Tuesday, July 31, 2007

YACHT CHARTER NEWSLETTER : AUGUST 2007

- - - - -
HELLO FROM ANGUILLA !!!


Hello from Road Bay, Anguilla. Hope you are having an excellent summer!

Bob & I had a very pleasant sail from Marigot Bay, St. Martin to Road Bay, Anguilla on Saturday afternoon (July 28th). So It Goes, our CAL 34, is such a wonderful boat to sail. We planned to stay only a couple of days in Anguilla, but....
  • We have wifi on the boat again HURRAY! In Marigot, St. Martin we were going ashore for internet access. Should be able to catch up on website & blog updates now.
  • Also, the French zouk band Kassav will be giving a free beach concert next Monday, August 6, 2007 so we must stay for that!
We will then sail back to St. Maarten to pick up our mail, do laundry, some shopping, see a movie (The Bourne Ultimatum should be out), etc. We then plan to head south to Bequia in the Grenadines. We are really looking forward to the voyage and being in a new spot. We have reports that there is good wifi in Bequia so WATCH OUT!

So, here we are on the lovely island of Anguilla. It is very quiet even though there are many upscale resorts. We will probably venture up to The Valley and check the shopping situation out. There is a small convenience store here, but not much in the way of merchandise as it is off season (I was hoping to find some ham for sandwiches). I did find a nice wrap skirt at IRIE LIFE on the beach for US$10 (50% off) and the lady was really nice and let me use her phone for a local call. Check them out if you come to Anguilla! Also, the place next door had some really tempting ribs on the BBQ! mmmmmmm

Google Earth shows Anguilla very well. I want to find out how to post photos on their maps as it would be very helpful for fellow cruisers.

Let us know what you are up to. CLICK HERE for our current CONTACT INFO.

All the best!
Sheila & Bob
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

TACHYON SIGHTING IN ST. MARTIN



Last week, as we were dinghying by Polypat Boatyard near the Marigot bridge on the French side of St. Martin, we saw Tachyon waiting to be craned out for the summer.

This was a wonderful opportunity for us to meet Eric & Jac, owner/operators of Tachyon. They both have impressive sailing resumés and Jac is also a PADI Dive Master. Be sure to check out the crew profile in their electronic brochure. Eric & Jac have just finished their first season of chartering and they really enjoyed it. They are an energetic crew who are looking forward to their next season. We already have one booking for Tachyon and would love to add a few more to their calendar.

Tachyon is a 47-foot, air conditioned catamaran that accommodates up to 6 guests in 3 cabins, each with Queen berths and ensuite head/shower. Up to 5 dives/week are included in their rates for certified divers (bring your own gear or rent, guests pay for air fills). Other "toys" include: 2 two-person kayaks, wakeboard, tube, snorkel equipment, etc.

Tachyon is already booked for New Years, but they are available through December 27th.

TACHYON's Brochure: CLICK HERE

Contact Paradise Connections for more info: CLICK HERE
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

ISLAND SKIPPER : Book now while you still can!

Island Skipper, one of our most popular charter yachts and good friends of ours, only has a couple of weeks open for next season. We've already booked Rob & Michele's first & last weeks of their short season and we'd like to fill in the middle bit!

Currently, Island Skipper is available for New Years as they are open from December 30, 2007 through January 26, 2008.

Island Skipper is an air conditioned, 52-foot Irwin ketch which accommodates up to 6 guests in 3 cabins, each with ensuite head/shower. The master cabin aft is quite spacious and has a Queen berth. The forward guest cabin is a large V-berth, while the other guest cabin has two single bunks (upper/lowers) which provides flexible accomodations for friends and families.

Rob is a PADI Dive Master and offers 5 dives/week to certified divers for $125.

View ISLAND SKIPPER's two electronic brochures: CLICK HERE & HERE

Book Island Skipper today, contact Paradise Connections: CLICK HERE

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

HANALEI BAY - Another wonderful evening with Franz & Diane

In mid-July, Hanalei Bay stopped in Marigot, St. Martin (FWI) on their way south to Trinidad and invited us aboard for cocktails and dinner.

We always enjoy time spent with Hanalei Bay. Franz & Diane are a delightful & interesting couple.

Hanalei Bay is a spacious and beautiful 72-foot, custom sailing vessel. The yacht is fully air conditioned and accommodates up to 6 guests in 3 cabins, each with ensuite heads.

Hanalei Bay is an excellent value for such a large, high-quality yacht. Hanalei Bay has an impressive list of amenities: kayaks, knee board, Jr. waterskis, tube, banana blaster!, snorkel gear, floats... or just chill out on the boat: good sound system with a wide variety of music, double hammock, karaoke with 2 mics, guitar, keyboard, bongos, and we just love their "patio" on the aft deck behind the roomy cockpit... so much space.

