Blog

Sprinkling sand ‘deters orcas’ advises Cruising Association As we have mentioned previously, and has been reported widely on social media, a number of sailing yachts have been the subject of rudder attacks by pods of aggressive killer whales in recent months. One of our clients, a 25m sailing yacht, was also attacked in the Strait of Gibraltar on their way to the Mediterranean. Now, the Cruising...

Since last summer, British passengers arriving at Spanish (and Portuguese) airports have been able to use e-gates at Border Control, which is convenient, but can lead to problems for seafarers. If joining a boat here in Palma and you need to be stamped on (ie. out of Spain/Schengen), the port police can and will only do this if you are presently stamped into the country. If you entered via an...

The Marine & Coastguard Agency has, for the first time, issued Guidance MGN 681 (M), concerning personal watercraft, toys and other battery powered devices on yachts. The issue of Lithium-ion battery safety was a topic discussed in one of our Superyacht Breakfast Seminars in April, a transcript of which we will make available in the coming days. Our panel included the world-renowned...

This map is for guidance only and is subject to changing local regulations and restrictions, which must be observed at all times. Coordinates are approximate only. Anchoring on, touching or disturbing posidonia seagrass in any way is strictly prohibited and must be avoided at all cost. Fines are severe and adherence is policed vigorously by local authorities, including use of patrol boats,...

On the occasion of the Palma Superyacht Village, ESTELA hosted a trio of Superyacht Breakfast Seminars. Over three days, we held wide-ranging panel discussions on Crew Matters, Yacht Management, and Lithium-Ion Battery Safety, which proved highly informative and sparked a lot of debate.Thank you to our panellists, who made the sessions so interesting:Day OneShowcase presentation AYSS Erica...

To join the waiting list, please contact us: dinner@estelayachting.com +34 619 655 955 Captains, sponsors and guests, we look forward to seeing you on Saturday! Please remember that the dress code is Black Tie Optional. As Pueblo Español has cobbled paving, stiletto heels are not advised.

at the Palma Superyacht Village 2023 THURSDAY 27 APRIL, FRIDAY 28 APRIL, SATURDAY 29 APRIL Venue: VIDA by Um, C/ Moll 6, 07012 Palma - map On the occasion of the Palma Superyacht Show 2023, ESTELA is hosting three FREE Breakfast Seminars. DAY ONE: CREW MATTERS, THURSDAY 27 APRIL Showcase Presentation: Carlos Miquel, President, AYSS We will be discussing everything from recruitment, career...

The debate over Italy’s D-Visa -- what it does and doesn’t cover, who is eligible and how to get one -- rumbles on.In the meantime, British captain, Billy Stevens, has kindly provided some detailed, factual information based on his and his crew’s own experience. Their boat will shortly be relocating to a new base in Italy, making for an excellent case study of crew requiring a long-term visa,...

Following our news update in December about the Italian D-Visa for seafarers, there has been a fair amount of discussion about how it works and where to get one. We have also received feedback from clients aiming to obtain the newly available visa.The Italian association of maritime agents, Federagenti, has issued the below clarification about the D-Visa and what it covers.To recap, seafarers...

With the season ahead of us, this is the best time of the year to capture the attention of captains and crew to promote your visibility in the market. We boast an attractive guestlist and host our events at the most stunning locations around the city every year. Captains’ Dinner at the Museum. Saturday 29th April 2023. The most important event during the yacht show, exclusive for...

https://youtu.be/AczIe9dIQw8 Our superyacht charity movie night was a lot of fun! The event was a sell-out and we raised a decent amount of money for charity.Thanks to everyone who came, also to those who bought tickets but didn't make it on the night, and of course, to all our sponsors who made it possible!The video of the event is here and for photos , check out the gallery here >>...

https://youtu.be/iJ9FV4LVeZI

James van Bregt, Editor of ESTELA's The Y Yachting Itineraries, interviews Pedro Suasi, manager of Balearic Yacht Destination (BYD), on the sidelines of Monaco Yacht ShowAs the promotional face of Balearic Marine, BYD facilitates the participation of members in superyacht shows, events and initiatives designed to promote the Balearics as a centre of maritime technical excellence and as a...

ESTELA's The Y Yachting Itineraries with the team behind SHADOWCAT At the Monaco Yacht Show, the creators of groundbreaking support vessels such as Hodor, Wayfinder and Nebula tell us about the genesis of the catamaran platform and their partnership with digital shipbuilder, Incat Crowther, and Galician shipyard, Astilleros Armón, in northern Spain. Founder and CEO, Robert Smith, and Director of...

This week, the Port of Melilla welcomed 42m Heesen, M/Y Life Saga, kicking off its charter itinerary from the Spanish exclave. As we have highlighted many times in recent years, Melilla lies not only outside Spain’s VAT territory, but is also outside the EU customs territory and excise duties area. As of this year, no VAT is payable on time spent in Spanish waters for charters...