Christmas 2019: Charter holiday ideas
Everyone dreams of an unforgettable and unique celebration of the New Year and Christmas, full of emotions and vivid impressions. That is the option Ahoy Club is delighted to offer, helping to organise an unforgettable winter vacation on a luxury yacht.
Ahoy Club lists TOP destinations for New Year and Christmas holidays:
The Caribbean
The Caribbean is a paradise for surfers, divers, ecotourism enthusiasts, beach holidays, and, of course, yachting and sailing during the winter season. The Caribbean is a very popular destination for exotics beaches and boat trips. On the fifty-odd islands of the Caribbean Sea, a true and well-balanced paradise lies. It perfectly combines the rich heritage of the colonial past and tropical nature, where rainforest greens alternate with volcanic landscapes, and coffee and banana plantation valleys give way to sugarcane thickets. Your yacht cruise could begin on the island of Martinique. Then you would continue to the islands of Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent, Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Rifo Tobago, Union Island or Grenada.
You can make the New Year yacht cruise in the Caribbean both on a large sailing catamaran and on a regular motor yacht. You will experience the most beautiful beaches in the world with silky sand, turquoise clear water, amazing and bizarre rock forms and the enchanting beauty of coastal bays and coral reefs, exotic plants and birds. Tropical fruits, Caribbean rum, excellent lobsters and sea food will complement the picture of a paradise holiday on the islands of the Caribbean. In addition to a beach holiday, you can engage in snorkeling, fishing, diving, and try your hand at sailing a yacht.
The Maldives
In Maldives, the sun is shining almost all year round, which attracts tourists from around the world. An archipelago and a state located in the Indian Ocean, approximately 500 km from the Indian Peninsula, the 1,192 islands stretch to over 800 km. All islands are located on 26 coral atolls located on underwater volcanic chains.
The scattered picturesque islands in the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, feature kilometres of secluded beaches, upscale hotels and very beautiful nature.
The beauty of the Maldives is not limited to white sand on the beach and clear water off the coast. The nature of the islands is diverse, with pristine clear waters of the Indian Ocean in a wide variety of shades of blue and turquoise and the richest underwater world with luxurious coral gardens that surround almost all the islands in the Maldives.
That is why the most common way to spend time here is scuba diving. And this is not at all surprising, since visibility under water sometimes reaches 50 meters. For a change, “underwater pastime” can be replaced by surfing, which has become especially popular recently.
Despite the fact that good weather lasts almost all year round, and temperatures range from 29 to 32 degrees, between December and April, a humid subtropical climate prevails, securing the most comfortable sailing period.
The Seychelles
Uniquely located in the middle of the Indian Ocean, Seychelles is a great place for those who want to enjoy the wild, unspoiled nature and spend their holidays sailing. They say that the Seychelles have more shades of blue and green than you can imagine, so the islands are not without reason called “Lost Paradise” or “Islands of Love.” Seychelles are the islands of eternal summer, divine beaches and fabulously colourful atolls.
Seychelles comprise 115 islands of volcanic and coral origin. The islands are divided into two archipelagos: internal and external islands. The first group of islands is more accessible, which is, accordingly, the most visited. It is worth noting that only 33 of the Seychelles are inhabited.
The climate of Seychelles is both hot and humid, with seasonal monsoons. The average annual temperature ranges from 24 ° C to 30 °C. The hottest months are March and April with temperatures exceeding 30 ° C. Due to the fact that the islands are located outside the cyclone belt, strong winds and storms are very rare. Despite the fact that the season in Seychelles lasts all year round, sailing is best planned from mid-December to early May.
Seychelles is ideal for relaxation, even in the rays of the December sun. Fans of various water sports will also find many activities to their liking. Scuba diving, you can see beautiful coral reefs. In addition, here you can go fishing and surfing. And, of course, this is the perfect place to catch the wind in the sails.
Marina / Ports / Anchorage
Mahé is the largest island in the Seychelles archipelago with its capital in Victoria. It is also the most populated island, since about 90% of the population of the whole country is concentrated here. The highest point of the island is the Seychelles Morne, located in the national park of the same name. Mahe is primarily known for its beautiful white beaches, bordered by the blue waters of the ocean. In addition to the beaches, every tourist should visit the main street of the city – Independent Avenue, the Clock Tower, built in 1903 in the likeness of London’s Big Ben and local shops located in the city center. The National Museum in Victoria introduces you to the history, music and folklore of Seychelles. For yachtsmen, 2 beautiful conservation bays may seem interesting: Ternay and Port Launay. Here you can watch whales or plunge into the fabulous underwater world of coral reefs.
