First Impression: Heavenly Daze

Date toured: May 2010

The 104-foot Feadship motoryacht Heavenly Daze is just like me in that she will turn 40 years old in 2012. I can only hope that when the big turn of the calendar arrives, I’ll look as good as she does and be as well respected by so many people in the yacht charter industry.

Capt. James Pitman has been in command of Heavenly Daze since 2003. He has earned a reputation in the charter industry for delivering charters that are safe, unforgettable, and a great financial value. Some of the charter brokers I most respect after a decade of covering the industry tell me that Heavenly Daze is a yacht they are always happy to suggest to clients with Pitman in command.

Chef Lucie Dawson is no small shakes, either. She turned out a luncheon at the 2010 Genoa Charter Yacht Show that left brokers raving. Dawson’s specialties include canapés, which, on this day, meant Hoi sun duck pancake rolls, Thai bang bang chicken wonton baskets, and coconut prawn skewers with mango and coriander salsa. I sampled them all. Absolutely divine.

Heavenly Daze can’t hide the fact that she is an older yacht in terms of design, but she looks outstanding for her age and appears to be very well maintained—in a few years, they’ll start calling her “a classic.” (Maybe I’ll adopt that same nickname for myself!) I thought her layout was ideal for two couples with children, since there is a large master cabin on the main deck as well as a similar-size cabin on the lower deck. The remaining two cabins have twin beds plus bunk-style Pullman berths, for a total of 10 guests possible.

In addition to carrying modern water-sports toys such as a SeaDoo and a pair of FEVA sailboats, Heavenly Daze offers charter guests the option of “static charters,” which are events in which the yacht does not leave the dock. The crew are trained to handle as many as 30 guests with full catering, and the sundeck can accommodate a pair of 5-by-5-meter tents with sit-down dining for as many as 24 people.

Heavenly Daze is part of the Ocean Independence charter fleet. Her lowest weekly base rate with six crew is €45,000. Any reputable charter broker can tell you more or help you book a week onboard.—Kim Kavin