Here are a few comments:
  • My 11 year old daughter, after leaving the yacht, said that Franz & Diane made her feel like we were all a big family. She said "I feel like we are the only ones they treat this way". For an 11 year old to take note of that, really says something. THANKS PARADISE CONNECTIONS & HANALEI BAY FOR A FABULOUS VACATION IN THE BVI!!
  • It is barely 48 hours since we disembarked from Hanalei Bay and we are ready to turn around and come back! ... While your depth of culinary and sailing experience was evident, it was your fun company and your genuine desire to 'please' us that made for a wonderful experience.
  • We were charmed from the moment we arrived on board. We shall return. We warmly recommend a cruise on Hanalei Bay to anyone who thinks they might like a holiday with a difference, who has sailed or might like to sail, who wants to explore inaccessible beaches and tiny islands, and who wishes to be made welcome by congenial hosts who are skilled in making guests feel happy.
  • The charter was way better than we ever imagined!!! Everyone had fun. My husband really enjoyed our little 30-60 minute snorkelling time TOGETHER everyday.
  • Todd and I had an amazing time on our vacation!!!! Words cannot really due justice to our experience. Franz and Diane were so much fun! We all really clicked, and had just a great time. Franz is responsible for my pants being too tight this week!!
You are in luck! Hanalei Bay is still available for the 2007/8 Holiday Season!

View HANALEI BAY's electronic brochure: CLICK HERE

Contact Paradise Connections for more info: CLICK HERE

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
SUMMER CHARTERS / SAILING VACATIONS

Looking for a quick getaway this summer? How about a Caribbean sailing vacation? There are some excellent yachts chartering throughout the summer.

VIRGIN ISLANDS:

DOWN ISLAND (South of Virgin Islands):

Or you may want to consider Alaska/Pacific Northwest, New England/Maine, the Med... Just let us know where! How about a hotel barge cruising the European canals?

Contact Paradise Connections for more info: CLICK HERE

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
HOLIDAY CHARTERS - Christmas and New Years

As we are in the middle of summer, you might not want to be thinking about winter holidays but don't leave it too much longer! Most of the larger yachts are already booked and we always suggest that people plan a year ahead of time to give them the most choice.

But ...

there are still a few goodies out there!


Contact Paradise Connections to book your holiday yacht charter: CLICK HERE

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
PROMENADE offering a cabin cruise in 2008

The 65-foot trimaran PROMENADE has just opened up a 6-night, cabin cruise week for March 30 to April 5, 2008 .

This is an all-inclusive, 6-night charter for $4100/cabin (double occupancy, not each person). Prices include all gourmet meals, ships bar, and water sports.

SCUBA diving:
  • Certified divers $125/week. Bring your own gear OR $125 BC and reg rental per person
  • Resort divers. $75 pp per dive to a maximun of $400 pp, includes gear
  • Open water referral $225 pp plus gear rental (This includes your diving for the week)
While you will be sharing your sailing vacation with other people, Promenade will do their best to accommodate interests, activities, meals, etc. to their guests on board, rather than a fixed itinerary and menu like a theme park ride.

Promenade is air conditioned and has 5 guests cabins; three cabins have Queen berths, while the other two can be configured either as Kings or as two Twins. Promenade has a 14-foot dinghy with 50HP motor, waterskis, kneeboard, tube, several kayaks, 5-person banana, snorkeling gear, fishing equipment, projection TV/VCR/DVD in the salon, a portable DVD player, Game Boy, Play Station 2, dedicated guest computer for email access, compressor to fill scuba tanks, and much more. Promenade has a Dive Instructor aboard so anyone can dive... give it a try!

To view Promenade's electronic brochure, CLICK HERE.

Contact Paradise Connections : CLICK HERE

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

THIS & THAT...


* HOTEL BARGES (French canals, Ireland, Scotland, England, Holland, Italy...)

There are still a few open weeks for this season for European hotel barges. Book now for next year as their calendars fill in quickly! You can view some of the barges we represent on:
http://www.paradiseconnections.com/moreyachts.html (top right column) and visit our barging blog : http://allaboutcanalbargecharters.blogspot.com/

* SPRING BREAK & EASTER VACATION

Just another quick warning that the charter yachts book up quickly for these weeks... Start now!

* TURTLE PICTURE !!!

Here's a super photo that Rich from the trimaran Promenade took recently. Thanks for letting us share this picture, Rich!



* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

CONTACT PARADISE CONNECTIONS

Feel free to contact us at anytime to inquire about your next sailing vacation or drop us a line just to let us know what you are up to... we think of you as friends and not just clients!

All the best!
Bob & Sheila
Paradise Connections Yacht Charters
http://www.paradiseconnections.com

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
By at
Labels: , , , , , , ,