Dubbed “America’s favorite island,” Hilton Head in South Carolina is a family-friendly destination for outdoor enthusiasts. From beachcombing to biking, golfing and wildlife watching, cruisers can enjoy fun in the sun as well as an exceptional culinary scene in this beloved Southern port.

Things To Do

Hilton Head has long been a premier golf destination. The area has more than 26 championship golf courses, including the renowned Sea Pines Resort and links designed by such celebrated names as Jack Nicklaus, Pete Dye and Robert Trent Jones Sr.

Beach time is also a given on Hilton Head, with its combination of calm waters and 12 miles of white-sand beaches. Coligny Beach Park is perhaps the most popular, thanks to its amenities: free parking, complimentary Wi-Fi access, chair and umbrella rentals, clean facilities and numerous nearby eateries. On the quieter side, Fish Haul and Mitchelville beaches are considered the best for shelling. Burkes Beach is known for its wildlife, particularly sea turtles and dolphins.

Nature lovers should also head to Pinckney Island National Wildlife Refuge, a vital stop along the Atlantic Flyway that attracts thousands of migratory birds annually and houses a resident menagerie of alligators, deer and large populations of white ibis, herons and other wading birds. Pack sunscreen and insect repellent to explore the island by kayak or by way of its 14 miles of hiking and biking trails.

All told, more than 64 miles of dedicated public pathways and nature trails crisscross Hilton Head. Be sure to pedal over to the red-and-white-striped Harbour Town Lighthouse Museum, the symbol of the island.

Food and Drink

Hudson’s Seafood House on the Docks is a family-owned and family-friendly landmark, as prized for its fresh-off-the-boat selections as for its famous hush puppies. For more refined seafood dishes and service with stunning views, reserve a table at Coast in the Sea Pines Resort. Innovative offerings such as habanero shrimp bowls and la plancha dishes complement traditional raw-bar options. For a barbecue fix, stop at One Hot Mama’s BBQ for its signature chocolate barbecue baby back ribs and award-winning chicken wings.

A Lowcountry Backyard Restaurant lives up to its name with seafood purloo, shrimp and grits, grilled pimento cheese and a fried green tomato BLT. Nectar Farm Kitchen—which the locals simply call Nectar —is another popular stop for Lowcountry cooking and bountiful breakfasts paired with a highly praised Bloody Mary. Hilton Head Social Bakery serves divine French pastries such as pain au chocolat and fruit tarts, along with quiches, sandwiches, and desserts including eclairs and key lime pie brulee.

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The 180-foot Heesen Moskito typically spends summer days in the Mediterranean, perhaps at anchor with all of the water toys out. Come late afternoon, the anchor is weighed in time for an evening cruise with dinner on the upper deck aft. Charter guests see the moon, the stars and twinkling lights ashore as a warm breeze keeps everyone comfortable.

In the Caribbean, Moskito’s crew particularly enjoys being in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, especially the crystal-clear waters and reefs of Canouan and the neighboring Tobago Cays. These shoal waters are fantastic for scuba diving and snorkeling, and a visit to the turtle sanctuary is a highlight. A great end to the day is a barbecue with music from a steel-drum band, either on a beach or on board.

Given how popular the yacht has proved for charter through its exclusive agency, IYC, it’s almost hard to believe the project was started on spec. Indeed, Moskito began life as Project Pollux, named for the son of Zeus and one of the Gemini twins in Greek mythology. The yacht launched in August 2020 and sold about a month later, with the British owner taking delivery in spring 2021. Moskito is the fifth of presently 13 Heesen 55M FDHF Series trideck motoryachts, with four under construction.

This 760-gross-ton, steel-and-aluminum superyacht’s striking exterior and space planning come from Frank Laupman and his Omega Architects team. The efficient fast-displacement hull platform is by Van Oossanen Naval Architects. Moskito’s interior is the ninth Heesen with a scheme by London-based Bannenberg & Rowell.

