rikki davis at churchill yacht partners
charter news luxury yachting vacations | volume 2 | issue 2
You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore —Christopher Columbus.
Rediscovering the Virgin Islands from fun nightlife and fabulous restaurants to the loveliest beaches where you’ll rarely find another set of footsteps on the sand.
Contact us to plan your next luxury yacht charter vacation. Rikki Davis Yachts at Churchill Yacht Partners orchestrates luxury yacht charters for an elite clientele, specializing in yachts—power and sail—from 60 (18m) to 400 feet (120m) in length. We ensure the luxury charter yachts we offer meet the finest standards suitable to our client’s expectations through personal knowledge of the yachts and their crew and of the world’s most enchanting locales. give us a call or visit us online to find out how we can help you plan your dream yachting vacation.
tel 954.761.3237 www.churchillyachts.com charter@churchillyachts.com
With the closing of the 2012 election season we said good-bye to the nightly political ads that consumed our evenings and sent our thoughts and prayers to those affected by the storms in New York/New Jersey. Storms like these disrupt our daily lives and create a domino effect for travelers worldwide, revealing a need for charterers to consider obtaining special insurance designed specifically for luxury yacht charters. These policies cannot be obtained through your usual insurance company but we can direct you towards some of the most respected agents in the industry. We’ve had a very busy last couple months. Besides our annual trip to the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show, Maggie Vale, one of our charter specialists, visited Turkey on board S/Y Regina. The captain and crew showed her the best places for a luxury charter in the Eastern Med and we are gathering this information and a selection of the best charter yachts in the region for Summer 2013. Early in December we were at the Antigua Charter Show, a broker-only show, where over 100 yachts were on display for us to inspect. For this winter/spring season we explore a classic and always exciting destination: The Virgin Islands—the western island group of the Leeward Islands which forms the border between the Atlantic Ocean and the Caribbean Sea. The archipelago is a consolidation of three island groups, but one great charter experience—The U.S. Virgin Islands, The British Virgin Islands and the Spanish Virgin Islands. Chartering a yacht is by far the best way to get around. U.S. Virgin Islands | The best known of the group, the USVI are comprised of St. Croix, St. John and St. Thomas. This area has so much more to offer than the traditional beach vacation. Charter guests can enjoy a true cultural experience through historical tours, culinary encounters, parades and fairs. Walking adventures around St. Thomas
and St. Croix feature architecture that represents the various colonies of the islands. Make a work-out of the “99 Steps” on St. Thomas or enjoy the thrilling 700-foot skylift to the top of Charlotte Amalie. St. John offers a breathtaking National Park and pristine beaches for a relaxing walk. British Virgin Islands | The BVI consist of Tortola, Virgin Gorda, Anegada and Jost Van Dyke, along with over fifty smaller islands and cays. After exploring Road Town— where most of the residents live—enjoy snorkeling off deserted beaches, scuba diving and horseback riding. Be sure to visit The Baths in Virgin Gorda, where huge boulders seem to have been arranged by a playful giant to provide a myriad of rock pools and trails. If you wish to dine off the yacht, you’ll find wonderful restaurants that will please the most discriminating palate. Anegada and Jost Van Dyke are islands of coral sand and their beaches are the loveliest in the region. Anchor off and take the tender ashore. Chances are you won’t see another set of footsteps on the sand. Spanish Virgin Islands | The SVI—formerly called the Passage Islands, and also known as the Puerto Rican Virgin Islands—consist primarily of Culebra and Vieques (east of the main island of Puerto Rico) plus multiple smaller islands and islets. For guests flying into San Juan, making the SVI the start of a charter is ideal. Touring San Juan provides a thorough history lesson: the island was claimed by Christopher Columbus during his second voyage to the Americas in 1493. When you leave San Juan, you’ll come upon Culebra where you can visit the Culebra National Wildlife Refuge or veer south to Vieques. The Vieques National Wildlife Refuge is formerly a U.S. Navy facility. An hour or so to the east you will arrive into St. Thomas. We wish you a great holiday season, a happy new year and we look forward to helping you plan your next yacht charter. —Maggie, Rikki, Mary, Els, Lara-Jo & Ben
THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
Outer Brass
just enough | 140' Custom M/Y Cabins: 5 | Guests: 11 | Crew: 7 From: $135,000 per wk. + exp.
Dut Cheap Cay West Cay
THE SPANISH VIRGIN ISLANDS
PUERTO RICO (SVI)
Inner Brass
Hans Lollik
Little Hans Lollik
Thatch Cay
Savana
Great Thatch Mingo Congo Cay Carval Cay Rock Grass Cay Loyango Whistling Cay Cay
TORTO
Little Jost Van Dyke Green Cay
Great St James
CULEBRA (SVI)
Little St James
Little Thatch
Cruz Bay Dog Island
Chocolate Hole
ST JOHN (USVI)
W
E
sw
se
S
Sandy Point Southawest Cape
Long Point
Limetree Bay
East Point Milord Point
in The U.S. Virgin Islands spend a fabulous week hopping between enchanting islands, enjoying the sheer beauty and fun of this exciting corner of the caribbean.
