 First Impression: Carpe Diem III
Date toured: May 2009
The 128-foot Carpe Diem III is an example of a modern, Turkish gulet—a motorsailer that is striving to achieve the standards of luxury found in other, more expensive crewed charter destinations.
Gulets in Turkey come in all shapes and sizes. Levels of maintenance vary widely on these wooden vessels, so a gulet that is brand-new one year can literally be falling apart the next. You can’t trust the undated photographs that you see online or in brochures. You have to book with a reputable charter broker who has recently been to Turkey to step onboard and perform a personal inspection.
That’s what I did aboard Carpe Diem III in May 2009, just two years after her original launch. I was pleased to see that management company Bodrum Marine Services had recently overseen a fairly extensive refit. It included new rigging, linens, cutlery, interior decorations, interior varnish, navigation electronics, and satellite television. The photograph above of the maste r cabin was taken during this tour, and I can verify that the woodwork looked as rich in person as it does on this page.
I also was pleased to meet the yacht’s manager, a certified marine surveyor who acts as the yacht owner’s representative. She took her job quite seriously, and not just in terms of making things look pretty.
“I think a lot of charter guests like the fact that we have imported all our safety equipment from England,” she told me. “Life rafts, life jackets, everything.”
After my tour, I was treated to a lovely, traditional Turkish luncheon onboard. The food was excellent and included lots of fresh seafood and vegetables (as is the custom in Turkey). I was happy to see a stewardess working aboard who had done an excellent job for my group in Turkey two years earlier, aboard another boat, and I snagged this exclusive interview with Capt. Sevinç Daşkiran, whose lifelong history in the Turkish charter market left me feeling quite comfortable about featuring him here on CharterWave.
Like many gulets, Carpe Diem III is based in Turkey year-round. Itineraries may also include the nearby Greek Dodecanese islands.—Kim Kavin
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Patty Wilson knows the charter yacht industry inside and out, having managed boats before becoming a broker. E-mail Patty
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.
Janet Bloomfield is a proven luxury crewed yacht expert. Professionalism counts: She is a member of MYBA, AYCA, CYBA, and FYBA. E-mail Janet
Trina Howes has 10 years of experience in the charter industry finding great pleasure in creating the best yachting vacations possible. E-mail Trina
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
