Charter yacht of the week: The 30m Wally Vantanera backed by an Ocean Race-calibre crew

Each week we select one of the world's finest superyachts for charter. This week BOAT take a closer look at Vantanera, the 30.6-metre Wally sailing yacht that combines private Mediterranean/Caribbean cruising with a calendar of world-class regattas. Fresh from a 2025 refit and available with Kora Yachts, she offers something rarely found on the charter market: guests can spend one week exploring quiet anchorages and the next lining up for events such as the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup or Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez under the guidance of an Ocean Race-calibre crew...

Why charter Vantanera?

Many sailing yachts for charter promise performance, but few can actually deliver. That's where Vantanera holds a niche of her own – maintaining the understated styling that characterises a much-loved Wally and a charter programme backed by genuine race credentials. 

That speciality is in large part owed to the crew behind her sailing programme. Led by professionals with serious offshore experience, guests can be as hands-on or hands-off as they wish throughout their time on board. Captain Oliver Kobale has logged more than 150,000 offshore miles, competed in two Ocean Race campaigns and crossed the Atlantic 12 times, while first mate William Turner represented Bermuda at the Youth America's Cup and continues to race professionally. 

Oliver and William are joined by an experienced stewardess, bringing the service on board in line with the standards expected of a high-end charter yacht, whether guests are looking to get involved with the sailing or simply relax.

Crew pedigree aside, the yacht also adapts to its environments and its guests' wishes – and that versatility is ultimately what sets Vantanera apart from other cruising charters. The 30.6-metre is equally comfortable spending a week anchored in quiet Mediterranean and Caribbean bays or lining up on the start line of prestigious regattas.

Delivered in 2003 to a design by Germán Frers and comprehensively refitted in 2025 under Kora Yachts' ownership, she goes beyond the aesthetics of a performance sailing yacht and instead carries a new sail wardrobe delivered in 2026, a carbon Southern Spars rig and B&G H5000 instrumentation. This invites experienced sailors to charter the yacht for genuine regatta participation, while less experienced guests can simply enjoy the pace and responsiveness that come with a lightweight performance platform.

One week might be spent island-hopping through the Cyclades or exploring the quieter corners of the Balearics. Another? She could be thrashing it out for top spot on the Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup podium, crossing the start line of Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez, or hosting corporate events at the Cyclades Cup. Perhaps, in true Corinthian spirit, she will claim victory at the St Barths Bucket – where the ultimate aim is to win the party.

Read More/St Barths Bucket: The extraordinary history of an event where the ultimate aim is to win the party

The interior mood

Fresh from a 2025 refit, Vantanera's interiors strike a careful balance between contemporary comfort and the understated design language for which Wally is known. The main saloon feels bright and uncluttered, with textured white sofas, soft grey accents and generous natural light creating a calm, residential atmosphere rather than a traditional nautical one.

Descending from the cockpit, guests arrive in an open-plan saloon where a dining area sits to port opposite a generous lounge, while the galley is discreetly positioned aft in a practical seamanlike layout that keeps service efficient without dominating the guest spaces. Accommodation is for eight guests across three en suite cabins, all refreshed as part of the refit, with bathrooms retiled in charcoal slate that provide a striking contrast to the light-filled living spaces.

Out on deck

The same considered update extends on deck, where new custom furniture, oversized sunpads and refreshed lounging areas ensure the layout reflects the yacht's dual purpose; there is ample space for long lunches in the cockpit, sunbathing on the aft deck and easy access to the water via the swim platform, but the working deck has been carefully preserved so the yacht remains every inch a capable sailing machine.

A newly added bowsprit subtly enhances her already elegant profile and, when the sails are hoisted, guests can take the helm, trim sails alongside the professional crew or simply settle back and enjoy the sea breeze.

A different kind of sailing charter

Vantanera isn't aimed solely at experienced sailors. Instead, she's designed for guests who want to be more involved in their time on the water than a conventional motor yacht charter allows.

For those new to sailing, that could mean learning the fundamentals from a crew with Ocean Race and Youth America's Cup experience, taking the helm under supervision or simply discovering the rhythm of life under sail. Those with sailing experience are encouraged to participate, whether trimming sails, helping with manoeuvres or rediscovering a passion they've not had the opportunity to pursue for years.

The yacht is equally suited to families and groups of friends looking to share an experience rather than simply a destination. With space for up to 12 guests during the day, Vantanera lends herself to long lunches at anchor, afternoon cruises and inviting friends on board to experience life under sail before returning ashore.

As Captain Oliver Kobale puts it: "The beauty of Vantanera is the combination of comfort and service of a true luxury charter yacht with the sailing ability of a performance yacht."

For Kora co-founder Konstantin Kobale, that balance is central to the experience: “We don’t want our guests to simply charter a yacht and watch the ocean go by. We want them to experience nature and sailing. That might mean taking the helm, learning how to read the wind or simply sitting in the cockpit with your favourite drink and book in your hand as Vantanera glides effortlessly through the waves. With Kora, the yacht is not the destination – the experience of being out there, connected to the sea and the elements, is.”

Book Vantanera

For guests looking to take things a step further, Kora also offers a programme of regatta and offshore sailing experiences that few charter yachts can match. Depending on the season, guests can join events including:

• The Maxi Yacht Rolex Cup in Porto Cervo
• Ibiza JoySail
• Les Voiles de Saint-Tropez
• Antigua Superyacht Challenge
• St Barths Bucket.

The common thread? Participation. Rather than simply watching the scenery drift by, guests leave having learned new skills, worked as a team and experienced the unique satisfaction that comes from travelling under sail.

Vantanera is available for charter with Kora Yachts from €55,000 per week, excluding VAT and APA.

Read More/The superyacht regattas to have on your radar in 2026