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NJ Charters Blog
Savannah, Georgia; Visit by Charter Yacht
Armstrong House in Savannah, Georgia
Located on the Intracoastal Waterway, Savannah, Georgia is a city steeped in history and the main port on the Savannah River. Agriculture was the mainstay of Georgia for centuries and all was exported out of the port of Savannah. In the 1800′s, Savannah was the busiest port in America. Exported goods started with indigo and silk, but soon switched to cotton, with Sea Island Cotton a specialty. Savannah, through trade, was a wealthy city in the 1700 – 1800′s, which showed in the buildings and lifestyles of its citizens. As a trade city with the importation of exotic goods from around the world, Savannah also became known as a center for culture and high style. Today the southern charm and hospitality of Savannah is internationally known, and Savannah is a “must see” port on a cruise of the south eastern coast of America. Read the rest of this entry »
Labels: boat, charter, chartering, Other Charter Destinations, sailing, yacht
Georgia’s Barrier Islands
Barrier Islands, Georgia
Sprinkled all along the Georgia coastline are the low lying Georgia Barrier Islands. The full list of these islands is extensive and includes from north to south, Tybee, Wassaw, Ossabaw, St. Catherines, Sapelo, Wolf, Little St. Simons, Sea, St. Simons, Jekyll, Little Cumberland, and Cumberland. Some of these islands are uninhabited jewels of nature, some are great remote get aways, and some hold their own as a resort island of distinction. But what they all do is form the barrier that protects the coast of Georgia in this area and as land masses are continually changing in size, and shape as the powerful forces of winds, ocean currents, waves, storms and tides make their mark. From wild horses to pirates, sea island cotton, gilded age resorts, and miles of beaches, these islands have had their place in history and are a great cruising location to explore and learn today. Read the rest of this entry »
Labels: boat, charter, chartering, Other Charter Destinations, sailing, yacht
Charleston, South Carolina, Coastal Cruising
Mykonos on Yacht Charter; Visit Delos
Visit the Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters Website
Mykonos
Delos, the Sacred Island is just off of Mykonos and a “must see” when visiting Mykonos. In fact, it is difficult to miss the island of Delos, as the island is readily seen right from the main harbor in Mykonos. Ferries leave from this same harbor regularly to take visitors to the island, during daylight hours only, as after sunset, the island is home to the ghosts of past civilizations only. When on yacht charter, cruise to Delos on board and anchor right off of the island in the protected anchorage and take the ship’s tender into the shore dock. It is easy to spend several hours or more wandering the ruins, or hire a guide for a more in depth tour. A museum is on the island which is well worth seeing, with stone carvings, mosaics and bits of everyday life that have been excavated from the ruins of a once busy island civilization.
Delos, the center of the Cyclades, has been inhabited since at least the 3rd millennium B.C. It rose in importance as the Greeks did and around 480 BC it became the center of the Delian League. The Delian League in turn kept its treasury on Delos making it a rather wealthy location. They also passed several decrees, including that no one could be born or die on the island. Pregnant women were quickly shipped off to neighboring islands as was anyone who became ill.
Delos Anchorage
Delos became immensely wealthy and was so impressive that the Romans kept it as a free port when they came into power. It finally collapsed in 88 BC when Mithridates conquered it. What is left today is one of the most extensive ruin sites anywhere in the world. The entire island is strewn with sections of walls and marble fragments. It is also still being excavated.
In all directions of Delos are the remains of temples, homes, and monuments. There is also an impressive array of different cultures that left their mark on the island. Shrines for Samothracian, Egyptian, and Syrian Gods are interspersed amongst the Greek ones. The Temple of Isis stands above most of the town. Entire sections of the residential areas are more or less intact. The streets are still clearly outlined, many of them with sewers running underneath. The northern section of town featured more modest living quarters. Here most of the homes were only a couple rooms. Wildflowers have taken over in force in most places which only enhances the whole effect. A hill rises on the south side of town and that area is known as the theater district. It is there that some of the truly opulent houses can be found. Two themes show up most often in the mosaics. The dolphin symbolized Apollo while the panther was associated with Dionysus. One of the most famous mosaics on Delos is that of Dionysus riding a panther. This is found in the completely intact House of the Masks (named for another mosaic featuring theater masks). Several rooms in this building contain large sections of the original wall decoration as well as mosaics covering the entire floor. It is difficult to tell from the distance you’re forced to remain from it, but this mosaic is so incredibly detailed that there are over 100 stones in the eye of the panther alone. The building itself was probably a hostel for actors.
