Tips for preparing your itinerary and yacht for a voyage to a remote destination.

Explorer yachts are purpose-designed to take their owners on adventures to destinations “off the beaten path”. While they can do everything a traditional motor yacht can do, like transporting you in luxury and comfort to easily accessible cruising grounds in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, they are capable of so much more. With their expansive fuel capacities, efficient propulsion, copious stowage space and seaworthy hull designs, expedition yachts like the Cheoy Lee Explorer Series can help you to fulfill your dreams of voyaging to exotic destinations around the world.

 

Even with a well-built, steel-hulled bluewater yacht such as a Cheoy Lee Explorer, however, a successful long-range voyage to a remote destination takes careful planning and preparation. Here are some tips for getting ready for an adventure in your expedition yacht.

 

Plan well in advance

How far in advance to start planning a voyage depends on your destination. Extremely remote regions have far less infrastructure for yachts than regular “milk run” cruising areas. Capt. John Crupi, who took the 146-foot Cheoy Lee expedition yacht Dorothea III to 70 countries on six continents, began planning for some of the more challenging passages on his yacht’s itinerary up to a year in advance.

 

The success of difficult passages lies in having a ruggedly built and well-equipped yacht, preparedness and the Captain’s knowledge

Consider hiring a weather-routing service

One of the first things to take into consideration is the weather. What is the optimum time of year to take a yacht to your intended destination? For example, the weather in Antarctica is best during summer in the Southern Hemisphere, from November to March, when the temperatures are higher and the days can be up to 24 hours long. Similarly, yachts can only navigate the Northwest Passage through Canada in the Northern Hemisphere’s summer months – and even then, they need to watch out for ice. If your expedition yacht must cross an ocean in order to reach your destination, the best weather window for that passage also must be taken into careful consideration.

 

The availability and accuracy of today’s weather forecasting services makes it easier for captains to avoid dangerous sea conditions and storms

The good news is that today, there are a wide variety of sophisticated weather forecasting tools available for expedition yacht owners and captains to consult when planning a long-range voyage. There are government resources such as the U.S. National Weather Service and National Hurricane Center, both provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). And there are myriad commercial weather apps and websites to choose from that provide both long- and short-range forecasts. 

 

Experienced mariners like Capt. Crupi often will hire a private marine weather-forecasting service to help with route-planning. Some international meteorological services can offer data on typical weather patterns in a destination region at different times of the year. What’s more, these services can provide daily weather forecasts specific to your yacht’s GPS location for the duration of the voyage. These customized reports can help your captain to avert storms and other dangerous climatic conditions while en route.

Keep the itinerary flexible

Even with the best weather resources at your fingertips, however, when planning a voyage to a remote destination, it’s important to add an extra measure of flexibility. Don't commit to a tight itinerary that requires the yacht to be in a certain port on a certain day as you may encounter unexpected delays. While you might be able to make plans to cruise from Portofino to Monaco on a set schedule during summer season in the Med, navigating a passage to the Arctic or Antarctic with the possibility of ice that could keep the yacht in port for a number of days requires a much looser schedule.

Seek first-hand information

Before you set out for a less-frequented destination, such as Southeast Asia or the Amazon River, that does not have the number or level of fuel bunkering services or fresh-food provisioning options that are available in more popular yachting destinations, it’s important to determine in advance where you are going to find them. The best way to begin researching a particular remote destination is to consult with another yacht owner and/or captain who has voyaged there. That way, you will get first-hand information about the infrastructure in the area, as well as insights into both the challenges and the “can’t miss” experiences you will find there.

Yacht agents that specialize in the region where you plan to voyage in your expedition yacht can be another important resource to tap. Not only can they help to arrange services such as fuel bunkering, but they also can provide invaluable aid with travel visas and other required documentation. A yacht agent also can advise you about potential security threats in the area.

Find a satellite  communications provider

Internet connectivity in areas where terrestrial service is spotty or non-existent can be another area of concern for many yacht owners. Today, there are a number of maritime satellite communications companies serving the superyacht community that offer coverage even in the most remote parts of the globe.

 

Satellite communications equipment

Prepare your expedition yacht for self-sufficiency

If you are planning to voyage to a region where few yachts have gone before, it’s important to prepare your expedition yacht to be as self-sufficient as possible. During the planning phase, anticipate any problems you might encounter, such as unstable electrical power, dirty fuel, and rough seas, and equip your yacht to meet them. Its shore power system, fuel-filtration system, watermaker and stabilization system must be equal to any challenges you may face.

Carrying spare parts for the yacht’s vital systems and equipment also can help to make or break a voyage to a remote destination. There may not be a superyacht service yard where you are going. And, unlike in the Med or Caribbean, you might not be able to order a replacement part and have it sent to the yacht via Fedex. Self-sufficiency means your crew will have the parts and skills they need to fix just about anything that might break en route.

If quality provisioning is scarce along your intended itinerary, you also will need to stock the yacht before departure with the food and other supplies you will need for the voyage. It can increase the efficiency of your yacht’s stowage space to make a diagram of where each item will fit on board. This is another area in which the Cheoy Lee Explorer Series excels. The 130 Explorer now under construction, for example, has a full tank deck below the waterline that offers massive dry, refrigerated and freezer stowage.

