The life of a yachtsmen isn’t just about days of leisure and getting tipsy topside.
While some may be content with docking in fancy marinas and stumbling back and forth from steak dinners and shuffleboard games, there’s a hell of a lot more excitement to be found at sea. We’re talking about remote wave breaks in the South Pacific, subaquatic exploration in Antarctica, and, sure, maybe a little getting tipsy topside.
If you’re looking to go on a maritime excursion that would make Jacques Cousteau proud, these five seaworthy vessels are built for adventures of the highest degree.
Capacity: 26 guest
Price per week: €490,00
Destinations: Mediterranean, Central & South America, Antarctica
About the yacht: Legend is the ultimate expedition yacht that’s designed to quite literally break the ice. Obviously, there are too many toys to list here, but what you should know is that the ship is equipped with a helicopter, snowmobiles, jet skis, two sport fishing boats and, oh yeah, a submarine. She also has five-star spa and wellness facilities, a cinema and a swimming pool
Recommended adventure: What you’re gonna want to do is head down to Antarctica and pop in that submarine to see some penguins swimming under icebergs. From then on, for the rest of your life, you hold the trump card whenever someone starts talking about how great their vacation was. Now if you really want to be the obnoxious guy regaling the dinner party with his latest travels, you can also retrace the footsteps of historic Antarctic expeditions and scuba dive in a submerged volcanic crater at Deception Island. After that, head back to the ship and take a schvitz before settling in with a cocktail overlooking Lemaire Channel. You just won vacation.
Capacity: 14 guest
Price per week: $101,500
Destinations: Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia
About the yacht: Crafted in the traditional Indonesian style from teak and ironwood, the Dunia Baru is a two-masted phinisi designed to explore the remote waters of Southeast Asia. The 167’ yacht boasts seven cabins, a crew of 18 and equipment for every water-sport activity you can imagine, including two jet skis, three kayaks, surfboards, fishing rods and stand-up paddleboards. Of course, being based within the Coral Triangle, the richest marine ecosystem on the planet, there’s also a heavy emphasis on diving. More on that next …
Recommended adventure: While the dragons that reign over the Komodo Archipelago and the undiscovered coast of Myanmar are enticing, we’d be remiss to pass up a chance to dive in the world’s most extraordinary marine habitat: Raja Ampat. Home to 1,300 species of fish, the thriving reefs that surround this chain of islands are simply unsurpassed. Dunia Baru gives total access with a fully operational dive center, PADI IDC instructor and courses to get certified or develop new skills like deep diving, diving with Nitrox, night diving and underwater photography.
Capacity: 11 guests
Price per week: €65,000
Destinations: Arabian Gulf, Mediterranean, Indian Ocean
About the yacht: Today, Over the Rainbow is a classic 1930s gentleman’s yacht that was recently updated with interiors by famed Belgian artist Jean-Michel Folon. In a past life, however, she spent nine years in the Royal Navy during World War II and was enlisted to assist in the Dunkirk Evacuation. In other words, as refined as she may look, the old girl’s got some grit beneath the surface. Stocked with Cuban cigars, Hemingway novels and Winston Churchill memorabilia, there’s ample leisure opportunity after a day of sport fishing and exploring the underwater world on Seabobs.
Recommended adventure: Over the Rainbow is best enjoyed motoring the waters off Tanzania and stalking bonito fish (yes, they’re big), drink in hand. The deep-sea waters near Mafia Island offer renowned big-game fishing, while the nearby Shungimbili Island Marine Reserve surrounding Thanda Island is a snorkeling paradise with whale sharks, dolphins and turtles.
Capacity: 12 guests
Price per week: €1,300,000
Destinations: Mediterranean, Northern Europe, Caribbean, Central America
About the yacht: You know that a superyacht is legit when it has its own Wikipedia page. Such is the case with Here Comes the Sun. With stylish interiors by Winch Design and all the features you could dream of (from a “beach club” swim area to an onboard fitness center and state-of-the-art theater), the 272-foot yacht reeks of luxury.
Recommended adventure: Sure, Here Comes the Sun could fit right in cruising the French Riviera, but a vessel of this magnitude knows no bounds, and she recently added Norway as a springtime charter destination. If winding fjords, Northern Lights, UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Viking history sound appealing to you, welcome aboard.
Capacity: 12 guests
Price per week: $260,000
Destinations: South Pacific and Australasia
About the yacht: If there’s a more impressive catamaran than Hemisphere, we’re not aware of it. The 145’ yacht is built for serious adventure and comes stocked with scuba gear, windsurfers, Sea-doos, a custom sport fishing boat and more. Once you’ve dropped anchor, the inflatable trampoline is a nice touch, and if you ever decide to go back to land, she comes with four mountain bikes to hit the trails.
Recommended adventure: Take this boat to Fiji and hunt down those legendary waves. The perfect base for bumming around the South Pacific and living the endless summer, Hemisphere can deliver you to world-renowned breaks from Tavarua to Namotu. Additionally, there are tons of opportunities for game-fishing, and the boat’s got all the gear you need to reel in yellowfin tuna and blue marlin.
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