Escape to a place of pure energy and fun onboard luxury superyacht Sherakhan and its greatest water sports toys. While we are experiencing this period of unprecedented limitations, it’s the perfect time to let your imagination run wild when planning the dream superyacht charter.

One of the biggest draws of a superyacht charter is the chance to have pure, unadulterated fun on the water, whether you are looking to master a water sport such as sailing and kite surfing, or want to make family memories on inflatable towables and a giant water slide.

Luxury charter superyacht Sherakhan is perfectly set up for all manner of water-based amusement thanks to a garage that is packed to the gunwales with an extensive roll call of the latest tenders and toys, and a crew of talented water sports enthusiasts ready to share their expertise.

“Our crew is ready to go and eager to teach.” says Captain van Luijn, adding that sailing, wakeboarding and water-skiing are particular specialisms. “Our deck crew love getting stuck in with water sports activities for our guests, showing them the best spots and fun things to do. Kneeboards and towables are guaranteed to offer a lot of enjoyment, even for those with less experience on the water. We have had guests pick up whole new skills during a charter, such as sailing, stand up paddle boarding and wakeboarding. For beginners, perhaps they will have learned the trick to staying on the banana boat while our tender driver tries to shake them off. Sometimes the simplest things can be the most fun.”

FIRM FAVORITES
Wave-runners are perpetual favorites of Sherakhan’s charter guests, when local maritime and ecological parameters allow. These powerful machines can give you the feeling of total freedom and satisfy the need for speed. For those seeking more adventure, crew-led discovery-tours can be organized to find the hidden coves and shallow waters Sherakhan’s tenders are not able to reach.

Keep the speed but head below the  surface by snorkeling, swimming or scuba diving with a SeaBob sea scooter, which Sherakhan can hire for charters. These easy-to-use toys allow you to explore the local underwater attractions without getting tired.  Their “Grab & Go” features make them accessible for young and old, meaning that the whole family can enjoy them.

Scuba diving is a popular activity among many charter guests, and Sherakhan has a full complement of diving equipment as well as her in 2019 newly installed air compressor. To get the best experience possible, Captain van Luijn recommends enjoying a dive-tour led by a local expert-diver to make sure you will for sure get the best hidden gems of the area.

And for aquatic fun closer to base, take the plunge on Sherakhan’s custom-built giant water slide, which extends all the way from the top deck; it’s a thrilling and safe experience that can be enjoyed by everyone.

Of course, guest and crew safety is of paramount importance for everyone on Sherakhan,  therefore not all watersports can be done without guidance by children under the age of 10. Nevertheless, the inflatable towables and static toys such as water trampolines are fun for younger children, and there are plenty of safety appliances such as swimming vests and floaties for guests of all ages to make watersports safe and enjoyable.

THE PERSONAL TOUCH
One of the reasons charter guests continue to return for their treasured time onboard superyachts is the degree of personalization that they experience in every aspect of their trip, including the imaginative water sports activities onboard Sherakhan, as Captain van Luijn explains:

“For us, it is all about tailoring the experience for each charter group to maximize their fun while onboard. Recently, we put together an Olympic Water Games competition for a charter group who got really into the competitive spirit and had a total blast, from the youngest to the most senior of the guests.”

He also explains that water sports activities for charter guests can provide a front-row experience of nature, too: “Our water sports amenities aren’t just a way to increase the adrenaline; they provide a unique perspective of natural phenomena that cannot be found on mainstream vacations. We often get dolphins coming to investigate the wake of our tenders, which often ends up being the highlight of the day for guests. When Sherakhan cruised through the beautiful Norwegian Fjords, our charter guests particularly loved the new perspective they found from paddling in a canoe. Being right on the water with the gargantuan mountains all around was breath-taking, and then the guests were joined by a pod of whales, which gave them special memories that will last a lifetime.”

THE CAPTAIN’S PICK
When it comes to choosing the world’s top spots for water sports, well-travelled captains are guaranteed to give the best suggestions going. Captain van Luijn recommends Caribbean haven Antigua as a great destination for enjoying Sherakhan’s plethora of water sports toys. Not only does the island offer a stunning backdrop for any charter, but guests are permitted to use motorized toys such as wave-runners, which is not the case on islands like the leeward Caribbean islands.

“Our guests always love Antigua,” he adds. “The bay is very protected, which makes it great for all kinds of water sports. The snorkeling and diving is amazing and the conditions are great for kite surfing, which is a big draw.”

If you are planning to charter on the other side of the Atlantic, Captain’s top pick for water sports is Panarea in the Aeolian Islands off the coast of Sicily. He describes the small island as the perfect spot for underwater exploration, with opportunities to scuba dive through an atmospheric shipwreck or snorkel above mid-sea fumaroles (dramatically bubbling underwater volcanic emissions).