Here’s an interesting coincidence. Less than a week ago, Camper and Nicholsons International released its Superyachting Index for 2008–whose data indicate that the top end of the international market still has more potential charter clients than it does yachts available. This data, Camper says, explains the massive price increases in recent years for charter yachts larger than 165 feet, particularly in the popular Western Mediterranean cruising grounds.

Today comes news from competing management house Fraser Yachts Worldwide that the largest and most expensive of its fleet motoryachts, the 262-foot Oceanco Amevi shown in the photograph above, has availability the last week of this month and all of next month in the Western Mediterranean at a rate that is described as “negotiable.”

Amevi’s base rate is still listed at €700,000 for 12 guests, making her one of the most expensive 12-guest charter yachts in the world. By comparison, the 230-foot Lurssen motoryacht Martha Ann takes 12 guests at a weekly base rate of about €610,000, and you can get aboard super-size charter motoryachts such as the 30-guest, 273-foot O’Mega at a weekly base rate of €380,000.

News that Amevi’s owner is willing to negotiate his base rate because of continued availability during the end of the Western Med’s high season of course piques my curiosity. It will be interesting to see how the data from this summer’s Med season shake out in next year’s Superyachting Index, and whether the claim will still be able to be made that there is more supply than demand for charters at the top of the international market.

Stay tuned.