Like coming home
The views of Charles ‘Buddy’ Darby, a resort development expert with over 25 years’ experience in creating luxuriant homes, are particularly informed when it comes to yachting and the vessel as a residence.…
Some liken the investment in a superyacht to that of a plane in terms of sheer expense on a single, mobile possession. Others look at the asset value and compare it to a piece of artwork. But I would argue that a superyacht is your home from homes, somewhere to go with the family, relax and feel totally at ease with your surroundings, even if the view changes more regularly than that of an immoveable pile of bricks.
The views of Charles ‘Buddy’ Darby, a resort development expert with over 25 years’ experience in creating luxuriant second homes, are particularly informed when it comes to yachting and the vessel as a residence. The South Carolina businessman cut his teeth in resort development a quarter century ago with the acquisition of Kiawah Island, voted the fourth best place to have a second home in the US by Barron’s this year.
Darby, who has graduated up the scale of yacht ownership over the years and sees yachting as a time for family bonding, invested in partial ownership of legendary Perini Navi sailing yacht Andromeda La Dea with a friend in 2006 and hasn’t looked back since. This year his latest project, Christophe Harbour in St Kitts, will be opening its marina to superyachts in time for the Caribbean high season.
The Superyacht Owner was keen to find out what makes yachting so special to him but also how the similarities with high-end, land-based resorts are not to be overlooked:
“I have constantly seen a crossover with my residential business since buying Andromeda; service providers need to understand how important it is for a guest to receive top hospitality. What we do is no different than the superyacht market. We understand the affluent market and have been able to match the needs of our customers, to match a lifestyle.
“Over the past 20 years there has been an evolution similar in houses as to yachts. Everybody wants a bigger home than they really need and yachts are getting larger. They have become accustomed to replicating certain comforts and technologies in their living spaces both on their yachts or in their homes, from media rooms to gyms.
"When you get on a superyacht and these expectations are exceeded, it’s a wonderful thing." – Charles 'Buddy' Darby
“I think that for someone who wants to get into yachting at this level, there are barriers; it’s a bit like someone who has never taking any golfing lessons having to buy a set of clubs and play in front of all their friends. There are people out there without yachting experience who, when they get on my yacht, feel like they have discovered a totally new thing and would like to get involved. If you haven’t been around and operated boats, it’s very intimidating and people don’t understand. Once you get people on board, you can show them the superior and intimate experience that can be had compared with a high-end hotel. I am in the hospitality business on a high-end level, so my expectations are great across the board. But when you get on a superyacht and these expectations are exceeded, it’s a wonderful thing.
“Being able to have family time on the water is the most important thing for me. Our lives are so jammed full, and you can’t guarantee you will be able to find a charter when and where you need it, at the St Barths Bucket, for example, or in the Med mid-August. Owning a yacht gives you the flexibility to meet it on your own schedule, as well as having a crew that understands what you like to eat, to drink, to know what you want and have it ready before you ask. It’s like coming home.”
Read the full interview with Charles 'Buddy' Darby, owner of S/Y Andromeda La Dea, in The Superyacht Owner Issue 3, out in July.
The views of Charles ‘Buddy’ Darby, a resort development expert with over 25 years’ experience in creating luxuriant second homes, are particularly informed when it comes to yachting and the vessel as a residence. The South Carolina businessman cut his teeth in resort development a quarter century ago with the acquisition of Kiawah Island, voted the fourth best place to have a second home in the US by Barron’s this year.
Darby, who has graduated up the scale of yacht ownership over the years and sees yachting as a time for family bonding, invested in partial ownership of legendary Perini Navi sailing yacht Andromeda La Dea with a friend in 2006 and hasn’t looked back since. This year his latest project, Christophe Harbour in St Kitts, will be opening its marina to superyachts in time for the Caribbean high season.
The Superyacht Owner was keen to find out what makes yachting so special to him but also how the similarities with high-end, land-based resorts are not to be overlooked:
“I have constantly seen a crossover with my residential business since buying Andromeda; service providers need to understand how important it is for a guest to receive top hospitality. What we do is no different than the superyacht market. We understand the affluent market and have been able to match the needs of our customers, to match a lifestyle.
“Over the past 20 years there has been an evolution similar in houses as to yachts. Everybody wants a bigger home than they really need and yachts are getting larger. They have become accustomed to replicating certain comforts and technologies in their living spaces both on their yachts or in their homes, from media rooms to gyms.
"When you get on a superyacht and these expectations are exceeded, it’s a wonderful thing." – Charles 'Buddy' Darby
“I think that for someone who wants to get into yachting at this level, there are barriers; it’s a bit like someone who has never taking any golfing lessons having to buy a set of clubs and play in front of all their friends. There are people out there without yachting experience who, when they get on my yacht, feel like they have discovered a totally new thing and would like to get involved. If you haven’t been around and operated boats, it’s very intimidating and people don’t understand. Once you get people on board, you can show them the superior and intimate experience that can be had compared with a high-end hotel. I am in the hospitality business on a high-end level, so my expectations are great across the board. But when you get on a superyacht and these expectations are exceeded, it’s a wonderful thing.
“Being able to have family time on the water is the most important thing for me. Our lives are so jammed full, and you can’t guarantee you will be able to find a charter when and where you need it, at the St Barths Bucket, for example, or in the Med mid-August. Owning a yacht gives you the flexibility to meet it on your own schedule, as well as having a crew that understands what you like to eat, to drink, to know what you want and have it ready before you ask. It’s like coming home.”
Read the full interview with Charles 'Buddy' Darby, owner of S/Y Andromeda La Dea, in The Superyacht Owner Issue 3, out in July.
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