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A barracade marks the temporary end of the G-H Dock at Port Angeles Boat Haven on Thursday after a runaway Westport yacht damaged several pontoons and six other boats Monday. (Keith Thorpe/Peninsula Daily News)

port angeles

Video: damages from runaway yacht still being investigated.

• Friday, October 11, 2019 9:36am
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Dramatic moment $24MILLION luxury yacht weighing 195 TONS plows into smaller boats moored at a Washington State port causing $100,000 in damage

• Brand new Westport 125 was docked at Port Angeles, Washington for fueling 
• Six-person crew was set to transport it to new owner in Fort Lauderdale, Florida 
• Before fueling began, it inexplicably started moving eastward toward dock 
• Yacht collided with dock and several other boats, causing $100,000 in damage
• Sheriff's deputies say they do not suspect drugs or alcohol as playing a role
• Chief investigator says one possible cause is 'onboard electronics' malfunction 

By Ariel Zilber For Dailymail.com

Published: 15:52 EDT, 17 October 2019 | Updated: 16:23 EDT, 17 October 2019

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Surveillance cameras captured the dramatic moment that a 125ft yacht worth $24million crashed into a fuel dock and smaller vessels causing $100,000 in damages. 

The incident took place on the morning of October 7, when Captain Steve Peckham, of the Westport Yacht company, moored a new Westport 125 at a fuel dock at Port Angeles Boat Haven just outside of Seattle, Washington.

But before the fueling process could begin, the boat began to accelerate forwards, sailing headlong into several smaller boats and the jetty, according to Clallam County Sheriff’s Office.  

Sheriff’s deputies say that they do not suspect drugs or alcohol played a role in the incident.

A massive 125ft yacht barrels into a dock and other smaller vessels at Port Angeles, Washington, on the morning of October 7

The yacht was being prepared by its six-person crew for its sail to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, where its new owner awaits

Police suspect an onboard electronics malfunction may explain the accident

The incident is being investigated by the Clallam County Sheriff's Office as well as the Coast Guard and the Port Angeles Police Department

The collision resulted in damages exceeding $100,000, according to sheriff’s deputies.

No one was injured.

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The yacht, which is owned by Westport, was getting ready to travel to Fort Lauderdale, Florida, for delivery to its new owner, according to the Peninsula Daily News .

‘It was tied up at the fuel dock and all of a sudden took off, charging forward,’ John Nutter, the director of properties, marinas, and airports, said.

Westport, the company which manufactures the yacht, has pledged to pay for the damages caused to the other vessels

Authorities estimate that the damage were in excess of $100,000

Nobody was injured in the incident, according to investigators

‘It accelerated forward for unknown reasons.’

The sheriff’s office Marine Patrol Unit, the U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Unit, and the Port Angeles Police Department are handling the investigation.

‘It possibly had something to do with the on board electronics,’ Clallam County Chief Criminal Deputy Brian King said of the possible cause.

‘We don’t know if it was a software malfunction or electrical failure, something to that effect.’

The sheriff’s office said that the six-person crew was made up of Peckham and five other individuals, all of whom are employees of Westport.

Nutter said that Westport ‘will be covering all damages.’

The Westport 125 is seen above at Port Angeles Boat Haven after the accident on October 7

The luxury yacht is estimated to cost $24million. It includes a number of amenities, including a fully equipped kitchen (above)

Each guest cabin includes a bathroom that comes equipped with a sink and a shower

The image above shows a living space with a view toward the horizon

A dining table is set in a room overlooking a deck on board the luxury yacht

The 195-ton Westport 125 is billed as a ‘next generation motoryacht’ which can house up to 10 people in five guest cabins - or staterooms - as well as crew quarters that can fit six members, including the captain

The 195-ton Westport 125 is billed as a ‘next generation motoryacht’ which can house up to 10 people in five guest cabins - or staterooms - as well as crew quarters that can fit six members, including the captain.

Each guest cabin has a bathroom and living quarters.

The master stateroom is on deck forward. It includes two bathrooms as well as wardrobes.

The four guest staterooms, which have a private entrance from the lower deck midship foyer, offer a choice of queen-size or twin-size beds.

DailyMail.com has reached out to Westport for comment. 

