Y.CO has just welcomed the 298-foot Lürssen Lady Lara to the charter fleet. The lowest weekly base rate is $1.4 million for bookings this winter in the Caribbean and Bahamas.

The yacht is also listed for sale—at more than $254 million—for the first time since the German shipyard delivered it in 2015. Y.CO’s Max Bulley and Gary Wright, along with Merle Wood of Merle Wood & Associates, represented the yacht at the recent Monaco Yacht Show.

“With Lürssen quality and stunning Reymond Langton design, Lady Lara is an exceptional yacht that was conceived with family living in mind,” Wright stated in a press release. “Her adaptable spaces, variety and flexibility, in addition to all the amazing features like the breathtaking spa area, the beach club and two pools, are ideal for multigenerational groups and put Lady Lara into a league of her own.”

Accommodations are for 12 guests in their choice of eight staterooms (for private use, the yacht is built to accommodate 16 guests). Six of the guest staterooms are on the main deck, with one on the lower deck. The master suite has its own private deck with an exterior terrace, outdoor hot tub, and indoor library. The aft-deck space in the owner’s area is called a “winter garden,” with sliding glass panels that can be closed to shelter diners from the elements.

There also are two cabins for owner’s staff or supernumeraries, in addition to the yacht’s quarters for 27 crew.

Onboard amenities include an aft-deck pool whose floor can be raised to create a dance floor. A sound system on this deck helps to create a discotheque-style environment for parties. There’s another pool up on the sundeck, this one with a swim-up bar.

On the bridge deck, guests have access to the spa, which includes a hammam, massage room, treatment room, beauty salon and gymnasium. Guests who prefer to get their exercise outdoors can do so from the beach club at water level, which has a steam room and a sauna along with a sunbathing area.

For rainy days and relaxing nights, the lower deck aboard Lady Lara includes a cinema. There’s also a touch-and-go helipad on board, if guests want to escape to a different spot up the coast.

How fast can Lady Lara cruise? According to Y.CO, the yacht has a top speed of 17 knots and a cruising speed of 14 knots, which is plenty fast for exploring the islands.

How to book a week on board: contact a charter broker at y.co

The post A $1.4 Million-Per-Week Yacht Charter Experience appeared first on Yachting.

With the winter yacht charter season about to kick into high gear in the Bahamas and Caribbean, several top management companies have welcomed notable motoryachts into their fleets.

Perhaps the largest yacht in this category is Samsara, a 290-foot Oceanco that recently joined the Y.CO charter fleet. Brokers are now accepting inquiries for winter charters in the Bahamas and Caribbean (and for summer 2024 bookings in Greenland and Iceland) at a lowest weekly base rate of $1.1 million.

Samsara is a 2015 build that most recently was refitted in 2023, with accommodations for 12 guests in seven staterooms. This yacht has a private owners’ deck, swimming pool, gymnasium, massage room and hair salon, along with an elevator for guest use. “Her seven-cabin layout is ideal for multigenerational groups or two families traveling together,” says David Price of Y.CO Charter Management. “It offers the flexibility to suit many kinds of charter groups.”

Meanwhile, over at Edmiston, two notable yachts have joined the charter fleet.

First is Wayfinder, 223-foot powercat that Astilleros Armon built in 2021. This yacht has an unusual layout, with 11 en suite staterooms (nine singles and two with twin berths) for 12 guests, along with quarters for 20 crew. It can be booked as either its own charter yacht or as a support vessel for more traditional charter yachts.

Wayfinder has an open aft deck with a helipad that doubles as a pickleball court. This yacht also has belowdecks storage for six tenders and four Sea-Doos. The lowest base rate to book a week in the Caribbean is $300,000, with inquiries also being accepted for the Mediterranean and other destinations in summer 2024.

Also new to the Edmiston charter fleet is the 164-foot Home, a 2017 Heesen that will be in the Bahamas this winter at a lowest weekly base rate of $245,000.

