Snowwhite

Design
The interior of Northlander was designed by Art-Line Interior Design, which made full use of the volume. They began from the premise that they would keep the atmosphere within the Moonen “quality look,” meaning they would translate their experience in designing many Moonen yachts into a three-deck configuration, yet keep the relatively cosy proportions of a typical Moonen.

Northlander features what Art-Line calls “fusion” styling of western cherry joinery “spiced” by Oriental details and some unique decorative items as fine copper-mesh floating sculpture, and handsome pyramid-shaped panel sections that add visual strength compared to more usual flat-panel bulkheads.

Accomodations & Layout
Her layout features a main-deck master suite forward. Below, two double and two twin guest staterooms centre on the stairs, with crew quarters well isolated forward. Additional features include a large sun deck with a Jacuzzi and wet bar, a rescue boat stowed on the main deck forward, and conning from the wheelhouse or bridge wings on the upper deck. Below, in addition to the extremely spacious guest staterooms, there is an enclosed engineer’s control station adjoining the engine room, and a tender garage with an updated version of Moonen’s unique tender deployment system.

The yacht’s central feature, literally, is its central staircase running from the accommodations deck to the sun deck. It is encompassed by a mirrored atrium, and topped by an opening skylight that gives access to the sun deck. Equally important, it allows a column of daylight to brightly fill the yacht’s heart. Thus, the main- and bridge-deck saloons, surrounded by windows and doors on three sides, benefit from light pouring in on the fourth (forward) side, a rare feature in any yacht.

Art-Line created a “subtle summer feeling” using lightweight material surfaces such as woven cane. For countertops, overheads, and bathroom floors, they used kirei board, a sturdy material pressed from fibres of processed soybean plants (a very “green” component in this new age of environmental sensitivity).
The main saloon is a “soft island retreat” with dining and lounging separated by a bold rectangular arch. The indoor space is surrounded by wooden side decks under full-height windows that, again, maximize natural light.

The bridge-deck saloon has been uniquely configured as an extension of the unusually large outdoor afterdeck lounge, rather than the more common reverse, to emphasize outdoor living. Bright sunny colours in upholstery and decorative pillows are set off by Moonen’s carefully executed joinery. The galley and pantries are served by dumbwaiter, ideal for chartering. But everything else in the atmosphere has been considered to create a perfectly private family retreat for the owners and their guests.

The bridge is unique as well. Based on ergonomic principles, display screens are set for easy reading, and manual controls are in easy arms’ reach of an operator centrally seated in the height-adjustable chair. Observations settees flank the conning position, and a separate communications office makes the wheelhouse complete.

Performance
In sea trials before turnover to her owners, Northlander exceeded her design specifications with a measured top speed of 14.5 knots. At cruising speed her economy was also better than predicted, and her range at economic speed as well. Her sound-level measurements were remarkable, with as little as 33 dB(A) measured in the owners’ and guest suites, and even lower in the crew quarters, at anchor with one genset running. Under way, with main engines running from 1430 rpm to 1845 rpm, the owners’ suite measured a still-remarkable 44 dB(A) to 54 dB(A).