TOY TOWN
It’s mad how many hours of fun can be had from a bit of inflatable plastic. Inflatables in all shapes and sizes are low-cost, low- impact and a lot of fun and can be packed away nice and tightly or trailed alongside the yacht (well, kinda). You can contain your kid in the best-selling sea pool (complete with jelly fish net). Says Mark Peak, Head of Toy Department and Superyacht Tenders and Toys, “Inflatable pools with jellyfish nets are a very popular product for kids and the parents. They offer a very safe enclosed environment for people in and out of the water. With additional inflatable docks it can be a really fun and safe place for all age groups. It bridges the gap between water and yacht, making it much more accessible.”
Alongside her work as a Chief Stew, Georgia Rex established and now runs
superyachtstewardessing101.com. She agrees with Peak, “You can’t beat the ‘blow-ups’.” She says, “So many fun options for kids! Some of the main ones I’ve seen onboard are inflatables in the swimming pool, unicorns, lilos, inflatable basketball hoops so they can throw the ball around – all great fun! I’ve seen young kids on inflatable obstacle courses too, going down the tiny slides. It’s really sweet to watch the joy on their faces.”
As the owners’ children get older generally they are after more independent toys such as powered surfboards, jetskis, SUPs, etc – often adrenaline thrilled activities.
Rex adds jet skis, banana boats, slides off the side of the boat, huge climbing walls up the side of the boat, wakeboarding and diving to the endless list of fun on the water. She says, “You can’t go wrong with tender rides either, even if you aren’t going anywhere in particular, just going for a spin in the tender is super fun, exhilarating, especially as a youngster.”
In Rex’s experience the younger teens or smaller kids always love being on the back of jet skis with their parents. And for the more adventurous, there are things like the climbing wall, big slides and even wakeboarding or snorkelling (depending where you are). She says, “Teenagers love the exciting water sports a lot of the time, jet skis, wakeboarding and diving. It looks like so much fun, especially in some of these places where the water is completely clear and you can see everything under water!”
Peak agrees that as the owners’ children get older generally they are after more independent toys such as powered surfboards, jetskis, SUPs, etc – often adrenaline thrilled activities or ones they can escape the yacht (and the parents) with some friends, which is great as it gives everyone a break from each other.
©Yachtbeach
The unique Foiling Surfboards are the product to have onboard for 2021, also a favourite of Peak’s. He adds, “The more immersive toys are always the most popular, ones where people can either fully relax, learn a new skill, or enjoy a full adrenaline buzz.”
For the crew however, the inflatables can be a faff: Says Rex, “I think 99% of crew will agree that inflatable slides are the most annoying thing to put up and pack away as they can take ages! Then if the owner wants to move the boat, the deckies will have to take the slide down and probably put it back up again as soon as you anchor.”
The Aquaglide challenge circuit with climbing frames is pretty much always a winner and other top toys to get onboard include the trampolines, slides, rafts, Stand Up Paddle Boards and multisport sailboards. The climbing walls, slides, kayaks and canoes are fun because kids and parents can do them together. The non- powered toys also tend to be more popular with the parents for obvious safety reasons.
QUIET TIME So the objective of the whole day is to keep the little darlings occupied and to tire them out and give them an unforgettable vacation. But it’s important to also make sure the parents are getting involved too. There is nothing better than seeing a parent fall off a climbing wall or zoom down the slide, so always encourage the parents to get involved as much as they can and to learn a new skill on the water. A tired guest is a happy guest, no matter their age!
©Spinera
46 | SUMMER 2021 | ONBOARD
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