Blog Layout

Why are these yachts hanging out in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores?

John Mullen • May 25, 2020

Several are floating around on Pleasure Island waterways

Yachts near Robinson Island in Orange Beach, Alabama.
(OBA®) — Waterways around Orange Beach seem to have become inundated with luxury yachts with at least three seen floating on the Intracoastal Waterway and in Perdido Pass during the Memorial Day weekend.

“You don’t see 100-foot Benittis sitting out at Robinson Island very often,” Saunders Yachtworks General Manager John Fitzgerald said with a laugh.

A 100-footer – Jazz – has taken up residence at his dock in Gulf Shores on the Intracoastal south of Jack Edwards Airport. Also seen in the area is the superyacht 164-foot Apricity as well as the 85-foot Come Monday which is taking on charter trips while here. Also cruising around are the 126-foot Le Montrachet and the 90-foot First Boat. The largest boat Saunders Yachtworks can take out of the water is 120 feet.

“There’s two that have contacted us and we only got the one,” Fitzgerald said. “Some of them are just flat out too big for us. The bigger one out there I don’t know much about it. I saw a video of it moving on your website. I don’t know that one. I think that one’s too big to even talk to us or have at the dock or in the yard.

“The 164-foot boat would not be something we could not work on. They are probably at anchor. I don’t know that there’s anywhere (they could dock). Maybe they can go to The Wharf alongside but I’m not sure about that.”

Fitzgerald said with the COVID-19 restrictions in the Bahamas and other Caribbean destinations the boats are having trouble finding a place to dock.

“They were expected to stay until June 1 and now they’ve extended it into June,” Fitzgerald said. “It may even be July 1 before they open the Bahamas but they’ll be up here for a little while.”

Florida’s marinas that can accommodate these floating palaces are full driving traffic to the northern Gulf and up the east coast, Fitzgerald said. 

“They’re around,” Fitzgerald said. “I have a lot of communication with South Florida and they’ve been basically full for yacht dockage. The entire community has been overwhelmed by these boats coming from the south. Boats come here and boats are going up to places like the Carolinas that never go up there to some place to use the boat and where the owner has access to it or they could possibly run a charter trip. Just trying to use the boat somewhere where it’s safe.”

Stock photo of the Jazz luxury yacht.

JAZZ


Yachtharbor.com says the Jazz is Jazz is a 99-foot luxury motor yacht. She was built by Benetti in 2007. With a beam of about 23 and a half feet and a draft of nearly six feet. It is built with GRP hull and GRP superstructure and powered by two 1,000 hp engines, can cruise at 12 knots and can accommodate eight guests in cabins.
Photo of the Come Monday luxury yacht.

COME MONDAY


Yachtcharterfleet.com says the 85-foot custom motor yacht 'Come Monday' was built in 2002 by Breauxs Bay Craft. It is powered by two 1,400 hp engines with a beam of 22 feet and a draft of 5.7 feet. According to a Come Monday Facebook page, it is available for a dinner cruise charter or overnight charter in Orange Beach and Gulf Shores. Inquire through private message on the page for details.
Stock photo of the superyacht Apricity.

APRICITY


Superyachttimes.com he 164-foot Apricity yacht was built in 2014 by Overmarine. She features an exterior design by Stefano Righini Design. She cruises at 34 knots and reaches a top speed of 40. She can sleep up to 10 guests taken care of by a crew of 9. It is currently for sale for $21 million according to charterworld.com. 
Stock picture of the luxury yacht Le Montrachet

LE MONTRACHET


Luxury charter yacht Le Montrachet was built in 1986 by Broward Marine and has since been refitted, according to charterworld.com. She can accommodate up to 10 guests and charters in the Bahamas year round. It has twin 1,400 hp motors, is 126 feet long, has a beam of 24 feet and a cruising speed of 11 knots.
First Boat Yacht in Orange Beach

FIRST BOAT


This luxury yacht is 90 feet long, has a beam of almost 26 feet, can accommodate eight guests with a crew of two, has twin 1,600 hp engines, a cruising speed of 26 knots and a top speed of 33 knots. It was built by Mares in 1996, according to yachtcharterfleet.com.


Photo by:  Bradley Deal
David Lindley captured this video of the Apricity Yacht near Perdido Pass

Share this article w/ Friends...

