The Charter Connection Blog

Here’s an opportunity that doesn’t come along every day! Brett and Ronnie are offering $5,000 off the listed rate for 7 night bookings on Akasha, between March 3 and 16. This is one of the few slots available in this popular boat’s calendar and they are keen to fill it. Akasha offers wonderful luxury for up to 10 guests, in 4 queen suites and a lovely master suite with a king. Brett and Ronnie are true professionals and run a first class ship.

If the cold is getting to you and you’re in the market for a big cat this winter, it doesn’t get better than this. For $4,300 per person, a party of 10 can charter this huge 76′ cat for a week, including all ‘5star’ meals, reasonable bar and some scuba diving for certified divers.

Whether you’re going for the best money can buy or looking for great value, at Ed Hamilton & Co we’ll find you the perfect yacht. Use our online form to tell us about your party so we can start suggesting some boats. You can also call us at 800 621 7855 or email us at info@ed-hamilton.com

Stu and Fran, the crew on the popular catamaran ‘Two If By Sea’ have reached the Pacific Vava’u Islands and sent us this note.
“As we arrived in Tonga last Thursday we were greeted by 6 whales at the entrance and it seems that they are out here every day, right through until November. The dolphins are here all year. Things start to quieten down then, until late April when the whale season kicks off again, with the mothers coming early to have their young.
The waters are warm, even though it’s winter here and the clarity is great. There are a whole lot of different fish to see and any number of great Pelagics (which is a nice way of saying sharks) and Tuna.  Mahi Mahi, Giant Trevally and Wahoo are all in these waters in abundance, so the fish is really fresh (and fun to catch). Most of the food is brought in from New Zealand and there is a fresh vegetable market every day here in Vava’u.
This is the ideal place for guests who want to do some great scuba diving, see the whales and experience something very different during the hurricane season in the Caribbean. We have a permanent Cyclone mooring in Vava’u which is great as a refuge in case there are any nasties during our cyclone season which runs January through April.
Like many other boats operating in The Pacific we are offering a free Tongan Feast as a special treat one evening during the vacation.
We would appreciate hearing from anyone looking for something a little different. Remember this time of year, the fares from LAX are very reasonable!”

Belize is a great cruising ground but while there are many bareboat options, boat selection can be limited for crewed charters. We are therefore pleased to announce that two popular cats from the eastern Caribbean will be basing there this winter.

Chartering in Belize is quite different from the Virgins or the eastern Caribbean chain. There are very few restaurants/bars ashore and it is possible to hardly see another sail for the week in the more remote areas. Not all people are looking for this amount of solitude, but for those who are, this is a wonderful destination, particularly for anyone interested in scuba diving. The waters are generally shallow and protected by the spectacular Belize Barrier Reef, which is over 180 miles long (second longest in the world).

Gazelle is one of the exciting new Gunboat 66’s - a new breed of cats combining incredible speed with comfort. These designs are full of interesting ideas, including an additional forward ‘cockpit’ for handling lines. Both the salon and covered cockpit aft are particularly spacious and have an open feel. The master cabin is forward, to port, with a smaller cabin aft. A third cabin is forward, to starboard, with access past the galley. Berths in the forward cabins are quite high, but comfortable. The fine woodwork is unusual in such a performance boat. Six guests can charter her for a week for $3,834 pp including all meals and reasonable bar. Her popular crew, Jon and Nicki, have done several excellent charters for us on their previous boat, Mawali. They are currently in New England (see recent picture passing famous NY landmark), but will be sailing the boat south in the fall. Between December and February, they will visit Cuba, Mexico, Belize, Guatamala and Panama. In March they head to the Galapagos and then on to Tahiti…

Infinity is one of the popular 50′ Simonis/Voyage cats. She was built in 2001 and has chartered in the British Virgin Islands since then. She is now based in Belize, at Ambergris Caye. Her crew, Ian and Janey, are keen divers and would be happy to take you to the great dive sites of this unspoiled area. Her six person rate is $2250 pp, including all meals, bar, diving and dive gear.