Preparing for a voyage in an expedition yacht to a remote, untrammeled corner of the globe may be challenging, but if it weren’t, everyone would go there. With careful advance planning and a bit of flexibility, your next yachting adventure will be one you will remember for the rest of your life.

The post Getting Ready for the Adventure of a Lifetime in an Expedition Yacht appeared first on Cheoy Lee Yachts.

Vessels like the Cheoy Lee Explorer Series yachts, which are designed, built and equipped for long-range bluewater voyaging, are the best means of transportation to challenging cruising destinations such as the ones detailed in this blog. These rugged, reliable steel expedition yachts feature a larger fuel capacity than a traditional motor yacht, enabling them to cross oceans and cruise to locations with few or no fuel bunkering options. Their layout incorporates enough storage to hold supplies and provisions for weeks at sea. They are equipped for self-sufficient comfort at anchor in places where no marinas or shore power are available. And what’s more, expedition yachts let owners and guests explore the ends of the Earth while enjoying customized, luxurious accommodations and amenities.

Before you set your sights on one of these far-flung destinations, however, we urge you to consult a yacht agent or logistics coordinator who specializes in the region and can help you and your captain pre-plan your route, acquire the necessary permits, arrange for guides, pilots, fuel bunkering, and provisions, and also for security in areas where it’s recommended (such as polar bear county).

“The further out you go, the more help you need,” said Rob McCallum, founding partner of EYOS Expeditions Ltd., which provides logistical and guide services for remote cruising destinations around the world. 

Here is a list of some of the world’s most unique, uncrowded and spectacular cruising grounds. A voyage by expedition yacht to any of these destinations truly makes for the adventure of a lifetime.

GREENLAND    

The world’s largest island, and part of the Realm of Denmark, Greenland is a remote Arctic destination that is best explored by expedition yacht. “You can only visit most of it by boat or aircraft; there are no roads,” McCallum said, adding, “It’s a place of scenic grandeur.”

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Greenland offers spectacular polar vistas, including icebergs, glaciers and soaring snowclad mountain ranges. Seventy-nine percent of the island is covered by the Greenland Ice Sheet, and it also has a spectacular system of iceberg-studded fjords. Heliskiing is a popular pastime that an expedition company can organize for you. Dogsledding is another unique way to experience Greenland as the natives have done for hundreds of years, and there also are geothermic springs for bathing.

“You can only visit most of  it by boat or aircraft; there are no roads”

In summer, the island and its surrounding waters come alive with wildlife, including polar bears, walrus and whales. Deploying kayaks from your yacht puts you right in the middle of Greenland’s natural wonders. The midnight sun will let you experience more each day.

You also can enjoy cultural exchanges with the Inuit peoples whose ancestors came to Greenland by crossing the Bering Strait. A local guide can arrange for educational opportunities with the Inuit. “To me, it’s always better to go with someone who can communicate effectively with the local people. It opens doors,” McCallum said.

When to Go

Summer is the most popular time to visit Greenland, when the temperatures rise above freezing, allowing parts of the island to live up to its name. The midnight sun typically lasts from late May through late July. Unfortunately, these “white nights” hide another spectacular northern phenomenon, the Northern Lights, which can be seen starting in September.

Permits Required

No special permits are needed beyond clearing customs and immigration.

Fuel Bunkering

Fuel is available in Greenland’s southern towns and fishing ports, where most of the island’s population can be found. 

ALASKA

Since it is a popular destination for cruise ships, it’s natural to assume Alaska is “on the beaten path” for yachts as well. But the cruise ships have set itineraries that are easy to identify and avoid, and these expansive northern cruising grounds offer hundreds of nautical miles of remote, spectacular coastline to explore. “It goes on forever. You could cruise there for four months and not see the same thing twice,” McCallum said.

The scenery is varied but majestic, including craggy coastlines, fir-clad islets, glaciers and fjords. Colorful fishing villages provide both a scenic backdrop and an opportunity to hire a guide and fish for fresh, wild salmon. You can also watch bears catch their own salmon dinner!

Alaska is a great destination for whale-watching in the summer months, from majestic humpbacks to orcas with their distinctive black-and-white coloration. Birdwatching is also outstanding in Alaska, which is home to roughly 30,000 wild bald eagles. Your yacht’s kayaks and tender offer the opportunity get closer to nature.

Everywhere you cruise in Alaska, you will find rich Native American culture, with more than 200 recognized tribes in the state today. Be sure to take advantage of the opportunity to view totem poles and to experience native drumming, singing, and storytelling.

It goes on forever. You could cruise there for four months and not see the same thing twice

When to Go

Late May through mid-September; with the peak months being June through August. Depending on where you cruise, you will experience the midnight sun lighting up your nights during most of this season. 

Permits Required

Alaska requires cruising permits and depending on the size of your vessel, pilotage in some ports. McCallum advises applying for permits at least four months in advance of your cruise, using a yacht logistics company to streamline the process. “By getting a permit, you can get to places other people can’t access,” he said.

Fuel Bunkering

There is fuel and even a few marinas in the larger towns, but, McCallum cautions, “The main towns are few and far between.”

PAPUA NEW GUINEA

Located off the northeastern coast of Australia in Oceania, Papua New Guinea comprises the eastern half of the island of New Guinea, along with a double handful of lush tropical islets. The world’s third largest island nation, it attained independence in 1975.

