Yacht Charter Time-Share - A Verdict on the Scheme

In five years, you could sail 2,500 miles in 12 beautiful cruising grounds across the world. You could sail 11 different types of boat - and not do a single piece of maintenance! The key to this sailors' dream might be signing up for an ownership scheme.

Look at taking beginner's keelboat sailing courses and then have a look at your options...

Under an ownership scheme, the company charters your yacht for five and a half years (six seasons), and during this time you get a percentage of the charter income. You are of course also entitled to a number of weeks sailing each year - either on your own boat or on an equivalent one anywhere in the world, which includes the most popular cruising grounds in the world.

So why join the scheme? You can a) spend holidays sailing in Turkey and the Greek Islands, b) develop your sailing skills, c) explore the Med and decide where you want to base the boat long-term, and d) purchase the boat over time.

There are various ownership programmes. The basic economics are similar: the company charters the yacht and provides you with an income that roughly covers the repayments on an 80% marine mortgage on the yacht. The major difference is the number of days sailing (and the places you can go). Its important to decide on what you want before joining one of these programmes.

Sunsail and The Moorings give you sailing all around the world, but you are limited to two yacht manufacturers with charter company standard specifications. Top Yacht and the Sailtime schemes cater for single-location sailing (Turkey and the UK), but you can choose the specification and, with Top Yacht, you can choose the yacht manufacturer. Sailtime's programme, for example, is targeted at the typical UK sailing pattern - weekends, overnights and channel hopping.

Unlike a property mortgage, the monthly repayments on a loan are fixed, and any variation in interest rates results in either extending or shortening the repayment period. A fixed monthly repayment certainly helps budgeting, and over the period of the contract, income from chartering more or less funds the repayments. Costs for holidays, therefore, are air fares, provisioning and restaurants.

WHAT HAPPENS AT THE END OF THE CONTRACT?
A contract often has an additional week at the end of the contract to inspect the yacht before accepting her. Get any defects put right, apart from reasonable wear and tear.

A major concern is the condition of the boat. Do have surveys. It MAY save you a big bill and it WILL give you peace of mind. Be there during the survey. Follow the surveyor around, ask questions, take notes - unless you're already an expert, you'll learn a lot. Putting the boat in slings for an hour is half the price of a full haul-out - useful if she is going back in the water anyway.

Be systematic - walk the boat from bow to stern and try everything. You will probably be faced with a combination of repair jobs and missing inventory items. Therefore, don't plan to sail off into the sunset at the end of the week. There could be lots of boats going through'end of contract' at the end of the season - there will inevitably be a list ofjobs to be done over the winter.

The 3 Types of Sails - And Find Out How to Make Them Work For You!

There are three main types of sails that can be seen on dinghies and yachts and that you will always here about in sailing. They look different and do completely different things. They are...


The Mainsail
The Genoa/Gib
The Spinnaker/Gennaker

The Mainsail

The mainsail is the work horse of the entire boat and provides the power for the boat to move. It must be properly trimmed at optimized to get the most out of it. If you are beating the sail should be fully in, reaching half in half out and if you are running fully out.

In order to optimize the sail correctly, simply let it out until it begins to flap and then bring it in a bit. It is now trimmed for this current course and with the current wind direction. If you change the boat's direction or if the wind direction changes, the main sail will have to be trimmed again.

This is a constant process that the helmsman must do in order to keep the boat moving at optimum efficiency and maximum speed.

The Genoa/Gib

The Genoa (and its smaller sibling, the Gib) is the secondary sail that provides the turning power and the extra speed that a two man boat needs. Without it, the boat tends to move very slowly, because it helps the mainsail stay aerodynamic.

It is also useful on close reaches, where it speeds up the boat considerably as it is like the mainsail, but not on a boom and so the entire sail shape is curved making it more aerodynamic than the main sail allowing for faster speed.

The Genoa must also be constantly trimmed by use of the tell tales. The rule of thumb is: where the outside tell tale flaps, let out the Genoa and when the inside tell tale flaps, pull in the Genoa.

The Spinnaker/Gennaker

The Spinnaker is a large bag shaped sail that is attached to the boat by a pole on the boom. The Gennaker is a much larger sail that is attached to the boat by a pole at the front. The Spinnaker works on a run, broad reach and beam reach. The Gennaker works on a broad reach, beam reach and close reach.

