A monument to class and meticulousness, the third Blue Moon is a worthy successor to her two sister yachts. The second yacht built at Royal Van Lent for the same Feadship owner, the new 60.35-meter yacht (198 feet) is a quintessential family boat that benefits from her owners’ extensive experience in yachts and in life.

Despite a venerable age of 83, the owner of Blue Moon loves being at the forefront of new developments in the yachting industry. Accordingly, he is constantly determined to push the envelope of innovation on his own yachts. “The Industrial Revolution began over 200 years ago, while the electronic revolution started circa 1995,” he notes. “Nonetheless, more has happened over the last decade than in the previous two centuries put together. One can only imagine what the following ten years will bring. In this sense at least, the new Blue Moon could not have been built in 2000.”

The owner’s first Feadship experience was a two-week cruise on September Blue in the mid-1990s. An immediate convert, he soon bought the 47.50-meter Mi Gaea, which was renamed Blue Moon. Not long after, the designs for a brand-new Feadship were on the table and the second Blue Moon - the largest aluminum Feadship ever built at the time - was launched in 2000.

The third Blue Moon was commissioned in 2002 with a design brief for a boat similar to her predecessor, but with more accommodation and sleeker appearance, all within a maximum length of 200 feet. She was also to have more functions and be exceptionally comfortable in colder climates to facilitate the exploration of more remote sailing areas.

The owner was closely involved in the design, engineering and construction at every stage, visiting The Netherlands on many occasions. As with the previous Blue Moon, the team consisted of the Royal Van Lent Shipyard, De Voogt Naval Architects and interior designer Donald Starkey. “People are the prime component of any successful venture,” the owner explains. “While there are no doubt talented personnel at other yachtbuilders, I have been particularly impressed with the understanding, professionalism and courtesy of everyone at Feadship. I believe that you never break your leg tripping over an elephant – it is the cracks in the sidewalk you have to watch out for. I have been on a number of boats and a lack of attention to detail is all too often apparent. At Feadship, every little detail - the ubiquitous cracks in the sidewalk – is covered. And that means the major things take care of themselves.”

Blue Moon brings together all of Feadship’s technological expertise built for a highly experienced owner and to the highest Feadship standards: watertight doors, hardly noticeable, are neatly built into bulkheads; uplighters between columns are set into the deck with precision; sliding glass windbreaks on the side decks are discreetly incorporated into the bulwarks. And then there is that amazing elevator… Blue Moon is a very special yacht indeed.

Exterior
Blue Moon’s exterior profile has a telltale Feadship feel, with the flared bow immediately identifying her De Voogt origins, combined with contemporary Starkey touches such as the semi-circular extensions with glass bulwarks on the sun and bridge deck aft. Overall, the design represents a logical development on the previous Blue Moon; her increased size gives a more imposing and powerful look without being overtly masculine.

The glass fashion plates (with sliding panels) at the stern provide a visual connection between all three main decks, without obstructing the views from inside the lounges or aft deck areas when (dinner) cruising. Other features of note include the stylistic elements that have been incorporated into the bulwark and curtain plate amidships on the bridge deck: These minimize the aesthetic impact of having the tenders stored behind the wheelhouse.

Two passages lead forward to the fore deck, which give the central section a car bonnet-like appearance. This look is appropriate in practical terms too as it opens up to reveal a crew/MOB boat. A prominent feature on the sun deck is the housing for the elevator and enclosed observation lounge. Above this are two elegant wings and a range of other styling gimmicks that create a fresh look to this uppermost part of the profile.

Interior
The style of Blue Moon’s mahogany and cherry interior is modern classic. The overall feel is traditional, as is especially evident in the stunning mahogany passageway to the owner’s quarters. Prominent modern details include the abundance of glass and grey marble. Blue Moon is also characterized by a pronounced ‘wow’-factor, created by the dramatic observation deck on top of the wheelhouse, the glass patio on the aft bridge deck, and the central elevator that runs throughout five decks of the boat. The loose furniture, fabrics, carpet and accessories, both interior and on decks, were chosen by Chicagobased interior designers Lee Perot Design (specifically, Robin Waterman and Leah Gray), in close cooperation with the owner’s wife. This guaranteed a homelike, as well as stylish, interior for Blue Moon, as opposed to a designer’s statement.

Main deck
Entrance lobby and forward corridor The first thing that strikes visitors as they enter the main deck lobby of Blue Moon is the remarkable elevator, which runs from the lower deck to the sundeck. A large skylight in the sundeck roof allows direct sunlight to reach the elevator cabin interior through a circular window in the ceiling. The outer glass casing of the tubular elevator shaft features a lovely broken wood finish. The entire arrangement gives the impression of a frame of warm mahogany enclosing a duct of soft light originating from the shaft skylight or the delicate interior lighting system arranged around the cabin-ceiling window.

