September 2009 update: Capt. Virginia Wagner will take command of Matau as of October 1.

First Impression: Matau

Date toured: December 2008

I’m told that Matau is a word from the Māori culture in Polynesia that means two things: “life of plenty” and “safe passage over water.” That’s a great one-two punch for this 75-foot Privilege sailing catamaran, which offers more space and amenities than a lot of other sailing catamarans as well as a crew who are well experienced in sailing, navigating, and showing charter guests a great time.
    The boat was built in 2006 as the first hull in the Privilege 75 series, and for its first two years, it toured boat shows around the world. In January 2008, Matau got its current owner, who in May 2008 hired Capt. Brett Clark and his wife, Andrea, along with two other crew who previously worked with the Clarks on other charter yachts. The team spent the summer of 2008 cruising in Croatia and the Greek Islands, performing four weeks of charter in between six weeks of owner use. When I got aboard in December 2008, Matau was preparing for its first Caribbean season—and already had six weeks’ worth of charters booked, no doubt thanks at least in part to the crew's previous experience cruising in the area.
    Matau’s crew especially loves family charters that include children, whom they go out of their way to entertain with everything from water skiing to Wii.
    “We had a two-week trip where there was a 6-year-old girl onboard along with boys who were 3, 5, 7, and 9,” Andrea Clark told me. She let the kids cook with her in the galley, and she taught them napkin folding as well as towel origami. “It was no problem at all,” Andrea says. “And if the children are happy, the parents are happy.”
    While all the guest cabins aboard Matau have oversized queen beds and showers with extra jets, the cabin that is forward on the boat’s port (left) side is the most private and is a little bigger than the others, with a Jacuzzi tub in addition to the shower. If you’re chartering as a family, I’d recommend that you use that port forward cabin as the master suite. (It’s the cabin that’s shown in the photograph at the top of this article.)
    Matau’s weekly rates are inclusive of food, ship’s bar, and most other expenses at $42,500 for six guests or $44,500 for eight guests. The yacht is part of the Nicholson Yachts fleet. Any reputable charter broker can help you book a week onboard.—Kim Kavin