United States

Chris Craft 

Francesca Webster sits down with serial yacht owner Herb Chambers to find out more about his extraordinary life with boats.&nbsp;For American automobile mogul Herb Chambers, yachting is more than just a passion. His love affair with boating began as a child, visiting his grandmother on the south Boston coast and spending time on a friend's 40-foot Chris-Craft. Over the years the friend upgraded to a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5884" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Boston Whaler (Company)">Boston Whaler</a> and whenever he had the chance Herb was on the water, he explains, “I don't know what the original attraction was or how to describe it, but I just loved it. I have never been able to understand why not everyone is in love with boating like I am, and from those early experiences my dream was to have my own boat but that took a long time!”<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/332822/image/large-0cbe11c9e429279d45194ecd9b843184.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/332822">By the time Herb was 22 he had started his first company, which turned out to be fairly successful and after about 3 years he was able to buy his first boat, a 30-foot Trojan motor boat. With six berths, she was a great little boat for entertaining friends, but within a few years Herb was married with a baby and began looking to upgrade to something a little more spacious. “We kept her in a marina down in Connecticut and every time we were there I was looking at the other boats and dreaming of what might come next – it's kind of a dangerous thing because you have all these temptations around you.” Eventually he upgraded to a 38-foot <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5767" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Chris Craft (Company)">Chris-Craft</a>, before moving onto a 47-foot Concord a few years later. At that time Herb became friendly with another boat owner from the marina who owned the 35-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> Claybeth, now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/3558" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Odalisque35.36m (116'0&quot;)Feadship1973">Odalisque</a>, who offered Herb a tour and ignited a lifelong love of yachts from the Dutch shipyard.As Herb’s yacht ownership developed, he continued to upgrade in size, from the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/222" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Concorde Yachts (Company)">Concord</a> to a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/466" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Hatteras Yachts (Company)">Hatteras</a> and then a 24-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2631" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Broward Shipyard (Company)">Broward</a>, though also owning two or three cigarette boats in the middle. “It is safe to say that I am a boat-aholic, I subscribe to every boating magazine there is and ultimately the owner of Claybeth explained how he rented out the yacht for charter to cover some of the costs and I really admired him, so I started thinking about doing the same thing.” Eventually Herb sold his business with considerable financial gain and the first thing he did was decide to buy a yacht, reaching out to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a>, the only yacht builder he knew. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/243632/image/large-3d50ab60434244be48566f6dc3f3b2d3.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/243632">That first superyacht was the 41.8-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2753" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Alaia41.8m (137'2&quot;)Feadship1986">Excellence</a>, designed by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/30" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="De Voogt Naval Architects (Company)">De Voogt</a> and launched in 1986. Originally intended to be 36-metres, Herb had the aft extended to accommodate a cockpit on the aft so that he could go game fishing and the yard reengineered the boat to his customisations. From there, Herb’s <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> obsession began and within a few years he’d ordered the 47.55-metre Excellence II (now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/616" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Princess Too47.55m (156'0&quot;)Feadship1999">Princess Too</a>) delivered in 1999, meanwhile also owning a 63-foot <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/2059" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Magnum Marine (Company)">Magnum</a> – continuing his trend of one big boat and one fast boat. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/79741/image/large-1fa11afecacc815a17e627f80ea71c7c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/79741">Around this time, Herb met John <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/17" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Bannenberg & Rowell Design (Company)">Bannenberg</a>, who designed a yacht and gave him the model as a gift, though John passed away before the project could ever come to fruition. “I was then contacted by broker Jim Wallace who wanted me to take a look at a yacht under construction at <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/44" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Abeking & Rasmussen (Company)">Abeking &amp; Rasmussen</a> to <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/41" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Donald Starkey Designs (Company)">Donald Starkey Designs</a>. I knew nothing about <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/44" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Abeking & Rasmussen (Company)">Abeking</a>, so I talked to my captain and he said no, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> has been brilliant, why change, but I sent him to have a look and he was blown away, so we went for it and she became Excellence III.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/225427/image/large-30d6e27401c45b7f5ba636fc30f0b5e3.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/225427">The 57.3-metre yacht, now known as <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/688" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Dream57.3m (187'12&quot;)Abeking & Rasmussen2001">Dream</a>, was Herb's first foray with the German yard, but, like with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a>, the yacht sparked a long term relationship with the shipyard. During these years, Herb had built up the chartering business and had become very successful, running the yachts as a business, often selling them at a profit after a number of years. It was then in the early 2000s that he saw renderings for a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/56" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Reymond Langton Design Ltd. (Company)">Reymond Langton Design</a> with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/44" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Abeking & Rasmussen (Company)">Abeking</a> for a beautiful yacht with a very pointed bow. “I thought she looked like a great boat but I met with the team and didn’t like some of the elements, so we sat down together in France and I sketched out the idea I had of a yacht with very big windows and this long pointed bow. Windows are a big priority for me, as you can see on all the yachts, and we eventually settled on the design for the 78.43-metre&nbsp;Excellence IV (now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/60" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Eminence78.43m (257'4&quot;)Abeking & Rasmussen2008">Eminence</a>).” