As a yacht Captain, returning home to Australia from the Mediterranean, Caribbean and the USA for the past seven years, I quickly found work at Brisbane Ship Yard refitting a large sloop.

I was approached to captain a ship the “Lord Jim”, that was leaving after four years, the fellow who approached me joined as an unpaid deck hand and ended up as the only one left on board.

The vessel was at a marina Marina in the Whitsundays, Queensland. It wanted an available Yacht Captain take it to Thailand via The Great Barrier Reef and Cape York. The brochure looked great, as they always do.

It was an old steel hull ketch with aluminum super structure, riveted together, and built in the UK by Camper & Nicholson in 1977.

I gave him a CV and forgot about it till I got a call from the owner who was psychologist in the performance coaching business .Of course he was a very convincing man. I took the job.

Going North north for two days I arrived at the boat and saw it was a mess and I had a sinking feeling that i had been conned.

It turned out it was completely un seaworthy and most systems broken down, With the Australian Cruise Permit expired, Ships Registration in Gibraltar expired, the hull and crew insurance expired, radio licenses expired. Added to this, all the safety equipment was out of date.

With the old Captain leaving two days later and the owners disputing his return ticket to England, this was a harrowing time for a new captain.

The Boat was desperately in need of repairs and I as the relief captain Phuket started on my own. I wanted to save face and get going but had no boat money or cards.

About 2 Years later I arrived in Thailand. I even continued to restore the vessel to her past glory with all systems running and on a limited budget and lots of problems for several more months.

Refitting this boat has bought great happiness to me and I am Proud of my efforts.

Tags: available Yacht Captain, charter, cruising, relief captain Phuket, Sailing

If you have ever dreamed of taking a vacation aboard a private yacht charter but thought it was out of reach, think again.  If you do some careful online research you may be able to find a yacht that is affordable but still as luxurious as you had imagined.  Charter yachts are available in a variety of locations, some may not be far from your home.

Compare Prices

There are a lot of charter companies and a huge variety of yachts available for charter. The prices are widely varied as well. A basic charter fee will include the use of the yacht and its equipment, crew salary and insurance. Additional expenses would depend upon your destination and number of guests. Some of these expenses would include the fuel, water, dockage, port and cruising taxes, mooring charges, shoreside power etc. There may be specific needs and requests that may increase your costs as well such as the food, wine, beverages, and flowers. Also, the additional cost of getting to the yacht’s location may not be included.

Do Your Research

There are tons of websites for crewed charter yachts. Most will have beautiful photos of their yachts and locations to travel to and they should also have feedback from former passengers.  I am sure they like to publish only the positive remarks but I have seen a few negative during my searches. Also, talk to friends who have recently sailed aboard a private yacht and ask them what to look for and what questions you should ask.

Safety and comfort are important issues to address before leaving port. Just as important are the destination, the food, special needs, recreational activities, and the size of the yacht. A yachting vacation should be the trip of a lifetime, relaxing and enjoyable, your every need should be attended to and the location as romantic and beautiful as you had imagined.

Relax, Let the Captain Do the Driving

Now that we have covered the necessary technical information here is what to expect onboard one of these crewed charter yachts. A typical day of cruising will include exploring private inlets and bays, swimming, fishing and snorkeling or maybe some waterskiing or racing with your friends on a jet ski. You may decide you just want to relax on a private beach improving your suntan. For a cultural experience there is always shopping in a quaint island village or collecting pieces of art from various ports of call.

At the end of a day of recreational activities you can enjoy a cocktail while watching TV in the lounge area or play a game of cards at a table near a window with a beautiful tropical view.  Just writing this article makes me want to sign up right now!

Taking a trip aboard a crewed charter yacht will make any other vacation seem boring.

Get additionall information on yacht charters visit Wedding Yacht Charters

Tags: crewed charter yachts, private yacht charter

Hawaii Charter Yachts Wedding

There is nothing comparable to being treated as if you are a king or queen whilst sailing the beautiful crystal clear seas of Hawaii. The mild sway of the sea and the scent of the balmy ocean breezes will put a person in total idle mode. Can you feel it?  Do you want it? Crewed charter yachts and Hawaii yacht charters may be more affordable than you think and may not need the whole kingdom’s treasure.

Know the feeling of owning your own yacht without the maintenance and upkeep costs of ownership.

Be treated like a yacht owner by the skillfully trained crew. They will be at your beck and call with just a wave of your hand.

Avoid Crowded Hotels and Large Luxury Liners.

Customize your trip whatever way you like on crewed charter yachts. On huge cruise ships with hundreds of other guests to serve and cater to, that is not possible, there is a pre-planned itinerary.

Cordon Bleu trained chefs will cook renown recipes at your request. There are abundant recreational water activities such as; snorkeling, water skiing, scuba diving, deep sea fishing, etc.

Prior to booking with one of the several crewed charter yachts available with Hawaii yacht charters compare prices, check the captain’s resume as well as the crew’s online.Even the yacht’s specs will be there for you to see. The floor plans will be available to see where you will be sleeping, where the crew is quartered, etc.

It is recommended that you check with a friend or colleague who may have cruised lately on one of the Hawaii yacht charters listed on the internet. Traveler’s stories are always the best advice.

After reserving the yacht’s captain will commonly phone you for specific desires. At that time you can make known any particular foods that you would like prepared or tours you might want to take. Sometimes he will greet you at the airport and personally transport you to the yacht’s location.

The knowledgeable trained crew and captain serve you as honored guests in a way that is so discreet that you hardly detect them while they are piloting the yacht, preparing your meals, and cleaning your cabin.

So, all you princes and princesses out there, unwind and relish your massages on the lido deck while drinking cocktails (shaking, not stirred) aboard privately crewed charter yachts.

Tags: crewed charter yachts, hawaii yacht charters, yacht charter, yacht charters