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While Missy B does identify with many similar-size yachts in that there are no bulkheads separating the saloon from the dining area, the rooms are divided by a trilevel spiral staircase, situated to starboard. This was another element the Burrows had planned for their original project, and Ted Black of Hargrave's in-house concept studio scaled it down to complement its surroundings. The stair also links the main deck with both the lower deck and the sky lounge.

Truly an elegant aerie, the sky lounge looks and feels large for a yacht of Missy B's size. There's a port-side bar that's sure to get a lot of use whether the Burrows or charterers are on a cruise. An S-shape sofa to starboard mimics the curves of the beautifully finished cabinetry as well as the oval coffee table in front of it and the "light ring" overhead. Two barrel chairs opposite the sofa round out the room's abundant seating.

Just outside the doors from the sky lounge, Missy B's boat deck transforms into yet another large-scale social area when not being used to stow the 18-foot tender and two PWCs. Whether they mill about or relax in deck chairs, a dozen or so guests can comfortably fit up here. (In fact, one night this summer the Burrows had 32 friends and family aboard Missy B, many of whom took advantage of the open deck area.) A Jenn-Aire grill tucked to starboard of the doors keeps the food comin'.

For more formal meals, people will certainly want to gather around the dining table, highlighted by an intricate colored-glass chandelier directly overhead. But for less formal sit-down occasions, they'll want to head to the large, U-shape banquette in the galley. Here they can enjoy a snack or even watch the chef work culinary magic on the expanse of granite topping the prep island. They can also just plain chew the fat (figuratively, of course).

As you'd expect, sleeping accommodations aboard Missy B benefit from the big-boat approach. But it's not limited to the ones for the Burrows and their guests/charterers. While all of their staterooms--full-beam owner's suite, two queen-berth suites, and one twin-berth suite--are off a foyer at the base of the spiral staircase, the captain gets a stateroom with an island queen berth down the steps from the galley. Should the need arise for additional crew when the Burrows are aboard or during charters, there's a double crew cabin to port off the large lazarette, which also houses a commercial-grade extra refrigerator and freezer.

Just forward of the lazarette, in keeping with the (welcome) trend of laying out large engine spaces onboard megayachts, Hargrave gave Missy B a room that handily houses two Caterpillar 3412s, two Onan gensets--including a 45-kW night unit instead of a smaller-capacity genset--and ample space between the powerplants to walk between them and access major maintenance points. The twin 1,400-hp Caterpillars permit a 16-knot top speed. While that may sound slow in this get-there-fast day and age, it makes sense in light of the 125-ton displacement and is also in keeping with the late Jack Hargrave's philosophy of emphasizing seaworthiness over speed. Throttled back to a 12-knot cruise and given the upgraded fuel tankage of 5,000 gallons, Missy B enjoys a 2,000-mile range, permitting a nonstop Florida-to-Maine voyage.

And that's virtually what the Burrows did upon delivery in May, with a layover in New York City in late June to entertain a near-constant stream of family and friends, including members of the Hargrave staff. Missy B remained in town long enough to provide them all with a front-row anchorage for the grand Fourth of July fireworks display over New York Harbor.

Which just goes to show that some things are worth the wait after all.

Hargrave Custom Yachts Phone: (954) 463-0555. Fax: (954) 463-8621. www.hargrave-usa.com.

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