Moonen YN206 Yacht With Vripack Re-Imagines 122 Martinique Series

Semi-custom superyacht shipyards building on spec tend to employ the same general arrangements and decors from project to project, especially if multiple hulls are in development simultaneously. By contrast, Moonen has just two hulls in build at a time, and it has adopted an open-minded philosophy. In fact, it welcomed Vripack’s request to move mechanicals to benefit its interior-design vision for the latest 122 Martinique project. Hull number eight, a.k.a. the Moonen YN206 yacht, therefore is visually different beyond just colors and textures.

The steel-hulled Moonen 122 Martinique yacht series prioritizes long range, making getting to the destination as much of the experience as arriving. This is one reason why you can expect a range of 4,000 nautical miles at 10 knots. Importantly for American buyers, the Moonen YN206 yacht still can access shallow Bahamian waters even with her steel hull.

Ready for delivery this coming September, the 123-footer (37-meter), further represented by IYC, is the first Martinique bearing a Vripack interior. However, this isn’t the first time the two Dutch companies have collaborated. The Moonen YN206 yacht actually marks the fourth time they have joined forces in their respective histories. That in turn inspired Vripack to tap into their shared heritage and incorporate “a touch of Dutch pride,” according to Marnix Hoekstra, Vripack’s co-creative director.

For instance, blues—echoing Delft blue—appear throughout. This includes the full-beam, 398-square-foot (37-square-meter) master suite on the main deck. It further includes the feature wall in the dining area. Look closely at the design, and you’ll see it’s a partial pattern—purposely, Hoekstra says, to invite guests to use their imagination to fill in the rest.

Overall, blues and greys characterize the interior. So, too, does walnut, a hardwood prized for its durability and grains. But, those grains, along with the wood’s natural density, can present challenges to artisans. Hoekstra says Vripack purposely chose walnut, knowing Moonen’s in-house craftspeople were up to the task.

Two particular design features stand out above the rest, though. Firstly, the bed in the master suite isn’t facing forward. Instead, it faces aft. Although it may sound counter-intuitive, Hoekstra explains that the repositioning actually allows owners better views. Traditional views out toward the bow are partially impeded by the bow itself. Some of the improved vistas additionally result from relocating fan coils—a Vripack request that Moonen readily embraced.

Secondly, the main internal stairway aboard the Moonen YN206 yacht is simple yet striking. Hoekstra notes that the tendency sometimes for so-called small superyachts is to overdo the stairway in an attempt to elevate it. Vripack employs just three tones: grey, walnut, and a vibrant polished blue. While the blue grabs attention, the effect isn’t exaggerated.

Other distinguishing features aboard the yacht include extra stowage in staterooms, including through seemingly aesthetic-only shelving. Outside, meanwhile, you’ll find a longer, 215-square-foot (20-square-meter) swim platform. It also incorporates Z-lift swim stairs.

Hoekstra credits Moonen for being open to more than aesthetic changes with this latest Martinique project. “’No’ is not the answer,” he says, in characterizing the attitude. Nicky van Zon, Moonen’s technical director, agrees, saying it applies as much to clients as it does industry partners.

IYC iyc.com

Moonen Yachts moonen.com

Vripack vripack.com