Tag: Yachts

Zeelander Yachts has just released the first full photoshoot of its voluptuous Zeelander 5. The 48ft (14.7m) yacht joins its larger sisters with Zeelander’s new curvier styling and a host of small design improvements that help to elevate the exclusive experience of owning one of these yachts.

Admirers of the famous Zeelander line, which runs up to 79ft (24m), will instantly recognize the new S-shaped sheerline of the Zeelander 5. It is a natural evolution of the now legendary Z44, which began the Zeelander story back in 2000s. This small but important tweak also completes the updating of the brand’s design language, giving the yacht even more presence on the water.

The Zeelander 5 offers a very sophisticated interior beyond the gleaming topsides and flawless lines. Her deck saloon offers lounging in comfortable sofas that also allow six to dine with sweeping 360-degree views. Zeelander’s design team has found a way to eliminate the window mullions that would otherwise interrupt sightlines.

Sophisticated design

Gently curving stairs lead below to two exquisite cabins. The owner’s cabin positions a bed midship, where it makes the most of the views and natural light that streams in through the hull lights. A broad vanity desk dominates the port side of the cabin, which is otherwise lined with fine cabinetry that offers copious storage.

More storage is built into the walls of the lobby that divides the master cabin from the shower room and head, which are tastefully separated.

The Zeelander 5 is designed as much for outdoor living as indoors, suiting the yacht to the Florida Keys, Nantucket Island, and the Mediterranean every bit as much as the Norwegian fjords. A deep cockpit with sofas and a high-low table cocoons guests in its elegant embrace, providing shelter from sun or wind, as required. In fine weather, the door and window to the saloon can be opened for smooth communication from the helm to the cockpit. Another more open lounge on the foredeck makes an ideal spot for sun worship or simply soaking up the view in comfort.

As with every Zeelander yacht, the transom is both a thing of beauty and a key feature. Its complex curves span the entire width and depth of the stern, completing a sense of voluptuous perfection when viewing the boat as a whole. But it also folds smoothly down to offer a large bathing platform with comfortable sunbeds that eclipses everything else in its class. The platform becomes a private beach area at the water’s edge, large enough to place loungers or chairs and a table. Or use it to launch a water sports session by deploying the hidden hydraulic element of the platform to provide steps down into the water. You can also use it to step up onto the dock when moored alongside.

Although long experience has taught Zeelander that its select pool of passionate owners tend to die out, the Zeelander 5 still offers a fully functional galley. A fridge, basin, wine cooler and induction hob are discreetly installed in the curved counter that runs along the starboard side of the saloon.

There is nothing superfluous on a Zeelander, and the Zeelander 5 is no exception. The yard has brought engineering and design together into an art form that turns every piece of equipment into an item of ornamentation. That’s why the custom built, mirror-polished cleats that adorn the toerail have been described as ‘stainless steel jewellery’. And why Zeelander chooses to hand paint its exterior handrails to resemble wood, so that there is never the risk of flaking varnish.

Fast and seaworthy

Performance is a given with the Zeelander 5. Choose between twin or triple Volvo Penta IPS 650 drives, providing intuitive joystick handling at close quarters and exhilarating top speeds up to 40 knots. With a cruising range of over 450 nautical miles, and a meticulously designed hull that keeps the boat comfortable in any conditions, it’s easy to spend all day reaching a new cruising ground.

Obsessive noise management on the part of Zeelander’s engineers means that even at full throttle, it is possible to hold a normal conversation anywhere on board. It was one of founder and owner Sietse Koopmans’ design priorities, and his commitment has translated into a suite of proprietary noise and vibration reduction systems that are the envy of the boatbuilding world.

“The Zeelander 5 is the natural evolution of the original Z44 and, like that very first yacht from Zeelander, has become an instant design icon,” said Zeelander Yachts founder Sietse Koopmans. “Quiet and comfortable, huge fun to drive and seductively styled, she is every bit the equal of our larger yachts. Little wonder that the world’s most discerning yachtsmen consider that they collect Zeelanders rather than simply buying them.”

Zeelander Yachts has added an exceptional new flagship to its collection, following the launch of the 23.9-meter (79ft) Zeelander 8.

It was a significant moment for the boutique builder that chooses to build just a handful of peerless yachts every year for discerning clients. The Zeelander 8 is the largest yacht ever built by Zeelander, but it is also a close development of the existing product line, which starts at 14.7m (48ft). The mini superyacht sports the voluptuous lines, effortless power and whisper quiet operation for which Zeelander is renowned.

“Our newest model, the Zeelander 8, surpasses its on-paper expectations, showcasing an even more impressive presence in real life. Its timeless design remains uniquely Zeelander, blending classic elegance with modern innovation,” said founder and owner Sietse Koopmans.

Every Zeelander model is a work of art in a state of constant evolution. So, for all the family resemblance, the new Zeelander 8 has a prominent flowing sheerline. Its gracefully raked stern and wrap-around windscreen will be familiar to admirers of the brand, and you will struggle to find a plain, straight line anywhere about the exterior.

It is a testament to the design team that the Zeelander 8 shares the same perfect proportions as its smaller sisters, despite that impressive length. Designer Cor D. Rover’s experienced touch is evident, alongside that of Zeelander’s dedicated in-house designers. At deck-level, the extra volume means more space for both a dedicated relaxing area and a large dining table with wrap-around seating. Then, below deck, there is a breathtaking full-beam owner’s cabin amidships plus two further guest doubles, all with ensuite bathrooms. The Zeelander 8 combines a superyacht soul with a sub-24m (79ft) hull.

