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When Kim Vibe-Petersen builds a yacht, you know it’s going to turn heads, but achieving similar impact with a brokerage yacht that’s eight years old, that takes some serious know-how.
In early 2016, Vibe-Petersen purchased the 51.7m Mondango 2, renamed her as Sailing Yacht Q, and immediately set about a series of interior alterations and upgrades to make her more appealing to charter clients.
“We liked Q –she had a low profile and a performance edge. We liked her sporty style and low freeboard, a sleek superstructure but still with a flybridge. A complete interior refit was the first thing to address, however, to give her a new look. We made her lighter in colour, more Scandinavian in style. We basically removed all the varnish and gave the floor a ‘white soap’, installed large white sofas and nice neutral materials. We cleaned up the flybridge in the same manner and on the decks, tried to give her a real sailing look.
“We upgraded the air-con and cooling system, installed new 3Di Sails and had the rig tuned –so not only did she now look good but she was fit for racing; this yacht had never been raced before!”
For Alex Lees-Buckley, broker to Vibe-Petersen since 1994, it’s clear what sets Q apart from other similar vessels: “The interior refit and refreshed look, her excellent Captain and crew, performance pedigree and competitive pricing all make Q particularly desirable.”
When Vibe-Petersen’s Perini, Parsifal III, was launched in 2005, he and the family couldn’t get near, with her charter bookings keeping the boat occupied. Parsifal III regularly achieved 25 weeks a year and he has similar expectations for the Alloy Yachts/Dubois sailing yacht Q.
“Q is already very popular and has been busy –she’s now booked for the whole summer. We always have an excellent crew, that’s important, but we put our family soul into the yacht too. People see me and the family aboard, and how we use the boat, and they say ‘Ah, I would love to do the same thing with my family’.”
Q’s programme for the coming months may include a brief stop in New York before joining the America’s Cup programme in Bermuda, after which she’ll be straight into the charter season and available in the Caribbean through winter 2017/18 and in the Western Mediterranean during summer 2018.
Sailing Yacht Q accommodates up to 12 guests in five staterooms. Rates are from €180,000 per week. Contact Camper & Nicholsons with all charter enquiries.
Featured image: Quin Bissett
Article written by Roxanne Hughes | Breed Media
