At 65 ft, with 3 guest staterooms, the beautifully manufactured Oyster charter sailing yacht Neki, just launched in 2010 is an outstanding yacht charter choice for up to 6 guests. With a shoal draft of only 6 ft., Neki is able to access many anchorages on a crewed yacht charter itinerary that other sailing yachts in the same size range cannot and is able to be sailed comfortably through shallow area yacht charter destinations such as the Bahamas. Neki is a sloop rig for performance sailing; however is a center cockpit monohull for sailing comfort while underway. Fully air conditioned inside, and very well appointed, with a Captain and private Chef, Neki is sure to please for an on board crewed yacht charter. Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters is standing by to help make your charter on board the charter yacht Neki a very special experience.

S/Y Andromeda La Dea, a 154’ Perini Navi is a great yacht charter choice for a yacht charter either in the Caribbean this winter or in the Western Mediterranean this summer for a lovely sail on a crewed yacht charter itinerary created just for you.  The charter yacht Andromeda La Dea is comfortable for up to 8 guests in 4 staterooms, each with ensuite bath.  On your yacht charter on board, enjoy the top sun deck Jacuzzi in a quiet anchorage or aft deck dining in the expansive aft deck living area with bar.  Take a look at the Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charter slide show for full photos of the interior and exterior living areas on board, and cuisine as prepared just for you by your gourmet Chef, all to be enjoyed on a crewed yacht charter on the charter yacht Andromeda La Dea cruising on a yacht charter itinerary through some of the best yacht charter cruising areas in the world.

If you are having trouble viewing this Blue Jeannie video please click here

Always a beautifully manufactured and finished yacht, the 64’ Oyster, Blue Jeannie, just launched this year in 2011, is no exception.  Here at Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters, we were on board Blue Jeannie this month in Antigua and were very pleased with the yacht, finish and the lovely charter crew on board, Andy Armshaw and Alli Rea.  We feel that Blue Jeannie is an excellent addition to the worldwide yacht charter community as a beautiful, comfortable, performance sailing yacht available for crewed yacht charter in the Caribbean this winter and the Mediterranean this coming summer.  We know that Andy and Alli will take excellent care of you, and we feel certain that you will fully enjoy a crewed yacht charter on the Oyster sailing yacht Blue Jeannie.  Following are photos we just took this month while on board Blue Jeannie in Antigua, where we found the yacht dockside, with a gleaming exterior and interior.   

Boarding the 164’ sailing Phinisi charter yacht Silolona is a warm welcoming experience for a start to every on board yacht charter cruise.  Step on board and be greeted with a cooling lemon grass scented wash cloth to wash away the travel heat and be refreshed with a tall cool glass of fresh fruit juice, while you settle in on deck for a welcome from your crew.  On your arrival for your yacht charter cruise all of the crew gather on deck to be introduced to you to start your yacht charter cruise with traditional Indonesian music and songs, for a great kick off for a terrific yacht charter experience on board the sailing Phinisi charter yacht Silolona.

Crewed charter sailing Phinisi Silolona under sail

Centuries ago, the precursor to the Indonesian Phinisi sailing ship, of which the crewed charter yacht Silolona chartering now in the waters of Indonesia, is a distant relative, plied the waters of the Malay Archipelago or “Spice Islands” including the Banda Islands and Timor Island, laden with spices.  Along the spice trading routes the people from this area sailed as far and wide as China and the Middle East trading exotic spices such as cloves and nutmegs for exotic goods such as gold, silver, china, feathers and beads.  Sailing along this ancient trading route from the Spice Islands to China and the Middle East brought vessels right past the southern end of Sulawesi Island, where boat building grew up as an industry that is still in practice today.  The crewed sailing charter yacht Silolona available for charter in Indonesia, Myanmar and Andaman, including through the fabled Spice Islands was built on the southern coast of Sulawesi by the Konjo Boat Builders who have been building boats in this area on the beaches for centuries.   

Konjo Boat Builder Nasir on board Silolona

The Mandar and Makassarese people in Sulawesi around Makassar along with the Konjo and Bugis people in Bulukumba, an area of southern Sulawesi, are the fabled groups of boat builders that through the centuries and today have built the Phinisi vessel and are the main builders of the various Phinisis being built in the “yards” on the beaches in the southern part of this island. The modern Phinisi design evolved through centuries of boat building through various influences.  Dutch traders that came to the area in the 16^th century introduced the fore and aft sail for a schooner or ketch rig that was quickly adapted to establish the Phinisi rigging design that is still in use today.  Many of the Phinisis are still being built by hand within exacting requirements passed down from father to son, and also within exacting rituals and ceremonies for vessel spiritual health. 