Moskito’s interior entertainment areas—a salon, dining area and sky lounge—and six guest staterooms make for a solid charter platform, along with outdoor spaces such as the full-length sun deck, which has a hot tub and several sun loungers. At water level, there’s a beach club abaft the engine room that includes a sauna, hammam and day head, also popular amenities for enticing charter bookings.

The yacht’s six en suite guest staterooms provide up to 13 berths. The owner’s suite is forward on the main deck with an entrance off the lobby and 880 square feet of full-beam real estate. A desk and dressing area are immediately inside, followed by the stateroom with full-height picture windows that provide fabulous views. The forward-facing super-king berth is on centerline with a desk and chair to port, and a pair of armchairs and a table opposite.

Four guest staterooms are on the lower deck: two with forward-facing king berths, and two with twins that convert to super kings. One of those twin-berth staterooms also has a Pullman berth. The sixth guest stateroom is on the bridge deck with a double berth and could be used for private staff.

The yacht also has quarters for 13 to 14 crew, though Moskito’s owner staffs 19 in order to cover crew rotations. There are six twin-bunk cabins forward on the lower deck, along with a mess and the yacht’s laundry. The captain’s double-berth cabin is on the upper deck.

Crew can move around discreetly through most of the yacht. The main-deck galley amidships to port serves as the crew hub. From there, stairs connect with the crew cabins, the bridge, and pantries on the main and upper decks.

Moskito has two Ribeye tenders: a 21-footer for crew, and a 23-footer for guests to enjoy. The yacht also has inflatable docks, Sea-Doos, kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, Seabobs, wakeboards, water skis and several Fliteboards for a variety of watersports interests and skill levels. I’m told that guests progress through them quickly.

Twin 1,350 hp 8V 4000 M63 MTU diesels deliver the yacht’s thrust via a pair of straight-shaft ZF boxes and five-blade nibral propellers. The top speed is quoted at 15.5 knots, with a long-distance run at 12.5 to 13 knots yielding a range around 4,500 nautical miles. On the bridge, the five-screen ECDIS setup includes dual radar.

Moskito may have started its life as a spec yacht, but given its popularity on the charter market, its continued success seems certain.  

BVI Namesake

This superyacht shares its name with Moskito Island in the BVI, which, like nearby Necker Island, is owned by Sir Richard Branson.  The name is believed to be a corruption of Miskito, the native people from the Mosquito Coast in Central America.

Making It Happen

Rotating captains Ian Robertson and Thilo Burks foster a can-do culture among the crew. Popular shoreside pursuits for guests include tennis and golf. Several of the crew play themselves and will serve as partners as needed. Other crew can instruct guests in yoga, Pilates and Irish dancing.

Stream Your Heart Out

Moskito has Starlink high-speed broadband connectivity, which means guests can do whatever they need to do online, wherever the yacht happens to be. Crew say that on transatlantic crossings, they have had no problem streaming live sports and movies.

Souvenir Screening

With permission from guests, Moskito’s crew will shoot GoPro and drone footage throughout a charter. Typically, they will screen a selection of images and videos with a soundtrack. On departure day, guests receive USBs with all the imagery as a keepsake of the trip.

Take the next step: heesenyachts.com and iyc.com

The post Charter the Heesen 180 <i>Moskito</i> appeared first on Yachting.

The Bahamas Parliament has enacted the Port Authorities (Amendment) Bill of 2025, which introduces significant changes to maritime regulations and fees effective July 1, 2025.

The bill has new requirements for foreign vessels 50 feet or over in length. Section 40B of the bill mandates these boats now be equipped with a functioning Automated Identification System (AIS) that must remain turned on whether docked, traversing or passing through the nation’s waters.

Non-compliance for this rule will result in a fine of up to $1,000.

Under Regulation 91, the bill increases Temporary Cruising Permit fees. For a period not exceeding 12 months, the new fees are:

• Vessels not exceeding 34 feet in length: $500
• Vessels exceeding 34 feet but not exceeding 100 feet in length: $1,000
• Vessels in excess of 100 feet in length: $3,000 

These fees will cover cruising permits, attendance fees for customs officers, and overtime and travel expenses for immigration officers. The fees do not apply to ancillary equipment being towed or on board, excluding tenders over 25 feet, which will have a $500 fee for up to 12 months. 

