'Va Bene' available for charter in Antigua

The luxurious 47 meter power yacht Va Bene was recently refit by her new owner, music legend Eric Clapton. Completely updated in an elegant unpretentious style particularly suited for families, read more about her history at: http://edition.cnn.com/2008/SPORT/11/25/clapton.yacht/index.html

Va Bene accommodates 12 guests in 5 cabins and has 13 attentive crew. Based in a favorite location of the owner, Antigua, she is available for charter during the winter months for a weekly rate of $239,000 plus all expenses and will return to the Med for the summer season.

For more details about the yacht:
VA BENE http://www.myCharter.com/Va-bene/index.asp?pass=521206099

Christmas Winds arrive early in the Carribean!

Traditionally, mid December is when the "Christmas Winds" start blowing cool northern air down the Atlantic so that steamy fall temps drop from the high 80/90F into the high 70sF making sitting in the sun a pleasure. This winds move from a southeast light breeze into a strong northeasterly trad wind which makes sailing fast and exciting.

This year the winds have turned and the palm fronds are tossing their heads over the sparkling blue sea which has cooled off the Caribbean weather into long sleeve shirt weather in the evenings!

Locals know this is not really 'cold' and many sitting in New England won't have any sympathy, but now is when we drag out that light blanket to sleep out on deck under starry skies.

Time for you to come warm up in our 'cooler' weather?

VI Shows over -- break before St. Maarten & Antigua Shows

There were some wonderful yachts at the VI charter shows this year! ReAction -- a personal favorite of mine won best in show in Tortola -- Ian and Polly do a fabulous job and the boat looked brand new & sparkling. Power yacht Analisa with Ruth & Peter welcomed brokers for the first time and their previous experience shows as this yacht looked very good with numerous upgrades.

In St. Thomas, Viaggio arrived in the nick of time, a brand new Horizon 74 power yacht, she offers an inclusive rate which many clients prefer when chartering in the relatively close waters of the Virgin Islands. For sailing yachts, La Dolce Vita looked all set to have guests as well as the catamaran Felicia with her new crew.

The talk of many crews was branching out to the Spanish Virgin Islands of Culebra and Vieques to try the longer sailing options, great snorkeling and an area that sees relatively few tourists.

The charter shows were a great success, now to find the surface of my desk before the December Shows are time to view larger yachts that have just arrived from New England and the Med!

Sail catamaran Amaryllis in the US Virgin Islands!

For clients who want to take less than a week's vacation Amaryllis is offering a 2-5 day USVI package and waiving the 10% surcharge for charters less than 6 days. No time is wasted clearing customs as they stay in USVI waters. Amaryllis can pick up on St. Thomas or St. John making this ideal for clients who want some time on the water and some time ashore at a resort or villa.

Here is brief description of where you can sail:
Explore USVI National Park - No Passport Required!
The best kept secret in the Virgin islands is the island of St. John -
2/3 National Park with secluded anchorages, beautiful beaches, great snorkeling, historical ruins and great hiking trails. Snorkel in secluded Newfound Bay, kayak in the Hurricane Hole wildlife preserve, visit exquisite Salt Pond Beach and beach comb dramatic Drunk Bay, hike to the only petroglyphs found in the Virgin Islands (a sacred pool used by the Taino indians), explore 200 year old sugar mill ruins, or shop for unique items in Cruz Bay. St. John has it all and no time is wasted clearing customs in foreign ports.

Plus there are a number of smaller cays & islands -- Lavango, Hans Lolick, Great St. James worth visiting as well.

For details on this great catamaran & her crew, view online brochure:
AMARYLLIS 45 Feet.Sleeps 6 Guests in 3 Double(s)Online brochure: http://www.cyabrochure.com/eb/1073/xyrd/1103/1
Rates and Availability: http://www.cyabrochure.com/eb/1073/xyrd/1103/4

Zingara -- large catamaran available December in the BVI

Zingara, the luxury Matrix catamaran with 5 cabins for up to 10 guests is now available over Christmas & New Year weeks in he British Virgin Islands due to a cancellation.

This cat with 4 professional crew serves up fine dining along with plenty of water sports -- even scuba diving.

This is a great opportunity for those who might have delayed making family plans for the holidays -- act now to get out into the crystal blue waters of the Caribbean under warm suuny skies.

For brochure details: http://www.charterbrochure.com/zingara/

BVI Charter Show starts tomorrow!

It's that time of the year again for charter yachts to gather on the dock at marinas in the British Virgin Islands for the annual charter show, followed by a similar show in St. Thomas. Crews are ready to show off their improvements and brokers check that the yachts & crew are ready for the most demanding charter client.

There is plenty of fun catching up with familiar faces whether on a perennial favorite monohull or spacious new command -- catamaran or power yacht. But this is serious business too -- the Regency brokers have an advantage in that we are local and often see the yachts as they go about their routine, but for many this is their one opportunity to evaluate the condition of yacht & crew.

But the sun is out and looking at boats is never a hardship -- that's what drew the Regency team to the Caribbean and chartering in the first place! So ask us if we've been aboard the yacht you are considering chartering -- and get a first hand evaluation of the yacht & crew!