New Boats Table How did it begin (again)
Dutch superyacht designer and J Class restoration and rebuild expert Gerard Dijkstra made the most of his original 53ft go-anywhere expedition yacht… now he wants to get closer to the beach
When renowned high-latitude sailor and naval architect Gerard Dijkstra set out to design his dream yacht 20 years ago he had a crystal clear vision: a yacht offering excellent performance, especially in the toughest of conditions. A strong, beautiful but also purposeful yacht that he could comfortably sail singlehanded. That yacht was the first Bestevaer, the Bestevaer 2, the mother ship of the modern Bestevaer line of aluminium expedition yachts. That series grew over the years to include many different models, including a motor yacht introduced in 2020. The new 36 is the smallest Bestevaer yet, and boat 1 is for the man who started it all. Creating a smaller Bestevaer that is still everything you expect
from the type was already a challenge, then the Dijkstra design team decided that they would also use the new boat to dive deeper into sustainable yachtbuilding practices – from using recycled aluminium to experimenting with sustainable insulation solutions such as wool. They also had something of a head start, Dijkstra Naval Architects’ long experience building yachts for Greenpeace meant that a philosophy of maximum sustainability was nothing new for them. Gerard Dijkstra: ‘During the early years of my career I travelled the
world as a professional sailor. Sailing like that gives you an immense sense of freedom and I feel very privileged to have been able to expe- rience that. When I stopped my professional sailing I was fortunately able to make a transition to being a yacht designer. I designed the Bestevaer 2, the first Bestevaer, for me and my wife Loontje to sail the high latitudes for extended periods. Much to our surprise our idea of an ideal sailing yacht appealed to many others too. ‘You know a Bestevaer when you see one. A certain type of struc-
ture, a solid hull, efficient underwater shape, robust rigging and equipment. An example of the perfect fusion between functionality
Custom builds BOAT
Flax 27
Riptide 30 Chase Zero 5.5 Metre TF35 Fly40 AC40
Raison 40 VPLP 40 Lift40-V4 Mach40.5 MaX 40 V2
Pogo 40S4 V2 IRC46
and aesthetics is the sharp bow, which looks beautiful but is essential to seakeeping… I still love the simplicity of the shape. ‘We took a deliberate step back in size with the 36, but it is still
in every aspect a Bestevaer. Not only in appearance and excellent sailing qualities but also in functionality. When you stand in the cockpit, for example, you have this deep well which is not only ergonomic but also very secure when at sea. ‘While the fundamental design hasn’t changed the 36 is a
modernised version of the original. One of the aims is to stay as environmentally friendly as possible. For instance, using recycled aluminium, no paint on the hull, local wood for the interior and an electric drive. We choose green technology whenever we can without compromising the sailing qualities. ‘In the context of its serious purpose as a long-distance expedition
yacht, this time adding a hydraulic lifting keel to allow us to dry out, the Bestevaer 36 is still a relatively quick little yacht. It’s also a very easy boat to sail. It will easily and safely take you around the world, but it is also ideal for cruising the local wetlands. Loontje and I can’t wait to step aboard for our new adventures…’
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LOA DESIGNER
10m Team New Zealand 10.1m Dave Hollom
8.2m Robin Zinkmann/Judel Vrolijk Greenboats 9m Bieker Boats
BUILDER Betts Boats
TNZ/Toyota/Hexagon Purus Composite Craft
12.18m Marc Lombard 12.18m Sam Manuard 12.18m David Raison
12.18m Guillaume Verdier 13.7m Carkeek Design Partners
