Family Yachting: Owner’s Log

When it comes to yachting, it’s a family affair for the owners of Seven Diamonds and Chapter 3. Having a deep-rooted love for life on board, the owners and the family have some of their best memories on yachts, as they explain to Numarine Insight.

This article was featured in the yachting magazine Numarine Insight.

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What was your first introduction to yachting?

SEVEN DIAMONDS OWNERS: It all started with competitive sailing when I was 14 years old. I still love competitive sailboat racing, but quickly realized that other members of my family did not share my passion. They all loved the water, but just wanted to be more comfortable. As I got older, I purchased ski-boats, then day cruise boats such as 37-, 40- and 48ft boats and would take the family out on lakes in Texas and spend long weekends on them. We started to focus on staying in the Fort Lauderdale area. That opened a much larger yachting scene, and we graduated to 84ft Ferretti, and then an 84ft Ocean Alexander before going into the first 32XP Numarine.

Yachting is a great way to keep the family together. Do you think you have passed down the love of boating to your children?

S D: Yachting has been part of our family. All the children love it. We are in our own world. Life slows down and is simpler when you are anchored off some deserted island. Some of our best memories with our children have been on boats or yachts.

Congratulations on your second Numarine. How did you decide to acquire two boats from the company?

S D: We met Ali and Ömer in 2018 at the Fort Lauderdale boat show. They have a huge passion for building yachts. We went out on a 26XP with them, and I remember thinking how quiet and peaceful the yacht was. That year we also bought an 84ft Ocean Alexander. In March 2020, the start
of COVID, my wife and I were having coffee one morning, and we noticed a 32XP was available for sale. It was close to completion; we had the ability to change a few interior items. I had an old email from Ömer, so I reached out to him. He replied almost immediately, and we started a discussion. A week or so later, we sent the deposit for the 32XP and put her under contract.

I had watched a few YouTube videos on Numarine and the one that got my attention was the video that showed the Numarine model. Numarine put a lot of effort into taking care of their employees. I told my wife that if someone understood the importance of treating his employees with care, then I would be able to trust Ömer to deliver a yacht as he said he would. So, we were thrilled to be one of the early US clients for Numarine.

The story of the trust we have with the Numarine family is very important and so too is the fact that Numarine is always improving their yachts and taking customer feedback while doing so. Moreover, we received a favorable offer on the 32XP 6 months into the ownership and sold her, and started the process for our 37XP that delivers in May 2022. We are certain that the 37XP is going to be another large step forward in our yachting experience.

Can you tell us about the names and story behind them?

S D: Seven Diamonds = 5 children, 2 adults, and my wife likes diamonds. As for Chapter 3, we think of our lives in chapters, and now we are at the third chapter. Seemed simple!

What is your favorite spot on the yacht?

S D: The owner’s suite on the bridge deck… It’s very private,
easy to get in and out of, and the views are amazing.

What are some of the design decisions you made or changed along the way?

S D: Right away, we added a doggie park for our two dogs. We upgraded the water makers and HVAC systems. On the new 37XP, we added a large TV room below for the children to be able to escape too and focused on a proper laundry room with two sets of full-size, correctly vented, washers and dryers. We made sure the crew had the tools to run the boat correctly. All the changes we wanted prompted the same comment from Ali, “Sure we can do that.”

How do you feel seeing these amazing places from your home?

S D: We have seen some amazing places and, more importantly, yachting has given us amazing moments. We have been from Fort Lauderdale all the way up the East Coast. We have been to the Bahamas countless times. We are doing a delivery in the Mediterranean and spending this summer there before bringing the yacht home. We plan to do the Caribbean, going through the Panama Canal and up the west coast of the USA. The list of destinations is endless.

How about working onboard?

S D: As a business owner, I must work while onboard. We have a satellite system installed, so we will always have the Internet. I have a workplace on the yacht and usually I am up long before my family and I catch up on emails. By the time my family has breakfast, most of my day is done. I get a few phone calls, but that is the price of freedom.

The Numarine XP series changed the way we yachted…It is really about the experience…With Numarine, the journey becomes a critical part
of the adventure.

Advice for someone thinking of getting into yachting?

S D: You must know your budget. Yachting is not something that should be done on a tight budget. While it is amazing and rewarding, you are going to eat up some cash. Understand that so you can enjoy it and buy the right size
yacht. Bigger is not always better. Find a manufacturer that has multiple sizes of yachts so you can pick the right size, then you can always move up.

Style or speed?

S D: The Numarine XP series changed the way we yachted. We used to think speed was important, but it is really about the experience. On other yachts, we used to hate moving the yacht. It was about lots of noise. You had to take a seat and then you watch the fuel gauge suck 130 gallons an hour out of the tanks. The first stop on a Bahama crossing was the fuel dock!

With Numarine, the journey becomes a critical part of the adventure. We play until about 4:00 PM. As we come off the water sports, the yacht picks up the anchor and starts moving through the water at 10-12 knots. But it is so smooth you hardly know you are moving. We take showers, have drinks, and go to dinner. After dinner, sit on the rear deck drinking wine, looking at the stars and head to bed by 11:00 PM. The yacht has easily traveled over 80 miles, and I have found myself telling the captain to slow down as we approach the next anchorage because we are not ready to stop for the night. The Numarine yachts are so quiet that you have no perception of movement.

Your plans for upcoming trips?

S D: First, we will discover the Mediterranean then will go to the Bahamas for New Year’s as a family.

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Interested in learning more about Numarine Yachts? Contact Alex G. Clarke, who is ready to answer any questions and start your journey to owning a new yacht.

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