First of all I would like to wish all our clients, colleagues, friends, and other members of the yachting community a healthy, happy, and prosperous 2010. The year 2009 was a bit rough for our industry, and René Van Der Velden Yacht Design was not immune to the global downturn.
We had a few projects put on hold or stopped. But, as the old saying goes, we can all learn from adversity. With last year’s experiences behind us, with new insights and ideas, we see new opportunities for 2010, often in the area of environmentally friendly yachts with an extensive range.
We sense that people, though they can afford the very best, seek a more modest, therefore more environmentally responsible, lifestyle. This surely applies to the design of future generations of private yachts. Elegant, timeless shapes, designed to please the critical eye rather than impress, combined with refined naval architecture, will reflect the good taste of yacht owners and ensure a worthwhile investment with high resale value.
In the last quarter of 2009 the market slowly picked up, and the number of enquiries increased. We have received a very welcome order for a 129-foot motor yacht and some smaller production yachts. And we have a new partner in the revitalized Jongert shipyard (see their new exciting project highlighted below). Together with new projects for long-term partners such as Moonen Shipyards, we have a healthy order book again.
Interest in the René van der Velden Design brand is also growing steadily and we welcome more visitors on our website each month. We are looking forward to more positive developments in the near future.
The new owners of the Jongert Shipyard, well known for generations of building top quality sailing yachts, have challenged and inspired us to create their ‘ultimate Jongert’. We feel privileged to be given the chance to collaborate with them in defining a new model range.
Based on a 52-meter hull designed by the renowned Doug Peterson, we designed a modern performance cruiser with an easily handled ketch rig that combines Jongert’s quality values of old with the latest thinking in sailing comfort. This exciting new design synthesizes all the clearly identified elements that made the Jongert brand so respected around the world, including the look and feel and the wide range of features that ensure leading-edge performance.
Jongert yachts have always been known for their exceptional reliability, comfort, and safety. The layout of the new 5200M goes even further in ensuring the wellbeing of guests. A separate passageway alongside the wheelhouse allows people to move between on-deck sitting areas without having to use the side decks. Another sophisticated feature is a wonderful indoor/outdoor beach club, including a large stern sunbathing platform, wet bar, shower, and toilet. This area is also accessible directly from the four guest cabins. The 5200M also features a spacious owner’s stateroom and very generous crew facilities. A large owner’s tender is stowed on the foredeck, with the crew tender and jet skis housed under the afterdeck, concealed by large hatches.
The Jongert 5200M will be unveiled in Düsseldorf this month.
For more info please visit:
http://www.renevandervelden.com/site/are/
