First Impression: Thalima

Date toured: December 2011

The 110-foot Southern Wind sailing yacht Thalima launched in early 2010. Her owner kept her for private use until the end of 2011, when he decided to enter the charter market for the first time.

“It’s not just the owner’s first time with this boat, but the first time ever in charter,” Capt. Clinton White told me during my tour. “I’ve been with this owner for 14 years, through three boats, including Thalima since she launched. I’m excited about getting back into charter. I did it for 12 years before I joined this owner.”

I found Thalima to be a lovely yacht for charter, with a clean, contemporary interior and some impressive construction qualities. She’s a serious Bruce King design that is built to race, with a lightweight carbon-fiber hull and sets of cruising as well as racing sails. The latter are seamless 3DLs from North Sails, the same kind used in America’s Cup races.

“Charter clients are going to be onboard with a crew who love to actually sail,” White told me. “We got up to 18 knots in one regatta, and we hit 20 knots during a crossing.”

The crew also will be comfortable welcoming charter clients of many nationalities, based on the number of languages spoken onboard Thalima. They include English, French, Portuguese, Catalan, and Italian. Chef Francesca Cala actually hails from Italy and brings Mediterranean cuisine to the program, something that should go well with Thalima’s planned summer cruising area of Sicily, Sardinia, and the Amalfi Coast.

When Thalima is in the Mediterranean (and not spending winters in the Caribbean), guests will have access to a 42-foot Wally tender. In all destinations, guests also can enjoy an Apple-compatible audiovisual system, WiFi, and a “monster” wine cooler filled however they desire.

Thalima is part of the charter fleet at YCO. She takes eight guests with four crew at a lowest weekly base rate of €49,000. Any reputable charter broker can tell you more or help you book a week onboard.—Kim Kavin