Share or comment on this article: Dramatic moment $24MILLION luxury yacht weighing 195 TONS plows into smaller boats moored at port

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No injuries in 125-foot Westport crash into dock

By Dorie Cox

A new 125-foot Westport yacht ran into a dock Port Angeles Boat Haven in Port Angeles, Washington, on Monday (Oct. 7). Property damage was sustained to floats, a dock piling, and adjacent boats, according to Dave Hagiwara, general manager at Westport Yachts in Washington. 

Hagiwara could not speculate as to what caused the yacht to accelerate. The unnamed yacht was under contract to sell and was in the process of fueling for transit to Fort Lauderdale, he said by phone yesterday.

As part of the incident, all required authorities were notified, including the U.S. Coast Guard, the local sheriff department, and the Washington State Department of Ecology.

“There was no environmental damage, no boats were sunk, and there was no oil sheen,” Hagiwara said. “The biggest thing to reiterate is that no one was injured, thankfully.”

For photos and more, click here .

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About Dorie Cox

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Search resumes for 2 men missing after boat sinks in Long Island Sound off Westport

Published october 22, 2023 • updated on october 23, 2023 at 8:53 am.

Two men from New York are missing after a small fishing boat sank off Westport on Sunday morning, according to police, and the search for them resumed Monday morning.

Five people were on the boat, which was anchored near Cockenoe Island in Long Island Sound, went it started to sink in choppy waters around 9:30 a.m.   

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A boater found a man standing on a buoy near the island around 4 p.m. and another male and female were pulled from the water nearby, police said.

The three were taken to the hospital to be evaluated, but it was learned that there had been five people on a boat and two men from Spring Valley, New York were still missing, police said.

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Several agencies searched the area, but could not find the two other people in the water. The search was suspended around 9 p.m. and resumed Monday morning.

Westport police said the U.S. Coast Guard Marine and Air Units as well as Suffolk County Air Unit are helping in the search.

Police said a significant language barrier has hampered their ability to identify the two missing men and they are working with translators to assist with this investigation.

Teens accused of stealing car, hitting police cruiser and SUV arrested in Southington

Cool temperatures today before summer heat returns

Any boaters who were in the area of Cockenoe Island between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. on Sunday are asked to call Westport police at 203-341-6000.

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Yacht crashes into docks, hits several boats in Port Angeles

Credit: Clallam County Sheriff's Office

PORT ANGELES, Wash. — Deputies are investigating after a 125-foot yacht crashed into docks and hit several boats Monday morning.

The Clallam County Sheriff's Office said at about 8:15 a.m., Capt. Steve Peckham had moored the Westport Yacht at a fuel dock in the Port Angeles Boat Haven for fueling.

**NEWS RELEASE - YACHT COLLISION** On 10-07-2019 at approximately 0815 hours Captain Steve Peckham, a Westport Yacht... Posted by Clallam County Sheriff's Office on  Monday, October 7, 2019

Investigators said the mooring lines were secured to the dock but the fueling hadn't started when the vessel suddenly accelerated.

The yacht crashed into several docks and at least seven other boats, deputies said.

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The dock and boats were damaged.

Damages are estimated to likely exceed $100,000.

Investigators said alcohol and drugs are not suspected and there were no injuries.

Six crew members, including the captain, were on the yacht during the time of the crash.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation.

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Two men found dead near capsized boat in Westport identified as Portland man and his uncle

by Keith Eldridge

WESTPORT, Wash. - Investigators are trying to figure out what happened to a Portland man and his uncle who were found dead in the water near their overturned fishing boat in Westport on Sunday.

It was a 12-footer, which has some boaters asking if it was wise for the men to go out in the rough conditions.

"It is too small for out there," said local sport fisherman Jim Gibbs. "Especially with the winds yesterday."

Gibbs and his wife Noreen were at that same spot near the jetty Monday and saw the overturned aluminum boat still there.

"It looks little, smaller than what they said," said Noreen Gibs. "Just two people out in more of a river boat or lake boat."

The Coast Guard said since there was no storm, there were no restrictions on the size of vessels that could be out on the water.

"The winds picked up at about 10:00, 15 to 25 knot winds. Prior to that it was 5 to 10 knots," said Boatswain's Mate, First Class Kevin Cornell. "So a big substantial change at 10:00 so that may have done it, we don't know."

