In our collective search for better health, more studies are looking at the causal relationships between leisure vacations and depression.  Vacation time has become recognized as one of the important candidates for alleviating psychological problems. Is anyone surprised?

So here’s a picture of something to contemplate:

The beauty and peace of sunny Baja

According to David Loren Sullivan, an affiliate of MOR Vacations (www.LuxuryVacationSolutions.com) in his article at http://EzineArticles.com –

“There is a clear correlation between lifestyle and stress. A study published in 2000 involving 12,000 men over a nine year period had similar findings. Men that did not vacation annually were 33% more likely to die of a heart attack and had a 21% risk of death from other causes. The facts also point to the effect vacations have on your mental health. Research scientists at the Marshfield Clinic in Wisconsin report the rate of depression increased as the frequency of vacations decreased…

Almost 25% of Americans working in the private sector do not receive paid vacations according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. There are 137 countries that mandate paid vacations. The U.S. does not. John de Graff, executive director, of Take Back Your Time is lobbying Congress to pass the Minimum Leave Protection, Family Bonding, and Personal Well-Being Act that will mandate three weeks of vacation. It’s a tough sell to business, but more enticing than sick time because it is more predictable.

Indications are that the economic downturn is not over. Offsetting the negative ramifications is vital to our health. It may be necessary to set aside funds to ensure a relaxing and luxurious vacation. We all deserve it.”

Time to rethink your plans? How about a private yacht vacation? …maybe with friends or family? Check out this boat.

S/V Sea Angel sailing to Baja

The Maltese Islands are situated in the center of the Mediterranean, about 93 km south of Italy and 290 km north of North Africa. The island of Gozo lies about 5 km northwest of Malta and the distance between it and the mainland of Malta is about a 25 minute by boat. Warm summers and mild winters make this an ideal destination to holiday at any time of year.

The tiny Island of Comino is situated right in the middle of the channel that separates Malta from Gozo. An unspoiled haven for all those who love swimming, snorkeling, diving, wind surfing and just about any other water sport, its natural caves and crystal clear sea provide some of the most spectacular sights of the Maltese archipelago.
Comino has an area of 1.5 square kilometers and there are only about eight residents living on the Island. Traffic is nonexistent. The island does boast a modern hotel that caters to those who make it a point to get away from it all.

Maybe we’ll see you there?

We are served the same exquisite menu items that our paying charter clients will enjoy and it is one of the most pleasurable benefits of our job as brokers.  It gives us genuine culinary experiences to share with our clients. Chef’s Competition Awards are presented in various divisions, from best in yacht size, to desserts, to best artistic table presentation…and finally, to Chef of the Year.

The amount of planning and preparation that goes into this final big event for these professional chefs is amazing. It’s not difficult to know which day a chef is presenting for the judges.  Normally calm, informative and pleased to be showing a broker around their galley, on competition days they are occupied with the myriad of details necessary for  perfection and the chance to win. The anticipation is more than a little exciting!

And the winners are:

YACHTS 150 AND OVER:

3rd place Chef Nicole Poirier, Andromeda La Dia

2nd place Chef Ben Mercie, Destination Fox Harbour Too

1st place Chef Zak Phillips Amnesia

YACHTS 91FEET TO 149 FEET

3rd place Chef Chani Mare, Sea Shuttle

2nd Place Chef Leslie Bore, Sedation

1st place Chef Phillipe Le Scelleur, Arioso

YACHTS 90 FEET AND UNDER

3rd place Chef Israel Campbell, Y Not

2nd place Chef Andrea Clark, Matau

TABLE DISPLAY CATEGORY

3rd place, Y Not

2nd place, Sea Wolf

1st place, Destination Fox Harbour Too

CARIBBEAN COFFEE ROASTERS CATEGORY

3rd place Chef Wendy Weller, Irishman

2nd place Chef Stephan Dessimore, Axioma

1st place Chef Zak Phillips Amnesia

My personal “Thank you” to the following yachts who served me amazing and unforgettable lunches during the Antigua yacht show last week:

344′ MY Seadream I — Chef ~ Sudesh Kishore Amazing lobster curry!

102′ MY Texas Star — Chef ~ Robyn Heitz Decadent bourbon/banana cake!

90′ MY Tivoli — Chef ~ Corey Marion Exceptional Ahi spring rolls!

62′ SY Zahora  — Chef ~ Shaz Fabulous 4 course lunch!

