Originally delivered by Delta Marine in 2016 as Albatross, the 79m superyacht has undergone a full-scale transformation, culminating in a private renaming ceremony and the beginning of her final sea trials.
An Extensive Rebuild at Damen Yachting
The yacht arrived in the Netherlands in December 2022 and entered a comprehensive refit program under the Amels Refit division. What began as a 72m vessel now measures 79.2m, following a dramatic structural change in which 10 meters of the hull were removed and 17 meters added.
The extension not only increased the gross tonnage of the yacht to 2,149GT but also prompted a thorough reevaluation of her naval architecture.
Harrison Eidsgaard led both the exterior redesign and a complete reimagining of the interior spaces. The firm replaced the original François Zuretti interiors with a modern configuration tailored to the owner’s brief. The result is a fresh and contemporary aesthetic that reflects the yacht’s updated exterior styling.
Beyond the visual changes, the layout itself has been strategically reworked to introduce several new features that enhance both guest experience and outdoor living.
Structural Work and Stability Solutions
One of the most significant engineering challenges of the refit was preserving the yacht’s stability after the hull extension. Damen Yachting addressed this by lifting the exhaust systems to offset the added weight and reengineering a number of onboard systems to maintain optimal performance. The in-house naval architecture team was responsible for recalibrating the platform to ensure seaworthiness throughout the upgrade.
The reconfigured layout introduced a beach club with a dedicated wellness center, a spacious outdoor pool, and a Winter Garden - a semi-enclosed area that offers versatility in different climates. Exterior seating zones have been expanded to accommodate more casual lounging and entertainment spaces, reflecting the owner's desire for relaxed outdoor living.
Moonstone now accommodates up to 12 guests across six staterooms, along with two additional staff members. Crew capacity stands at 18, with space for the captain included in the total. While the yacht’s internal layout has been refreshed, particular care was taken to retain core aspects of the original platform that aligned with the owner’s preferences.
Sea Trials and Delivery
The yacht was relaunched in March 2025 and began sea trials in late April. She has been cruising the waters around Vlissingen and nearby Bruges, passing through the main lock onto open water on April 29 for her first formal trials since the rebuild. Once these are complete, Moonstone will be delivered to her owner.
According to Michel Coens, head of Refit & Services at Damen Yachting, the project was as ambitious as it was collaborative: “The scale and magnitude of this refit has been a team effort. We reconfigured the layout and carried out major engineering works. Her transformation is stunning.”
A Successor to the Original Moonstone
This newly refitted 79m Moonstone (ex-Albatross) is likely to be the successor to the 61m Moonstone delivered by Amels in 2021. Built on the Amels 200 platform with exterior design by Tim Heywood and interiors by Luxury Projects, the original Moonstone was known for her hybrid propulsion system, vibrant bespoke detailing, and strong emphasis on global cruising capability.
With a beach club lounge, owner's suite with private balcony, and hybrid battery-supported systems for reduced emissions, she was tailored for an active, art-loving owner and a growing family. The decision to commission a significantly larger vessel—refitted with a custom layout, wellness center, and expanded outdoor spaces—suggests a continuation of that lifestyle, scaled up to meet evolving needs.
Moonstone is listed for sale on YachtBuyer and is currently asking $69,900,000.
Another Landmark Refit by Damen Yachting: Here Comes the Sun
Moonstone is the latest in a series of high-profile refits completed at Damen Yachting’s Vlissingen facility. Among the most notable is Here Comes the Sun, the 89m Amels yacht that returned to the yard in 2020 for a substantial transformation.
Originally delivered in 2017 at 83 meters, the yacht was extended by six meters and upgraded with a helicopter landing area, expanded beach club, seven-meter pool, and newly configured VIP suites.
Here Comes The Sun is also listed for sale on YachtBuyer and is currently asking €185,000,000.
These projects, including the new Moonstone, are prime examples of Damen Yachting’s skill in transforming yachts built by other shipyards.
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