A true melting pot, Papua New Guinea is one of the most diverse nations on Earth, with more than 850 known languages spoken in the country. It also reportedly is home to numerous “uncontacted tribes”, living in total isolation. Cannibalism is thought to have been practiced by some until quite recently. Guides with knowledge of local tribes and customs can arrange memorable cultural experiences for cruisers here. One of the most amazing is to witness a Baining Fire Dance – a rite of passage for young men.

Papua New Guinea is also a world-class scuba diving destination. It offers miles of pristine coral reefs teeming with life, Pacific atolls and walls, along with the opportunity to dive on wrecks from World War II.

When to Go

The long cruising season lasts from late April through December. “There is a chance of cyclones, but they are rare these days,” said McCallum.

Permits Required

Yachts must provide their intended cruising itinerary and secure a cruising permit for Papua New Guinea, in addition to complying with customs and immigration regulations.

Fuel Bunkering

Fuel is available in various provincial ports throughout the country.

VANAUTU

An archipelago of 88 islands in a remote corner of Melanesia, over 1,100 nautical miles from Australia’s eastern coast, Vanuatu is well worth the voyage to get there. “Every day is wonderful,” McCallum said.

The islands are mountainous, formed by ancient volcanoes. In fact, there are still active volcanoes here you visit with a guide, including Mount Yasur on Tanna Island where, if you are lucky, you can peer into the volcano’s red, smoky heart.

The beaches are beautiful throughout the islands, and the diving is even more spectacular. Vibrant coral reefs, blue holes, and caverns are just a few of the natural splendors that await beneath the surface of the neon-blue ocean. If you are a diver, don’t miss the SS President Coolidge, sunk off the island of Espiritu Santo by a mine during World War II. At 656 feet in length, it is considered to be one of the largest wrecks in the world.  

With the help of a guide well versed in the native language and customs, you can have memorable interactions with the local people, known as the Ni-Vanuatu, or “Ni-Van” for short. One of the world’s most unique native rituals, called “Nagol” or land diving, takes places every Saturday from April to June on Pentecost Island. Local men and boys climb to the top of a 98-foot wooden tower, wrap vines around their ankles and jump off. Land diving is said to have inspired the modern sport of bungee jumping.

When to Go

Cruising season is during the winter months, April through October, when both the temperatures and the chance of rainfall decline. 

Permits Required

Vanuatu strictly enforces its customs and immigration policies for visiting yachts.

Fuel Bunkering

You can find fuel and a marina in Port Vila, the capital of Vanuatu, located on the island of Efate. But that’s it for the entire region.

THE GALÁPAGOS

Over 185 years since Charles Darwin first set eyes on the Galápagos, this isolated South American island chain, located about 600 miles off the Pacific coast of Ecuador, is still home to some of the most diverse and unique plant and animal species found anywhere in the world. Galápagos National Park, an UNESCO World Heritage Site, covers about 97 percent of the island chain and offers incredible opportunities for hiking and diving. 

Many visitors come simply to see and photograph species that can only be found in these islands, such as the Galápagos Giant Tortoise and the Blue-Footed Booby. Sport fishing is also popular in the fertile waters around the Galápagos, and it is a world-class scuba diving destination.

There are no marinas in Galápagos National Park, so you will spend all of your time at anchor. However, there are many spectacular anchorages scattered throughout these rugged, mostly volcanic islands. 

When to Go

The Galapagos Islands are a year-round cruising destination. Ocean currents and winds interact to define two seasons: the hot season, generally from January to May, and the cool season, usually from June to December. 

Permits Required

Galápagos National Park has very strict rules and regulations designed to protect the islands’ native diversity and prevent any foreign species from invading them.  

“All vessels with the intention to enter Galápagos must apply for an entry permit called ‘Autografo’ in advance. Once we have obtained the entry permit, we have to apply for an authorization called ‘cruising permit’, which allows you to visit the protected areas of the Galápagos Islands with a specific itinerary assigned. By law, we have to hire a local naturalist guide and provide food and lodging aboard,” said Javier Plúa Rizzo of Yacht Agents Galápagos, which facilitates yacht travel to the islands. He recommends starting the application process at least two months prior to your planned arrival.

Fuel Bunkering

Fuel is limited in the Galápagos, and is managed by an Ecuadorian state-run company. “’Fuel code authorization’ is required for a prices amount of fuel requested. There are barges also available for deliveries if needed,” Rizzo said. 

PATAGONIA

“Ever since Patagonia was discovered 500 years ago, it has been described as untouched, vast, exotic, wild and infinite in its beauty,” said Carlos Miquel, regional director, South American Super Yacht Support (SASYSS), which specializes in organizing yacht travel to Patagonia, Chile and Antarctica.

Extending approximately 1,000 nautical miles from Puerto Montt to Cape Horn, Patagonia offers a wide range of different climate zones and ecosystems. There are a seemingly limitless number of activities to choose from, including flyfishing, kayaking, trekking, and heliskiing. The spectacular scenery ranges from  snowcapped mountain peaks, to volcanoes, fjords and cold jungles. “We divide the itineraries in Northern, Central and Southern Patagonia,” Miquel said. 

