ALL PHOTOS: Jeff Brown
If you don’t think trends change much in a matter of years, consider the photos below. The one at left reveals the original saloon and dining area of the 2005-built Benetti Galaxy. To the right is how the same rooms appear today, after a nearly three-month refit. The 183’7” (56-meter) motoryacht underwent the transformation at Monaco Marine at the behest of a new owner who wanted a much more contemporary look that still held great appeal on the charter market.
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Galaxy had been offered for charter prior to her new owner acquiring her in late 2013. The refit is all the more interesting because it wasn’t intended to be so extensive at first. The owner wanted what a number of brokerage buyers do: a switch of some fabrics, window treatments, and furnishings. However, as he dove into details with his crew and advisers, the checklist, and workload, grew. About 11 weeks were spent outlining AV equipment upgrades, lighting and fixture changes, and more. One of the best new features: the backlit, white-onyx bar in the saloon. The original Galaxy had a piano here. The bar contains a considerable-sized champagne chiller, and food can be staged here as well.
Stirling & Co. was tasked with ensuring Galaxy had a minimalist-inspired look, while preserving the mostly maple, walnut, teak, and white-lacquer “bones” of the original decor. The owner appointed his chief stew to coordinate the design team’s efforts. An overriding directive for all: Spaces need to appeal to varied tastes. (Some minimalist decors can appear Spartan.) The design team brought in materials like white onyx, as mentioned above for the saloon. The formal dining area makes an impression as much as the saloon does. Note the black agate adorning the forward wall. Stainless steel and palisander, a rich wood like rosewood, comprise the dining table.
Galaxy has pale fabrics for furnishings and carpets, along with bold bursts of color for accessories. Since this skylounge serves as a movie/media room, the sofas invite guests to sit down and settle in. The leather chairs to port swivel to face the 80-inch TV. Surround Sound makes the movie experience complete. When the TV isn’t in use, it hides behind cabinetry.
Not everything about Galaxy is entirely different, of course. Take this dining area aft of the skylounge. The original Galaxy was built with it, along with full-height sliding glass, curved doors. Since so many charter guests love to eat outside, it’s a great option.
The split-level nature of the master suite was also preserved. It still contains an upper observation lounge, the entrance of which is just visible here. However, that lounge can become a private cinema. It also has a raised daybed, for taking advantage of the views forward and to each side. Some further structural changes enhanced the roomy feel of the overall 34’1” (10.4-meter) beam. Another change: the logo of Galaxy in backlit glass in the floor at the entrance to the suite.
Plenty more alterations were made to technical systems, navigation and communication equipment, and other out-of-sight gear. Things charter guests do see that they greatly appreciate include a new fleet of watertoys, new gym equipment, and backlit alfresco dining tables. They further get to gaze at select pieces from the owner’s art collection, all 20th-century artists. You’ll find works from Basquiat and Warhol, for example. Considering Galaxy has enjoyed continuous bookings since April, the intense-schedule refit worked out well.
Galaxy is available this winter in the Caribbean for $294,000 per week during high season and $273,000 during low season. Twelve guests are attended to by 15 crew. She’s in the central agency of Burgess. http://www.burgessyachts.com
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