If a pleasure vessel carries more than three passengers, each additional passenger aged six or older, who is not an ordinary resident of the Bahamas, will be subject to a $30 tax. The fee for a pleasure vessel allows for two entries into the Bahamas within a 30-day period. 

Foreign pleasure vessel fishing permit fees are also now $100 for vessels up to 34 feet and $300 for vessels over 34 feet.

A new Frequent Digital Cruising Card (FDCC) will be available under Regulation 89B. The FDCC will be valid for two years and permit unlimited visits. 

Requirements include reporting to customs upon each entry, obtaining a Pleasure Craft Request (PCR) number for subsequent voyages, payment of all applicable fees and linking the vessel’s registration number to the FDCC. 

The FDCC aims to streamline processing and reduce paperwork. FDCC fees are:

• Vessels not exceeding 34 feet in length: $1,500 
• Vessels exceeding 34 feet but not exceeding 100 feet in length: $2,500 
• Fees for vessels exceeding 100 feet in length are stated as $8,000 in one source, while another notes that FDCC pricing for vessels over 100 feet is not yet specified.

Proposed anchorage fees for foreign vessels not mooring at a marina have been amended under regulation 91B:

• Vessels not exceeding 34 feet: $200 
• Vessels exceeding 34 feet but not exceeding 100 feet: $350 
• Vessels exceeding 100 feet: $1,500 

Other regulations include changes to Seabed Lease (Section 41A), where individuals or entities undertaking activities affecting the seabed must apply for a lease of up to 25 years. Unauthorized use can lead to a $50,000 per acre penalty or imprisonment. 

A new section (28A) allows the country’s transport minister to enter agreements for lighthouse and navigational structure upkeep. New Marine Traffic Regulations (Section 6A) empower the minister to establish anchorage zones, regulate maritime cabotage, manage marine traffic services, implement measures for marine incident prevention and response, and issue navigational warnings.

Some questions for clarification remain, such as the definitive FDCC fees for vessels over 100 feet, the implementation timeline for digital systems, AIS technical specifications and enforcement procedures.

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The Galapagos Islands are a bucket-list destination for nature lovers eager to see the iconic animals of this remote island chain off mainland Ecuador. From the giant tortoises to the blue-footed boobies, the islands’ extraordinary wildlife is worth the extra effort required to cruise here.

Getting There

Cruising regulations are incredibly strict to protect the islands’ one-of-a-kind creatures and ecosystems. International yacht owners must work with a local agency to obtain an autografo, or entry authorization, from the Ecuadorian government. (Start the process two months out.) Cruisers must visit only the islands on the approved itinerary and must carry a local naturalist guide on board. Or consider booking a charter yacht instead. They can handle the administrative hurdles and provisioning so you can simply enjoy this incredible destination.

What To See

Each of the 13 major islands offers a memorable wildlife experience. Giant tortoises are the star on Santa Cruz Island. The Charles Darwin Research Station in Puerto Ayora safeguards the survival of this beloved species. Scientists there nurture juveniles for several years until they’re large enough to survive in the wild. Up in the highlands, the nearly 30-acre El Chato Tortoise Reserve provides a protected haven for hundreds of adults, which can reach 5 feet in length and more than 550 pounds.

The view of Pinnacle Rock from the summit of Bartolome Island is the most photographed vista in the Galapagos. The waters at the base of the rock are a prime snorkeling spot, where a colony of Galapagos penguins resides. You’re also likely to spot black-tipped sharks and spotted eagle rays.

On San Cristobal Island, Punta Pitt is one of the few spots to see all three species of booby birds found in the Galapagos. The blue-footed booby gets top billing, but you’ll also spy red-footed boobies and Nazca boobies. In the evening, cruise around the island’s eastern side for a gorgeous sunset view of Kicker Rock.

