Letter From The Editor: Swept Away
January 1, 2004
There aren’t many places left in the world where glitter is considered
good.
Thank goodness for Sardinia. ; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
Writer Susan Price-Root, who knows a
thing or two about boats and more than a thing or two about glitter, returned to
the Mediterranean island last summer in grand style aboard a charter yacht. Her
observations about Italian boats in general and the chichi scene at Costa
Smeralda in particular make for a great read. But there were some delicious
tidbits that we just couldn’t squeeze in, no matter how much we put the pages on
a diet. I suppose that is why we have the editor’s letter—to pick up any
leftover morsels. (Click image to enlarge)
Here are more of Susan’s anecdotes about this tiny island
in the sun, which I could not, in good conscience, leave on the editing room
floor:
A charter yacht manager relayed the story of one of her housekeepers,
who called to ask how to handle the awkward discovery of a cache of cash stuffed
under the mattress of a yacht chartered to an East European businessman (we
won’t divulge his exact nationality, for fear of international reprisal). “Just
make the bed and don’t say anything to anybody,” the manager hissed
nervously.
The most annoying thing about Sardinia, in fact, is that
everything must be paid for in cash. That and the appalling $200 taxi fare for
the 20-minute ride from the airport to the Hotel Cala di Volpe. Fortunately,
most hotels and yacht charter companies will send a car to pick you up if you
give them advance notice. Even billionaires—especially billionaires—hate being
ripped off.
The trend in Italian boats is—surprise, surprise—bigger, faster,
more luxurious and, of course, more beautiful. Like Ferraris, the boats look
like they are flying, even when they are standing still. “Our most popular model
used to be the little Don Giovanni,” says Apreamare’s Francesca Casarola, “the
little speedboat for two that was a floating mattress. But then everyone started
needing bigger family-size boats. I guess that was the inevitable outcome of Don
Giovanni.”
As you start plotting your course for Sardinia this summer, keep
in mind that it is crucial to be seen there in July or in early September. Never
in late August. Why? You’ll just have to read the article on page 38 to find
out.
collection@robbreport.com
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