HGTV Star Christina Haack and her PRESTIGE 520
When it comes to living spaces, Christina Haack takes a more discerning look than most people.
Her keen eye made her a star on HGTV with the hit home renovation show Flip or Flop and design docu-series Christina on the Coast. So it might come as a bit of a surprise to learn that, when shopping for a new yacht, she spent very little time touring interiors.
She spotted a pretty new PRESTIGE 520 slipped at Sun Country Marine Group’s Newport Beach brokerage, and she knew the moment she stepped inside that it was the perfect pleasure craft for her.
It was the only boat I looked at
I think it has one of the best floor plans I’ve seen
Christina’s no stranger to boats. As a child, her family went sailing about once a month, and she and her ex-husband Tarek El Moussa, her Flip or Flop co-star, owned a 50-foot Sea Ray.
I knew that eventually I wanted another boat, and when Coronavirus hit, I definitely knew I wanted one sooner than later because there was nothing else to do!
This boat, the PRESTIGE, speaks to all of her design sensibilities. You’ll find three bedrooms onboard the PRESTIGE 520, with the master suite on one side and the other two opposite.
I like that the master bedroom is separated from the other two. The kids can hang out in their space and watch TV. There’s a full-use kitchen with a big refrigerator and a dishwasher. There’s a big-screen TV that pops up in the salon. The floor plan is super-functional.
She also loves that the common areas are plentiful. Guests can come aboard and mingle where they like—whether it’s in the main salon, gathering around the table on the flybridge, sunning upfront on the bow, or hanging out on the aft deck.
It’s nice to be able to take the kids out and spend time with friends
There are different areas for people to go—some can be upstairs while others can be downstairs. It’s got a really great vibe. And I love the colors. It feels light and airy. There are a lot creamy colors and teak furniture— it feels very beachy and relaxing.
For Christina, it’s her floating sanctuary. It’s a place where she can escape and unwind, with lots of spots for lounging and dining. But you’ll often find her up on the flybridge.
There are two lounge chairs up there, and that’s my favorite spot. It has the best view in the house. You’re facing the front, and it’s the perfect place to watch the sunset and look up at the stars. Those are my favorite times—country music playing, sipping Champagne and watching the stars.
And for her two oldest children—Taylor, 10, and Brayden, 5 (Hudson, her youngest, is only a year old)—the boat provides afternoons of fun in the sun.
They love going from one spot to another, chasing dolphins and paddle boarding when we anchor. They enjoy the whole process—they really look forward to it.
She’s had the yacht since October, and she keeps it slipped in an enviable spot in Newport Harbor, not far from her home.
Sometimes, I just go to the boat and sit on it—not even take it out. It’s nice to just relax and be on the water, turn off the phone, have fun with the kids and talk with friends. I really feel like I’m at home on the boat—it’s very calming.
During the fall and winter, the family spent a lot of time exploring up and down the coast and cruising the harbor with friends. But now, with longer days and warmer weather, Christina’s looking forward to spending weekends on the boat in Catalina and cruising down to Mexico.