NORTHERN SUN is a remarkable 50.9-metre expedition motor yacht with one of the most fascinating back-stories in charter yachting. Launched in 1976 by the Japanese shipyard Narasaki as the ice-class marine research vessel Hokko Maru, she was acquired by American owners in 2006 and, over a two-year labour of love completed across the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand, was reinvented as a world-class explorer yacht, with further refits keeping her in excellent condition. Her exterior and interior design are the work of HYS Yachts, and her transformation skilfully merges her robust maritime heritage with genuine modern luxury. She proudly retains subtle traces of her past, including the original windlasses on the forward deck and the feel of a working vessel’s heart in her thoroughly updated engine room, while her ice-strengthened, full-displacement steel hull ensures unparalleled seaworthiness and stability. With a phenomenal range of 10,000 nautical miles from her 175,000-litre fuel tanks, she is tailor-made for adventure, equally at home from the tropics to the poles, and is fitted with zero-speed stabilisers for outstanding comfort at anchor and underway. Her interior exudes a timeless elegance that marries her storied past with modern comfort, set in a classic rich-wood style and filled with the owner’s collection of artwork, nautical antiquities and rugs from around the world. Guests are welcomed into a large main salon facing forward, illuminated by tall vertical windows framing 180-degree sea views, while a separate fine-dining area hosts a long table set for formal meals and a beautifully decorated sky lounge provides a further, more intimate space to relax and socialise, with each stateroom individually finished, several with Jim Thompson linen walls. Outdoor living is equally generous across her four decks. The main deck aft boasts a massive, partially shaded area ideal for relaxing and alfresco dining, with central steps leading down to an extended swim platform and a superb assortment of water toys, while a forward seating area is perfect for evening aperitifs. Above, a 360-degree upper deck wraps around the pilot house, and the spacious sun deck offers seating, tables, a service area and a deluxe spa pool. A two-deck-high inflatable waterslide, a gym and a full dive locker with compressors complete an exceptional adventure offering. Accommodation is arranged for up to 12 guests in six staterooms. The full-beam master occupies the main deck with a king-size bed, a lounging sofa, a desk, a dedicated study alongside, and an en-suite with a luxurious jacuzzi bath and separate shower, while three double cabins and two twin cabins, tastefully decorated in neutral tones, complete the accommodation, all with en-suite facilities. A professional crew of 12, including a world-class private chef, ensures memorable, attentive service. Powered by twin Yanmar engines, NORTHERN SUN cruises at around 10 knots with a top speed of 13 knots. Cruising South East Asia year-round, from Thailand and Myanmar to the Philippines, she offers charter guests a genuinely unique opportunity to explore the region’s most remote and breathtaking hidden gems in rugged, characterful comfort aboard a true piece of maritime history. Available for charter through Cecil Wright and Partners, NORTHERN SUN is offered at rates from EUR 140,679 per week plus expenses.
