EDITOR’S LETTER
Yachtbuilders and designers are finding new and interesting ways to connect those on board to the on-thewater experience.
Boating season is about to hit full stride, and who isn’t ready for some fun on the water? Where I live in the Northeast, we had our first real winter in years. My shoulders are still sore from the shoveling. But now, the weather is warm, the days are getting longer, and if you’re reading these pages, you know that time on a boat is about as good as it gets. ¶ My inbox is chock-full of new models coming out this spring and beyond, and I’m amazed at how builders, yacht designers and naval architects are dreaming up more and more ways to connect us to the water. They’re creating new types of access and developing a complete sensory experience for yachting enthusiasts. ¶ These design trends started a number of years ago, when hullside windows initially appeared on the scene. The first time I went belowdecks into a stateroom and saw those elongated windows, I was fascinated. Before then, spending time below was more of a sensory-deprivation exercise. The only light came from bulbs. But with hullside windows, the at-sea experience was enhanced, and the ambient light was welcomed. Today, I thoroughly
I'm amazed at how builders, yacht designers and naval architects are dreaming up more and more ways to connect us to the water.
enjoy going belowdecks and watching the sea fly by the hull. ¶ We also now have nearly 360 degrees of sole-to-ceiling, main-deck glass along with cut-down bulwarks on myriad yachts. This combination offers a constant visual connection to the watery surroundings. ¶ There has also been the evolution of the swim platform into a teak beach. This real estate used to be for stowing a rubber boat—maybe there was a swim ladder. Today, the teak beach is a full-on sea-level entertainment space with lounge chairs. Platforms rise to create over-the-water sunbathing space, then lower for swimming and water-toy launching. Tender garages have morphed too; some builders have turned them into seaside lounges, guest staterooms and even gyms. We’ve come a long way from tossing fenders, extra lines and shore-power cords into this space. Some foldout decks double today’s cockpit real estate. ¶ Now, the foredeck is the alfresco spot. It usually has sun pads, along with seating protected by tasteful awnings and accented with pop-up lighting. This is no longer a place just for ground tackle. ¶ These advancements and others continue to improve time on board. The flow of fresh, imaginative ideas seems as limitless as the horizon ahead.