One of the most humbling feelings is to land on a beach at an anchorage and perhaps be the first human being that has ever set foot there

The region is mostly uninhabited, and you can often cruise for miles without seeing another yacht. In fact, more than half of Patagonia is protected by national parks. “One of the most humbling feelings is to land on a beach at an anchorage and perhaps be the first human being that has ever set foot there,” he said.

When to Go
Cruising season is from mid-October and until late April. While daily temperatures vary depending on which part of the county you are visiting, they never dip below freezing. Since Patagonia is considered the gateway to Antarctica for yachts, Miquel points out, “This offers a large window of time to squeeze a trip to Antarctica in between.” 

Permits Required
No cruising permits are needed to cruise through Patagonia, but port pilotage is required at major ports. Depending on the vessel’s gross registered tonnage (GRT), a yacht may need to have a Fjord Pilot on board to navigate the Patagonian channels.

Fuel Bunkering

There is fuel available at all major ports in Patagonia. Miquel recommends yachts work with their agent or SASYSS to determine the best locations for bunkering based on the yacht’s range and itinerary. 

ANTARCTICA

“Antarctica was last continent to be discovered, and it is often called the last frontier. Visiting Antarctica is a life-changing experience as visitors will immerse in landscapes and wildlife rarely seen in other parts of the planet,” said Miquel.

Due to Antartica’s extreme climate and terrain, it has never had an indigenous population. So, voyaging there by yacht will put you on the relatively short list of people who have visited the continent since John Davis was the first man to set foot there in 1821. 

Antarctica was last continent to be discovered, and it is often called the last frontier. Visiting Antarctica is a life-changing experience as visitors will immerse in landscapes and wildlife rarely seen in other parts of the planet. 

The few expedition yachts and sailing yachts that visit Antarctica each year typically cruise from Chile to the Antarctic Peninsula, the continent’s northernmost tip. Its towering icebergs and vast, silent landscape are completely awe-inspiring. Nature-lovers also will revel in encounters with huge colonies of penguins, which have no fear of humans, and the huge whales that inhabit these frigid waters. Kayaking here is an otherworldly experience not to be missed.

“Once in Antarctica, there is no local support infrastructure, besides the help you can get from nearby vessels in case of an emergency. Therefore, any trip to Antarctica needs to be planned well ahead of time and with a team of experts,” Miquel said. 

When to Go

The summer months, from late November through mid-February, is the best time to visit Antarctica. “Wildlife will be going through different stages in their reproduction cycles, so if visitors go early, they will see the building of nests and mating period, to then see the hatching and growing of the babies,” Miquel said, adding, “From a navigational point of view, the ice will be more packed early in the season and yachts will be able to cruise and explore further south if they go later during the year.” 

Permits Required

Yachts need an Antarctic Permit to travel to Antarctica which is issued by the International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators (IAATO). “These permits are best obtained with the help of an agent or SASYSS or through an authorized and experienced expedition company,” he said, adding that obtaining Polar Code Certification for your yacht in advance can save time.

Fuel Bunkering

“There are no ports in Antarctica and no bunkering available, unless it is pre-planned and pre-paid to come from Chile. To avoid this unlikely and expensive affair, yachts that go to Antarctica need to have a range of 3,000 nautical miles or more, as bunkering is best done before leaving to and after returning from Antarctica,” said Miquel.

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Most yachts are designed to cruise inland and coastal waterways but in reality, very few are built to voyage the world’s oceans. It is only these bluewater vessels, known as explorer or expedition yachts, that can take you on adventures to the most remote, spectacular, and pristine corners of the globe.

A few decades back, these long-range motoryachts were called “trawlers” after the commercial fishing trawlers they often resembled, topped by enclosed pilothouses that frequently featured reverse-slanted, “North Sea” windshields. But over the years, the trawler yacht category became crowded with “wannabe” boats that only looked like their rugged offshore counterparts. In reality, many of them were unable to venture very far from the coast.

Enter the true explorer yacht – a vessel that is purpose-built to be seaworthy and self-sufficient enough to serve as a luxury platform for oceangoing expeditions that are virtually without limits.

“The whole idea of an expedition yacht is how the owner intends to use his or her boat. We are working on the first Cheoy Lee 107 Explorer project now. It’s a boat capable of going practically anywhere in the world,” said Jon Overing of Overing Yacht Design, the naval architect who collaborated with Cheoy Lee Yachts on its new Explorer Series.

“The whole idea of an expedition yacht is how the owner intends to use his or her boat. We are working on the first Cheoy Lee 107 Explorer project now. It’s a boat capable of going practically anywhere in the world”

What gives an expedition yacht “go-anywhere” capability?

It’s not just one single aspect of the vessel’s design, construction, or outfitting. With the world’s best explorer yachts, it’s the entire package.

“I think any viable explorer yacht has be based on a full-displacement hull. That type of hull makes a better sea boat than a semi-displacement or planing hull … Full displacement hulls also inherently have more volume, and you need more volume to fit the mission profile for an expedition yacht.”

Rugged and reliable:

What to look for in explorer yacht design and construction

• Full-displacement hull

  While many of today’s yacht owners send their vessels to distant ports aboard a commercial ship, the hallmark of a true expedition yacht is to be able to make any voyage on its own hull. “I think any viable explorer yacht has be based on a full-displacement hull. That type of hull makes a better sea boat than a semi-displacement or planing hull,” Overing said, adding, “Full displacement hulls also inherently have more volume, and you need more volume to fit the mission profile for an expedition yacht.”

