charter

Greece, superyacht, charter, Camper & Nicholsons, Athens, Julien Solari, Christos Chatzigiakoumis, Sylvia Katsamaki, Hellenikon Metropolitan Park, Cyclades, Mykonos, Delos, Scorpios, Amorgos, Santorini, Peristera shipwreck, Dimitris Mavrikis, Sporades, Project X, Golden Yachts, Meamima, Benetti, La Pellegrina 1, Couach, Custom Line, Seven S, Swan 112, Eratosthenes, Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros

Superyacht charters in Greece

Superyacht charters in Greece

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If you’re looking for charter ideas for summer 2024, Greece should be among your top candidates. And with the new Camper & Nicholsons office in Athens, the Aegean Sea is more accessible than ever.
Words: Nick Hung; Photos: Camper & Nicholsons

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Elafonisos is about 100nm southwest of Athens and 120nm west of Santorini

 

With over 6,000 islands to choose from, Greece has been called ‘the Caribbean of Europe’. And it’s currently one of the world’s hottest spots to charter, with about a quarter of global superyacht charters starting, ending or cruising in Greece, according to Camper & Nicholsons.

 

Julien Solari, Camper & Nicholsons’ Chief Commercial Officer Asia, says: “Greece is one of the very best destination for charterers from all over the world. From the iconic islands of Mykonos and Santorini in the amazing Cyclades to the marvellous and historical city of Athens, this country offers incredible scenery and experiences for charterers.

 

“We’ve witnessed lots of interest from our clients in Asia for this destination. Many booked charters last summer and we’re already booking yachts for summer 2024.”

 

Greece, superyacht, charter, Camper & Nicholsons, Athens, Julien Solari, Christos Chatzigiakoumis, Sylvia Katsamaki, Hellenikon Metropolitan Park, Cyclades, Mykonos, Delos, Scorpios, Amorgos, Santorini, Peristera shipwreck, Dimitris Mavrikis, Sporades, Project X, Golden Yachts, Meamima, Benetti, La Pellegrina 1, Couach, Custom Line, Seven S, Swan 112, Eratosthenes, Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros

Santorini (pictured) and Mykonos are the most famous of the Cyclades islands

 

To cater to a growing global demand for charters and local appetite for yachts, Camper & Nicholsons has opened a new office in Athens headed by Christos Chatzigiakoumis, the company’s Managing Director for Greece, who says the country’s coastline has a mix of ancient and modern.

 

“You might spend your day on a remote beach with transparent waters, have a barbecue on shore, then a few hours later be at an extravagant beach bar surrounded by celebrities,” he explains.

 

Interestingly, the new Athens bureau is located on the old international airport site. Thirty thousand square metres of tarmac, together with the concrete terminal hall, are currently being upcycled into Europe’s largest urban park – surpassing London’s Hyde Park – with 31,000 native trees and three million indigenous plants.

 

Greece, superyacht, charter, Camper & Nicholsons, Athens, Julien Solari, Christos Chatzigiakoumis, Sylvia Katsamaki, Hellenikon Metropolitan Park, Cyclades, Mykonos, Delos, Scorpios, Amorgos, Santorini, Peristera shipwreck, Dimitris Mavrikis, Sporades, Project X, Golden Yachts, Meamima, Benetti, La Pellegrina 1, Couach, Custom Line, Seven S, Swan 112, Eratosthenes, Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros

Eratosthenes, a Swan 112, is among Camper & Nicholsons’ Greece-based charter yachts

 

Hellenikon Metropolitan Park will reopen with 400 marina berths in 2025. “It proves Athens is a key entertainment hub for luxury travellers and international yachtsmen,” Chatzigiakoumis says. “The Hellenikon project’s 10,000 new residences will give a new dimension to Greek yachting by generating a new clientele.”

 

The main charter season is from May until the end of October, when “it’s still beautiful in southern destinations like Santorini,” according to Sylvia Katsamaki, Charter Manager and Charter Broker at Camper & Nicholsons.

 

“Greece offers a unique charter experience from geographical and cultural perspectives,” she says. “One aim of our new office is to make Athens a principal Mediterranean charter hub. The Athens bureau can organise helicopter tours over the Acropolis, down to Cape Sounion and the Temple of Poseidon, and across to the Greek islands. There are many touch-and-go helipads around Greece.”

