As the summer yacht charter season nears its peak, several popular charter fleets have added yachts in destinations all around the world.

In the Bahamas, Fraser just welcomed the 107-foot Burger Silver Seas. It’s a 1998 build that most recently was refitted in 2022, and that will base in the Bahamas all year round. Accommodations are for eight guests in four staterooms that can be set up for families or groups of couples. This yacht charters with an Intrepid tender for watersports fun.

Up in New England, Edmiston has welcomed 168-foot Feadship Acta to the charter fleet. Acta is a 2007 build that accommodates 10 guests in five staterooms. Equipment includes Quantum zero-speed stabilizers for guest comfort at anchor, and the yacht has a wheelchair-accessible elevator and side deck. The master stateroom is on the bridge deck with expansive views.

For charter clients seeking more exotic locales, IYC has just added the 131-foot Westport Rule No. 1 to its fleet, with inquiries being accepted through September 2025 for Panama, Mexico and Costa Rica. Rule No. 1 is a 2011 build that most recently was refitted in 2023, with accommodations for 12 guests in five staterooms. This yacht charters with a 37-foot Freeman tender for fishing, and has toys that include an inflatable slide.

Also available farther afield is the 75-foot Sunreef Diana, a sailing catamaran that’s in French Polynesia as part of the Y.CO fleet. Diana is a 2017 build that just completed a refit this year. The yacht accommodates eight guests in four staterooms. Amenities and crew services include a hot tub, a fitness trainer, a masseuse, a yoga instructor, and various water toys.

In Croatia and the West Mediterranean, the 137-foot Kingship Ocean’s Seven has joined the Fraser fleet. This is a 2012 build that was most recently refitted this year. Interiors on the yacht are by Vripack, with five staterooms for 10 guests. The master spans the full beam on the main deck and has a king-size berth.

Are there any options being advertised for scuba diving? Indeed, Edmiston says the 154-foot Feadship Lady Victoria is still accepting inquiries this summer in the Bahamas, and is offering scuba diving right from the yacht. Accommodations are for 12 guests in six staterooms, with a master that has its own deck and a VIP on the main deck. The swim platform can be extended and raised for diving, or submerged for guests who want to step right into the sea.

How to book a week on board: contact a charter broker at fraseryachts.com, edmiston.com, iyc.com or y.co.

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RJC Yachts says seven of the yachts in its charter fleet are accepting inquiries for New England bookings this summer.

The yachts are: the 163-foot Christensen Lady Elaine, the 157-foot Trinity Miss Christine, the 145-foot Christensen Relentless, the 124-foot Broward Camille, the 112-foot Delta Gale Winds, the 118-foot Intermarine XOXO and the 118-foot Broward True North.

Weekly base rates range from $60,000 to $225,000, depending on the yacht and the number of guests. Accommodations on the seven yachts range from eight to 12 guests each.

When does the New England charter season start? Some yachts are accepting bookings as early as June 1.

Take the next step: contact a charter broker at rjcyachts.com

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Even in the best of times, it’s a short sailing season in New England waters. This year, for me, because of work and travel commitments, it was especially abbreviated. Early last October, almost five months to the day after sailing my Pearson Ensign Saunter the roughly dozen miles from winter storage at Safe Harbor New England Boatworks in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, to my mooring in Newport Harbor, I was making the return trip to put it away for the winter. The last ritualistic sail of the season is always bittersweet, but I’ll also remember this one for a long time. Because it was sensational.

All the usual suspects that make up my regular crew were busy, so I was all by myself as I caught the launch from the Ida Lewis Yacht Club out to the boat on a lazy early Friday afternoon. I’d hoped to make the run earlier in the week, but a three-day nor’easter, the last lingering remnants of feisty Hurricane Ian, had ruined those plans. It was sort of a blessing in disguise: The weather had turned in my favor, with a solid southwest sea breeze rushing in and a big flood tide (thanks to the full moon) filling Narragansett Bay with dispatch. When I told the launch driver my plan for the day, he just smiled. “Everything’s going in your direction,” he said.

I hoisted the main, dropped the mooring and broad-reached out of Brenton Cove. My first obstacle was a massive Carnival cruise liner, a sure sign of autumn in these parts. I quickly put it behind me. Shortly after, I unrolled the jib for a bit more horsepower and then squeaked under the Newport Bridge in the span just west of the last section of latticework, a local-knowledge shortcut for anyone who’s raced small boats on the bay.

