Yacht Toys: Coming Ashore

Yachting is more than just a boat. It’s also the incredible destinations that truly capture the imagination. And as locations become more adventurous, so do the onboard toys. Even for yachts with limited storage, a smorgasbord of gear exists that specifically caters for land-based excursions. Here are FRANK’s top five choices to truly step up an owner’s cruising itinerary.

#1 Ground Cruising

When it comes to covering a large amount of ground inland, sometimes only off-road vehicles will do. At 161-foot NASSIMA’s large stern a garage carries two Ducati Diavel motorbikes and even a Mini Cooper S Works Cabrio. Onboard 217-foot support vessel HODOR, which is designed by Incat Crowther and a part of the ShadowCat line, the inventory includes hardy quad bikes for exploring extra-rugged terrains.

“HODOR doesn’t really have a ‘toy garage’, she is a toy garage,” says Stewart Marler, marketing manager at Incat Crowther. HODOR’s extensive facilities, including a submarine garage and a helipad, has been intentionally tailored so the guests of her mothership – 285-foot LONIAN – can maximize their time in every location.

“HODOR was built for three equally important reasons: helicopter operations, tender and toy carrying, and the beach setup,” says Robert Smith, owner’s rep for HODOR. “The owners especially treasure their private family time on secluded beaches in remote areas and HODOR has enabled us to take the beach setup to the next level.”

#2 Mountain Dining

Equipped for all eventualities, 207-foot expedition yacht SURI has earned a reputation for holding an impressive collection of toys and tenders. But it’s the onboard Eurocopter AS350 that makes guests sit up and listen. Opening up access to a wide range of destinations, it has made the lush and diverse islands of Papua New Guinea (PNG) a recent favorite, and many of SURI’s charters, including its current two-year world tour with Cookson Adventures, have a high focus on shore exploration.

“We use our helicopter to land at rivers and waterfalls deep in the jungle of PNG, which is an epic experience for people who love an expedition,” says Captain Juan Koegelenberg. “Teamed with our land beach and barbecue set up, our guests have enjoyed barbecues on the plateau of a mountain in Alaska and next to a river in the PNG jungle.”  

“Our guests have enjoyed barbecues on the plateau of a mountain in Alaska and next to a river in the PNG jungle.”

#3 Land Boarding

Electric bikes and boards are an exhilarating way to explore the land without taking up too much valuable storage space. The 180-foot explorer yacht GENE MACHINE carries electric skateboards from Boosted Board and two e-bikes from GoCycle. These were put through their paces during GENE MACHINE’s extended tour around the spectacular cruising grounds of the Far North and polar regions. Alongside stunning landscapes, the plentiful cultural options are what draw guests to shore.

“The Boosted Boards rely on a decent road surface, but the owner loves to cruise around when he can,” says Captain Matthew Gow. “The GoCycles are more accessible to all types of guests and allow them to nip around with relative ease. They store easily onboard, are very clean (as they are belt driven there is no greasy chain to worry about) and do not require large amounts of maintenance, we just need to keep them charged up and they are good to go for about 25 miles.”

#4 Snow Riding

For yachts venturing to cooler climates, a snowmobile is the ultimate piece of gear for exploring wintry scenes, from spotting polar bears up close and marveling at penguins on the frozen tundra, to kayaking through glistening glaciers. The 254-foot LEGEND, whose cruising locations include Antarctica, Greenland and Iceland, has room on board to carry up to two snowmobiles.

LA DATCHA, Damen Yachting’s 253-foot SeaXplorer 77, can also carry snowmobiles, as well as one submersible, two helicopters, two expedition RIBs, one dive support tender and a beach lander. Gliding across Antarctica’s icy landscape on a snowmobile is bucket list destination for any yacht owner.

“Gliding across Antarctica’s icy landscape on a snowmobile is bucket list destination for any yacht owner.”

#5 Beach Crawling

Strap in and hold tight! Amphibious tenders are as popular as they are versatile, capable of driving straight from water to land without even stopping to catch breath. Better still, they make traversing remote beaches and islands far more accessible, says Andy Grocott, captain of 129-foot yacht THE BEAST: “Where we cruise in the Pacific there isn’t usually any wharf or dock infrastructure so we use our custom amphibious tender to get our guests ashore dry and in safety. It’s also great for loading luggage or provisions.”

THE BEAST’s custom-designed tender with an Orion Marine amphibious system drives up onto beaches where a similar tender without wheels would struggle or be unsafe. And for the yacht’s owner, Sir Michael Hill, the tender has transformed access to his favorite hot spot – the Bay of Islands in New Zealand – where reaching the incredible walking tracks and beaches is now a given.

Request a Copy [FRANK Issue 2]

From intelligent debate to cutting-edge science, and risky sports to surreal charter experiences, FRANK does not shy away from the awkward, controversial, or questionable details. Brazen at times, amusing in spirit, and always transparent in discussion, the focus is on discovering new angles and enjoying every minute. And, of course, always being ‘frank’ about the conclusions.

Request A Copy