 Chicago , as a yachting destination, may not be the first thing to come to mind when you think of “The Windy City,” but it has quite an extensive list of yachting clubs, yacht charters and associations. All facets of yachting are available in Chicago, including power, sail, educational and social. Chicago is located on Lake Michigan, which is the second largest Great Lake by water volume. The lake’s northern tier is in the colder, less developed region, while its more temperate southern basin contains the Chicago and Milwaukee metropolitan areas. Lake Michigan looks a lot like the sea most of the time, and although it has no tides to speak of, it does have currents, wind and fog. Yachting to Chicago will take you past forested shoreline, sand dunes, lighthouses, and of course, the magnificent Chicago cityscape. On the Lake Michigan shoreline, just east of Chicago’s downtown, is the Navy Pier, a landmark in the city since 1916. It contains a collection of unique shops and restaurants, an indoor botanical park, the Chicago Children’s Museum, theaters, museums, miniature golf, a musical carousel and a permanent 150-foot high Ferris wheel. Chicago is host to several yachting events each year, such as the Chicago to Mackinac Yacht Race. It has been called “the most exciting fresh-water race in the world,” as sailing teams compete in this 333-mile, 24-hour race. Other special events include the Fall Frostbiting Race at Belmont, and the Chicago Yachting Ball. |
Key West has a warm tropical climate tempered by refreshing ocean breezes, giving it splendid yachting conditions year round. This historic, seafaring town, the southernmost city in the U.S., is undoubtedly one of the most unique places you will ever visit. Tradition lives on at the renovated Historic Seaport District, known to locals as “Key West Bright.” Within walking distance of the port are historic homes, tropical gardens, art galleries, shops, quaint restaurants and lively bars and pubs. During the day the streets and docks are filled with musicians, jugglers, mimes and street artists. At dusk, everyone gathers for the nightly Sunset Celebration on Mallory Dock, and as darkness falls, the city moves to another beat when the world-class restaurants and legendary pubs come alive. The Keys are sheltered by the only living coral reef in the U.S. and are known for their spectacular scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities. Other things to see and do include kayaking and eco-tours, dolphin watching, island hopping and fishing excursions. Key West has excellent marina facilities that offer bareboat and private charter rentals, sailing and sunset dinner cruises and sightseeing tours. There is also a full calendar of special events year-round in Key West, including fishing tournaments, international power boat and yacht races, a lighted boat parade, and Fantasy Fest, Key West’s answer to Mardi Gras which takes place for ten days in October. 
Florida Yacht Charters – a yachting wonderland in the southeastern United States. Up and down the coasts, Florida is a true king of yacht charters. As well as having two coastal borders on the Atlantic and Gulf of Mexico, Florida is home to 30,000 lakes. Starting in the northeast, Jacksonville is home to a wide selection of fishing charters. Jacksonville Beach has miles of open beach and porpoise watching year-round, while northern right-whales have a winter stay in the area. Daytona Beach sports 23 miles of beach, with surf fishing available all year. Offshore vessels for fishing sail daily here. The West Palm Beach region is golf course-laden. It is a major part of Palm Beach County, which includes five city/beach areas and two islands; Jupiter Island is the home of the wealthy. Fort Lauderdale offers many luxury charters for all occasions, with access to Everglades wilderness, gold sand, and a palm tree lined beachfront. Multicultural Miami, a major yacht chartering area, features unique food, music, and non-stop nightlife. Visit the botanical garden in Miami Beach and a 38-acre seaquarium. The historic Florida Keys area has boat-accessible beaches and deep sea fishing charters. Take a manatee tour in the Orange River while in Fort Myers and visit two sailing schools. Tampa/St. Petersburg contains one of the largest marinas in the southeastern United States, where one can literally yacht into the sunset. Florida is ripe for yachting from January through December. 
Virgin Islands Yacht Charters , plentiful for the yacht enthusiast, start in two major areas – the U.S. Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands – mid-way down the Caribbean area, and just east of Puerto Rico. The U.S. Virgin Islands consist of four main islands: St. Croix, St. Thomas, St. John, and Water Island. St. Croix offers many yacht charters and is a great destination for fishing, kayaking, and public beach enjoyment. St. Thomas is a tourist’s dream, with family-oriented activities, luxury resort areas, and shopping known the world over. St. John is surrounded by blue water coastline and teeming with lush green forests, and is home to the Virgin Islands National Park. Yacht to Water Island, where private vacations and day trips are native to the island. The British Virgin Islands have the largest fleet of charter yachts in the entire Caribbean area. There are over 36 total islands in the region, with only 16 inhabited. The westernmost island of Jost Van Dyke has a peak of 1,070 feet and a fine selection of yacht charters. Tortola is the commercial center of the British Virgin Islands and holds many bays and natural harbors for a variety of watersports activities. Virgin Gorda offers spectacular views and unique resort areas. Anegada is the sparsely populated, charter-rich northernmost island, home to one of the world’s largest coral reefs and unique Caribbean flora and fauna. Enjoy cruising from January through December in the entire Virgin Islands area. 
Puerto Rico Yacht Charters are famous for discovering the bilingual island nation paradise of the Northern Caribbean. With approximately 311 miles of coastline to enjoy, and summer temperatures throughout the year, yacht adventures abound in Puerto Rico. San Juan, Puerto Rico’s capital, is one of the largest natural harbors in the Caribbean and home to the San Juan Beach and Resort Area. On the far east side of Puerto Rico, Fajardo is a noted sailing center with a large number of charters from which to choose. Finding a yacht charter for the Spanish Virgin Islands will not disappoint. The eastern island of Culebra is one of the most untouched in the Caribbean with spacious white sand beaches, and many scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities. The island of Vieques is a more animated island with an active nightlife, two-thirds owned by the U.S. Navy. Mosquito Bay is brimming with bioluminescent organisms that cause the bay to glow at night. Ponce, the nation’s second largest city, features rich historical areas, the largest art museum in the Caribbean, and a blended architecture of Caribbean, neo-classical and art deco. Ponce Yacht and Fishing Club welcomes sailors. Mayaguez is the third largest city on the island and has the largest, commercial port on the western coast. Since the port is commercial, an alternate way to receive yacht clearance is by anchoring at Boquerón and arriving at Mayaguez by taxi. Experience year-round yachting excursions in the Puerto Rico area. 
Bahamas Yacht Charters provide a wonderful method of exploring 700 islands in the Northern Caribbean region, miles of sandy beaches and colorful, clear waters. The Bahamas are well known for a major tourism industry, with 5,380 square miles to discover, and are home to approximately one hundred regattas yearly. The northern islands have a greater population; therefore more charters exist for those islands. The archipelago of Abaco, with two major islands and six cays, is ideal for yachting; the entire area is noted for swimming, diving, and snorkeling. To the south, the island of New Providence has an abundance of opportunities for yacht chartering, especially in the northeast where the capital city of Nassau has a popular harbor area. Connected to New Providence by two bridges is Paradise Island, with other marina opportunities. Visit Eleuthera, a 100 mile, narrow island with late-1700s architecture and famous pineapple produce. Neighboring Harbour Island is styled in Georgian architecture and the Spanish Wells community in the north is known for fishing. Southeast of Eleuthera lies Cat Island – the “high land” of the Bahamas is a popular yachting destination for both its high cliffs and a step into a past civilization. Straddling the Tropic of Cancer, the Exumas are recognized as the sailing capital of the Bahamas, with 365 cays that appeal greatly to yachters. The Bahamas yachting season can be year round, with special care suggested for the hurricane season of June to November.