Epiphany at Sea: A Night Aboard Cecil Wright’s CONTIGO

Not many people can say they’ve stayed on a yacht, let alone a 49.99-meter Cecil Wright motor yacht named CONTIGO. This megayacht, delivered in 2024 by the renowned Italian shipyard Sanlorenzo, was nothing short of a penthouse floating on the crystal-clear waters of the Bahamas’ Atlantic Ocean.

Upon arriving via a Wajer 55 chase boat, greeted by the awaiting crew, felt like stepping into the opening scene of The White Lotus — minus the drama, plus the effortless precision and polish of a Four Seasons-caliber staff. As my toes touched the wood-finished deck, a wave of euphoria washed over me. A flute of bubbly champagne was elegantly served, garnished with a rosemary sprig, a subtle cue that set the tone for a truly niche experience.

You know the kind: the stories you tell when meeting someone new or a friend asks, “What’s the coolest thing you’ve ever done?”

My stay was only one night, but Studio Lissoni’s yacht interior, the beach club and ocean lounge, dedicated spa and sauna, fully equipped gym, deck jacuzzi and the Water 55 chase boat inviting access to spontaneity, altered my life perspective in ways that typically take years to achieve.

When you’re aboard a Cecil Wright superyacht that accommodates up to 10 guests in five cabins more luxurious than any hotel suite, I’d expect any guest could reach some sort of altered perspective. Mine, however, came only after a compilation of truly elusive moments.

The three-story yacht tour revealed wonder after wonder: a treadmill positioned on the sundeck with the vast ocean fueling your runner’s high, a cinematic rainfall shower on the main deck, and CONTIGO herself cruising comfortably at 12.5 knots, reaching a top speed of 16 knots thanks to eco-conscious engineering. To digest all of this, along with the delicious lunch prepared by Chef Joe Adams, we sought adventure for dessert. The choices? A luxury water sports catalogue.

Choose your character: jet skis, four F5SR SEABOBs, wakeboards, canoes, bikes, and snorkeling equipment. I rode a shiny $12,000 electric Jetsurf surfboard paired with an electric hydrofoil board, all courtesy of this Cecil Wright charter.

Gliding across the aqua ocean with salt water misting my face, the view of CONTIGO resting on the horizon with her sole purpose to be home for the day— something began to stir inside me. Playing in the sun and water for hours reverted me back to the peace of childhood. She had this undeniable power of drawing out pieces of me I hadn’t touched in decades, each space awakening another part of myself.

Each time I returned to this body of steel and grace, I was greeted with a new surprise. Sunset called for Aperol spritzes; the next day answered with margaritas. Each time served in the calming atmosphere where the only sound was the ocean itself. Through its advanced onboard systems, the yacht achieves near silence, with noise, vibration, and emissions reduced to a minimum.

Getting ready for dinner, I made a request for my drink of choice. The professional crew of 11 made it materialize instantly, as they did with every wish throughout my stay.

As evening descended, CONTIGO began to set the stage for dinner with ambient lighting features that made me feel safe in her hands. If she could display such moody, sophisticated lighting, she could do anything.

But in the morning, she truly glowed. I sipped my coffee by the sleek, mirrored spiral staircase that reflected back the hues of ocean blues dancing across its surface. For the record, CONTIGO is a “she” because only something this beautiful deserves the feminine — a maritime tradition I now fully understood.

In this morning light, with the whole world’s hum around me gone silent, I found a brief moment of stillness that offered up a synchronicity, a realization, a breakthrough. The list of CONTIGO’s allure goes on. My stay brought forth a message from the universe I’d been trying to access for years.

What will CONTIGO bring you?