Hargrave 116 Romeo Foxtrot: A Jaw-Dropping Luxury Yacht Review

All Photo Credits: Suki Finnerty

At home on Hargrave’s new 116-foot Romeo Foxtrot

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but when I stepped aboard the Hargrave 116-foot Romeo Foxtrot, the pictures I saw prior to my visit quickly went silent. The real-life visual in front of me spoke volumes as the colors, textures, design features and accents, and even the lighting blended into a work of art. Join Southern Boating on this luxury yacht review and you’ll soon understand.

“As the lead designer on this project, my primary goal was to create a yacht with uncompromising amenities and luxurious comfort,” says Shelley DiCondina, president and lead designer of Yacht Interiors by Shelley in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and designer of Romeo Foxtrot’s interior. “Our first mission was to design a floor plan that’s function was beyond reproach…to create a luxury vessel that has thoughtful gathering areas that are beyond comfortable, feels intimate for long conversations and relaxing, and is easily accessible for crew to deliver discrete service.”

Stepping Aboard the Hargrave 116 Romeo Foxtrot: A Luxury Yacht Review

That’s just how Romeo Foxtrot emerged from the yard. As I said, walking into the main salon gave me an entirely new perspective. First, what appeared in pictures as a skinny, elongated salon and dining area turned out to be quite the opposite. Nearly floor-to-ceiling windows made the space feel much wider, and contemporary accents along with furniture choices made for a large cohesive room with distinctive social areas. It was then I realized the windows were so big because the headroom was unusually tall—seven feet, two inches to be exact.

Exotic walnut-based veneers, marble, wood, and tile are used extensively to create a refined, luxurious feel throughout the interior. Light sand tones everywhere are blended with splashes of browns, ocean blues, patterns, and gleaming glosses. With those interior design attributes and the “picture” windows letting in an abundance of natural light, there’s a spaciousness that lets you breathe yet keeps you wrapped in a cozy, comfortable frame of mind.

Experience the Pinnacle of Seafaring Luxury Living Spaces

The main-deck salon on Romeo Foxtrot has an oversized, plush sofa with matching chair and a coffee table with a wood grain-style runner designed within. Across to port, four seats surround a smaller, raised table with similar features as the coffee table. Each seat is a contemporary design with a velvety backrest that seems to change its mood as the light plays upon it. A bar with sink and mirror-backed shelves is snug in the starboard aft corner while a large-screen television is mounted in the port aft corner. Between them, glass sliding doors open out to the cockpit to expand the room outside with a U-shaped sofa and beautiful glossy table aft. Folding chairs add seating for nine or 10 to enjoy a delightful alfresco meal protected from the elements by the upper deck.

Stairs on each side of the cockpit lead down to the swim platform and beach club, but more on that in a minute.

Turning back into the salon, a modern design element on the headliner wraps down between the windows to separate the salon and dining area, as does the turn from carpet to a beautifully engineered wood floor. Centered along the forward bulkhead is a wide interior circular stair to reach the upper and lower decks. To port is access to the galley and to starboard, a corridor leads to a day head and, eventually, the master stateroom. But before that, with picture windows on each side, is a magnificent dining table.

“The dining table is called a ‘Live Edge Table’ of raw teak,” explains DiCondina. “We could not get the width of the table we required so we had the shipyard cut the plank down the center and flip the ‘live edge’ of the plank to the inside. The table was then laid up with gray-toned acrylic poured to create width on the inside. This way, the raw edge is on view in the center of the table to enjoy. The other benefit is that the table perimeter is smooth and makes for easier table setting and use. We then designed a very clean, simple stainless steel banded base with sub deck that bolted to the floor. The ‘Live Edge’ plank trend is a sophisticated nod to the organic vibe designers are embracing—earthy and starring Mother Nature; whether it’s looking out the windows at the sea or admiring the simple beauty of a plank of wood.”

It’s a stunning piece of artwork that seats 10 and is an exquisite example of how Yacht Interiors by Shelley fuses modern design with timeless luxury. It’s a cornerstone to the experience of this luxury yacht review.

Continuing that theme, forward on the main deck is the master stateroom. The spacious full-beam suite features two private heads and two walk-in closets to offer unparalleled indulgence and comfort. The modern element used between the salon and dining room is also used here and focuses the king berth as the room’s centerpiece. Above the headboard and surrounding the very large TV opposite as well as on the dresser drawers is another striking design made with an exotic ALPI veneer. It is also used in the dining room and salon although of differing color shades from silver to walnut. A seating area is to port, and large windows on both sides let in the natural light and provide a visual worth, well, more than a thousand words.

The last space of the main deck is the galley with a center island and all the appliances that create an efficient place for meal prep and service. There’s even a cozy breakfast settee with table in the corner for guests to keep the chef company or go over the day’s menu.

Comfort is one of the benefits of Romeo Foxtrot’s design, and it’s evident in the accommodations belowdecks. Four ensuite guest cabins, all with king-size berths, are designed with separate showers and the same accents found throughout the yacht with marble, silver, and veneers as well as each suite with its own blend of colors. Wide windows above the berths keep the suites bathed in natural light.

The yacht fits eight crew on the accommodations deck forward with access from the galley above to avoid unnecessary interaction with guests. Beside an L-shaped settee with table, full head, and a small galley space, the quarters are also laundry central with two full-size washers and dryers. There’s also a washer/dryer closet in the guest accommodations space for delicate clothing or for a quick wash of bathing suits and such.

The captain’s quarters are on the upper deck just off the wheelhouse. “I think it’s amazing,” says Capt. Chris. “I always say having a captain’s cabin off the pilothouse is a safety feature. The night watch just has to knock on my door almost instantly. He doesn’t have to run down below trying to look for me.” Leaving the helm can be risky in an emergency situation and having the captain within feet can really make a difference.

Also Read: Large Center Console Boats Are Redefining The Luxury Experience

An Extraordinary Tri-Deck

Romeo Foxtrot has three full decks, including the accommodations level, the main deck, and the upper deck. There’s also the added entertainment space of the spa/sun deck that tops off the yacht’s sleek exterior design. Her spa tub, bar area, and entertainment center with grill make the deck a favorite hang-out.

Go ahead and include the beach club off the stern that has a fold-down teak deck for water sport launchings, a full bar, and a steam room for six, and with the huge sunpad on the main deck’s bow—the choices are endless to find a private spot, or socialize with a loved one or with family, or entertain all your friends. Add the ocean, and the yacht is a mecca for fun in the sun.

There’s no need to worry about what keeps this yacht on the move. Twin Caterpillar C32 engines push Romeo Foxtrot ahead nicely at a cruising speed around 12 knots which will take her between 1,000 and 1,200 miles. At eight knots, that distance almost doubles. She also has Northern Lights generators and a watermaker that produces up to 1,800 gallons of water per day.

“I feel very comfortable as far as she handles,” says Capt. Chris, noting that the yacht is well-balanced and responsive. The stabilizers really help too. “Going across to Greece, we had this really big beam sea and the wind was blowing. I thought, ‘Oh, this is going to be miserable,’ but it wasn’t bad at all. She handles very well.”

Luxury Yacht Review Final Thoughts: Romeo Foxtrot

The interior design is also key in the owners’ comfort as well as the crew’s. “I love the way the boat is laid out,” adds Capt. Chris. “When you walk through it, everything flows. Everything continues one onto the other, which I like…. The elegance is in the simplicity of the layout.” The beauty is being on board and enjoying every moment whether at the dock, cruising to a new destination, or anchored in a cove. Romeo Foxtrot definitely offers that and more.

-by Steve Davis