The Spinnaker is a bag that pulls the boat along when the wind pushes it. The Gennaker works like a large Genoa and is aerodynamically shapes like a Genoa (unlike the baggy spinnaker).

Knowing the three types of sail is very important and understanding how they work is critical to be able to sail fast and be able to optimize the sails correctly so that they provide the most power that they can in the amount of wind given.

Average Costs of Buying a Sail Boat

Things cost money. Traveling is definitely not any different. Therefore, a person will need money in order to hop from one destination to another. One ever growing method of traveling is sail boating. This method is casual, relaxing and a person can experience very beautiful scenery when they travel. However, it can cost quite a pretty penny!

For a beginner, a sail boat is obviously required. Purchasing a sail boat isn't necessarily as easy as buying something like a car. A lot of time and careful consideration is often advised because sail boats can cost more and, most likely, outlive a car. When going out to buy a boat, you should probably ask yourself if you're truly ready for it. Buying a boat that costs anywhere between $1,200 to almost $100,000 just to have to sitting in your garage isn't necessarily worth the money. Therefore, a person should most likely have plenty of free time to use their boat.

When going out to purchase a boat, it is highly recommended that a person bring a surveyor with them. A surveyor is highly advised for boats that cost more than $1,000. Surveyors usually cost about $300 but it is worth the extra money! Remember, they should know what they're looking at and their services will hopefully benefit your purchase. They look over the boat like an auto mechanic would check out a car. After the surveyor has cleared the boat as being qualified, a person should stop by their local Department of Motor Vehicles. The owner should have their current name and tag number and should ask for a title and registration report to ensure clear title.

Obviously, there are more steps than just these but I wanted to name off the basics. Extensive lessons, professional opinions and asking people about their previous sailing experiences are all also recommended.

Choosing Your Ideal Boat

For a first time boat buyer, locating your perfect boat can be a difficult task. There are many parts that should be applied when boat shopping. Following are some things to consider when purchasing a boat. Ask yourself, "What is important to me?" This is your first step before you even look at a boat. What will you be using the boat for. Personal, sports, fishing or just cruising are all deciding factors in the type of boat that is best for you.

Another step to take before purchasing is stopping to consider your families ideas and feelings. It is pertinent that you discuss buying a boat with them before purchasing. Otherwise hard feelings and problems may arise, which will cut into the time you get to spend on the water.

There are five different categories when it comes to boat types. These are:

• Fishing boats
• Power boats
• Sailboats
• Personal watercraft
• Self powered boats

Each one of these types of boats has different things to offer. To help in the journey of finding your perfect boat, we will go over what a few of these has to offer.

Fishing Boats: These types of boats come in various styles and are designed for the type of environment they are used in. You will need a different boat if you were to fish in shallow water than if you were to go deep sea fishing.

Fishing boats many times come with stowage and devices that are able to hold bait, fishing poles, tackle and some even allow for storage of live fish. Some also come with an open platform which is handy for those difficult fish that want to go every which side of your boat.

Power Boats: These are the most popular boats out there. Power boats also come in many different styles and can be used in many different ways. A specific boat called a bowrider, has seats in the front of the boat and it's most typical use is to tow rafts and skiers. For the sporty fisher type, there are ski and fish combination boats available.

Sailboats: Sailboats can be difficult at first to learn all the necessary task to get moving. But once you catch on and grab that wind that takes you whipping through the water, it is a very rewarding feeling. These boats will require more skill, learning and knowledge to operate.

The most popular sailboat design is the single masted sloop. But for the vacation sailor, catboats, daysailers, and dinghys can be a lot easier to maneuver and a bit smaller.

Now that you have some knowledge and what you need to know and details to consider when buying a boat, it is time to start looking. Take your time. Purchasing a boat can be a big step and a very large dent in your wallet. Make sure it is what you want. Your Ideal boat is out there, waiting for you, to match your specific needs, no matter what they may be.

