Perini Navi, the Viareggio yard behind some of the world’s most celebrated sailing superyachts, produces aluminium ketches and schooners from 40 to 88 metres that are designed for serious bluewater passages. In Eleuthera, the trade winds that blow steadily from the east through the winter months make these yachts entirely at home. A Perini Navi ketch running before the trades between Nassau and Harbour Island is one of the more extraordinary charter experiences the Bahamas can offer. The fleet available for charter covers a wide range of sizes, from 40-metre performance ketches sleeping eight to the largest schooner models that accommodate sixteen or more. Crew complements are typically large and include dedicated sailing crew alongside household staff. Eleuthera rewards the sailing focus: the Atlantic coast offers open water passages with genuine trade wind breeze, while the western lee provides sheltered anchorages at Spanish Wells, Governor’s Harbour and Hatchet Bay for quieter evenings. Charter rates for Perini Navi yachts in the Bahamas run from approximately 80,000 to 400,000 euros per week depending on the vessel and season. The advance provisioning allowance adds around 30 per cent for fuel, food, berthing and crew gratuity. Peak season falls December through April, when the northeast trades are at their most reliable. A specialist sailing charter broker can advise on the best Perini Navi vessel for the intended itinerary and crew experience.
