| Alloy 110 |  |
What do Captain James Cook, Paul Gauguin, Marlon Brando, and musical
duo Rodgers and Hammerstein all have in common?
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If you are humming a tune from the old Broadway musical
South
Pacific, you guessed right. The South Pacific is as
exotic today as it was when Captain Cook ventured there in 1768 on a journey of
exploration and science. One hundred and twenty years later, French artist Paul
Gauguin journeyed to the South Pacific for a different type of
exploration—finding himself. His life in Tahiti inspired some of his best and
most recognized works. Visuals of verdant volcanic islands ringed in barrier
reefs and honey-skinned women with waist-long hair wreathed in garlands are as
compelling today as they were then.
 Captain Richard Cook and Charlatan’s crew. (Click image to enlarge)
When filming Mutiny on the Bounty in 1962, the late Marlon
Brando also fell in love with the South Pacific and even bought a piece of
it—doesn’t everyone want an atoll in an archipelago? A renowned recluse, Brando
spent several months a year on his island, Tetiaroa.
 The flower of a vanilla plant is hand pollinated on
Taha’a. (Click image to enlarge)
Rodgers and Hammerstein…well, I don’t know if they ever stepped foot in this
part of the world, but their long-running hit musical South Pacific is based on the American GI outpost
in Bora-Bora during World War II. Bloody Mary’s, one of the island’s most
popular restaurants, is a tribute to a song from the show. Photographs, placards
and testimonials from the likes of Brad Pitt and Jimmy Buffett bear witness to
the fact that this joint is the Sardi’s of the South Pacific.
 Taking a breather from a bike ride around
Bora-Bora. (Click image to enlarge)
One way to join the ranks of Gauguin, Brando and Buffett is
to charter a yacht in the South Pacific and experience the good life for
yourself. Unlike the Caribbean, chartering here is a trifle tricky because there
aren’t many crewed luxury yachts available. There are a few mini-cruise ships
and a bunch of bare boats, but a sailing yacht of Charlatan’s caliber
is an anomaly in these waters. This 110-foot (33.5-meter) yacht has a superb
pedigree: Built by the renowned Alloy Yachts in New Zealand, she was designed by
Ron Holland for sheer sailing performance. At the same time, she boasts an
outstanding teak interior by Redman Whiteley Dixon. The main salon is stately
and elegant, but in the South Pacific, you will live in the cockpit and on
deck—and a fine deck it is.
 The market in Papeete, Tahiti, is filled with bright
pareus, exotic oils and fresh produce. (Click image to enlarge)
The pilothouse, main salon and dining area are beautiful but
best saved for a rainy day. When it comes time to sleep, the three cabins
include an excellent king-size master suite with two bathrooms and an aft
stairway to a private cockpit. In this owner’s cockpit, the curved settee and
coffee table can be transformed into a large, comfy lounging bed, perfect for
stargazing. Two additional guest suites, one with a double bed and one with
twins that can be converted into a double, each have ensuite marble bathrooms
and are equally as comfortable. The expansive flush teak decks with a center cockpit and low
profile complete the "proper yacht" aesthetic. A true sailing yacht,
Charlatan was made for Tahiti.
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