With one forceful splash into the Pacific Ocean last weekend, the Nordhavn 76 unseated its smaller sister, the N72, as flagship of the Nordhavn line. It’s true that the bones of the 76 mimic those of her sistership, but the 76’s aft pilothouse configuration and four feet of additional volume instantly sets the two ships apart.

For certain, with its triple-deck layout, this new boat is taller in stature than the standard-styled 72. But perhaps it’s the huge foredeck of the 76 that makes her seem so much bigger overall than the rest of the models. Her look seamlessly blends the salty trawler form that Nordhavn was founded on with the luxurious lines of a megayacht. “This boat is at once as rugged as she is elegant,” said Dan Streech, PAE’s president.

Equipped with three outside dining/entertaining areas, hosting dozens of guests for evening cocktails will be a breeze. Or if a dinner party is more the order, friends can gather around the formal-size dining table or lounge in the expansive living area. With a saloon/galley that’s larger than on any other yacht we’ve built, entertaining big groups on the 76 is almost a must.
The boat was offloaded in San Diego (along with 5 other Nordhavns) last week. And although the 6-hour trip up to our headquarters in Dana Point is a relatively short journey, the 76 performed flawlessly and cruised effortlessly at 10 knots. Inside, her delivery crew relaxed in comfort. Details that can’t go unnoticed are an oversized master suite which contains a massive jacuzzi bathtub in the head and a gigantic pilothouse capable of seating 10 comfortably with a 360-degree view outside. Overhead hatches throughout bathe the boat in light and fresh air.

During her brief tenure (beginning September 2004), the N72 was a formidable flagship. But there is no mistaking which model now reigns supreme.