First Impression: Isabel

Date toured: December 2010

When U.S. Senator John Kerry took delivery of the brand-new, Friendship sailing yacht Isabel in 2010, he said that he intended to keep her in Newport, Rhode Island, each summer for purposes including charter. National media flagellated him until he agreed to pay a more than $400,000 sales tax in his home state of Massachusetts, which, while right next door to Rhode Island, is not exactly a hub of charter activity compared with Newport’s bustling marinas. As it turns out, the yacht will not be offered in New England at all during her first summer season, but instead will remain in the Caribbean for all of 2011. That’s where I got onboard, for a tour and luncheon in Antigua that left me thinking Isabel will be a lovely new charter option no matter where the owner keeps her.

Isabel is special not only because she is a one-of-a-kind Ted Fontaine design, but also because she was built with a specific purpose in mind. Unlike some charter yachts that cram as many guests as possible onboard, Isabel has just two guest cabins, each of equal size with a queen-size bed for a total of four guests. She is ideal for two couples who want to go sailing and spend time together in an ambience of classic yachting elegance.

Her interior décor is Edwardian, with glossy, varnished teak that to my eye looked superbly finished. (Sorry, no photographs were allowed for security reasons.) I spent about an hour dining in her shaded, outdoor cockpit with three other guests, and the area was well designed in terms of space and comfort for a group of four. The luncheon prepared by chef Ginnie Hess was similar to Isabel herself, with classic tastes that blended beautifully together.

Management company Churchill Yacht Partners tells me that Isabel is seeking to book six to eight charters per year, with a specific type of client.

“This is a boat for adult couples,” manager Els Bucknell said. “We’re not looking for family charters unless the kids are nearly adult. We’re looking for clients who can appreciate the qualities that this particular yacht offers.”

To that end, Isabel’s lowest weekly base rate has been set at $40,000. That’s a bit high—and intentionally so—when compared with other charter yachts in her size range. She is available for charter during races and regattas, but only as a spectator boat. Her top speed is 10 knots.

Any reputable charter broker can tell you more about Isabel or help you book a week onboard.—Kim Kavin