Yacht Ad Astra Sets Sights on Good Times

By way of The Netherlands, an American is taking his new megayacht to the Caribbean. The owner of the yacht Ad Astra took delivery of her in the European country last week, in time to send her to the islands for the winter season.

The project started on spec as the Moonen YN205 yacht, hull number seven in Moonen Yachts’ Martinique series. She’s a 123-footer (37.4-meter) with a good volume of 345 gross tons. Both Ad Astra and her predecessors in the Martinique line fulfil Moonen’s focus on displacement yachts with liberal interior volume.

Those factors caught the owner’s attention, as did the ability to tailor many of the onboard areas. Firstly, as a displacement project, the yacht Ad Astra prioritizes long-range cruising. She should be capable of 4,000 nautical miles at 10 knots, in fact. Top speed is 17 knots. Secondly, the healthy volume throughout her interior makes her feel spacious. Hollander Yacht Design was about a month from putting the finishing touches on the rooms when the owner signed the contract. Although he liked some of what he saw, he did request some personalized touches. Largely, the requests were aesthetic in nature, elevating the sense of refinement from the main-deck master suite to the four guest cabins below. Altogether, the yacht Ad Astra accommodates 12 people. Additionally, the owner wanted a hot tub on the 700-square-foot (65-square-meter) sundeck.

Perhaps the most striking custom request is something that everyone will be able to see, even in cruising past her. The pocket-size superyacht has a distinguishing orange bootstripe, a nice homage to her country of build.

When the owner and guests step aboard for their first trips, they will have some fun watertoys to try out. For instance, a few Seabobs, Sea-Doo waterbikes, and a Fliteboard all stow in the toy garage and a foredeck hold. Furthermore, the owner has an Axopar 37 XC Cross Cabin accompanying her. This is an adventure-oriented powerboat, with an enclosed cabin, yet also a gullwing door opening up the cabin to the foredeck seating.

Currently, Ad Astra, whose name means “to the stars” in Latin, is en route to the Caribbean. She’s available for select charters starting in mid-December through IYC. Her weekly rate begins at $168,000.

Hollander Yacht Design hollanderyachtdesign.com

IYC iyc.com

Moonen Yachts moonen.com