Punta Suarez on Espanola Island is one of the most popular cruising stops in the Galapagos. From April through December, an estimated 35,000 critically endangered waved albatrosses settle in for nesting season. It’s awe-inspiring to witness their elaborate courtship rituals and juveniles learning to fly. Near the rocky landing site, you’ll also spy lava lizards, colorful red-and-green marine iguanas and Galapagos sea lions resting on shore or frolicking in the waters.

If you’re an avid birder, set a course to the western islands of Fernandina and Isabela to spot the flightless cormorant, another iconic species. And keep an eye out for swallow-tailed gulls, Galapagos hawks and—of course—Darwin’s finches throughout the islands.

The post Cruising the Galapagos Islands appeared first on Yachting.

Boaters who haven’t set a waypoint for Annapolis, Maryland, the past few years might be surprised by how much they find there.

“Annapolis, for years and years, was really traditional with what was downtown,” says Samantha Branham, regional director for Safe Harbor Marinas. “But the landscape has changed. They’ve built it up, and there are new restaurants right on the waterfront. It’s really cool.”

One of her newer favorites is The Choptank, billed as a classic fish and crab house. Its deck overlooks the boating action. “You’re sitting right over everything,” Branham says.

Another favorite of hers is Preserve, which is on Main Street. The menu shows a range of options from lamb ragu to vegan pot de creme, but Branham goes for the oysters, which she orders topped with creative accompaniments. “They’ll do things that are a little different, like a pickled onion mignonette,” she says, adding that she has also enjoyed the apple variation. “It was really sweet.”

To work off some of the calories, boaters can head back to Safe Harbor Annapolis, which has tennis and pickleball courts for member use. After that, maybe it’s a light nosh at The Fat Crab restaurant on-site, with a newly extended pavilion, before another walk around downtown.

“It’s the state capital, so there’s also a lot of history,” she says. “You can do walking tours. The Naval Academy is there. It can be romantic, or it can be good for a family with kids. It’s beautiful. I’m biased, but I think it’s the most beautiful place in the world.”

Local Delicacy

So many places serve crab in Annapolis that eateries regularly battle to make it onto Top 10 lists. Crab cakes, crab bisque, crab dip and soft-shell crabs are just some of the varieties.

Music Galore

A newer event in the city is the Annapolis Songwriters Festival, which takes place in September. It was created a few years ago and is modeled after the Key West Songwriters Festival, with dozens of free performances over the course of four days, as well as some ticketed concerts for highlighted acts. Shows performed at the City Dock are free for children 12 and younger, with additional venues typically including Maryland Hall and Rams Head On Stage. Some musicians also perform in the local parks, hotels and bars, with many of those concerts free for boaters who are having a walkabout downtown. The styles of music at this festival are wide-ranging, with a little bit of something for everyone.

The post Cruising Annapolis, Maryland appeared first on Yachting.

Ease of maintenance is something that has impressed Jay Dollries ever since he bought his Tesla almost a decade ago. On a catamaran charter with friends in the Bahamas, he couldn’t help but wonder why boats are so far behind in that department—not to mention still using noisy generators to power basic comforts like air conditioning on the hook.

“You spend so much time going through and checking the oil and doing all these things on the boat,” he says. “It’s been nine years ago now since I bought my first Tesla, and I still have that car, and I have spent a total of, I think, $250 on maintenance in the nine years, and I don’t have to check my oil. I change tires and wiper blades, and that’s about it.”

When he learned about Silent Yachts, Dollries saw people who thought like him. He ordered an SY62 during the pandemic, when the company was going through management challenges. Still a believer in the technology, he ordered a second SY62 that just emerged from the shipyard under the company’s new leadership. He still has Sunrise Dream, but he christened the new SY62 100% because it has been outfitted, in Dollries’ mind, to total perfection.