 

CIRCLING THE CYCLADES

Highlights are a vivid mix of ancient and modern. Take Mykonos, which swells with a summer population of 50,000. The beach club Scorpios looks like a Mayan temple dedicated to hedonistic pleasure. On summer evenings, beach fires usher shamanic rituals, bouzouki beats and DJ sets.

 

Greece, superyacht, charter, Camper & Nicholsons, Athens, Julien Solari, Christos Chatzigiakoumis, Sylvia Katsamaki, Hellenikon Metropolitan Park, Cyclades, Mykonos, Delos, Scorpios, Amorgos, Santorini, Peristera shipwreck, Dimitris Mavrikis, Sporades, Project X, Golden Yachts, Meamima, Benetti, La Pellegrina 1, Couach, Custom Line, Seven S, Swan 112, Eratosthenes, Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros

The stunning Kolona Beach on Kythnos about 50nm southeast of Athens

 

At midnight, alfresco club Astra throbs with hands-in-the-air tunes under swaying palms. At dawn, yoga starts with a sun salutation above the island’s sugar cube houses. Mykonos has barely slept since Herodotus wrote about it in 430 BCE.

 

Too intense? Sail on to Delos, 10 minutes away. One of the ancient world’s most sacred islands has a population of just 14. The island birthplace of Apollo and Artemis features a Doric temple, a Dionysian theatre and a pre-Christian synagogue. In Greece, there’s something for every age and interest. And all within a few nautical miles.

 

Particularly popular for charters are the 220 islands of the Cyclades, which translates as ‘circle’, enabling guests to experience destinations like Mykonos, Amorgos and Santorini in one sun-kissed loop.

 

Greece, superyacht, charter, Camper & Nicholsons, Athens, Julien Solari, Christos Chatzigiakoumis, Sylvia Katsamaki, Hellenikon Metropolitan Park, Cyclades, Mykonos, Delos, Scorpios, Amorgos, Santorini, Peristera shipwreck, Dimitris Mavrikis, Sporades, Project X, Golden Yachts, Meamima, Benetti, La Pellegrina 1, Couach, Custom Line, Seven S, Swan 112, Eratosthenes, Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros

Stunning Greek architecture along the Elafonisos coast

 

Greece’s first cookbook author was born on Sifnos. On the island, guests can eat mastelo, an only munch-here stew featuring goat, red wine, dill and vine twigs. Lunches can be walked off on the Sifnos Trails. “In the Cyclades, we’ve seen a trend for live-like-a-local activities,” Katsamaki says.

 

DIVING IN THE SPORADES

One classic Aegean sight has only just opened – after 2,500 years. The Peristera shipwreck was discovered by fisherman Dimitris Mavrikis in 19m of gin-clear ocean in the Sporades islands, north of Athens.

 

The site rewrites history by proving that vessels could carry 150 tonnes of luxurious cargo – in this case black-glazed bowls, lavish tableware and 4,200 amphoras of wine – before the Roman (or indeed superyacht) age.

 

Greece, superyacht, charter, Camper & Nicholsons, Athens, Julien Solari, Christos Chatzigiakoumis, Sylvia Katsamaki, Hellenikon Metropolitan Park, Cyclades, Mykonos, Delos, Scorpios, Amorgos, Santorini, Peristera shipwreck, Dimitris Mavrikis, Sporades, Project X, Golden Yachts, Meamima, Benetti, La Pellegrina 1, Couach, Custom Line, Seven S, Swan 112, Eratosthenes, Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, SkyrosThe 30m Custom Line Seven S is packed with toys

 

Guests can now dive what has been dubbed “the Parthenon of shipwrecks”. Camper & Nicholsons charter brokers can liaise with a local dive team to arrange the descent.

 

As this scuba site is governed by Greece’s Department of Maritime Antiquities, a maximum of eight divers can scour the artefacts peppered on the Poseidon grass during strict time slots. They may not be alone. The Peristera shipwreck sits within the Alonissos Marine Park, a watery thoroughfare for sperm whales, striped dolphins and rare Mediterranean monk seals.

 

The shipwreck is not the only treasure in the 24 islands of the Sporades, which translates as ‘sporadic’, as they are strewn haphazardly like emerald mountains on an indigo carpet. Only four of the islands – Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos and Skyros – are inhabited. On Skiathos beaches like Agia Paraskevi, you’re more likely to see a loggerhead turtle than another superyacht.

