Tiara

Trina Howes has 10 years of experience in the charter industry finding great pleasure in creating the best yachting vacations possible. E-mail Trina

Ed Hamilton has worked in every part of the charter industry over the last 37 years and heads one of the largest, most respected charter brokerages.

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

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

Shannon Webster is a longtime AYCA member. She books yachts worldwide from 80 to 400 feet long. Email Shannon

Michael Sawyer of Infinity Yacht Charters has unique access to charter yachts and crew from Alaska to Mexico. Contact Michael.

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.

Liz Howard joined Fraser Yachts as a charter broker in 2002 after more than 15 years in the maritime industry. E-mail Liz.

Gertrud Annevelink's many years of charter experience are your free local knowledge. E-mail Gertrud

Tiara

First Impression: Tiara

Date toured: December 2008

Tiara is the kind of charter yacht that people tend to love or hate. I fall firmly into the love category—swooning, really—as the super-dark woodwork accented by rich leathers and deep red fabrics suits my personal style.
   John Munford was the interior designer when the 178-foot Tiara launched from the Alloy Yachts yard in New Zealand in 2004. The original owner asked him to recreate the look of a 1920s New York apartment, complete with “detective-style” details such as a mirror that masquerades as a peephole, and a secret passageway that a mistress might use to get to the master suite. (Yes, I know where they are. No, I’m not telling. You’ll have to charter Tiara and find out for yourself!)
   The current owner, who bought Tiara from the original owner in 2005, kept virtually everything Munford designed, though added a major upgrade to the yacht’s audiovisual system. It now includes high-definition television screens, Crestron controls, and the nifty wireless headphones that I first wrote about on the CharterWave Daily Editor’s Blog.
   Thankfully, the new owner didn’t touch the master suite (shown in the photograph above), which is a two-level design—quite unusual onboard a sailing yacht of any size. There’s a private saloon on the main deck that leads down to a lobby, bathroom, and sleeping area with private cinema.
   The VIP cabin is aft and can be split into two cabins with double-size beds. There are also two additional guest cabins that can be configured with double- or twin beds. Those last two guest cabins each have a bunk-style Pullman berth that is suitable for a child.
   First mate Brendan Crawford told me the owner uses Tiara just four weeks annually, and that the crew are eager to do as much charter during the rest of the year as possible. He noted that Tiara’s deck space is substantial, with an open area that is ideal for parties including a dance floor.—Kim Kavin

Tiara is part of the Edmiston & Company fleet. She takes 10 or 12 guests with 10 crew at a lowest weekly base rate of €180,000. She is expected to spend summers in the Mediterranean and winters in the Caribbean. Any reputable charter broker can help you book a week onboard.