“We have two water-generation systems on the new one,” he says. “We’ve got a much lighter color scheme on it. It’s a four-bedroom plus two crew, versus a five-plus-one. Originally, when we designed the boat, we were going to do four-plus-one, but we didn’t want to put the onus on having a husband-and-wife combo for operating the boat. The crew quarters are a little bit on the smaller side. Having the second crew quarter gives somebody their own space.”

His plan for 100% is to spend this summer in the Mediterranean, starting around Venice, Italy, and then cruising down the Croatian coast to Montenegro and Greece. From there, he’ll head to Italy’s Amalfi Coast, then over to Sardinia and Corsica. The boat will be on display at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September, and after that, he’ll explore the South of France and Spain’s Balearic Isles before heading to Gibraltar and staging to cross the Atlantic.

He plans to be on board for the crossing, and he’s so confident in the boat’s technology that he’s already talking like an old salt about other priorities that have bedeviled boaters for centuries. “I think we’ve got the right crew, and we’ll be smart about making sure we have the right weather,” he says. “We’ll look at the weather patterns and make decisions.”

The Owner

Jay Dollries, 61, has been boating for 15 years. He had a 23-foot Boston Whaler and did fishing vacations at Tropic Star Lodge in Panama. A Bahamas charter with The Moorings showed him what cats could do, and he sought out one with tech that reminded him of his Tesla.

Designed for Solar From Scratch

Models in the Silent Yachts range are not solar conversions of traditionally powered cats. The team creates each boat from a blank sheet of paper.

The Silent Yachts Range

Silent Yachts builds solar-electric catamarans in the 60-, 80- and 120-foot ranges. The company’s founders have been at it since 2009, with the brand’s official debut in 2016.

Goals have a way of evolving. When Rob Vigors was a teenager, his primary goal was speed. He raced on water skis and then became a driver for the sport in his 30s, representing Australia in chasing a world title at up to 112 knots.

But today, with the whiskers on his chin coming in gray, he has other priorities. He moved to the Whitsunday Islands in 2020, bought a 60-foot flybridge monohull and made decent use of it, even though a cat might’ve better handled the short, sharp chop.

“I had looked at power cats,” Vigors says. “What turned me off was the narrowness of the hulls. The accommodations were tight. You had to climb over the bed to get into it.”

Then, at a boat show, he stepped aboard the Iliad 53S.

“It’s like an apartment on the water,” he says. “I went down into the master bedroom, and it was a bedroom that was east-west, and you could walk all around it, and it was queen-size, and I said, ‘That’s the boat for me.’”

That same day, he and his wife ordered Kailani, which is Hawaiian for beautiful sky and ocean. They’ve been cruising the Whitsundays with the cat for about a year, and they say they feel a significant difference.

“I don’t have to have a gyro running all night with the genset going to try and keep us stable at anchor or on a mooring,” he says. “Even the walkway down each side, it’s so big. It’s not like a monohull where you almost have to turn sideways to walk up to the bow. And the bow area’s great. It’s a great entertaining boat too because people can spread out easily.”

Full-height standing room near the engines is another favorite feature, along with a lot more stowage.

“One of the other factors was the swim platform,” he says. “It not only goes down, but as it’s going down, it extends rearward. It’s literally only a couple of minutes to get the tender into the water or extract it out of the water. It just makes life so much easier.”

Handling with the bow thruster is also easier, he says—so much so that it’s helping the couple’s relationship. “With the engines, the shafts spaced so far apart, it’s very easy for coming back to the berth,” he says. “We nail it every time. The old boat, we had a few moments…”

Real estate is constantly on Steve Lloyd’s mind. He started in the business two decades ago, focused on commercial properties. Now in his mid-50s, his brain went straight to land-based buildings when he decided to move from Pennsylvania to Florida’s west coast during the pandemic. He looked and looked for a dream home on the water, but they were all too big for him. Then, he says, “I saw an ad for the Fort Lauderdale boat show, and I said, ‘You know what? I’m going to live on a boat.’ My friends thought I was crazy.”

