Joomla! site syndication http://www.bviguides.com/Domains/bviyachtguide 2010-09-03T03:06:52+01:00 http://www.bviguides.com/Domains/bviyachtguide http://www.bviguides.com/Domains/bviyachtguide/images/M_images/joomla_rss.png text/html 2007-03-01T07:43:53+01:00 http://www.bviguides.com/Domains/bviyachtguide http://www.bviguides.com/Domains/bviyachtguide/featured_article/editorial/fractional_yachts.html FRACTIONAL YACHT OWNERSHIP - How many times do we hear about the Baby Boomer generation turning sixty? Far too often, in my mind, especially if one is about to turn sixty. Well, I am not quite there yet and I am really not ready to retire. I’m constantly being reminded that I’ve worked hard for long enough, and I’ve really earned some ‘leisure time’. I’ve done my bit to prop up the economy and the Country, so I should get something back from it... I am in marketing, with a career covering a diverse range of industry sectors, from casinos through aviation to yachts. During my time in the aircraft industry I acquired some invaluable experience selling expensive equipment in and out of fractional ownership programmes. Fractional ownership is a fairly complex business, and to be successful, one really has to understand the needs of the individual, as well as be on top of the market’s requirements.Fractional ownership programmes have been around since the mid eighties, but until recently were more or less exclusive to the aviation industry. Derived to combat the effects of ever increasing costs of aircraft ownership (even big companies were finding it hard to justify the expense of corporate travel during the 80s economic boom and bust), the concept involves several individuals buying in to the same aircraft, allowing them to hold title to their fraction and giving them enjoyment the plane as if they were the sole owner. Marine Fractional OwnershipThere are differences between aviation and marine fractionals, although the overall effects on the concept are minimal. The aviation market is based upon the needs and time constraints for travelling executives, with aircraft available with as little as 8 hours notice. With yachts, there is no real need for immediate use. With both, though, there is a need to achieve one’s travel and leisure decisions with minimum hassle. For the yachting industry, most fractional ownerships are divided into 8 shares, and as a buyer you can buy just one or as many as seven shares. The share ownership is geared around how much time you expect to spend on the yacht. Generally, the yacht is available for 40 weeks a year (12 weeks are set aside for maintenance, crew leave and repositioning of the yacht), so each share represents 5 weeks of usage per annum. Each yacht comes with a full time crew (captain and first mate), who have complete responsibility for the yacht and its owners. They are available 24/7 for you, your guests and the safety of all. An owner can skipper his own yacht, but the crew remains aboard to assure safety and protection of the other owners’ interests.Each owner has an undivided interest in the yacht and a Limited Liability Company is set up for the yacht for assurance purposes. The protection afforded by the LLC is such that if another owner becomes insolvent, no financial institution, government agency or another individual can attach to the asset in any way. The LLC also protects each individual from law suits that may be filed against the yacht due to negligence or fraud by another owner.Each owner also subscribes to the designated management company that handles all aspects of the yacht, including purchase, paperwork, insurance, dockage, crew, repositioning, chartering, maintenance, etc. This allows the owner to arrive at the dock and be ready to go, as and when they please.The real value of fractional programmes is the freedom they offer – there’s no need to get embroiled in the day to day running of your vessel, and your asset is proactively managed and maintained 365 days a year. A good fractional programme will also offer an individual relationship with captain and crew, and will also offer the owner chartering opportunities or use of other similar type boats in foreign ports. The advantages of having the yacht maintained by experienced crew and management are obvious and many, not least when it comes to resale. All those regular checks will stand in good stead when it comes to survey time, and a much greater price is achievable than if the boat did nothing for most of the year.Environmentally friendlyAs good stewards of the economy, we also need to be aware of our environment. Have you ever noticed just how many yachts sit in our marinas unused? They take up space, pollutants pour into the water from the bilge pumps, and engine oil and fuel leak into our sensitive estuaries. Believe it or not, fractional yacht ownership is an environmentally friendly way to enjoy a boat.Fractional yacht ownership actually