The art of table dressing.  It's all in the preparation Dressing the table for dinner is an art form. Whilst the deckhands take care on deck polishing stainless and two parting the teak deck, and interior staff/chefs plan and prepare sumptuous dishes to wow owners and their guests, the main saloon is the steward/stewardess's domain, and it's just as important to present a beautiful table to draw diners into the space, relax knowing their every need will not only be catered for but has been thought of already! For stewards and stewardesses, here are some great tips for ensuring your table looks beautiful and allows service to be the best it can be. Thinking ahead is key, be creative, be resourceful, but ultimately plan ahead, be organised, with owners and guests...

Choosing a boat for offshore cruising is not a decision to be taken lightly. I have researched this topic on dozens of rallies, speaking to hundred of skippers. Everyone you speak to will have a different point of view about which boat is best and why, but few question the importance of getting it right. No matter what your budget, there is a bewildering array of choice and a number of important decisions to make, any one of which could severely impact the enjoyment and eventual success of your voyage. What follows may serve as a checklist for first-timers as well as seasoned ocean sailors in helping to decide the essential elements concerning safety, comfort, performance and functionality, looking at the hull, deck, rig and interior. HULL, KEEL AND RUDDER Deciding on the size of a...

The Monaco Yacht Show has announced a new layout for the 28th edition of the show, which will be held from 26 to 29 September 2018. The main location undergoing a restructure, by the Principality of Monaco, is Quai des Etats-Unis. This quay, which formerly comprised an assortment of yachting-related companies, will now be dedicated to superyacht builders, design studios, and brokerage houses, which will be in front of the superyachts they have on display for sale and charter. There seemed to be a growing consensus that the B2B element of the show – and sheer number of attendees – was somewhat negating the client-centric focus that it used to deliver. However, the Monaco Yacht Show is looking to reinforce and underline this focus through greater segregation of the luxury m...

A first look at Virgin Voyage's external design shows off a futuristic looking prototype ship. Under construction in Italy, Fincantieri will deliver the first of three ships to the new brand in 2020.  The ships will be 2,800 passengers and 110,000 tons and are being built at an estimated cost of $710 million each. The cruise experience will be for guests aged 18 and over, with no children allowed.  "Adorned at the hull you'll find our beautiful, mermaid guide. Inspired by the traditional bows from ships of yore, she is our ship's muse. The soul of the voyage. Our elegant leader. The feminine spirit of the ship," said Virgin, in a statement. "Designed with the glitter and glam of a yacht, the ship's livery stands out on the high seas. She glides with a u...

MITMARK is a risk mitigation and smart logistics provider to private and sovereign clients, public entities and private companies. We are a corporate security and intelligence firm specializing in security advisory services, intelligence-led projects and logistics management services.   MITMARK has two key lines of business: Assisting former military personnel in the transition to working in the private sector. Mitmark can either directly employ such veterans, place them within client companies or even help them create their own company. Consultants to business and government in operational auditing and risk mitigation in complex operating environments.   MITMARK works across all industry sectors, with particular emphasis on the mining, natural resources and energy ...

On Sunday 10th September, Steve Crawford (Director of Yotspot) and Captain Michael Williamson (MY Cyan) started their morning with a hearty breakfast of eggs benedict and two double espresso coffees. The time was 6am.   Why on earth would they be up at this time I hear you ask?! … especially on leave.   Well today was 'Tough Mudder' and it was going to be a very tough day indeed. For those that don't know, Tough Mudder is an endurance challenge between 10-12 miles (16-19km) with 20+ obstacles to face that test the mental and physical strength of even the fittest. Steve and Michael had discussed doing this event months ago, both signing up with gusto, not really knowing what they were in for. Well that day had finally arrived…   &nbs...

Alan Sugar of "The apprentice" fame is so proud of his wealth that he once posted a photo of his tax bill to HMRC for £59,000,000.  For reasons unknown he has decided to sell his Yacht... Lady L (named after his wife). A once treasured possession it has caused great mystery to why he is selling. Edmiston Luxury Yacht Brokers have confirmed the sale of the yacht but have refused to comment on the reason for its sale.  Sugar is selling the yacht for £12,600,000 and was last seen onboard in June in Puerto Banus, Spain. The Sunday Time Rich List Lord Sugar has a fortune of £1.25 Billion.  We hope that he may be upsizing... and if he needs Crew... he knows he can find them on Yotspot ;)

There has been much talk over the last few years around crew recruitment and there have been countless salary surveys published. However, there has been limited coverage on the wider thoughts and feelings of crew and their views of the superyacht sector. Faststream Recruitment, in joint partnership with Yotspot, are looking to get the insight of thousands of superyacht crew to find out your views, thoughts and feelings on the sector past, present and future. What makes an excellent Captain? Are crew under excessive pressure?  Does the sector offer long-term career opportunities? Do you feel motivated? These are all question which we feel have not been answered in the many articles which we all read on crew recruitment. We have produced a survey covering these key topics and would...

RefitPlanner.com is an innovative app-based tool where you work in partnership with MML's team of qualified engineers to plan and cost your refit more accuratley - on time and on budget. Yotspot speaks  Yotspot – I'm here with Matt Liddell, Business Development Manager of Marine Management Ltd (MML), Good Morning Matt!   Matt – Hi Daryl, good morning to you too!   Yotspot – tell me a bit about MML, you're from New Zealand is that right?   Matt -  well we're originally Auckland based and that's where our head office remains, but I've recently moved to the UK to support our business interests here in Europe. These include assisting yachts with their refit or technical up...

ABOUT Superyacht Insurance Group: Superyacht Insurance Group is a full service marine insurance brokerage firm for all of the yacht's insurance needs, established in 2002. We focus on Global Crew Medical Insurance (groups & individuals) and Yacht Insurance (Hull & Liability). We offer an extensive portfolio of international and U.S. insurance policies tailored to accommodate the crewmember's unique lifestyle and the yacht's program. In addition we are able to arrange customized insurance coverage if requested. We work with most of the leading top-rated U.S. and European insurance underwriters and carriers and are able to provide competitive rates and options for you. Furthermore, we provide a wide range of additional crew coverage, including: Travel insura...