Lloyd had zero boating experience on the day a broker walked him around the show to see various catamarans. He didn’t like some of the finishes; prominent use of fiberglass inside especially bugged him.

Then he went on a build from Horizon Power Catamarans and really liked it. “My broker said a 52-foot Horizon had just come up for sale,” he recalls. “It was about $1.85 million. I said, ‘If you take a little off, I’ll shake your hand.’ I was living on the boat 30 days after the inspections.”

Four years later, he says, becoming a liveaboard power-cat owner has changed his life. He hired a captain and first mate who run the boat so he can be chief entertainer, sometimes inviting dozens of friends for local sunset cruises or to explore Bahamian islands by day while staying shoreside at night.

“Two of the bedrooms, they can handle queen-size beds,” he says of My Best Life. “The kitchen has the two Sub-Zero freezers and the refrigerator. The TV is a tuck-away. It’s like living in a 1,100-square-foot apartment, but you can go wherever you want.”

The more friends he invites on board, he says, the more people realize everything that cruising has to offer: “I have high-level friends who have never been on the water, and they’re like, ‘Wow, this is what it’s like?’ When you don’t have a boat, you’re not used to the lifestyle.”

He’s also become comfortable at the helm aboard smaller boats himself. In April 2024, he ordered a 32-foot Calcutta catamaran because the bigger cat couldn’t get into all the island nooks and crannies where he wanted to play. “I can take the Calcutta and run around to all the different bars and restaurants down there,” he says.

And he has fully embraced the idea that when it comes to some things about cruising, he actually knows more than a few lifelong boaters do. “The beautiful thing about the 52 is the width, the width, the width,” he says. “People walk on my boat who are boaters, and they can’t believe how wide it is.”

His Best Life

Steve Lloyd had zero boating experience when he got stuck in Florida during the pandemic. He looked for a house on the water, but they were all too big. Instead, he bought a Horizon PC52 and became a live-aboard with a captain and a steady stream of friends for parties.

Horizon Power Catamarans

The PC52 is the smallest model from this builder, with the biggest being 74 feet long. On the PC52, there are three staterooms, with open or sky-lounge versions offered.

Quiet Cruising Package

Horizon’s cats are equipped with a phosphate battery package and Termodinamica variable-speed air conditioning to minimize generator use.

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Bodrum, located on the “Turkish Riviera,” has long been a magnet for well-heeled European cruisers. This sun-soaked escape on the western Aegean draws in visitors with its turquoise waters, plentiful picturesque beaches, lively fine dining scene and intriguing glimpses of the region’s history.

Attractions

Much of the action in Bodrum happens along the water. This is Turkey’s Turquoise Coast, after all, and its cruising grounds offer lots of little islands and lagoons to explore.

Bodrum’s bountiful beaches are a major draw, with a stretch of sand for every clientele. Camel Beach (aka Kargi Bay), a favorite among locals and visitors for its pure sand and calm waters, is the launching point for kitesurfing and windsurfing expeditions. Families prefer Bitez Beach for its sheltered bay and Blue Flag status, marking it as one of the cleanest beaches in Turkey. Near the expanded Yalikavak Marina, refined beach clubs such as Miya Beach and Xuma Village attract the upscale set with gourmet food, creative drinks and evening entertainment.

Read More: Set a course to see and be seen in Sardinia

Bodrum is far more than just a tourist resort, though. Romans, Persians, Byzantines and Ottomans all have left their mark on this crossroads of the Aegean and Mediterranean seas. The location’s rich history is on full display at Bodrum Castle, built in the 15th century by the Knights Hospitaller on a rise overlooking the city’s twin harbors. As you stroll the grounds and garden, stop at the chapel mosque, its glass floor providing a peek at the archaeological excavations below. The grounds also house the Museum of Underwater Archaeology, which is home to the world’s oldest excavated shipwreck and other fascinating finds discovered along the Turkish coast. Learn more about Bodrum’s seafaring history at the Bodrum Maritime Museum.

