ON
BOARD
WITH
BETH HAMILTON
On board Sanctuary with Beth Hamilton
Yacht ownership is both business and pleasure for the owner of Sanctuary, who shares her haven with Georgia Boscawen
While some buyers find brokers falling over themselves to sell them the perfect yacht, that wasn’t the case for Beth Hamilton, proud owner of 43-metre Mangusta Sanctuary. “I think he thought we were joking,” she smiles, referring to the point where she finally contacted her local broker.
Fresh from drinks at the Corinthia hotel in London, Hamilton was relaxed, “laid back and normal”, as she puts it. “I think I even had a hole in my trousers – and I could tell he was thinking ‘Am I wasting my time here?’” she remembers, “but he was very good.”
Hamilton had, in fact, extensively researched not only the type of yacht she wanted to buy, but also every inch of the buying process. “I already had a good understanding of everything he told me, having done a ton of research,” she says.
She then began searching for the perfect vessel in the bleak winter months. “It’s the best time to do it,” she notes. “If you like a boat in the winter in horrible conditions, then it can only get better.”
“The first boat that we saw, we were so disappointed,” she recalls, and it was a similar case for the second and third boat, until a treacherous trip to Zagreb in Croatia in the middle of a blizzard to see what is now Sanctuary.
“It was the most traumatic journey and took over five hours to get there, driving through a snowstorm and over mountains. But the minute I walked in, it felt homely and warm,” she says. “I loved it.”
Built in 2019, Sanctuary was in good condition when Hamilton took ownership. “We had to do a few upgrades with the technology and quite a bit of maintenance,” she recalls, but nothing too major. “Alberto Mancini did the interior and he’s done an amazing job,” she says. “If I was buying a boat again and needed a designer, I would most probably be giving him a call.”
Featuring an elegant neutral colour scheme, the yacht is filled with wide open spaces with plenty of light flooding in, while the main deck has an open-plan saloon and walkways down either side that lead to an extensive foredeck sun lounge.
Her reason for buying the yacht was twofold. Like any owner, she has a great passion for the ocean, something that was instilled in her from an early age after learning how to sail at school in Surrey, England.
“That’s where my love for the water began,” she explains. “My family are from Norfolk on the coast and my husband loves being out on the water as well.” With four children between Hamilton and her husband, she speaks of the joys of bringing the family together on board.
“We’re a blended family and at their ages, they all have their own lives, whether they’re at university, or out with their friends. But the beauty of the boat is they’re stuck – they can’t go anywhere! And even if you have their friends with you, you get them here the whole time.” Her children have plenty on board to entertain them too. “[They] are always telling me what the latest toy is,” she says. Audi e-foils are her latest acquisition.
The yacht was also a business move for Hamilton, who has created her own hospitality brand with a fully staffed villa, and now Sanctuary. “Most of our [villa] clients charter in Greece and that’s what led to the conversation of buying a yacht,” she says.
“The whole point was a week in the villa, and then a week on the boat, and there is crossover in the [aesthetic] – the colours and the themes.” And of course, Hamilton and her family make good use of the yacht when it’s not booked by clients.
Hamilton cut her teeth in the recruitment world, launched her own agency, sold the business and then became involved in property and then hospitality. She now owns Elysian Villa Spetses, a nine-bedroom property on the Greek island of Spetses, and has been hands-on in the look and feel of both that and Sanctuary.
“It’s quite sad really,” she laughs, “I could tell you the exact Pantone colour code for our branding.” But she feels her experience makes her well-equipped to advise on both projects.
“I’ve been lucky to have stayed in some of the best hotels in the world, and when you’ve done that, you can pick the elements of these places and apply them to the yacht.” Even the smell of Sanctuary has been considered, with notes of jasmine and sandalwood delicately filling the interiors.
“It’s a signature scent that was made by a friend. I think it’s hugely important as we want to hit every sense and smell is a trigger, something that we can invigorate with a candle a few months down the line.”