Lyman Morse 46 13.95m Kevin Dibley Ocean Fifty RP 52 IRC 52 Ker 53
15.15m VPLP
M&M 55 Wylie 60
Daytime 60 Imoca 60 Imoca 60 Imoca 60 Imoca 60 Imoca 60
15.85m Reichel/Pugh 15.85m Botín Partners 16.1m Ker Yacht Design 16.7m Morrelli & Melvin 18.28m Tom Wylie 18.28m Judel-Vrolijk 18.28m David Raison 18.28m VPLP
18.28m Sam Manuard 18.28m Farr/Bertrand/Dupont
Baltic 111 Custom 34m Wally 145 Project 405 Project 404
44.2m Frers
46.8m Reichel/Pugh/Nauta 59.7m Malcolm McKeon
McConaghy, China Gepeto Composites Multiplast Brittany
LAUNCH COMMENTS
Feb 2020 onwards Plants, cork and recyclable Sicomin GreenPoxy resin. A genuine effort Sea trials-ish 2022 onwards 2023
Owner Peter Heppel found designing Chicago airport quite distracting
They say you’ve all ‘got to’ buy one… Boat 1 looks fine. Quiet elsewhere, though… Jean Genie went to Norway – in Cowes Morty’s pre-preg replacement is being fitted out
10.6m Redondo/Kramers/May/Dubois Heol/Multiplast/Lorima/Decision August 2019 onwards 15m by 11m, massive foils and rig and just 1,250kg. And complex systems working a treat 11.8m Caponnetto Hueber/Pure Design Persico 12.12m Team New Zealand 12.18m David Raison 12.18m VPLP
2023
2022-2023 April 2023
Charlie Capelle/JPS JPS Productions
Structures Shipyard Carrington Boats Lyman Morse CDK
Sail GP Technologies Sail GP Technologies Fastforward Composites Schooner Creek Boat Works Betts Boats Multiplast Persico
Airbus and friends Black Pepper Yachts Alva Yachts
18.28m Antoine Koch/Finot-Conq Multiplast Botín Partners/Jarkko Jamsén Baltic Yachts Persico, Italy Royal Huisman Royal Huisman
One-design mini AC75… For those for whom the RC44 became, well, just a bit of a yawn Structural revisions to the pointy end are inevitably stressing those delivery promises… New one-off Class40 for ridiculously talented Crédit Mutuel skipper Ian Lipinski
Autumn 2021 onwards After being put on a diet this dramatic Class40 started going a lot faster. Four sold… Autumn 2021 onwards Well, Yoann Richomme can certainly make one fly…
June 2022 onwards Lots of new thinking on Manuard’s second Class40 scow – boats 2 and 3 sold 2022
Mr Scow is now catching up in terms of Class40s built
2023 onwards May 2023
2022 onwards 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023 2023
Multiple ‘improves’ for 2023. But the top Figaristes are hoovering them all up! 12+ sold They squeezed everything out of an HH42… very soon a new water-ballasted Ino Noir A sailor’s yacht. Cold-moulded Douglas fir/Western red cedar. Yacht design is back to art A development of Route du Rhum winner Koesio. Slowly this class is finally happening All-carbon high-performance push-button racer-cruiser from the former Core Composites team Full-on no-compromise IRC racer. Looks like a TP52 with the sharp edges rounded out. Cool Varuna begat Tonnerre begat Fast Exit. With a new front end Fast Exit looks fast indeed Large-capacity commercial charter catamaran for Maui… 149-person large capacity! Wishbone una-rigged canoe. Best thing we’ve seen for a while He’s at it again… a new super-slim 60ft dayboat for Jacky Setton Two left-field non-foiling VG Imocas for Eric Bellion and Jean Le Cam Armel Tripon builds his new Imoca using ‘carbon offcuts’ from Airbus Black Pepper have begun laying up the new Manuard design for Phil Sharp Jörg Riechers puts a project together with a German luxury electric yacht brand The wait is almost over as Thomas Ruyant prepares for his new, pointier LinkedOut Following on from Baltic’s pretty Café Racer… very contemporary package
The biggest yet from Persico. Very light at 171 tonnes. Hybrid power means silent running The confidence and appetite for giant new sloops are reaching new heights (happy days) Aluminium hull, carbon superstructure… and a sloop. A new benchmark?
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