Review: Hakvoort 147' "My Trust"

Hakvoort 147' "My Trust"​

Capturing the Spirit of a Splendid Yachting Era​

by Capt. Chuck Gnaegy

Stylish. Sleek. With touches of past glories, an exciting new design by a highly respected builder.
This voguish new jewel for the chartering trade; Hakvoort’s up-to-the-minute "My Trust" is the
first Dutch motoryacht built according to new guidelines for Commercial Cruising Vessels,
as well as Lloyds and MCA specifications.​

Registered in Holland; entitled to all the legal benefits which accrue from sailing under the Dutch flag; she will charter on a fully professional basis. She emphasizes high-style elegance as well as ease of operation for long and short term party voyages, with complete accommodations for 10 guests in 4 double cabins, plus Captain and crew quarters for 8.

Hakvoort's yard has remained in family hands throughout the decades. Often, entire families of craftsmen have worked at the yard for generations, creating as much a personal stake in the company for their employees, as Hakvoort is to the community. The inherent attention to detail in Dutch craftsmanship is evidenced by the numerous awards garnered by the International Super Yacht Society and various yachting magazines. It is reasonable to assume My Trust will follow in suit.

Her classic nautical grace is certain to enthuse new charterers as well as seasoned seafarers. Planned around the owners’ extensive chartering experience, her debut at the Monaco Yacht Show emphasized the artistic qualities of her dynamic yet restrained design, a product of collaboration between world-trained naval architectural specialists.

With her steel hull, aluminum superstructure and composite mast with a Naval-pursuit-flared bow, an exterior by Cor de Rover, a classic nautical interior by Felix Buytendijk and final naval architecture by Diana Yacht Design, the project is a triumph of Hakvoort Shipyard’s excellent crew of technicians and craftsmen.

Immediately forward of the wheelhouse, but outdoors, a breakfast/casual snack table helps partiers welcome the sea-fresh morning in the sunshine, with a sturdy mahogany table on stainless steel pedestals, and deeply padded, welcoming ultramarine blue seating.

On the Sun Deck, shaded by a colossal pair of domes on the yacht’s communications arch, an outdoor bar becomes the gathering place for all the party people, sporting a fully equipped bar as the centerpiece. Other enticements such as a Jacuzzi and lounge areas also attract a major portion of daytime attention. The mast includes a 15-nozzle misting spray between the funnels to keep the whole crowd cool. The partially shaded bar exhibits deeply padded stools on stainless steel pedestals. Complemented by a sink and refrigerator/icemaker for refreshing libations, there’s also a stainless steel grill for the afternoon or moonlight cook-outs.

My Trust’s Jacuzzi, stepped up to provide a full depth of bubbling comfort for half a dozen bathers, incorporates teak lined elevations as well as convenient banisters for easy mounting. The Jacuzzi is enveloped by sunning pads to aft, with cozy lounge chairs scattered about.

Open space at the Bridge Deck starboard side houses two scooters, with a portside davit to launch them off the passerelle. Wind doors are installed at the side decks; and there are electrically-operated sun awnings for both aft decks, as seen in the rectangular outlines of each roof overhang.

Outdoor dining at the Bridge Deck’s Sky Lounge presents an outdoor, fresh air dinner party experience second to none. Shaded by the overhead top deck, its modern casual lounge chairs are done in a happy stripe pattern, with slatted backs, surrounding a table for eight. Heaters and/or mosquito screens assure outdoor comfort in all cruising weather. Bon appetit!

Set up like an outdoor club with separate tables, the Main Aft Deck is a pleasure-seeking charterer’s delight. With contemporary slatted chairs and mahogany/ebony tables, it’s perhaps perfect for a tet-a-tete – except that, the entire aft deck balustrade surrounds the stern with comfortable, padded couch seating. The whole crowd can enjoy the sunset, or moon rise, from here.

My Trust’s command center on the Bridge Deck is state of the art as well, with large, framed windows forward and to beam-ends, with its over-sized, five-element display of instruments facing the mahogany wheel. The entire, beam-width control station is polished mahogany, bordered by black ebony, with a strong, masculine marine warmth, in excellent contemporary design. Instrumentation of the integrated bridge is by Radio Holland, with Hatteland radar screens, plus chart plotters, conning and alarm panels. Just aft, a large black leather sofa offers observers a chance to watch close-up. Wing stations on both beams provide for convenient docking in close quarters. Aft of the Wheelhouse is the Captain’s stateroom and ensuite bath.

Farther on the Bridge Deck at ship’s center, a staircase, traditional bar, fully found with leather-capped stools, invites the comradery of shipmates for a toast before brunch or dinner. This and other embedded designs give a hint to the owners’ past adventures, which strongly evidenced sailing craft. Here you almost perceive echoes of “yo-ho-ho” in the rich mahogany woods and quilted leather, as they resonate traditional furnishings overlying the strip-teak decking.

Moving aft on the Bridge deck, a cozy dinette offers L-shaped seating in pillow-like cushions. Notice the rope that winds it's way up the table pillars, again echoing the yacht's nautical flair. Even the overhead light is antique in nature, but with a contemporary chrome finish.

Her full beam lounge on the Bridge Deck furnishes sumptuous lounging in sky blue couches, with hassocks and a large central table, also sporting a game table. A 42” LCD cinema provides up to the minute AV programming via satellite, or DVD/videos from a special library.

Again, the owners’ influence prevails as deeply padded treads with polished mahogany woods mark the sumptuous staircase reaching high and low, seeming to mark an 18th century private library rather than a ship at sea. These touches throughout the yacht further mark it as a rare one of a kind.

Centered on the Main Deck just aft the galley is the formal Dining Room. Separated from the Main Salon, aft, the Dining area faces a room-wide partition, mirrored on the dining side; decorated with inlaid artwork on the lounge side. The dining room and table easily seats 10 hungry cruisers, in formal or informal splendor.

Elegant and tranquil, the Main Salon is a study in color coordination, good taste as well as the perfect venue for meeting with friends. With overstuffed couches and easy chairs, the large coffee/game table at center seems exactly right for conversation. Over the genuine, imitation fireplace, a large flat screen TV adds to the entertainment. When not in use, a screen featuring nautical flags slides over the television, illuminated by lanterns to each side. And finally, in the far aft of the salon, a scale model of My Trust is encased in a glass display for guests to marvel.

White walls are separated from the staircase by a mahogany handrail that follows the curvature of the steps leading to the lower accommodations. Rope lighting illuminates the steps, while carpet holds assure safe footing.

My Trust’s main deck is dominated by the sumptuously ornate owner’s suite, done in classic mariner style. Suitable for the Admiral of the Fleet, with dark mahogany woods against contrasting ultramarine blue and white. Beam width and dazzling, its walk-around, “two-poster”, king-size berth is raised, with a handy sofa/storage locker at its foot. Overhead star lights provide unintrusive illumination at the 10’ ceiling, in addition to bed lamps. There’s a retractable flat screen TV and seating to starboard; with walk-in wardrobe and full-length mirror to port.

Within the Master Suite, the Master Study sports a fully equipped office with mahogany desk, executive and client chair, library, plus communications, to instantly conduct business while on the bounding main. The IT network includes both hardware and WiFi connections; as well as a VSAT video conference system, Kaleidescopic AV with controls for lighting and air conditioning. These feature-rich advantages are available in all guest cabins. (Egads, is there no escape, even in paradise?)

To port in the Master Suite, a whirlpool bath with an adjunct shower is separate from a large sauna, which boasts eight infra-red heating panels. Separate his & hers sinks are adorned with fixtures reminiscent of the era the ship's nautical theme conveys.