Food and Drink

The restaurant at the Maçakizi Hotel is just one reason the world’s elite favor this glamorous retreat. It has earned a Michelin star for its new take on Aegean cuisine and wide-ranging wine list with an impressive selection of Champagnes.

Orfoz Restaurant, recommended by Michelin and Gault & Millau guides, is known for its great wine list too, along with fresh seafood dishes and stunning bay views. Bahce Restaurant earns raves for its authentic and flavorful Turkish fare as well as its relaxing garden setting. Karnas Vineyards, which focuses on zinfandel wines, serves everything from small bites to a multicourse tasting menu with such dishes as Aegean paella and slow-cooked braised lamb. At Bodrum Müdavim, located along what’s known as Bodrum Bar Street, enjoy a great view of Bodrum Castle as you select from an array of meze (appetizers), ranging from smoked eggplant to grilled artichokes to octopus salad.

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The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) has predicted “above-normal” hurricane activity this summer in its annual outlook for the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season.

A news release from the organization published on May 22 forecasts a range of 13 to 19 total named storms with winds of 39 mph or higher. NOAA estimated a 30 percent chance of a near-normal season, a 60 percent chance of an above-normal season and a 10 percent chance of a below-normal season.

Of the number of storms predicted, six to 10 are forecast to become hurricanes with winds of 74 mph or higher. Three to five of those may become major category 3, 4 or 5 hurricanes with winds of 111 mph or higher.

NOAA stated in the release it has 70 percent confidence in these ranges.

“NOAA and the National Weather Service are using the most advanced weather models and cutting-edge hurricane tracking systems to provide Americans with real-time storm forecasts and warnings,” said Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, in the release. “With these models and forecasting tools, we have never been more prepared for hurricane season.”

This year’s hurricane season is expected to be above normal because of warmer than average ocean temperatures, forecasts for weak wind shear and potential for higher activity from the West African monsoon, NOAA stated.

ENSO-neutral conditions, otherwise referred to as El Niño and La Niña, are also optimal this year for producing storms. More on the El Niño Southern Oscillation cycle can be read here.

In short, the more heat there is settling in the Atlantic Basin, the more energy there is to fuel potential storms. NOAA stated that a reduction in trade winds also allows these storms to develop without disruption.

“As we witnessed last year with significant inland flooding from hurricanes Helene and Debby, the impacts of hurricanes can reach far beyond coastal communities,” said Acting NOAA Administrator Laura Grimm, in the release. “NOAA is critical for the delivery of early and accurate forecasts and warnings, and provides the scientific expertise needed to save lives and property.”

The release stated that 2025’s hurricane season also has potential for the West African monsoon to produce tropical waves feeding into some of the “strongest and most long-lived Atlantic storms”

“In my 30 years at the National Weather Service, we’ve never had more advanced models and warning systems in place to monitor the weather,” said Ken Graham, NOAA’s national weather service director, in the release. “This outlook is a call to action: be prepared. Take proactive steps now to make a plan and gather supplies to ensure you’re ready before a storm threatens.”

Boaters can read more about how to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season with proper vessel storage and an overview on insurance coverage here.

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We’ve seen a lot of interesting evolutions in charter-yacht toys over the years. There was the first inflatable waterslide that towered from the top of the sundeck down to the ocean’s surface. Then came the introduction of e-foil boards that let charter clients surf and glide several feet above the water with silent electric power. There’s even been the addition of personal submersibles on a few charter yachts whose owners have an interest in exploring the depths far beneath the water’s surface.

But a rock-climbing wall? That’s a charter feature we don’t see every day.

There is apparently just such a wall-of-fun (along with an inflatable slide and e-foils) aboard Batello, a 263-foot Oceanco that just joined the IYC charter fleet following a refit that was completed this year. The yacht is now accepting inquiries for Mediterranean charters this summer, and for Caribbean and Bahamas yacht charters this winter, according to the team at IYC.

Batello is a 2007 build with accommodations for 12 guests in their choice of nine staterooms—a layout that is also an unusual find, even aboard superyachts in this size range. The master stateroom spans the full beam, and there are 24 crew on board for a ratio of 2-to-1 guest service.

