Antarctica,” reports Charlie Birkett. “These are usually from regular charter clients who have visited the more traditional destinations and are looking for something off the beaten track. As yacht design evolves, longer-range charters are making such destinations more accessible.” You could equally go sailing in Alaska, the Maldives or Papua New Guinea – but one thing is certain, there will be no place for mud. In the perfectionist world of superyachts, these beauty queens must look as new and shiny as the day they were launched. Immense amounts of labour and materials – costing £2.6 million a year in the case of Panthalassa – are devoted to maintaining that “straight-out-of-the-box” look. My voyage starts in the Isle de Sol Yacht Club, the newest superyacht marina on the French-Dutch Caribbean island of St Martin/St Maarten, where the painting, buffing and polishing is ceaseless. Up to 40 superyachts can berth here, and their names say it all. Four Wishes. Imagine. One More Toy… izarrely, the only way in and out of this megarich powwow is through a small channel with a scruffy bridge raised only three times a day. The wind is up, so leaving without a scratch to the sides (or worse) means Captain Greg is in for an adrenalin-pumping moment. Skippering a superyacht is an impressive feat of multi-tasking, in which you don’t just sail a huge and complex machine. You also need to know everything from how to fix bilge pumps and the intricacies of Croatian VAT to the best way to bag a top dinner table during the Monaco Grand Prix. We do it, just, and Greg celebrates by playing “Pinball Wizard” at full blast on the sound system. Needless to say, this isn’t any old hi-fi; it’s a no-expense-spared extravaganza featuring Apple-based Savant technology that also lets users adjust everything from the blinds to the air con to the security cameras from a smartphone touchscreen. Then there’s the satellite broadband, the video-conferencing saloon, the 60in flat-screen TV with a Kaleidescape system offering 500 movies on demand. You don’t get mega-rich without being a control freak. Out on the blue ocean, however, there is a delicious sense of freedom. Now where shall we go? St Barths? Saba? The BVIs? It’s up to us. The crew lower the keel, we turn our head to the wind, then up goes the mainsail on a mast that soars to 59m (190ft). But if you want to pull a rope, forget it. Everything is done from two consoles with enough buttons and switches to fly to the moon. Soon we are bouncing over the waves, hitting 12 knots and leaning at a jaunty 14 degrees. The sun is out, the engines are off, the brown boobies are saying hi… Up above us, Panthalassa’s vast sails do their bends and stretches, more than 16,000sq ft of iceberg-white triangles tangoing with the warm wind. Suddenly the clichéd bubbles-and-bling image of superyachting seems ridiculous. The supreme way to enjoy a charter like this, I realise, would be to spend part of your holiday competing in a superyacht regatta. That’s when the rock-star crews come on board, and the fun really starts. The Bucket in St Barths, the Loro Piana in Sardinia, Les Voiles de St Tropez – oh yes, I’m free. Are you?
Sails of the century The finest superyachts include classics such as Christina O (above), as well as new models such as Vertigo (left) and Twizzle (below)
B
5 OF THE BEST SUPERYACHTS VERTIGO
TWIZZLE
CHRISTINA O
The winner of 10 design awards, Vertigo
This serial award-winner combines the
This boat’s guest list gives a clue to its style:
is one of the fastest superyachts on the
world’s most advanced technology with
JFK, Jackie Kennedy, Winston Churchill,
seas, capable of doing 20 knots under sail
refined interiors of pale aged oak and
Frank Sinatra… Once owned by Aristotle
(faster than many motor yachts), thanks
cream. Carrying 19,000sq ft of sail on
Onassis, and named after his daughter, this
to more than 54,000sq ft of Kevlar carbon
two masts, this is a yacht built for speed
is more ship than yacht, with 18 staterooms,
sails. Unique features include a hull that
(17 knots) but also for relaxation: guests
Michelin-standard food, a Six Senses spa,
folds down to create a “beach club”,
can lounge on one of the cream sofas
a pool lined with mosaics, plus (of course)
extendable glass panels to protect against
lining its capacious aft decks, sheltered
a helipad. The two tenders are as glamorous
the elements, and urban-style interiors
by the largest sheets of triple-glazed
as the ship itself, fashioned from mahogany
designed by Christian Liaigre. On-board toys
curved glass ever made, or recline in
and finished in brass; additional toys include
and entertainment range from tenders and
the calmly decorated cabins finished in
dinghies, waveriders and windsurfers.
dinghies to a gym overlooking the water.
cashmere, soft leather and silk.
Details Sleeps 34; length 99m/325ft;
Details Sleeps 12; length 67m/220ft;
Details Sleeps 8; length 57.5m/189ft;
from £390,000 per week
from £190,000 per week (ycoyacht.com).
from £175,000 (burgessyachts.com).
(camperandnicholsons.com).
HOW TO DO IT
TALITHA
PRANA
CHARTERING A SUPERYACHT
Panthalassa (sypanthalassa.com) can be booked through Y.CO –
Owned by the Getty family, this is one of
Refitted in 2011, and kitted out with more
Cost is not an issue for most superyacht
The Yacht Company (020 7584 1801, ycoyacht.com). A seven-night
the most glamorous, old-fashioned vessels
toys than most (from Laser dinghies,
clients, but prices – generally per week –
charter costs from £131,335 in the Caribbean, or £173,337 in the
available for charter. There is no sign that,
wakeboards and kiteboards to a pair
are negotiable and brokers are competitive.
Mediterranean. A regatta package, including a professional racing
during the Second World War, she sailed out
of Seabob lightweight scooters), this
Late bookings may be discounted, and
crew, starts at £167,471.
of Pearl Harbour with six anti-aircraft guns
is a yacht for active types. Food-lovers
rates tend to be better outside high season
and 110 US Navy personnel on board; today,
are catered to as well, by a chef who
(June or September in the Mediterranean,
and hilly island of St Martin/St Maarten is a popular starting point
she is all polished wood, swags, silver and
specialises in healthy cuisine. For gentler
and mid-January to late-February in the
for Caribbean yacht charters and has 13 marinas, a lively beach
art-deco detailing. By day there are two
activity, a yoga teacher is on board to give
Caribbean). Budget another third of the
scene and many fine restaurants. Air France (0871 663 3777,
Yamaha WaveRunners to play on (as well as
daily lessons – and inside is a high-tech
price for costs such as food, drinks, fuel,
airfrance.co.uk) flies from eight UK airports via Paris; return fares
ocean kayaks, kitesurfers, Laser dinghies,
entertainment system, with both a cinema
port fees and incidentals, and an additional
range from £645 (economy) to £2,230 (business class). Stay at the
diving gear, waterskis, and more), and at
and a karaoke box. Although extremely
10 per cent for gratuities. VAT is levied
just-refurbished La Samanna (0845 077 2222, lasamanna.com)
night more than 200,000 CDs to listen to
comfortable, the superyacht cruises at
in some countries. Superyachts can be
in St Martin, an Orient-Express hotel with 83 ocean-view rooms
and 1,000 movies to watch.
an exhilarating 12 knots, powered by
chartered through specialist brokers
and suites, plus four three- and four-bedroom villas set on cliffs
Details Sleeps 12; length
26,000sq ft of sail or a 1,200hp engine.
(see Details above). Useful websites
overlooking a long and virtually private white sand beach (a deluxe
75.3m/247ft; from £240,000 per week
Details Sleeps 12; length 51.7m/170ft;
include boatinternational.com, superyachts.
room costs from £544). Transfers from the airport take 15 minutes.
(edmistoncompany.com).
from £160,000 per week (fraseryachts.com).
com and superyachttimes.com.
Split almost equally into French and Dutch sides, the green
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