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COURTESY IYC; COURTESY OWNERS When 43m Mangusta Oceano Sanctuary is not being chartered, Beth Hamilton’s family thoroughly enjoys her. Top left: Beth Hamilton and her sons, top right: Hamilton also owns the Elysian Villa on Spetses, which is offered to clients in a package with Sanctuary
COURTESY IYC; COURTESY OWNERS When 43m Mangusta Oceano Sanctuary is not being chartered, Beth Hamilton’s family thoroughly enjoys her. Top left: Beth Hamilton and her sons, top right: Hamilton also owns the Elysian Villa on Spetses, which is offered to clients in a package with Sanctuary
When 43-metre Mangusta Oceano Sanctuary is not being chartered, Beth Hamilton’s family thoroughly enjoys her. Top left: Beth Hamilton and her sons, top right: Hamilton also owns the Elysian Villa on Spetses, which is offered to clients in a package with Sanctuary
Mixing business and pleasure has its ups and downs. “People often ask me why I am so involved and if it takes the enjoyment out of ownership. Sometimes it’s not enjoyable,” she admits, “but if it means we can deliver something that is truly bespoke, then it’s great. I know our clients especially well, and it’s all about getting into the psyche of the guests and understanding what they are looking for.”
“It’s really important to have a Greek chef and a Greek captain; they know the best spots. For example, there is the sunken city of Epidaurus not far from here”
For Hamilton, that means a homely, relaxed atmosphere (plush blankets and pillows are a must, she says), and top levels of service too. “All of our crew are multi-skilled and it’s about training them to see everything no matter what rank you are. Training the deckhands to do a napkin fold – our first officer can pour wine better than some of the girls. I call it secret service.”
Sometimes, she finds enforcing her high standards challenging. “I’m constantly being told, ‘but this is yachting’,” she says. “It can be difficult to get your vision across because people are telling you the way it should be done. That is my personal frustration. And I think, why can’t it be done differently?”
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As we walk around the yacht, each cabin has something a little special laid out on the bed. “These are the surprises,” she says. “It’s something I like to do for guests every day during the yacht charter, but I like to keep it a secret.” As a case in point, on the bed lies a soft pair of blue pyjamas, with the yacht’s name embroidered on the top.
“At their ages, the children all have their own lives. The beauty of the boat is they’re stuck – they can’t go anywhere!”
Sanctuary tends to lean towards adventurous itineraries – both for charterers and Hamilton and her family. In Greece, “it’s really important to have a Greek chef and a Greek captain, as they know the best spots here,” she explains. “For example, there is the sunken city of Epidaurus not far from here, which is a really cool thing to see, so you have to have that local knowledge.”
One of Hamilton’s favourite cruising spots is Antipaxos. “The colour of the water is incredible there; it’s like being in the Caribbean,” she says. “My captain can squeeze the yacht into places I didn’t think were possible; it’s quite nerve-racking sometimes as the owner. But he’s great at finding these beautiful, quiet places as, ultimately, I want privacy.”
Sanctuary in the Corinth Canal
Spetses in Greece
COURTESY IYC; GETTY IMAGES; NICK MOSHOVITHS ON UNSPLASH
Hamilton has discovered other gems, too. “There is a gorgeous beach bar in the bay of Ithaca, and it’s hidden away, so you tie to the rocks, get out the Seabobs and go round the corner to this little spot that just serves octopus, chips and tzatziki on the rocks. It’s amazing,” she says.
The sense of adventure in Hamilton is palpable as she chats about where else in the world she likes to travel. “I love Africa, and I’m obsessed with safaris,” she explains. “I remember being on a safari vehicle in the middle of the bush, coming around the corner and there was a milkshake stand!” She’s hoping to bring that level of attention to detail and surprise on board.
And, while she’s perfecting the Sanctuary experience, Hamilton already has her sights set on expanding her fleet, the idea of a second, world-cruising superyacht looming on the horizon. Brokers, take note: this is one owner who knows exactly what she wants.
Beth Hamilton’s favourite restaurants in Greece
TARSANAS
Located in a picturesque old harbour on Spetses. There is one table that is on a rock over the water. Simple ingredients, but the food is incredible.
SARAKINIKO BEACH BAR
Tie up to the rocks in Sarakiniko Bay on Ithaca to visit this relaxed watering hole.
MARITSA
A waterside restaurant in Galaxidi on the mainland with incredible views.
ERIMITIS BAR & RESTAURANT
On the west coast of Paxos with beautiful views and fine food.
VERDE COCINA
A plant-based restaurant on Folegandros with a wonderful atmosphere.
First published in the August 2024 issue of BOAT International. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.