A yacht with class

It seems like everybody has to have their own yacht these days. We have all seen it on photos and a few lucky ones in real life too. I’m talking about the infamous mega-yacht ‘Eclipse’, owned by Russian billionaire Roman Abramovich. It is an impressive and almost surreal sight and supposedly the biggest and most expensive yacht in the world right now!

The sea surely seems to be full of yachts, some a little bigger than others but all more or less looking the same. However, a few people always manage to stand out and one of them is American actor Johnny Depp, who owns an amazing vintage-looking 156 foot yacht. The boat immediately takes you back a hundred years and makes you think of European royalty, or even a mini-Titanic. However, the fact is that this masterpiece was built in Turkey in 2001, inspired by the classic gentleman’s yachts of the 1930’s.

It’s really not surprising that the eccentric star from the ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’ tetralogy chose this yacht to sail him and his family to and from his private island in the Bahamas. Peeking inside the yacht makes you realize that Depp never really left his role as Captain Jack Sparrow. The interior is lavishly styled Art Deco but at the same time fully equipped with all modern day necessities, like an audio system, satellite tv, PlayStation, wifi, and quite a list of watersports entertainment for people that want a bit more action than just working on their tan. You can check it all out right here.

If you’re dreaming of spending your vacation on a yacht like this, we have some good news for you! When Johnny Depp is busy shooting his next movie elsewhere, he rents out his yacht to make a little cash on the side. You do, however, have to hit a goldmine, discover oil, or win the lottery to afford the weekly rate of up to €122,500 per week during high season! But don’t despair: the jackpot in the American Powerball lottery starts at $40 million and is always on the rise! Want to take a chance at winning the jackpot? Buy your Powerball lottery tickets online here!

Aqua Elite Charters Miami - All-inclusive Yacht Charter

From Miami with Love! Aqua Elite Charters - An all-inclusive yacht charter company in Miami.

Planning your holidays, vacations, or simply a party adventure. We have it all in a single package!

Ready to try something new? Let Aqua Elite give you what you have been looking for- a one of a kind luxury experience. We are the premier charter company in Miami, headquartered in South Beach, cost effective and ranked # 1 in satisfaction.

All of our charters include complementary…  

• Pick and drop on South Beach
• Wine & beer
• Guided tour with captain
• VIP service and stewarding
• Appetizers and soft drinks
• Aqua Elite gift bag

Our unforgettable charters provide tours to Star Island, Palm Island, Hibiscus Island, and much more. By joining the AEE free membership program you will receive a 10% lifetime discount on any of our services.

Reserve now and use promo code MIAMIELITE and receive a $200 discount in any of our yacht rentals.

Aqua Elite Charters is the premier luxury rental company in South Florida. AEC is ranked # 1 in satisfaction with over 3000 booked charters.

Become one of the elite and enjoy the ride!

Aqua Elite Charters - An all-inclusive yacht charter company in Miami

Best crewing sites

With a plethora of crewing sites available, it's tricky to find the right site for your sailing needs. Many have poor design and can cost a fortune. Here's a run down of my favourite crewing sites:

Yacht Crew Direct - This has to be my favourite, great design and very easy to use with boats and crew all over the world. One of the features I like best is that you can search by location which makes it much easier to pin down only the boats that are near me.

Crew Seekers - The Crew Seekers design is better than most crew agencies but still lacks a bit and can be tricky to use at first. There are lots of posts and is updated every day.

Find a Crew - Find a Crew has a lot of features but I actually find that I don't use most of them. There are good crewing positions available and the search works well once you've entered all your details. The main thing is to get yourself out there. Find a Crew and Yacht Crew Direct allow you to add a profile.

Solar megayacht

For 585 days, Swiss adventurer Raphael Domjan braved storms, pirates and cloudy skies in an attempt to circumnavigate the globe on a boat propelled by nothing but sun beams. The boat, christened "Turanor" after a word meaning "power of the sun" in JRR Tolkein's "Lord of the Rings" trilogy, is Domjan's brainchild.

As heavy as a whale and 30 meters long, it's adorned with enough photovoltaic panels to cover two tennis courts. After eight years of fundraising, 64,000 hours of construction, and 19 months at sea, the "Turanor" made history on May 6, when it cruised into Port Hercules, Monaco, completing the first ever round-the-
world journey by a solar-powered vessel.

From the coast of Miami to the shores of Mumbai, Domjan and his four-man crew visited 28 countries on a voyage designed to showcase the practical applications of solar energy. "The aim of this journey was to show the world that this technology is not science fiction, it is very real and it can help us change how we do things now rather than in the future," said Domjan.

Full story on CNN >>> http://edition.cnn.com/2012/05/23/tech/solar-powered-boat-circumnavigation/index.html

Great new book about boating

From Family to Crew is the true account of Dr. James Ellingford and his family as they embark on a remarkable journey with Pendana, a beautiful vessel designed for open-ocean.

Ellingford and his wife have owned several boats over the course of their lives, but none so impressive and capable as Pendana, a Nordhavn 62. The doctor and his family purchased the boat and decided to write about their experiences over the first year of ownership.

From Family to Crew shows anyone interested in voyaging with their families that it may be challenging at times yet absolutely possible for a couple with no real hands-on knowledge or experience of crossing oceans, to successfully own and operate such a sophisticated vessel.

For those who would like to read more, “From Family to Crew” –is available for a special price only from CreateSpace. Using the discount code of TFX6MZ2V you will receive a $20.00 discount from your order. Packed with over 320+ pages and more than 150+ colour photos. Australian buyers can buy direct via pendanablog.com to save time and freight charges.

Discount offer - $20.00 off.

https://www.createspace.com/3945639

5 things to remember before setting sail

So you are getting ready to set sail. Whether you’re going out on a small boat or a luxurious multihull, there are always some basic tips and safety requirements to be aware of while sailing. The following apply to crew as well as passengers.

1. Sunscreen – Nothing will ruin your day of sailing faster than realizing you just got burned to a crisp under the bright sun. Depending on the amount of cloud cover, sunburn can occur in a matter of minutes. Bring a sunscreen with a high enough sun protection factor (SPF). Reducing instances of sunburn also reduces chances of contracting skin cancer. Many a sailor has spent the evening after a day of a sailing cursing themselves for forgetting the sunblock.
2. Wear proper footwear – Depending on the size of the boat and how involved you’ll be in its operation, having shoes that will make walking on deck safe is important. Nobody wants to be that person who slips and goes overboard or slips and hits the deck face first. A good pair of soft soled shoes works best. Avoid any footwear with excessive heels or hard rubber soles.
3. Make sure there are enough life vests on board – Before setting sail make sure the boat has one life vest for each passenger/crew member. Common sense dictates that before setting sail everyone put on their life vest. This will ensure that everyone has a safe and enjoyable voyage. All children passengers should have their life vests put on by an adult and secured properly. Periodically, the children’s life vests should be checked to ensure they are still being worn properly.
4. Bring appropriate clothes – Enjoying the bright sun is great while sailing, but you should take into account that weather conditions can change quickly when out on the water. Temperatures can cool quickly if the sun goes behind clouds or as evening approaches. Take a coat and a set of clothes to wear if the weather or temperature changes for the worse.
5. Know where the safety and first aid equipment is located. Depending on the size of the boat, this can include items like the first aid kit, flare gun, fire extinguisher or any sort of inflatable life rafts. Knowing where these items are can avoid any delay in getting aid should an accident occur during your time out on the water.

These five simple tips can ensure that a sailing trip can be fun and enjoyable for all involved. These tips are a simple matter of preparation and can help avoid any unnecessary accidents or mishaps. Have a great time sailing!