Nordhavn 80 Yacht Lady Di Challenges the Sea With Contemporary Coziness

While Nordhavn has earned renown for its take-on-the-sea cruisers, the Nordhavn 80 yacht was its most-searched model last year. The desire to explore in safety surely drove much of the website reading. So, too, did the realization of a long-planned collaboration with Vripack. The aesthetic the Dutch design studio is bringing to the interiors of the Nordhavn 80, exemplified by the yacht Lady Di, has taken interest to an even higher level.

the Nordhavn 80 yacht Lady Di with Vripack interiors

Vripack and Nordhavn partnered for the Nordhavn 80 in 2018. It was a chance opportunity, resulting from a Vripack client with a Nordhavn 86 needing technical assistance to swap out some of the U.S.-specific systems for European-market systems. The conversation led to talks about collaborating on new models, since each company admired the other.

Although the yacht Lady Di is actually the third Nordhavn 80 hull, she’s the first with Vripack’s interior. Mike Kugler, her owner, was especially drawn to the Dutch design studio’s Scandi-chic suggestions. Having previously owned a Nordhavn 63, Kugler was more than familiar with the larger yacht’s oceangoing capabilities. However, he wanted a change from the traditional dark-wood interiors. “My mother was instrumental in the decision-making, and she likes modern interior design,” he shares. In fact, with her input, he added light wall coverings throughout the 63 for a more complementary aesthetic. “When she discovered Vripack had designed an interior concept for the Nordhavn 80, she said, ‘Oh, we definitely need to do that!’”

Because of Covid, Kugler couldn’t visit the shipyard when Lady Di was taking shape. He, his wife, and his mother did, however, visit Vripack’s studio for two days of design meetings. There, they viewed and felt sample fabrics, stones, and finishes, among other décor materials, to make the final decisions. The Vripack team additionally treated them to a cruise through the Dutch canals, for full immersion in their experience.

“Lady Di’s interior is so beautiful, and exactly how I pictured it from the renderings,” Kugler says. In fact, neither he nor his wife or mother wanted to change anything. “We put all our effort into making sure the yacht was as close a match to Vripack’s vision as possible,” he adds. This means subdued wood and fabric tones throughout, with colorful accents differing in each room. Daffodil yellow and midnight blue, for instance, grab attention in the skylounge. Green pops from pillows in the master suite. Overall, the effect is calming and cozy, especially in the saloon, where Kugler and his family spend quality time together. It’s especially good for him, now that he has a captain (he piloted his Nordhavn 63 personally).

While the layout of this Nordhavn 80 is largely the same as hulls one and two, the yacht Lady Di does have a much-appreciated difference. Kugler and his family can enjoy a hot tub on the flying bridge. They put it to good use on a 10-day cruise with other Nordhavn owners to Mexico last year for the maiden voyage.

With the Pacific Northwest and Alaska in his sights for next summer, Kugler is looking forward to a lot more cruising. More Nordhavn admirers can look forward to more Nordhavn 80 models with Vripack interiors in the meantime. Hull number five, currently under construction, is the next to feature the studio’s work.

Nordhavn nordhavn.com

Vripack vripack.com