First Impression: Mystique

Date toured: June 2008

The 165-foot Oceanfast motoryacht Mystique was built in 1988 and, according to the stewardess who showed me around, is just now entering charter for the first time. All the reports I’ve seen in the marine media indicate that the yacht was owned since its launch by Ellen Tracy sportswear owner Herb Galen, and that it was for sale in early 2008 with a price tag of $14.9 million.
      I’m not sure whether he’s still the owner today, but whoever owned the boat a few months before my tour had just completed a refit in the main deck’s casual dining area and saloon—which looked spectacular. There are countless sitting and relaxation spaces, both for larger crowds and for smaller groups or even individuals who want to cozy themselves into a tidy little nook. The natural light floods into these areas, so even during a charter with bad weather, they should feel open and comfortable.
     The refit work stopped there, though, and thus the rest of the yacht, while nicely maintained, looks a bit dated by comparison. The mirrored ceiling in the formal dining room is one example, as are the king-size beds in two of the guest cabins that have pop-up televisions built into cabinetry at the foot of each bed (instead of flat-screen LCDs or plasmas more hidden within the décor).
     On the other hand, in places like the master cabin and the formal dining room, like the newly refitted parts of the main deck guest areas, the windows are quite large and let in a good amount of natural light. There’s also an owner’s office/media room that has a full bathroom and a 60-inch flat-screen television, and thus could double as a makeshift cabin if need be.
     Given that Mystique takes only 10 guests instead of the more common 12 onboard a yacht this size, spaciousness is likely to be her biggest selling point. That, plus the fact that her lowest weekly base rate of $140,000 makes her at least $50,000 a week less than some newer yachts in the same size range.  It’s arguably a bargain, even though the newer yachts typically take an extra two guests for a total of 12.
     My suggestion is to contact any reputable charter broker before booking to see how the new crew did during their first few charters this summer. Mystique is part of the fleet at Fraser Yachts Worldwide.—Kim Kavin