The coroner identified the victims as 56-year-old Sean Dooney of Portland and his 74-year old uncle Kevin Dooney of Camas. Both men were wearing life jackets.

Their SUV and boat trailer are still at the boat ramp for their grief stricken family to come and get, and try to come to grips with what happened.

The crew of the Coast Guard's 47-foot motor life boat involved in the search was behind closed doors to debrief and decompress from the trauma of not being able to save the two men.

"It's tough," said Cornell. "We have a lot of the newer people here who are a little bit green and haven't seen stuff like that before, so they're a little bit newer to it. So it does take a toll."

Westport officer injured, 9 people arrested, cruisers damaged

Police describe a wild set of events that took place Monday morning, that started with someone trying to break into cars in a neighborhood, a crash that injured an officer and damaged a cruiser, a second vehicle that crashed into the cruiser driven by the police chief, and finally the arrest of nine suspects ranging in age from 12 to 20-years-old. Two stolen vehicles were recovered, along with one handgun.

The chain of events started with a call from neighboring Fairfield with a report of three suspects in a car wearing masks that had been seen trying to break into cars and garages. The group had been seen near the Westport/Fairfield town line. 

Officers spotted the trio, who then crashed their car into a cruiser, damaging the police vehicle and injuring an officer.  

Injuries to the officer were not life threatening but did require medical evaluation and treatment, according to police. 

The suspects headed towards I-95 southbound where it eventually became stopped due to damage from the initial collision between exits 18 and 17.  Officers took several suspects who attempted to run from the scene. The vehicle that the suspects were in was previously reported stolen and a handgun was found inside. 

While the first incident was happening, a stolen vehicle with several other suspects passed through the area of the search. Police said when they tried to stop it, the driver took off striking an unmarked police vehicle driven by Westport Police Chief Foti Koskinas. 

The stolen vehicle drove to the Sherwood Island Connector, where it was disabled in a crash, after which several subjects were taken into custody. 

Police said nine arrests were made of both juvenile and adult suspects ranging in age from 12 to 20 years. Suspects were charged with both criminal and motor vehicle charges

Police said they believe all the suspects in the incidents have been apprehended. More information on the suspects is expected to be released at a later time. 

Doug Stewart is a Senior Digital Content Producer at FOX61 News. He can be reached at  [email protected] .

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Boat of the Week: The Most Successful Superyacht in the World Just Got a Next-Gen Makeover

Westport yachts' new 112-footer, book ends, is a generational shift in design, focusing on open spaces, luxurious stones and modern materials., michael verdon, michael verdon's most recent stories.

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It’s hard to imagine that changing a staircase can transform the interior of a superyacht , but in the case of the Westport 112, it became the turning point in its new design. The American builder’s entry-level boat is arguably the most successful superyacht in the world. Since it was introduced in 1994, 62 112s have been launched and three others are currently in build. No other yacht has had that kind of staying power or popularity among owners.

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Therein lies a dilemma. Changing a superyacht’s look after a long, successful run can be a tricky proposition. But times change, designs come and go, and what was popular in 1994 can seem dated. Fortunately for Westport, American yacht owners tend to be relatively traditional in their tastes. That is, until recently.

“We had potential customers coming up to us with brochures from European builders, asking if we could do this or that with our design,” Alex Rogers, sales director of Westport Yachts , told Robb Report on a recent tour of Book Ends , the latest 112 to hit the water. “It made us rethink the entire design.”

The new interior includes murals to add an element of whimsy to hallways that are typically utilitarian.  Courtesy Westport Yachts

Sylvia Bolton, Westport’s in-house designer, sees the design shift in even stronger terms: “ Book Ends is as different as it can be from the last generation without actually changing the layout.”

Westport’s naval architects added larger exterior windows, replacing the rows of portholes along the hull and the main windows in the superstructure, adding three inches to enhance natural light. That gave the exterior a more contemporary look. Bolton decided to go full monty with the interior, without changing the internal structure. Moving bulkheads and shifting spaces can be an expensive, complicated process, especially for a company that built its business model on an assembly-line process where changes translated to big costs for the owner. Besides, the 112’s hull has proven its worth for 27 years.

So, Bolton started with the staircase. “Originally it was a circular staircase with two radiuses extended into the hallway,” she says. “We changed it to a straight staircase. It was amazing how much it opened up that space.”