The southwester by now was pumping, but I was able to skirt just north of Gould Island and altered course a bit for a better wind angle, which took me right up to the north shore of Conanicut Island and the picturesque village of Jamestown. I’d been underway for well over an hour, but it wasn’t until this juncture, where I threw in my first jibe, that I had to make any sort of maneuver. The breeze could not have been pumping from a better direction.

Much to my astonishment, on the new tack, I was able to perfectly lay a course directly for the narrow entrance to the marina, which I called on my cell to get my slip assignment. (One jibe!) The helpful person on the other end of the call gave me the slip number and said she’d text me a drawing, which arrived within seconds. Saunter measures less than 23 feet length overall, so I was pretty chuffed when I checked my GPS and discovered I was trucking along at a good 6.5 knots—pretty spiffy for a compact, full-keel sailboat built in 1963. It was only then that I realized what a lovely sail I was experiencing, which made it even better.

I’d like to say I totally stuck the landing, but, in fact, I misread the marina map. Instead of sailing directly downwind to my slip, I had to scramble a bit to lower the outboard and motor in to the upwind dock, something I should’ve done well before on my initial approach. So it turned out that this voyage concluded with a lesson learned and a reminder never to get too cocky, even when everything is seemingly going your way—which was also just fine.

And so another fine season of sailing came to an end, with a nice punctuation mark on the summer of 2022. The only good thing about a last sail? It gets you to start thinking of the next one to kick off the summer of ’23.

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With all the rigmarole that international travelers continued to endure this summer because of the pandemic and related airline issues, quite a few charter yacht owners decided to keep their boats in the United States—and more than a few owners sent those boats up to New England. This is great luck for anyone who has the ability to charter during the offseason months of September and October, pretty much anywhere along the coast from Rhode Island up to Maine. The summertime crowds are gone, the top marinas tend to have more availability for transient slips, and the changing of the seasons creates a natural bounty of breathtaking color ashore.

Yacht owners themselves are getting in on the fall fun this year too, creating even more charter opportunities after they leave their boats: “The owners of Miss Christine are going to use her in September, and we’re working on October inquiries for leaves changing and fall colors,” says Nicole Caulfield, charter manager at RJC Yachts, which has numerous yachts available in New England well into September and October (a few are shown below).

In addition to perennially popular waterfront stops around the region for lobster rolls, clambakes and bowls of piping-hot chowder, New England also has some special events planned that can be part of a charter itinerary this fall. In late September, Mystic Seaport in Connecticut will put on its 25th annual Antique Vehicle Show, featuring about 100 pre-1932 vehicles on display. In October, Fort Adams State Park in Newport, Rhode Island, will host the Newport Food Truck and Craft Beer ­Festival, with regional suds from Dorchester Brewing Co. and seaside-inspired craft cocktails from Cape Cod’r, among others. Also in October, the Nantucket Conservation ­Foundation in Massachusetts hosts a Cranberry Festival, which coincides with an islandwide shopping event called Cobblestones & Cranberries.

“We also have boats that will consider going to Maine through September,” Caulfield says. “The weather is still good, and it’s a pretty fall time. It’s great cruising.”

Acadia National Park

This picturesque spot in Maine is one of America’s 10 most visited national parks. Hikers can indulge in 148 miles of trails, which are separate from the miles upon miles of motor roads for cars, as well as the carriage roads for bicyclists and horseback riders. For a truly immersive experience, leave the boat for a night and reserve a space at one of the park’s four campgrounds. Early September is often ideal for smaller crowds and warmer temperatures in the park.

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The largest city in Maine was born of fire and water. Portland’s seal shows a phoenix rising from the ashes, a reference to the way the city rebuilt after not just one, but four devastating fires. At the same time, since at least the 1600s, the city’s heartbeat has been its waterfront. Today, that waterfront is a mix of working boats and tourist haunts that’s noteworthy because it’s more restored than rebuilt. Yachtsmen who head ashore will encounter much of the same vibe that existed when sailors stepped off their ships in the late 19th century. About 70 percent of the structures were built back then, making this seaport unusual even within New England. It’s hard to find entire streets lined with Victorian commercial architecture like the ones that still stand today in Portland.

It’s also hard to find such an eclectic mix of museums, restaurants and culture. The historic, shopping and arts districts are all near one another, with everything from a gluten-free bakery and a narrow-gauge railroad museum to an old-fashioned record store. The International Cryptozoology Museum says it has hair samples on display from abominable snowmen. There are open jazz sessions on Tuesday nights at the venue known simply as Blue. At the Broken Crow, tattoo artists can create just about any design a boater might want.