takes yachts off the water. Based on the described model, for every fraction sold, there are potentially 7 fewer yachts in the water. And, as fractional yachts tend to be larger, well maintained and self contained, the environment gets a break. Of course, less equipment in the market place also increases demand, helping to boost the value of the asset.Winning on all countsWithout a doubt, fractional ownership goes a long way in showing our dedicated stewardship to the economy, environment and, most of all, our freedom and enjoyment of that leisure time we are all reminded that we have earned. Its a well managed package that benefits landlubbers as well as old salts. text/html 2007-03-01T07:47:19+01:00 http://www.bviguides.com/Domains/bviyachtguide http://www.bviguides.com/Domains/bviyachtguide/featured_article/electronic_hotspot/electronic_ho_2.html ICOM IC-M34 - This rugged and well-designed radio comes with an optional speaker-microphone with waterproof connection and a 9-hour Li-Ion battery. The unit has an AquaQuake feature to drain water from the speaker. Drop this 5W Hand-held VHF and it’ll float. And it’ll keep on working after you’ve retrieved it. text/html 2007-03-01T07:36:29+01:00 http://www.bviguides.com/Domains/bviyachtguide http://www.bviguides.com/Domains/bviyachtguide/featured_article/skippers_tips/skipper_s_tips_11.html NEW REELS CATCH FISH SO PURCHASE SOME - A couple of recent events got me thinking about the rules governing the obligations of one boat to another. The first event was the announcement of sea plane service into North Sound on Virgin Gorda, the other was a close encounter I had with a cruise ship off Road Harbour.Is it true that a sailboat is not obliged to keep out of the way of a 40,000 ton ship? And what of the seaplane? The International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea (COLREGS) are best summarized by the mnemonic: New Reels Catch Fish So Purchase Some, where the references are to vessels. A vessel lower in the list (see COLREGS list ) has an obligation to keep out of the way of one higher. In this formulation it’s clear that a seaplane is obliged to stay out of everyone’s way, while the cruise ship falls into the Under Power category and is obliged to stay clear of a vessel under sail. Those obligations depend on all parties knowing the rules and acting accordingly. And common sense should prevail—there’s no point in doggedly insisting on right of way as a giant ship bears down on you. In extremis, the rules say that the obligation is to avoid collision no matter what the rules say.COLREGSThe International Regulations for Preventing Collisions at Sea1. Not Under Command2. Restricted in Ability to Manoeuvre3. Constrained by Draught4. Fishing 5. Under Sail6. Under Power7. Seaplane text/html 2007-03-01T07:39:41+01:00 http://www.bviguides.com/Domains/bviyachtguide http://www.bviguides.com/Domains/bviyachtguide/featured_article/charlie_the_chandler/charlie_the_cha_7.html ALL GEARED UP AND NO WHERE TO GO - There’s a yachting week or regatta in the Caribbean almost every week for the next few months. Some are deadly serious with Olympic qualification or world rankings at stake; others take on a more sedate stance, where taking part is the only real thing that matters; and of course there are always those few that use the banner headline but are, in reality, just an excuse for like minded boaters to congregate and party. At the top end the regatta, like every other facet of life, has seen the need for speed drive ambitious captains and owners to the very extremities of their sport.Rope used to be rope but now it even comes with Kevlar! If you want the ultimate in spinnaker sheets, for example, simply walk in to your local chandlery and ask for a double braided line with a polyester cover and a technora/dyneema sk-75 core. You could just say you want some T900 line, but half the fun is in the techno jargon. Both durable and light with no moisture absorption and no creep, T900 is quite simply one of the best lines in the world.And to feed your running lines, Harken probably offers up the best in blocks. Remember, though, Lewmar has a range of syncho blocks that combine geometry, sheave ratios and a free spin bearing comparable to most pro racing blocks, but at a much more affordable price.Lewmar also has a great range of “ocean series” winches. Constructed from the finest materials, the winches offer a great deal of pulling power and some seriously smooth handling, even in the toughest conditions.Spinnaker sails can make the big difference in down wind racing, and a spinnaker requires a pair of sheets and Ronstan snap shackles (the Wichard version require a little more effort to release under load). The spinnaker can be difficult to operate if shorthanded, but a device called a chute scoop makes life simple and easy – the sail is filled by raising the scoop and doused by lowering it. They are made