The country kitchen on the 112 is a favorite gathering point for owners, guests and crew, so the design included a flowing piece of marble on the island and large-screen televisions to add luxury to the galley’s inherent sociability.  Courtesy Westport Yachts

Opening space across the interior was a key goal, so Bolton focused on simple things like straightening corners and removing wide cabinets that had been part of the 112’s layout for years. She also modernized the interior with new surfaces, stones and even wall sculptures.

A pair of life-sized reef sharks, extended on a hallway wall, seem to be swimming in a dark-blue coral reef. At the bottom of the stairway on the lower deck is a wall-sized photo of a school of reef fish. Sand dollars on the main salon wall also became part of the new standard design.

“I really like blue and started thinking about sea life,” Bolton says. “I thought it would make a good theme, and most times, clients resonate with them. We also make everything easily removable in case the client doesn’t like it.”

The life-sized reef shark sculptures on the wall show some of the fine design touches of the new 112.  Courtesy Westport Yachts

The owner of Book Ends came into the build process late, so he had little choice over the big features in the interior. But he must’ve liked Bolton’s design, because the only thing that changed were the big sand dollars in the salon, which were replaced with bright, colored glass spheres.

The last 112 I’d been on was about ten years ago, and boy, talk about a sea change. Instead of what I remembered as somewhat dated traditional American design, the 112 now had features like leather-covered handles on doors and drawers, a rich Rousseau finish on the oak walls (where the grain runs horizontally) and lots of natural light.

The two areas I liked best weren’t the main salon or main suite, both open and spacious, but the country kitchen and pilot house. Open kitchens have been one of Westport’s hallmarks over the years, showing the difference between European and American owners. Europeans tend to like small galleys where staff are confined to make meals, but the Americans use the kitchen much as they do at home, as social gathering points for owner, guests and crew.

Sweeping marble in the main suite displays the level of quality across the yacht.  John Cantu/Westport

Bolton worked within the same layout as previous 112s, but modernized it with new colors and materials, including a beautiful piece of marble that flowed over one side of the galley’s center island and extended to the floor. It was clearly the room’s centerpiece. “Stone is something that we pay particular attention to,” says Bolton. “It’s an accent that can make or break a space. It can take several months to find the right piece, and the right stone can even make you change a design to accommodate it.”

The Calacatta marble down in the main suite’s bath and shower was also exceptional, a flowing, soft-grained stone that filled the space with a subtle luxury.  The main bedroom was nice, but the marble ensuite made it extraordinary.

Seeing this new interior changed another perception I’d had about Westports—that the quality wasn’t as strong as some of the brand’s competitors. But I’d confused myself by comparing Westport’s older interiors with more modern European designs. Looking at Book Ends , I could see that the materials—and craftsmanship—were as strong as the European builders, and in some cases, better. It just took a new design to showcase it.

The exterior cockpit area has the same sense of open space as the adjoining salon.  Courtesy Westport Yachts

My favorite spot on the 112 was the pilothouse, another large social area, with lounges and big windows surrounding the helm chair and navigation console.

Bolton added subtle touches here by lowering the height of a side lounge to allow more natural light below, while adding a school of swimming fish on the rear wall’s Lucite surface. “Lucite tends be clear during the daylight hours, so you don’t really see the mural,” she says. “But at night, it becomes vivid, and the reflects off the windows as well, so it feels like you’re surrounded by fish.”

The designer used Lucite beneath the stairs to the sky-deck to deliver a floating feel between stairs. “To me, the qualities of the materials are important,” she says. “Each can provide a different finish with a tactile quality that is also important visually. It adds to the boat’s overall feel.”

The new exterior includes larger windows along the superstructure and in the hull sides.  Courtesy Westport Yachts

While Book Ends represents the new generation of Westport 112s, it’s just the start. Westport is working on another 112 now where the owners, concerned about sustainability, do not want any material that is not manufactured or recycled—in other words, no leathers, original woods or natural marble. Talk about a sea change .

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Enlightened One: The Westport 125

• By Michael Verdon
• Updated: March 4, 2017

Westport ‘s 125 recently demonstrated her offshore prowess by running 6,500 miles nonstop from the builder’s Washington state shipyard to the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, where she premiered. While that distance exemplifies ­Westport’s bluewater heritage, the builder’s latest launch is also a departure, with a more modern exterior and first-time features for Westport, including a beach club, full-beam master in a yacht under 130 feet LOA and raised pilothouse.

