Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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photography by Steve edSon (yacht, wheel, interior); cailtyn branSfield (collinS) View to the Sea A yacht's living quarters can be as sunny as the deck above. When interior designer Elizabeth Georgantas, principal at PEG Properties & Desig n (pegproperties.com), got a request from Jim Apteker to redesign the interior of his new yacht, she jumped at the chance. After all, it wasn't just any sailing vessel. It was the Northern Star. And a Hinckley. "When I saw the boat, I immediately thought of the Villa Feltrinelli," says Georgantas, referring to the stately Italian hotel on t he ba nks of La ke Ga rda, which once ser ved as Mussolini's summer palace. The challenge was taking inspi- ration from a property on land and applying it to one on sea while making the most of the yacht's sun-drenched decks. First, Georgantas created a convertible dining area on the upper deck "so the social space would be both inside and out- side." She also designed a private sunbathing nook on top of the cabin house. Sleeping quarters were decorated with sheer white linen curtains to allow in sunlight, and oversize throw pillows were made to go from the bedrooms to the decks. She lightened the yacht's main living space with bright white a nd accent s of t rue red, w it h t he seat ing piped in ca mel- colored leat her for added text ure. "I wa nted t hat Italian, classic, old-world look, but still updated and very today," she says. High-performance fabrics with a 10 -year wa r ra nt y a l lowed her to use wh ite on t he seat i ng even though this is a busy charter vessel. The decorative pillows are not the same in every space, but they are interchange- able with others anywhere on the boat, keeping the look tidy. "As things get shifted around, it all works together as one cohesive unit," Georgantas explains. In the yachting world, the Northern Star is something of a legend. Produced by the renowned, Maine-based Hinckley Compa ny, t he 76 -foot sa i l i ng vessel wa s custom-bu i lt — slowly, over the course of two years in the early '90s—by 175 men for a Norwegian aristocrat. The interiors are all solid, raised-panel mahogany, with thoughtfully detailed spaces for living and storage. It's heavy, sleek, and takes to the ocean with the smoothest, easiest glide. "It's a classic beauty," says Barr y Hinckley, whose father was involved in the yacht's construction. "There's something about the design lines of a Hinckley. She stands out from the crowd." It's this one-of-a-kind quality that led Apteker to buy the yacht for his event business last fall, even though he was look- ing for no such t hing. Long wood Venues & Dest inat ions added the Northern Star to its Longwood Fleet of offshore char- ters. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity," Apteker says. The amenities are sumptuous, but Barry Hinckley thinks the real allure of a yacht is the new perspective it offers. For example, of the thousands of islands off Maine's coast, more than 90 percent can be reached only by boat. Most people never see t hem. Most people never approach Na ntucket other than by ferry. "It's quite an enlightening experience," Hinckley says. "You get to see the world in a very fresh and untouched sense." BC The CharTer experienCe Charter a yacht for a day or a weekend and get the royal treatment. Leah Collins, owner of Nantucket Mermaids Nautical Concierge (508-472-4771; nantucket mermaids.com), which charters the Northern Star and other yachts, likens chartering a yacht to staying in a fve-star hotel—but one where the view changes every day. "What sets us apart is the option to take luxury yachts that would normally charter out for a week or more for shorter-term, weekend, or even day charters," Collins says. "That allows access to a whole other world of yachting." Here are three options: Northern Star. The Northern Star, which sleeps eight in four state- rooms, comes with a captain and a chef (a mate and stewardess are also available). All food and wine is included and tailored to your tastes. Slow and Steady. This Australian- built Duchess of Longwood cruiser yacht allows you to intimately explore the coastline of New England. Featuring two cabins and a separate entertainment area, the yacht is built for exploring shallow waters. Adventure Island. This 110-foot luxury motor yacht offers the ver- satility of a day on the open waves or a platform from which to scuba dive, kayak, and jet ski. clockwise from left: The Northern Star sets anchor for the night; the yacht's wheel; the interiors were inspired by the white and red of Italy's Villa Feltrinelli. 110 bostoncommon-magazine.com HAUTE PROPERTY