Chef Brody Olive with his 2023 Great American Seafood Cook Off Trophy

Orange Beach in Top 10 for the Best Small Town Food Scene in 2024

By R. Ken Cooper • 25 Apr, 2024
Orange Beach has been named one of the top 10 winners of the 2024 USA Today 10Best Readers' Choice award for Best Small Town Food Scene. According to the 10Best.com article, Orange Beach's "thriving food scene" and "diverse array of dining options" impressed the judges and voters. The article highlighted the town's "locally sourced ingredients, creative menus, and talented chefs" as key factors in its victory.
2023 Orange Beach Billfish Classic Winners

Orange Beach Billfish Classic Kicks Off 2024 Big Game Fishing Season

By R. Ken Cooper • 25 Apr, 2024
The 28th Annual Orange Beach Billfish Classic (OBBC) will be held from May 14-19, 2024 at The Wharf in Orange Beach, Alabama. This prestigious tournament is the start of the Gulf Coast Triple Crown Series and is committed to sustainable billfishing, donating over $730,000 to the Billfish Foundation and other conservation entities over the years.
Gulf Shores City Council

Gulf Shores Council Allocates $2.9M for Local Projects

By John Mullen • 24 Apr, 2024
The Gulf Shores City Council met in a regular session in council chambers at city hall on April 22 including approving $2.9 million in expense vouchers including $2.2 million most going for the Gulf Coast Center for Ecotourism and Sustainability, Waterway East Boulevard extension and the widening of State Route 59 project. The city also bought a zero-turn mower for $51,000 and operational expenses totaled $687,000.
Art in the Park Returns for 52nd Year in Foley

Art in the Park Returns for 52nd Year in Foley

By OBA Staff • 24 Apr, 2024
The Foley Art Center is gearing up for the 52nd annual "Art in the Park" event, set to take place, as always, on Mother's Day weekend. Mother’s Day is 3 weeks from today, falling on May 12th. The Art in the Park event takes place May 11th-12th.
Gulf Shores Police Cars

Gulf Shores Police Release Spring Break Arrest Stats

By R. Ken Cooper • 23 Apr, 2024
he 2024 spring break season in Gulf Shores, Alabama has come to a close, and the law enforcement has just released the arrest numbers. Over the course of the spring break period from March 1st to April 21st, the Gulf Shores Police Department made a total of 286 arrests. This is very close to last year’s arrest number of 290. The majority of this year’s arrests, 141 in total, were for underage possession of alcohol.
Alabama Coaches Bring

Alabama Coaches Bring "Tide on Tour" to Orange Beach

By R. Ken Cooper • 23 Apr, 2024
The University of Alabama is relaunching its past tour event, "Crimson Caravan," as the new and improved "Tide on Tour." The three-city tour, beginning in Orange Beach, will feature Alabama Football Head Coach Kalen DeBoer, Alabama Men's Basketball Head Coach Nate Oats, and Alabama Director of Athletics Greg Byrne, as well as current UA student-athletes.
Mullet Toss 2024

Embracing the Quirky Charm of the Mullet Toss Festival

By R. Ken Cooper • 23 Apr, 2024
The Gulf Coast's most peculiar event, the Mullet Toss, is set to entertain locals and visitors alike at the Flora-Bama. This annual spectacle, scheduled for the last full weekend of April, offers an opportunity for attendees to witness the quirky sport of mullet tossing, while also serving as a significant fundraiser for local youth charities.
Gulf Shores City Hall

New Restaurant Proposed at Prime Gulf Shores Spot

By John Mullen • 23 Apr, 2024
Developers will present a plan to the Gulf Shores Planning Commission on April 23 to build a new restaurant building at the intersection of Windmill Ridge Road and Gulf Shores Parkway across from the Original Oyster House. The new restaurant will be called Gulf Shores Ale House. The commission will meet at city hall in council chambers at 4 p.m. on April 23.
Orange Beach Sees Decline in Spring Break Arrests

Orange Beach Sees Decline in Spring Break Arrests

By R. Ken Cooper • 22 Apr, 2024
The Orange Beach Police Department had a relatively quiet Spring Break, compared to previous years. Arrests were down by almost 70% in 2024. The number of arrests during the 2023 spring break season was close to 200. According to the data just released, there were a total of 61 arrests directly related to spring break activities. The majority of the arrests, 48 in total, were for minors in possession of alcohol. An additional 4 arrests were made for public intoxication, 3 arrests for driving under the influence (DUI) and 5 arrests for drug-related offenses. There was also 1 arrest that involved a combination of drug and alcohol charges.
Orange Beach Marine Police

Louisiana Man Dies While Cleaning Boat in Alabama

By R. Ken Cooper • 22 Apr, 2024
On Saturday, April 20, 2024, a diver from Louisiana was found dead in the water at The Wharf Marina in Orange Beach. According to the Orange Beach Police Department, the diver had been cleaning his boat around 7:30 AM but did not resurface. Officers were called to the scene around 1:00 PM and discovered the diver's body after deploying multiple dive teams.
Show More
Share by: