A rule change for superyachts visiting the Maldives has made it easier for yachts to stay for longer. The existing rules allowed for a 90-day stay, but now crews can fly to another country within those 90 days and on their return get an additional 30 days stay free of charge, and a further extension of 60 days. For those aboard IMO-registered vessels, the stay can be extended to a total of 270 days.

“After two years of convincing work by our team, we finally can share the rule change for tourist vessels,” says Mohamed Hameed of Asia Pacific Superyachts, who are experts on the area and offer bespoke cruising intineraries, yacht charters and advice for visitors among a host of other services.

Anastasia – chartering in the Maldives through Edmiston

An increasing number of superyachts are visiting the area. This season, Edmiston will be offering the 75-metre Oceanco Anastasia (€650,000pw) and the 71-metre Feadship Utopia ($476,000pw) in the Maldives. Burgess is offering the 50.4-metre Sapphire, a Trinity built in 2009, for €200,000pw.

Golden Compass, which charters through Camper & Nicholsons International, on a visit to the Maldives in 2012

Located in the Indian Ocean 670km south-west of Sri Lanka and covering an area of 700km, the Maldives groups comprises 19 atolls, with only a small number inhabited. They are protected from monsoons by barrier reefs and rarely suffer from major storms. The islands are a way-station in the annual migration of whale sharks and manta rays, making them a diver’s paradise, while the weather is pleasantly warm year-round, varying from 27 to 32˚C.