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 First Impression: Lady Bou Bou
Date toured: December 2011
I got to know the 63-foot Lagoon sailing catamaran Lady Bou Bou in a most unusual way. I was invited to breakfast aboard the 2010 build during an industry-only boat show, which meant that I stepped onboard as about 20 charter yacht brokers were milling about the salon and aft deck with plates of fresh fruit, cheese, and smoked salmon.
Now, aboard a 63-foot yacht, 20 people sounds like an awful lot. I expected to feel cramped and crowded. You know, like I was on a booze cruise in Key West.
Much to my surprise, I did not. And if not for all of those people onboard, I may not have appreciated just how spacious Lady Bou Bou actually is. With a typical charter party of just two to six guests, she’ll feel downright extravagant in terms of onboard space.
After breakfast, I took a tour with Capt. Blake Smith and found even more great qualities that Lady Bou Bou offers. In general, I found her to be a light, airy yacht, and specifically, I really loved the way the master cabin is laid out. It’s in the starboard pontoon all the way aft, and it’s so big that a lot of other owners would probably have turned it into two cabins to jam even more guests onboard. There’s a huge window that opens right above the bed—not a hatch, but an actual window—and the amount of natural light is just fantastic.
Smith also impressed me with his knowledge of charter. He’s worked onboard yachts as large as 100 feet in the Mediterranean and has simply decided that he prefers “smaller” boats like Lady Bou Bou because they are, in his opinion, more fun.
“I’ve been doing a lot of high-end motoryacht charters,” he told me, “and I wanted to bring that standard of service to this catamaran.”
Sounds like a good plan aboard a nice yacht to me.
Lady Bou Bou is part of the Nicholson Yachts charter fleet. She takes two to six guests at weekly base rates from $24,500 to $28,500, which includes everything but fine wines, taxes, marina fees, communications costs, and crew gratuity. She is expected to be in the Caribbean this winter with her summer cruising ground yet to be decided.
Any reputable charter broker can tell you more or help you book a week onboard.—Kim Kavin |
Trina Howes has 10 years of experience in the charter industry finding great pleasure in creating the best yachting vacations possible. E-mail Trina
Shannon Webster is a longtime AYCA member. She books yachts worldwide from 80 to 400 feet long. Email Shannon
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
DJ Parker has been a leader in the charter industry since 1980. She is currently president of the American Yacht Charter Association. E-mail DJ
Sharon Bahmer is an expert at booking charters in the Americas, from Alaska to Brazil. She's also a member of FYBA and CYBA. E-mail Sharon
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.