And a very special thanks to the chef and Brazilian staff onboard the 153′ MY Big Aron, who served a luscious array of meats from the unique Brazilian barbecue during the evening dock hop parties. I also enjoyed the BEST variation of a mango mojito I’ve ever had and was able to persuade the staff to share the secret ingredients (with a sworn oath of secrecy agreed!) Contact us to inquire about this yacht and her South Pacific itinerary!

Beautiful Antigua

I am so excited to be leaving for the Antigua Charter Yacht Show tomorrow! This year’s show will take place at the Nelson’s Dockyard Marina in English Harbour, the Falmouth Harbour Marina and the Antigua Yacht Club Marina both located in Falmouth Harbour.

Antigua’s coasts are idyllic for yacht cruising and racing, offering continual trade-winds and many appealing harbors to discover. One can easily spend a week cruising around this charming Caribbean island.  And don’t forget to explore the beaches of her sister island of Barbuda, with its shell-laden beaches…beautiful!

There’s a lot going on in Antigua.  Here’s a sample of some of some of the main events coming in 2009.  You might want to mark your calendar.

Main events of 2009:

• Starting April 16 – 21: CLASSIC YACHT REGATTA, hosted by the Antigua Yacht Club. For further information and 2006 results, see their website at www.antiguaclassics.com. For entries please request from Classic Yacht Regatta c/o Antigua Yacht Club, PO Box 103 St Johns, Antigua
• April 26 – May 02: ROLEX ANTIGUA SAILING WEEK This has become one of the top three regattas of the world. It is run under the auspices of the Antigua Hotels and Tourist Association. For further information and 2008 results, see their website at www.sailingweek.com.
• ANTIGUA YACHT SHOW, operated by V.E.B. Nicholson & Sons.

Other events of the year organized by the Antigua Yacht Club are the annual High Tide Series, Green Island Race, informal Round-the-Island-Race and the “after work” Thursday afternoon races for all-comers.

I’ll share more when I return!  Meanwhile, isn’t it time you started planning your 2009 yacht charter cruises?

Andreas Liveras

Today we learned of the death of Andreas Liveras, owner of Liveras Yachts. According to The Wall Street Journal, Liveras was among the tourists trapped and murdered in the Taj Mahal Palace.

Liveras Yachts has owned and chartered luxury yachts for more than 20 years. Their fleet includes some of the most exclusive yachts in the world.

A statement from Liveras Yachts in response to the tragedy said, “Not only was Andreas one of the great entrepreneurs and characters of the yachting business; he was also a much loved and respected father, grandfather and friend. He will be greatly missed by all who loved him and knew him.”

We send our deepest sympathy to the Liveras family.

If you like what you see, give us a call and we’ll set you up with the charter of a lifetime.

Holidaying in Kerala – Simply Worth It

By Aparajita Shankar

Kerala, one of the most popular tourist destinations of India, is famous for its serene natural beauty, beautiful beaches, lush green landscapes, backwaters and ayurveda. This beautiful Indian state situated at the southern part of the country, lures tourists from far and wide.

Kerala travel is one thing that you should experience yourself and with you family at least once. The charm of Kerala is such that once you go there, you’ll have that craving to go back again and again.

You can explore the beauty of nature to the fullest in Kerala. The places you can explore here are the exotic sea beaches, hill stations, temples, wildlife and the backwaters. If you are in Kerala for your holidays, one must visit place is the Kerala Backwaters. You can enjoy every element of nature around you – water, greenery, birds almost everything.

Another very beautiful travel location in Kerala is the mystic hill station Munnar located amidst three hills. Munnar is 120 km away from Cochin which is another tourist hotspot. The aroma of tea and coffee plantations and pleasant weather make this place all the more special. You can spend your evenings lazying around the beautiful and ecstatic beaches of Kerala.

While you are on Kerala India travel, give yourself a culture treat and enjoy some lip smacking south Indian food seasoned with flavours of fresh spices. You can also enjoy the folk and classical dance forms of the state, Kathakali, Mohini Attam etc. that are actually musical representations of a mythological drama. It generally starts at dusk and goes throughout the night. Snake boat race presents another ethnic and unique cultural glimpse of the state that is held only once in a year before Onam which is the biggest festival of Kerala. Watching live snake boat raced is an experience of lifetime and in itself which cannot be this can not be experienced anywhere else in the world.