• Sufficient speed

  Historically, full-displacement vessels tended to be slow through the water, making up in seaworthiness what they lacked in speed. “The image in everyone’s mind was a 10-knot boat, but it doesn’t have to be that way,” Overing said. Today’s full-displacement hull designs, notably our fast-displacement hullform that Overing has developed for the Cheoy Lee Explorer Series.  Overing’s fast-displacement hull combines superior seakeeping, optimum range and efficiency at 9 to 10 knots with the capability of running over 14 knots if needed to avoid a storm or make up time in a tight itinerary. With a speed/length ratio of 1.6 – 1.7, the Overing fast-displacement hulls are capable of well exceeding theoretical hull speed allowing higher speeds if the owner chooses the higher horsepower options.

• Bulbous bow

  A fuel-efficient hull is essential when it comes to ensuring an expedition yacht has the range to cross oceans. Cheoy Lee Yachts Explorer Series yachts feature a bulbous bow, which reduces the hull’s resistance to the water. “When Overing Yacht Design developed their first 50-meter fast-displacement hull in the late 1990s, Overing brought in a bulb expert from MIT to refine their bulb design and tank-tested their fast-displacement hull with and without a bulbous bow. The final bulb design resulted in a resistance drop between 7 and 15 percent depending on speed and load,” Overing said. “If you lower the hull’s resistance, it increases its efficiency. On average, our bulbous bow reduces fuel consumption by 10 percent on our fast-displacement hull. Over the course of a voyage, it adds up.”

• Steel hull

  Steel is the metal of choice for an oceangoing, full-displacement explorer yacht hull because of its weight and strength. While there are plenty of bluewater yachts made of aluminum or fiberglass, those materials are lighter than steel and might require the yacht to carry additional ballast. Steel expedition yachts also withstand impacts from debris in the water better. If the hull should be damaged, however, steel is easier to repair when the yacht is in a remote port that does not have modern yacht service and repair facilities. Cheoy Lee Explorer Series yachts are built with steel hulls and lightweight aluminum superstructures, utilizing both metals to their best advantage.

• Seaworthiness

  When you are voyaging to destinations that are “off the beaten path”, you can’t always find a convenient port to pull into when bad weather threatens. Expedition yachts have to be tough enough to stand up to rough, wind-driven offshore conditions. Cheoy Lee Explorer Yachts have full displacement hulls with rounded bilges that provide a stable, quiet ride even when the going gets tough. Today’s stabilization technology, which includes fixed stabilizers, movable fins, and gyros, provides solutions both while the yacht is at anchor and underway, adding yet another level of comfort.

• Practical profile

  Today’s long-range expedition yachts don’t have to look like commercial fishing trawlers. Modern explorer yachts over 100 feet in LOA are luxury superyachts and their profiles should reflect that aesthetic. “The exterior styling of an explorer yacht doesn’t have to look like a tugboat. It can be modern, classic, traditional – however you want,” said Overing.

Take the Cheoy Lee Explorer Series, for example. These multi-deck yachts sport graceful superstructures that are skillfully wrought in aluminum by Cheoy Lee Shipyard artisans. They feature spacious on-deck gathering areas, including flybridge, bridge and lower aft deck lounges, designed for sunbathing, dining and entertaining. They even boast aft beach clubs that are ideal for launching myriad watersports adventures.

“The exterior styling of an explorer yacht doesn’t have to look like a tugboat. It can be modern, classic, traditional – however you want,”

At the same time, however, expedition yacht design should address the long, rough passages the yacht will frequently face. Typically, these yachts have high bulwarks, full pilothouses and Portuguese bridges designed to protect the yacht from seas breaking on deck. The new Cheoy Lee Explorer 132, which features an aft-pilothouse design is an excellent example of form following function while still displaying an eye-catching profile.

• High-tech construction.

  Designing a seaworthy explorer yacht is only the start of the process. The shipyard also must possess the engineering skills, tools and technology to build a rugged vessel that can go the distance. In constructing its world-class explorer yachts, Cheoy Lee Shipyard draws on 150 years of experience building over 5,200 vessels to date, including thousands of commercial ships that have seen duty all over the world. The shipyard’s expert labor force combines traditional artisanship with state-of-the-art construction techniques, aided by a full suite of high-tech construction machinery, including 4-,5-, and 6-axis CNC machines, water jet plasma cutters, CNC pipe benders, CNC marble working machines, cross-cut granite saws, and much more.

• Classification.

  While private yachts displacing under 500 gross tons do not require certification by any of the international maritime classification societies, yachts operating as charter vessels must be classed. When building an expedition yacht, it’s important for an owner to keep the yacht’s resale value in mind, along with the opportunity to offer it for charter when you are not using the vessel. A yacht’s charter clients, carefully vetted and booked by a professional agent, can help to defray the costs of voyaging to long-range destinations such as the Arctic, Alaska or Antarctica. There are other benefits to building an explorer yacht to classification, such as American Bureau of Shipping (ABS), Lloyd’s, Bureau Veritas (BV) or RINA, as well.

