First Impression: Felicita West

Date toured: December 2006

I love Felicita West. It’s hard for me not to gush about this boat. If the magical day ever arrives when I sell CharterWave to some big-time media conglomerate and I have 190,000 euros a week (a cool $250,000) to spend on a boating vacation with a dozen friends, the sailing yacht that I want to charter is Felicita West. Mediterranean, Caribbean, some new cruising destination—I don’t care. This is the sailing yacht for me.
     Of course, I say this with minimal knowledge about the crew (I’d double-check with a broker before booking) and based solely on a half-hour tour that I took of the yacht during the 2006 Antigua charter yacht show. That’s just how much this boat’s beauty blew me away.
     At just shy of 210 feet long and built by Perini Navi, Felicita West is easily one of the most impressive sailing yachts available in the world for charter. What knocked my knickers off, though, was the fact that this super-size yacht’s layout and décor are downright cozy. I felt at home from the moment I stepped onboard.
     Felicita West is impressive, but not imposing. She doesn’t scream “look at me.” Instead, she has elegance and class. And she’s well designed for charter service, too, which is probably why she’s already booking about 10 weeks’ worth every year.
     They say Felicita West can take 12 guests, but if they’re all adults, the ideal number is actually 10. That’s because there are five guest cabins onboard that sleep 10 people in king, queen and double beds, plus four Pullman (or bunk-style) berths that you can use to sleep two more people. If you have two kids, that’s great, but I’m not sure any adult is going to want to sleep in a bunk bed at the rate of about $26,000 per person for the week with typical 25-percent expenses included.
     All the guest cabins are on the bottom deck, down a staircase from the forward saloon—which is my favorite place on the yacht. It spans nearly the boat’s entire width and can be used as one large cocktail lounge or as separate nooks for watching television, playing cards, or just sitting at the elegant bar and chatting over drinks. Plus, the windows all around offer a spectacular view of everything ahead of the yacht and on its sides. I dream of the day when I can be sitting there in a quiet cove at sunset, simply taking in the atmosphere both inside and out.
     I’m also looking forward to dining up on the top deck, which has three separate seating areas plus a three-stool bar. That means people don’t all have to eat at the same time if they don’t want to, and that your 12-person charter party can break into smaller groups one or two nights if you want some privacy for romantic couples' dinners.
     Like I said, this is a boat that’s well designed for charter service. Her beauty and elegance only add to her allure. I can’t wait to get back onboard.
     In fact, if you’re thinking of booking and need somebody to carry your suitcase, I’d be happy to sleep in one of those Pullman berths…
     Felicita West is part of the Edmiston Company fleet. You can book her by contacting any reputable charter broker.—Kim Kavin