FOLLOWING A 2023 REFIT, THIS NEW ZEALAND DESIGNED, AWARD-WINNING SUPERYACHT IS SETTING SAIL FOR THE TURQUOISE WATERS OF THE CARIBBEAN THIS BOATING SEASON WITH A SUITE OF SLEEK NEW UPGRADES
BY ERIK SCHONING • PHOTOS COURTESY OF SPIRIT LUXURY CRUISES
No yacht’s story is simple; every yacht is a globe-spanning collaboration between builder, designer, and its eventual owner. Spirit, a 36-foot-wide, 115-foot-long wave piercing catamaran superyacht, is one such story. Now privately charted for day and overnight adventures in the Bahamas, this is a yacht that has constantly evolved, keeping pace at every step along the way.
Designed by famed New Zealand yacht builder Bakewell-White and built in 2005, Spirit won the firm a superyacht design award. After a refit in 2016, Spirit was acquired by Charlie Cary, who overhauled her once again in 2023, rebuilding its motors and generators and installing a new power management system. Cary also fully reupholstered the yacht, lending a sleekness to its interior design that gives Spirit an ultra-luxe, contemporary feel.
Unlike traditional single-hull yachts, catamarans like Spirit offer increased stability and spaciousness. The dual hulls create more interior volume, a welcome departure from the sometimes-stilted layout of narrower boats. For yachts, interior volume is measured by gross tonnage; Spirit clocks in at 304 GT, a number comparable to larger, 145-foot vessels. This is a yacht that makes use of every inch
of space and then some, and it’s something you can feel the moment you step foot on the massive deck, so spacious and airy it’s reminiscent of being on a rooftop. Even the internal staircases, often a constricted point in yachts, offer a spiraling, open feel that contribute to the prevailing sense of luxury.
On its deck, Spirit boasts six staterooms, including an owner’s stateroom with a king-sized bed plus five VIP cabins, each with recently remodeled decor. This is a true superyacht: the flybridge has a stereo system and full bar, there is a hot tub in the bow, and Spirit departs on most voyages loaded with two jet skis, four Seabobs, two water scooters, and five paddleboards. A brand-new 32-foot SeaPro tender boat offers even more excitement; the tender, rigged for fishing, includes a freshwater shower, bathroom, and snorkel door for all-day adventure on the water.
A masterpiece of composite construction, which offers a lighter weight, greater durability, and corrosion resistance as opposed to traditional construction, Spirit has an average cruising speed of 10 knots, with an impressive top speed of 19 knots. As a superyacht, she is built to go the distance, with an estimated range of 1,600 miles. This makes Spirit the perfect vessel for Caribbean adventures, capable of spanning massive distances without the need for refueling or finding port. And when out in remote waters, she offers impressive connectivity thanks to an onboard VSAT satellite.
But yachting is ultimately less about performance than it is about the experience, and Spirit is designed to offer best-in-class luxury at every turn, from its state-of-the-art kitchen to a rear, cabana-style deck that drops right into the water. As Spirit enters her next era as a world-class charter vessel, she continues to set a high standard for what modern yachting can be.
A SPACIOUS, AIRY DESIGN matches the interior volume of much larger yachts, thanks to its catamaran design. There’s also a massive outdoor entertainment space along with a giant swim and toy deck.
STAY CONNECTED WHILE YOU SAIL as Spirit boasts satellite internet coverage for remote locations, plus an on-board satellite phone and VOIP line with global coverage when you’re too far from land for cell service.
THERE ARE ENOUGH BEDS for 12 guests across six staterooms, including a deluxe owner’s suite with a plush king-size bed for the sweetest of dreams at sea.
AN AWARD-WINNING SUPERYACHT DESIGN from legendary New Zealand firm Bakewell-White.
BUILT FOR ADVENTURE, Spirit sails with a cutting-edge roster of jet skis and Seabobs, plus onboard luxuries such as a hot tub and driving range.
Spirit Luxury Cruises