 First Impression: Little Jems
Date toured: May 2009
Little Jems is an 85-foot Leopard motoryacht that was built in 2004. Her first owner kept her for private use, and she got her current owner in 2008. He kept the name and put Little Jems into charter, promoting former deckand Benjamin Leeder to captain. At the time of my tour, Leeder said the yacht had performed just 10 days of charter during its first year on the market, and that summer 2009 was going to be the first season when the industry really got to know Little Jems and her crew.
“We’re unusual because we are hull number nine of the 26-meter flybridge series, and this boat was the last one that the company built,” Leeder told me. “So only nine boats like this one exist in the entire world, and we aren’t even sure if any of them besides us are available for charter.”
Leeder is a native of Britain who has been working aboard charter yachts, primarily in the Mediterranean, since 1999. If you like water sports, he’s your man: In addition to his captain’s license, he’s also a personal trainer, sports therapist, and masseur. And the yacht is outfitted for such fun, as well, given that the owner is a fan of wakeboarding and water skiing.
While Little Jems is marketed as taking as many as nine guests, Leeder says fewer is actually better. “The chef and stewardess feel that six guests is best,” he told me, “but when the owner is onboard, he has nine. It’s a family with kids, so using the Pullman berths is no problem.”
Two things stood out to me about the yacht’s layout. First, all the toys are stowed in a garage, so the entire sundeck (see photograph at right) is open for guest use at all times. That’s unusual aboard a motoryacht this size, and it makes her feel larger than she actually is.
Second, the sunpads on the bow are sunken in, which creates a ridge around you as you lie there soaking up the day’s rays. This is a much safer feeling than I’ve had while sitting on bow sunpads that are flush with the yacht’s hull, since yachts move and you can sometimes feel as though you’re going to slide right off the sunpad (and the boat itself).
Little Jems is part of the fleet at YCO. She is based year-round in the Mediterranean at a lowest weekly base rate of €40,000. Any reputable charter broker can tell you more or help you book a week onboard.—Kim Kavin
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Shannon Webster is a longtime AYCA member. She books yachts worldwide from 80 to 400 feet long. Email Shannon
Nicole Caulfield is licensed, bonded, and a longtime member of FYBA and AYCA. She brings a unique perspective as a broker, having worked aboard yachts for nearly 10 years. Email Nicole
Trina Howes has 10 years of experience in the charter industry finding great pleasure in creating the best yachting vacations possible. E-mail Trina
Beverly Parsons has been chartering since 1969. She is a licensed, bonded broker and a founding member of the professional groups AYCA and CYBA International. Contact Beverly.
Sharon Bahmer is an expert at booking charters in the Americas, from Alaska to Brazil. She's also a member of FYBA and CYBA. E-mail Sharon
