Yacht Project EVO Makes History for Van der Valk Shipyard

Megayachts in the 130-foot (nearly 40-meter) range are overwhelmingly semi-custom. That statistic alone makes the yacht Project EVO stand out. This custom commission further stands out, though, for being the longest and largest-volume yacht so far for Van der Valk Shipyard.

The owners have enjoyed several years cruising aboard multiple high-performance yachts. They felt the time had come to build a custom project to suit their family. They wanted to do so in The Netherlands, too. “Van der Valk is one of the few yards with the capacity and flexibility to build fully custom superyachts in this size range,” notes Yoeri Bijker, the shipyard’s head of sales. Furthermore, Van der Valk, whose founder just retired, is the only Dutch shipyard constructing hulls, outfitting, and finishing entirely in house. (Multiple Dutch builders rely on subcontractors for hulls.)

Notably, the owners already had a profile design, created in conjunction with SFG Yacht Design and Fancy by Dada. Based on its previous experience, Van der Valk recommended pairing it with a round-bilge fast-displacement hull design. The engineering package should permit the yacht Project EVO to hit a top speed of 24 knots.

As for the profile, it ended up changing somewhat after the owners began working with Cristiano Gatto Design for interiors. “We changed some of the proportions and lines while extending the stern by about two meters,” Gatto explains. (Two meters equals 6’6”.) “The overall design and profile, however, remain very much the brainchild of all who have been involved,” he continues. Highlights include sporty flair from the hardtop down to the lower-deck ports. Glass rims all three of the aft decks, therefore allowing unobstructed 180-degree views. Furthermore, a healthy swim platform means multiple guests will be able to board watertoys simultaneously.

Gatto’s involvement in the styling wasn’t an overnight development, though. Interestingly, his involvement for the exterior came as a result of some of his interior furniture designs. Quite hands on throughout the whole process, the owners liked the aesthetic of these pieces and wanted a similar look and feel throughout the décor. The owners worked with him for 10 months to finalize the interior alone. That’s “an exceptional timeframe” for her LOA, Gatto notes. Upon settling the ultimate look for the staterooms and lounges, the owners asked him to infuse the exterior with the same ambience, he says.

Although the specifics of the décor are not yet available for publicity, the yacht Project EVO will have five staterooms, including a main-deck master suite. Three staterooms for six crewmembers will sit fully forward below deck, while the captain will have a cabin adjacent to the wheelhouse. Out on deck, meanwhile, an infinity pool joins with a sizable observation settee/cocktail area on the bow. Yet another settee sits adjacent to aft-facing sunpads at the other end of the main deck.

Complying with ABS classification requirements, the yacht should see delivery within the next two years.

Cristiano Gatto Design cristianogattodesign.com

Van der Valk Shipyard vandervalkshipyard.com