If the family that plays together stays together, then surely the family that cruises together stays together, too. A family with adult children is looking forward to taking delivery of Helga from Van der Valk Shipyard, with visions of warm-weather cruising dancing in their heads.
The sixth in Van der Valk’s Raised Pilothouse series, which includes deliveries like Jangada, Helga is a modest 85-footer (26-meter), compared to some of the larger launches in the series. Regardless, like all of them, this megayacht is entirely custom designed. For instance, the shipyard offers either intimate or expansive flying bridges. The owners of Helga wanted a good amount of space, and not just for relaxing, either. In fact, since they have a rowboat they cherish for leisurely exploring, it will stow up here. The owners additionally will keep a tender on the elongated swim platform. That’s where yet another custom request comes in, extra stainless steel detailing.
For the interior areas, the owners of Helga have been working closely with designer Guido de Groot. The main deck particularly reflects a lot of their personal input. In fact, de Groot says, much discussion and design work involved the stairway leading up to the raised pilothouse (visible at top). “It is a genuine pleasure to see clients become so involved in this way,” he comments.
Helga’s overall main and upper decks differ from traditional approaches for similar-size yachts in other ways, too. For example, you won’t find the dining area on the main deck. Instead, it sits aft of the wheelhouse. The area aft of the wheelhouse is larger than what many 85-footers feature as well. Back on the main deck, meanwhile, the saloon gains more real estate and therefore has plentiful seating so that everyone can enjoy time together. And, finally, the forward-most real estate goes to the galley.
The same warm ambience extends below decks, with walnut and whitewashed oak aiding in that regard. Helga has the master stateroom down here, although Raised Pilothouse buyers can request it go on the main deck. The adult children have their cabins down below, too.
Three crewmembers will maintain Helga and take the family out in their travels. The owners even picked the propulsion package, twin MTUs, for an anticipated top end of 27 knots. Note that Volvo Penta IPS propulsion is an option.
Van der Valk Shipyard, which describes having “a warm relationship” with these owners, should complete Helga by the end of the year. The owners have a maiden cruise already planned for the summer of 2021 in the Med.
Guido de Groot Design guidodegroot.com
Van der Valk Shipyard vandervalkshipyard.com
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