“It’s another system of checks and balances you are bringing into the project. I view it as an insurance policy for the owner,” Overing said, adding, “If you are building a good boat to begin with, there’s not a lot of cost difference in building it to class.” Cheoy Lee Explorer Yachts are available built to Lloyd’s ✠ 100A1 SSC Yacht Mono G6 classification.

• Fuel tankage.

  A transatlantic crossing from New York City to Cornwall, U.K., is 2,880 nautical miles. Any long-range expedition yacht worth its salt should have the tankage to cross an ocean without needing to refuel. Cheoy Lee Shipyard is known for engineering and building fuel tanks for its yachts that combine outstanding capacity with exceptional structural integrity. Even though it is a small expedition yacht, the Cheoy Lee 107 Explorer has a range in excess of 4,000 nautical miles at 10 knots, with a fuel reserve.
  

• Commercial-grade equipment.

  When an expedition yacht is voyaging to regions where yacht service yards and spare parts are few and far between, it is essential for all its ship’s systems and equipment to be ultra-durable and reliable. Cheoy Lee Yachts outfits its Explorer Series vessels with proven commercial-grade machinery that is designed for continuous operation. Redundant systems and equipment are also crucial for an expedition yacht. “All vital systems must have full redundancy,” Overing said.

• Maximized storage.

  For many expedition yacht owners, leaving civilization behind and exploring remote regions is the whole point of having the boat. However, if you are voyaging to a destination with little or no maritime infrastructure, such as Antarctica, you will need to take all your provisions, supplies and spare parts with you. Dry storage, refrigerated storage, and freezer storage beyond what’s available in the galley are all essential features of a well-designed expedition yacht. The Cheoy Lee Explorer 107 and 132, at the upper and lower end of the range, have full tank decks that hold capacious stowage and also allow the crew to transit the whole yacht while staying out of the weather and unseen by the guests.

• Well-laid-out crew areas.

  The captain and crew of a long-range explorer yacht with an itinerary for adventure frequently pull continuous duty like the machinery and equipment on board. They spend weeks under way and at anchor rather than in port, unlike their counterparts who work on coastal cruising yachts in the Med. In order to keep an expedition yacht’s crew efficient, committed and refreshed, their work and leisure spaces should be given equal consideration to the owner and guest areas on board. Keeping this in mind, the Cheoy Lee Explorer Series yachts incorporate spacious crew quarters. In fact, the Cheoy Lee Explorer 107 has a main-deck captain’s cabin that rivals the VIP stateroom in many yachts of the same size.

• Bespoke owner/guest accommodations.

  If you are planning to use your yacht as a platform for voyaging to remote regions where there are no marinas or luxury resort hotels, it’s important to ensure you and your guests will be comfortable onboard. While in the past, some trawler yachts had staterooms that looked more like the scientists’ bunks on an oceanographic research vessel, today’s explorer yachts typically feature luxury owner and guest suites suitable for a superyacht. Interior design experts can help owners to customize their yacht’s inner sanctums to suit their own personal tastes and needs. Cheoy Lee Yachts collaborates with world-renowned yacht interior designers to select the finest woodwork, stone, furnishings, soft goods and other décor items for each interior in its Explorer Yacht Series. The shipyard also will work with an owner’s personal interior designer, if preferred.

• Satellite communications.

  Today, it’s possible to leave civilization behind, yet still remain in touch with home and work, stream videos, and enjoy other entertainment options via VSAT satellite internet service at sea. There are multiple providers in the marketplace offering a wide range of wifi solutions and service plans. Your shipyard can advise you on which cutting-edge VSAT antennas and other communications equipment you need to have on board your expedition yacht to utilize these services.

• Tenders & toys.

  Small boats and water toys can greatly enhance the adventures you pursue on your large expedition yacht. Tenders are not merely a means of transportation from yacht to shore. They also can take you to quiet coves and deserted islands surrounded by serene waters that are too shallow for the mother yacht to navigate. Jet Skis, kayaks, SEABOBs and the like can provide hours of fun in the water for owners and guests.

Have it your way:

Building a new explorer yacht

There are pre-owned expedition yachts on the market today that come in all makes, models, sizes, vintages, and levels of bluewater capability. An owner who elects to purchase a brokerage boat is best advised to develop a mission profile for his or her desired vessel in advance and then choose the boat that ticks off the most boxes on that list. How far do you want to go? How many guests do you want to bring with you? It’s important to determine all your desires and needs before you start shopping for a yacht.

“It’s always a compromise with a pre-owned explorer yacht. It’s someone else’s design for another owner,” said Panu Virtanen, vice president – sales, Cheoy Lee Shipyard North America. He added, “Who built it and how was it built? Does it have maintenance issues? It’s important to find out.”

Use a surveyor with a proven track record to determine whether there are any hidden problems with the pre-owned yacht. And if you decide to go ahead with the purchase, many brokers recommend keeping a budget in reserve to refit the vessel. You may need to update the electronics and stabilizers, and you probably will want to change at least some of the furnishings and the soft goods. The yacht also may need its classification certificate renewed. “That can be an expensive process,” Virtanen cautioned.

Building a new explorer yacht with a reputable shipyard, on the other hand, will ensure you get the vessel that fulfills your individual dreams for global exploration. “You can get exactly what you want,” he said.

