Talking power: Volvo Penta and Van der Valk

TALKING POWER:

VOLVO PENTA AND VAN DER VALK

By Andrew Rogers

Amare, launched 2007

Dutch Falcon is our launch model for an innovative new take on the award-winning Flybridge range. This 26-metre yacht is also a major milestone in our long and productive relationship with Volva Penta as she carries the 10,000th IPS 30 drive unit.

Van der Valk and Volvo Penta’s impressive shared history with IPS drives dates back to the 20-metre Amare. Launched in 2007, she was the first aluminium yacht in the world with an Integrated Propulsion System, which features both an engine and pods. Many Van der Valk clients have since benefitted from this partnership in power provision, including Dutch Falcon’s owners who are very much enjoying her triple IPS 1050 drives.

The joystick of efficiency

Dutch Falcon easily attains 25 knots at full throttle, an impressive speed for a yacht this size. But there’s much more to the IPS than speed alone, such as efficiency savings of around 25 per cent on fuel consumption and noise. The system improves onboard comfort levels and is easy to manoeuvre with a joystick in all directions. When rotating it even offers the assets of – and dispenses with the need for – a bow and sternthruster.

3x Volvo Penta D11600 11.0l 6 cil. IPS800 (IPS2) installed in the 24.75 metre Flybridge motoryacht Joy

The key to these qualities lies in the forward-facing, twin counter-rotating propellers with individually steerable IPSs under the hull. Having nothing interrupting the flow of water onto the props offers more precise control, while the horizontal angled drive gives a greater transfer of power and enables smaller engines to do the work of larger. An 800 hp IPS installation, for instance, is comparable with a 1050 hp conventional shaft installation.

15 years and counting

The system is also virtually plug and play, especially for yards like ours with so much experience of installing the IPS. Volvo Penta application engineer Dennis Eijking has been working with Van der Valk since 2007 and remembers the first IPS project well.

“We were already selling D12 and D9 engines to the yard but Amare was built for Wim van der Valk who has always liked to break new grounds. With a quadruple IPS system in place, Wim was impressed by the manoeuvrability offered by the joystick and the way a smaller engine could be installed further aft, opening up extra room for owner spaces. This pioneering move for a 20-metre boat led to Amare having a more modern style and a semi-displacement hull. With four helm stations and lots of wiring it was also quite the challenge for my first time at the yard!”

Dennis Eijking Application Engineer Marine Volvo Penta Europe Dutch Falcon, 26 m

Maudy, launched 2010

The success of this project and the fact that the IPS is a complete propulsion package that can be added to yachts at a later build stage encouraged the yard to offer other clients this option. “Volvo Penta take care of the entire drive installation including the exhausts, shafts, props and rudders,” continues Dennis. “This means one point of contact in case of problems and is a very efficient way for yards to work. We’re always involved in Van der Valk builds from the get-go, working closely with the designers and naval architects who took on a more prominent role as the IPS stimulated developments in the Van der Valk range.”

Worth the weight

Until the advent of the IPS, most yachts built at our yard had a top speed of up to 15 knots. The ability to reach almost twice that led to changes in design, while the

shifting centre of gravity prompted by moving the engine aft led to further discussions about weight distribution.

“Maudy was the first 23-metre yacht to be equipped with triple IPS900 engines in 2010 and we managed to achieve just over 30 knots on this prestigious wheelhouse version of the range,” recalls Dennis. “The 2012 Montana de Piedra was a flybridge model using the same hull and ended up with triple IPS1050 drives. Extra owner requests meant she added some 15 tonnes of weight during her build to reach almost 56 tonnes. The yacht still had to be able to sail from Ibiza to mainland Spain and back in a day so we had to change engines at the last moment even though almost everything was mounted in the boat. This shows the phenomenal flexibility of the Van der Valk engineers and the true value of teamwork.”

Montana de Piedra, launched 2012

IPS drives have played a key role in our mission to optimise owner space on the BeachClub line

2x Volvo Penta D11B2A MP 10,8l 6 cil. IPS950 (IPS20) installed in awardwinning 19.05metre BeachClub motoryacht Lucy Penguin

Bespoke challenges

This point has been proven in practice many times over the past decade as Van der Valk yachts become ever more custom-built. “Clients come to the yard because they don’t want to settle for a standard boat and know they will rarely be denied their wishes at Van der Valk,” concludes Dennis. “At Volvo Penta we hope to work with the yard in the future on hybrid and electrical propulsion. We are currently testing several pilot IPS vessels and the results are very promising. Meanwhile, our current work together on the first Van der Valk with an after-treatment exhaust system shows that this innovative collaboration has a long way to run.”

EVOLUTION NOT REVOLUTION

With a proveninpractice aluminium hull, a sleeklined superstructure and showstealing slabs of glass, Dutch Falcon heralds a rethink of the highly successful Flybridge line. This modern take is ideal for clients seeking ease of operation, stateoftheart technology and a sophisticated look that will retain her value over time.

RESIDENCE ON THE WATER

Interior designer Carla Guilhem created a calm contemporary style for Dutch Falcon. Mirroring the theme of the Flybridge, which revolves around relaxation and a homelike feel, the interior has a wealth of round shapes and organic forms. A comfortable feel is ensured by blending suede, leather, fabrics and finishes with light natural oak wood and various wood textures and fluted panels.

SMOOTH VIEWS

Dutch Falcon is fitted with Humphree zerospeed stabilisers and carbon fibre fins to reduce roll at anchor and underway. As they glide smoothly through the water, all aboard enjoy splendid views through floortoceiling windows in the main salon.

SIGNATURE LOOKS

The exterior design for the modern Flybridge is by Cor D. Rover who has given extra élan to the lines while adding more glass. These touches blend harmoniously with classic features like the flared bow and softer shapes of the superstructure in a timeless aesthetic that is fast becoming a signature of the Van der Valk brand.

OUTDOOR DELIGHTS

Dutch Falcon’s 4.5metre aft deck includes a dining area and room for two lounging chairs in one of the owners’ favourite spots. A large sunbathing area on the foredeck offers further options for relaxation and the flybridge has another dining area behind the helm.