Since her delivery in 2011 by Picchiotti, part of The Italian Sea Group, 182’9” (55.7m) GALILEO has been everywhere from the Northwest Passage to exotic islands. Under her current ownership and having recently joined the IYC charter fleet, she is a platform from which charter guests can discover and experience the raw beauty and warm waters of Southeast Asia with an added thrill of adventure. 

GALILEO’s new life as a charter yacht with surfing and diving capabilities is, at its core, a very personal story close to her owner’s heart. “I started surfing in my late twenties and it’s been a real passion of mine since. Surfing is all about my relationship with the ocean and I’ve been exploring the Indonesian archipelago for the last 15 years, enlarging my passion into other pursuits too, like diving and spearfishing,” they share. 

After looking for the perfect yacht to level up their pursuit of exploration, GALILEO ticked all the boxes in terms of her range, her pedigree, and capabilities to fulfill the adventures her owner was after and wanted to share through their charter program. “I wanted to embody my passions on this boat, to relate it to other people and create a charter yacht that can go to those remote and unexplored places to search for forgotten and secret waves around the world.” 

To prepare for this, her owner went on board extensively with their core group of friends who also enjoy surfing, diving, and spearfishing in order to collect notes from hands-on experience on what needed to be improved, which equipment was needed, and how to run the program.  

The result of this is a new and improved GALILEO, fresh from an extensive interior refit completed in 2023. They worked with local designer Anita Horn, who has designed many high end luxury villas in Bali to help bring a south asian, tropical feel on board. The renewed spirit of the boat came alive through the changing of every photo on the wall and the addition of more modern and tropical looking elements such as a new dining table made from 300 year old teak sourced from Java. 

Above all, however, the refit was approached with adventure in mind, with a key new feature resulting from the rebuild of the lazarette to make it fit for purpose, with improved access to dive, surf, and gym equipment. The transformation of a multi purpose room that added no particular value to the yacht before now serves as a dive and surf guide area where they are able to get specialist dive and surf experts set up to plan and prepare the days ahead. 

With boards and the capacity to cater for every level of surfer on board, and locations for all levels too, the waves beckon any guest ready to paddle towards the break. For those less interested in taking part in the action, anchorage-permitting, the Captain will anchor the main boat off at a distance for the comfort of those on board who can watch their friends and family catch and ride waves from a calmer area. 

For those remaining on board, the more traditional fleet of toys is available too. Complete with Jet Skis, wakeboards, water skis, paddle boards, canoes, a seabob, there is something to keep everyone entertained, not to mention three tenders which is considerable for a yacht of her size. 

A unique offering on board is the chance to come home with tangible memories. GALILEO is host to a full infantry of underwater cameras and deckhand, Alejandro, who doubles as a photographer and editor, gifts clients with a short video to take home at the end of their trip of what they got up to while on charter. 

No time spent on board GALILEO would be as special without acknowledging the waters and islands she cruises through. Captain of GALILEO, Anthony Daebritz, has been cruising Southeast Asia for 25 years and brings unique knowledge to the charters he leads. “Unlike in the Caribbean or in the Mediterranean, you really feel like you’re out there by yourself,” he says. The islands, adorned like jewels in emerald waters, are blanketed by ceaseless tropical jungles and simmering volcanoes, while life under the surface leads to the discovery of vast coral reefs, undiscovered species, immense manta rays, and breathtaking submerged landscapes. “You go to Europe for culture and history,” says Daebritz, “but you come to the Indian Ocean and Southeast Asia for its diversity and raw beauty.” 

Her owner affirms that what makes this area truly special is its people. “They have an extremely happy culture. It’s a very diverse group of islands. Languages change from island to island and every religion in the world is found in Indonesia. It’s a true melting pot.” 

Both agree, however, that the best thing about Indonesia is that the distance between islands is not so great, allowing for maximum exploration with minimal time lost traveling in between. 

One of the best-kept secrets in the area, according to her owner and Captain, is the small United States-recognized nation of Timor-Leste. Uncrowded and considered a prime diving spot by those in the know, Timor boasts undamaged coral reefs and is teaming with wildlife, including dolphins and whales. “Its access to some of the most remote parts of the world is really the last frontier,” GALILEO’s owner says. 

The Southeast Asian local flair is transported on board and delivered on the plate. Maltese chef Martin Bugeja makes his guests’ palettes travel serving up a wide range of cuisines, all with a little twist of local zest and wonderful blends of aromatic spices. With the yacht’s spearfishing capabilities, GALILEO’s owner says it’s part of the culture on board to try and catch a fish and give it to the chef to cook up and plate for dinner. In those waters, it isn’t uncommon to catch anything from Spanish mackerel to tuna, jobfish, and snapper, to name a few. And to cap it off, sip on the yacht’s signature tropical rum-based cocktail to carry the local flavors into the night. 

GALILEO’s cruising through these areas is not without considering preserving the beauty of that environment. “Particularly with our dive master when we go scuba diving,” says Daebritz, “we focus on leaving the reef as undisturbed as possible.” Her owner recognizes that spearfishing may be a contentious subject for some, but their approach is one that sees the activity not only as entertainment, but as “a good way to be sustainable in terms of utilizing what you catch yourself rather than anything that has used any carbon or fossil fuels to be delivered on your plate.” 

GALILEO operates with an eco-approach. “We try to do our best to reduce our footprint,” says Daebritz. Using hybrid-propulsion, the yacht also abides as much as they can to the principles outlined in the Green Stewardess, an eco-aware initiative that educates on supplying eco-friendly products and solutions to yachts and crew. Among these principles is the use of a water filtration system on board and trying to do away with single use plastics as much as possible, as well as using biodegradable, non-toxic, and reusable products where possible. 

Beyond its lavish amenities and exciting program, GALILEO’s commitment to environmental sustainability sets it apart as a beacon of responsible tourism. In a time when our oceans face unprecedented challenges, a powerful message is shared: the preservation of our oceans is not a choice, but an imperative. Fostering a deeper understanding of marine ecosystems and more sustainable operations, GALILEO exemplifies the harmonious coexistence of luxury living and beautiful, untouched nature. 

In an era when discerning travelers seek experiences that go beyond the ordinary, GALILEO emerges as an embodiment of those desires, inviting guests to step out of their comfort zone and embrace the thrill of the unexplored.