   The Kakela, a 130-foot tri-deck yacht, will be among the maritime mansions open for boarding.
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The San Diego Port District’s “Big Bay” slogan is an appropriate moniker this summer as well to the big vessels plying the bay — megafreighters headed to the 10th Avenue and National City marine terminals, multideck cruise ships almost daily to B Street and the new aircraft carrier Ronald Reagan to its homeport of North Island.
The summer of supervessels concludes with YachtFest Sept. 16-19 at Shelter Island Marina and Island Palms Hotel, where a flotilla of more than 30 of the world’s finest and largest yachts, up to 140 feet and priced at more than $10 million, will be open for inspection and ogling.
“This is supposed to be the culmination of art and engineering, and these are the pinnacle,” says YachtFest Chair David Roscow of Fraser Yachts Worldwide.
More megayachts available for charter have been added to this year’s show. They provide a taste of the maritime good life to those who can’t afford to buy. “It’s an example of a high-end luxury vacation, taken care of by the crew,” Roscow says.
 The San Diego YachtFest will bring the pinnacle of yachts to Shelter Island Marina Sept. 16-19.
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The big beauties, all open for boarding, are the main attraction but the weekend also includes seminars on yacht chartering and crewing and a Saturday night dinner gala to benefit the San Diego Maritime Museum aboard the museum’s H.M.S. Surprise (seen in the movie “Master and Commander”) and 1890s ferryboat Berkeley.
The museum’s 100-year-old Medea — an opulent megayacht of its day — will be at Shelter Island, providing an Edwardian wood and steam contrast to today’s personal superliners of posh decor and high-tech gadgetry.
Another new dimension to the event will be up-close viewing of the aerial equivalent of personal yachting — the private charter air fleet of Jimsair planes, which will be open for inspection during the festival.
YachtFest hours are 11 a.m.-6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Tickets are $50 ($45 if purchased by Aug. 31). Gala tickets are $150. For more, visit www.yachtfest.com or call (858) 836-0133.
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