The shipyard can help you to put together a team dedicated to designing the best expedition boat for your mission profile, including members of the shipyard’s management, design and engineering teams, the yacht’s naval architect and interior designer, along with your captain, yacht broker, and yacht management company, if you so desire. This “dream team” will be dedicated to creating an explorer yacht that is unique to you.

“There is no ‘perfect boat’, but when you build one, you can come extremely close to getting the explorer yacht that is perfect for you”

Do you want a main-deck master suite with panoramic views so you can see spectacular scenery you when you wake up each morning? Do you want to be able to cook breakfast for your family yourself in an eat-in galley on a sunny Sunday morning? Would you like to be able to soak in a Jacuzzi on the flybridge, watch a film on the foredeck, or fish from the aft deck? Or do you fancy a beach club where you can lounge virtually at eye level with the sea, hop onto a Jet Ski whenever the mood strikes you, and enjoy a cocktail while your yacht’s underwater lights attract an “aquarium” full of exotic fish? “There is no ‘perfect boat’, but when you build one, you can come extremely close to getting the explorer yacht that is perfect for you,” Virtanen said.

Who builds the best explorer yachts?

If you plan to build a new explorer yacht, it’s important to consider working with a shipyard that has a commercial shipbuilding pedigree in addition to a proven reputation for launching high-quality luxury yachts. Longevity, integrity, and family are key factors behind a successful shipyard. Few shipyards around the globe can boast more than 150 years of experience under continuous operation by the same family, like Cheoy Lee.

“Cheoy Lee Shipyard has 150 years of experience in building commercial vessels that operate 24/7 in demanding conditions. That is the philosophy of the commercial side of the company, and it carries over to all the explorer yachts that we build as well.”

It’s also important to research other expedition yachts the shipyard has launched in the past. Have they won awards and voyaged 200,000 nautical miles through most of the world’s oceans in a decade, like the 146’7” Cheoy Lee expedition yacht Dorothea III?

“If you plan to voyage far, you need to be able to rely on your yacht in any conditions anywhere in the world. That experience is what you look for in a shipyard when you are building a true expedition yacht.”

“Cheoy Lee Shipyard has 150 years of experience in building commercial vessels that operate 24/7 in demanding conditions. That is the philosophy of the commercial side of the company, and it carries over to all the explorer yachts that we build as well,” Virtanen said. “If you plan to voyage far, you need to be able to rely on your yacht in any conditions anywhere in the world. That experience is what you look for in a shipyard when you are building a true expedition yacht.”

The post Built for Adventure: Everything You Need to Know About Today’s Explorer Yachts appeared first on Cheoy Lee Yachts.

Along the way, Dorothea III’s owners and crew have enjoyed angling in some of the world’s most spectacular fishing hotspots. They also have raised funds for charity and distributed humanitarian aid en route, ranging from providing lunches and laptops to schools in impoverished areas to water and supplies for hurricane-devastated islands.

“She has been the ultimate explorer yacht in every facet of the term,” said Captain John Crupi, Dorothea III’s master for the past decade.

Designed for world exploration

Dorothea III has a sterling pedigree. This well-thought-out explorer yacht design was created by noted naval architect Ron Holland of Vancouver, Canada, and built by Cheoy Lee Shipyards, builder of some of the world’s best explorer yachts, drawing on our unique combination of cutting-edge technology and over 150 years’ worth of maritime artisanship. The yacht launched in 2007 as Marco Polo, a name she lived up to even on her maiden voyage when she cruised from Hong Kong to the Mediterranean on her own bottom. 

Ron Holland’s design brief was to draw an expedition yacht capable of modern, efficient, green cruising. He gave her a seaworthy, full displacement hull with a bulbous bow, which Cheoy Lee fabricated from steel. Her topsides were constructed of fiberglass to save weight while at the same time enabling the designer to give her an attractive profile in keeping with a luxury superyacht. 

Completely unique among superyachts, however, the new Cheoy Lee explorer yacht was equipped with an innovative propulsion system engineered to enhance her fuel efficiency. She has a single 1,911hp Caterpillar 3512B main engine connected to a Schottle controllable pitch propeller system with a range from 0 to 90 degrees. In addition, she is equipped with a Schottle pump jet powered by a Caterpillar C7 auxiliary engine forward in order to facilitate docking and slow-speed maneuvers. 

“When Marco Polo launched, it was revolutionary because the propulsion was so different,” Capt. Crupi said. The fuel savings provided by this single-engine system are enormous; he estimates that if she were equipped with twin engines, the yacht would consume about 50 percent more fuel.

Commercial heritage

The Greens’ previous yacht, the original Dorothea, was a 1967 Bill Garden design with a wooden hull that was lost in a fire in 2007. After mourning that loss, the family began searching for an expedition yacht.

“The idea behind their next purchase was to go far,” Capt. Crupi said.

 It narrows the field of candidate boats considerably, however, when you have to take into consideration,

“How do you get from Point A to Point B when A is Miami and B is Australia – which we’ve now done five times,” he said.

The Greens and Capt. Crupi did their first sea trial in Marco Polo in 2009 and liked what they saw. She combined luxury yacht accommodations, including an owner’s suite on the bridge deck and four guest suites below, with highly functional commercial-level systems and equipment.