The raised pilothouse design came about by polling owners of the Westport 112, who favored the easier access of a raised pilothouse versus a traditional trideck such as the Westport 130. The builder has always relied on owner opinions to help shape designs, and with 65 Westport 112s on the water, owners helped to ensure that the new yacht shares many of the 112’s best features. The 125’s profile is sleeker than that of her siblings, and the superstructure has a softer look, though the straight hull lines could not be mistaken for any brand but Westport. The design is a solid evolutionary leap, similar to what BMW did by adding its 4 series years after the 3 and 5 series.

When I saw her dockside at Westport’s Fort ­Lauderdale headquarters, the 125 had a just-minted look despite having been through the equivalent of two transatlantic crossings. I saw the swim platform slide out, offering access to the water. This 125’s owner loves diving and watersports, so an onboard air compressor, scuba sled and dive gear were side by side with the beach-club furniture. This stern arrangement, a nod to European yards that include beach clubs as standard, showed Westport’s understanding that the yachting world is changing.

The master suite is a similar answer to competitors in the 120- to 130-foot range. Before the 125, the 164 was Westport’s only model with a full-beam master. Designers configured the forward part of the 125’s main deck into a light-filled suite. They included a king-size berth against the forward area rather than the aft section, plus a his-and-her bathroom divided by a central shower. Add the chairs, table, closets and dressers, and the master feels closer to one found on a 150-footer.

One deck down are two VIP staterooms aft (both en suite with queen berths), a third stateroom forward and a fourth stateroom that, on this 125, was converted into a gym. In a separate section are captain’s quarters and crew cabins for five to six people.

In superyacht circles, Westport is seen as a value brand, and it is, if value is a measure of price and quality. I would put the fit and finish of the 125 up against any European or American yacht I saw at the Fort Lauderdale show, in terms of both workmanship and design elegance. Westport doesn’t outsource its boatbuilding, so many of the same carpenters and stone specialists have been working at the yard for decades. Their experience shows in the detailing of the sapele (mahogany) joinery on the bulkheads and cabinetry, in the furniture that is made in-house and in the backlit onyx displays in the salon. The owner’s shower on this 125 had a green marble sole and walls. When the marble wouldn’t work on the ceiling, an artist was brought in to paint a replica. The artwork was indistinguishable from the real marble, a testament to the yacht’s caliber of craftsmanship.

The salon, a highlight of the main deck, has an aft section with lounges and a table, plus a forward section with a dining table for eight. The Kaleidescape in-house cinema turns the area into an entertainment center. This 125 is a smart yacht too, controlled by iPhone or tablet. The owner and guests can control the entertainment system, while the captain can monitor engine and other onboard functions remotely. Like the rest of the yacht, the salon is spacious, with 7 feet 2 inches of headroom. The 125 also has a country kitchen forward that doubles as a professional galley, and another social area for guests and owners. Since most Americans love to hang out in their kitchens at home, why not the same on a boat? The pilothouse is also a social area while underway, with a raised lounge and tables abaft the all-glass helm station.

On sunny days, guests can lounge or dine on the flybridge, with its hot tub, settees, bar and barbecue. Another, private guest area on the bow makes for a great escape, especially if the yacht is docked stern-to.

Performancewise, Westports are known for being fast, seaworthy rides, and the 125 is no exception. With her twin 2,600 hp MTUs, the yacht cruises at 20 knots and tops out at 25. She has both Naiad and Seakeeper 35 series stabilizers to minimize rocking and rolling, both at anchor and when running.

One detail I loved was Westport’s decision to ­locate the air-conditioning exhaust vents high on the raised pilothouse deck, rather than down near the waterline. This choice meant extra engineering, but ­eliminated exhaust blowback that could ruin a fun day at the beach club. Such details are what distinguish any yacht in its class, and the Westport 125 ­represents the evolution of a strong American brand.

Country Kitchen

The country kitchen on the Westport 125 is one of the yacht’s most distinguishing features, adopted from the Westport 112. The space forward of the salon includes a professional chef’s galley but with a dinette forward and a drop-down TV along the port side. The country kitchen idea is aimed at U.S. owners, many of whom started in smaller boats with no crew and who didn’t want to abandon the homey atmosphere in their larger yachts.