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/69063/image/large-4d10edb93ea7291c848aad92814155f7.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/69063">Launched in 2008, Herb was approached with an offer for the yacht before he ever took delivery, selling her on and buying another <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/44" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Abeking & Rasmussen (Company)">Abeking</a>, the 60-metre Excellence V&nbsp; (now <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2616" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Arience60.0m (196'10&quot;)Abeking & Rasmussen2012">Arience</a>), and taking delivery of her in 2012. The reason for the downsizing, he explains, was due to length restrictions on Nantucket Island that limited the length to 60-metres, though making up in GT what she missed in length with a volume of over 1,600 GT. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/75430/image/large-868c486385eaf4574e16af845e81c2e2.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/75430">By 2015, Herb was thinking about his next project, and while he loved Excellence V, it was time for something larger. During the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Event/224" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Monaco Yacht Show - 2024">Monaco Yacht Show</a> that year he spotted a rendering of a Andrew <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/69" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Winch Design (Company)">Winch</a> design at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/44" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Abeking & Rasmussen (Company)">Abeking</a> stand. “That yacht stopped me in my tracks. I immediately thought wow I love that boat, with these interesting lines and unique superstructure arrangement.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/282296/image/large-0b78143b3b79a2244659e03878a546c0.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/282296">“I called up <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/44" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Abeking & Rasmussen (Company)">Abeking</a>,” he adds, “and we sat down with Andrew and I said ‘look I want to put a different bow on the yacht, raking it right back’, he wasn’t convinced at first but I remembered seeing motor yacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/11" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="A 119.0m (390'5&quot;)Blohm & Voss GmbH2008">A</a> in the Caribbean and that was the bow that inspired the current <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6404" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Excellence80.0m (262'6&quot;)Abeking & Rasmussen2019">Excellence</a>.” Despite mixed opinions on the shipyard and designer side, Herb stuck with his guns and Andrew redesigned the raked, sharp bow and added some of the largest windows the industry has ever seen. “Yachts are a bit like flavours of ice cream, you love it or you hate it, but when she was launched in 2019 she took the industry by storm and has been an incredibly successful charter yacht ever since.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/108648/image/large-c883feca82f113b59aef3add3e50b8dc.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/108648"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/108412/image/large-d48e4dc88ea8e25255d719e797708a99.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/108412">Today Herb runs <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6404" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Excellence80.0m (262'6&quot;)Abeking & Rasmussen2019">Excellence</a> more as a charter business than a personal vessel, spending most of his own time aboard the smaller 46.22-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5632" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Excellence V46.22m (151'8&quot;)Feadship2014">Excellence V</a>, which he acquired second hand in 2023 and retains for private use. Given his track record for moving to his next yacht after four to five years, it may not be too long before we see <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6404" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Excellence80.0m (262'6&quot;)Abeking & Rasmussen2019">Excellence</a> come on the market, and Herb has received many offers over the years. “Chartering her has opened up lots of opportunities to sell, which is great, and I am really enthusiastic and excited about the design and construction process, so it might be time to move onto the next build fairly soon.” <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/116911/image/large-ab66ea67f7d94cb8a35d2c89f606b195.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/116911"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/116917/image/large-90fa4e3059c5291cab7fd1d906e2081b.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/116917">Clearly passionate about engineering and design, Herb thoroughly enjoys visiting the shipyards and getting stuck into the technical details. Incredibly though, the above list only details some of the yachts he has built over the past years, and his ownership record includes a myriad of other superyachts, from the 46.63-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/29" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Feadship (Company)">Feadship</a> acquired in 2018 now called <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/1008" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Mystique46.63m (152'12&quot;)Feadship2001">Mystique</a>, to a new-build 27.96-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/584" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Pershing S.p.a. (Company)">Pershing</a> called <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/6908" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Coal Blooded28.04m (91'12&quot;)Pershing S.p.a.2014">Coal Blooded</a> (then Excellence IV) launched in 2014 and sold on in 2018. That is aside from the major number of smaller boats and yachts that Herb thinks rack up to around 45 vessels in total over the years. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/109265/image/large-6e71369db5bb84cd5a11cd7f335772cf.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/109265">Owners like Herb, who pour their love and passion for yachting into the industry, are a gift to the entire sector and we thoroughly look forward to seeing whatever he has in store next.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/330062/image/large-fae20c1adbfb93b502d9649ff3ed0c6c.jpeg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/330062">This story and more are published in Issue 50 of the <a href="https://www.superyachttimes.com/newspaper" target="_blank">SuperYacht Times newspaper</a>, out now!

