SeaNet Fractional Yachts, the largest single branded fractional yacht company in the United States, is expanding their fractional Sunseeker Yacht fleet to Northern California with the introduction of a new 2009 Sunseeker 60' Manhattan.

"Fractional ownership allows sailors to share costs as downturn bites" says the Independent newspaper, in an article on the keys trends at the 55th London Boat Show.

Nothing compares to owning a private yacht. But the cost of keeping up the ship's maintenance and crew can greatly outweigh the enjoyment owners get from the limited time they spend on the water. That's why YachtPlus, the London-based fractional ownership super-yacht company, has commissioned ten new Signature Series vessels, designed by the renowned architect Lord Norman Foster.

There's a new trend in the boating industry. Yacht owners want to fractionalize their boats to cushion costs. Sherpareport spoke with Dr. Loren Simkowitz, Director of Operations at Monocle Fractional Yachts, to get the bigger picture.

Fractional yacht ownership is a sensible and more affordable alternative to buying your dream yacht. Exotic locations with convenient transportation, flexible usage plans and managed maintenance mean you can enjoy all the advantages of yacht ownership without all the responsibilities. Eusamarine is testing the waters of fractional yacht ownership with its Global Superyacht Club and is poised to become one of the ultimate luxury yachting opportunities for vacationers.

We recently received a great description of fractional boats and yachts and why they make so much sense, so we've reprinted it below pretty much in its entirety.

A few weeks ago we wrote about the Capella at Pedregal and mentioned the yachts that are available to members of this exclusive community at the tip of the Baja Peninsula. This is a unique combination of residence club and yacht fractional ownership.

Here are a selection of companies that set up and manage fractional yacht ownership programs. These companies cover a variety of yacht sizes and a variety of geographic locations. Companies offering smaller boats tend to cover specific geographic regions, while those with larger boats effectively have global offerings to complement the boats capabilities.

A fractional boat plan offers a realistically priced means of enjoying time on the water. As with all fractional plans, you purchase a share of the asset and are thus allocated an amount of usage time. This is an ideal way to make the most of both your time and your money. An additional advantage comes in the form of managed maintenance. Fractional boat plans include a monthly fee that covers -