Squared stern of Silolona, a Lamba Phinisi

The word Phinisi refers to the gaff type of rigging found on this typical Indonesian style vessel as adapted from the European Traders.  A Palaci Phinisi is a vessel that has been built with a rounded canoe stern and is an older design.  A Lamba Phinisi is a vessel that has been built with a squared stern at a strong raked angle to the keel and is the most familiar design found today. 

The crewed sailing charter yacht Silolona is a Lamba Phinisi, built by the Konjo Boat Builders from the villages of the Bulukumba area including Bira, Ara, and Tanah Biru. While not classed, Silolona was designed by Kasten Marine and was built to Germanischer Lloyds Rules for Wooden Vessel Structure, and all hardwoods were fastened with galvanized fasteners.  This puts the crewed charter yacht Silolona, in the opinion of Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters, a step above the traditional Phinisi and we would view Silolona as a yacht built with Phinisi styling.

Silolona is built with an ironwood keel, with various mahogany and teak woods and finishes used throughout the hull and interior.  Where the cargo might be carried on a traditional Phinisi, Silolona is outfitted with 5 luxury guest staterooms, each with at least a double bed and single side bed that can double as a settee and an ensuite bathroom.  The crewed charter sailing yacht Silolona, built within the traditional Indonesian Phinisi styling is a great choice for a luxury yacht charter through the beautiful waters of Indonesia, Myanmar and the Andaman Islands.      

 Guest Stateroom on board Silolona

The crewed sailing charter yacht Silolona is a Lamba Phinisi, built by the Konjo Boat Builders mainly out of the village of the villages of the southern peninsula of Bira, Ara, and Tanah Biru and is built of ironwood, and various mahogany and teak woods and finishes. While not classed, Silolona was designed by Kasten Marine and was built to Germanischer Lloyds Rules for Wooden Vessel Structure, and all hardwoods were fastened with galvanized fasteners. This gives Silolona a bit of a step above the traditional Phinisi to be more like a yacht with a Phinisi styling.

Charter Yacht Silolona

The 164’ Phinisi crewed charter sailing yacht Silolona is wrapped in legend and shrouded in mystique, which adds to the magic of a charter experience on board. For, just as the in the legend of Silolona, for whom the yacht is named, when starting a charter on this yacht, a call is made to Silolona to add her strength to a successful on board charter experience.

Goris, Dive Instructor on board the crewed charter sailing yacht Silolona makes the call to the spirit of the legendary Silolona

Legend in Indonesia says that when the earth was new, the planet was too close to the sun and everything on the surface of the earth from man to animal to plant suffered under the harsh rays. During these times, Atuf, a strong and handsome warrior fell in love and married Silolona, the loveliest woman in all of Tanimbar, whose beautiful exterior was melded with the strength of a beautiful interior. However under the harsh rays of a too close sun, Silolona died while still a young woman. In deep mourning for his wife, Atuf vowed to make his home safe from the burning rays of the sun for all.

Silolona anchored in front of remote beach

Inspired by the spirit of his beautiful wife, Atuf built a boat, named Silolona in remembrance, to sail to the sun. On launching Silolona, Atuf called forth the spirit of his wife to provide him the strength needed for this dangerous journey. When reaching the sun, Atuf once again called forth the spirit of Silolona to provide him the strength to successfully complete his mission. With her strength within him, Atuf hurled his spear at the sun and shattered the giant orb into a smaller orb surrounded by tiny additional glowing pieces scattered across the sky forming the stars in the constellations. The fierce burning power of the sun was reduced from harmful to helpful and the earth was saved by Atuf and the spirit of the lovely Silolona.

Setting Sail on Silolona

At the beginning of a charter cruise on board the crewed charter sailing yacht Silolona, the spirit of this beautiful woman is still called forth to protect all on board with her strength for a successful charter. On boarding, at the start of every charter, Goris, the Dive Instructor, and an indispensible crew member onboard, calls forth the spirit of Silolona while wearing a traditional sarong and head dress and tosses Indonesian offerings into the sea to this fair spirit for a successful charter. At Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters, we feel that the spirit of Silolona must be part of each and every charter as each and every charter is an outstanding charter experience, and a charter experience not to be missed.

