Vessels That Will Keep You Cruising in Style

I have to say that it's not easy to find mega and super yachts to charter in the UK. That's because there aren't any. According to one mega yacht charter broker I spoke with, "the guests and owners prefer to be in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean". There are many charter companies in the UK, but the mega yachts they offer cruise the waters elsewhere. Odd, when the British Isles have so much to offer - almost 8,000 miles of coastline, a hugely varied landscape, an abundance of wildlife, and tons of coastal towns, villages, and cities to explore.

After doing a lot of research, I did however manage to find a few yachts, which, while not mega or super, are gorgeous and luxurious and will keep you cruising the waters around the UK in comfort.

The classic 95-foot sailing yacht Halycon, a Bermudan Ketch built in 1929, comes with a crew of 4 (including a gourmet chef) and sleeps up to 8 guests. Also known as "The Orient Express Of The Seas", Halycon has teak inside and out, central heat, freezers and refrigerators, flat screen TVs, Bose surround sound, Internet access, wakeboard, water skis, snorkeling equipment, and a saloon with a wood burning stove to warm you up after spending an afternoon on deck or in the water. Halycon is available for charter in England, Wales, Ireland and Scotland (as well as Norway and France).

The not-so-aptly named Bare Necessities is an 82-foot sailing yacht available for charter from several ports in southern England (Southampton, Cowes, and Brighton to name a few) as well as further west and in Scotland, (and anywhere in Northern Europe and the Mediterranean). She can sleep 8 (all cabins have en-suite bathrooms) and comes with a crew of 4. There are 20 LCD screens inside and out which show radar, charts and wind speed, as well as movies and TV (should you grow tired of watching your surroundings). Some suggested itineraries are a Classic Malt Cruise in Scotland, or Round the Island, an annual event in Cowes on the Isle of Wight (the 2009 event is on June 20th).

For those who prefer powerboats, the sleek Predator 72, out of Southampton, is a lovely choice. It has a beautiful, modern, light and airy interior with comfy chairs, teak floors, air conditioning, central heat, flatscreen TVs, surround sound, a galley with granite countertops, a full size refrigerator/freezer, a dishwasher, and a large open cockpit with sunbeds, dining table, wet bar and a hydraulically operated roof. It can sleep 6 guests (in 3 cabins) and comes with a crew of 2.

The Tethys, a 114-foot motor yacht also out of Southampton, sleeps 10 in 5 cabins with flat screen TVs, DVDs and en-suite bathrooms, and comes with a crew of 4. This Guy Couach yacht, built 2006, is bright and modern, and amenities include surround sound throughout, and a Jacuzzi and bar on the spacious fly bridge.

If you have your heart set on chartering a 200+ feet yacht, you'll have to "settle" for the Mediterranean, Caribbean or the Pacific, but if you want to explore the waters around the UK, why not give one of the vessels above a try?

By: By Cattie Coyle