“It’s what we Americans do: We like to hang out in the kitchen,” says Alex Rogers, Westport’s director of sales. “This was one of the features that our 112 owners asked about keeping on the 125.”

Sliding exterior doors close off the galley for formal dining at the eight-person table in the salon.

Form and Function

The Westport 125’s open salon has sapele joinery on the bulkheads and cabinets, all constructed in-house. Note the use of a mirror behind the dining area’s artwork, further enhancing the sense of spaciousness. Five 26-inch LCD monitors in the pilothouse console give the helmsman crucial information at a glance. A second helm station is on the flybridge, with wing stations to provide a 360-degree view when docking.

Proud History

Westport currently builds four mega-yacht models: the 112, 125, 130 and 164. But the yard actually got its start constructing commercial fishing vessels that had to handle big water day in and day out. Since 1964, Westport has launched more than 100 recreational yachts, 170 commercial fishing craft and 35 commercial passenger vessels. The yard specializes in composite construction.

Efficiency Meets Customization

The Glass Helm

The Portuguese bridge on the Westport 125 was a handy way to avoid a full-blown trideck design while making good use of the space. In addition to the social benefits of the Portuguese bridge — including two tables around a raised settee and a pop-up TV where guests can gather — the setup allows for a glass helm with five 26-inch LCD monitors, and throttle and gear controls. This system, incorporating 24 computers with multiple redundancy protocols, is a first for Westport. Edison Chouest Offshore, the parent company of Westport, has been using the system on commercial vessels for years.

“There are 200 of their vessels with similar systems,” Rogers says. “That kind of scale means everything has been tried and tested and is highly operational. No one else in our space has anything like this.”

The glass helm has a space-age look. For a more regular vibe at the wheel, there is a second helm on the flybridge with wing stations on both sides for docking.

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Westport Yachts History

Westport Yachts has its roots in Westport Shipyard, a respected builder of vessels for the North Pacific commercial fishing fleet. Established in 1964 in Westport, Washington, Westport Shipyard began by building commercial fishing vessels for the thriving salmon industry in the Pacific Northwest. They eventually branched out in response to the declining fishing industry, adding fast passenger ferries to their production line. The shipyard did well in the commercial field, ultimately producing over 200 commercial vessels. By 1977, though, Westport Shipyard astutely recognized the changing economy required a major adjustment in the company’s focus.

Westport Shipyard became Westport Yachts, transitioning to building luxury motoryachts. Although the type of vessel the builders were producing had changed, the company never altered their dedication to quality design and construction, retaining their core commitment that every vessel they produce must meet the highest standard of seaworthiness. Westport began building composite yachts from 98 to 130 feet, pioneering a modular construction approach to yacht building that set their company apart from the competition.

Westport invested heavily in facilities, processes, and proven technologies to secure their position at the forefront of the industry. They employ exceptional molds, allowing their engineers to integrate more features into each mold to reduce the number of mechanically fastened sub-assemblies for superior structural integrity. Use of composite construction techniques allows Westport to deliver seaworthy, stable vessels that are stronger, lighter, and faster than other yachts in the same size range, while second-and third-generation employees, and workers with thirty years’ tenure or more provide a level of experience rarely matched in the industry. Westport has enlisted the talent of leading naval architects and designers including William Garden, Donald Starkey, Greg Marshall, and Jack Sarin to work in concert with Taylor Olson and the rest of the Westport design and engineering team to develop beautiful, seaworthy, comfortable yachts.

Westport’s innovative construction methods and commitment to dependability enables the company to produce each vessel in an incredibly short build time – weeks, not months. Westport has the facilities to perform all the work on the vessels in-house, including a state-of-the-art paint facility, and an impressive 40,000 sq. ft. cabinet & joinery shop. Modular construction methods result in lower prices by eliminating non-productive hours, making Westport’s pricing the most competitive in the industry. Over the years, Westport has established a reputation for standing by their contracted price with no surprises, delays, or surcharges — they even deliver their new yachts with a full tank of fuel!

Atlantic Yacht and Ship ‘s knowledgeable South Florida yacht brokers are are waiting to help get you out on the water in the vessel of your dreams. Whether you are seeking yachts for sale , or are a boat or yacht owner looking to sell or trade, Atlantic Yacht & Ship has the experience and connections to help you realize your goals. Browse our extensive listings of new and preowned motor yachts , or call us directly at 1-888-230-0439 and we will help you locate your ideal vessel.