Praslin is the second largest island of the archipelago. Divided into 2 counties: Baie Sainte Anne and Grand Anse. Located about 36 km from the island of Mahe. The island combines not only the qualities of a luxury resort, here you can also find places with wild untouched nature. It is definitely worth a visit to Praslin National Park, which covers 324 hectares of rainforest. Not in the territory of the park, the famous Vallée de Mai reserve was created, which in 1983 was included in the UNESCO World Heritage List. Among lovers of beach holidays and scuba diving, the northern part of the island is especially popular. Chevalier Bay, located in the northwestern part of the island, is also very popular. There is Anse Lazio beach, which is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Not far from the beach is a typical Creole restaurant (a tent covered with palm leaves), where you can taste Creole cuisine.
La Digue – is considered one of the most beautiful islands of the Seychelles archipelago, the third largest with one port – La Passe. The island is “protected” by beautiful coral reefs. The main attraction of La Diga are three beaches: Petite Anse, Grand Anse and Anse Union. The coastal waters of the island are ideal for practicing almost any kind of water sports. Particularly noteworthy are the plantations of copra (flesh of coconut) and coconuts. The island can be explored on foot, on bicycles or on a cart drawn by oxen.
The coast of Mexico
La Paz provides a unique opportunity to sail under the waters of the “world aquarium” – the ocean, where several hundred species of fish rival their colours with butterflies and birds, and more than 30 original species of marine mammals. In addition, there are several hundred islands and islets in the bay, most of which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as ecosystems. Pure water, rich fauna and flora in compilation with more than 300 sunny days a year allow you to engage in yachting almost all year round.
The Gulf of California (also known as the Sea of Cortez) is a long and narrow bay that extends into the Pacific Ocean and along the northwestern coast of Mexico. Its length is over 1,200 km. The mountainous California Peninsula closes the bay in the west, and the continental Mexican coast in the east. The main seaports located on the shores of the bay are La Paz and Gaimas. The bay owes its name to Hernan Cortes, who organised a Spanish expedition in 1532 to explore the region.
The Cortez Sea can be divided into 2 parts; the boundary between them is the narrowing defined by the islands of Angel de la Guarda i Tiburón. The northern part is relatively shallow, the depth there rarely exceeds 180 m. Several depressions are observed in the southern part, at the deepest point of one of them a mark of 3 thousand meters is recorded. One of the largest tides in the world is also observed here – the water level at the northern end of the bay can exceed even 9 meters.
There are several hundred islands and islets in the bay, most of which are included in the UNESCO World Heritage List as ecosystems. In addition, about 900 species of tropical fish and 30 species of marine mammals inhabit the local flora and fauna. The famous ocean explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau, in connection with the purity and unheard of bio-variety of the aqua, called the Sea of Cortez “a world aquarium”.
Comfortable weather, which is almost all year round (more than 300 sunny days), makes it possible to swim throughout the year. In summer, the temperature is on average around 35 °C, the sea is calm, visibility under water is excellent. In winter, the temperature ranges from 21 to 29 °C.
La Paz is the capital of Southern California (Spanish: Baja California Sur) and the most important business centre. The first settlers were Aboriginal hunters, but the first European man whose foot set foot on the land of La Paz was the Spanish conquistador Hernan Cortes. He founded the colony of Santa Cruz here. However, due to problems in the provision of food, it did not develop and was doomed to failure. The situation changed when Sebastian Vizcaino arrived in the city in 1596. He renamed the settlement in La Paz. It is worth seeing the local markets, shops and artisan shops, as well as taking an unforgettable walk along the romantic promenade. La Paz and the surrounding area are world famous diving sites, as well as a suitable place for lovers of fishing and kayaking.
Costa Baja Marina is located just minutes from the center of La Paz, on the outskirts of the city. There are various shops, cafes and restaurants. Nearby you can find the most picturesque beaches in this region of La Paz Balandra and Tecolet (La Paz Balandra i Tecolote).
The Bahamas
The Bahamas, discovered by Christopher Columbus, is located in the Atlantic Ocean, having about 700 pristine islands and over 2,500 coral reefs, but only 30 of them are inhabited. The capital of the islands is the largest city of Nassau – the economic and administrative centre of the island, is located on the island of New Providence.
The main islands of the archipelago are Grand Bahama Island, New Providence, Paradise Island, Exuma Islands, Abacos Islands and Cat Island. All of them are characterised by a flat landscape. The highest point is only 63 meters above sea level. The islands are mostly covered with deciduous forests, savannahs and mangroves (salt marshes overgrown with evergreen forests). Most of the archipelago is protected by nature reserves and natural parks (Lucayan National Park, Sea Park and Exuma Cays).
