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Stateroom (Clark Curtis/For WDN)

Wheelhouse (Clark Curtis/For WDN)

Flybridge (Clark Curtis/For WDN)

Impromptu on open water(Clark Curtis/For WDN)

Windows shined to perfection(Clark Curtis/For WDN)

Impromptu (Clark Curtis/For WDN)

Impromptu docked along Washington riverwalk(Clark Curtis/For WDN)

Gustav Von Mansberg, first mate(Clark Curtis/For WDN)

Verdes Terblanche, captain(Clark Curtis/For WDN)

The towering luxury yacht docked along the riverwalk in Washington has been capturing the attention of young and old alike. Captained by Verdes Terblanche, the X95 Princess yacht is en route to Florida. “I am the captain of the Impromptu for the owner, who resides in New York and Florida,” said Terblanche. “We are currently making our way down the intercostal to Florida, where the owner resides in the winter months. Washington is home to me, my wife, Amy, and our daughter Viola. So, any opportunity I can get to come home, I will take it!”

The yacht is a stately manor of the waterways. Built in the United Kingdom in 2020, it spans 95 feet in length, is 22 feet wide, and has a seven-foot draft, which is the depth of the vessel below the waterline. Two Min 1900hp motors power it. There are five staterooms that sleep up to ten guests, along with two rooms for the ship’s crew of three. In addition, there are eight bathrooms, a galley, a flybridge where people can entertain themselves, a wheelhouse, a hot tub, a 14-foot jet drive inflatable, and an onboard water maker. And this is just a mere sampling of the amenities.

As the captain of the boat, Terblanche has many responsibilities. They include driving the boat, plotting navigation, overseeing the maintenance to ensure everything is in shape, scheduling routine service to the engines and electronics, ensuring the safety gear is inspected and doing all of the general paperwork. “It’s all part of the job,” said Terblanche. “Myself and the crew pretty much live on the boat. When we are docked at the owner’s home in New York, we are there, ready to take the owner and his family wherever they want to go. The same is true when we head south to Miami. It is not uncommon to take them to the Bahamas or some other islands every other week. During downtime, there is always a lot of glass, decks, and painting that needs to be taken care of, which is handled by my first mate, Gustav Von Mansberg.”

Terblanche, who is also a broker for United Yacht Sales, had been a captain for about 11 years on a 114-foot yacht. Two years ago, he took on his new role on the Impromptu. “The current owner approached me, and I was able to broker the deal on this yacht,” said Terblanche. “I found the boat in Italy, sent it over to him, he fell in love with it and wanted to buy it. So I managed the whole deal for him. He then asked me if I wanted to come to work for him full-time, and I said, ‘Sure!’”

Terblanche said it used to be very exciting when he first started captaining about 13 years ago, but he said he thinks it may be time to move on. “I really would like to be home more with Amy and Viola,” said Terblanche. “So I’m starting to look at some other business options here in Washington.”

The Impromptu will remain docked in Washington until November 25 before heading south to Florida. And for those passing by, they may see what appears to be a for sale sign. “This yacht is not for sale, but its identical twin in Florida is,” said Terblanche. The price is between $10 and $10.75 million.”

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