Why do we sometimes sleep poorly in a perfectly comfortable stateroom? Why do we have a favorite place on board – or for that matter, a preferred seat within that place? The likely answer is energy, in Chinese, ch’i (pronounced chee). Specifically, ch’i is life’s energy, that intangible, unseen, unheard essence that in the West is often referred to as "the natural balance of things" and in "Star Wars" as "The Force." Ch’i that is out of balance – moving too fast or too slow, pooling stagnant or draining rapidly – is usually why we answer the questions above with, "I don’t know; I’m just not comfortable there," or conversely, "It just feels right."

In enclosed spaces such as yachts, architecture and décor are the two biggest factors affecting ch’i, and thus how we feel. Fortunately, designers can turn to masters like Hank Reisen of Reisen Design Associates, who use feng shui (pronounced fung shway and literally translated from Chinese as "wind water") to impose architectural harmony and help restore balance to a yacht’s ch’i. Reisen, an MIT-trained architect based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, says feng shui’s Form School, which is concerned with the way people and energy move through space, is appropriate for boats. The Compass School, the art’s other technique based on geographic orientation, can’t be applied to a moving enclosure. Form School principles address shapes and proportions; colors, materials and textures; and all issues related to environmental psychology. Making good choices in all of these areas can help guests aboard feel that everything is indeed shipshape. (Click image to enlarge)

Spreading the general arrangements for Benetti’s 171-foot Sai Ram across his desk, Reisen says, "The idea is to proceed through the yacht interior from the most public to the most private areas, from the salon to the bath and spa." He offers a warning: "A general rule of thumb in feng shui is to avoid secret arrows – sharp corners and acute angles formed by walls and furnishings that can make guests feel anxious." You can’t control the elements, says Reisen, but, "you do have some control over the environment within your yacht."

The First View
"What people experience on entering sets the tone," Reisen explains. The designer should assume that some guests have never been on a boat, and safety and comfort will be their primary concerns. Their transition from the outside must be comfortable. Feng shui calls for easing the contrasts of extremes: yang (sunny, male, expansive) versus yin (shadowy, female, contractive). "The first view extends from the deck into the first room the passengers see as they move from a very bright outdoors to a low-ceilinged and possibly dark salon."

To compensate for lower ceilings and what sometimes can be a limited number of small windows in the salon, Reisen says the space "should be located in a part of the boat that has ample daylight, or can be augmented with pleasant artificial lighting. And to create a grander space in the room’s center, the ceiling can appear higher by the construction of slightly lowered soffits around the perimeter." Upward facing lights, such as open-top sconces, also help "raise" low ceilings.

The bagua identifies a room’s energy centers. Using the main entrance as a reference point, love, for example, is located in the far right corner. A painting or statue of a pair of cranes placed there is said to promote fidelity and romance. (Click image to enlarge)

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Sharp edges and hard angles create secret (poison) arrows, (top), that send negative, cutting energy. They can be remedied, (bottom), by rounding edges, curving architectural lines and softening furnishings. When structural changes are impossible, revising décor to include plants, mirrors and draped fabrics can offset secret arrows and improve harmony. (Click images to enlarge)

Feng shui practitioners know that the position of the stove is perhaps the most important galley consideration. The stove is an agent of the transformation of raw food into the meals that sustain owners, guests and crew with physical and spiritual energy. A chef’s ch’i can affect the ch’i quality of the meals he or she prepares. Those working with food should have a wide view of the galley with their back protected by a wall, island or peninsula. If they can’t be at an island or peninsula, says Reisen, mirrors should be mounted to provide that outlook, and a second counter should protect each chef’s back. Also, a chef should never work in a direct line to any door.

Staterooms, Baths and Spas
The position of the bed is of primary importance in staterooms, but it’s here that feng shui is most at odds with space constraints on many yachts. Unlike the cozy, semi-enclosed berths aboard turn-of-the-century sailing ships, feng shui argues that the wider the view provided from the bed the better. The bed should give its occupant a clear view of the door, yet not be in line with it. The regular sleeping position should never align one’s feet with the door, as Chinese tradition calls for the recently deceased to be carried from the room feet first.

Mirrors and reflective surfaces such as plasma TV screens and computer monitors, which work positively to excite energy elsewhere, can interfere with the serenity of the stateroom. They are best ensconced in alcoves not visible from the bed, enclosed in cabinets with solid doors or covered by sheers or curtains. Because staterooms often have few windows, the designer can use art – particularly landscapes – to create "windows on the world."

Feng shui emphasizes the relaxation aspects of bathrooms and spas over their more functional aspects. The open door should not allow a view of the commode. At the very least, the door should be hung so that when it is open, it hides the toilet. A mirror on the outside of the bathroom door, kept closed with an automatic door closer, can improve harmony and prevent ch’i from running out through drains. (Click image to enlarge)

Design for a 49–meter yacht
Winding paths are beneficial, slowing ch’i without stopping it.

Near the lobby, the owner’s study is in a good, first-view location, which encourages the pursuit of knowledge. The long narrow shape of the room, however, is not conducive to holding ch’i at the desk.

Good bed location, with wide view of room and door without being directly in line with the door.

Captain’s bed is not in an auspicious location with regard to head.

Good separation between head entries and sleeping/living areas.

Soffits around the perimeter would help create the beneficial illusion of higher overheads.

Three doors in a direct line should be avoided as it channels ch’i too fast. A head at the end is particularly bad as its drains will allow the ch’i to flow out.

Hatchet or L-shaped rooms are not auspicious. Well-proportioned rectangular rooms are better.

Secret (or poison) arrows aimed at doors, especially an important main entry, should be avoided. A round table would eliminate this.