Delos Lion Statuary
Unfortunately, visitors have a limited time to tour the island and yachts may not anchor overnight in the harbor. Visit the museum first which is where the famous marble lions that once guarded the sacred lake are now stored, and then spend time seeing the rest of the island before returning back on board to cruise on to the next waiting Cycladic Island.
Labels: boat, charter, chartering, Greece, sailing, yacht
The Argentario Peninsula, Italy, Yacht Charter Itinerary
PORTO ERCOLE – SAN STEPHANO
PORTO ERCOLE
Join your charter in Porto Ercole, Italy with the guarding castles on either side. Stay overnight in Cala Galera Marina, dining at the nearby exclusive Il Pelicano Resort, tucked into the hillside near Cala Galera, and the Venetian style town of Orbetello featuring stone gates that mark the entrance to the Argentario Peninsula. This area is known for rustic Italian cuisine with a local favorite, probably not on the menu at the Il Pelicano, being porcupine pie.
PONTINE ISLANDS
Cruise from Cala Galera to Porto Ercole anchoring just off of this quaint fishing village. Take the dinghy in to wander the streets and explore one of the several castle fortifications still in existence, originally built to guard the coasts of this peninsula. After an approximate cruise of two hours around the end of the Argentario Peninsula, come into the main harbor of the island of Giglio. This quaint little fishing island is crowned by a walled medieval village, which is well worth visiting. Wander the streets of the village exploring and shopping before spending the night in a protected anchorage along the beach.
GIGLIO
Leave in the a.m. for a morning cruise to the north side of Elba to Portoferrario, stopping in one of the many anchorages for lunch. Elba is the largest of Italy’s Tuscan Islands. Arrive and take a taxi to tour Napoleon’s Palace for it was to Elba that Napolean was exiled. Explore Portoferrario and overnight in the harbor. Read the rest of this entry »
Labels: boat, charter, chartering, sailing, Western Mediterranean - Italy, yacht
The Banda Islands; Home of Nutmeg
Gunung Api Volcano
These beautiful islands in the Banda Sea are rarely heard of these days, and yet are a lovely yacht charter destination with miles of pristine beaches and coral gardens for swimming, shelling, snorkeling and diving. Indeed, the Banda Islands were far more well known in the 15th Century than now, for it was in the 1400′s that the Nutmeg was discovered growing on these islands, which quickly established these “Spice Islands” on the worldwide map. Soon a hotly contested location for the trading wealth that could be derived from harvesting the local cloves, nutmegs, and mace, in the 1600′s the Dutch took control of the Banda Islands, and the East Dutch Indies Company was born. This trading company amassed a fortune for the Dutch owners from the trade worldwide of these highly sought after spices. And from the wealth derived from this spice trade, the Dutch entered in their Renaissance Era with the new merchant wealthy sponsoring such artists as Rembrandt. During this era, the trade of nutmegs for flavoring created the Dutch merchant wealth that supported the trade of tulip bulbs for beauty. Located north of Australia and east of Bali, as a part of the extensive area of Indonesia, chartering in the Banda Islands is a visit to a unique tropical location with a history that once impacted the world. Read the rest of this entry »
Labels: Asia / Indian Ocean, boat, charter, chartering, sailing, yacht
Fall Intercoastal Cruise, Plan Now for Discounts
Every Fall, the crewed powerboats that have come to New England for summer charter, have to return to warmer waters for the winter. From New England, the trip is normally first to Florida and follows along the Intercoastal Waterway.Florida may be the end of the line, or the yacht be cruised further to the Bahamas or even the Caribbean. But what goes up, must come down, and as these powerboats cruise back down to southern climates, often discounted charter prices are offered for a charter cruise that happens “along the way”.
Labels: boat, charter, chartering, Office News and Events, sailing, yacht
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