When it comes to classic yachts, the 228-foot Sherakhan puts a very different spin on things. It was built 50 years ago as an ice-breaking tug and used as a Dutch training ship before its current owner, businessman and sailor Jan Verkerk, acquired the vessel in 2006. Verkerk then oversaw its conversion into an expedition yacht. Sherakhan was the second yacht in his four-strong fleet that included sailing yacht Thandeka, classic schooner Borkumriff II, and Legend, one of the first ice breaking superyacht conversions, which he sold to Eric and Wendy Schmidt in 2020.
Verkerk’s vision for Sherakhan was to create a classic-looking expedition yacht capable of visiting remote and undiscovered regions. The global explorer has more than lived up to expectations with a logbook that includes Greenland, Antarctica and Patagonia. In 2020, Sherakhan sailed over 150,000 nautical miles—the equivalent of more than seven trips around the globe in one year.
A surprisingly elegant exterior is coupled with an arresting interior styled by Claudia Rijntjes, where 26 guests enjoy an array of amenities, including a cavernous double-height open atrium dining space and a Balinese-themed spa. On board comfort is further heightened by the service and skill set of the yacht’s 19 crew.
In 2022, Sherakhan underwent a complete interior renovation, which saw a dedicated gym added and updates to the engine room.
Here are 10 things you didn’t know about one of the best examples of a classic explorer on the charter market, available through Y.CO.
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The ‘Jungle Book’ Link
Image Credit: Y.CO Though spelled (and pronounced) slightly differently, the yacht is named after “Shere Khan,” the fictional Bengal tiger in Rudyard Kipling’s The Jungle Book. Verkerk’s daughter was watching the Disney animation on a seemingly endless loop at the time of the yacht’s conversion, prompting him to call the vessel after the story’s jungle-smart villain. A piece of art of the namesake tiger hangs in the main salon. It’s an apt moniker for a yacht with a library that holds first edition works by famous authors.
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Front-Row Seats
Image Credit: Y.CO The sun lounges beside the pilothouse are reserved for the ultimate sea views. Guests lucky enough to cruise Antarctica or South Georgia will never miss a whale breaching or penguin sighting, thanks to the prominent seating. The seats also guarantee elevated 180-degree views.
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A Head for Heights
Image Credit: Y.CO Few yachts can comfortably seat 26 guests for a formal dinner. Even fewer house it in a 23-foot-high double atrium bathed in light from the glass-bottom Jacuzzi above. The 66-foot-long space is crowned by a silver chandelier and flanked by two sets of staircases that lead to a second salon with a dancefloor, bar and bespoke seating. Evening meals can be accompanied by live music, with a digital piano, acoustic guitar, drums and tambourines all within arm’s reach.
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Flexi-Decks
Image Credit: Y.CO Sherakhan accommodates 26 guests in 13 flexible cabin arrangements set across three decks. The design is made up of seven double cabins, two convertible cabins and four twin cabins. Interconnecting cabins form extended luxurious suites or family rooms.
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Far From the Madding crowd
Image Credit: Y.CO When 25 guests, plus crew, feel like a crowd, the owner’s upper-deck, master suite offers relief, with a private terrace, en suite, and central Jacuzzi. A low-level bed is twinned with a coffee table and chairs, a lounging area, and circular artwork on the ceiling depicting autumn leaves and a blue sky. A second double cabin on the same level also functions as a an office.
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Spinner’s Paradise
Image Credit: Y.CO There is no shortage of onboard entertainment with outdoor barbecues by day—prepared by the yacht’s 30-year veteran head chef—and evening gatherings that go on long into the night, powered by a Pioneer professional DJ deck, disco lights, a subwoofer, and four large speakers to ensure the beats ripple out across the water.
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Giant Jacuzzi
Image Credit: Y.CO Guests needn’t wait their turn for a soak in the giant glass-bottomed Jacuzzi, which can accommodate up to 18 guests. And those wishing to avoid the communal splash can lie on a nearby lounge, swing in a hammock, or take a seat at the bar.
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Bali at Sea
Image Credit: Y.CO Sherakhan’s lower-deck spa inspires Balinese meditation wherever guests happen to be cruising in the world. Added during the 2022 refit, it includes a sauna, second Jacuzzi, and massage area, with an onboard masseuse and yoga instructor at the guests’ disposal.
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Fitness Fanatics
Image Credit: Y.CO The purpose-built gym was another addition to the 2022 refit. It’s designed to help guests stay on top of fitness goals while at sea. The space includes a treadmill, bicycle, elliptical machine, and free weights.
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Toy Chest
Image Credit: Y.CO Sherakhan‘s owner likes to equip his yacht with a variety of water toys suitable for all ages. The toy chest includes an inflatable slide that descends from the sun deck, a water trampoline, kneeboards, eFoils, and three waverunners stored on deck. There are also two tenders that help guests to explore wherever Sherakhan happens to be cruising, from remote Caribbean cays to Patagonian fjords.
