Perseus^3: From racing regattas to circumnavigating the globe

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Welcome to Yacht Charter Market, the weekly newsletter dedicated to the world of yacht charter.

In today’s newsletter:

• Top story: Perseus^3: From racing regattas to circumnavigating the globe

• Zairos: FX & Cross-Currency Solutions for Charter & Asset Payments

• Charter Updates: The charter yachts attending the St. Barth’s Bucket Regatta

• Superyacht Spotlight: From relaxed alfresco lunches to refined evening menus, this is fine dining onboard a superyacht

TOP STORY

Perseus^3: From racing regattas to circumnavigating the globe

Leona Caanen, editor of the Yacht Charter Market, sits down with the captain of Perseus^3, Burger van der Walt, to discuss the magic of the sailing yacht and her preparation for the St. Barths Bucket Regatta.

You’ve been with Perseus^3 for a long time, can you talk me through your shared history? What drew you to the sailing yacht and what has kept you around?
I first started with Perseus^3 during her build, so we’ve had 13 years together and are still going strong. I took over as captain in 2016, and since then we’ve been around the world, raced in regattas, and built up a charter following which I’m very proud of.

I’ve loved to be on the water for as long as I can remember, and through university I taught Yachtmaster courses, so it was a natural step to work onboard sailing yachts. Additionally, their itineraries tend to be more appealing: large sailing yachts have a vast range allowing us to travel further afield and explore more remote areas. Sailing yacht clientele and owners are also different, with a more adventurous approach that can make working onboard very fun. 

Throughout the years, Perseus^3 has provided a mix of experiences with racing, cruising off the beaten track, and charter, which have been engaging for all the crew. I’ve also been fortunate to work for an owner whose thirst for discovery and bold sense of adventure have truly defined the experience onboard. He’s ensured Perseus^3’s programme is about exploration and getting the most enjoyment out of our time on the ocean; as you can imagine, it feeds into a work-life that’s very addictive.

What is it like to captain such a versatile sailing yacht that can charter, partake in races, and traverse the globe? 

It’s a challenge but very fulfilling. I have an incredible crew and the experience they deliver to guests has seen some of our charterers return for more - something we love! Having a varied programme helps us keep things exciting for guests. As a captain, it means extensive forward planning. We are always looking ahead to ensure we have everything in place for the trip, charter, or regatta we’re embarking on; even if that means planning two years in advance. For example, the St Barth’s Bucket starts next week but we made our first bookings for it 18 months ago.

Can you tell me more about your racing experience with Perseus^3?

We love to race. It’s a chance to push Perseus^3 to her best and each regatta we compete in, we focus on ramping up our performance over the last. Aside from myself and the crew, we have a team of rigging, and professional race crew behind us, and between us all, we plan throughout the year to get the best performance from the yacht. This year we’re going into the regatta with new sails and a few changes to our rating and we’re expecting to gain a few more knots of speed, so I’m looking forward to testing Perseus^3 against the other competitors.

Aside from that aspect, bring together yachts, owners, guests and crew, and it’s guaranteed to be a good time. The thrill of racing and the atmosphere of a regatta are something I think everyone should experience, and we always enjoy making sure our guests have a memorable week. The comrade of the race crew is truly something to look forward to.

Currently the countdown is on for the St. Barth’s Bucket Regatta! For us, it’s about outdoing ourselves. We know the speeds we achieved in our last regatta and we’re on track to beat them. I want to see the yacht perform at her best and to do it safely.

You’ve recently returned to the charter market, what has Perseus^3 been up to and what are you looking forward to in welcoming charter guests again?

Early in 2025 we returned from our trip travelling the globe. It was an incredible experience for both owner and crew, taking us from the beaches of Brazil to the winds of Patagonia, rounding both Cape Horn and the Cape of Good Hope, exploring the Pacific, voyaging through Australia, to Indonesia and Madagascar and finally South Africa, before making our way to the Mediterranean. 

We were exclusively private while the owner explored the world over the last few years and came back onto the charter market at the end of last summer. We are just rounding out our charter season in the Caribbean now, and we’re looking forward to the guest trips we have lined up for the Mediterranean later this year. Being back in our old stomping grounds of the Mediterranean and Caribbean has been fantastic - visiting our favourite spots and discovering new ones. We find we have a balance between the two cruising grounds, plus some charter guests who are interested in joining us in both places, which we love; but there’s a strong possibility we’ll be venturing out further afield again soon; watch this space!

Guests who are attracted to sailing yachts are often outgoing and adventurous; our charter guests tend to give our watertoys and diving gear a good workout. We have lots of guests onboard who are familiar with motor yachts but who want the thrill of heeling over on a large yacht; something I’m very happy to deliver. I also really like to get guests on the helm so that they can feel the power of a yacht like Perseus^3 when she’s under sail. 

Are there any specific parts of the journey that have had a lasting impact on you?
We’ve been to some incredible places. Right now, we have the glaciers of Patagonia, the culture of the South Pacific, and the West Coast of the USA in our rear view. We have cruised through Australia and spent time amongst the 74 islands of the Whitsundays. From there, we ventured through Komodo and Raja Ampat where the diving, the scenery and the people left an indelible impression on us all.

In Madagascar we were greeted by the people of our bosun’s village; a truly touching experience for the crew to see him welcomed home, and that was before the welcome the yacht was treated to! The dancing, the food, meeting the people who had shaped our bosun and enjoying time with his family; it was one of the most emotional points of our journey around the world.

But it was the destination after that which has become a hugely significant moment in my sailing career, personally. Leaving Madagascar, the yacht crossed to South Africa where I relieved my co-captain, Darren Rennie and began the journey down the coast and into Cape Town. Twenty eight years ago I was teaching people to sail on Cape Town’s harbour, and dreaming of working on superyachts, so to sail back into the same harbour was a full-circle moment for me. We celebrated with a blast of the cannon as we rounded the Cape of Good Hope, followed by a fantastic welcome home on the dock by the friends and family of our South African crew members.

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CHARTER UPDATES
Some of the sailing charters attending the St. Barth’s Bucket Regatta

For a full list of participating (super)yachts, visit the official Bucket Regatta site.

SUPERYACHT SPOTLIGHT

@yachtarience

From relaxed alfresco lunches to refined evening menus, this is cuisine designed to be savoured slowly, with the sea as your backdrop.

#YachtArience #FoodAtSea #CulinaryVoyage #LuxuryDining #tastethejourney