Boat International – April 2018

new territory/charter special

an amazing place, if you can’t get one thing

you’ll get something else – for instance, if you

miss Deception Island, you might see

humpback whales. A change of plans could give

you unexpected pleasures.”

Charter lowdown: Permits are required to

visit Antarctica and to do almost anything

there, from shore visits to diving, and it takes at

least three months for approvals. Antarctica is

well regulated to keep it as pristine as possible.

There is a booking system that members of

IAATO (International Association of

Antarctica Tour Operators), like EYOS, abide

by so only one yacht will visit at a time.

Choose your yacht: A former Soviet

icebreaker, 77 metre Legend is completely at

home in these icy climes. Explore the depths in

her three-man submarine and warm up in the

sauna and spa tub (from €460,000 per week).

Available from €290,000 per week, 71 metre

Enigma XK has five tenders, Jeep Wranglers

and lots of dive equipment.

Yachts listed for Patagonia and Antarctica

might be available in either location; enquire

for availability.

Northwest Passage

The allure of the mythical Northwest Passage

is to boldly go where few have gone before.

The sea route that connects the Atlantic and

Pacific oceans, through the unforgiving

Canadian Arctic, was first completed by

Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen in 1906

• since then there have been fewer than 160
  transits. “This is a proper adventure zone,”
  says Tamsin Vaughan, an associate at YPI.
  “See polar bears, narwhals and belugas, and
  go kayaking, trekking and get to know the
  Inuit culture. Explore it now before too many
  people tread the untrodden.”
  Charter lowdown: The Northwest Passage
  is complex because visiting yachts have to
  work with the Inuit to gain access to their
  lands and waters. Go with a respected
  expedition company to avoid breaking the
  law or upsetting locals.
  Choose your yacht: “For the Northwest
  Passage and Antarctica, we have owners
  coming to visit each year who decide to make
  their yachts available for charter after their own
  voyage,” advises Tim Soper, EYOS Expeditions’
  founding partner.
  The ice-class 48 metre Hanse Explorer,
  available from €125,000 per week, was built for
  adventurous pursuits and all of her seven cabins
  can be had as twins or queens.

bucket

list

Seychelles

These paradise islands of the Indian

Ocean are now considered to be free

from the piracy threat that previously

plagued them, making them more

inviting for the superyacht set.

Galápagos

The ultimate bucket list destination

for many, this nature lover’s paradise

has strict charter rules that are

designed to help protect the fragile

ecosystem. There are a handful of

excellent charter yachts year-round

with naturalist guides on board.

Madagascar

Talk has swirled around cruising this

intriguing African island. The only

thing preventing it from becoming a

reality is the lack of charter yachts

regularly based there.

Chartering, with

an expert guide

on board, is an

excellent way to see

the Galápagos

Northwest Passage

Alaska

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