EXCELLENCE V 196' Abeking & Rasmussen M/Y Cabins: 7 | Guests: 12 | Crew: 15 From: $695,000 per wk. + exp.
Day 1 | From St. Thomas, cruise to Christmas Cove for lunch, have a swim, and then steam to Leinster Bay on the Island of St. John for the evening. From Leinster Bay you can easily access Waterlemon Cay, which according to many tourists offers the best snorkeling on St. John. This anchorage is situated within a national park and the fact that there are no lights ashore means that the stars appear especially bright.
Day 2 | Enjoy a swim and breakfast before leaving for Soper’s Hole at West End, Tortola. Soper’s Hole is an extremely picturesque harbour, said to have been the residence of Blackbeard when he was living in the BVI. At Pusser’s Landing you will find a number of boutiques, an array of charming restaurants and several great galleries. Nearby Norman Island is a great location for snorkeling amongst the caves. Day 3 | In the morning, cruise to the Peter Island Resort, the largest private island in the British Virgin Islands, where you can enjoy a sumptuous lunch and a rejuvenating spa. Spend the afternoon exploring the world famous Baths of Virgin Gorda, a spectacular series of exotic pools and grottoes formed from giant boulders. In the evening enjoy an aperitif at the nearby Little Dix resort, built by Rockefeller.
Buck Island
[40 MILES FROM ST THOMAS]
DAYS
KATYA | 151' Delta Marine M/Y Cabins: 5 | Guests: 12 | Crew: 9 From: $161,000 per wk. + exp.
Leduck
ne
ST CROIX (USVI) Frederiksted
The Virgin Islands are a group of small and mostly uninhabited islands ideal for a quiet and peaceful luxury yacht charter. The majority of the Virgin Islands are of volcanic origin, which gives character to the terrain and provides superb waters for swimming, snorkeling, diving and sailing.
Salt Point Bay
Salt River Landing
Christiansted
COCKTAILS | 157' Trinity M/Y Cabins: 5 | Guests: 11 | Crew: 9 From: $185,000 per wk. + exp.
Coral Bay Calabash
Reef Bay
THE U.S. VIRGIN ISLANDS
N
RED ANCHOR | 120' Benetti M/Y Cabins: 5 | Guests: 12 | Crew: 7 From: $98,000 per wk. + exp.
R T
Sandy Cay
Great Harbour
Charlotte Amalie Capella Islands
nw
Great Tobago
Magen’s Bay
ST THOMAS (USVI)
VIEQUES (SVI)
JOST VAN DYKE
Day 4 | Cruise to Bitter End in the afternoon and anchor by the marina. Bitter End is widely hailed as one of the greatest venues for water sports in the Caribbean and visitors can enjoy all manner of activities including sailing, windsurfing, kiteboarding, scuba diving, snorkeling and fishing. Day 5 | Cruise to the island of Anegada, the northernmost of the British Virgin Islands. Here you can watch for whales and dolphins from the comfort of your yacht, or get even closer to the wonderful mammals swimming or snorkeling in the scenic Loblolly Bay. Grilled lobster lunches are one of the draws in Anegada, as are the many rum-based concoctions available from the island’s watering holes. Day 6 | On the penultimate day of your Virgin Islands Yacht Charter, why not head to Great Camanoe Island for the day? Anchoring
Grass Point
F
West End
The Settlement
East End
ANEGADA
[13 MILES NORTH OF VIRGIN GORDA] Necker Island Prickly Pear DOG Mosquito ISLANDS Seal Island Island Eustasia Island GREAT GUANA Dog CAMANOE Saba Rock ISLAND George Dog North Sound Scrub West Dog Island Little Great Dog South Sound Camanoe
OLA
Marina Cay Beef Island Spanish Town The Baths Devil’s Bay
VIRGIN GORDA
EL
Road Town
AN
SIR
FR
DRA CIS
KE
CH
AN
N
GINGER ISLAND
SALT ISLAND
Dead Chest Pelican Island
Fallen Jerusalem Round Rock
Carval Rock COOPER ISLAND PETER ISLAND
ATLANTIC OCEAN
ARIOSO | 130' Westport M/Y Cabins: 5 | Guests: 10 | Crew: 7 From: $98,000 per wk. + exp.
