In his career as a naval architect, Moonen Director Emile Bilterijst developed a special affinity with faster yachts. Thus, when the owner of My Issue first came to the yard and expressed his desire for a speedy vessel of Moonen standards of quality, it was inevitable that Bilterijst himself would take to the drawing board. Taking the renowned Moonen 83 as his reference point, he soon developed a new concept.

The idea was relatively simple, taking the lines plan of the Moonen 83 and extending this to a length of 89 feet. Due to the fact that the owner was hugely impressed with Dolce Vita, the superstructure was kept exactly the same. This is how My Issue came to have such a spacious aft deck - a particular favorite of the owner - and a slender and speedy look.

The owner also had other requirements of course. Because there would be small children coming onboard, all cabins had to be located forward of the engine room and a large amount of extra storage space was needed. Bilterijst therefore sketched a large lazarette aft of the engine room, with easy access to the swimming platform.

The lazarette is sufficiently spacious to house the owner's two small scooters. A solution to get these scooters on to dry land was found by mounting a special passerelle, which is hidden within the swimming platform when not in use. This passerelle, made by Dutch specialists Cramm, was first fitted on the 1997-nominated Xanadu.

By means of an ingenious scissor lift and the large door in the stern, the scooters can be ridden on to the swimming platform. From here they are placed on the passerelle, which is turned to the harbor.

The lines plan and naval architecture were further developed by Mulder Design, the company which also made the design for the Moonen 83.

With weight being such a major consideration for this project, My Issue is entirely made of aluminum. An extremely strict weight control regime was in place during the building process, the accuracy being such that the final weight of the yacht was only within a couple of hundred kilos of the original specifications.

As is the case with all Moonen yachts, considerable attention was paid to noise attenuation, an area that is always problematic with high speed, lightweight constructions. By adding weight where necessary and leaving out the non-essential, My Issue is an exceptionally quiet yacht. The five-blade high skew propellers and the tunnel in the ships-bottom, which gives large tip-clearance on the propeller-blades, have also made a significant contribution.

The noise levels measured at 18 knots cruising speed are as follows:

Saloon 65 dB(A)
Wheelhouse 63 dB(A)
Owners 65 dB(A)
Guest SB 62 dB(A)
Guest BB 63 dB(A)
Crew 67 dB(A)

At 50% load, My Issue easily attains a top speed of 25 knots and a cruising speed of 18 knots at 85% rpm. Thanks to her long and slender profile, the trim is optimal at all speeds and in every sea condition, as is the overall sailing performance.

There is virtually no trace of a hump when accelerating and the yacht glides effortlessly up to top speed. And the round bilged hull, with its slender lines in the foreship, also offer a remarkably good performance when sailing at higher speeds in waves.

When talking to the owner recently he told Moonen Shipyards what excited him most about the yacht was the easy handling. The yacht is so well balanced that he can sail and maneuver the yacht completely alone.

As one would expect from a Moonen yacht, the quality of workmanship and finishing is immaculate. There is excellent storage space on the decks and the wooden gunwale offers an extra element of character to the overall appearance.

The smart and business-like interior has a consistent and very tasteful atmosphere throughout. While the layout and furniture styling owe their roots to the Moonen 83, the owner must take the credit for the color combinations, choice of materials and the exquisite loose furniture.

My Issue is a special variation on a theme that combines the best of both worlds in an elegant, well-presented yacht.