The new Lady Joy was built with family and friends in mind, but businesswoman that she is, Rich also intends to charter her. Drawing from her personal charter experience, she designed the boat to maximize its charter potential. The boat will be in the Caribbean in the winter and the Mediterranean in the summer. She admits she likes to spend a good part of the winter skiing, so she can see forfeiting her boat some of the time. Her favorite cruising grounds are Saint-Tropez in France, and Positano and Capri in Italy. Next summer she is anxious to go to Croatia, and eventually she sees herself exploring everywhere from Alaska to Russia to Indonesia and the Galapagos. Above all else, Rich intends her boat to be a place to have fun.

"I want my guests to have the best time. There is nothing better than downtime on the boat with family and friends. My boat is like going on a retreat. I want it to be a place to do yoga, laugh with friends and drink champagne. I like to have room for everyone. (She has two married daughters and five grandchildren.)

"Lady Joy can accommodate 12 to 14 people. I have four distinct dining areas, including a space forward of the bridge. I also discovered some unused space up forward for additional sun loungers. I really like to use the outside spaces. I will store my toys and Jet Skis on the foredeck so as not to clutter the sun deck. I love to be able to be out on deck and sometimes sleep under the stars. I get a lot of inspiration at sea for my writing. I have a piano on board, a full recording studio and a Kaleidescape sound system. I like to have parties and to entertain people."

Rich’s attorney and cousin Lee Goldberg is the person who introduced her to Christensen Shipyards. Denise surveyed several boatyards both in Europe and in the United States before determining that Christensen offered what she was looking for. She hit it off with Christensen President Joe Foggia and his wife Judy and often went to their home for dinner when in Vancouver, Washington. Rich visited the yard every month during the build. She loved being involved in the work atmosphere. Meeting around the conference table was part of the journey for Rich. She also worked well with designer Carol Williamson and her team. They visited Rich’s former yacht and her New York apartment to get a deeper grasp of her taste. Rich and her daughter Danielle were both intimately involved in choosing the soft fabrics and furniture, agonizing over every small piece.

"I can’t be different than who I am," said Rich. "My goal was to have the yacht be chic and elegant, but also cozy and casual." She wanted her guests to be able to feel comfortable inside while wearing their bathing suits.

Her vast and varied art collection—including a Paul McCartney, a Peter Max and a Milton Avery—provides the zing in each room. "I grew up with fine art and several of my pieces were given to me by my father," she said.

Party time. Guests arrive. New York society—columnists, cousins, Wall Streeters, Broadway types and beyond—start to mingle. I was thrilled to be introduced to personal icon Patti LaBelle. Champagne flowed, and the weather held until it didn’t. When the rain finally came, only several dozen of Rich’s inner circle were left. They all gathered in the main salon. Toasts were made and tears were shed, but joy was the lingering sentiment as the last people donned their shoes and made their way back to the streets of New York, guided under large umbrellas by the crew of Lady Joy.

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