Yachts conjure images of grandeur, luxury and lavishness. It is often seen as a status symbol of the very rich and famous. Many of the world’s super rich CEOs and top celebrities have purchased or custom-built their own yachts for their times of private getaways and recreations in secluded islands away from the crowds and the paparazzi.
It was not much different in the early days when only the noble and the wealthy could afford to be on a yacht. It is a good thing that luxury yacht charters have evolved and are now expanding the yachting market with competitive packages to include more “ordinary” individuals.
Modern yachts evolved from working vessels used for fishing and commerce. In the past, yachts were defined as light, fast vessels used to convey important people. In recent years, however, the definition of the yacht has evolved to refer to water-faring vessels, other than a dinghy. Propelled by sail or power or a combination of the two, yachts are used for pleasure cruising or racing.
Yachts range in size from 15 feet to over 100 feet. But larger yachts such as the megayachts come in the 200 feet to 500 feet range. They may have single or multiple hulls and are made of different materials such as wood, fiberglass, steel and aluminum.
Monohull yachts normally have fixed or adjustable keel below the waterline to counterbalance the overturning force of wind on the vessel's sails. Monohulls are less stable than multihulls. On the other hand, multihull yachts such as the catamarans use two or more hulls widely separated from each other to provide a stable base that resists overturning.
Sailing yachts fall into three basic categories: the weekender yachts, the cruiser yachts, and the racing yachts.
Used mainly for short journeys, weekender yachts are the small vessels typically about 30 feet in length. They normally have twin-keels that allow them to operate in shallow waters or sit upright when there is no water. Weekender yachts would usually have only one cabin, with bed space for two to three people. It has space for a galley (kitchen), as well as seating and space for navigation equipment. The storage area is very limited.
Weekender yachts tend to be move slower than other types of yachts because of their small size and small sail area.
Cruiser yachts are more complex in design. Measuring from 26 feet to 46 feet in length, cruisers are most commonly used by private owners or small yacht charters. These types are also the preferred choice for family vessels. They often feature more rooms, typically three double-berth cabins. They have single large saloon and a head (toilet/shower room) and more storage space. With speed of about 4-10 mph, cruiser yachts are capable of going on long-range passages spanning many miles.
While comfort is the main offering of cruiser and weekender yachts, speed is the prime distinction of racing yachts. Running to up to 40 mph, racing yachts would usually have basic cabin accommodations to reduce weight. Racing yachts tend to have long but very narrow hulls that allow them to support a tall mast with a big sail area.
There are many famous yachting spots in the United States and worldwide. These places include:
· Auckland, New Zealand
· Fremantle, Western Australia
· Cowes, Isle of Wight
· Hamble, Hampshire, England
· Tollesbury, Essex, England
· The French Riviera
· Ft. Lauderdale,Florida
· San Francisco Bay, California
· Newport Beach, California
· Newport, Rhode Island
· West Coast of Scotland
· Hong Kong.
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Yachts
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Yacht manufacturers are improving every year, the competitiveness in the industry is driving the standard to new heights with the latest and greatest state of the art technology. Before you make the major investment of buying a yacht get the run down on all the major players.
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Yachts 