One of my favorite things about the annual charter yacht show in Genoa, Italy, is that it usually includes one or two true "character boats," which I define as interesting boats that offer something unique in the world of crewed yacht charter. One year, it was the 114-foot Polycarpus, a renovated tugboat whose master bathroom belonged in the Museum of Modern Art. Another year, it was the 147-foot Prometej, a former ice-breaking Romanian workboat that had been refitted for use as a contemporary motoryacht.


This year, the character boat that has won my heart is the 98-foot Bert, a steel-hulled "little ship" that was built in 1977 and is distinctly charming. And it's not just the boat itself that caught my attention, but the interesting charter option that is being offered through Milan-based West Coast Brokerage and Yachting Services.


Bert's owner, you see, is from Venice, as is West Coast charter yacht manager Maura Zane. The two of them are thus quite familiar with the Venice Film Festival, which is scheduled this year from September 1-11.


"People don't know that it is a much easier film festival for charter than the Cannes Film Festival," Zane explained as we stood on Bert's aft deck. "You can anchor right in the lagoon, within sight of St. Mark's Square, and be a short dinghy ride from the Lido, which is where the festival happens. Last year, the moorings in the middle of the lagoon were €4,000 for three days. When you compare that to as much as €30,000 for a marina berth at the Cannes festival, the Venice festival is quite a deal."


So is Bert. The yacht's lowest weekly base rate is €35,000, but it is being offered for three days during the Venice Film Festival at a base rate of €10,000 for as many as 10 guests.


Why don't more charter yachts offer the Venice Film Festival as an option? Because they cruise in the Mediterranean Sea as opposed to the Adriatic on Italy's East Coast, where Bert is based during summers.


What an interesting charter opportunity. I wonder what else is out there on the docks in Genoa. I'll find out more and meet you back here tomorrow.

Written by: Kim Kavin
Kim Kavin is an award-winning writer, editor and photographer who specializes in marine travel. She is the author of 10 books including Dream Cruises: The Insider’s Guide to Private Yacht Vacations, and is editor of the online yacht vacation magazine www.CharterWave.com.