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Utopia

The Ultimate at Sea.

Utopia's spacious deck.

From her sophisticated style to her sheer square footage, there is nothing small about the Utopia. In fact, the 235-foot motor yacht, a veritable floating palace, is the largest Feadship available for charter. With accommodations for 12 and on-board amenities comparable to those of a world-class hotel, this swanky vessel was clearly designed to host the ultimate escape at sea.

Built in 2004 and completely refit in 2006, Utopia will ply the turquoise waters of the Caribbean this winter. On board, guests can savor their surroundings from the sprawling upper and lower sun decks, two of the largest such spaces afloat. They can also get lost in her lavish interiors, including a master suite encased by a crescent-shaped wall of glass and a private gym, where workouts are inspired by the postcard-perfect scenery.

Throughout the yacht, floor-to-ceiling windows, light oak paneling and generous headroom combine to create a venue that is ideal for flawless entertaining. The crew of 17 is on hand to ensure all details are tended to.

Should an appetite for adventure lure Utopia guests from the comfortable confines of their quarters, the yacht comes appointed with myriad toys—kayaks, windsurfers, water skis, wakeboards and stand-up jet skis among them. To sate another kind of appetite, guests need only cue the devoted staff to fire up the on-deck grill for a night of casual outdoor dining.

Utopia is available for charter from about $574,000 per week. For more information, contact Gayle Patterson at cayachts@edmistoncompany.com or by phone at 011.377.93.30.54.44 or visit www.edmistoncompany.com.

By Lindsay Lambert

Impulsive Indulgence

The Impulsive Group sets two spectacular yachts afloat on the Mediterranean and Caribbean seas.

The Impulsive plies the waters of the Mediterranean.

Yachting enthusiasts can officially kiss the winter blues good-bye with a Mediterranean getaway aboard the 1994 Norship Impulsive. The 120-foot yacht, parented by the New York-based Impulsive Group, accommodates up to eight guests in four staterooms and is serviced by a staff of six, including a Michelin-star chef. An on-board arsenal of accessories—think Waverunners, Sea Doos, jet skis, a Jacuzzi, treadmill, water skis, beach toys, kneeboards and an extensive selection of CDs and DVDs—ensures that no wish or whim is left unfulfilled. Stops at nearby islands are made easy by the 32-foot Intrepid and 13-foot Zodiac.

After dark, guests can mingle in Impulsive’s main salon, designed specifically with entertaining in mind. Its centerpiece is a freeform bar with five uniquely crafted stools. A matching game table and chairs expand the social sanctuary. Guests can cap off a night of good-spirited gaming with dinner prepared by their personal chef and served on the wood-and-goatskin-accented dining room table. For drinks with a different perspective, Impulsive’s aft deck is outfitted with its own teak-finished wet bar, a plasma TV and dining space for eight.

If the crystalline waters of the Caribbean are more your speed, check out Impulsive’s smaller sister vessel, Impulsive Too. Six guests are accommodated aboard the 82-foot 2004 Sunseeker, whose accoutrements include a 13-foot Nautica, a two-seat Sea Doo, a banana boat, tubes and snorkel gear for eight. Onboard amenities include HD flat-screen TVs, karaoke, DVD library and players, DirecTV and iPod docking stations.

Impulsive and Impulsive Too are available for charter through The Sacks Group. Weekly rates for Impulsive start at $85,000; Impulsive Too’s weekly rates start from $52,000. For more information, visit www.sacksyachts.com.

By Lindsay Lambert

Sailing with Barton and Gray

The best boat on the water is no longer your friend’s boat, thanks to Barton & Gray Mariners Club where membership means never having to worry about overhead. Just sign and sail.

Sailing with Barton and Gray.

For generations, yachting enthusiasts have bonded over their love of the pastime, the technological marvels of their toys, and their tales of adventure on the seas but not the hefty cost of ownership and the hassle of mere upkeep. Enter Tim Barton and Douglas Gray, who, upon founding Barton & Gray Mariners Club in 2006, set out to provide that same fulfilling experience for non-owners.

While deciding on a concept for their members-only day-boating club, the pair sought to answer a common question: Can people spend time on the water without the headaches and fiduciary overhead of ownership? “To us,” says Gray, “the best type of boating is spending three to five hours on a beautiful yacht in extraordinary waters with friends and family.”

The concept was met with resounding success. Gray notes that, in addition to the clear-cut advantages over ownership, there are less tangible benefits, too. “We are different from ownership in the good ways—it’s cheaper, there are no worries, there’s less time managing, no cleaning,” he says. “But we’re not different in the on-the-water experience. Our members have just as much fun as boat owners.”

Barton & Gray’s fleet of classic Hinckley Picnic Boats can be sailed off of Nantucket, Newport, Greenwich, Naples, Palm Beach, and Jupiter. Gray takes particular pride in his boats, all of which are custom and hand-made in Southwest Harbor, Maine. “All other Hinckley Picnic Boats in the world are privately owned. It is very special to be aboard one,” Gray says. “Imagine a jet fighter, retooled for leisure, decorated by Nate Berkus, and filled with shrimp and Bloody Marys.” Get the picture?

Gray notes that more than 80 percent of the club’s members have never owned or operated a boat of any size. “We are opening the waters to people who were not fortunate enough to be born into a family of boaters, or took the time to dedicate themselves to boat handling,” Gray says. “Members can swim, eat, sleep, converse or do nothing at all, rather than clean, write checks, sand, varnish, or navigate. After all, that’s the dream of yachting, is it not?”

Sounds like a perfectly sweet dream to us. —Lindsay Lambert

For more information and to browse Barton & Gray’s Outing Portfolio, call 617-728-3555 or visit www.bartonandgray.com.

Petite Barques

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Hand-made in France, these scale-models are meticulously detailed, using marine quality materials to recreate every minute detail with amazing accuracy. Embedded in clear resin, each 5.5” x 4.25” x 2.5” piece is signed and dated by the artist. Available exclusively at www.krameranddey.com