Inside Out 164 Delta Victoria Del Mar

Something exciting was in build on the Pacific Coast in late 2005. It was a boom time for the yachting industry.

Yards were at capacity, orders were flowing, and the rush was on for bigger, faster, better. The Pacific Northwest had the lead on composite construction and was poised to give aluminum and steel builders a run for their money. At Delta Marine in Seattle, Washington, the excitement was mounting over a 164-foot, all-composite, ABS-classed project. When she slipped into the water in the summer of 2006, the industry celebrated the launch of HAPPY DAYS, Delta’s most innovative build at the time and the largest full-displacement composite yacht ever to launch in the Americas.

For the next seven years, HAPPY DAYS cruised privately with her original owner before being sold to her new owners, who moved up from their 121-foot Moonen. Following an extensive interior refit, she was renamed VICTORIA DEL MAR and made her debut on the charter market in late 2014.

Distinguished by her ice-blue hull and refined superstructure, VICTORIA DEL MAR’s profile gives only a subtle nod to her voluminous interior. With a gross tonnage of 750, her volume is significant and 7,500 square feet of interior space within a 34-foot beam meant that her refit design team, led by Claudette Bonville Associates, had more than enough working room. While no major changes were made to her bulkheads or layout during the refit, the bold, eclectic flair of the original interior was exchanged for a more refined décor. Taking cues from the style and furnishings of the late famed French designer Alberto Pinto — who was a fitting inspiration for the owners because of his “Haute Interior Design” and harmonious execution of grand spaces — the design team specified contemporary elegance and casual comfort throughout.

Highlighting the expansive interior are thoughtful touches of exotic woods, leather finishes, soft maple wood flooring and the owner’s collection of original pop, surrealist and abstract art. From the zebra wood walls to the custom glass basins and tiling in the en-suites and dayheads, many key elements of the original interior were maintained and integrated seamlessly within the new décor. The original glass dining table remains a focal point of the main-deck dining area and seats twelve under an eight-foot blown glass lighting installation.

Although Delta had to adjust its tooling and extend its hull mold by length and width to build VICTORIA DEL MAR, the yacht’s size was maximized with an interior layout that has helped make her an extremely popular charter yacht. Comfortably sleeping 12 during a charter, her lower deck comprises four en-suite staterooms — two twins and two doubles. On her main deck, VICTORIA DEL MAR not only offers a full gym and massage room but also two mirror VIP staterooms. Each VIP boasts walk-in dressing rooms, large bathrooms and generous eight-foot ceilings with skylights above the queen-size beds. Her full-beam master stateroom is situated aft on the bridge deck above and opens onto a semi-private, enclosable aft deck with a dining area. Forward, the skylounge features a petrified wood-topped bar, games table, and balconies with exterior seating to port and starboard.

Once again, the 34-foot beam is noticeable when considering VICTORIA DEL MAR’s sundeck, which offers alfresco dining for up to 18 guests. A large spa pool adjoined by sunpads is situated aft, while freestanding stainless steel-and-teak furniture provides copious seating, sunning and lounging options.

The aft area can be protected by a sunshade and is easily transformed into an outdoor cinema in the evening thanks to the 100-inch double-sided HD movie screen. Uniquely, the deck also includes an air-conditioned bathroom with shower, and a large, teak-topped bar with stools for eight.

Equipped with a full complement of water toys and drones for on-water fun, VICTORIA DEL MAR balances her refined interior with a frivolous side. Below the waterline, she features one of Delta’s first float-in tender garages and her 3512B Caterpillar engines deliver a comfortable, 15-knot cruising speed.

With such a quality pedigree, it comes as little surprise that this 164-foot Delta debuted on the charter market to the same fanfare as a new build. Although her original owner may never intended to charter, he certainly maximized her potential for just that. And her new owners, who enjoy cruising aboard themselves many weeks out of the year, are more than satisfied with space, comfort and amenities that this lady of the sea provides.