Jimmy Buffett Offers His Yacht for Charter, Then Quickly Withdraws

It’s not often that a decade-old motoryacht goes into charter for the first time and grabs headlines around the world, so much so that the owner withdraws like a turtle back into private use. But then again, not all decade-old motoryachts are the 124-foot Continental Drifter III owned by legendary singer Jimmy Buffett.

The trideck was recently publicized as available for charter in the Caribbean during winters and in the Bahamas during summers through Skywater Yachts, a Fort Lauderdale-based company. The weekly base rate was listed as $65,000 for 10 guests, which included the yacht and crew. Food and drinks were extra, including all cheeseburgers in paradise and Margaritaville smoothies, but charter clients were promised a free peek at a collection of Buffett’s personal memorabilia.
Apparently, the demand during just a few weeks after that initial listing went public became too much for Buffett to bear. Kevin Ralph, a partner at Skywater, says Continental Drifter III has been withdrawn from the charter market due to “the amount of exposure that was generated.”
It’s a shame, because the boat sounds like it could be a terrific charter platform. Buffett has a reputation throughout the islands for being an avid fisherman, and Continental Drifter III tows a 30-foot tender that is nicely rigged for the sport. Buffett also apparently enjoys water sports of all kinds, because the yacht carries standup paddle boards and surfboards, too.
Continental Drifter III has zero-speed stabilizers for comfort at anchor. Other upgraded amenities include high-speed Internet access, hundreds of movies, and thousands of songs on a digital server that charter guests could access. What does Buffett listen to when he wants a break from singing "Fins” and “Volcano”? The onboard playlist would not only entertain charter guests but also offer a window into the world-famous singer’s personal influences.
With a cruising speed of 16 knots and a top speed of 20 knots, Continental Drifter III can make her way at a good clip for itineraries in the Bahamas, which is one of the regions where Buffett has been known to cruise. Her six-foot draft is also a plus in those cruising destinations, shallow enough to let the yacht get close to the most secluded beaches.
Maybe Buffett will reconsider after the initial publicity dies down, perhaps offering the yacht for charter on a quieter and more select scale. After all, with changes in latitudes, changes in attitudes, nothing remains quite the same.