Sun, sand, sea, luxurious yachts and an unlimited dose of adventure and fun — if these are what you are looking for, then you should head straight to this jewel of the East Coast. The azure waters of the Bay of Bengal off Visakhapatnam, for the first time, will be hosting a four-day yachting festival, packed with an exciting itinerary from March 28 to 31, organised by AP Tourism in association with Delhi-based firm E-Factor.
The festival will bring to the shores of the city a fleet of plush yachts for sailing enthusiasts to engage with water and adventure sports and experience luxury. During the four-day festival, the coastline will turn into a visual treat with a fleet of 10 luxury yachts. The docking zone is being built on a par with world-class standards at the Fishing Harbour, the same venue where the ships for the International Fleet Review held in the city in 2016 were docked. A group of boats from the Indian Navy will lead the fleet of yachts.
The yachts will cover four different routes in the sea every day, offering a stunning view of Visakhapatnam’s coastline in a way never experienced before. There is plenty of fun in store too, with snorkelling, deep sea fishing, scuba diving and swimming while aboard the yachts. The itinerary includes a special performance by the fishermen community on the day of the flag-off, salutation and fly-boarding display at Fishermen Cove, Beach Road and performances by leading musical bands of the country at the festival dock area in the evenings. “The idea is to make Vizag a yachting destination on the global map. The ultra high networth individuals (HNIs) are the core target clientèle of the festival,” says Kaushik Mukherji, principal consultant, AP Tourism.
Here’s a list of some of the notable sailing machines that will be a part of the event:
Sea Norita: This b eauty is the make of Sea Ray — the global leading manufacturer of superior quality pleasure yachts. With a length of 38 feet, this yacht, built with hull material of fibreglass, is a sea cruiser. It has two cabins and a cruising capacity of 14 (excluding crew).
Gypsea: This 47-feet-long stylish cruiser yacht of Silvertone will glide through the waters during the festival and promises to offer one of the best luxury experiences to sailing enthusiasts. The plush yacht has three cabins and a capacity of 16 (excluding crew).
Nauca: This Prestige 350 yacht is an island of timeless style and comfort and promises a fun-filled experience. With a highly competent cruising capability, this 37-feet-long yacht has a cruising capacity of 14.
Sofia: Powered by two Volvo diesel engines, each 225 HP, this Croatian yacht is a spacious salon that has a wide sun deck area. The 36-feet-long yacht has two cabins with a cruising capacity of 10 (excluding crew).
Zakky: This aesthetically pleasing yacht is the one in which you can enjoy the sea and the outdoors. It provides intimate and luxurious facilities to stay aboard. Having a cruising capacity of 10 (excluding crew), it is the make of Gobbi, is 36-feet-long and has two cabins.
How to get aboard
To be part of this festival, log into the official website of vizagyachtingfestival.com and book a day pass or a festival pass, which will include on-boarding the yacht for the day, entry to evening concerts and a gala dinner as per the festival itinerary and yacht cruise to the defined routes. There is also an online contest, in which the winners get a chance to experience the luxurious yachts.