We also want to mention Legacy, although she is not a new addition and not the same style of boat. Legacy has been chartering in Belize for a while and is particularly popular with serious divers or larger groups looking for more casual service and accommodations. She is a 64′ custom catamaran that can accommodate up to 12 guests, though 10 is more practical. Access to some cabins is through others. Her six person rate is $2,668 pp and ten is $2,401 pp, including all meals, bar, diving (up to 4 per day) and dive gear. Note that this price is for six nights, not seven, but they are currently running a special until December 15th, offering a free 7th night and one guest free for 8 or more guests.

If you are looking for a quality charter in an unusual destination this winter, call us at 800 621 7855, or email us at info@ed-hamilton.com. There’s more destinations on the Ed Hamilton & Co website, or you can tell us about your plans so we can suggest some other areas, boats and crews!

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!

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.

Scuba Diving Magazine recently announced the results of its annual reader poll, called the ‘Top 100 Readers’ Choice Survey’. In the Caribbean, the British Virgin Islands took first place in the ‘Top Beginner Diving’ category, second place in ‘Top Underwater Photography’ and third in ‘Top Wreck Diving’.

The British Virgins have always been a popular place to dive and there are many well organized dive companies on several of the main islands. Most offer rendezvous dives for crewed charter yachts, when a dive boat meets a yacht and takes those guests that want to dive off to the dive site, returning them later. The dive company supplies all the gear and the group can be as large or as private as you wish. The advantage is that those not interested in diving don’t have to sit over a dive site or listen to a dive compressor filling tanks.

Many bareboat charter companies have dive shops on site or nearby and of course qualified scuba divers can dive from their bareboat.

Serious divers can also select a private crewed yacht that offers diving, so guests can dive at any time and in any location they choose. There are some wonderful yachts and crews to choose from. We would be happy to make some suggestions. Check the scuba box when telling us about your plans, or email us. There is also more information on the Ed Hamilton & Co site.

Promenade, the popular 65 foot trimaran based in Tortola, in the British Virgin Islands, has lowered her summer rates. Between May 15th and September 1st, up to 10 guests can charter her for $17,990 for 7 nights, including all meals and ship’s bar. With approval, she can even carry 12 guests.

Sleek and fast, this older style trimaran was built in 1980, but is in great shape. Three cabins have double berths, the other two have twin beds that can be converted to a king. The pontoons are narrow (quite difficult access) but the accommodations are spacious and comfortable without being fancy. The pontoon cabins have private heads while the three cabins aft share two heads. The shaded cockpit is huge, running the width of the boat and there is unlimited sunning space on the enormous uncluttered flat decks. She carries a particularly wide range of scuba diving, ski and water toys.

If you have a large group, she might be the perfect choice for your summer Caribbean yacht charter. Call us at 800 621 7855 or email us.

Looking for something else? Browse through the Ed Hamilton & Co site or tell us your plans, so we can start selecting a suitable yacht for you.

For those who are just starting to feel winter’s chill there are some excellent Thanksgiving promotions to take advantage of!

The 85′ Azimut RUNAWAY is currently offering a 20% discount on Virgin Island yacht charters starting after November 18th and finishing before December 18th! This stunning power yacht can accommodate three couples or a family of 8 comfortably. They also offer scuba diving.

BEST REVENGE 5, a popular Privilege 58 based in the British Virgin Islands, is starting off the season with a 10% discount over the Thanksgiving Holiday. Their excellent new crew, Kelly and Jonny Coop, have moved their way up from the 45′ Leopard ‘Sail’s Call’ to the 57′ Lagoon ‘Double Feature’ (now ‘Soterion’), to this gorgeous catamaran.

Thanksgiving specials on other catamaran yacht charters include, the 50′ NAEJ, the 58’s TAHUATA and OCEAN’S SEVEN, and the 61′ MOTU. All are offering 7 nights for the price of 6 over Thanksgiving! These great Privilege cats offer comfort and excellent service.

These specials won’t last long, so contact Ed Hamilton & Co to reserve yours today! Call us at 800 621 7855, email us, or tell us about the type of holiday you have in mind and we will send you some suggestions.