So, book your Kerala flight and a room in a Kerala hotel now to spend a vacation of lifetime and do full justice to your much needed break because a holiday in Kerala is completely worth it.

Visit site to get more information on travel deals to India and Kerala India travel.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Aparajita_Shankar

Gato Verde

More and more travelers are concerning themselves with sustainable travel, carbon offsets and reducing the carbon footprint of the travel industry. We are pleased to feature the Gato Verde, a beautiful and sustainable catamarran that is the first plug-in diesel electric hybrid charter boat on the West Coast of North America!

The owners and crew of Gato Verde strive to model the highest levels of environmental stewardship and make it their mission to share that knowledge. They follow and teach the protocols set forth by the National Clean Boating Campaign on the water and Leave No Trace on land.

They think of themselves as an evolving platform demonstrating sustainable & environmentally friendly technologies. Since Gato Verde is a sailing vessel, if they have wind they use it! There is no cleaner fuel. Her sails are optimized for light wind to keep her sailing when others have started their engines. If the wind does die down, they use silent electric motors….more

Gato Verde is on the West Coast of North America, but there are others around the world. How about a trip to the Caribbean? Plan now for your vacation or for escaping the winter doldrums…sustainably. Check out what Copa Airlines is up to…

Copa Airlines Launches Voluntary Carbon Offsetting Program

Copa is the first Latin American airline to offer carbon offsetting option for air travel footprint. They’ve just launched a voluntary carbon offsetting program. The program is based on a “carbon calculator” available at www.copaair.com, where passengers can calculate the amount of greenhouse gas emissions produced by their air travel, then make a voluntary contribution to offset the flight’s carbon footprint.

The carbon-offsetting program is part of Copa Airlines’ commitment to the environment, which includes a totally renovated fleet equipped with fuel-efficient engines, an investment in new technologies, and streamlining of operations to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. The airline also is implementing an Environmental Adaptation and Management Program that encompasses the measurement, reduction and offsetting of emissions, in addition to promoting cleaner production, consumption of renewable resources and a corporate culture of environmental responsibility.

Copa’s voluntary gas-emissions offset program was developed in association with Sustainable Travel International (STI), a nonprofit organization that will invest passengers’ contributions to finance high-impact, sustainable-development programs such as alterative energy projects and reforestation.

Copa Airlines currently offers 136 daily scheduled flights to 42 destinations in 22 countries in North, Central and South America and the Caribbean through its Hub of the Americas based in Panama City, Panama. In addition, Copa Airlines provides passengers with access to flights to more than 120 other international destinations through codeshare agreements with Continental Airlines and other airlines. Aero Republica, the second-largest carrier in Colombia, provides service to 12 cities in Colombia as well as international connectivity with Copa Airlines’ Hub of the Americas through daily flights from Bogota, Bucaramanga, Cali and Medellin. (www.copaair.com)

About Sustainable Travel International (STI)

Sustainable Travel International ( http://www.sustainabletravelinternational.org) is a US-based non-profit organization whose mission is to promote sustainable development and responsible travel by providing programs that help travelers and travel-related companies protect the environmental, socio-cultural and economic values of the places they visit, and the planet at large. Sustainable Travel International introduced carbon offsetting and custom carbon calculators into the North American travel and tourism industry.

Or, you’re away on holidays, snorkeling off the Great Barrier Reef, and you have a medical emergency that requires immediate hospitalization…

Enter, travel insurance.

The benefits of travel insurance are many, but the most important one is that you can rest in the knowledge that if something does go wrong while you’re away, you have a backup system that’s going to cover your next set of moves even when you’re not likely to be thinking clearly.

Travel insurance policies vary, but most cover the most important issues like:

• Cancellation or Trip Interruption (if you have to suddenly return home)
• Emergency Medical Assistance and/or Treatment
• Hospital Benefit (to cover incidental, in-patient costs)
• Medical Evacuation (covers transportation to nearest hospital)
• Repatriation (covers your return home after medical treatment, etc)
• Personal Liability
• Personal Accident
• Legal Expenses
• Personal Belongings
• And more…

Shop around and don’t forget to read the fine print.  Sometimes benefits come in a bundle and sometimes ala Carte.  A broker can help you with the details so you can be sure of ending up with exactly the coverage you want.

Knowing that you’re covered will create the peace of mind you need to enjoy whatever yacht charter that you book.

A happy and safe journey to you all!

