The Traveler's Journal: April second, with the stuff of fantasy for sailors of substance.

Despite the recent market collapse one Wall Street wizard put down a cool million dollars to charter a luxury sailing yacht and took 40 close friends and relatives on a three-week Mediterranean cruise. Or there's a neat little 150-foot motor yacht that elegantly accommodates eight guests in its sumptuous suites. It can be chartered for $170,000 a week, including a crew and all the gourmet food, wine and water toys anyone could want. Clearly, when it comes to dreamboat dreaming, prices can be as steep as the ocean is deep.

Luxury yachts are available for charter in sea ports around the globe. From December through April, the Virgin Islands are the world's most popular chartering destination. In the summer, many super yachts head to the Mediterranean or the Northeast coast of the U.S. The Far East and South Pacific have their own popular ports. Two hot, new sailing spots are the Seychelles in the Indian Ocean and the San Blas Islands, off the Caribbean coast of Panama.

Big yachts, both motor and wind-powered, can be chartered directly through dozens of brokers, although a good travel agent can facilitate the process. Smaller boats can also be chartered, with a crew or as a crewless "bareboats." Prices obviously vary with the vessel, location and season. Vessels with a crew are also often listed on either an all-inclusive or cost plus basis.

But as the man says, if you have quibble too much about the price, you probably can't afford a dreamboat vacation.

FMI For information on yacht charters:

Aqua-Safaris: www.aqua- safaris.com or 800-524-3444

Jolly Mon Sailing: www.jollymon.com or 800-565-5984

Le Boat: www.leboat.com/yachts.htm or 877-453-2628

Nicely Dunn Yacht Charters: http://nicely-dunn.com or 800-874-0724

Seabreeze Sailing Escapes Intl: www.seabreezesailing.com or 877-217- 3927

Port Yacht Charters: www.sailingdsource.com/port or 800- 213-0465

Other listing resources:

New England Meeting Network: www.swift-tourism.com/ne-boats.htm

Yacht World - The Boating Yellow Pages: www.yachtworld.com/charters

The Lili Marleen - a luxury sailing yacht based in the Mediterranean can accommodate up to 50 passengers: 800-348-8287 or www.deilmann-cruise.com

 

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