Back in 2003, I wrote an article for Power & Motoryacht magazine about a trend that I was beginning to see in the global crewed charter industry. The article was called “The Next Horizon,”and it talked about owners building go-anywhere yachts that were designed to expand cruising options beyond the traditional charter locations in the Mediterranean and Caribbean.

When the global recession felled the charter industry in late 2008, this off-the-beaten-course concept took a back seat to basic survival, which, for many charter yachts, meant becoming available “back home” in easy-to-reach locations such as the South of France and Sint Maarten.

The recession’s effects are still being felt on the charter industry today, but I am quite happy to see that not every yacht owner has succumbed. Here is a photograph of the 158-foot motoryacht Grace, a modern design that was built in 2004 in the style of a classic gentleman’s yacht. The owner’s specs included separate heating and air conditioning systems as well as the enclosed aft deck that you can clearly see just beneath Grace‘s proudly flying flag. These are the kinds of systems and styling that are necessary to keep charter guests comfortable in out-of-the-way places–which is exactly where Grace is going.

Management company Peter Insull’s tells me that Grace is going to be permanently based in Norway, a location that, until now, has been reachable via motoryacht charter only on a catch-as-catch can basis, depending on the whims and travel plans of any given yacht’s owner.

“As far as we are aware, this is the only superyacht offering an opportunity to experience the Norwegian coastline throughout the year,” Insull’s charter manager, Fiona Maureso, told me. “This news is therefore somewhat special.”

Grace has accommodations for 10 guests with nine crew  and will be available at a weekly base rate of €100,000. The yacht’s website is chock-full of interior photographs that look pretty darn nice to me, as well as technical details and deck plans if you want to learn more.

Editor’s Note: Kim Kavin is an award-winning writer, editor and photographer who specializes in marine travel. She is the author of six books including Dream Cruises: The Insider’s Guide to Private Yacht Vacations, is editor of the online yacht vacation magazine www.CharterWave.com, and writes the blog at www.BrokerageBoss.com.