Photo: Bernard Gallay Yacht Brokerage
Motor superyachts are those primarily associated with the concept of luxury cruising, but those who want to combine this with the unique experience of sailing prefer modern sloops. Elise Whisper is one of those complex vessels that combines the prowess of a racing champion with the sumptuous comforts of a yacht perfect for luxury holidays.
Elise Whisper has earned its reputation in the world of yacht racing as a high-performance lightweight sloop. In just one year, it has won three trophies: the 2009 SWS Trophy, 1st place in the Mini Maxy Rolex Cup and 1st place in the Rolex Fastnet Race. A few years later, it also came second in one of the editions of Les Voiles St Tropez.
As a cruiser-racer, the elegant Elise Whisper has been able to delight her charter guests with the same success with which she competed in prestigious races. When she entered the market a few years ago, Elise Whisper was presented by her builder as “a huge success” in this very competitive sector, a success measured by the number of repeat customers.
What made these customers come back? It certainly had to do with the yacht's elegant and classic interiors, the luxurious onboard services (including fine dining provided by an Italian chef) and the unique experience of a cruise aboard this type of sloop.
Elise Whisper is not a young ship. She made her debut more than two decades ago, in 2001, when she was launched as the first unit of the Reichel Pugh-designed SW78 mini-series. The SW78 would become one of the most successful series developed by the South African shipyard Southern Wind.
In 2018, it was time for the cruiser-racer to get a makeover. The refit was fully supervised by the original builder’s customer service team to ensure the best possible outcome. The changes were particularly noticeable in the beautiful main saloon, which is clad in classic teak and finished with ivory upholstery. The entertainment, air conditioning and connectivity systems were also updated.
The classic Elise Whisper is also remarkably spacious for her size, boasting a three-stateroom layout designed to accommodate up to ten guests. The master stateroom spans 16 square metres (172 square feet) and the classic saloon includes a generous dining area for up to ten.
As an offshore cruiser, Elise Whisper cruises smoothly at 12 knots, powered by a single Yanmar engine. A small crew of three, including an experienced race captain, is sufficient to operate this elegant vessel and cater to charter guests, resulting in a more intimate and welcoming onboard experience for guests.
The 23-year-old refitted cruiser-racer recently found a new owner who, given her proven success, will most likely continue to share her with charter clients. It is very likely that this new owner has made a smarter investment than others who have purchased new sloops in the same size category this year. Unlike her younger counterparts, Elise Whisper is both a trophy winner and a popular charter yacht, and at a modest price of €1.49 million ($1.6 million), she was a steal.