And all of it is surrounded by rich history. Portland Head Light still offers the same views that the city’s defenders looked out upon during the Revolutionary War and World War II. The Portland Observatory is also here—it’s the only remaining historic maritime signal station in the United States, built 86 feet tall by a man who charged ship owners $5 apiece for a heads-up by way of his telescope that their vessels were within 30 miles and heading into the port.

Explore New England: New England Yacht Charter is a Great Getaway

Today, of course, things are easier with channel 16 on the VHF radio and local marinas, but stepping ashore to explore remains just as much fun.

Marinas

Located on Casco Bay,  Fore Points Marina has 150 slips for boats from 25 to 545 feet length overall. Mega-yacht owners and crew can request high-speed, in-slip refueling. Dimillo’s Old Port Marina has transient rates that increase with the size of the boat. Yachts 96 feet and larger pay $5.50 per foot, and there are group rates for flotillas of 10 or more boats (of any length overall) that are traveling together. Portland Yacht Services has 128 slips and 18 transient moorings for boats with drafts as substantial as 20 feet. Small sailboat rentals are available here for yachtsmen who want to dock the big boat and head out into the bay for an easy, breezy sail.

Downtown

Portland’s downtown districts each have a different style. Old Port is the revitalized section of the city, with a working waterfront as well as shops, restaurants and entertainment. Expect to find cobblestone streets, unique boutiques and quite a few varieties of lobster specials on the menus. The Arts District is a few blocks from the waterfront, with museums, theaters and the Maine Historical Society. Smaller galleries and performance venues are here as well, with a mix of fine dining and ethnic restaurants. West End is the place to see architecture, including some of the city’s largest historic homes and camera-ready Victorian neighborhoods. 

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Few chairs are as simple as the Adirondack, which (at least some experts say) a man built from 11 planks of wood after becoming frustrated by uncomfortable lakefront furniture in the early 1900s. The chair soon became a staple along waterfronts from New York to New England, where it could be left outside in scenic spots for watching boats cruise past.

Even today, that kind of simplicity is still relaxing, especially in places like Rhode Island’s Narragansett Bay, a boater’s paradise where summer regattas put on a fantastic show. Few of life’s pleasures are as easily accessible as sitting in an Adirondack chair high above the shore and watching a heck of a lot of great boats go by.

The most famous harbor on Narragansett Bay is the one at Newport, a city that dates to the 1600s and the New England whaling industry. Today, Newport is as much a tourist town as it is a seafarer city, with world-class marinas and services within walking distance of restaurants, shops, music clubs and more.

Cruising here is great on your own boat—or on a rental that can give you a taste of the city’s storied sailing history. Many of the classic America’s Cup 12 Meters that raced here years ago are now available for charter, either through daily ticket purchases or by way of custom bookings. You can get a feel for the action with a two- or three-hour sail, or book a whole boat for one of the harbor’s special events, such as Fourth of July fireworks.

Many boaters like to cruise to Newport in July for the annual Newport Jazz Festival and Newport Folk Festival, both staged at Fort Adams State Park. The park is on the waterfront, which means boats can anchor out and hear the music without ever stepping ashore. There’s usually serious talent on stage; over the years, musicians such as Miles Davis, Duke Ellington and Muddy Waters have performed.

And, if you have a foldable Adirondack-style chair on board, feel free to position it on deck and enjoy the view too.

The Boaters’ Bay

Narragansett Bay is at the north end of Rhode Island Sound, which hosted America’s Cup Races from 1930 to 1983. Today, all kinds of boats cruise and race here, making for on-water fun and a great spectator sport. It’s not unusual to see J Boats or classic Herreshoff Designs take to the bay en masse for regattas, or to see Downeast powerboats strutting with style across the local waters. The Herreshoff Marine Museum borders Narragansett Bay in Bristol, and has transient dockage and moorings available from mid-May through the middle of October. The America’s Cup Hall of Fame is on-site, with half-hull models on display.

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It’s happening again.

This past summer, as the COVID-19 pandemic took hold, charter bookings from US clients surged in places such as the Florida Keys and New England. That same pattern was already repeating itself this past spring in the southeast, with all indicators suggesting a similar crush of demand for New England bookings this summer.