 

Greece, superyacht, charter, Camper & Nicholsons, Athens, Julien Solari, Christos Chatzigiakoumis, Sylvia Katsamaki, Hellenikon Metropolitan Park, Cyclades, Mykonos, Delos, Scorpios, Amorgos, Santorini, Peristera shipwreck, Dimitris Mavrikis, Sporades, Project X, Golden Yachts, Meamima, Benetti, La Pellegrina 1, Couach, Custom Line, Seven S, Swan 112, Eratosthenes, Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros

Alfresco dining is always a pleasure in Greece

 

“It’s little wonder that more yachts are being chartered and purchased for Aegean cruising than ever before,” says Chatzigiakoumis, who believes several variables led to the recent surge. He points out the growing professionalism of Greek crews, the reinvention of Greece as a high-net-worth tourism hub, and rising wealth across the Aegean.

 

“All of this culminates in a superyacht metamorphosis. It makes me believe Greece can lure an increasing number of new buyers, charterers and customers.”

 

YACHTS FOR CHARTER

Camper & Nicholsons has a diverse range of yachts for charter in the Mediterranean and we highlight five recommended for exploring Greece. Ranging from €58,000 per week to €1,200,000 per week, all are managed by the Athens office and include three based in the country.

 

Greece, superyacht, charter, Camper & Nicholsons, Athens, Julien Solari, Christos Chatzigiakoumis, Sylvia Katsamaki, Hellenikon Metropolitan Park, Cyclades, Mykonos, Delos, Scorpios, Amorgos, Santorini, Peristera shipwreck, Dimitris Mavrikis, Sporades, Project X, Golden Yachts, Meamima, Benetti, La Pellegrina 1, Couach, Custom Line, Seven S, Swan 112, Eratosthenes, Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros

The 88m Project X was built in Greece by Golden Yachts and delivered in 2022

 

The new 88m Project X is a lavish option and although it only charters in Greece on request, it holds a special local connection as it was built in the country by Golden Yachts and only launched last year when it was a star at the Monaco Yacht Show. Looked after by 28 crew, the yacht offers nine cabins for up to 12 guests including a master suite facing a private forward deck with jacuzzi.

 

Outdoor attractions include a beach club with fold-down balconies and a 7.5m-long swimming pool on the aft main deck, where an outdoor cinema can be set up. The sun deck has a well-equipped gym and a jacuzzi, while guests can also relax in a wellness suite with spa, Hammam, Finnish sauna and beauty salon.

 

Greece, superyacht, charter, Camper & Nicholsons, Athens, Julien Solari, Christos Chatzigiakoumis, Sylvia Katsamaki, Hellenikon Metropolitan Park, Cyclades, Mykonos, Delos, Scorpios, Amorgos, Santorini, Peristera shipwreck, Dimitris Mavrikis, Sporades, Project X, Golden Yachts, Meamima, Benetti, La Pellegrina 1, Couach, Custom Line, Seven S, Swan 112, Eratosthenes, Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros

Project X is among the most luxurious ways of exploring the islands

 

The vast saloon includes a self-playing piano and a taste of the Greek artwork seen throughout the yacht. The formal dining room includes a long, 16-seat table and vast wine ‘fridge’, while other indoor attractions include a triple-height glass atrium and a large cylinder lift linking all the decks.

 

The yacht is served by four tenders – a 10m limousine, 9m classic chase boat and two 6.25m sport RIBs – while toys include four Sea-Doo jet-skis, three Seabobs, a Fliteboard, four kayaks, two paddleboards, wakeboards, water-skis, waterslide, net pool, towable inflatables, plus diving and fishing equipment. There are even eight bikes for trips on land.

