First Impression: Patient Falcon

Date toured: December 2006

The 93-foot sailing yacht Patient Falcon caught my eye at the Antigua charter yacht show because it was flying the banner of Churchill Yacht Partners, a management company based in Newport, Rhode Island, that has less than a dozen boats in its fleet. The handful of them that I’ve been able to get onboard have been in good shape with knowledgeable crew (see my First Impressions of Barchetta and Whisper), so I figured a tour of Patient Falcon might be worth my time, as well.
     As it turns out, this 1993 sailing yacht had just joined the Churchill fleet two days before the boat show began, following an extensive refit by the man who’s owned the yacht since 2002. In 2005, according to Patient Falcon’s captain, the owner painted the boat’s hull, redid her decks, replaced all her deck hatches and windows (and they are big, bright windows), recovered all the leather seating areas inside the boat, put in new carpeting and flooring, and replaced all the bedding onboard. 
     That’s a lot of work, and it shows, as this yacht looked modern and comfortable everywhere I went onboard. I later learned that the owner had undertaken the refit so that he could use the boat more himself, which is why he invested so heavily in the renovations. It wasn’t until mid-2006 that he put Patient Falcon into the charter market, offering bookings in the Mediterranean and Caribbean to help offset some of his expenses.
     All of which is good for you and me and anyone else seeking a comfortable boat that’s built to sail. Patient Falcon has terrific headroom throughout, plus unique features including a master bathroom shower that serves double-duty as a proper sauna. (That’s something you won’t find on too many sailboats, especially in this size range.)
     The thing the crew like best about Patient Falcon is, well, the fact that she’s not so patient. The owner apparently has owned a succession of boats that feature the name Falcon, and this one, he bought more for cruising than for racing. That’s why he calls her patient, even though she sails comfortably at 12 to 13 knots and has been clocked hauling as fast as 18.5 knots. “Patient, my ass,” is what they say onboard. And they’re right.
     The other thing they say is that this is a laid-back boat, not one that is keen on offering silver service. She takes six guests, but four adults is ideal, as one of the cabins has bunk-style berths.
     And while there’s plenty of fishing gear onboard—including a fillet table and grill on the aft deck—there are no real water toys besides a few sets of snorkeling gear. It’s something to make note of if you’re a water-sports enthusiast, since other yachts in this size range often have more water toys to offer.
     Patient Falcon charters for $20,000 per week plus expenses for six guests, or about $4,200 per person with typical 25-percent expenses included. Contact any reputable charter broker to discuss a booking.—Kim Kavin