from light-weight rip stop nylon, with all lines contained neatly within their own pocket on the outside of the scoop to avoid tangling with the sailOf course the regatta is not all about racing, there is a great social scene too. So, make sure you kit yourself out in this year’s range of Sperry shoes or Henri Lloyd casual gear. Clothing manufacturer, Gill, also make a great range of rash guard clothing for men and women to protect you from the harsh sun and salt air. Complete the look with a pair of fingertip-less gloves from Harken or Ronstan, and a trendy waterproof tote from Watershed. text/html 2007-03-01T07:29:23+01:00 http://www.bviguides.com/Domains/bviyachtguide http://www.bviguides.com/Domains/bviyachtguide/featured_article/editorial/simply_perfect.html LET'S GET SYROS - A couple of weeks ago we had the pleasure of sailing the new Beneteau 43.3 in local waters. Twenty-five knots of breeze, two reefs in the main, full genoa, and the yacht sailed as steady as a train up the Sir Francis Drake Channel. We were sailing conservatively, just two aboard and only one of those competent to any degree. Earlier we had sailed her off a mooring in the Bight under mainsail alone, the helmsman controlling the mainsheet as he jibed through the fairly empty mooring field. The fact that a yacht substantially larger than 40 feet could be sailed like a 25-footer was a surprise and a pleasure.Later, we got to sail a sister ship, Syros, in much gentler breezes but with the same ease of operation and pleasure in the performance. This test yacht, which is on offer at B.V.I. Yacht Charters, is one of the newest range of Beneteau Cyclades series, from the design firm of Berret-Racoupeau whose distinctive approach to design has been described by Beneteau as “clean, simple, and balanced, minimalist in such a way as to be perfect.” Clean and simple the boat surely is, with everything laid out sensibly and close to hand. Winches for halyards, vang, and reefing lines are arrayed atop the coachroof either side of the companionway, while the sheet winches are close to the steering positions (there are 2 wheels) allowing the helmsman to ease a sheet when necessary. All lines can be controlled from the cockpit, although the coachroof and side decks are wide and kept flat so as to make movement around the boat safe and easy, allowing crew to work comfortably at the mast.With a beam of 15 feet on a length of 43 feet, the 43.3 is well within normal parameters, though the beam is brought quite full most of the way back to the stern, which allows for a pair of roomy aft cabins and some sparkling performance off the wind. Cockpit lockers are well sized but not very deep, to allow for the aft cabins, yet they will hold several fenders/bumpers and the usual complement of gear. The boat was equipped for charter mode when we picked it up at the BVI Yacht Charters docks and there was still plenty of room for dive gear or other equipment, such as fishing rods.It is below decks where the yacht really sparkles—3 full cabins, all with their own head/shower stall and decent storage space adjoin an immense dining/common area. The galley is arranged along the port hull and is equipped with a sizable 12-volt powered fridge/freezer combination. The dining table is large enough for the whole gang plus a straggler or two. This table converts easily into a large double berth for the extra guests. But it is in the small (and not so small) details that Syros shines. The electrical panel has been reduced to just a few breakers, while the gauges for batteries, water tanks and fuel tanks are all easily read and understood. The best feature, for many sailors, will be the holding tank/heads arrangement. On this boat the toilet pumps directly into the holding tank, which in turn drains through a very large diameter outlet hose to a through-hull which is opened and closed by way of a simple valve. There are no Y-valves to confuse the operator—just open or close the seacock as required. It’s such a simple system somebody might actually use it. It is that last feature that brings this model of Beneteau clearly into a class of its own—along with a stunning innovation, the salon light switch is placed cleverly at the very top of the companionway steps, at head height when one is standing in the salon. That feature alone is awe-inspiring. No more fossicking about behind the foul weather gear looking for a light switch. Ergonomics goes to sea!The emphasis on the small details is simply to indicate just how well thought-out this boat really is. Not only have the designers got the big things right but they have applied some fresh thinking to what is now a mid-range cruising boat to make it truly appealing both under way and on a mooring. Even better on a slip, too, since there is shoreside air conditioning to absorb the some of the heat.Listed at $215,000, Syros is available from B.V.I. Yacht Charters, 284-494-4289