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As hurricane season officiallyended the last day inNovember, the Caribbean begins

to fill with charter yachts offeringexotic cruise vacations at all pricepoints. It’s true that there’s sometimesa straggler storm into the month ofDecember, but for the most part, theweather dies down and the charterrates go up come Christmas and NewYear’s Day — the start of the mostpopular time of year for yacht chartersin the waters between the VirginIslands and Venezuela.

Y A C H T I N G | Kim Kavin

Sizing UpTop Caribbean

ChartersSeason shifts from Europe to warmer

tropical climes. STRATOSconsiders newest offerings.

The 201-foot Amels Solemar comfortablyaccommodates 12 guests with 16 crew at a weekly base rate

of about $543,000, plus expenses.

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Whether you want a brand new yacht in a classic charterlocale or an adventurous yacht cruising off the beaten course tomore remote destinations, you can find it well into the monthof April in the Caribbean. Smaller, all-inclusive yachts that areideal for many first-time charterers tend to congregate aroundSt. Thomas and Tortola in the Virgin Islands, while larger sailingand motoryachts typically call the islands of Antigua or SaintMaarten home. More and more of these top-dollar yachts arestarting to cruise off the beaten course, too, to places like CostaRica and the Grenadines, which means you have more optionsin terms of Caribbean destinations than ever before. And thisyear, there’s an especially big yacht entering this part of themarket for the first time, signaling a continuation of theworldwide trend toward super-size yachts — and charging wellmore than $600,000 a week for the privilege of vacationingonboard. Read on to learn more.

It can be hard to separate the good yachts from the great onesin the Caribbean each year, but to help get you started, here’sa look at that top-dollar newcomer as well as some of the othermore interesting yachts that are available for charters in theCaribbean during the upcoming season. These short profilesinclude information about what makes each yacht unique,keeping in mind that your personal vacation dreams may fitwith one yacht better than with another.

Big EagleThe 172-foot motoryacht Big Eagle has worked hard over the

years to develop and maintain an excellent reputation in theworldwide charter industry. Having spent a great deal of timein the Caribbean during seasons past, though, she’s branchingout this year to offer unique itineraries for guests who want toexplore beyond yachting’s most popular islands.Big Eagle is heading from the southern Caribbean islands of

Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao up through the Panama Canal intime to offer charters on Costa Rica’s west coast. She’ll thenhead north to the western coast of Mexico — often called theMexican Riviera — where she’ll be available from January untilthe far end of the typical Caribbean season in April.

The yacht takes 12 guests with 10 crew at a weekly base rateof $140,000, plus expenses. Contact the management companyThe Sacks Group Yachting Professionals.

Eleonora-ENathaniel Herreshoff is considered one of history’s greatest

sailing yacht designers, and Eleonora-E was built in 2000 tofollow the original lines of his legendary racing schoonerWestward. It’s hard to find a more elegant sailing yachtanywhere on the world’s waters, especially one that includes allthe modern amenities that this 161 footer boasts. Her interior,while also done in classic style, features modern comforts andoriginal elements such as extra portholes and skylights forabundant natural light.Eleonora-E takes eight guests with seven crew at a weekly

base rate of 53,000 euros (about $72,000 at press time), plus

Coming to the Caribbean for the first time this season is thebrand new, 161-foot Trinity Lady Michelle, which wentstraight into the Mediterranean charter market after

launching earlier this year.

Photoby

Jim

Raycroft

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expenses. Contact management companyEdmiston & Company.

GeanelleThis 145-foot Benetti is a brand new

launch that will be offering her first-evercharters in the Caribbean this season, with ahome port of Saint Maarten. Geanelle has allthe bells and whistles you should expect ona new yacht of her size, including anelevator, zero-speed stabilizers (for morecomfortable cruising and dining at anchor),WiFi access, flat-screen televisions in allguest areas, a Crestron entertainment systemfeaturing thousands of movie and musictitles, and a sundeck with a hot tub, bar andbarbecue.

Interestingly, Geanelle also is wheelchairaccessible with wide decks and removableramps — an unusual find onboard a yacht inthis size range.Geanelle takes 10 guests with nine crew at

New to the charter market following a $12-million refit,Princess Mariana is one of the largest yachts in the world at a

jaw-dropping 258 feet.Originally built in 2003, her interior is byworld-renowned designer Francois Zuretti.

