When our clients heard that we were going to the Med this month to see the charter yachts attending the industry shows, they immediately said, “find us a boat for our next vacation”! The show in Nafplio, Greece was an eye-opener with a great range of English speaking crewed yachts in a wide variety of weekly rates. There were more than 100 luxury crewed charter yachts participating along with 400 professionals from all over the world attending! The crews exceeded our expectations in professionalism as well as their long-term dedication to their jobs. Price? Yes, you can charter a private crewed yacht in the Med for about the same price as the Caribbean!
Six Things We Learned at The 2018 Mediterranean Yacht Show in Nafplio, Greece:
1. We were impressed by the long-term dedication of the crews. Most of the Captains we interviewed had been onboard since the yacht launched. Their crews are very loyal. 2. The wide variety and price range/rates of yachts attending this show were exactly what we needed for our growing list of clients.
3. Until recently, many of the yachts had only been used privately. The age of the yacht did not necessarily determine the interior/exterior quality. They were all in pristine condition. All soft goods & interior decor were new, higher-end quality purchases with good design.
4. Food is the star on every yacht charter! (Ok, well we already knew this!) The crews of the superb collection of yachts had the chance to shine and to display their skills and creativity in the culinary contest based on the theme of Surf ’n’ Turf, which proved to be an extremely close competition.
5. There are great itineraries for sailing in Greece. Visit our Destinations page for info!
6. In addition to Greece, we also visited Croatia & Montenegro. They are different from the Caribbean and still just as much fun! Ask us for more info, videos & photos. Exploring the history of ancient sites, culture & meeting the locals was exciting! We have lots of insight to share on Croatia including Hvar, Split & Dubrovnik as well as the Bay of Kotor in Montenegro.
Awarding-Winning Culinary Competition Charter Yacht Chefs! One of the real strengths in the crewed charter yacht industry is the abundance of highly talented chefs. You’d never dream that we served over 90,000 meals in a 3'x6’ galley during our tenure as professional charter yacht crew. But, it’s a fact. We did! Along the way, we discovered that we had a real passion for competing in the culinary competitions for yachts. Honored by 11 awards, these competitions gave us a strong presence in the industry.
We continue to promote the talented, hard-working chefs aboard charter yachts. These shows bring together charter yacht brokers from around the world, crews with their yachts and industry support business representatives. With daytime viewing, evening socials and a myriad of competitions, it is the perfect venue for crews to launch into an active charter season.
Click on the highlighted crewed charter yacht web links below to learn more about each one! You'll find 4-5 pages of details on each yacht.
Mediterranean Yacht Chefs Meet Surf ’n’ Turf in this Year’s Competition in Nafplio, Greece 2018
The 5th Mediterranean Yacht Show, which took place from April 28 to May 1, 2018, proved to be a resounding success, with more than 107 luxury crewed charter yachts participating in the event. There were over 400 professionals from all over the world attending. In addition, two highly acclaimed award-winning chefs, 2 Michelin star Chef Georgianna Hiliadaki and the 2 Michelin star Chef Antonio Mellino joined the panel of judges to judge the challenging Chefs’ Competition.
The port town of Nafplion was once again the perfect location for hosting this annual celebration of yachting tourism in Greece. The show this year attracted more entries than the other international shows.
The crews of the superb collection of yachts had the chance to shine and to display their skills and creativity in the culinary contest based on the theme of Surf ’n’ Turf, which proved to be an extremely close race. Within the context of creating a dish that combined both seafood and red meat, the chefs managed to impress the demanding judging panel with their flair and originality. Locally sourced produce from land and sea was utilized to the maximum and each dish demonstrated the wide variety of fresh ingredients available in Greece. Using a selection of seafood and fish, as well as red & white meat and even foie gras, there were several variations on the theme. Some dishes had a classic feel and others were more contemporary in style, but the judges were in accordance with one thing; the excellent level of presentation and expertise. Yachts participating in the competition also had the opportunity to enter the Tablescaping Competition in which the crews’ talents at laying an elegant and appealing table are assessed.
Category A: This category was open to yachts that charge a daily charter rate of up to 6.999 euro in high season. The chefs created dishes which perfectly represented the theme of Surf ‘n’ Turf and the best entries were chosen for their attention to detail, taste and overall skill.
The winners were as follows:
1st Place Yacht: M/Y Nashira NV Chef: Konstantinos Vlantikas
2nd Place Yacht: S/Y Nova Chef: Sotirios Bempedelis
3rd Place Yacht: M/Y Thirty Love Chef: Nicholas Papakonstantinou
Tablescaping Winner
The winner of the elegant Tablescaping Competition was:
Yacht: M/Y Nashira NV Stewardess: Valentina Konstantinova
Category A Platinum: This category was open to yachts that charge a daily charter rate of 7.000 euro and above in high season. The standard of the dishes was particularly high, with reworks of the classic theme and contemporary touches reflecting international trends.
The winners were as follows:
1st Place Yacht: M/Y Option B Chef: Andrea Vercelli
2nd Place Yacht: M/Y L’ Equinox Chef: Ioannis Venieris
3rd Place Yacht: M/Y Martina Chef: Dimitris Brinios
Tablescaping Winner
The winner of the elegant Tablescaping Competition was:
Yacht: M/Y Dragon Stewardess / Steward: Evelyn Rich / Dimitris Arvanitis
After two days of cooking, tasting and judging, the winners of the challenging Chefs’ Competition and Tablescaping Competition were announced at the farewell party of the 5th Mediterranean Yacht Show, which took place on Tuesday 1 May at Fougaro Arts and Cultural Centre.
As every year, the tense build-up leading to the naming of the winners ended in a joyous celebration as they received the coveted prizes. AMC Metropolitan College, a Silver Sponsor of the show, also presented scholarships to the jubilant winners while Domaine Skouras, the prestigious Greek wine producer, was the main sponsor of the event, along with the award-winning 3Sixty Cafe Bar and Wine Restaurant.
About Us: Captain Randy & Shelly Tucker
We're former Owners & Captain of the Award-winning 72' yacht Three Moons for 18 years. With over 300 charters in our logbook, we currently represent privately crewed Caribbean sailing luxury yacht charters as professional CYBA yacht charter brokers. Recently, we interviewed over 120 catamarans, motor yachts, sailboats and professional crews. We're happy to promote these yachts offering modern conveniences & unlimited pleasure.
What should you expect from a luxury crewed yacht charter in the Caribbean? It's "ALL about you, ALL the time" onboard a privately crewed charter boat! It's surprisingly affordable too! Far away from overcrowded cruise ships, all-inclusive charter yachts allow you to explore some of the Caribbean’s most exclusive areas and delight in the natural, unspoiled beauty of secluded islands, hidden coves, and secret dive sites. Sail to a nearby island every day & snorkel around your own private beaches; enjoy your favorite cocktail while watching the sunset on your own private yacht; indulge yourself with 5-star gourmet cuisine that is prepared with Caribbean flair and served in the most beautiful surroundings you could ever imagine. We love matching the right crew & yacht with you! www.YachtCharters.Guru