The Bahamas has a humid equatorial climate. The northern part of the archipelago is characterized by a tropical humid climate. Two seasons can be distinguished here: from May to November, the rainy season lasts (the most intense in the north), from December to April – winter without precipitation. From June to November, hurricanes happen. Good weather and tourist season last in the Bahamas throughout the year. The archipelago is best visited between September and May, when temperatures range from 22 °C to 25 °C. In the remaining months of the year, temperatures are higher. In such a climate, relaxation undoubtedly brings a lot of positive emotions and pleasure, which is manifested in the constant interest in these places of a large number of tourists from around the world.
Yachting in this region provides an opportunity to experience an amazing adventure for the whole family. The Conch Inn Hotel & Marina is located on Abaco Island in Marsh Harbor. Uninhabited islands and coves are incredible places of entertainment and allow you to forget about the bustle of the city. Yacht charter in the Bahamas gives you the opportunity to visit places that are simply unrealistic to get into during the “hotel” holidays. The archipelago is also an ideal place for other water sports, including scuba diving, and of course fishing.
The coast of Australia, Indonesia, New Zealand
Magnificent Australian waters stretch from the Tasmanian coast to New South Wales with its amazing harbours, mesmeric tropical islands and grandiose Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, famous for its convenient conditions for diving and snorkelling, amazing even the most experienced snorkelling enthusiasts with the underwater world of Australia. Ahoy Club will assist you finding the best vessel at the best possible price, for exploring some of the best Australian destinations in the utmost comfort on a yacht.
The third largest Australian island, Kangaroo Island, will definitely conquer you with with the diversity and friendliness of its fauna’s inhabitants – seals, koalas, sea lions, penguins, opossums, herons, pink pelicans, dolphins and, of course, kangaroos.
The wreckage of sunken ships, which can be explored while scuba diving, as well as diaries of the Cape Borda lighthouse keepers will tell you the turbulent history of local shipwrecks. Gourmets are advised to visit the wineries of Cape Willoughby’s largest winery, try oysters in Penneshaw, and visit the MacGillivray and Kingscote farms, where you will be treated with sheep’s milk cheese, honey and baked snacks. Secluded beaches, tranquil village roads, colourful towns, national parks, caves, lobster and lavender farms, wildlife, the history of the natives and the first settlers – all this awaits you on Kangaroo Island.
Brisbane, the administrative centre of Queensland, ranks first in Australia and second in the world in terms of population growth rate. This city, located on the east coast of the continent in the bend of the river of the same name, at the beginning of the XXI century received the status of multinational: 21% of the population of Brisbane are foreigners. The river divides the city into two parts: the Business Centre (Brisbane City Centre) and the South Bank. On the Southern coast, there are numerous places for recreation, including the luxurious Botanical Garden, opera, ballet, conservatory, theatres, art galleries and museums. Among the latter, the Queensland Museum, which houses the skeleton of the Queensland dinosaur, is particularly worth noting.
Australian Gold Coast is a resort on the Pacific coast, a mecca for surfers from around the world. 57 kilometres of coast provide an excellent opportunity to catch a wave at any time of the year, and a special system of protection against sharks (Queensland Shark Control Program) makes coastal waters safe for swimmers and surfers.
Gold Coast is the most popular tourist destination in Australia. In addition to the white beaches, it is known for its hot subtropical climate, vibrant nightlife and the variety of entertainment activities offered. Challenge your nerves at virtual attractions in Dreamworld amusement park, swim with dolphins at Sea World park, explore the frozen forest in Frozen World, witness the creation of another blockbuster in the Warner Brothers Movie World theme park or dive with scuba to the remains of the Scottish Prince vessel. In addition, you can explore nearby national parks and aboriginal settlements, moving a little bit inward the continent.
The Great Barrier Reef, one of the world’s best known heritage sites, is a cosmical creation of the nature. Spouting with all the rainbow colours, a ridge of coral reefs and islands stretches along the northeast coast of Australia for more than 2,000 km. The total area of the Great Barrier Reef makes 348,698 square metres, which is more than the area of Great Britain. The Great Barrier Reef is a cult place for diving enthusiasts. Such a riot of colours and diversity of underwater flora and fauna can hardly be found anywhere else on Earth. Many coral islands that make up the Great Barrier Reef, host luxury resorts. The most expensive and sophisticated of them are Bedarra Island Resort and Lizard Island Resort.