Herb Chambers on his passion for yachts 

Francesca Webster sits down with serial yacht owner Herb Chambers to find out more about his extraordinary life with boats. 

Serial yacht owner and automobile mogul Herb Chambers on his passion for yachts

<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/266402/image/large-d8e475b3f4ada4fd2cd578b7d9b11138.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/266402">Seen here arriving in Malta, is the 77-metre superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/934" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Samar76.88m (252'3&quot;)Devonport2006">Samar</a>. Delivered by <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/96" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Devonport (Company)">Devonport</a> in 2006, she is one of the largest yachts to have ever been built in the UK and remains one of the largest 77-metre yachts today with an impressive volume of 2,159 GT. The design team behind the project includes exterior designers <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/161" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="H2 Yacht Design (Company)">H2 Yacht Design</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/679" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nick Meyers (Company)">Nick Meyers</a>, interior designer <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/680" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Joe Thome (Company)">Joe Thome</a> and naval architects <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/357" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Laurent Giles Superyacht Architects (Company)">Laurent Giles</a>. Key features onboard include her helipad on the upper deck and a large tender garage in her stern which houses an 11-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5767" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Chris Craft (Company)">Chris Craft</a>. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/934" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Samar76.88m (252'3&quot;)Devonport2006">Samar</a> spans three decks and can accommodate as many as 12 guests, taken care of by a crew of 26. Performance-wise, she’s equipped with triple <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/1438" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wärtsilä (Company)">Wärtsilä</a> diesel-electric engines that deliver a top speed of 17 knots.

77m Devonport superyacht Samar in Malta

The 77m superyacht Samar, delivered by Devonport in 2006, is seen here cruising in Malta.

