When chartering a super yacht, most yacht charter clients’ main motive is the escapism and privacy. In many other cases the yachtcharter clients simply wish to have a luxury holiday at sea, be it to enjoy the highest levels of service, the most luxurious cruise or the feeling of freedom and prestige.
Others will charter a yacht as part of their business meeting or a corporate event while some will also do so as they wish to try something new. Regardless what the motives for their next luxury yacht charter vacation, everyone will at some time during their charter want to use water sport toys provided on board.
The list of water sport toys on board of super yachts is never ending and every few months there is a new option to be had. Only recently, a gadget connected to the on board jet ski was introduced, which allows the user to fly at the heights of up to 15m in the air. A truly fascinating gadget indeed, as long as you are fit and courageous enough to use it. We witnessed the presentation of one such product during the Super Yacht show in Mallorca in May 2013 and the audience was indeed captured and stunned looking at various acrobatic performances of the presenter.
And while some super mega yachts already have on board submarines or super fast jet tenders that fly over the water at speeds of well over 50kn, in most cases the mega yacht charter clients will be using Jet Ski’s, Waverunners, towing inflatable gear such as banana’s, tube’s or water skii’s. Some yachts have already introduced fabulous new, usually custom made, sealed-air inflatable water slides made with the finest materials for the safety of your party! Others are seriously considering ordering the latest toy, the FLYBOARD, an incredible flying machine designed by World’s Champion Franky Zapata. In some cases, as it has proved very popular in the past few years, they will take advantage of fabulous seabobs, which provide exhilarating experience on and below the water and are relatively easy to use by all grownups.
Thus, if you are in the process of planning your first or next luxury crewed yacht charter holiday at sea, these are the water sport toys you are either likely to find on board or you should demand from your charter agent.
SUPER YACHT TENDER
A good, high quality super yacht tender is the most important gadget. It should be at least around 5m or 17’ in length and have a minimum 60hp engine. Some mega yachts such as LADY SHARON GALE will have a larger 40’ tender which they can only tow behind them. Others, such as super yachts bigger then 50m will have at least two, one of which is likely to be at least 7m. Super Mega Yachts of 70m+ will have several tenders on board ensuring highest levels of safety, with some even having rain protection. Whatever the super yacht you will be chartering, make sure you are provided with a good tender as in most cases, getting on shore in your new fancy outfit will require a nice and luxury beach or city transfer from the anchorage your own super yacht will be anchored at. Thus, a good super yacht tender should be designed for optimum passenger seating comfort and the same should also easily tow a or pull the sea toys available.
JET SKI
A good waverunner, a two or a three-seater is the next toy on the list. An absolutely essential part of any super yacht nowadays, waverunners provide users with such an exhilarating fun nobody should miss out on. In most cases, especially in the Mediterranean, the use of these toys is restricted to those who own the licence. IN case your charter party does not have one, we can arrange a professional JET SKI instructor to come on board on a specified day so you can get your licence in the course of a few hours in the afternoon.
SEABOB
The next must have water sport toy on board of a luxury crewed yacht is the seabob or water-sled as some have learned to call it. Sweeping along through the water with a Seabob Jet is simply said a fascinating experience. Nothing can be more fun than rediscovering water, while riding over the water, diving into impressive underwater world or simply cruising along the surface with your own body fully submerged. Using a Seabob is can also be seen as an additional wellness experience. The water pressure is great so that it will in fact both force you through the water, but also massage you in the process, leaving your whole body tingling afterwards. Thus, Seabob is a real water toy, powerful and easy to handle and force you through the water at speeds of around 10km/h / 6m/h, and it crucially offers a genuinely new experience to most water sport enthusiasts.
TOWING GEAR, INFLATABLES & TUBES
A number of towing toys are always available on board of any super yacht. These usually include a Banana Rider for between 2 or 8 persons, a Tube, Jumpseats, Wakeboard, Kneeboard, Waterskiis, Monoskiis etc. A banana for example is a nice recreational toy designed to be pulled by a tender. The riders normally site upright, astride a large tube which is attached to two smaller tubes. Most bananas have solid grip handles placed in front of the seating place for you to hang on to while the powerful tender speeds around the bays.
The tubes are mainly for the fitter or more competitive charter guests who like to see and watch who can hang on the longest. Similar to tubes, the doughnuts are also pulled by the tenders, albeit they are safer to use as one would sit on them, rather than try to hand on to them. Water skis tend to be the next most popular water sport toy. When chartering a super yacht you should make sure there are both children and adult skis or monoskiis on board. Wakeboard and kneeboard are again for the more experienced or fitter users. Wakeboards in particular should havewide-set quad fins and a low-volume rail will provide you with strong edging and control, while the continuous rocker pattern should provide the user with predictable lift off the wake to get the space they need for original moves on the water. The profile of wakeboard should be as thin and light as possible so that it allows the user to flex and rebound, which in turn would ideally maximise the pop which would allow them to attempt new, thrilling moves.