“When designing the Zeelander I was heavily inspired by the timeless beauty of New England and its lobster boats as well as the classic fast commuter yachts that business tycoons used every morning to commute from their Long Island estates to their Wall Street offices,” said Cor D. Rover. “That inspiration combined with state-of-the-art technology and next-level luxury standards led to the epitome of beauty and style that Zeelander is today and will be for years to come.”

While the Zeelander 8 is still conceived as a joy for the owner to drive, it is to be expected that additional service may also be desired. Consequently, the bow of the boat is designated for cabins that can accommodate up to three crew members, with a separate entrance that ensures complete privacy for the owner and guests.

No description of the Zeelander 8 would be complete without evoking the curvaceous appeal of the aft deck. Deeply padded leatherette seats cocoon their occupants around a high gloss table. Then, at the touch of a button, the transom swings open to create a huge 12 square meter bathing platform, essentially a private beach club, suspended invitingly above the water. The tender doesn’t dilute the pleasure of this space, as it has its own dedicated garage amidships, running the full beam of the yacht. Experience shows that most owners will go ashore to dine, but there is still a capable, modern galley built into the long sideboard on the starboard side of the saloon.

Owners know their minds when it comes to the details of living aboard, and Zeelander’s owners are among the world’s most discerning. That is why Zeelander takes a flexible approach on the finer points of his yachts. The layout of key areas, such as the aft deck, saloon, and guest cabins, along with other customizations, can be tailored to individual preferences. Many owners want to put their own flourish on the styling, as well. From a favorite leather to a specific lamp fitting or carpet motif, Zeelander positively welcomes custom requests.

Once again, the Dutch yacht builder has poured its industry-leading experience of noise and vibration attenuation into the new design. At full throttle, the yacht can operate without noise levels on board ever breaking the 65dBa barrier. This is particularly impressive since the usual threshold for normal conversation is around 72dBa. In other words, the Zeelander 8 will always be an oasis of calm comfort – even at its exhilarating top speed of 40 knots.

“The Zeelander 8 is a powerful statement regarding the desirability and collectability of our yachts,” said Koopmans. “But more than that, it is proof of our approach to creating exceptional experiences on water, whether reveling in the handling at the helm or soaking up the delights of a new anchorage. I believe that the Zeelander 8 represents the pinnacle of performance and comfort for the world’s most demanding owners. We’ve already started building the second hull, which confirms the model’s success.”

The Fjord shipyard presents the new Fjord 490, which is available as an open version with an in-board engine and as a sports version with an outboard engine. In addition to the engine, the shipyard offers a wide range of personalization options for the sleeping area.

An outboard or in-board version

Fjord presents its latest model, the Fjord 490, available as an Open version with an in-board engine or as a Sport version with three V12 outboard engines. In the first configuration, the two 2×800 hp engines accelerate the boat to 34 knots , in the second the 3×600 hp engines to 45 knots .

Elegant design with distinctive walkaround deck plan

The 14.70m unit was designed by Italian designer Marco Casali, a first for the shipyard. The hydrodynamic hull design and walkaround deck plan are designed to adapt to a wide range of sea conditions. The hull has been developed and optimized for this model and is made of sandwich construction for greater robustness.

The boat is presented as agile, comfortable, stable and powerful. Solutions that should also make mooring easier. The lines are characteristic of the series, racy and elegant, with the hull characterized by a long, continuous black glazing.

A sociable square

The cockpit has space for up to four pilot seats and has a fully equipped dashboard with all electronics, control systems and screens. The 2.40 m wide kitchen block behind it has a sink, a large work surface and either an electric grill or a stove. An additional refrigerator, freezer, ice maker, electric hob or coffee machine are available on request.

The seating area with two tables that fold in and out electrically can accommodate up to 10 people. The large hardtop offers the necessary protection both at the helm and in the saloon and can be optionally extended with an electric bimini. The hardtop brackets are attached to the deck walls to increase rigidity and not hinder movement on board.

Order under the sun lounger

At the stern of the 490 Sport, the large sundeck can be opened with an electric control to provide storage space for water sports equipment, a paddle or diving equipment. In the in-board version, the engines are located there, but the shipyard assures that the storage space has also been optimized. The novelty of the Fjord 490 is in the cockpit with tilting bulwarks. The bathing platform of the Fjord 490 Open can optionally be lowered hydraulically. On request, an electric gangway can be installed on the outboard version, which offers easier access and serves as a bathing ladder.

As with all models in the series, the foredeck offers a second sundeck, which is accessible via the flush passages.

Facilitate harbor maneuvers

Electric winches can be fitted to the stern cleats to make mooring easier. The rectangular fenders are stowed within easy reach in the bulwarks. The Volvo mooring assistant module can be installed as an option to make manoeuvring easier.

Multiple configuration options for the sleeping area

Below deck there are a variety of design options with many individual solutions. In addition to the guest cabin with double berth and storage space, an owner’s cabin with or without a partition wall or a U-shaped saloon that can be converted into a bed are also possible. A standard bathroom can be supplemented by installing a second bathroom. Four different interior design styles are offered.

Conclusion