Home accommodates 12 guests in six staterooms, and charters with nine crew. Interiors are by Cristiano Gatto—Edmiston describes them as “crisp, light-filled and Ibiza-inspired.” For outdoor fun, the complement of tenders and toys includes a 34-foot Jupiter towed tender, a 21-foot Williams jet tender that can reportedly hit 35 knots, Sea-Doos, standup paddleboards, skis, inflatables, snorkeling gear and scuba equipment.

And, last but not least, IYC has added the 162-foot Christensen Remember When to the charter fleet, with bookings available this winter in the Bahamas at a lowest weekly base rate of $230,000. It’s a 2011 build that was most recently refitted in 2020, with accommodations for 12 guests in six staterooms. An elevator services all four decks, and the full-beam main-deck master has a private office.

Is it too early to call for summer 2024 yacht charter bookings? Nope. In fact, IYC also just welcomed the 90-foot Sanlorenzo SAL to the charter fleet. It’s a brand-new build for 2023 that’s currently accepting bookings for the West Mediterranean, Croatia and Montenegro in summer 2024.

Take the next step: head over to y.co, edmiston.com or iyc.com

The post New Options for Winter Yacht Charter appeared first on Yachting.

RJC Yachts has welcomed the 140-foot Feadship Never Enough to the charter fleet. Inquiries are being accepted for charters in the Caribbean and Bahamas at a lowest weekly base rate of $125,000.

Never Enough is a 1992 build that was most recently refitted in 2019. The yacht accommodates 10 guests in five staterooms, and it charters with seven crew.

A 33-foot Boston Whaler tender that’s fully rigged for fishing is part of the water-sports package, which also includes a pair of personal watercraft, Seabobs, wakeboards, water skis, tow toys and snorkeling gear. The yacht encourages family charters and stocks watertoys that are sized for kids as well as for adults.

What else is new at RJC Yachts? The company recently acquired Churchill Yacht Partners, which was founded in 2004 with a focus on crewed yacht charter. Longtime charter broker Maggie Vale will move from Churchill to the RJC team.

How to book a charter on board Never Enough: Contact a charter broker at rjcyachts.com

The post ‘Never Enough’ Joins RJC Yachts Charter Fleet appeared first on Yachting.

As the closest Bahamian port to the United States, Bimini is an easy and fun weekend run from South Florida for cruisers. And Bimini’s excellent sport fishing, snorkeling and scuba diving have given this pair of tiny islands an outsize reputation as a popular cruising destination.

Bimini Big Game Club Resort & Marina

Bimini is known as the sport-fishing capital of the world. Since 1936, this pioneering outfitter in Alice Town on North Bimini has hosted boats that ply the warm waters along the western edge of the Gulf Stream, where charter clients have bagged brag-worthy specimens of bonefish, billfish and tuna over the decades. The resort is just as well known for its dive center, founded in 1975 by Neal Watson, president of the Bahamas Dive Association. The resort’s lively Bimini Seafood Co. & Conch Bar is a popular spot for its weekly theme nights (including Lobster Sundays) and international sporting events on its big screens.

The Sapona Wreck

If only the weather-worn walls of the SS Sapona could talk. This wreck that’s now a navigational landmark for cruisers and a popular fishing, diving and snorkeling destination had originally been destined to serve as a cargo vessel during World War I, but its production ran longer than the war did. A Florida rum runner used the ship briefly as a floating warehouse in Bahamian waters during Prohibition until a hurricane ran it aground in 1926 just a few miles off Bennett’s Harbor in South Bimini. With a maximum depth of only 20 feet, the Sapona appeals to divers and snorkelers of all skill levels who frequently spot barracuda, triggerfish, large lobsters and many other species among the ship’s spooky, rusty remains.  joe’s conch shack There’s a reason there’s usually a line at this small, open-air conch shack between Bailey Town and Resorts World. The freshness and generous portions of the conch salad—usually handmade by Joe himself—make Joe’s Conch Shack a must-stop on any Bimini itinerary. Grab a Kalik beer—especially if you liberally apply the pepper sauce to the conch salad—and enjoy this refreshing island staple along with the harbor views.

Edith’s Pizza & Bahamian Food

Lobster pizza, using the sweet local style of Bimini bread dough for its crust, is the calling card of this island favorite on King’s Highway near Bailey Town. Pick up this distinctive pie for lunch or dinner any day of the week.