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Lyons Pride: On board the evolutionary new Westport 112

The latest Westport 112 combines two decades of heritage with owner-led contemporary styling that is giving European builders a run for their money, says Cécile Gauert...

The owners of the newest Westport 112 picked meticulously through seashells to choose the ones that would be imprinted into the glass of their custom dining table. This attention to detail was just the shallow end of a deep involvement that ran all the way through the design and construction of their latest yacht. In fact, the scale of their goals and freshness of their ideas contributed to the launch of a brand new look for the successful series.

The arrival of hull No 7758, the new  Lyons Pride , coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Westport 112. The 34 metre raised pilothouse model has evolved since it first hit the waters of the Pacific in 1998, including a significant exterior update in 2002, but this is the most important styling change since. Slick and contemporary, the boat competed for attention with new offerings from European builders at February’s Miami Yacht Show , where it made its debut.

It’s the second Westport 112 for experienced boaters, a husband and wife team: Michael (his middle name is Lyons) and Anne Marie Lord. Michael, an engineer by training, came to motor yachts via sailing – his earliest memory is of bobbing on a small boat off the coast of Baja California, Mexico, when he was 10.

When he met Westport broker Andrew Miles back in 2012, he greeted him with detailed information on models from European, British and US builders he’d been considering for his next boat. He liked the engineering side of Westport, he told Miles, who had flown to the owners’ home to discuss the potential build, but the yachts’ appearance was not quite to his taste. He favoured a bit more pizzazz.

As the discussion progressed, Miles marked up the drawings he’d brought with a red marker, denoting changes and additions that Lord wanted to make: skylights above the galley and VIP, a full-height wine cooler, moving bulkheads and increasing the size of the foyer. He wanted more modern joinery, and features on the overheads. It kicked the Westport 112 up a few notches and the builder went ahead, delivering in late 2013 hull No 7750, the Lords’ first Westport.

They had the boat for two and a half years and enjoyed it until their broker presented them with an offer they could not refuse. Miles had shown the yacht, as an example of Westport’s skill, to a younger client who wanted to buy it –  Lyons Pride  had not even been for sale. “That got Westport perked up a bit and they must have decided my ideas weren’t so bad,” Lord says.

A few months after the sale of his first 112, the Westport team was again working with him on a new  Lyons Pride . He intended to push them further. From his perspective, the first time around Westport had allowed him only “to tinker a bit with the design”. “We had quite a few meetings with that design team and started exploring what we could do to update the boat,” Lord says. Westport’s team was open-minded about it, even as it became clear the updates would require making a new mould for the popular model.

“This is truly a collaborative effort,” Westport’s marketing director Ron Nugent says. “Michael knew of Westport’s capabilities and we liked his ideas, so we worked together.” The fact that the builder was moving in that direction for its newer models (the 125 now launched, and a 45 metre and flagship 65 metre currently in the works) was coincidental, he says, but the new Westport 112 dovetailed very nicely with the company’s overall strategy.

Lord, who had looked at the new Westport 125, ruled it out in favour of another 112 – he wanted a boat of a size that he could operate himself – but from it he culled innovations that could be implemented on his second  Lyons Pride . He talks about that process while seated in the sizeable galley on the main deck of his new yacht. It’s a great space, with a central island/bar and comfortable sofa wrapping around a table suitable for convivial meals under a large skylight. In the Miami sun, the inviting space is aglow with light.

It was Lord who suggested enlarging all the windows. “It’s not something so novel in the yachting industry because everyone is doing it, but it was novel for the Westport 112 design. The changes may not be obvious for someone who is not so familiar with boats, but just look at the difference,” he says, pointing to another Westport 112 next to his. “The old boat had these little windows and that’s the way they’d been since the beginning of time.”

The builder’s way of working until now stems in part from its business model – keeping changes to a minimum allows it to keep a handle on production time and cost – and in part from its location on the Pacific coast. It is not unusual for boats to encounter five metre waves for hours while travelling up or down the coast. “We build these boats to be Pacific Northwest great sea boats and our naval architects did not want to compromise that. There had to be a lot of stiffening made,” Miles says.