Silolona Under Sail

The launching of 184’ charter sailing yacht Regina in Bodrum, Turkey, video credit Contact Turkey

At 184’, the crewed charter yacht Regina was just launched in February of this year, 2011 in Bodrum, Turkey in time for the summer charter season along the southern coast of Turkey. Built by Pruva in Bodrum, as of this fall, Regina has already completed over ten weeks of crewed yacht charter, sailing along the ancient trading routes of the Aegean and Mediterranean Seas. The crewed sailing charter yacht Regina is now available for charter out of Bodrum and Marmaris for up to 12 guests in 6 guest staterooms, for true performance sailing through the lovely crystal clear waters of southern Turkey from April through November each year.

Regina has a steel hull and cabin house giving the 184’ crewed charter sailing yacht massive strength. The cabin house is sheathed in cold molded mahogany with the beauty of a varnished mahogany wood deck house and teak deck providing a classic yachting feel. However Regina is a strong ocean going sailing yacht, schooner rigged with two aluminum alloy masts and a standing rigging created by Christopher John Mitchell.

Northrop and Johnson Yacht Charters was recently on board Regina sailing along the southern coast of Turkey. We were very pleased with the nicely balanced comfortable sailing experience offered and we were happy to see that Regina sails along at 6 or 7 knots in just a few knots of wind. The southern coast of Turkey offers excellent thermal sailing winds, and according to the Captain, in good winds, the crew have had Regina sailing up to 12 knots this summer.

While Turkey has been building yachts for thousands of years, at 184’, the crewed sailing charter yacht Regina is certainly the leader in large performance sailing yacht building for the southern coast of Turkey. Charter yacht Regina is a high technology sailing yacht launched by Pruva out of a traditional yacht building yard in Bodrum and successfully melds performance sailing with beautifully varnished mahogany woodwork and teak decks to offer crewed yacht charter on a large sailing yacht in southern Turkey with a traditional classic look and feel.

Anchored near active volcano Ile Ape in the evening.

 Located at the junction of the four tectonic plates for Australia, the Philippines, Eurasia and the Pacific, Indonesia is home to over 155 areas of active volcanism.  When enjoying a crewed yacht charter on the charter yacht Silolona, volcanoes can be found in the cruising areas of Komodo, Flores, and the islands of the Eastern Flores Archipelago, other parts of the Lesser Sunda Islands, Halmahera and surrounding islands, island groups in the Banda Sea and the island of Sulawesi. 

From the beach in the Adonara Lembata island area, smoldering volcano

Anchor under a puffing volcano or dine on deck at night enjoying a natural show of lava rock fireworks.  Hike up to the top of dormant volcanoes to peer down into the craters below, perhaps stopping to visit a local village perched on the volcano hillsides, where life has adjusted to the natural vagaries required for living in a volcanic location.   In the Eastern Flores Archipelago, cruise through narrow straights where volcanoes are lined up on either side of the straights, with the volcanic hillsides tumbling down to the sea.  And in certain locations a sea plane can be chartered to fly close over the tops of volcanoes that are now dormant and close to the steaming funnels erupting from those volcanoes that are now active.

Hiking up to the top of a volcano should be done early in the morning, when the weather is cooler.  Inland on Flores Island, after a drive and a hike is the Kalimutu volcano topped by two crater lakes that are filled with acid-saline waters, where depending on the time of year, the lake waters fluctuate independently in color between dark green and blood red and are a true sight to see.  Sitting on deck under a puffing volcano or next to a lava spewing volcano can be done at any time of day, perhaps while reclining with a cool drink in one hand and your camera in the other.

Ile Ape, active volcano on the island of Lembata in action

And while volcanoes can be the center of a yacht charter on the charter yacht Silolona during a charter in eastern Indonesia, there are also other terrific aspects of this yacht charter cruising area to enjoy including snorkeling, diving, fishing, walking miles of deserted beaches, shelling, visiting remote villages, learning new cultures, and experiencing all that there is to be experienced in eastern Indonesia on a crewed yacht charter on the charter sailing yacht Silolona.

Silolona Spa Experience

With miles of deserted remote and isolated beaches everywhere, experiencing a natural beach spa exfoliating treatment to reveal beautiful soft skin is available at the drop of a hat while on board the 164’ Phinisi charter yacht Silolona on a crewed yacht charter in eastern Indonesia, Myanmar and the Andaman Islands.  Sooth skin and exfoliate on an isolated beach, sitting in the sand with warm water lapping at your ankles, using your choice of natural body scrubs to scrub your skin to a healthy glow.  After absorbing the myriad of benefits from the various scrubs, just slip into the warm crystal clear blue green waters right at your feet, and let the salt water naturally rinse the scrub residuals away to reveal your new soft beautiful skin.  It is hard to beat this natural spa experience on the beach and beautiful waters offered while on board a crewed yacht charter on the charter yacht Silolona. 

