STATE OF PLAYAnecdotal evidence suggesting a
recovery in the charter market has
been confirmed in a report called
“The State of Wealth, Luxury and
Yachting”, commissioned by
Camper & Nicholsons (CNI) and
seen exclusively by BI. The
company recorded a 21 per cent
jump in the number of booked
charters last year, with revenues
also climbing 15 per cent. The
figures are still some way behind
the boom years of 2007 and 2008,
but the movement is in the right
direction. The average cost of a
CNI charter in 2015 was also up 1.3
per cent to just under €150,000
per week. “On one hand, people
are getting their confidence back
in the economy. On the other, how
the ultra-wealthy are increasingly
accessing and enjoying luxury is a
consideration,” says CNI’s director
of marketing, Kurt Fraser, who
adds that so far 2016 is looking
promising, with charters booked
until the end of January showing
an increase on 2015. “The US
continues to have a good year and
enquiries are up in Europe.” Almost
40 per cent of charters booked
with CNI are by American clients,
a market share that has increased
steadily since 2010. British clients
come second, occupying 11 per
cent of CNI’s market. The report
also shows the changing geography
of the charter market. The western
Med remains the most popular
charter area, seeing 45 per cent of
all CNI charters in 2014/15. This is
down from 60 per cent in 2009/10.
The Pacific now hosts 1.49 per cent
of worldwide charters, up from an
average of 0.43 per cent, while the
eastern Med has doubled its
charter numbers in five years –
from 12.5 per cent to 23.76 per
cent. The Caribbean has held
steady, seeing 15.84 per cent of all
CNI charters in 2014/15. View the
complete report by registering at
cniyachting.com/wealth-x.BEST FOR
EXPLORATION
EXUMA
The Vitruvius series by Philippe
Briand was designed for world
roaming and its first yacht – the 50 metre
Exuma, built by Picchiotti-Perini Navi –
certainly set the pace with a 5,500nm range. She
started her charter career on a world tour and
welcomed guests in destinations from Tanzania to
Komodo. Now based in Southeast Asia, the slim-
hulled, slight-of-draught explorer, which can take
nine guests, is able to mosey into the shallowest
of anchorages. In addition to the normal toys,
dive gear and multiple Castoldi tenders,
Exuma also has an amphibious 4x4
for exploration from sea to shore.
From €189,000 per week.STELLA MARIS
Sail in Darwin’s wake – but in much
better accommodation than HMS
Beagle ever provided. The 38 metre
Pichiotti yacht was recently refitted
and launched specifically for charter
in the remote Galápagos Islands,
where charter yachts are limited and
itineraries are strictly controlled to
preserve the natural wonders. Billing
itself as the most luxurious charter
yacht in the Galápagos, Stella Maris
is proud of its gastronomical offerings
and excellent cocktails, all available
to the 12 guests 24 hours a day. The
interior of the yacht is indeed luxe and
the top deck has a spa tub, perfect for
a warming dip after playing with sea
lions and penguins in the Galápagos
currents. From $150,000 per week.HEMISPHERE
The largest sailing catamaran in the world,
Pendennis-built Hemisphere can take up to
12 guests on diving adventures over the Great
Barrier Reef. The 44.2 metre cat has its own
PADI-recognised dive training centre, two
dive instructors among the crew and Nitrox
air facilities for staying below the surface for
longer. More fun is afforded with a floating
trampoline, cinema and spa pool. Fishing
outings are also on offer, with a 16.4 metre F&S
custom sportfish boat among the yacht’s bevy
of tenders and toys. From $260,000 per week.SEAWOLF
Sometimes you want to feel like an explorer
even when cruising the Med and Caribbean.
The former ocean-going tugboat Seawolf was
converted into a superyacht, rebuilt to add in
luxurious accommodations. Included among
these is the owner’s suite, which has its own
private deck set above for 360-degree views.
The 58 metre is stocked with tenders and toys,
including her own 8.5 metre Herreshoff dinghy- and has certified dive instructors on board.
From $180,000 per week.
More top
superyachts
to charter:
boatinternational.
com/charter-yachts+^
Contact your charter broker to enquire about the availability of these superyachts