First Impression: Anahita

Date toured: December 2008

Anahita is a 62-foot Dynamique that was built in 1992. Owner/captain Bijan Kalantari told me that he bought the boat in 2004 and spent a year doing an extensive refit, including installing all new teak decks, new paint, and new galley equipment. The work was well worth it, based on my quick tour. Anahita presented quite nicely even a few years after the fact.
    Kalantari has been in the charter business since 1993, previously having owned a 42-foot Sparkman and Stephens build called Anita K. He told me that 2007 was his first time cruising in the Mediterranean, and that Anahita will alternate summer seasons there with winter seasons in the Caribbean.
    “Wherever there’s a charter, I go,” Kalantari said. “I’ll go anywhere in the Caribbean during the winter. In the summer, I’m mostly based on the Côte d’Azur, but I will go to Italy and Corsica.”
    There will be different chefs aboard Anahita depending on the season. I met the Caribbean chef, Carmen Bonaparte, a German native who told me that, ironically, she specializes in Mediterranean cuisine—particularly French and Italian dishes that feature fish. “I’m not good with Asian food,” she admitted. “Sushi, I can do, but Thai is not for me.”
    The Mediterranean season chef, Kalantari said, is an American who excels at sushi, pastries, American and French cuisine.
    Anahita is listed as taking as many as six guests, but Kalantari told me that four to five is ideal. The yacht was designed by noted naval architect Philippe Briand for high-performance sailing (she can push 11 knots in the right conditions), so the guest accommodations are comfortable, but not super-sized the way cabins sometimes are aboard slow-cruising sailing yachts.
    Like those competitors, though, Anahita offers a good number of water sports and relaxation toys. For instance, she has a tender with a 50-horsepower engine for water skiing, inflatable kayaks, a Windsurfer, and a hammock.
    The yacht’s weekly base rate is $8,500 for two guests, plus $750 for each additional guests up to a total of six guests. The rate is inclusive in some locations and exclusive food and fuel in others. Any reputable charter broker can get you more details. The management company is Flagship.—Kim Kavin