Silolona, Body Scrub Spa Experience Waiting

The crew on Silolona source natural body scrubs from a co-op of local woman in Bali, Indonesia who produce finely ground all natural powders including coffee and green tea powders to combat skin water retention, lemongrass powder for facial skin soothing, and  sandalwood and ginger powders for fine skin polishing.  From the galley on board Silolona, to exfoliate while moisturizing, are natural scrubs of ground fresh coconut meat and almond meal.  Presented on the beach on a teak table, with each rub in a coconut half shell, the various rubs are ready to be mixed with fresh water or just slathered on in any combination.  Slip into the water after a good scrub to wash it all away for a true natural spa treatment.  After your swim, cool your brow with a cold lemon grass scented wash cloth while you sip on detoxifying hot ginger tea under an umbrella on the beach watching Silolona sitting gently in the water anchored nearby in front of a gorgeous landscape for a true eye candy treat.

Silolona natural body scrubs, cooling wash cloths, and hot ginger tea

And spa treatments during your charter on board Silolona do not have to stop at natural beachside exfoliating body scrubs. Enjoy massage or reflexology on the beach or even back on board.  At this writing, Musri, a crew member on board Silolona, provides excellent deep tissue massages (or soft tissue massages if that is your preference), aimed at solving all of your muscular problems, and Bentar, a crew member on board, provides excellent reflexology for your feet, hands, head and back aimed at solving all of your body problems. 

Enjoy a crewed yacht charter on board the charter sailing yacht Silolona, and in between the great multitude of activities offered, relax with a natural beach body scrub, body massage and reflexology. 

Welcoming Silolona Crew to a Silolona Beach Barbecue

Charter the 164’ Phinisi sailing yacht Silolona for a crewed yacht charter in Indonesia, Myanmar or the Andaman Islands and you might find yourselves on an isolated beautiful beach, in the middle of nowhere, at a full scale barbecue beach bash, complete with dinner, drinks, music, fire dancing, and wishing balloons all under the light from the moon, and fire candles. With a natural setting for a purely natural eco-friendly extravaganza, a Silolona barbecue beach bash, while on charter, is not only a truly memorable experience, but also a remarkable feat, hard to be replicated, accomplished by the hard working terrific crew on the charter yacht Silolona.

Beach Barbecue beach mats and fire candles

Beach Barbecue Band

Imagine, by day, a remote deserted beautiful beach that, by night, comes alive as the setting for a beach barbecue complete with lighting, grills, bar, seating areas and decorations, all in the middle of nowhere, albeit in the middle of paradise. While you are enjoying perhaps a swim or a snorkel, the crew on Silolona may be hard at work making palm frond birds, arches, and other decorations, and may have gone ashore to a nearby isolated beach with tables, chairs, mats, pillows, lanterns, all to be set up and transformed into a fantastic beach barbecue event. Holes will be dug in the sand for bottle candles, driftwood will be gathered for the grilling fire, and shells and driftwood will be gathered for party decorations. After dark, when you arrive by ships tender, the remote deserted beach will be a hopping beach barbecue with cocktails, dinner, entertainment, singing and dancing.

Beach Barbeque Decorations

Step from the ship’s tender to enjoy the transformation of a deserted beach to a welcoming beach barbeque. Firelight, fire candles, and lanterns abound, along with beach mats, teak chairs and little tables. Drinks appear from the “bar” as attended by your charter steward, perhaps with a mining hat on, with a small lantern to help with cocktail mixing and serving. Meanwhile, the crew are singing and creating lively music with guitars and drums which beckon for dancing in the sand. The beach grill fires are lit and soon huge shrimps, lamb kebobs, fresh fish, teriyaki chicken, and a variety of grilled vegetables and char cooked potatoes appear. And unbelievably a Crème Brule appears for desert.

Silolona Beach Barbecue Dinner is Served

Grilled vegetables at Silolona Beach Barbecue

Down on the waterfront, huge rice paper “wishing balloons” are set up, filling with hot air from the little fire pots, soon to be released into the star filled night to carry wishes afar. Kadek, your steward is a great fire dancer, and the evening is not complete without his intrepid display of the swirling fire baton. Settle in with after dinner drinks, coffees, teas end enjoy the waning evening hours with song and dance for an unforgettable and unique beach barbeque experience in the wild on a charter on board the crewed charter yacht Silolona.

Firing up the Silolona Wishing Balloons