Dolphin House Museum

For 30 years, this “poem in stone” has provided a touch of whimsy and artistry in Alice Town. Local author and historian Ashley Saunders assembled this three-story museum from treasures collected on Bimini’s beaches and from recycled materials around the island. Colorful mosaics line the walls, populated by pods of dolphins like the one that first inspired Saunders’ creation. The artist himself is often on-site, providing guided tours to visitors and adding new scenes to his remarkable labor of love.

The post Cruising to Bimini appeared first on Yachting.

Edmiston says the 236-foot CRN Arbema is almost ready for the winter charter season after a multimillion-dollar refit.

Launched in 2010, the yacht’s nearly yearlong refit period in the shipyard is expected to finish in November. Charter availability is expected to begin with the Christmas holiday season in the Caribbean, Bahamas and Central America.

Work has included a full paint job, what Edmiston calls “major” technical upgrades, installation of a new interior, the addition of upgraded toys and more.

Accommodations are still for 12 guests and four supernumeraries in eight staterooms. The master is on the main deck and spans the full beam with a fold-down balcony. It also includes a private TV room and massage room.

Following the winter season, the yacht is expected to move to the Mediterranean for summer 2024.

What’s the lowest weekly base rate to charter Arbema? It’s $600,000.

How to book a week on board: Contact a charter broker at edmiston.com

The post Refitted and Ready to Charter appeared first on Yachting.

Fraser says the 115-foot Benetti Heaven Can Wait is accepting inquiries for remaining open summer charter dates in the Bahamas.

Heaven Can Wait is a 2006 build that most recently was refitted in 2020. The yacht bases in Nassau, with no delivery fees on itineraries that are round-trip from that home port.

Accommodations are for 10 guests in five staterooms, including a main-deck master. The yacht charters with seven crew.

What’s the lowest weekly base rate to charter Heaven Can Wait? It’s $85,000 per week.

How to book a week on board: Contact a charter broker at fraseryachts.com

The post Summer Dates Available in the Bahamas appeared first on Yachting.

The 131-foot Sunseeker Acacia has joined the Fraser charter fleet, with year-round availability in the Bahamas.

Acacia is a 2012 build that most recently was refitted in 2022. The yacht accommodates 10 guests in five staterooms that can be arranged for a group of friends or a multigenerational family.

Guest amenities on the sundeck include workout space, a hot tub, lounge areas and dining. For guests who prefer to have fun out on the water, Acacia carries what Fraser calls a “massive selection of toys,” including an inflatable beach-club platform and toy dock.

The lowest weekly base rate to charter Acacia is $140,000.

What is Acacia’s cruising speed? It’s 14 knots, with a top hop of 23 knots.

Take the next step: Contact a charter broker at fraseryachts.com

The post Ready for Bahamas Bookings: ‘Acacia’ appeared first on Yachting.

It’s always a good day when a new build becomes available for charter, giving guests a chance to check out the latest offering from a prominent builder. That’s the story of Sea-renity, a Horizon FD100 that is marketed as a 2023 build and is now based in the Bahamas for charter inquiries throughout the summer season.

This particular FD100 has an interior that’s unusual, with a substantial amount of light wood that’s paired with black accent items throughout all the guest spaces. The decor was created by the Miami-based JAC design studio. “A lot of boats these days, it’s grays or blues and greens. This is different,” says Sarah Egger, charter manager with Fraser.

At an industry charter-yacht show in the Bahamas earlier this year, brokers also commented about how large the boat felt compared with others that are the same length overall. The extensive use of glazing certainly contributes to that ambience, as does the combination of decor and overall design. “The space on the inside, the volume, it seems much bigger than it is,” Egger adds. “I think it’s the lightness, but it’s also the build. That Horizon has a wider beam.”

As of this writing, Sea-renity had just completed its first few charters with friends of the owners on board, and the new owners had used it as well. Egger says a few of the favorite spaces are the yacht’s three bars—one in the beach club, one on the aft deck and one on the bridge deck next to the hot tub—along with the Portuguese seating and sunning space forward of the bridge. There’s also a beach club aft, which Egger says the owners are planning to fill with an increasing number of water toys. A towed tender is also in the works.

