First Impression: Wil Power

Date toured: December 2009

The 68-foot Wil Power is a good option for anyone seeking an entry-level crewed motoryacht, offering accommodations for six guests with two crew. Her lowest weekly base rate is $23,000, which is about $4,400 per person, per week, if you estimate an additional 15 percent for food, fuel, gratuity, and other typical charter expenses. For a couple comparing a charter aboard this yacht with, say, a week at a luxury resort, the rate is quite comparable.
    Wil Power appeared to be in excellent  condition during my tour, especially considering that she launched in 2001. Capt. Rainy Venter told me that he is glad the owner has decided to make Wil Power available in the British Virgin Islands, a location ideal for first-time charterers because the islands are close together and the harbors are well protected.
    “We’ll do well there,” he said as we sat in Wil Power’s pilothouse. “We’re fast—we cruise comfortably at 20 knots—and we’ll be unique in the market, which is primarily full of sailing yachts.”
    Rainy also believes Wil Power offers a level of service standards that is top-notch for the yacht’s size range, since both he and chef Beatrix Fuzesi each have prior experience working on larger charter yachts.
“A lot of the boats that are this size and slightly larger have crew that came from small boats,” he said. “We came from larger charter vessels. I worked on the 151-foot Delta motoryacht D’Natalin, for instance. So we’ve got the big-boat standard, and we are incorporating it into this smaller package.”
    Wil Power’s layout is ideal for three couples, or two couples with two children. Two of the guest cabins have king-size beds, while the third has twin-size beds that can convert into a king. Also worth noting is that the master and VIP cabins are almost identical, so two couples who want to split the weekly rate will each feel as though they received equal accommodations onboard.
    Paradise Yacht Charters is the management company for Wil Power, and any reputable charter broker can help you book a week onboard.—Kim Kavin