| Christensen 157 |  |
It is just before sunrise, and in the stillness of the morning,
Marathon clearly holds sway over all she surveys. To starboard, framed by
lush mangroves, the glassy surface of Laguna de Navidad reflects a scene that
could be Old Florida a hundred years ago, were it not for the range of verdant
peaks that command the eastern sky. On the edges of the flats, schools of
baitfish occasionally shoot skyward from the still water, fleeing the marauding
robalo that cruise the channels. In the deeper water, a shack poised on slender
stilts stands guard over a fish weir cobbled together with sticks draped with
handwoven nets.
Flawless raised-panel joinery is a
Christensen hallmark and provides a versatile backdrop for the boat’s blend of
traditional and contemporary furnishings. (Click images to enlarge)
The view to port is more
reminiscent of Italy than of Mexico. From this vantage point at the edge of the
marina, a cluster of Mediterranean-style buildings clad in ochre and umber cling
to the steep hillside, itself punctuated with grizzled rock outcrops and
resplendent red and green poincianas. Portofino in paradise.
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Delivered in late November, Marathon is the latest of the 157-foot
(47.85-meter) Custom Series yachts being offered by Christensen Shipyards. The
company hit a home run with this series, and it is obvious from the number of
boats under construction in its Vancouver, Washington, facility that customers
appreciate the space planning and outfitting that the boats offer, as well as
the level of quality that the company is providing. Indeed, over the past 10
years, Christensen has really come into its own, producing well-engineered
systems that have increased the reliability of the product for yacht owners who
now routinely use the boats for extended bluewater passages. This higher level
of mechanical and electrical outfitting complements the fine joiner work
showcased by the company for years. Such growth—in terms of both the company’s capability and
sophistication—has begun to attract clients that heretofore would
» not
have been likely candidates for Christensen yachts. Marathon’s owner
exemplifies this trend. Just over a decade ago, he and his wife became involved
in yachting, and within a couple of years, the sizes—and number—of their boats
became noteworthy.
"In the early nineties," the owner said, "we started with a
Hatteras, then bought a 98-foot Denison, which, at that time, was one of the top
100 yachts in America." With a laugh he mused, "the top 100. Can you believe
that?
"Anyway, that’s when I discovered that I enjoyed refitting
boats. Being an interior decorator, [my wife] found that she enjoyed it also,
and it became somewhat of a hobby."
The next boat was the couple’s first Christensen, a 120-footer,
which they named Picante. After a refit, the boat was sent to Europe,
where she provided the owners with an introduction to the charter business in
the Mediterranean.
"While we had that boat, we became two-boat owners because we
purchased the 151-foot Feadship, Sea Jewel, in Australia and lived three
months in Fremantle while we did that refit.
"She was one of the most successful charter boats in the
Mediterranean when we introduced her in the late nineties. Neither of the boats
ever chartered until we had them, but they both did twenty-plus weeks their
first year."
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