39m EVOLUTION Relaunches Sydney Charter Programme
Chapman Yachting is relaunching the 39m Oceanfast EVOLUTION with a new Sydney Harbour event and Australian coastal charter programme for summer 2026/27.
Image: Burgess official captains interview, published 6 October 2026, and KATHARINE charter specification
Burgess interviews KATHARINE's captains about her Croatian summer and a winter Caribbean and Bahamas charter programme, starting at $315,000 per week.
Burgess has published an October 2026 interview with Captains Fernando Silvano and Vladimir Nikolov of the 61.3-metre CRN motor yacht KATHARINE as she prepares to shift from a Mediterranean summer to winter chartering in the Caribbean and Bahamas. The interview follows a busy season in Croatia and offers an insight into how a long-established superyacht team connects its onboard service to different cruising regions. It is a seasonal programme update rather than the announcement of a newly built yacht.
KATHARINE was built by CRN Ancona in 2000 and underwent a refit in 2017, according to the broker's official specification. Her six guest cabins accommodate up to twelve people, supported by sixteen crew. The size and operational profile place the yacht firmly within the superyacht charter sector, where itinerary planning often begins many months ahead of guests arriving aboard.
Silvano and Nikolov emphasise a balance between attentive professional service and the privacy that guests expect from a large yacht. Their interview presents KATHARINE as suitable for families, groups of friends and special occasions that require space for everyone to gather without losing the opportunity to retreat. The two captains identify different favourite areas aboard, illustrating the vessel's multiple guest and crew spaces.
Nikolov highlights the sundeck and its mix of outdoor entertaining and wellness facilities, while Silvano prefers the open feeling of the aft deck. The personal comments are useful because they come from officers who operate the yacht rather than designers discussing a concept. Their assessments remain subjective, however, and potential charterers should consider how the advertised deck arrangement suits their own group.
The interview places Croatia at the centre of KATHARINE's recent Mediterranean programme, with the captains pointing towards a combination of historic coastal cities, island anchorages and locally organised experiences. Dubrovnik, Split and Rovinj are among the destinations referenced in the discussion. The appeal they describe is not simply moving rapidly between ports, but choosing an itinerary that leaves time for swimming, dining and visits ashore.
Nikolov also mentions the Korta Katarina property, an estate and hospitality business associated with the yacht's owners. Such personal connections can give guests opportunities to experience a destination beyond standard marina stops. Individual shore visits depend on availability, permissions and the charter plan, so the interview does not establish a fixed itinerary or guarantee access to any location during future bookings.
KATHARINE measures approximately 1,049 gross tons with an eleven-metre beam, giving the designers considerable room for guest and service areas. Burgess describes a traditional interior with cherry-wood detailing, a main-deck master suite, a VIP suite and four further guest cabins. All six guest suites are on the main deck, a layout that can be attractive to family groups seeking easy access without frequent changes of deck level.
The yacht's upper-deck lounge covers approximately eighty square metres, while indoor and exterior dining spaces allow the charter team to adapt to weather and guest preferences. Her traditional canoe-stern profile is a recognisable feature of the original CRN design. These dimensions and arrangements are drawn from the broker's current particulars and should be confirmed with the operator when planning a specific charter.
After Croatia, the advertised winter cruising regions are the Caribbean and Bahamas. Silvano and Nikolov identify opportunities among the Lesser Antilles, including St Lucia and the Grenadines, and highlight quieter anchorages in the Exumas. The change of scenery brings different distances, seasonal weather patterns and local arrangements that captains must incorporate into guest itineraries and technical voyage planning.
The captains' comments range from snorkelling and diving to informal experiences ashore. A charter can involve several islands without guests repeatedly packing and changing hotels, but weather, marine protected areas and immigration requirements can shape the actual route. Burgess's published interview is a guide to what the team enjoys delivering, not a commitment that every suggested island will fit all dates or every charter request.
Burgess lists KATHARINE's winter weekly charter rate at USD 315,000 to USD 357,000, depending on the period, with the yacht advertised for the Bahamas and Caribbean. This is a charter-rate range rather than an all-inclusive travel quotation. Guests must establish what additional expenses, tax and operating charges apply to their proposed voyage before making direct comparisons with other yachts.
Her published inventory includes an approximately twelve-metre Intrepid tender, a smaller Gemini tender, personal watercraft, underwater scooters, paddleboards, an eFoil and diving equipment. The yacht is also described as an approved training centre for personal watercraft. As with all large-yacht inventories, availability and serviceability of equipment should be confirmed for the booking rather than assumed from a standing brochure.
The broker quotes a cruising speed of twelve knots and a maximum of fourteen knots, with propulsion from two Caterpillar engines. These figures establish a measured cruising profile rather than a high-speed programme. For a yacht of this scale, route planning must also consider fuel, shore services, mooring options, transfers and the working hours of the professional crew.
The published specification records a draught of 3.5 metres, which can restrict access to some shallow anchorages in the Bahamas and other island groups. Captains must therefore select locations and tender transfer arrangements suitable for the yacht's actual conditions. Quoted fuel consumption and speed figures are indicative and can vary with loading, hull condition and sea state, so they are not a substitute for detailed voyage calculations.
One of the interview's recurring themes is the crew's ability to adapt experiences to the individual charter party. The captains describe private dining, historical excursions, diving and informal activities as examples of what a well-organised team can arrange. Such service depends on good communication between guests, the bridge, interior and deck departments as well as local shore providers.
Burgess's October publication gives potential guests an introduction to the people responsible for the voyage as the yacht prepares for another winter season. It does not report a sale, a new refit or a change of ownership. The confirmed development is an updated account of KATHARINE's charter experience, with an advertised seasonal shift from the Croatian coast to the Caribbean and Bahamas.
Continue reading
Chapman Yachting is relaunching the 39m Oceanfast EVOLUTION with a new Sydney Harbour event and Australian coastal charter programme for summer 2026/27.
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