This mesmerizing effect is further enhanced by the dark walls, light ceiling and light gray marble floor. The clean, geometric lines of the square lobby and tubular elevator shaft are discreetly balanced by the sinuous forms of the artwork and the exquisite art nouveau-inspired vegetal pattern of the railing of the winding staircase. The staircase coils around the elevator shaft for its entire length of five decks. Its castiron railing is crowned in traditional teak, and its walls are impressive mahogany flame throughout the boat.

Apart from up and down, the main lobby leads aft towards the main deck social areas and forward to the owner’s space. The latter is reached through a long passageway with high-gloss paneling in a pommele veneer with cherry wood edging. The corridor also provides access to the powder room and cloakroom/luggage & linen store to starboard.

Owner’s area The full-beam owner’s area is finished in high-gloss cherry with pommele inlay. It begins with a foyer on the centerline, which leads straight forward to the owner’s stateroom, and through sliding doors on either side to the owner’s private gym and office, respectively. Each of the latter has its own bathroom in Salome and Aegean Pink marble, which, in addition to being practical, also offers the potential for a future owner to convert these spaces into two extra guest cabins. The office exudes style, with multiple comfortable armchairs, an old-fashioned floor globe and a classy oval table resting entirely on a column at one of its extremities.

The owner’s stateroom takes up the full beam. Being more spacious in width than in length, it is dominated by the forward-facing king-sized bed, whose headboard is incorporated into a large screen shielding it from view from the entrance. Positioned just above the bed is a huge mirror in a modern-style frame echoing the oval shape of the ceiling. The bed is flanked on either side by tall windows, next to which there are large, comfortable seating areas.

All major surfaces, such as the carpeting, wall and ceiling paneling, screen upholstery and cushions are cream, standing out against the heavier furniture, frames and moldings, all of which are made of highgloss cherry. This contrast, though classical, also shows off the oval, rounded shapes of the furniture and décor details, thereby generating a clean, modern impression as well.

The huge, full-beam bathroom forward is accessed through two symbolic entrances on either side of the central TV cabinet. Extensively lined in rich Honey Onyx, it features a customized his and hers space at either extremity.

Galley and pantry The main crew foyer is to port of the passageway between the lobby and the owner’s suite. Intended as a logistics node, it connects up to the wheelhouse, down to the crew and guest area, and aft to the spacious galley. This area also features a storage space, as well as a dumb waiter running down to the lower and tank decks. This arrangement allows food from the galley to be taken down to the guest area, as well as linen to be easily brought up from the tank deck laundry room.

The galley features satin-finished mahogany paneling with lemon-stained inlay and a Wiltshire Red Cambria worktop, creating a warm, homelike feel. This provides a beautiful contrast with the industrialgrade kitchen equipment, provided by the German and American companies MKN and Viking. A dumb waiter leads up to the bridge deck pantry.

Dining room The dining room takes up the entire interior width of the deck just aft of the galley and main deck lobby, and is accessible from both. The galley entrance consists of a butler’s pantry, a minuscule anteroom with handy storage spaces and a door on either side: since one of the doors is always closed, this ensures that the galley and dining room are kept completely separated. The dining room side of the butler’s pantry is electric, foot-operated and invisible when closed.

The dining room is lined with cherry paneling with a pommele inlay and features two large stylish mirrors, one on the forward bulkhead and one in the ceiling. It provides seating space for ten people around an oval table.

Main lounge and aft deck Following an open plan, the main lounge and the dining room are only separated by a slight narrowing of the intermediate space. This is underlined by a small massive ornamental table positioned on the centerline, which marks the spot where an LCD screen drops down. The two areas feature similar base materials in terms of paneling – cherry with pommele inlay –, ceiling and floor.

A fairly formal atmosphere is prevalent in the lounge, with its classical décor consisting of beautiful eggshell settees, armchairs and tabourets. This area also holds a model of the French square-rigger warship Belle Poule, purchased from the Amsterdam Maritime Museum as a gift from Feadship. A wealth of windows on the lateral sides flood the space with light. The curved aft bulkhead also consists of windows, with a large glass sliding door in the middle leading out to the deck social space.

The aft deck entertainment area is entirely symmetrical around the centerline, with a seating arrangement centered on an oval table, and bars on either side containing a buffet, fridge, icemaker, and cupboard space. Glass windscreens for optimal comfort slide out in front of the deck gangway both port and starboard. Finally, stairs on either side of the seating area lead down to the swimming platform and lazarette on the lower deck.

Lower and tank deck
Guest area Descending the elevator from the main to the lower deck, one arrives in the guest lobby. This area features only a refrigerator and icemaker, and two exits on the centerline. Each leads to a smaller anteroom, which in turn provides access to the suites – two aft and three forward. The guest gymnasium, which features extra storage space and a refrigerator, is also connected to the forward anteroom. One of the suites in each of these two areas features comfortable settees and is conceived more as a living room. The remaining three suites are identical and diagonally symmetric, each including a queen-sized bed placed at 45º to the centerline.

