Winning The high SeaS: yachTing SPoTLighT 2021

Private yacht charters are both prestigious and luxurious, making this kind of excursion-based travel popular among Fortune 100 executives and the global elite. One of our trusted sources of insider intel, Y.CO, revealed an uptick in enquiries for yacht holiday charter. Clearly, their clientele viewing it as a liberating, safer alternative to the tight restrictions they are facing at home. Mounting safety-related uncertainties deeply impacted businesses within the yacht charter market in 2020. As we tiptoe into this new year, operators are increasingly promoting yacht charter as one of the safest holiday alternatives, where exposure to densely populated public areas is minimal to zero. Yachts enable family and friends to enjoy leisure time in the safety and comfort of their own private haven.

Summer Sailing Hotspots

East Mediterranean chartering hubs like Montenegro and Croatia have come of age, competing with the well established Greek Islands. Attracting the world’s most sophisticated travelers seeking sleek new superyachts, the east also boasts a longer charter season as it remains warm into September and early October.

The most auspicious debut on the Adriatic? Montenegro welcomes Portonovi. Meet the newest luxury lifestyle destination turning up the heat on the Med. This jewel is nestled within the nation’s most sublime setting. Less than an hour’s drive from both Dubrovnik, the 800 Million USD, 26 hectares luxury development sits on the secluded shores of Boka Bay, the next must-see for the discerning global traveler and property investor. A beach club will be available for all residents and guests with VIP access to private sandy beaches accessible by boat.

A key element of Portonovi will be the state-of-the-art, 260 berth superyacht marina for boats between 26 and 262 feet offering unparalleled access to the Adriatic with the islands off the Dalmatian Coast just a day’s sail away. Located on the east part of the resort, the Portonovi marina is a destination of high end retail and stylish restaurants at the wharf. At the heart of the marina will be the Portonovi Yacht Club, designed by internationally renowned British design studio Winch Design. The high concept yacht club will be an iconic landmark within the resort. Its design infuses natural coastal themes and materials, whilst providing a seamless experience for superyacht owners as they step off their yacht into the rarefied embrace of the club.

One&Only Portonovi’s auspicious opening this March 2021 cements the luxury cred of this thrilling new affluent playground. Poised at the graceful entrance to Boka Bay, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its exquisite natural beauty, the hotel’s concierge is your conduit to a rich tapestry of local culture, translating historically important Venetian architecture, some of which dates back to the 9th century. One&Only Portonovi will no doubt emerge as the jewel of Montenegro’s flourishing new Riviera. Be among the first to rejoice in pristine beaches, sun-soaked sailing, and forest hiking.

Luring travelers with a myriad of cultures, the Med is home to multiple coveted superyacht destinations. Fringed by three continents and sun-soaked beaches, this cruising ground allows for endless avenues for exploration. Sardinia’s spellbinding coastline is enhanced by a rich legacy, layered with centuries of multiculturalism. European aristocrats have reveled on this leisurely isle from as early as the 1800s. Catamarans are ideal here, drawing stability not from weighted ballast but from wide beams, decidedly advantageous on such rock scattered shorelines. Home to the alluring Aeolian Islands and storied Amalfi Coast, a West Mediterranean yacht charter offers up travel hedonism at every turn. St Tropez anyone?

Ideal for the nautical gymnastics of a French Riviera jaunt, how about a chase boat that feels like a superyacht? Alia Yachts unveils an 88-foot coup with the Atlantico. Naturally, the exterior look of the boat reflects that of the 180-foot mothership, Atlante. She is an aggressive explorer-type yacht, and her distinguished owner therefore required an equally capable and high finesse chase boat. With a light-caulked teak deck, pale sofas and sunpads and dark, glossy columns in the deckhouse, Atlantico subtly reinterprets the feel of the mothership. A stylish weekender for exploring shallow bays, she offers both exhilarating speed and the range to cover 600 nautical miles at cruising speed.

Winning the Seas

Speaking of speed, fancy a fast, sleek and sumptuous sport yacht? There’s a newly updated stunner on the water, ready for action. Meet the stunning 120-foot Bagheera, fresh from a major refit. Her design pedigree is outstanding, originating from Nuvolari Lenard. The prized Palmer Johnson 120 is a semi-displacement yacht with a deep-V hull that delivers top speeds of 27 knots, with a cruising speed of 21 knots. Bagheera is all set to turn heads as you cruise shallow waters in consummate style.

For those ready to raise the roof, Princess Yachts’ new X Class is designed with what the marque calls an ‘open concept’ in mind. Challenged with setting a new standard of layout savvy in the debut of the X95, you’ll find adaptable spaces onboard that can be configured in a myriad of ways, offering clientele a uniquely flexible boating lifestyle. At its core is a signature concept for the flybridge and main deck interior space, both of which cover almost the full length of the yacht, creating the Super Flybridge—the X Class’s defining characteristic.

When it comes to trending water toys,

look no further than the 43wallytender, a zippy and stylish tender that introduced the world to Wally’s “center cockpit” design, which provides all the protection of a cockpit with the practicality of a walkaround. This layout combines the enjoyment of being in the open air with the added security and comfort of a more enclosed tender.