First Impression: Rosehearty

Date toured: December 2008

August 2011 update: Rosehearty is now part of the charter fleet at Edmiston and Company.

To be honest, the 183-foot Perini Navi sailing yacht Rosehearty left me a little confused.

I toured her during the December 2008 charter show in Antigua, where yacht owners pay a pretty penny to put their boats on display in the hope of getting exposure among brokers and press in advance of the Caribbean charter season. In Rosehearty’s case, I was told that no photography was allowed—which sometimes happens aboard brand-new boats that aren’t quite finished, but rarely if ever aboard 2-year-old builds like this one. As charter yachts get older, their owners tend to welcome photography, if only to show that they are performing needed maintenance and keeping the interior décor updated.

I also was told that Rosehearty would be spending fewer than three months in the Caribbean with charter availability. After that, she was going on an owner’s cruise to the Galapagos Islands, into the shipyard in California, and on another owner’s cruise to Alaska for the summer of 2009.

So here I had a boat that didn’t want publicity photographs taken, and that was preparing to go out of the charter market for the better part of a year.  I took a quick look around to give you some idea about this yacht in case she comes back into charter for the winter 2009-10 Caribbean season, but I didn’t spend much time seeking out the crew—since by the time Rosehearty again becomes available, the crew are likely to have changed.

In general, I thought the boat looked nice. She’s unusual for a Perini Navi in that she feels more like a contemporary beach house than a luxury home filled with rich woodwork. Rosehearty’s main saloon and dining room are filled with gray and burnt orange tones, and the flooring is teak with a light, lime wash. The ceiling is acid-washed teak that also looks gray, highlighted by brushed stainless steel accents throughout.

Rosehearty is marketed as taking 12 guests, but it’s important to note that two of those guest beds are bunk-style Pullman berths. The master cabin has a king-size bed with his-and-her bath. The VIP has a queen-size bed with shower and tub. There’s another guest cabin with a queen-size bed, but shower only. The last two guest cabins have one Pullman berth apiece in addition to what are marketed as twin-size beds. In actuality, one bed in each of these cabins is a twin, while the other is a much bigger double.

There also are two staff berths onboard, if you care to travel with a nanny, bodyguard, or some other assistant.

Also worth noting is that outside, Rosehearty has steps that lift up from her cockpit in one large, hydraulically operated unit, revealing a lazarette that includes a small gymnasium and a fold-out, 5-foot-wide teak beach. It’s a really great feature for anyone interested in water sports and exercise.

The yacht was listed at €220,000 euro per week during my tour. Any reputable charter broker can tell you more about current availability, rates, and members of the crew.—Kim Kavin