Finding an affordable crewed motoryacht for charter on the French Riviera with five guest staterooms, however, is an entirely different story. Finding such a yacht on the open market, in good condition, with solid crew, going for less than $30,000 a week, would be like finding the Hope Diamond on sale in a display case at a jewelry store in the mall.
Yet that’s exactly the picture that management company Neo Yachting is painting about the 85-foot Benetti Dune, which it is marketing as “probably offering the best value for money on a five-cabin yacht in the South of France.” At a lowest weekly base rate of €22,000, or about $28,650, Dune costs literally one-third of what even the least-expensive 10-guest charter yachts are asking.
Why? Because of her build year, which is 1974. Notice, though, that I didn't say “because of her age.” That would be inappropriate, given the major refits that Dune has undergone to keep her interior looking great and all of her mechanical systems fully modern.
Dune has a classic blue hull and a traditional, teak interior décor. She looks nothing like the modern-day, go-fast express cruisers in her size range that seem to have evolved from a Star Wars speeder, nor does she look as extravagant as some newer and better-known Benneti builds, like the Diamonds are Forever. But she also does not look, well, old. Instead, she looks modest in the best sense of the word. Admittedly, she’s not going to turn heads in every port—but I think that’s a quality that anyone seeking a little privacy on the Côte d’Azur will see as a benefit.
The refit that Dune is currently undergoing is her third, and her first big one since 2003. The owners are painting her superstructure, installing two new generators, giving the air-conditioning system a full overhaul, installing new carpeting in guest areas, and more. That project list is significant, because it tells you that the owners are investing as much in what charter clients don’t see as they are in things like furniture and fabrics. Anybody can rehab a nearly 40-year-old motoryacht to look good to the naked eye, but keeping systems and machinery in top condition is an entirely different story. Dune’s owners don’t want any breakdowns, and they’re putting their money into the boat to ensure that charter clients don’t experience any, either.
Dune also offers amenities that you would expect to find aboard new builds, including WiFi throughout the guest areas, iPod docking stations, and water toys for fun in the sun. To me, Dune represents not just a noteworthy charter option in the Mediterranean, but also a mode of thinking that it’s nice to see in the world of yachting. A charter yacht doesn't have to be the newest or the sexiest in order to be among the best values out there. She just has to be herself—and appreciated for all that she offers.
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