This year marks the 50th birthday of TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show and is set to be the biggest yet with visitors to the show celebrating all the fun and excitement of being on the water. Whether you’re tempted to try sailing for the first time, or are a seasoned yachtie, Sunsail’s team of dedicated holiday planners can’t wait to help visitors to the show find the perfect sailing holiday.
Lucy Black, Head of Marketing for Sunsail comments, “The demand for sailing in the Mediterranean continues to be strong in Greece and Croatia, and our latest Mediterranean base in Palma Mallorca continues to grow with bookings up 27% year on year. We are always reviewing the range of bareboat, skippered and flotilla holidays we offer across our destinations. I’m pleased to announce additional catamarans going into the Mediterranean and two new Sunsail 44, 4-cabin monohulls, going into Raiatea, in 2019.
“I am also really excited by our latest product – Sail By The Cabin on flotilla. Available in Greece, Croatia and the British Virgin Islands next year, this is such a great way to experience not only a sailing holiday, but a flotilla too. Customers can enjoy their private cabin, along with other customers in the remaining three cabins, and no sailing experience is necessary – as there is a skipper on board to lead the way!”
Nearly one year on from the Caribbean hurricanes, the commitment of the yachting and sailing community has been key to helping support the islands. Sunsail’s base in the BVI reopened in December 2017 just three months after the event, and St Martin followed in February 2018.
Lucy Black continues, “The response from customers was overwhelming and our teams were so touched by their support. We’ve worked really hard, both at the affected bases and at our HQ, to welcome customers back as quickly as possible and we have seen bookings back to pre-hurricane levels which is so encouraging. Working closely with the BVI Tourist Board and other partners, we helped to share the latest information from the island itself, what’s open and pictures via our dedicated website Caribbeancomeback.com. Fresh from a recent photoshoot, it’s clear just how much progress has been made – the waters are crystal clear, wildlife is thriving and the islanders are warmly welcoming tourists as they always have done.”
New additions to the fleet in the Mediterranean:
Sunsail continuously invests in growing its fleet and announces its Mediterranean destinations will have additional Sunsail 404 and Sunsail 454 catamarans available to book from June 2019.
New Jeanneau Sunsail 44 to join fleet in Raiatea, French Polynesia
The latest exclusive Jeanneau yacht from designer Phillippe Briand to join the Sunsail fleet is the four cabin monohull, the Sunsail 44. From 1 November 2018 charterers in Raiatea, can enjoy this stunning offshore cruiser which maximises comfort with its ascending side-decks and spacious layout, setting the pace for liveability on board. Her twin rudders and L-shaped keel create great manoeuvrability perfect for blue water sailing and navigating through shallow coastlines. With four cabins, sleeping up to ten people, the Sunsail 44 offers performance cruising in comfort.
Sail By The Cabin success – 2019 dates on sale now and British Virgin Islands added
In June 2018, Sunsail launched Sail By The Cabin on flotilla in Greece and Croatia this September and October. Sail By The Cabin is perfect for solo adventurers, couples or friends who want to experience the freedom of the ocean and all the fun of a flotilla, without a sailing qualification. Sailing in a group of up to ten other yachts (a flotilla), with a private cabin for up to two people, and an experienced skipper included, the Sail By The Cabin holiday is a great way to enjoy a sailing adventure in the Mediterranean without having to book a whole yacht. Due to popular demand, more dates and destinations have been launched January to May 2019 in Greece, Croatia and the British Virgin Islands.
Be inspired by the new Sunsail 2019 holiday brochure
Visitors to the stand will be able to take a look at Sunsail’s brand-new 2019 holiday brochure, packed with the latest news, new yachts, and holiday inspiration. The show is also the perfect opportunity to meet Sunsail’s expert holiday planning team to explore last minute holidays and plan next year’s adventures with exclusive Boat Show discounts.
Sail in the Balearics onboard our free virtual reality Sunsail 41 at The Yachtmarket.Com Southampton Boat Show
No longer science fiction, virtual reality is more than simple entertainment. The technology allows more people to discover and experience sailing for themselves. Whether you are a dinghy sailor wanting to get a feel for sailing on a yacht, or if you want to sample a new and exciting destination like Mallorca, come along to our stand for a fully immersive sailing experience and step aboard our Sunsail 41 to experience exhilarating coastal sailing in the sparkling Balearic Sea.
Sunsail fund first Seabin on the Adriatic Coastline
As part of its environmental activity, Sunsail is funding the first Seabin on the Adriatic Coastline which will be based in the Sunsail Dubrovnik base at ACI Marina. The marina is located near Komolac on the river Ombla near the entrance to the port of Gruž. It is only four miles from the old city and 15 miles from Dubrovnik Airport. ACI Marina is a blue flag winner, which means it is clean, tidy and environmentally preserved and the introduction of the Seabin is another way that Sunsail can support the area.
Seabins are floating rubbish bins that are located in the water at marinas, docks, yacht clubs and commercial ports. The Seabin moves up and down with the range of tide collecting all floating rubbish. Water is sucked in from the surface and passes through a catch bag inside the Seabin, with a submersible water pump capable of displacing 25.000 LPH (litres per hour), plugged directly into 110/220 V outlet. The water is then pumped back into the marina leaving litter and debris trapped in the catch bag to be disposed of properly.
Winter cruising in the sun
For an active retreat with kayaking, SUP and snorkelling, or a restful time reflecting over the clear turquoise water, Sunsail offers bareboat, flotilla or skippered charter holidays all year round. Whether you want calm, protected waters and short island hops or exhilarating blue water passages, there is a holiday to suit your sailing level.
The YachtMarket Regatta
TheYachtMarket.com and Sunsail have formed an exciting new partnership and are launching an exciting new Regatta, consisting of three Race Days on Southampton Water to coincide with TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show. The three-day Regatta will be run over TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show, 16-18th September 2018, with competitors racing on Sunsail Match First 40s. Entrants to the Regatta will get breakfast at the new 5-star Harbour Hotel in Ocean Village, a full day’s racing, free entrance to TheYachtMarket.com Southampton Boat Show and drinks and awards on the TheYachtMarket.com stand. Each entry fee for the regatta will include a donation to the regatta charities, Sail4Cancer and Wet Wheels. The top three yachts each day will receive a bottle of Opihr Oriental Spiced Gin, and trophies. The winning yacht will have the honour of holding the cup for the year.
For further information about Sunsail visit: www.sunsail.co.uk