73' centreboard ketch 'Spirit of Venice'

An all-new design, albeit with recognisable Van der Meer elements such as the spacious deck saloon and decorative but sturdy hull lines. This design also features our proven free uprunning centreboard, allowing the yacht with a minimal depth of 2.10 metres to also enter small harbours and shallow sailing areas.

 We chose an aluminium hull for this design (built by Dijkstra Metaalbewerking in Harlingen) and a Corecell composite deck, cockpit and superstructure (a specialism of VMG Yachtbuilders). This allowed for a good balance between cost, strength and weight. The aluminium hull has been reinforced to provide protection against floating materials at sea.

 The owner is able to sail the yacht single-handed and had a strong preference for a bermuda rig. All sails are therefore equipped with electric furling so that the yacht can be fully operated from behind the steering wheel. As always, we made sure that the design offers the best combination of speed and comfort, especially important here as the owner intended to embark on some serious world trips. Spirit of Venice can be sailed from within the cockpit in bad weather, offering optimal protection against the elements.

In addition to the practical requirements, the owner had some very specific ideas in relation to the styling of the exterior and interior, which he wanted to be classic and playful, with lots of wood on the deck, as much bronze and brass as possible, and a keen eye for detail. Anything but standard, the result is a uniquely personal yacht.

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2018 Nautique