 

Greece, superyacht, charter, Camper & Nicholsons, Athens, Julien Solari, Christos Chatzigiakoumis, Sylvia Katsamaki, Hellenikon Metropolitan Park, Cyclades, Mykonos, Delos, Scorpios, Amorgos, Santorini, Peristera shipwreck, Dimitris Mavrikis, Sporades, Project X, Golden Yachts, Meamima, Benetti, La Pellegrina 1, Couach, Custom Line, Seven S, Swan 112, Eratosthenes, Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros

Meamima is a 59m six-cabin Benetti with two tenders, two jet-skis, Seabobs and waterslide

Greece, superyacht, charter, Camper & Nicholsons, Athens, Julien Solari, Christos Chatzigiakoumis, Sylvia Katsamaki, Hellenikon Metropolitan Park, Cyclades, Mykonos, Delos, Scorpios, Amorgos, Santorini, Peristera shipwreck, Dimitris Mavrikis, Sporades, Project X, Golden Yachts, Meamima, Benetti, La Pellegrina 1, Couach, Custom Line, Seven S, Swan 112, Eratosthenes, Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros

 

Meamina, meanwhile, is a 59m Benetti tri-deck with 15 crew and offers accommodation for up to 12 guests in six cabins led by a split-level, full-beam master suite with a study. The VIP is on the bridge deck. The main saloon includes a piano, while meals can be enjoyed in the formal indoor dining area, alfresco on the aft upper deck or even on the sun deck.

 

The yacht has a child-friendly set-up, while toys include a 9m RIB, 7.4m Pascoe tender, two Sea-Doo jet-skis, Seabobs and paddleboards. However, the crowd favourite may be the waterslide that starts from the sun deck, where other attractions include an inviting Jacuzzi and a gym.

 

Greece, superyacht, charter, Camper & Nicholsons, Athens, Julien Solari, Christos Chatzigiakoumis, Sylvia Katsamaki, Hellenikon Metropolitan Park, Cyclades, Mykonos, Delos, Scorpios, Amorgos, Santorini, Peristera shipwreck, Dimitris Mavrikis, Sporades, Project X, Golden Yachts, Meamima, Benetti, La Pellegrina 1, Couach, Custom Line, Seven S, Swan 112, Eratosthenes, Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros

The 50m, six-cabin La Pellegrina 1 is among Camper & Nicholsons’ charter fleet

Greece, superyacht, charter, Camper & Nicholsons, Athens, Julien Solari, Christos Chatzigiakoumis, Sylvia Katsamaki, Hellenikon Metropolitan Park, Cyclades, Mykonos, Delos, Scorpios, Amorgos, Santorini, Peristera shipwreck, Dimitris Mavrikis, Sporades, Project X, Golden Yachts, Meamima, Benetti, La Pellegrina 1, Couach, Custom Line, Seven S, Swan 112, Eratosthenes, Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros

 

The 50m Couach La Pellegrina 1 was recently purchased by a Greek owner and will be based in Greece. Managed by a crew of 10, the sleek tri-deck has six guest cabins with marble en-suite bathrooms. The master suite on the bridge deck even has a private deck and gym equipment, while the VIP is forward on the main deck.

 

Outdoor areas include a stunning sun deck with a central jacuzzi, sunpads and sofas, as well as a covered dining area. Guests can also dine indoors or outdoors on the main deck.

 

Greece, superyacht, charter, Camper & Nicholsons, Athens, Julien Solari, Christos Chatzigiakoumis, Sylvia Katsamaki, Hellenikon Metropolitan Park, Cyclades, Mykonos, Delos, Scorpios, Amorgos, Santorini, Peristera shipwreck, Dimitris Mavrikis, Sporades, Project X, Golden Yachts, Meamima, Benetti, La Pellegrina 1, Couach, Custom Line, Seven S, Swan 112, Eratosthenes, Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros

Sevens S, a Greece-based Custom Line with five cabins

 

Seven S, also based in Greece, is a 30m Custom Line motor yacht maintained by a full-time, professional crew of five. Fresh from a 2021 refit, the yacht offers accommodation for up to 12 guests in five en-suite cabins comprising a main-deck master suite, two doubles and two twins with an extra Pullman berth. The light, elegant saloon includes an eight-seat dining table, while the aft cockpit offers alfresco dining.

 

The flybridge also offers covered dining as well as sunpads and a crane that helps deploy some of the water toys, which include a Williams SportJet 435 tender, jet-ski, Seabobs, kayaks, paddleboards, water-skis, kneeboard, wakeboard and snorkelling equipment. There’s also a floating platform and towable inflatables.