We at Waypoint Yacht Charter Services were so honored to be the first charter brokers to be personally invited by Stabbert Maritime for a scheduled private tour of the newly launched 145′ M/Y Devotion! When my partner Don Hall and I headed to Seattle’s Boats Afloat show on opening day, we were more than a little excited to view the ‘Queen of the Show.’

Formerly the Marjorie Morningstar, the M/Y Devotion is 143 feet of one of the most beautifully redesigned boats we’ve seen. As we boarded for our ‘exclusive’ onboard tour, we were immediately aware of the attention to detail that the interior design team, Cheryl Stabberrt and Sharon Redding, have given her. All I can say is… elegant, stunning, thoughtfully designed…clearly a labor of love.

Added considerations were given towards inclusive design on the main floor with widened doorways and space around the master stateroom berth for guests with varying levels of mobility. Extra handholds in the master head give additional security for guests. Although not a complete Universal Design product, the fact that this company is thinking about their refits with regards to Inclusive Design concepts, is an honorable mention as the private yacht industry begins to realize the desire and needs of all travelers.

I look forward to working with Stabbert Maritime as they bid “Bon Voyage” to Captain Simon and crew when they head out of the Ballard Locks and south along the West Coast of the Americas for her maiden charter voyage, later this fall. Charter itineraries are available for the Sea of Cortez, the Mexican Riviera and Costa Rica as the “Queen of the Show” embarks on her 2008-2009 charter season. Contact us if you’re interested.

Congratulations on this amazing ‘extreme makeover’ and I look forward to bringing her itinerary options to my clients!

M/V Argyll – Fully Accessible Motor Yacht

British Virgin Islands only.  $150,000 USD per week; two week minimum.

This vessel is fully equipped, luxurious and ready for you to book your holiday cruise to the British Virgin Islands.

Her features include:

• Full individually controlled Air-conditioning
• Stabilizers at Anchor (4 x Zero Speed Stabilizers)
• Internet Connection in all staterooms and throughout vessel

Her five cabins accommodate 10 people.  All staterooms and decks are accessible by wheelchair and elevator.
Her crew has private access and companionway to all decks.

Master: Upper Deck, Aft: Walk-around King Bed, state-of-the-art entertainment center with TV/DVD/individual satellite receiver worldwide; desk, and ample closet space. En-suite facilities feature “HIS” to port with single sink, stall shower and head – all wheelchair accessible, and “HERS” to starboard with single sink, stall shower, bidet and head. Private aft deck for al fresco dining with hi-lo table, and full wet bar. Mesh shades maximize privacy on port and starboard sides.

Below Decks:

• VIP 1: Aft to Starboard: Walk-around Queen bed, with en-suite facilities featuring shower. Entertainment center with TV/DVD/individual satellite receiver. Direct access to elevator.

• VIP 2: Aft to port: Walk-around Queen bed, with en-suite facilities featuring bathtub with shower overhead. Entertainment center with TV/DVD/individual satellite receiver.

• Port Twin Stateroom: Twin beds, with en-suite facilities featuring shower. Entertainment center with TV/DVD/individual satellite receiver.

• Starboard Twin Stateroom: Twin beds, with en-suite facilities featuring bathtub with shower overhead. Entertainment center with TV/DVD/individual satellite receiver.

Main Deck:

• Foyer, Galley with bar stool seating, walk-around decks, access to private formal dining room for 10 guests.

• Day Head to starboard.

• Main Salon all in mahogany with bar, games table, entertainment center with TV/DVD/ individual satellite receiver.

• Aft deck: completely covered plus mesh shades to port and starboard maximize shade. Al fresco dining for 10 with full wet bar; walk-around decks with cushioned seating on bow.

• Access to swim platform with rails. Electronic Ramp Access, wheelchair accessible.

Upper Deck:

• Pilothouse with Portuguese deck, cushioned seating outside in front of Pilothouse.

• Library aft of Pilothouse with 62″ Flat screen TV/DVD and individual satellite receiver; decorative fireplace. Sliding mahogany partition gives option of creating privacy in library or opens onto pilothouse.

Sky Deck:

• Sky lounge completely enclosed with panoramic view, full entertainment center with TV/DVD/individual satellite receiver; Treadmill with light weights. Wet Bar.

Sun Deck:

• Sunny and open Jacuzzi Deck with deck chairs and oversized Jacuzzi, outside shower, wet bar with icemaker.

For more information about the M/V Argyll and to reserve her for this year’s holiday season, click here.