“We knew that Cheoy Lee builds a good commercial product. The thing that makes it great is that the engineering that went into it is based on commercial wants and needs. Many yachts may look like an explorer but don’t have the machinery to back it up,” Capt. Crupi said.

Another selling point was that the Caterpillar main engine is rated B Class. “It is designed to run at 80 percent load for 100 percent of its life, or 100 percent for 80 percent,” Capt. Crupi said. “Most yachts have E Class engines, designed to run at 80 percent of load for 40 percent of their life.” 

Along with a maximum speed of 14.5 knots and a fast cruising speed of 13 knots, the Cheoy Lee luxury superyacht offered a transoceanic range of 6,000 nautical miles at 10.5 knots.

When Marco Polo launched, she was ready for world exploration, but due to the 2008 global financial crisis, she sat idle for a couple years, her potential unfulfilled. When the Greens ultimately purchased her in 2011, renaming her Dorothea III, Capt. Crupi said, “It was a boat that was relatively new and it didn’t need any mechanical updates. It was ready to do what we wanted it to do.” 

After the Greens took ownership of Dorothea III in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, they took her for a short shakedown cruise to The Bahamas, and then she went in for a refit to customizer her interior to suit her new owners’ personal tastes. After that, there was no holding back. 

“[The yacht] never suggests it wants to do anything but go,” Capt. Crupi said.

Self-sufficient luxury

There are no superyacht marinas in Vanuatu or the many other “off the beaten path” destinations that Dorothea III visited in over 200,000 nautical miles of ocean exploration over the past decade. She spent the vast majority of the time at anchor. Marine parts and other supplies also were scarce or nonexistent, which put a huge emphasis on self-sufficiency for the Cheoy Lee explorer yacht and her crew.

In keeping with her long-range explorer yacht design, Dorothea III is equipped with a water-making system that can produce 8,000 gallons of water a day and an MSD system that can process 600 gallons a day. There is storage for up to three years’ worth of parts and crucial supplies such as oil for the engines and generators. “It’s all on board,” Capt. Crupi said, adding that the crew was always able to do any service that was necessary themselves while voyaging – even while putting over 2,000 hours on the main engine each year. “We’ve never called a contractor to service the yacht outside of the yard,” he said.

Dorothea III had three yard periods between voyages, during which she underwent extensive service and maintenance in order to keep her in tip-top running condition. “We did top ends on the main engine every 6,000 to 8,000 hours,” he said.

Nearly half of the vessel is dedicated to crew operations, which is nearly unheard of in the luxury superyacht sphere. Space planning in the engine room is exemplary.

“You can crawl under the entire main engine and transmission. You can get to everything,” Capt. Crupi said. “The wiring is perfect.”

The crew quarters, which accommodate up to nine people, are exceptionally spacious. Most of the time, Dorothea III ran with seven crew, and nearly everyone had their own room. “When you are spending all your time in these remote places, at anchor for weeks at a time, it’s important,” he said. 

Triumphs and challenges

Providing the Greens with a luxury platform for family adventures in the far corners of the Earth was the Cheoy Lee expedition yacht’s primary mission over the past decade, but big-game sportfishing was close second. In many cases, these two passions combined to create unforgettable moments, such as the time the Greens’ grandson caught his first blue marlin off Tonga in the South Pacific.

Over the years, Dorothea III has had a series of sportfishing “tenders” named Post One, including a 45-footer that Capt. Crupi towed behind the mother ship, and a 63-foot sportfishing yacht that ran in tandem with her. During the Cheoy Lee explorer yacht’s most recent voyage, for which she received the Voyager’s Award, the 63-footer made the 1,800-nautical mile transatlantic crossing from Bermuda to the Azores on her own bottom, re-fueling from Dorothea III en route.

Over the course of 200,000 nautical miles, Dorothea III has encountered her share of extreme weather. “We’ve sat in 100 knots of wind multiple times…. We’ve been through 20-foot seas; we’ve had them crash on the sundeck. That’s a lot of water! But the boat never really pounded. It’s a pretty solid boat,” Capt. Crupi said.

Dorothea III is now on the market, as the Green family moves on to other things. Capt. Crupi summed up his thoughts in a letter on the yacht’s website: “As captain I faced a multitude of challenges from planning to execution on each of these voyages, but knowing that I had a solid, reliable and capable platform in the Dorothea III was always a comforting place to start. I initially sought out a vessel that I felt could perform and withstand the rigors of extensive worldwide travel and Dorothea III continuously exceeded my expectations over and over again when put to the test.”

He added, “If I was to build another one, if I had my choice, I’d build the exact same thing.”

The post Lessons from One of the Best Explorer Yachts Ever Built: Cheoy Lee’s Dorothea III appeared first on Cheoy Lee Yachts.

Captained by John Crupi, Dorothea’s owners Steven and Dorothea Green completed a 34,965-mile voyage through the North and South Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans.

The voyage was notable for its vast range and numerous philanthropy acts that raised $28,000 for humanitarian causes along the way.

To read the full Boat International, click here or open the document below.

The post Dorothea III Winner of the 2020 Voyager’s Award appeared first on Cheoy Lee Yachts.

Georgia Tindale covers all the details in this Superyacht Times article. 

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