The Beautiful Alessandro Blends Traditional Craftsmanship With Modern Yachting Luxury

It doesn't come from a prestigious shipyard, but it reflects the unique heritage of Turkish shipbuilding. Turkey is home to some of the greatest superyacht shipyards worldwide, and its history is infused with the art of boat building. Ruth Yachting may not be a big name in this industry. Still, its flagship, Alessandro, is undoubtedly one of the most notable modern ketches.

Alessandro made its debut in 2011, and would later undergo several refits, including in 2015 and 2019. It was designed and built by its owner, which is perhaps why Alessandro became so popular as a charter yacht. The owner knew what his family needed, and the result was a pleasure craft that any family would love.

Size-wise, this wouldn't officially be categorized as a superyacht. At a little over 130 feet (40 meters), Alessandro is big enough to welcome ten guests onboard, together with a six-person crew. Most importantly, it also boasts enough space and adequate design to include features that would typically be found on contemporary motoryachts, such as a jacuzzi and a fold-down transom.

The beautifully crafted mahogany hull, fitted with a ketch rig, reveals a classic-style interior and surprisingly lavish outdoor areas. The five-cabin layout with a full-beam master suite, three double staterooms, and one twin cabin, is specifically adapted to family needs.

Alessandro's main bedroom is particularly beautiful. A lavish, walk-around king-sized bed is surrounded by glossy wood panels, one of the main attributes of classic-style sailboats. It includes several comfy seating areas and a multifunctional lounging nook with a table and a large sofa. This discrete nook can serve both as a lounge area and a private office.

Despite the classic look, all cabins are fitted with air conditioning, satellite TV, Wi-Fi, and USB connections. The marble en-suite bathrooms are surprisingly spacious. However, even though they're beautifully decorated and well-equipped, the cabins onboard Alessandro are relatively small and don't come with great panoramic views. With sailing yachts in this size category, it's best to spend most of the time outdoors to appreciate the views fully.

The yacht's aft deck comes with two large options for al-fresco dining, placed side by side. This setup also benefits from the protection of a hardtop Bimini. Further aft, guests will discover the fold-sown transom leading to a surprisingly large swim platform.

This space is big enough for comfortable lounging during the day, and it's also the starting point for all water adventures. As a charter yacht, Alessandro comes with a generous selection of water toys, including wakeboards and jet skis. Plus, it's equipped for fishing and snorkeling.

The forward deck reveals one of Alessandro's best surprises, a generous jacuzzi, something that's usually found only on larger sailing yachts. The spa pool is surrounded by comfy sun loungers, while another Bimini provides shade and privacy.

The Turkish sailboat also offers a spacious, sophisticated main salon. It includes generous seating, a beautiful formal dining area that can seat up to ten guests, and a modern bar. Alessandro's classic style, with wood paneling and cream-toned accents, can be admired in all its glory inside the beautiful main salon. Still, when the sun is setting, there's no better place than the aft deck for dining or sipping cocktails under the moonlight.

Today's gulets are all classified as motor sailers because they combine one or more engines with sails. Alessandro is powered by two 550 HP Volvo Penta D12 engines, enabling it to cruise at nine knots (10.3 mph/16.6 kph) and reach a maximum speed of just 13 knots (14.9 mph/24 kph). Initially meant for cruising around Turkey and Greece, Alessandro ended up as a successful charter yacht in Croatia, with weekly rates starting at €48,000 ($52,000).

Like most Turkish sailing yachts, Alessandro is the modern version of a gulet. Gulets are the traditional wooden boats built in Bodrum and Marmaris. Contemporary gulets are built exclusively as leisure boats for touristic purposes or private use, ranging from 20 to 40 meters (65.6 – 131 feet) and various degrees of luxury.

These unique vessels, which can typically be admired around Greece, Turkey, and Croatia, blend the heritage craftsmanship of southwestern Turkey with the modern accommodations of luxury superyachts.

The beautiful Alessandro is currently up for grabs. For less than $4 million (€3,4 million), someone could become the new lucky owner of this peaceful sailing yacht with a modern jacuzzi and swim platform. Still in excellent shape and highly popular, Alessandro would also make a great investment - it was booked for 12 weeks during this year's season.