First Impression: Cookielicious

Date toured: December 2007

What a great name for a charter boat: Cookielicious. I could almost smell the fresh-baked chocolate chips as I stepped onboard.
     This Oyster 72 sailing yacht was launched in April 2007, and she got her current crew just one month later. Capt. Tim Hyder and chef/stewardess Rowena Bournat have worked together on boats since 2003, having gotten into chartering in 2006, when they ran the Oyster 66 sailing yacht Fuerte. After joining Cookielicious, they did three summer 2007 charters in Sicily, the Aeolian Islands, and Valencia, Spain. One of those charter clients had already booked a two-week repeat visit when I was onboard in the Caribbean—a good sign, indeed.
     The yacht’s owner has three children ages 18, 14, and 10, so Hyder and Bournat are well accustomed to working with teenagers and tweens onboard. During a charter they did on their previous yacht, they had an 18-month-old onboard, which they said they didn’t mind either. Kid-friendly, indeed.
     Couples, though, will be most comfortable onboard Cookielicious, as the three primary guest cabins all have queen- or double-size beds. There’s an additional space where two children can sleep, if needed, which is why the yacht is sometimes advertised as accommodating eight guests total.
     In addition to being a fine sailing yacht, Cookielicious stands out because of her outfitting, the crew told me. “We have a huge amount of water toys for a boat this size,” Bournat explains. “We have two windsurfing boards, two kayaks, adult- and child-size water skis, a wakeboard, a kneeboard, a kiteboard with kite for certified users, snorkeling gear, and even three bicycles.”
     Also worth noting is that the yacht’s owner is kosher. “I’m not kosher, but I understand the rules and the owner is okay with my food,” Bournat says. “In general, I cook Mediterranean-style foods, lots of fish and fresh vegetables. And I have to make great cookies. The boss owns Millie’s Cookies, so the standard is quite high.”
     The spec sheet on Cookielicious says her average speed is 9 knots, but Hyder told me she easily cruises at 10 knots and has hit a top speed of 14 knots under his command. “She’s considered a cruising yacht,” he said, “but she does more.”
     Cookielicious was expected to move into Croatia this summer, then back to the Caribbean for the winter 2008-09 season. Her lowest base rate at press time was 15,000 British pounds, plus expenses, per week. Contact any reputable charter broker to learn more.—Kim Kavin