ (no website yet) was commissioned by owner/captain Walt Bohren after viewing this and many other models at a charter yacht show. This catamaran can accommodate up to six guests in three double cabins. The staterooms boast wonderful ventilation (even though she also has full A/C) and en-suite heads with separate showers - a novelty on a 44′ cat! Walt has also outfitted her with many other custom features for storage, etc which makes the yacht very efficient, yet maintains her beauty.

‘GENESIS’ is also owner operated. Petr and Tracy Stejskal have been on their 2000 Catana for 6 years and have decided to open their home to guests. One might think a yacht that has been a live-aboard for a husband and wife may have a ‘cruiser’ feel, however, ‘GENESIS’ is as stunning as if she had been built for charter yesterday. This 47′ vessel caters to only 2 guests with her large Master Cabin taking up nearly the entire Starboard Hull. With Petr’s former experience as a Merchant Marine and Tracy’s qualifications from crewing on motor yachts, they are ideal hosts to show you around the Grenadines.

Please contact Ed Hamilton & Co if you would like more information regarding these catamaran yacht charters or any other charter options.

With spring tides of over 20 feet (40′ tides and 9 kt currents are possible in the popular Channel Islands), steep seas, changeable weather and busy shipping lanes, chartering off the south west coast of England is not for the average Caribbean bareboat charterer. For the experienced sailor with plenty of offshore sailing time, this can however be a truly rewarding cruising ground.

The best time to charter is June through August. The coast is somewhat similar to Maine, with pretty fishing villages and beautiful English countryside, although the temperatures are far less extreme. Summer temperatures are around 65 to 75 degrees, but because of the Gulf Stream, winter temperatures rarely drop below freezing, so visitors are often surprised to see palm trees growing on the waterfront. All this in a country considerably further north than any part of the US! Plan to bring plenty of sunscreen, because even on overcast days, sunburn can be a problem due to the clear air.

Bareboat charter companies tend to be small and informal. Be prepared to be asked for documentation of your experience - ask us for guidelines if you are unsure if you would qualify. Yachts tend to be in the 30 to 47 foot range. Unless you plan to explore one area, allow plenty of time so you can wait for a suitable wind direction etc. The Isles of Scilly, off the extreme western tip of Cornwall are a popular destination (we took these pictures in the islands, in early June).
Private yacht charters with a crew are possible, as in the Caribbean or Mediterranean, but most crewed charters in this area tend to be headboats or more casual style yachts where everyone lends a hand. Except for localized charters, almost all are sailboats as the seas tend to be uncomfortable for any motor yachts under 100′.

If we have piqued your interest, contact us at Ed Hamilton & Co for more information. This is not for everyone, but if you love to sail and don’t need the warm Caribbean water, it might just be what you are looking for.

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We crammed the last boat show brochure into our duffel bags and headed for the Marmaris waterfront to join ‘Blue Capricorn’, one of the private yacht charters based in Turkey. Captain Sakin and his crew somehow found space for our luggage, and we motored slowly out of Marmaris Harbor.

Our first stop was an anchorage close to The Dalyan River where we enjoyed a delicious lunch on the aft deck. Meals in Turkey often feature a wide selection of small dishes in the center of the table, known as Meze, where everyone helps themselves. This is then followed by a sensibly sized main course, desert and coffee. We love this style of meal, which is not only healthy but encourages conversation and allows people to linger over their food.

A canopied tender came alongside, to take us on a tour of the Dalyan River, the famous Lycian Tombs and the Roman City of Caunus with its incredible Greek style amphitheater. The tour lasted several hours (you can book half day and full day tours). Our guide grew up in Dalyan and has spent his life studying these sites. He’s the best. Ask us for details.
We returned to Blue Capricorn as the sun set, in time for another wonderful dinner under the stars.

To be continued!

Contact Ed Hamilton & Co - we would be happy to give you more information on this and other crewed charter yachts or bareboat charters in Turkey.

After viewing 50+ charter yachts and over 100 captains, cooks and mates in just four days at The Marmaris Crewed Charter Yacht Show, it’s time for some relaxation. Crewed yacht charters are a unique way to explore this wonderful coastline, and we traveled in style on ‘Blue Capricorn’. We had already picked this yacht as one of the best values of the show and our instincts were right. There are few 90 foot private yacht charters that offer this kind of comfort and level of service for such a reasonable price. In September, which is so much nicer than July and August, 12 guests can charter her for a week for around $1,100 per person, plus expenses, yet because of her layout with two huge master staterooms fore and aft, don’t rule her out as a sumptuous two couple yacht at just over $3,300 per person, plus expenses. She has a traditional motor sailor profile, with enormous flat decks, plenty of sunning space and a large dining table for all those delicious, unhurried, Mediterranean style meals (more on that later).

Look for our next post for a description of the wonderful 3 day charter we had on this yacht, sailing from Marmaris to Gocek along the Turkish Coast.

Contact us - we would be happy to give you more information on this and other charter yachts in Turkey.