“In March and April, there were not enough boats in the Florida Keys and the Bahamas to fill last-minute charter requests,” says Jennifer Saia, president of B&B Yacht Charters in Newport, Rhode Island. And, she says, as far back as April, she was already having trouble finding charter yachts to book for clients in New England during July.

Even with more yachts staying in East Coast waters instead of going to Europe because of continuing travel restrictions, demand for US bookings is outstripping supply. Clients wanting to charter this summer and fall out of Newport need to call sooner rather than later.

“More boats are coming than usual; last year, we saw more boats than usual,” Saia says. “The harbor and the docks were full. Boats that would normally be in the Med—the big, big boats—were littering Narragansett Bay and Nantucket.”

The region is tourism-ready, she says, with the bustling vibe returning along Newport’s waterfront.

”The restaurants have plexiglass up,” Saia says. “There’s less capacity. People are wearing masks—but it’s busy.”

And in some cases, she says, clients are realizing they don’t have to fly around the world for a great vacation. A New Hampshire family scheduled to charter in Greece instead booked out of Newport last summer and were as surprised as anyone about the result.

“They saw Martha’s Vineyard, Cuttyhunk, Nantucket, all of it,” Saia says. “I can’t tell you how they were smiling at the end of that charter.”

The Yachts

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HMY Yachts Charter says the 116-foot Azimut Tail Lights has just a few days left of Caribbean charter availability, from April 21-30.

Tail Lights accommodates eight to 10 guests in five staterooms. Itineraries can be round-trip from St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands, or can start in the northern Caribbean island of Sint Maarten and finish in St. Thomas.

After she completes the current charter season in the Caribbean, Tail Lights is expected to move to Florida for the month of May, followed by New England for the summer yacht charter season there.

Lowest weekly base rate to charter Tail Lights: $75,000

Where to book her last available dates in the Caribbean: contact charter broker Kim Vickery.

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Horizon RP110

Horizon Yachts has announced plans to bring Hull No. 1 of its RP110 model to this fall’s Newport International Boat Show. Andrea VI will be located at Bannister’s Wharf and available for tours September 11-14.

The RP110 has a 25-foot beam and a standard layout that includes four en suite staterooms plus three crew quarters. Optional layouts include a five-stateroom version with a main-deck master or a country-kitchen version with all staterooms belowdecks.

Interior decor is by Marty Lowe, who aimed for “livable luxury” with contemporary styling. JC Espinosa designed the raised-pilothouse profile, and naval architecture is by Don Blount working in conjunction with the builder.

Standard outfitting includes twin 1,900-hp Caterpillar C32A engines paired to ZF reduction gears, ABT TRAC digital stabilizers, a suite of Furuno electronics at the helm and a pair of 55-kW Onan generators.

To schedule a tour of the Horizon RP110 in Newport next month, visit www.horizonyacht.com.

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Azimut 95 Angelika

The Italians build nice boats. This much, we all know. But U.S. owners often want some customizations, and the owner of the 95-foot Azimut Angelika fits that description—and then some. The 2010 build is being marketed as one of the only 95s for sale right now with American-minded upgrades, and plenty of them.

Broker Mike Doyle at MarineMax says the same captain who worked on the build is still with the boat today, currently taking her up to New England, where she is available for inspections. Prospective owners will find a pair of 1,925-hp Caterpillar C32A engines, each with about 1,865 hours on them. Dual 55-kW Kohler generators on silent blocks, zero-speed stabilizers, and hydraulic bow and stern thrusters are also on board.

Additional upgrades include a removable Isinglass enclosure on the flybridge; a crane for launching the Zodiac Yachtline 420DL tender; a flybridge barbecue and hot tub; maneuvering joysticks at both helms; remote controls for engines and thrusters; dual Raymarine 15-inch G-series monitors; three security and docking cameras that feed to the helm and other locations; a secondary GPS antenna for Nobeltec software; a KVH-satellite-supported entertainment system with Kaleidescape server and Crestron controls; a Bauer compressor for scuba-tank refills; a hydraulic swim platform; a Bimini top on the bow; a main-salon wet bar with marble top and a master-cabin refrigerator.

“The boat is one-owner, well-maintained with a lot of bells and whistles,” Doyle says. “There’s a full crew on board, and when I saw her, I was thrilled that she looked as nice as I’d hoped she would.”

The asking price on Angelika is $6.495 million. Learn more or contact Doyle to schedule a showing at www.marinemax.com.

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