Yes, you read that headline right – a yacht is entertaining offers for charter in Vancouver, British Columbia, for the Olympic Games in February and March. She’s the 114-foot Pacific Yellowfin, and she’ll be docked at Coal Harbour Marina, in downtown Vancouver.
The word comes from Infinity Yacht Charters, whose principal, Michael Sawyer, is on the board of the Charter Yacht Brokers Association (CYBA). (CYBA and the Mediterranean Yacht Brokers Association, also known as MYBA, are the primary organizations that reputable charter brokers belong to, with membership requiring a strict code of ethics, among other things.)
Pacific Yellowfin has an interesting history. Featuring all-wood construction, she was launched from Billings Shipyard in Maine in 1943, as a cargo vessel for the U.S. Army. Her years of service reportedly included participation in the Bay of Pigs invasion and a role as a hydrographic and deep-sea fisheries-research vessel in California. Her current owners purchased her in 2000, originally for their own use and refitted her extensively to serve as a yacht and to comply with Canadian regulations as such. They added charter operation a few years ago, again complying with Canadian charter regulations. Pacific Yellowfin accommodates 12 guests in four staterooms, with the master (above) including private access to the outside deck. She also still runs under the power of her original Atlas engines.
According to Sawyer, Pacific Yellowfin is offering a few different packages for eight adults. For the entire Games, covering February 11 to March 1, the rate is $110,000 plus five percent GST (Canadian Goods and Services Tax). For nine nights – February 11 to 20 or February 20 to March 1 – the rate is $65,000 plus the same GST. If nine to 12 adults are in your party, or if there are children, rates vary, so inquire with Sawyer. Regardless, if you’ll remain dockside, some of the crew staterooms can accommodate your party.
Also regardless of the package, charter includes dockage, three crew, breakfast, and dinner with non-alcoholic beverages. Bar and cruising (which requires more crew and fuel) are additional charges.
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