Having worked in yachting for years, I still cannot imagine a better summer adventure than sailing or cruising the Mediterranean! From the lovely Balearic Islands in Spain to hidden Croatian coves, traveling with your own yacht offers a unique way to travel. I want to share a great contact if you are looking for the ultimate luxury holiday – chartering a private yacht in France!
One of the woman I worked with years ago, back when I was a chef and she was first mate, is Suzanne McGhee. She was one of the hardest working people I met and is now an incredibly knowledgeable yacht broker. Having succeeded in the industry as a captain, which is no small feat in such a high pressure industry, she is now helping clients find their dream holiday yacht. Due to her first hand experience in the industry, she knows what is required onboard. Suzanne can help choose the best places to cruise to, and many other inside tips which other yachting agents could miss. Below, Suzanne shares some more insight…enjoy!
What got you into private yachting?
I was heavily involved in sailing and outdoor pursuits as a teenager and when I left the UK in 1999. I came to France where I taught sailing to school age children. From there I moved to the French alps and was working in hospitality when I discovered the yachting industry. After hitching with a friend from the alps to Antibes, I began my first crew role as a stewardess in 2001. I progressed to cooking, deckhand, 2nd officer, first officer and finally charter captain. In 2019 I started a family which was a good time to end my onboard career. I’m now based permanently on the Cote d’Azur, close to Cannes and the heart of the yachting action in the Mediterranean!
What you do you find unique about chartering a yacht?
Luxury yacht charter offers a one-on-one personal and tailored experience for a charterer. It offers the freedom to visit the hotspots YOU want to see at your own pace. Enjoy the relaxed anonymity, that can only be found at sea. The service onboard is incomparable to a hotel or a cruise. You have your own personal chef and the freedom to change itinerary or plans at short notice. You can really craft your perfect trip. You can truly craft your own version of the perfect holiday.
Favourite ports or places to anchor for Chartering in France?
One of my favourite itinerary’s is cruising from Cannes down to St.Tropez for a weekend of fun and glamour. Then, on to the Iles of the Porquerolles and the famous ‘Notre Dame Plage’ for a relaxing cruise. The Porquerolles is a national park and has stunning scenery and anchorages. The islands don’t allow access to cars and there are some wonderful restaurants to enjoy, from rustic Provençal seafood restaurants to 5-star Michelin. After, you can either continue on to the Calanques near Marseille, or head back towards Cannes. Passing along the red rocks of the Esterelle and finishing at Cannes Iles des Lerins to anchor in more crystal blue waters
Which yacht do you recommend for Mediterranean Cruising?
It really depends on the client in question but here are 2 of our fleet that will be operating Mediterranean side which are opposite ends of the price range :
Oceanus: https://yachtfolio.com/e-brochure/Oceanus/sFZsrcNwUofI
Starfire: https://yachtfolio.com/e-brochure/Starfire/jRnp0Q0lAER0
How to Choose a Yacht to Charter?
Choosing the right yacht for the request depends on many variable factors based around the clients charter plan.
For example:
The draft of the yacht and the limitations of the cruising ground.
Your itinerary may demand a yacht that is suitable for long passages.
Yacht style, is she built for comfort or speed? Or both?
The crew composition needs to be questioned to allow for the type of service desired.
This is where broker expertise is crucial for giving the right advice, and the team at Blue Oceans Yachting try to visit as many of the yachts we propose as possible in person, so we can verify suitability for our clients.
What do you bring to the table and what makes you unique as an agent?
As an ex crew member and charter captain with tens of thousands of sea miles under my belt, I can advise my clients with confidence. My insight on cruising grounds, hotspots, and restaurants to visit, in addition to the style of yacht that may be suitable for their plan, is indispensable. Sometimes this can even mean advising the client to charter in a different area to where they were originally thinking. Or, to consider a completely different yacht to the style they had envisaged.
The devil really is in the detail. As a charter captain, I would listen carefully to the client requests and preferences to make sure everything had been taken care of. I apply the same meticulous principals at the planning stage of each charter I book.
What you offer clients specifically?
Blue oceans yachting offer professionally crewed charter yachts worldwide from 15m -200m for daily, weekly or longer term charters. Our offices are in Antibes, France and in Fort Lauderdale, USA. We also offer yacht management and brokerage, training and crew placement. Our parent company, Crew Unlimited, is the oldest yacht crew recruitment agency in business for more than 40 years. Blue oceans yachting are also members of many internationally recognised yachting associations including CYBA , IYA , PYA and many more that give our clients peace of mind and the guarantee that their booking is in safe hands.
What advice would you offer to someone looking to charter for the first time?
Don’t leave it until too late! Unfortunately there are many more clients looking to charter than there are charter yachts available. With so many many moving parts in booking a charter, it is never quite as straight forward as booking a hotel room. The earlier the process starts the more likely we will find a yacht that ticks all of your boxes!
Do you have yachts in Bordeaux and Atlantic SW of France?
The Bordeaux region is not the most popular area for yacht cruising, however nothing is impossible in yachting! There are more privately owned yachts beginning to cruise this area, so never say never. Often clients (especially non-European clients) that come on a ‘big 3’ summer tour of France. This includes Paris and the Loire, Bordeaux, and then Riviera by car or train before chartering a yacht for the finale! What better way to finish a long hot road trip than a few days anchored off St Tropez sipping rose on your own private luxury yacht ?!
Contact Information :
Contact Suzanne MCGHEE, Charter and Sales Specialist, directly at +33 678 13 75 29 / suzanne@blueoceansyachting.com
BLUE OCEANS YACHTING (powered by crew unlimited) We have 2 offices in Fort Lauderdale and 1 office in Antibes.
Blue Oceans Yachting / PHONE +33 492 93 22 00 / ADDRESS 30 Rue Lacan, Antibes 06600 France