SAILING DINGHIES/LASERS
Sailing dinghies are getting their foothold more and more within the water sport toys storage. These type of boats are usually around 3-4m long sail boats that have open cockpits and no cabins in them. They allow the users to make first sailing steps or enhance their current skills as they allow quicker mastering given that all actions have to be executed quicker than on the larger sailing yachts.
BEACH TOYS
Beach toys are in particular of great importance for super yacht charters with children on board, as the crew will not always be able to pay attention to children. Having a plethora of beach toys on board is therefore both very useful as well as very important. On a long sunny day, you are bound to want to keep your children busy so you can sunbathe on the beach or explore the underwater world with your partner. Children could in the meantime play frizbee on the beach sand, sunbathe safely under a beach umbrella or get involved in some of the ball sports such as football. On some yachts there are all necessary equipment to organise a beach volleyball tournament between guests.
Some mega yachts will also carry bicycles, segways or even scooters on board.
SNORKELLING
One of the most rewarding activities during any vacation at sea, is snorkelling experience. During your super yacht charter holiday, regardless in which destinations it will be taking place, you should have plenty of opportunities to do exactly that. With snorkelling gear found on board, you can simply take a lazy swim along the shore checking out the reef and fish in the area. In some locations, such as at the Porquerolles National Park in South of France or off the shore of the island Susak in Northern Croatia, you can swim with the schools of fish in crystal clear sea water. In some other areas such as the Gulf of St Tropez, in front of Brigitte Bardot’s houses for example, you can just look at the colourful scenery beneath the water. Your yacht charter agent should ensure that on your specific itinerary you will have plenty of opportunity for your snorkelling dives.
SCUBA DIVING
On board of some super yachts, yacht charter guests may also find full diving equipment on board. Scuba diving can be a wonderful addition to your luxury crewed charter holiday in case you have certified or keen divers amongst your party. A unique itinerary can be tailor made for you so you can visit some of the most beautiful diving places in the chosen super yacht charter destination. These diving spots are likely to be a great choice for beginners as well as advanced divers alike, although on occasion only highly qualified and experienced divers could participate. In some cases the boats will also have underwater cameras on board, or you can plan to bring your own tech equipment. Some very specific mega yachts will have a professional instructor or a Dive master on board too. If there is no diving equipment on board we you can always get a rendez-vous diving arranged with the best local company which offers scuba diving adventures. Whatever the scenario, you can rest assured that all mega yachts will either have or their super yacht crew will be able to arrange best equipment including tanks, regulators, and a wide range of Scubapro BCD’s and shorties for all sizes. Thus, wherever you decide to go on your next super yacht charter vacation, scuba diving can be arranged regardless if you are on board of a small yacht such as KENTAVROS II, which is based in Greece and which carries scuba equipment for 2 adults or on the largest super mega yacht which may not have any such equipment on board.
FISHING AND DEEP SEA FISHING, BIG GAME FISHING
Fishing equipment is another set of equipment which yacht charter clients on board of luxury crewed super yachts may find. As with scuba diving gear even a smaller number of super yachts will carry such equipment around. In most cases this would be basic equipment for a bit of casual, fun fishing in the next small bay or when trolling the coastal flats. In some cases however, the super yacht crew will have great equipment where heading offshore for the thrills of big game fishing will be a good game. Such yachts can offer exciting fishing adventure for anglers of all levels and abilities. Fishing with light tackle and gear for sailfish, wahoo, marlin, and other blue water fish makes for the perfect fishing trip for the kids & adults. Once again, you can make a great decision if you check what equipment is on board beforehand and if your super yacht charter agent can recommend a particular super yacht in respect of any specific equipment you prefer to have on board.
SWIMMING PLATFORM
Finally, the importance of swimming platform should not be underestimated. Although it cannot be classed as a water sport toy, the experience of having to jump off into the sea for a little bit of snorkelling or to board your waverunner and jet ski from a tiny step or a platform which is not at the or near the water level can very negatively influence your super yacht charter experience. For that reason, especially if you will have elder charter guests or those who may not be very active or capable, it is worth ensuring that your super yacht will have a nice swimming platform for easy access to the water. One on board of luxury crewed catamaran Douce France is a good example.
Money no object, you can also choose a yacht which may have the best choice of water sport toys on board on occasion. Super mega yacht TITANIA, a fabulous 236′ / 72m Luerssen, would be one of the best choices.Whaterver your super yacht choice will be, lets hope you are in for a great experience and lots of exhilarating water fun during your next luxury crewed yacht charter.