 In addition to the inflatable FunAir rock-climbing wall, Batello also has a 58-foot Anvera chase boat, newly delivered in 2025, for zipping all over the place to explore; a 28-foot Novurania Cat tender; a 28-foot Windy tender; and a 23-foot Cobalt ski and wakesurfing tender.

Additional toys for guests to use aboard Batello include four personal watercraft, a trio of Seabobs, two kayaks, standup paddleboards, surfboards, scuba gear for certified guests (and an onboard dive instructor), fishing gear, a driving range setup for golfers, an outdoor cinema screen, and space on the bridge deck aft for mini games of basketball, pickleball and other ball sports.

When guests are ready to relax after playing with all those toys, Batello has a heated swimming pool, a gymnasium and a spa. An elevator connects all of the yacht’s interior decks, to make moving around the yacht easier.

What’s the top speed aboard Batello? It’s 19 knots, according to IYC, with a cruising speed of 13 knots. That’s plenty fast for exploring the Mediterranean coastline or the islands of the Caribbean and Bahamas.

How to book a week of charter aboard Batello: contact a charter broker at iyc.com. The lowest weekly base rate advertised for the yacht is $735,000.

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The Tasmanian tourist board has a pithy, catchy slogan to attract visitors to Australia’s rugged island state, some 150 miles south of the continent’s southeastern coastline: “Come down for air.” Last winter, I paid my fourth visit to the wild isle widely referred to as “Tassie,” which is saying something, as most mainland Aussies consider it too remote and give it a wide berth. That pure, fresh air is certainly a selling point, but for me, the allure has always been a different element: I come down for the water.

From the open Tasman Sea (named for Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, the first European to lay eyes on it, in the 1600s) to the picturesque River Derwent to the fetching D’Entrecasteaux Channel (one of the world’s most underrated cruising grounds), there’s a word for all that water: magnificent.

The capital of Tasmania is Hobart, and it’s also the finish line of one of the world’s great ocean races. Commencing every year on Boxing Day, the day after Christmas, the Sydney-Hobart Race was always on my personal bucket list. In 2007, I scored a ride aboard a 35-footer called Morna, one of the fleet’s smallest participants. That year the race played out in usual fashion: a spinnaker run down the coast from Sydney, a stretch of nasty weather in the open water of the Bass Strait, a long upwind beat along Tasmania’s shore, and one final agonizing stretch up the Derwent and into Hobart. After a little more than four days, we took second in class and then downed about a hundred beers. I’d surely gotten off easy.

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A decade earlier, in my previous foray in and out of Hobart, that wasn’t the case. I’d been recruited by an old pal, Australian explorer Don McIntyre, to join the crew aboard a 60-footer called Spirit of Sydney for a round-trip sail from Tasmania to Antarctica to pick him up after he’d spent a yearlong expedition on “the white continent.” I had always wanted to sail through the storied waters of the Great Southern Ocean, and McIntyre granted my wish. We had a relatively easy 10-day trip south, but the return voyage was one I hope never to repeat. A trio of westerly gales, with gusts topping 60 knots, stacked up seas down which one could ski; long surfs with boatspeed topping 20 knots were recurring events. After nine sporty days out there, we gratefully eased into Tassie’s protected and far calmer waters. I’d gotten the Southern Ocean out of my system.

By comparison, my latest trip was a happy lark that included a lazy boat ride through Storm Bay out to Bruny Island, where on a pretty beach I came across a rock with this inscription: “Resolution Creek. Capt. Cook’s Ship Watered Here, 27-28 June 1777.” Afterward, we tied back up in Little Oyster Cove Creek, where the docks were full and a fleet of salty cruising boats swung on moorings. My mate spun tales of all the Sydney sailors who were now keeping boats in Tassie, where the costs were low and where the beautiful, empty anchorages were almost endless. I’d always come to these waters for adventure, but he had my full attention. Two words came to mind: “Why not?”

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