 

Greece, superyacht, charter, Camper & Nicholsons, Athens, Julien Solari, Christos Chatzigiakoumis, Sylvia Katsamaki, Hellenikon Metropolitan Park, Cyclades, Mykonos, Delos, Scorpios, Amorgos, Santorini, Peristera shipwreck, Dimitris Mavrikis, Sporades, Project X, Golden Yachts, Meamima, Benetti, La Pellegrina 1, Couach, Custom Line, Seven S, Swan 112, Eratosthenes, Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, Skyros

The 34m Eratosthenes offers a stunning way of sailing the islands

 

If you’re looking for a sailing yacht, the 34m Eratosthenes is a Greece-based Swan 112 that has benefited from a 2021 refit at the Nautor Swan shipyard in Finland. The clean aft deck can be dressed in sunpads and outdoor furniture, while the protected cockpit has four sides of seating and two foldable tables. Water toys include paddleboards, a kayak, water-skis and fishing tackle.

 

The bright interior features the stunning woodwork the Finnish shipyard is known for and has a saloon and dining area on separate levels. There’s a full-beam master suite and two twin cabins with a Pullman, plus accommodation for six crew.

 

Greece, superyacht, charter, Camper & Nicholsons, Athens, Julien Solari, Christos Chatzigiakoumis, Sylvia Katsamaki, Hellenikon Metropolitan Park, Cyclades, Mykonos, Delos, Scorpios, Amorgos, Santorini, Peristera shipwreck, Dimitris Mavrikis, Sporades, Project X, Golden Yachts, Meamima, Benetti, La Pellegrina 1, Couach, Custom Line, Seven S, Swan 112, Eratosthenes, Skiathos, Skopelos, Alonissos, SkyrosEratosthenes has a split-level saloon and three guest cabins


Katsamaki says: “If you love sailing and charter a yacht like Eratosthenes, you get an unforgettable sailing experience around the Aegean Sea to the east or Ionian Islands to the west. You can benefit from the Greek winds yet enjoy sheltered bays everywhere. If you charter a motor yacht, you can easily do island hoping and wake up in a different place every morning.

 

“For me, Greece is the definition of summer and there’s no better way to experience it than cruising around the islands on a yacht. There are hundreds of islands to visit, many different route options and mainland attractions people shouldn’t miss. And if you charter once, you’ll want to come back again and again.”

cni@camperandnicholsons.com

www.camperandnicholsons.com

 

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Nala, LDS Lifestyles, Lal De Silva, Yacht Sourcing, Boum Senous, yacht, phinisi, charter

Nala leads the pack

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Charter in Indonesia: Nala leads the pack

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Founder and director of LDS Lifestyles, Lal De Silva is the man behind the 37m Nala, currently for charter through Indonesia’s Yacht Sourcing and set to be followed by two more phinisis.
Words: Andrew Dembina; Photos: Yacht Sourcing

  

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The 37.3m Nala has a 6.6m beam

 

Lal De Silva has made a serious splash with his high-quality lifestyle businesses in Indonesia. Following an early career as a pastry chef, culminating in the five-star kitchens of the former Regent, Jakarta hotel (now rebranded as Four Seasons), the Sri Lanka-born entrepreneur set up the country’s first European-style bakery chain, The Harvest, in 2004. The business grew exponentially across the country and De Silva sold it in 2016.

 

Living in Indonesia, with its scattering of more than 17,000 islands, De Silva then began to enjoy boat charters, specifically aboard native traditional wooden-hulled phinisi pleasure craft that are double masted, offering power under sail, via inboard motor, or both. He enjoyed it so much that he began building them, with some elevated touches of luxury.

 

Nala, LDS Lifestyles, Lal De Silva, Yacht Sourcing, Boum Senous, yacht, phinisi, charter

Lal De Silva, founder of LDS Lifestyles

 

Although phinisi cruising is possible across much of Indonesia, it was in some of the country’s most treasured aesthetic waters – the Raja Ampat archipelago – that De Silva was smitten.

 

“I’ve travelled around the world and seen a lot of beautiful sights,” he recalls. “However, I was on a friend’s boat and as soon as I saw the mountains of Raja Ampat, its colourful birdlife and the very nice people living there, I fell in love with it.”

 

Nala, LDS Lifestyles, Lal De Silva, Yacht Sourcing, Boum Senous, yacht, phinisi, charter

De Silva commissioned Nala after falling in love with the Raja Ampat archipelago

 

He was also charmed by the character of the indigenous vessel on the voyage. “During that trip, I remember thinking that one day I would build my own boat like this and spend a lot more time enjoying these beautiful islands.”