New York City by Sailboat

When thinking of New York, images of bustling streets, crowded subways cars, overflowing sidewalks, street performers, endless buildings and hordes of tourists come to mind. Central Park, China Town, Downtown, Hells Kitchen, Wall Street and Times Square. But how many times have you thought of seeing New York from a sail boat? Viewing the waterfront sights without the hassle of long lines and overcrowded ferries, sailing down the Hudson River to New York Harbor and sitting within 100 yards of the Statue of Liberty, Ellis Island or the historic Brooklyn Bridge. This is an unforgettable way to experience New York City and its breathtaking views and has become one of the prevailing ways to experience the city.

Sailing season is right around the corner and yachting companies are busy gearing up for what promises to be a spectacular season. Many locals are already scheduling charters and sailing lessons to experience the solitude and serenity that only sailing can bring. "This winter has been particularly long and harsh. New Yorkers are ready for their much deserved break" said Amanda Vlastas, Manager of Atlantic Yachting. "Sailboat charters are the perfect getaway from the daily stresses of life and leave you feeling fresh and rejuvenated."

In addition to sailing the typical city route, many people are sailing north to experience the beauty of the scenic Palisades. Romantic sails have also become increasingly popular - couples enjoy the soft symphony of hues and city life that paint the New York sunset. It's not uncommon for marriage proposals to take place amongst this scenic backdrop.

City natives (and tourists alike) can't wait to get outside and experience the solitude and serenity that only sailing can bring. Sailboat charters are the perfect getaway from the daily stresses of life.

A Family Yacht Charter Holiday With Children

Yacht Charters can often be amazing holidays, but many people are nervous about chartering with children. They worry that, aside from the obvious safety reasons, the kids will also be out of control because of insufficient space on board for the kids to play. But from experiencing many people who have chartered yachts with kids, this is almost never the case if properly planned. In fact children normally love the experience of being on a yacht, respect the rules, and are so fascinated by the experience that they are much better behaved than they would be if cooped up in a hotel room!

The boat choice is critical. We normally recommend catamarans, because they offer so much space, both inside and outside. Catamarans also don't rock back and forth, making it a much more pleasurable cruise for the entire family, and there are no dangerous stairs to get from the cockpit to the galley. Once the kids adapt to the boat, they quickly learn that they will have plenty to do - a new beach every day, jumping off the back, snorkeling after turtles and fish, deserted islands to explore. It's what kids are made for!

When chartering with children here are some basic suggestions:


Define specific safety rules and make them very clear as soon as you get on the boat. Suggestions are: always wear life vests when not in the cockpit or indoors, never leave a boat without permission from an adult, no running or horsing around, no one up front without an adult.
Kids are never in a dinghy alone, and should not use the motor unless they are over 16
Make the sailing distances short, and give them plenty of time to play and run on the beach
Rent a windsurfer or kayak, they'll love it, and you can pull them behind the dinghy for endless hours of fun
If you're chartering a bareboat, hire a skipper to allow you to concentrate on your family, not on where to drop anchor
Involve them and help them learn about the boat and how to sail. Show them the charts, instruments, switches, winches, ropes. Have them use the winch to tighten a sail and push the button for the anchor. The more you involve them, the more they'll learn to love boats and sailing.

Explore Italy in a Yacht

Italy is perhaps the most beautiful of the Mediterranean countries and very few other places on earth can compare. The coastline is spectacular with stunning beaches and quiet little bays, most of which can be reached only by sea. The islands of Sicily in Sardinia are perfect for exploring - with an average of 300 days of sunshine and with warm winds off Africa this is a great sailing spot.

It is neither expensive or difficult to organize. I too was once under the impression that only the truly wealthy could afford this type of holiday. That is not true.

My first boating holiday was an eye opener. I had the holiday of my life, family vacations don't get better than this. We'd moor off undiscovered coves perfect for kids. They could row the dingy ashore and swim and snorkel in safe calm water - spending hours playing on the beaches or trying to catch the fish in the warm turquoise sea.

Where to begin? Well Sardinia is the ideal place to charter a boat either alone or with a full crew, skippered or bareboat. Rates are very reasonable and the waters are not to difficult for the novice sailor.

Most Sardinian marinas offer full resort facilities, with everything a yachtie could wish for. The Smeralda and Porto Cervo Yacht Clubs also offer lots of millionaire, sports stars, supermodels and luxury yachts. If this is not to your liking you will find that the east and west coasts of the Island are much simpler and down to earth.