Right in the centre of Nassau and spread over three marina, Atlantis, Hurricane Hole and Bay Street Marina, the 2024 Bahamas Charter Yacht Show was an amazing line-up of over 80 of the best yachts for charter in the Bahamas this year. Mostly motor yachts, everything from day charter boats up to superyachts and a few catamarans.
In just three days of showtime it was impossible for me to see every yacht on show, just a good cross-section. The yachts which impressed me most? So many – and of course the crew play a big part in the way the boats look, the hospitality on board and the big friendly welcome that creates such a good first impression when stepping aboard. The crew on some yachts had dressed up in party themes to try to impress us brokers: Pirates, Formula 1 Racing…… And all day long the Chefs were bringing out trays of enticing goodies to tempt us.
Invitations to lunches aboard these charter yachts during a show is another way to impress charter brokers and impressed I was by the food, presentation and service on the motor yachts Cherish (120ft Christensen), Romeo Foxtrot (116ft Hargrave) and Lady H (121ft Benetti). The hospitality started again at 5.00pm with cocktail parties on other yachts and then on to the official parties and receptions arranged by the show organisers and sponsors. No, I didn’t go to everything – it’s hard work being a charter broker!
Some of the yachts in the show were older models but with extensive and expensive refits and with regular refreshing and upgrading were looking fantastic. Their interiors may retain traditional and sometimes lavish styles or be complete modern contemporary updates. These yachts will have excellent past charter records and have highly experienced crew, or they might have been privately owned and lightly used, but for charterers because of their age they have very attractive charter rates. I will have no hesitation in recommending many of them.
There were new yachts too such as the 116ft Ocean Alexander motor yachts. These tri-deck yachts offer five staterooms for up to 10 guests and most impressive are the interior volumes and the expansive deck areas. With modern-style furnishings and light-filled interiors they have the wow factor from US$125,000 per week plus expenses plus Bahamas taxes. Also the 2022 Hargrave, Romeo Foxtrot was looking fabulous.
Some of the smaller motor yachts are perfect for a long weekend charter. Nassau is less than an hour’s flight from Miami, three hours from New York and three hours from Dallas – so something for those of you living or travelling via the USA. Fly down on a Thursday or Friday morning and you’ll be having dinner at anchor in a quiet cay of an “out” island in the Exumas that night and back to work for Monday morning.
A motor yacht which stood out from the others not because of size, but her look – was a 78ft Nordhavn explorer yacht, equipped as a PADI dive boat. With accommodation for six guests in three cabins and three crew, this sturdy yacht can take guests to remote diving locations and is also equipped for world class fishing with a luxury charter yacht experience. Charter rates from US$35,000 per week plus expenses plus Bahamas taxes.
The Bahamas is very suitable for catamarans too because of their shallow drafts and there were some excellent examples at the show including Sunreefs, both the sailing version and power.
An incredible range of water-sorts toys are carried by so many of these yachts – almost a competition to have the latest. Jetskis still seem to be a must-have for a motor yacht as well as a high-speed chase boat equipped with high-spec fishing gear. Sea bobs, sea scooters, E-foils, kayaks, paddle boards and an extensive range of towables are all part of a vast inventory with of course a very well-trained crew to supervise and instruct.
If you would like to discuss a possible charter in the Bahamas, please get in touch, I can be easily reached by phone or email.
Mobile: +44 (0) 7879 815458
E-mail: liz@marlowyachtcharters.com