 

In late 2021 he went on to commission one from a boat-builder in Sulawesi Island, where most of the skilled phinisi shipyards are based, and from there he instructed builds of a further two hulls.

 

TASTE FOR LUXURY

By then, De Silva had already acquired a taste for boat ownership, following his purchase of a brand new Azimut 66 flybridge motor yacht in 2016.

 

Nala, LDS Lifestyles, Lal De Silva, Yacht Sourcing, Boum Senous, yacht, phinisi, charter

Nala is the first of three phinisis ordered by Lal De Silva

 

He selected the Italian brand’s 21m model due to its sophisticated design, high-quality materials, performance, as well as the comprehensive after-sales maintenance and services offered by its Jakarta dealership.

 

While enjoying cruises aboard his yacht, with its designer interiors, luxurious deck areas and high-end audio-visual entertainment systems, he thought he would really appreciate these aspects on a phinisi. This cumulative ‘Eureka moment’ led De Silva in his building of three phinisi hulls, all destined to be fitted to De Silva’s high expectations in Bali.

 

The first, the 37.3m Nala, was completed last year and has already seen charter action, while the next two are expected to be ready before the end of the year. De Silva selected Yacht Sourcing, founded by Boum Senous in 2016, as the Central Agent for chartering Nala.

 

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Boum Senous (left) of Yacht Sourcing, Nala’s charter CA

 

“We looked around for an agency, I met Boum and I liked him. We had a few meetings and I liked what I heard about his plans for charter and taking care of the boat. After I made a couple of trips with the boat, they started to work with us from the end of last year.”

 

LDS STYLES NALA

Nala’s design concepts came from De Silva himself, and were then formally drafted by his in-house team to pass to contractors. LDS Lifestyles is divided into property, restaurant and gym divisions, within which interior and graphic design are largely handled internally.

 

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Nala offers accommodation for 12 guests in five cabins including a family cabin for four

 

The maximum capacity on board Nala is 12 guests and 10 crew. Opting for large windows in the five en-suite guest cabins – the family cabin can sleep four – as well as the saloon, fabrics are sumptuous when possible and more practical on and around outdoor deck areas on the 6.6m-beam yacht.

 

Cabins and the saloon showcase textiles, wood carvings and other traditional Indonesian arts and crafts, set against clean, simple backgrounds.

 

With three large decks, dining can be enjoyed under canopy on the upper deck, alfresco in the cockpit, or in the air-conditioned saloon on the main deck. There’s also a lounging area in the saloon.

 

Nala, LDS Lifestyles, Lal De Silva, Yacht Sourcing, Boum Senous, yacht, phinisi, charter

Nala offers large outdoor areas

 

At night, the upper deck – among other outdoor spaces – offers guests sunset views and superb star studded night skies, and has been known to host a guest DJ or two to plug into its on-board Bose audio system. All unsheltered outdoor areas can serve as sun decks during the day, with the two main-deck cabins having immediate access to balcony space.

 

EXPLORING INDONESIA

A trained scuba diver himself, De Silva insisted on having top equipment for exploring the depths, which is all inclusive of the charter cost, as are other water toys.

 

Nala, LDS Lifestyles, Lal De Silva, Yacht Sourcing, Boum Senous, yacht, phinisi, charter Nala is well equipped with RIBs and toys

 

All are high-spec models from top brands. Scuba gear is Aqualung, jet-skis are by Sea-Doo and the two 6m custom RIB boats (each with 10 passenger capacity) are by Outborn. Two kayaks, each built for two users, are also available on demand. Powered by one 400hp Mitsubishi S6B engine, Nala cruises comfortably without sails at about eight knots.

 

Nala’s clients so far have been from the UK, France, the US and Brazil, among other places. “Indonesians tend to prefer modern yachts rather than phinisis,” De Silva says.

 

He adds that during the Covid-19 pandemic, as Indonesians could not holiday abroad much, the younger generation started travelling east of Bali, with several reporting on the amazing scenery of Raja Ampat and that of the Eastern Nusa Tenggara archipelago.