This seemingly random layout is not a coincidence: the five cabins can be merged into two larger suites. This concept allows the sound-proof partitions between lateral suites and the anteroom dividing them to be taken down, creating substantial VIP suites with both bedroom and living room areas. Of course, each of the five cabins has its own bathroom in Thasian marble, and two of those – one in either potential super-suite – include a bathtub. Bathrooms in the three cabins with queen-size beds are also lined with precious Jakarta Pink or Pentelicon marble.

Crew area The access space of the crew area adjoins the guest suites aft through a sound-proofed door. The crew’s quarters forward include the open-plan galley and mess, as well as eight double cabins with room for sixteen crew. From the access space, a dumb waiter and stairs also lead up to the main deck crew foyer and down to the tank deck.

The tank deck has standing headroom from bow thruster to engine room. This flawlessly executed feat of engineering required placing more tanks on deck and creating a more complicated tank arrangement. The deck now includes a laundry room, ample food storage spaces, and additional storeroom. Its most exceptional feature, however, are the many amenities intended for the personnel. So, for instance, there are additional lockers for the crew, as well as a crew lounge including video and internet facilities, and a staff cabin with toilet space. This allows the crew to truly relax and enjoy their private time when off duty. Blue Moon clearly reflects her owner’s opinion that a happy crew equals happy cruising.

Bridge deck
Coming up the elevator or the main stairwell from the main deck, one reaches the bridge deck lobby. The bridge deck interior is narrow here, as room has been made to house the two tenders on the deck on either side. Going forward from this area is the teak passageway leading to the wheelhouse, which passes the powder room and captain’s cabin to starboard, and the bridge deck pantry and ship’s office to port.

The captain’s cabin is lined with teak and has a spacious bathroom in Crema Marfil and Marion Imperial marble. The ship’s office is also in teak, while the pantry features satin-finished mahogany paneling with lemon stained inlay and Wilshire Red Cambria surfaces, like the corresponding spaces on the other decks. A door leads out onto the deck, allowing the crew to reach the aft deck entertainment areas without going through the main interior space, while the dumb waiter here leads directly down to the galley. The wheelhouse is traditional semi-gloss teak. Its simple layout is emphasized by the fact that AV equipment is stowed away in eight cabinets around it in a sophisticated arrangement.

Bridge deck saloon and aft deck The bridge deck is the principal social area of the boat, and has a warm, informal style. This open-plan space in satin-finished chestnut consists of a narrower library section forward, a wide lounge, and a versatile semi-indoors space aft. The library is atmospheric, being entirely enclosed, as it were, in warm wooden tones. There is a bar with refrigerator and icemaker here, as well as a games table and a massive leather armchair with footrest and tiny coffee table that is a cozy seating area unto itself. Atmospheric lighting, a large mirror in the ceiling and rows of leather-bound book spines all complement the luxurious feel. The huge lounge further aft contains ample seating space and is much lighter, with luxurious creamcolored furniture and wall paneling, and large windows all around.

The pièce de resistance, however, is the aft “Judi Patio”. Named after the owner’s wife, who devised this space, this is the most popular spot for meals and other socializing. The Judi Patio consists of a semicircle abutting the bridge deck lounge and joined to it through huge glass sliding doors. The circular seating arrangement centers on a round, extendable table. The outer walls of the Judi Patio consist entirely of moveable glass screens, which can be shifted into any arrangement. When retracted, the partitions fit into small compartments on either side, creating a completely open space.

The concept here was to blend interior with exterior, so that one could dine indoors or out, depending on weather and mood, without ever actually moving. This system was designed specifically for Blue Moon. Together with the light bridge deck lounge, the Judi Patio creates a nice, relaxed beach house area. It is ideal for less mild climates, allowing unparalleled views and indoor comfort all at once.

Sundeck
Blue Moon’s sundeck consists of a small interior area for the central elevator shaft and stairway, a powder room and the ingenious observation lounge in semi-gloss mahogany. The owner’s passion for vistas, evident in the Judi Patio, is clearly manifested here as well, with the skylight and nearly 180º windows around the observation deck. Twin comfortable armchairs make this an ideal private nook for watching the night sky or the horizon.

The rest of the sundeck is open, with a dining area with room for eight in the shaded forward part, and substantial deck furniture, including three seating arrangements and a number of sunpads and reclining chairs. The forward-most part of the deck houses a number of huge sun beds, as well as a large whirlpool bathtub at the very edge of the deck.

Tenders
Blue Moon has three tenders in all. Two flank the bridge deck lobby, tucked into recesses in the superstructure in a way that shields them from exterior view. To starboard, a fully restored 29’ Riva Aquarama Special, restored by Sandro Zani of Riva World, is a true work of art very dear to the owner’s heart. To port is a 25’ Chris Craft, while a third tender that doubles as an MOB rescue boat is stored below a hatch on the foredeck.

 Photo credit: Merijn de Waard / SuperYachtPhoto.com