Luxus-Crew-Katamaran

SOUTHERN CHARM

Other Entertainment: • Starlink

• Projector TV that can be set up anywhere on board

• Onboard Wi-Fi via Starlink (USVI only)

• 4-zone premium audio system with Bluetooth connectivity

• Universal plugs, plus additional outlets and USB connections beside each bed

• Linen sheets and pillowcases with super-lightweight down comforters for exceptional sleep comfort

• Individually controlled thermostats in each berth

• High-end Molton Brown bath gel, shampoo, conditioner, hand soap, and lotion

• Dimmable cabin lights with individual reading lights

• Lightweight Turkish towels provided for beach use, in addition to all bath linens

• Guest smoking: not permitted

Other Toys: 8 Person Dinghy With 25 HP

2 Sublue Sea Scooters

Subwing

2 Stand Up Paddle Boards

1 XL Stand Up Paddle Boards (holds 5-6 people)

8' Floating Mats/Dock

1 Circular Mesh

Snorkel Gear

Fishing Gear

Beach Games

Generator: 9KW

Wechselrichter: 6000W 110V & 5000W 220V

Wassermacher: 40 GPH

Eismaschine: Yes

Bimini: Yes

Beiboot: 13' Highfield RIB

Dinghy Pax: 8

Dinghy HP: 25hp

Helipad: No

Jacuzzi: No

Gym: No

Stabilizers: No

Elevators: No

Wheel Chair Access: No

Klimaanlage: Full

AC Night: Yes

AC SurCharge: No

Internet: Onboard WIFI

Salon Stereo: Yes

Sat TV: No

Ipod: Yes

Board Games: Yes

Deck Shower: Yes

Special Diets: Inq

Kosher: No

BBQ: Yes

Gay Charters: No

Nude Charters: Yes

Hair Dryer: Yes

Guest Smoke: No

Guest Pet: No

Children Allowed: Yes

Min Child Age: Water safe

Adult Water Skis: No

Kids Water Skis: No

Jet Skis: No

Wave Run: No

Knee Board: No

Stand Up Paddle: Yes

Wind Surf: No

Gear Snorkel: Yes

Tube: No

Scurfer: No

Wake Board: No

1 Man Kayak: No

2 Man Kayak: No

Sea Bob: No

Sea Scooter: Yes

Kite Boarding: No

Fish Permit: Inquire

Fishing Gear: Yes

Fishing Gear Type: heavy trolling and lightweight

Num Fish Rods: yes

Float Mats: Yes

Swim Platform: yes

Boarding Ladder: S/S ladder of scoop steps

Dinghy Sailing: No

Scuba Onboard: Yacht offers Rendezvous Diving only

Games Beach: Yes

Underwater Cam: No

Underwater Video: No

Green Make Water: Yes

Green Reuse Bottle: Yes

Green Other: Reef Friendly Sunscreen

Compressor: Not Onboard

Kevin King

Kapitän

Geboren in: 1972
Nation: USA
Gesprochene Sprachen: English

Elizabeth King

Chef/mate

Geboren in: 1972
Nation: USA

If ever a couple was built for the close-quarters intimacy of full-time cruising, it’s Kevin and Elizabeth King. These Leopard 50 owners have walked through life side-by-side since infancy. “Elizabeth and I met in church in Fort Smith, Arkansas, when we were about two-years-old,” says Kevin. “Our families were close. We went to church together, and our fathers eventually became business partners. Elizabeth and I even have the same birthday - day, month and year.”

After attending the University of Arkansas and working for their families’ telecom company, the energetic, ambitious couple decided to go into business for themselves. They did so in their usual way, together and full throttle. “In 2005, we decided to start our own real estate brokerage,” says Kevin. “It took off like mad. With Elizabeth's marketing skills and my sales and recruiting experience, everything just exploded. We became the number one volume real estate office in our region in just our third year.”

Of course, that success came at a price. As much as they loved their work, Kevin and Elizabeth knew they needed both a way to occasionally escape the demands of entrepreneurship and a plan for their long-term future, i.e., retirement. As it turns out, there was a one-word answer for both: Sailing. “Elizabeth came up with an idea to go sailing,” says Kevin. She found a crewed charter in the BVI, and we went and absolutely loved it.” Loved it a lot.

Kevin, who never goes along for the ride, spent much of that first cruise learning the basics of sailing from the crew. Over the next three years, the Kings immersed themselves in their new passion. They took ASA courses and went on more cruises. Kevin even volunteered to crew on passages up and down the East Coast. The couple was pleasantly surprised by the welcome and support they received from their fellow cruisers. “The sailing community is made up of a lot of good, caring people,” says Kevin. “They're like-minded. They enjoy sailing, obviously, but they also enjoy the sense of community and helping others. It’s amazing how quickly you can make friends even during a pandemic.”

In 2019, the Kings put their seamanship to a life-changing test. They successfully crossed the Atlantic via the Azores with their three kids on a friend’s Leopard 45. The trip sealed their decision to go full-time and validated their 2018 decision to purchase a Leopard 50. Kevin and Elizabeth took delivery of their 50 earlier this year and say it checks every box on their design and performance list. “We liked the Leopard a lot because of the forward hatch and the forward seating area,” says Kevin. “We love the flybridge, too. The heavy displacement is important to us. The boat is solid, like a tank. We've been in some pretty high winds being offshore, and it handles great. We've never felt unsafe with the Leopard. Taking the option of the larger engine was a good call. We use that added power a lot coming in and out of some inlets in Florida.”

The Kings’ Leopard, Southern Charm, is now pretty much home for Kevin, Elizabeth and their daughter, who is finishing up high school remotely from the Leopard’s lounge area. While the couple must occasionally spend time in Fort Smith as they wrap up the sale of their business, they hurry back to Southern Charm as soon as possible. The COVID pandemic has had a mixed impact on the King’s new-boat experience. On the downside, the couple was forced to cancel a planned maiden cruise to the Bahamas, a cruise to Acadia National Park in Maine, and visits by friends and family. But the corona-caused acceptance of remote meeting options reduced the need for those trips back to Arkansas.

Once the all-clear sounds, the Kings would like to explore the Bahamas and circumnavigate the world. Closer in, they look forward to introducing their friends and family to Southern Charm and the world of sailing. “Fort Smith is a border town with the Arkansas River wrapping around half of it, “ says Kevin. “We have lakes all around the city, so lots of our friends grew up skiing and wakeboarding and all that kind of stuff, but nobody's really been on a big sailboat.” The couple also plans to offer crewed cruises on Southern Charm. Kevin says they might do ten or fifteen cruises a year, “just enough to cover some of our cruising costs.” And scratch their entrepreneurial itch, no doubt.

When exactly all this might happen is still up in the air, given the continued health concerns. And that’s fine with the Kings. “We've kind of quit planning with COVID,” says Elizabeth. “We have a general idea of what we're going to do, and then we're just pretty loosey-goosey from there.” Adds Kevin: “We were on a treadmill with work for a long time. We want to spend some quality time enjoying the slow route. Not hurrying on an agenda to get anywhere, but enjoying the places we visit and taking the time to meet locals and enjoy the local food, and get to know people a little bit instead of hurrying to get the next spot.”

One thing is certain, even in these crazy times. Whatever the future holds for Kevin and Elizabeth, they’ll experience it hand-in-hand.