 

Nala, LDS Lifestyles, Lal De Silva, Yacht Sourcing, Boum Senous, yacht, phinisi, charter

 

For instance, some visited Labuan Bajo on Flores Island, long popular with overseas visitors due to its proximity to the waters of Komodo National Park, favoured by scuba divers, and to Komodo Island by dragon-spotters.

 

“During and after Covid, the number of Indonesians going boating for the first time have grown. Having a dive master on the boat to supervise scuba diving and snorkelling activities is a strength for us. And with our restaurant business experience, we try to serve food and drinks to a higher level than many others, to meet the expectations of those used to dining out in Jakarta.”

www.lds-voyages.com

www.yachtsourcing.com

 

Vietnam, yacht, charter, Vietyacht, VietyachtClub, Halong, Phu Quoc, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cat Island, Chicken Islands, Japan, China, Korea, India, Europe, Jeanneau, Prestige, Fountaine Pajot, Alfastreet Marine, Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Ferretti, Luxyacht, Thanh Hoa province, Danang, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City

Charter in Vietnam: From Halong to Phu Quoc

Charter in Vietnam: From Halong to Phu Quoc

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Since becoming a dealer for leading European builders, Vietyacht has developed a thriving charter business dominated by Jeanneau motorboats, with Phu Quoc Island marking the company’s sixth base around Vietnam.
Words: Andrew Dembina Photos: Vietyacht

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Vietnam, yacht, charter, Vietyacht, VietyachtClub, Halong, Phu Quoc, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cat Island, Chicken Islands, Japan, China, Korea, India, Europe, Jeanneau, Prestige, Fountaine Pajot, Alfastreet Marine, Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Ferretti, Luxyacht, Thanh Hoa province, Danang, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City

 

We’re sitting on a large sunpad on the bow of a Jeanneau NC14 in Halong Bay. With little strain on the boat’s twin Volvo Penta pod-engine propulsion, we’re leaving the large tourist and day-tripper cruise boats standing, as we enjoy a private charter with Vietyacht.

 

Cruising smoothly and quietly at 20 knots or so towards the limestone karsts and islets the area is famed for, the appeal of touring this region of northeast Vietnam on a 46ft motor yacht soon becomes apparent.

 

Later, at slower speeds along calm waters, we’re informed by one of the three crew of some of the ‘rock-alikes’ in the vicinity, as we pass amusingly nicknamed formations such as Cat Island and Chicken Islands, which look a little like the silhouette of two fowls kissing beaks.

 

Vietnam, yacht, charter, Vietyacht, VietyachtClub, Halong, Phu Quoc, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cat Island, Chicken Islands, Japan, China, Korea, India, Europe, Jeanneau, Prestige, Fountaine Pajot, Alfastreet Marine, Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Ferretti, Luxyacht, Thanh Hoa province, Danang, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City

 

Visitors can view the variety of islets at the core of this UNESCO World Heritage Site during a short cruise of 2-3 hours like ours. We also pass caves, a floating restaurant and a small kayak and watersports pontoon.

 

For a sunset cruise, passengers can opt for paddleboarding, kayaking or jet-ski activities, or a swim from an anchorage, while taking in the surrounds and enjoying a fruit platter and a soft drink or something a little stronger.

 

Day charters ranging up to 10 hours are available, with lunch or dinner options and activities such as cave visits, fishing and squid fishing, while staying on board for one or two nights can also be arranged. Overseas visitors, mostly from Japan, China, Korea, India and Europe, make up 20 per cent of VietyachtClub’s charter guests.

 

STRONG START IN HALONG

VietyachtClub’s fleet at Halong Bay offers a variety of mostly Jeanneau motor yachts including Merry Fisher and Velasco 43F models.

 

Vietnam, yacht, charter, Vietyacht, VietyachtClub, Halong, Phu Quoc, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cat Island, Chicken Islands, Japan, China, Korea, India, Europe, Jeanneau, Prestige, Fountaine Pajot, Alfastreet Marine, Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Ferretti, Luxyacht, Thanh Hoa province, Danang, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City

 

Halong Bay is one of its growing number of charter operations in Vietnam’s more popular coastal regions, where other brands of motor and sailing yachts are offered, also through sister brand Luxyacht.

 

Outside the laid-back Halong Bay dockside office is a small Vietsec PPC-hull sailing catamaran, one of eight that comprised Vietyacht founder Duc Thuan Nguyen’s original fleet. A keen sailor, he currently enjoys a Jeanneau Sunfast monohull when leisure time allows.