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a weekly base rate of $150,000, plus expenses. Contactmanagement company Fraser Yachts Worldwide.

Lady MichelleComing to the Caribbean for the first time this season is

the brand new, 161-foot Trinity Lady Michelle, which wentstraight into the Mediterranean charter market afterlaunching earlier this year. Her owner enjoys theMediterranean style of charter, which means a sundeckcompletely open for guest use with tenders stowed belowin the yacht’s garage. Lady Michelle is also unique amongother Trinity launches in her size range because she has asixth stateroom on her bridge deck, allowing extra cabinspace for guests to spread out onboard.Lady Michelle takes 10 guests with nine crew at a weekly

base rate of $215,000, plus expenses. Contact managementcompany International Yacht Collection.

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The 98-foot Obrigado is a GFT, or Global Fast Trawler,though that is not entirely accurate. She’s not a trawler,but is definitely fast for her size, with a top speed of 21knots.

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It’s hard to find a more elegant sailing yacht anywhereon the world’s waters than Eleanora-E, especially considering all

her modern amenities.

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ObrigadoThis 98-foot motoryacht is a GFT, which stands for Global

Fast Trawler. It’s a bit of an odd moniker, since she’s not atrawler at all, but she definitely is fast for her size range, with atop speed of 21 knots. That means that if you’re eager to spendless time getting from Point A to Point B, and more timeenjoying the fun and sun at Point B itself, Obrigado is the kindof yacht that can get you there fast.Obrigado takes eight guests with four crew and is available

at a weekly base rate of $45,000 per week, plus expenses. She’llbe based in the popular Antigua-Saint Maarten area until thespring of 2007, offering itineraries that include islands such asAnguilla and St. Barth’s. Additional details are available frommanagement company Merrill-Stevens Yachts.

Princess MarianaNew to the charter market following a $12-million refit, this

jaw-dropping 258-foot motoryacht is one of the largest yachtsin the world. Her Caribbean season this year will make her oneof perhaps a half-dozen yachts her size available for charteraround the globe, taking 12 guests with a stunning 26 crewmembers to tend to their every need and desire. Princess

Mariana was originally built in 2003, and her interior is byworld-renowned designer Francois Zuretti. Her onboard toysinclude a golf range and a helipad.Princess Mariana charters at a weekly base rate of $606,500

plus expenses. Contact management company Camper &Nicholsons International.

SolemarThe 201-foot Amels Solemar has one of the more luxurious

master suites available for charter today, situated on the yacht’smain deck with a two-level split. The raised portion of the suiteis an owner’s office and private lounge that offers panoramicviews — not a bad place to start your day if you need to get ina bit of work before the day’s leisure activities begin.

Guests who aren’t lucky enough to nab the master suite willbe comfortable, as well, as this yacht has seven properstaterooms instead of the usual six — so singles won’t have toshare, or couples who prefer to sleep separately can spread out.Solemar takes 12 guests with 16 crew at a weekly base rate

of 400,000 euros (about $543,000 at press time), plus expenses.Contact management company Burgess Yachts.

= Details• ELEANORA-EEdmiston & CompanyLos Angeles..............................................................................(310) 777-6535www.edmistoncompany.com

• GEANELLEFraser Yachts WorldwideFort Lauderdale .......................................................................(954) 463-0600www.fraseryachts.com

• OBRIGADOMerrill-Stevens YachtsTwo Florida locationsFort Lauderdale......................................................................(954) 791-2600www.merrill-stevens.com

• SOLEMARBurgess YachtsMiami.........................................................................................(305) 423-0820www.burgessyachts.com

• PRINCESS MARIANACamper & Nicholsons InternationalThree Florida locationsMiami........................................................................................(305) 604-9191www.cnconnect.com

• LADY MICHELLEInternational Yacht CollectionFort Lauderdale ......................................................................(888) 213-7577www.yachtcollection.com

• BIG EAGLEThe Sacks Group Yachting ProfessionalsFort Lauderdale .......................................................................(954) 764-7742www.sacksyachts.com