Waypoint Yacht Charter Services

Charter a Yacht and Spend Your Holiday in Exotic India

YachtMaven — Sun, 16 Nov 2008 23:53:39 +0000

We now have boats available for charter in India. Think about it. What a fantastic way to spend a holiday, a honeymoon, a milestone. Here’s an article that will tell you a bit of what you need to know. Call it dream food….

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

Think Green Boats and Sustainable Travel

YachtMaven — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 19:43:01 +0000

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.

Uh-oh, Something’s Gone Terribly Wrong…

YachtMaven — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 23:51:44 +0000

You’re on a beach in the exotic Maldives and you get word that your son (in college) just had an accident and is in the hospital. Your stress level skyrockets as you try to figure out how you’re going to get from where you are to where he is in record time.

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!

Queen of the Show!

Sherri — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 22:45:45 +0000

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!

HOLIDAY SPECIAL: M/V ARGYLL - FULLY ACCESSIBLE THROUGHOUT

YachtMaven — Mon, 01 Sep 2008 00:20:57 +0000

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.

2008 Paralympics

admin — Thu, 14 Aug 2008 21:20:59 +0000

More than 200 U.S. athletes from around the world will compete in 18 sports during the 2008 Paralympic Games in Beijing, China, September 6-17, 2008. The Games will involve approximately 4000 athletes, 1800 of whom will be wheelchair users.

The process for athletic qualification for U.S. teams, such as World Championships and the Paralympic Games and other major international competitions, is generally posted 12-18 months before the competition, so now would be the time to start thinking about the 2010 Winter Paralympics in Vancouver, B.C.

Paralympic Sailing

Sailing started to attract sailors with a disability in the 1980s and was first introduced to the Paralympic Games in 1996. It became a medal sport in the year 2000. Two boats have been raced at the Paralympic Games in the past: the 2.4mR, a single-person keelboat, and the Sonar, a three-person keelboat. A third event, the two-person keelboat, will be added to the program for the Beijing Games. Because of it’s design and control, the 2.4mR was selected for single-person races. The boat’s ease of use allows for a level playing field, making tactical knowledge the dominant factor in competition.

Paralympic sailing competition is open to male and female athletes The scoring system assigns points based on ability level, allowing athletes from different disability groups to compete together. There is a maximum point count for crews (3 persons) that cannot exceed 14 aggregate points, so those with more severe disabilities can participate.

You can find more information on Paralympic Sailing by going to www.sailing.org/disabled

You don’t have to be a high level athlete, or aspire to the Paralympics, to charter one of the accessible boats at www.waypointcharter.com . All you need is a love for adventure and a desire to experience the freedom of the sea. We are Certified Accessible Travel Specialists and experienced sailors, so give us a call!

Check out some great Paralympics videos below!

Paralympic Sport TV Trailer 2008