Owner insight: optimising the 52m Q for charter

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It’s no secret that running a successful charter yacht is no easy feat. Taking ownership of the 51.75-metre Alloy Yachts sailing yacht Q at the beginning of 2016, here, Roxanne Hughes speaks to Q’s owner, Kim Vibe-Petersen, who offers his advice to fellow owners looking to optimise their yacht for charter.

“People see the way myself and my family use our boat and they say, ‘Ah, I would love to do the same thing with my family’ – they too want to holiday aboard, host their friends, have parties and race in regattas, and that’s exactly what we sell,” Vibe-Peterson says. “Q really performs well under sail. She’s also a nightclub, and she’s a holiday home, and you can move her around the world. Nothing can beat that.”

In Vibe-Petersen’s ownership style, he aims to inspire others to spend time aboard in a similar fashion and encourages other owners to do the same. What can make for better sales material than witnessing first-hand something that could be your own? It’s important to raise a yacht’s profile and get her ‘out-there’ if you want to secure charter bookings. Vibe-Petersen attended the Loro Piana Caribbean Superyacht Regatta & Rendezvous and the St Barths Bucket earlier this year with Q, where she raced for the first time.

“When we did the refit, we installed new 3Di Sails and had the rig tuned so she was fit for racing, and she performed very well – we were happy with the result,” he says. At the Bucket Regatta, Q hosted many guests aboard each day and the boat was open to partygoers at the event’s famous Yacht Hop evening.

Q, listed for charter with Camper & Nicholsons since May 2016, has already been exceptionally busy and this summer is again back-to-back with charters, something seldom seen for a large sailing superyacht. Vibe-Petersen attributes much of the yacht’s success to her excellent Captain and crew but also encourages other owners to make their yachts appeal and feel accessible to a wide market.

“When we bought Q, the first thing we did was have the whole boat refit,” he explains. “We stripped the varnish from the floor and walls, and installed large white sofas in the main saloon. We wanted to create a light, Scandinavian look.”

Alex Lees-Buckley of Camper & Nicholsons has acted as Broker to Vibe-Petersen since 1994 and the firm has been responsible for the charter marketing of Vibe- Petersen’s yachts since that time. When asked what he thinks makes Q so popular with charter guests Lees-Buckley commented: “Her interior refit means she now suits all tastes. Her captain and crew really are excellent, she performs incredibly well under sail and is competitively priced. The owner is also open to new options and charter proposals, such as charter for regatta competition. Vibe-Petersen’s yachts have always been the most successful in their respective categories.”

Q is available for charter in the Caribbean this coming winter, and in the Western Mediterranean during Summer 2018. Q accommodates up to 12 guests in five staterooms. Rates are from €180,000 per week. Contact Camper & Nicholsons with all enquiries.

Photos by Quin Bisset

 

Camper & Nicholsons International
Gildo Pastor Center
7 rue du Gabian
MC 98000
Monaco

E: [email protected]
T: +377 97 97 77 00