Sea-renity itself has a cruising speed of 13 knots and a top hop of 20 knots, which should be plenty fast for zipping around the Bahamas in style.    

The Horizon FD100

This is a current model available for orders with Horizon Yachts. It can be built as a skyline or tri-deck, which means either an enclosed sky lounge or an open flybridge, respectively. The designer of the Horizon FD100 is Cor D. Rover, whose other work includes yachts as large as the 220-foot Benetti Seasense. He has been working with Horizon Yachts since 2012. As a team, Rover’s studio and Horizon count more than 60 yachts either built or in build now. 

The post Horizon FD100 ‘Sea-renity’ Ready for Bahamas Charters appeared first on Yachting.

Located just off the northern tip of Eleuthera, Harbour Island doesn’t have a to-do list so much as a just-be list. While cruisers can certainly go offshore fishing and snorkeling in its crystal-clear waters, the island’s Pink Sand Beach invites visitors to simply sit back and relax.

Pink Sand Beach 

This waterfront expanse is the magnet and money shot of Harbour Island. Its always-cool powder-soft sand beckons the barefoot to stroll its 3-mile stretch along the eastern, Atlantic Ocean side of Briland, as locals call their home island. The sand’s trademark pale-pink hue, which stems from the pinkish-red shells of a single-celled organism called foraminifera, has landed the beach in countless social-media snaps as well as on several “best beaches in the world” lists.

Queen Conch

To riff on Bubba’s shrimp rhapsody in the movie Forrest Gump, Queen Conch is renowned for serving up this mighty mollusk in a multitude of delicious freshly prepared dishes: conch fritters, cracked conch fries, conch pasta, conch ceviche and, especially, its house specialty, conch salad, which often runs out before the dinner crowd. Customers from all over pull up a chair on the restaurant’s colorful open-air patio and pair the restaurant’s fare with great harbor views and a Goombay Smash, the official drink of the Bahamas, or a bottle of Kalik, a popular Bahamian lager.

Dunmore Town

Rent a golf cart, and explore the bougainvillea-lined streets of Dunmore Town, one of the oldest settlements in the Bahamas and the only town on Harbour Island. Its Georgian architecture, upscale boutiques and jet-set clientele draw comparisons between Harbour Island and Nantucket, Massachusetts. Start your morning at Arthur’s Bakery & Café to sample its jalapeño cheese bread and doughnuts, among other temptations. Stop in and browse at The Sugar Mill, the treasure trove of a boutique co-owned by India Hicks, the British designer, relative of the royal family and longtime resident who is the celebrity face of Harbour Island. Her book Island Style captures not only Hicks’ own design aesthetic—a combination of carefree Caribbean culture and British colonial formality—but also the overall Briland vibe. For dinner, there’s no shortage of refined restaurants. At The Landing, pair a bottle from its Wine Spectator-lauded list with contemporary seafood dishes. Or, at The Dunmore, enjoy “beach chic” and Caribbean-influenced seafood surrounded by vintage photographs in the clubhouse or with the gorgeous views on the patio.

The post Unwind on the Bahamas’ Harbour Island appeared first on Yachting.

Fraser sends word that the 142-foot Christensen Grade I is offering a 10 percent drop on the weekly base rate for Bahamas yacht charter through September.

Typically, the lowest weekly base rate is $140,000. With the incentive rate, that number drops to $126,000.

Grade I is a 1995 build that most recently was refitted in 2018. Accommodations are for 12 guests in six staterooms, and the yacht charters with a 42-foot Yellowfin tender for fishing, snorkeling and other watersports.

According to Fraser, the yacht’s cruising speed is 12 knots with a top-end speed of 17 knots for minimizing cruising time between the islands in the Bahamas.

Where is Grade I is heading for winter 2023-24? The owner is considering inquiries for the Bahamas, the Caribbean and Costa Rica, including during the prime winter holiday weeks.

How to book a week on board: Contact a charter broker at fraseryachts.com

The post Special Rate for Bahamas Charter appeared first on Yachting.