A superyacht can provide the perfect base for an unforgettable family holiday, but it can be tricky to keep tots, teens and tweens all entertained at once. One solution is to make sure you have a jam-packed itinerary so that there is something for all generations.
One of the easiest ways to accomplish this is by chartering a yacht that can offer higher cruising speeds so that you can move between locations quicker. While some of these sporty vessels might not immediately look like they would be suitable for families they often are and have more to offer than you might expect. Even so, there are also many outstanding yachts that move at a more sedate pace and still offer a peppy list of features.
The charter fleet currently available with Yachting Partners International (YPI) includes a selection of fast-moving superyachts that are also ideal for family charters. Here their team of experts give a breakdown of some of the best sporty superyachts for family charters.
Surprise the family with the 52m DB9
With a champagne-coloured hull DB9 turns heads wherever she goes and although her striking exterior style might not suggest it, she is a comfortable yacht for all the family to enjoy. Imagine pulling up to DB9 for the first time with the kids in tow – the wow factor is guaranteed to stay with them for the entire charter.
DB9 is the only PJ170 SportYacht to feature an open sundeck and also has three separate pool areas. Parents can rest easy knowing that the kids are safe, and still have the space and freedom to do their own thing. For example, the large 8-metre pool on the foredeck can be used by the children for games such as water polo, while the adults can relax and soak up the sun around the two Jacuzzi pools on either the aft deck or the sundeck.
The yacht boasts an impressive top speed of 32.5 knots making it easy to expand your itinerary. She can also cruise at 17 knots for more economical fuel consumption (550 l/hr).
DB9 can be chartered from €250,000 per week.
Go beach hopping with the 45m Fast and Furious
Fast and Furious might not sound like a name you would associate with family fun, but she is ideally set up for taking the clan onshore to explore. The 44.6-metre yacht comes with a 12-metre Seawater Smeralda chase boat making it easy for the crew to whisk the whole family to land. The yacht’s shallow draft also means she can anchor close to any white sand beach or secluded bay that takes your fancy. Once in location, the whole family can swim to the shore with crew members following closely behind with everything needed for beach games and a barbeque.
With a top speed of 42 knots, it is easy for Fast and Furious to quickly relocate to a new destination. Her speed capabilities not only provide a lot of fun for the family, but also mean that a cruising itinerary can be packed with many more activities.
Fast and Furious can be chartered from €189,000 per week in the Mediterranean.
Learn a new watersport with the 36m Preference 19
Looking at the 36.4-metre Preference 19, her bold explorer styling screams action and adventure, and these credentials can be adapted to suit all age ranges. The yacht’s expansive aft deck means that Preference 19 boasts a toy box that could rival much larger superyachts. Her incredible selection of toys includes a 6.5-metre tender, two Waverunners, two Seabobs, multiple towable toys, plenty of exercise equipment, a basketball hoop and a fish-food golf kit.
The crew are extremely family-friendly and are keen to get involved in itineraries and activities for children of all ages. One crew member is also a personal trainer, so it won’t just be the children that burn up energy while they are on board.
Alongside her sporting credentials, the yacht has a bold beach style interior that will make all the family feel at home. She also boasts an ultra-modern stabilisation system to ensure ultimate comfort for everyone on board throughout the charter.
Preference 19 can be chartered from €105,000 per week.
Teach the kids how to sail on the 47m Gweilo
If you want to get your children hooked on the thrill of sailing from an early age it is hard to think of a better platform than the 47.4-metre two-masted wooden schooner, Gweilo. Her expert crew are all sailing fanatics and can help any adult or child learn the ropes and how to operate the yacht’s brand-new sails.
The yacht’s traditional style rig and a long keel make her very comfortable under sail, even for those that are not as used to being at sea. While her large deck spaces and sun loungers provide plenty of space for adults in the group to relax and soak up the sun.
Her Asian-inspired interior, featuring dark woods and rich fabrics, creates a sophisticated but welcoming tone. The yacht boasts a flexible three-cabin layout, including a full-beam master suite, so there is plenty of space for kids to enjoy sleepovers.
Gweilo can be chartered from €70,000 per week in the Western Mediterranean.
Shadow the chef on board the 33m Maria Theresa
The gourmet experience on board is always a big part of the charter experience but it is important that it works for all the family. The chef on board the 33 metre Maria Theresa is prepared to go the extra mile so that everyone is satisfied.
The chef is happy to welcome guests into the galley so that they can witness first-hand how a professional kitchen is run. Adults or children can also have a try at experimenting with creating their own dishes or following the chef’s recipes.
After all the hard work there are plenty of spaces to indulge in what has been created. A large alfresco dining area, with a grand 10-seater table on the upper deck, provides panoramic views. Alternatively, the sundeck has a comfortable c-shaped sofa and raised dining table.
To burn off any excesses the next day the yacht is equipped with a selection of gym equipment and a large swim platform is the perfect launch point for the yacht’s extensive water toy selection.
Maria Theresa can be chartered from €120,000 per week.
Keep the water babies happy with the 73m Quantum of Solace
One superyacht that doesn’t focus on speed, but rather on service is the 72.6-metre Quantum of Solace. Known as a floating heaven for family charters, this yacht comes with a fun high-tech swimming pool set-up. Launched in 2012 by Turquoise Yachts she is equipped with a large 5-metre swimming pool that has a contraflow system – perfect for the family members who want to practice their strokes. Those who prefer a dip in the sea can jump in from the lower deck’s beach club, where a fold-down door provides easy access to the water. The beach club is also the perfect location to launch toys from the yacht’s extensive toy box, which is stocked with everything from Jetskis and Seabobs, to inflatables and flyboards.
Once you have dried off, adults can relax in the main saloon, which features a double-height atrium, while younger members of the charter party can take in a film in the cinema room on the main deck. There are also further opportunities for adults to unwind in the Asian-inspired spa, which is equipped with a large hammam, chromotherapy Jacuzzi pool, sauna, and massage therapy room.
Quantum of Solace can be chartered from €560,000 per week in the Mediterranean.
To find out more about Yachting Partners International and the company’s ready-to-go charter fleet, click here.
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