Our Vessel
Brisa Elegante was commissioned to be built in 2008 by the Fethiye Seme Gulet Boatyard in Türkiye. It was launched 2010 as Barcelona Explorer and cruised the Mediterranean Sea for a few years. The original owner of Barcelona Explorer actually lived at the shipyard for more than a year to supervise the building of his ship and to bring in his own ideas.
The Barcelona Explorer is an Ayna Ketch with a “mirror-aft”. This ship style has the advantage of a very spacious aft cabin with a panoramic view, the perfect place for an extended cruise or a honeymoon!
The ship has a few features that are uncommon in a traditional gulet. The most obvious is the very large foredeck with ample space to roam around or for functions. Also, the mahogany hull gives her the elegant look and extreme strength.
During her first years, she was operated in the Mediterranean, offering week-long cruises. In 2014, in anticipation of an Atlantic crossing, the original pine hull was replaced with 1½-inch African mahogany to further add to the schooner’s stability and durability. New teak decks and an electrical conversion to North American standards was also done at this time.
She passed the ultimate stress test while sailing through the Mediterranean and across the Atlantic Ocean to Florida, a journey of more than 6000 miles (approx. 10,000 km). Based out of Florida, by 2015 Barcelona Explorer provided charter cruising near Great Abaco Island, Bahamas until Hurricane Dorian crippled the island in 2019.
Like many ships serving the tourist industry, this vessel had a very quiet 2020 and spent much of it in dry dock getting maintenance work, including extensive wood refinishing. On the way to dry dock, the old tender boat was “lost at sea”. Using the sails in rough seas would have improved the stability overall, but in this case, the tender was literally bounced off its moorings.
In January 2021, the Barcelona Explorer underwent extensive surveys and sea trials in preparation for her new home in Costa Rica and her new name, Brisa Elegante.
After an exciting voyage through the Caribbean and the Panama Canal, Brisa Elegante now invites you to discover the breathtaking Pacific coast of Costa Rica aboard a luxurious sailing yacht.
Technical Data
Boat Type – Pilothouse, Gulet
Built / Refit – 2010 / 2014
Builder – Fethiye Seme, Turkey
Length Overall – 100 Ft
Weight – 70 tons
Beam – 26 ft
Max Draft – 8 ft 6 in
Cabins – 6 with full ensuite
Flag – Costa Rica
ENGINE IVECO Diesel 460 HP
RIG Schooner