Considering the breadth and depth of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a>’s fleet, you’d expect the yard to have a dynasty that spans centuries and not decades. Despite being the youngest major player in the country, it quickly shouldered into the upper echelons of Dutch shipbuilding. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/221436/image/large-9a848cef3fa26588d802262415a73790.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/221436">The shipyard made its first splash in 1993 with the delivery of the far from modest 56.2-metre superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/201" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="The Wellesley56.2m (184'5&quot;)Oceanco1993">The Wellesley</a> (ex. Achiever), and come 2008 had launched its 20th superyacht – a major milestone. The 75.5-metre superyacht <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/99" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wheels75.5m (247'8&quot;)Oceanco2008">Wheels</a> (ex. Anastasia) might not have been the builder’s largest when she hit the water, but she was certainly one of the most striking.&nbsp;<a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/99" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wheels75.5m (247'8&quot;)Oceanco2008">Wheels</a> was also the first time that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/98" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sam Sorgiovanni Designs P/L (Company)">Sam Sorgiovanni Designs</a> and <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/64" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Oceanco (Company)">Oceanco</a> partnered up for a project, and the duo have since designed and delivered the 88.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/2484" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Nirvana88.5m (290'4&quot;)Oceanco2012">Nirvana</a>, the 88.5-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/5740" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Barbara88.5m (290'4&quot;)Oceanco2017">Barbara</a> and the 110.1-metre <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/4796" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Kaos110.1m (361'3&quot;)Oceanco2017">Kaos</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/254705/image/large-81f45d6560a43cbeaad6379f0fbf66da.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/254705">Originally designed and commissioned for private use, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/99" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wheels75.5m (247'8&quot;)Oceanco2008">Wheels</a> was enjoyed by a single owner and family for more than a decade. She passed hands in 2018 and her new owners felt that her family-focused general arrangement and literary of entertainment would make her ideal for the charter market – and they certainly weren’t mistaken.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/254324/image/large-a95b339cfc4d9173dcb800ab371654ce.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/254324"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/254320/image/large-895dff7cb610e6e577ebe24097a7b611.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/254320">After three successful seasons chartering with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fraser (Company)">Fraser Yachts</a>, the captain and crew had a full picture of which areas were used and which needed refining. Last year she was booked in for a no-expense-spared refit at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5775" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Palumbo SY Refit (Company)">Palumbo shipyards</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/254707/image/large-91fd67e8a335ed5a594243c2635e848c.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/254707">“The refit was extensive and great attention was paid to optimise the charter experience,” Captain Stefhan Malherbe told SuperYacht Times. “With guests spending so much time out on the decks, we decided to renovate all of her alfresco spaces.” Starting from the observation deck, the four viewing chairs have all been reupholstered and thanks to an altered ventilation system, the uppermost deck has a much quieter and more tranquil atmosphere. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/254322/image/large-b5ad83b9a9cb87581980a3cd13ec38ef.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/254322"><img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/254323/image/large-1b29525d99a5aae2cbeffa5895a7c113.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/254323">Her sundeck has been changed enormously and is now home to a large aft Canadian Jacuzzi, an exterior bar and removable windbreakers. She also has a platform that fits over the hot tub, acting as a stage for bands or DJs, new speakers and all the paraphernalia for parties. For the more sedate afternoons, guests can enjoy her spectacular outdoor cinema, courtesy of <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5775" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Palumbo SY Refit (Company)">Palumbo</a>.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/254317/image/large-3e7ea1659e26cf69a20c3ef2332f62b8.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/254317">“The new layout of the sundeck has been a great success and we find that guests now spend most of their days on charter together here,” Malherbe said. “Smaller groups have breakfast by the new dining space we created, and the new Jacuzzi and bar are both very popular.”The other exterior area that was totally redesigned was her upper deck aft. New large exterior dining tables were installed and their orientation was changed, providing guests with even more impressive views while they wine and dine together. To ensure that space can be used regardless of the weather, additional windbreakers and a new awning were added. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/254324/image/large-a95b339cfc4d9173dcb800ab371654ce.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/254324">Spanning seven decks with 1,991 GT and six staterooms comprising a master, two VIPs and three guest staterooms, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/99" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wheels75.5m (247'8&quot;)Oceanco2008">Wheels</a> has an abundance of space for 12 overnight guests. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/99" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wheels75.5m (247'8&quot;)Oceanco2008">Wheels'</a> master suite is sublime; it’s split-level and comes complete with an impressive mezzanine-style study. “What I personally love about the master suite is the 180-degree sea view that can be enjoyed from the private upper deck,” Malherbe added.&nbsp;Her remaining guest suites are situated on the main deck and each benefits from a freshly renovated ensuite and upgraded <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/4521" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Akumendo (Company)">Akumendo</a> AV system. <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/99" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wheels75.5m (247'8&quot;)Oceanco2008">Wheels</a> also has impressive crew quarters that can host a 21-strong team, including experts in sports: wakeboarding, kitesurfing, sailing, diving, yoga, and fitness instructors.<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/254316/image/large-636e48b00e56e2015a15fa0e201028aa.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/254316">Throughout these two refits, the owner worked to enhance and not displace the original light, airy and Asian-inspired ambiance that <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/98" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Sam Sorgiovanni Designs P/L (Company)">Sam Sorgiovanni</a> curated. In lieu of traditional parquet flooring, light and richly detailed bamboo lines the floor. The colour scheme and subtle motifs found throughout the yacht further the Eastern charm. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/254706/image/large-7b2f51330028bc125ec060aeba273e11.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/254706">The two indoor spaces subject to the biggest changes were the main and upper deck saloons. The general arrangement of the former was totally overthrown to create a number of seating areas for watching television, reading, writing or socialising. The poker table from the upper deck was also brought down to complement the space.With free space in the upper saloon, a new oval table and curved seating arrangement was added, along with a new marble-topped bar installed. Further entertainment is found in the shape of a cinema and wellness centre, complete with a spa and fully-equipped air-conditioned gym. <img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/254325/image/large-c97ad49c5bd58dd31b1efa07f1da122d.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/254325"><a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/99" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wheels75.5m (247'8&quot;)Oceanco2008">Wheels</a> always delivered in entertainment and joined the charter market with an enviable toybox, brimming with tenders Jet Skis, e-foils, inflatables and a sundeck slide. But her tender garage is even more packed as last year her owner turned the fleet into an armada with even more tenders and toys, including a <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/5767" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Chris Craft (Company)">Chris Craft</a> guest tender and a new Nacra performance sailing catamaran.Not only does <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/99" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wheels75.5m (247'8&quot;)Oceanco2008">Wheels</a> offer a wealth of amenities, she has a crew to match. The superyacht was awarded the Best Charter Crew in the 50-metres and above category at the <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fraser (Company)">Fraser</a> 20th Captains and Crew Gala Awards. &nbsp;<img src="https://photo-assets.superyachttimes.com/photo/221432/image/large-71bf4114966805ad298bb0feeb292306.jpg" data-gid="gid://syiq/Photo/221432">Available for charter with <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Company/158" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Fraser (Company)">Fraser Yachts</a>, <a data-gid="gid://syiq/Yacht/99" href="#managed-by-system" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank" title="Wheels75.5m (247'8&quot;)Oceanco2008">Wheels</a>' calendar is brimming. For the summer Mediterranean season, “We are available for charters most of May and June; however, from June through to September we are usually chartering back-to-back,” Malherbe explained.&nbsp;The weekly price to charter this award-winning superyacht is €790,000 during the summer. While her price in the winter is $850,000 per week.

Onboard 76m Oceanco yacht Wheels with Captain Stefhan Malherbe

Captain Stefhan Malherbe joined SYT to talk refit and charter with the Oceanco superyacht Wheels. Her price is €790,000 summer, and $850,000 winter.