“It’s been quite a journey, but it’s been so fulfilling for us to see what we can do with a company like Moonen.” Matthew Baxter (above right), who with his wife Louise (above left) is the majority shareholder of Moonen Yachts, reflects on what’s unfolded over nearly six years. The Dutch shipyard is regularly building pocket-size superyachts, a term dating back before they stepped in but still applicable. More exciting for the Baxters as Moonen Yachts’ owners, the shipyard has IYC as its international sales agent. This partnership, just a few months old, is making an especially concerted effort to attract more American buyers. Together, the two companies believe they have good reason to succeed.
Avid sailors for more than two decades, the Baxters combined their passion with their profession in 2019. While sailing in Sydney, Australia, they spotted the yacht Aurora, a Moonen 84. Intrigued, they looked up more about her and the shipyard. Although the Moonen 84 and other deliveries had solid reputations, Moonen itself had been struggling financially for several years. One month after it entered bankruptcy, the Baxters acquired it. They believed Matthew’s background in manufacturing and their combined love of cruising could make a difference.
“The thing that really struck Louise and I more than anything else was the quality of the product,” Matthew Baxter says. “It was just unbelievable.” Equally impressive to them, the shipyard employees “were young, they were passionate, they were very, very driven,” he says. “Unfortunately, they suffered from lack of capital and poor management. These were the things that we were able to give very, very quickly, and the company blossomed after that, mainly because the team was so good.”
“Moonen focuses on a core niche, and that’s 34 meters to 40 meters”—about 111 to 131 feet—says Matthew Stone (below), an IYC managing partner in California. He’s most impressed by how “capable” the superyachts are in this size range. “The Martinique series is arguably one of the most successful series of the Moonen line,” he continues. “They’ve delivered seven boats over the course of the last five years.” Stone points to the recently delivered yacht Moonshine as a good example. He rattles off her stats: a 121-foot/37-meter trideck with a volume of 340 gross tons, five staterooms, a range of 4,000 nautical miles at 10 knots, and Bureau Veritas classification with MCA commercial (charter) compliance.
Stone further mentions a 110 Mustique (112 feet/34 meters) just completed last year and for sale in U.S. waters for $16.9 million. Similarly, she has five staterooms, a 3,900-nautical-mile range at 9 knots, and Bureau Veritas classification. Her Studio Indigo interior is soothingly chic, equally suitable for families and adults-only adventures. Space abounds, especially on the uppermost deck, at 775 square feet (72 square meters). Plus, even with her steel hull, she’s Bahamas-friendly.
Of IYC, “the collaboration has been exceptional thus far,” Matthew Baxter says. Louise Baxter agrees. “We use them for information and feedback on the market and what the market is after,” she adds. “That will be taken into account for our future designs and, in particular, for the American market.” In fact, she continues, “We’ve just discovered that this is a very, very advantageous place for us to be. There is a big demand for our types of boats.”
One of the boats Moonen Yachts’ owners believe ticks the right boxes for Americans is the spec build Moonen YN205 (above). Construction is far enough along that delivery can take place come springtime, too. “In the current market, there’s not really an opportunity like this,” notes Richard Gray, IYC’s head of sales UK. “There’s nothing available in the market right now that’s going to be ready for April 2025.” Despite her advanced stage, the Moonen YN205 still affords buyers some time to personalize the interior from Hollander Yacht Design. “It’s a very fresh approach and with a little bit of a different layout that they decided was an improvement, particularly in the owners’ cabin,” Louise Baxter explains.
Moonen Yachts’ owners aren’t done with fresh approaches yet, either. At a press event last month, they hinted at a new model, a Mallorca 133, for a 2027 delivery. “It’s the evolution that’s going on with Moonen, because we’re not a static company,” Matthew Baxter asserts. “Stick with the Moonen DNA, but give them the absolute luxury that you can possibly give.” Full details are releasing soon. In the meantime, a few current clients are already in discussions for hull number one.
“We have some very, very happy owners, and Louise and I have become really close friends with just about every owner,” Matthew Baxter reflects. Furthermore, “we’re very, very happy with IYC. We believe together it’s going to be a win-win.”
IYC iyc.com
Moonen Yachts moonen.com
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