3 minute read
Happy days ahead on custom-built Felis
Our ever-expanding fleet of explorer motoryachts will have a new member soon when the 23.56-metre Felis is launched. This custom project has been commissioned by very experienced owners looking to create the ultimate home-at-sea for their family. They are exceptionally-involved in every detail of the design, helping us ensure that Felis truly reflects how they enjoy life on the water.
Advertisement
We don’t build many steel hulls these days at Van der Valk but the owners of Felis had very specific requirements in that respect. Complete with a bulbous bow, comfort is at a premium thanks to the Grade A round-bilged full-displacement hull, topped off with an aluminium superstructure to retain a low centre of gravity. Van der Valk’s legendary sound and vibration engineers have excelled themselves on this self-sufficient yacht with low fuel consumption and a range that allows for lengthy spells away from busy ports.
Autonomy is further assured by heavy-duty twin MAN engines with RCD II approval. Usually at the helm themselves, the owners requested easy access to the engine room with a separate entrance for the crew on the occasions when they are running the vessel. Ginton Naval Architects and Diana Yacht Design have joined forces to make all this work in practice, working closely with exterior and interior designer Guido de Groot.
Building on experience
“It’s a delight to work with owner-operators who know exactly what they want based on every conceivable situation on a yacht,” says Guido. “All aspects of Felis have been meticulously considered and planned down to the smallest detail. This includes the exterior profile, which features a distinctly masculine and rugged look while taking inspiration from parts of previous Van der Valks such as the hardtop on Seawolf and the stern area of Venera.
“The layout is impressive and everything fits really well together, with no unpleasant surprises during construction that an element didn’t fit with everything else. We’ve used lots of light materials for the interior to create an airy and fresh feel, with darker accents like walnut for contrast. The bookshelves and niches are designed to make the boat feel like home and can be used to store works of art. All in all, Felis will have a calm and rustic atmosphere.”
Social hob
A key hotspot for the family to gather will be the large country kitchen around which the main salon revolves within an entirely open-plan arrangement. A window above the kitchen unites the occupants with the flybridge and facilitates communication between the two areas so that no-one feels left out. The yacht has one generous owner’s suite, two twins and a VIP, plus individual cabins for her two-person crew to ensure maximum privacy and comfort.
Felis is fully prepared for both warmer and colder climates thanks to her cleverly designed windows, insulation and underfloor heating. Despite all the facilities for serious passage making, the owners will also have great fun around their home port in the Balearics on a yacht which will include a dive compressor and a spacious lazarette for paddleboards and much more besides.