Other significant modifications, not obvious at first glance, included changing angles on the house structure, moving air intakes, redesigning the foredeck as a lounge, adding raised seating under the hardtop, squaring off the design’s exterior lines and extending the stern with a swim platform. The mast is that of the Westport 125.

When they are on board, the Lords like to spend a lot of time in the galley and he is a licensed captain. “Owners of this [type of] boat tend to be more hands-on owners,” he says. “The boat has to be user-friendly not only to the crew but also to the owners to operate the boat. That is why this galley does not feel like a crew galley at all,” he says, casting a sweeping look around the space with its bar stools by Durante Furniture, with polished nickel and shagreen accents, stone worktops, a stain-resistant porcelain tile floor and full-size appliances.

Another favourite spot for this owner is the pilothouse . Lord liked the glass bridge that Westport installed on the new 125 and worked with the yard’s engineering team to adapt it to the 112’s smaller dimensions. “We spent a lot of time redesigning all this,” he says.

The captain’s lair on  Lyons Pride  is an eye-popper. A single Norsap helm seat faces the array of electronics and screens on the console. “The pilothouse is so much larger and more sophisticated than most boats of this size,” Lord observes. On occasion he likes to handle his own yacht.

From the pilothouse, a sliding hatch leads to the split-level flybridge/boat deck, another area significantly redesigned at Lord’s request. The blond teak decking with grey caulking extends to the boat deck, normally topped with a non-skid finish over glass. It is spacious enough for  Lyons Pride ’s 6.4 metre centre console tender and a jet ski and, with the toys offloaded, it’s a great sunbathing area with a spa pool.

The upper part of the deck is shaded by the hardtop, which has been jazzed up with silver paint by Alexseal. “Before we signed off on it, we tested different paints,” Miles says. “Westport wanted to make sure it would be a resilient durable finish.”

The new raised banquette seating on both sides is springy and very comfortable and allows anyone to get a good look over the sides and through the windshield. That was a request Lord made especially for Anne Marie, who is petite, but it makes sense for anyone. And again, because many owners operate the 112 themselves or with limited crew, two of the four remote control stations – in addition to the central helm station – are on this deck.

Back inside, the fit, finish, materials and brands are of the highest calibre. Working with Westport’s in-house design team, the Lords created a sophisticated yet personal décor. A bronze pelican, picked up in Key West, Florida, and a humorous “running man star fish” – dried with legs bent as if in motion – are a few of the items that make  Lyons Pride  their very own and not a mere showcase.

The décor’s underlying inspiration is the nautical world. A Montreal light feature from Wired Custom Lighting twinkles above the dining table. “It reminds me of the sea urchin and that is what caught my eye,” says Lord, who chose it. “It normally hangs as a chandelier but they modified it so it would not swing.” Framing it is recessed LED lighting that sets aglow a lining of pearlescent capiz shells. The shells also decorate the sideboards on either side of the large dining table, custom built by the yard’s craftsmen.

The Lords chose various seashells for the glass top of the dining table and a companion coffee table in the adjacent saloon, where the colour scheme of light greys and dark wood continues. A coral motif embroidered on the Kravet cushions strewn on the Townsend upholstered sofas recalls the nautical theme in a playful way. “We are not formal people by any stretch of the imagination,” Lord says, adding that the family will share a meal with the crew in the dining saloon, which gets used even for an informal spaghetti night.

The layout works well for a family. The forward VIP has its own access forward of the galley and a separate staircase leads to the master cabin, which is generous enough in size to comfortably hold a California king flanked by a sofa and a dresser, and there are two guest cabins with extra Pullman beds for the kids.

A couple of Lord’s suggestions here included fitting the master suite’s large shower with nozzles and electronic controls that effectively turn it into a steam room, and concealing TV screens behind mirrors. Despite his interest in engineering, one area of the yacht that he has hardly touched is the engine room. “This is pretty much the way Westport does it,” he says. “They do a nice engine room” – something that matters quite a bit to him. “We have run 750 to 800 miles non-stop,” he says. “That’s when you the see the sun come up twice – a very nice experience.”

The new  Lyons Pride  is not a one-off: many of its features will be implemented on the new generation Westport 112 line, making these owners the proud instigators of an American yacht design evolution.

First published in the May 2018 edition of Boat International .

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