This yacht was never supposed to charter

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

In today’s newsletter:

• Top story: Step onboard Hana, the family superyacht that wasn’t meant to charter

• Charter Updates: New CA for 34m Birdy | 85m Solandge for charter | Last August availability for Sunrays | Cruise around Monaco onboard L’As Bleu | The South of France onboard Abeon | Explore the Western Med onboard edesia

• Superyacht Spotlight: This is what landing on 119m Feadship Breakthrough looks like... 🚁

TOP STORY

Step onboard Hana, the 43m CRN that was never meant for charter

Sitting down with the owners of Hana, we take a dive into the yacht’s 20-year history, her refit journey and the significance of the vessel to the family.

“We’ve always been a yachting family,” shares the owner’s son, who manages the family yacht. “My father started his career in Abu Dhabi, where he had a couple of boats and jet skis. We would spend all day out on the water together, my brothers and I.” From there, the family acquired a Ferretti 881, which they based out of Beirut. Spending many summers onboard the 27-metre. “We had so much fun owning that boat, for a couple of years, but it was just a little too small.” With the Ferretti based near home, the family spent all their summers onboard. “Once we also started spending our winters onboard, it became just a little too small.” It was then that the family got a good deal to purchase the 42.6-metre CRN.

During their nearly two decades of ownership the yacht has become a place for the family to reconnect and spend time together across generations: From having the owner and his sons come aboard, to now having the sons come cruising with their own families. The constant factor has been the yacht’s name, which holds a special value: the yacht has been named after the owner’s wife, Hana, who unfortunately passed away. Yet each time the family steps onboard, there is a sense of connection to her - as though she is travelling with the family no matter whether they are cruising the Red Sea, in Turkish waters or along the Western Mediterranean.

Two decades of ownership

“My father is the UBO, but I manage the yacht,” the owner’s son shares, “I take care of everything. From the day-to-day things, to working with Frederic Cretin, our charter manager at Camper & Nicholsons, doing the finances and working with the crew.”

“She’s a beautiful boat,” the son notes. Besides her graceful lines, it’s her interior volume that truly stands out. The yacht, which sleeps 11 guests across 5 staterooms and mainly cruises in the Mediterranean and Red Sea, sports warm and colourful interiors designed to invite guests to come together and hang out. Her exteriors, too, offer ample space for family gatherings, whether on the sun deck, with lounge chairs and large sofa beds or on her main deck where a round table is the centre piece for al fresco dining or a family breakfast. 

Most of the owner’s family’s time onboard over the past 20 years, have mostly been spent with family and friends: “for a yacht her size (42.6m), she feels like a 50- or 55-metre, especially because of her volume and deck space,” adding that “she’s also comfortable on the inside, if you want to go back to your room and retreat from socialising, there’s a lot of space downstairs; it’s quick, accessible and comfortable.” Because of her size, she is also very easy to move around and get into bays that other yachts can’t get to. 

While ideal for charter, it was never the main intention when purchasing Hana. “We mainly charter her to keep the yacht operational,” shares the son. If a vessel doesn’t move regularly, and if all its amenities aren’t operated, then you’ll soon run into problems that could’ve been avoided. “Charter was never the reason we bought her, but it does help cover some costs throughout the year, although it is not viewed as a business for our family.”

While she is and feels like a family yacht rather than a business model, “we do, of course, always hope that guests leave Hana with their expectations exceeded and a sense of fulfilment and pure happiness”, says the owner’s son.

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