 

Given Covid-19 interruptions and complications, the progress of the Vietyacht dealership and charter business has been remarkably fast since it commenced in 2015 following Thuan’s previous focus on distributing marine equipment and components.

 

 

Vietyacht started representing Jeanneau from 2017, soon adding sister brand Prestige to the portfolio before Fountaine Pajot also joined the following year. Slovenia’s Alfastreet Marine, which produces hybrid and electric boats, is also part of Vietyacht’s offerings.

 

In 2019, after securing the three French brands, Thuan became the Vietnam dealer for Ferretti Yachts, Riva and Pershing of Italy’s Ferretti Group under a new company, Luxyacht. Two Rivas and a Ferretti Yachts 500 have been sold into the country.

 

To date, the sister dealerships have sold more than 60 new yachts, although Jeanneau is the most popular of all the brands and makes up most charter yachts in VietyachtClub.

 

Duc Thuan Nguyen

 

“When I started in the yachting business in Vietnam, the market was brand new. At that moment, there were no new imported yachts and no marinas or jetties for yachts,” recalls Thuan, who said a Jeanneau Leader 36 was the country’s first new imported yacht.

 

“At that time, clients were wondering if it was easier to buy a house or a supercar. They wondered about how to use a boat, where to put it, who would take care of it. That’s why I thought about establishing a yachting club to provide berths, maintenance, supply crew, essentially an A to Z service, so clients could just pay and play.”

 

SPREADING AROUND VIETNAM

As owners rarely had time to use yachts more than a one or two days a month, Thuan improved their financial return by operating charters on their yachts on free days, which led to VietyachtClub. The first charter base was in Halong, site of the company’s headquarters.

 

Vietnam, yacht, charter, Vietyacht, VietyachtClub, Halong, Phu Quoc, UNESCO World Heritage Site, Cat Island, Chicken Islands, Japan, China, Korea, India, Europe, Jeanneau, Prestige, Fountaine Pajot, Alfastreet Marine, Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Ferretti, Luxyacht, Thanh Hoa province, Danang, Nha Trang, Ho Chi Minh City

 

“In Halong Bay, there are about 500 large cruising boats, so we wanted to offer something more private,” Thuan says.

 

There are now VietyachtClub branches further down the coast in Thanh Hoa province, Danang and Nha Trang, plus Ho Chi Minh City, while this summer one more launched on Phu Quoc Island, off the country’s southwest coast.

 

“Those cover the main coastal areas for clients,” Thuan says. “Further locations will depend on whether demand increases.”

 

Despite more use during the Covid-19 pandemic – except for periods when being outdoors was not allowed – Vietyacht and Luxyacht owners and charter clients are not generally keen on staying aboard overnight.

 

 

“Halong Bay waters are quite smooth, so it’s comfortable to stay overnight, but Vietnamese clients prefer day trips,” says Thuan, who adds that one owner has converted one of their boat’s three cabins into a much-used office.

 

Like in many parts of the world, the pandemic led to greater interest in yachting in Vietnam, leading to more sales and charter demand, Thuan says. Brand-wise, he hopes to expand from the seven currently stocked brands to 10.

 

However, import and luxury goods tax, along with VAT, remain a factor. They currently add up to about 50 per cent for private-use purchases, with accumulative taxes at 20 per cent for boats bought to be chartered.

 

There are some interesting potential changes on the horizon. In the past couple of years, Thuan feels some good-quality local boat builders have emerged. “They’re doing well and some people are buying these to charter, so we’re looking into the quality of the best of these.”

 

 

Furthermore, real-estate developers have plans to build more marinas for owners and for visiting yachts, should the Vietnamese government relax restrictions for overseas-flagged vessels. “There are signals this will happen in the near future,” Thuan says.

 

“An international marina certificate was just issued at AnaMarina in Nha Trang, so we hope to see races from Hong Kong and Hainan Island to Nha Trang soon.”

 

VietyachtClub is ready and waiting to provide visitors – sailors or otherwise – with fun-filled motorboat charters in the country’s most scenic areas, whether it’s Nha Trang or many of the other tourist hot spots from Halong Bay in the northeast to Phu Quoc in the southwest.

www.vietyacht.vn

www.luxyacht.vn

www.vietyachtclub.com

 

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