Flanagan Island NORMAN ISLAND
CARIBBEAN SEA
Miss Michelle | 130' Westport M/Y Cabins: 5 | Guests: 11 | Crew: 7 From: $120,000 per wk. + exp.
scan the qr code for the latest information on the best luxury yachting vacations. OLGA | 121' Crescent M/Y Cabins: 5 | Guests: 8 | Crew: 5 From: $59,000 per wk. + exp.
at Cam Bay you can explore the national park, which is full of amazing local bird life, flora and fauna, or snorkel in the sea where the variety of fish is truly amazing. Another great option for snorkeling is Monkey Point on Guana Island, which also offers some great hiking trails. Day 7 | Your first stop is the uninhabited island of Sandy Cay, a ‘managed wilderness’ that offers fine walking trails and a tremendous sense of seclusion. Your second stop, Jost Van Dyke, is just a short cruise from Sandy Cay, and is the smallest of the four principal islands of the British Virgin Islands. Enjoy lunch in one of the many restaurants that line the Great Harbour before steaming to Caneel Bay, St. John in order to clear customs into U.S. waters before disembarking at St. Thomas.
East of San Juan DAY 1 | Arrive in San Juan. Your yacht and crew will be expecting you for welcome cocktails at San Juan Yacht Club (15 minutes from airport). DAY 2 | Cruise from San Juan to the National Park in Culebra Island (25nm), enjoy the most beautiful beaches, amazing snorkeling and all the water sports. DAY 3 | Culebrita (Culebra’s neighbor). Secluded beach, turtles and great fishing. DAY 4 | Travel to Meggans Bay (St. Thomas) a great anchorage where a pristine beach awaits you for excellent water skiing and fun on the waverunners. DAY 5 | Yacht Haven Grande Marina, 5 star marina with shops and full amenities. DAY 6 | Visit Vieques. Punta Arenas is a perfect excursion destination, located on the southeast portion of the island and offering a lush beach and great snorkeling. DAY 7 | Finish in Palmas del Mar Yacht Club with a great round of golf and surfing.
PTARMIGAN | 82' Nautor Swan S/Y Cabins: 4 | Guests: 8 | Crew: 4 From: $39,000 per wk. + exp.
954.761.3237 | www.churchillyachts.com charter@churchillyachts.com From a quiet honeymoon, to a private getaway, your corporate event or an active family holiday, our charter specialists will work with you to create the custom itinerary that you desire.
ANDROMEDA LA DEA 154' Perini Navi S/Y Cabins: 4 | Guests: 9 | Crew: 9 From: $115,000 per wk. + exp.
1845 Cordova Road. Suite 216 | Ft Lauderdale, FL 33316 954.761.3237 | charter@churchillyachts.com www.churchillyachts.com
LADY J | 142' Palme r Johnson M/Y Cabins: 5 | Guests: 12 | Crew: 9 From: $109,000 per wk. + exp.
To exercise and stay fit on charter Adapted with permission from the popular blog of 142' Palmer Johnson MY Lady J: www.ladyjyachtcharters.com
Staying in shape while enjoying a luxury yacht charter vacation is essential especially when the charter includes indulging in the delights prepared by your own private Chef. Following are some fun and healthy activities that guests recently enjoyed onboard 142' Palmer Johnson Lady J: 1. Treadmill Workout: Watching the sun rise while working out on the treadmill, enveloped by tranquility in an uninhabited bay is a magical way to start the day. 2. Waterski: Organize it with the crew so that tender will take you out. Burn up to 200 cals/30 mins. 3. Kayaking: Great for cardio and muscle toning while exploring your surroundings. Average 170 cals/30 minutes. 4. Snorkeling: While relaxing and peaceful, snorkeling is a great way to stay active while on board. 5. Paddle Boarding: Excellent for core training.
6. HikinG: Explore the nature trails in each port that you visit. Burn approx. 200 cals/30 minutes.
7. Boot Camp: Fun filled pre-breakfast cardio workouts on the sundeck can whip you into shape. 8. Mountain Biking: The perfect way for charter guests to explore the islands, check to see if your yacht has them available for use. Average 300 cals/30 minutes. 9. Swimming: The great thing about a yacht charter is you’ll always have beautiful waters surrounding you. Swimming at a moderate pace burns 200 cals/30 minutes.
10. Deck Climbing: Just climbing up and down the stairs from deck-to-deck is a workout in itself! Burn 275 cals/30 minutes. After all this hard work, a dip in the on-deck jacuzzi is the best way to relax and refresh in style, with a rum punch in hand. All calories burned estimates are approximates based on 150lb person and may vary.
Rikki Davis Yachts has been providing luxury yacht charters for our clients, worldwide, for over 30 years. Contact us today and we’ll help you plan the most exclusive charter vacation! tel 954.761.3237 | www.churchillyachts.com | charter@churchillyachts.com
Specifications are believed to be correct but are not guaranteed. All prices and availability are subject to change without notice.
10 WAYS