Sailing into the future: Onboard the legendary Black Pearl

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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: Sailing into the future: Onboard the legendary Black Pearl with Captain ‘CT’ Truter

• Top charter updates: Wade through Alaskan waters onboard Last Call, charter the Mediterranean with Alhambra, cruise the Bahamas or New England with Valinor, choose a Mediterranean summer or Caribbean winter onboard Starfire, or enjoy a 10% discount when chartering Axioma.

• YachtEye: Simplify your trip planning

• Charter photo: Delivered and unwrapped at sea 🎁🚁 onboard @myafteryou

TOP STORY

Sailing into the future: Onboard the legendary Black Pearl with Captain ‘CT’ Truter

Her silhouette is unmistakable. Towering DynaRig masts, sweeping lines and a deep black hull make 105-metre Black Pearl one of the most distinctive and most discussed superyachts on the water today. But beyond her striking profile lies a compelling story of innovation, passion and purposeful reinvention. Ahead of her highly anticipated entrance into the charter market, we spoke with Black Pearl’s Captain Christian “CT” Truter and Mathilde de Roffignac, Managing Partner Monaco, IYC Monaco, to explore what makes this modern icon such a remarkable offering.

The return of a legend

For Captain CT, taking command of Black Pearl was not just a career milestone, it was a return to a project with which he has been intertwined for decades. “I actually worked on her build during the commissioning phase, when she was in the water in Rotterdam,” he explains. “I’ve been involved with the DynaRig since its inception, I remember being on the aft deck of Atlantide in St Barts with Tom Perkins during a meeting with the design team and seeing the original plans for Maltese Falcon. To now be captain of Black Pearl feels like both a full-circle moment and a natural progression.”

Truter’s sailing pedigree runs deep. A seasoned sailor with square rig, maxi racing and ocean-crossing experience, he brings a genuine affinity for sail-powered yachting to a vessel that was built to redefine it. “We’ve sailed across the Atlantic on BP four times now, and on each passage, we’ve sailed over 80% of the distance. When you compare that to a 90-metre motor yacht that burns over 130,000 litres of fuel to cross, we’re doing it in under 20,000 litres,” he notes. “She offers the most efficient way to propel a luxury superyacht I’ve ever seen.”

The charter experience reimagined

Black Pearl is set to offer her charter guests a unique yachting experience that blends elegant cruising with a sustainable edge. And as Truter is quick to point out, this is no compromise.

“The main saloon is extremely spacious,” he adds. “We have close to three metre deckheads, a full-beam dining room with hull doors that open to the sea, a wellness area that transforms into a nightclub, and a flybridge cinema that projects onto the mizzen sail, the largest screen on any yacht afloat.”

Perhaps most importantly, her DynaRig sailing system means the journey becomes part of the adventure. “We can go from anchor to full sail in under ten minutes. Guests can be sitting in the Jacuzzi while we’re ghosting along under sail, or enjoying dessert on the flybridge under full canvas. You don’t need to stop sailing to enjoy luxury service.”

This fluidity is what sets Black Pearl apart, says Mathilde de Roffignac. “Guests don’t always realize she’s almost 3,000 GT, she has the volume of a motor yacht with the elegance of a sailing yacht. And yet she’s safe, quiet and controlled. That’s very rare in the charter world.”

Interior appointments are equally considered. Designed with a refined Louis XVI inspiration, the yacht’s interiors blend old-world detailing with modern functionality. “The craftsmanship is superb,” adds IYC’s Anna Granlund, Head of Charter Management Monaco. “You’ve got this bold, forward-thinking rig paired with the absolute epitome of classical luxury.”

Seek something more

When it comes to her target clientele, the team is selective and rightly so. “This is a yacht for individuals with vision,” Granlund says. “Those who appreciate design innovation, are mindful of sustainability, and want more than just luxury, they want a meaningful experience.”

Captain CT agrees. “Most of our guests have seen it all. They’re not easily impressed. But there’s always a moment, when the sails fill, the boat heels gently, and they look up in awe, where they smile like a six-year-old. That’s the moment I know we’ve got them.”

For some more adventurous clientele, that journey might include a transatlantic crossing, something the yacht is uniquely equipped to offer. “You can be mid-ocean, connected via Starlink, enjoying a Michelin-level dinner while watching the sun set over the horizon,” he adds. “It’s that rare combination of remoteness and refinement.”

Black Pearl is now poised to embark on her next chapter. After a meticulous transition from private use to charter readiness, she is accepting bookings for Caribbean itineraries this winter, including, perhaps, a festive arrival in St Barts where, true to form, heads will turn and the phones will come out as she sails past at 15 knots, silent and spectacular.

As Roffignac aptly summarises, “She’s more than a yacht. She’s a milestone, in design, in engineering, and in experience.”

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CHARTER UPDATES

🛟 Cruise around the Mediterranean with Northrop & Johnson, onboard Feadship’s Alhambra.

⛰ Wade through Alaskan waters onboard 40 m Last Call

🏝️ Visit the Caribbean, Bahamas or New England with Valinor.

🌟 A Mediterranean summer or a Caribbean winter; all is possible with Starfire

⛵️ 10% discount when chartering Axioma in September with Northrop & Johnson

POST OF THE WEEK