Yacht Samba Satisfying Multi-Generational Family’s Fun

Family cruising is what yachting is all about—and what the yacht Samba is all about. Less than a year from being in her owners’ hands, we’re getting closer looks at the highly tailored touches they’re putting to the 115-footer (35-meter).

One of two similarly sized but dramatically different Van der Valk superyachts, the yacht Samba firstly is entirely custom. The owners wanted a modest size with head-turning styling supported by solid Northern European engineering. Since three generations of family will travel together, aesthetics and safety needed to suit a span of ages. The owners additionally wanted to have input in not just the “pretty” spaces, but also the tech features. The Van der Valk Shipyard team rose to the occasion, further saving them some time. It suggested using the engineering package of Lady Lene, with a fast-displacement hull form, as the backbone.

the yacht Samba by Van der Valk Shipyard

That let the owners get to work with Guido de Groot on the alfresco and interior areas that they plan to enjoy to the fullest. A significant notion behind the yacht Samba is that she’s akin to a garden or patio for relaxing and dining. Therefore, one of the first features you’ll notice is the longer-than-typical main aft deck. It combines a kick-back-and-relax area, incorporating an aft-facing settee, with dining (above). Lunches and dinners especially will take place here.

Inside, the yacht Samba exudes a homey, “pretty and practical style,” de Groot says. Don’t confuse the lack of flash with lack of attention, though. “Superior finishing will be combined with durability in a relaxed and calm environment,” he adds. From overhead detailing to widespread warm, earthy tones, there’s a serene, lived-in, and even beachy vibe.

Some features are equally practical and pretty. For instance, the central stairway has a column as a home-away-from-home piece of art. Forward on the main deck, meanwhile, the welcoming master suite has lounge seating. It’s not just for gazing out the wndow, though. The owners are avid book readers and plan to curl up here with their favorite authors’ latest. Down below, the yacht Samba has a waterside lounge and wellness zone within the beach club. Naturally, the lounge has seating, with the wellness zone incorporating a sauna and a steam room. Since it’s just off a transformer platform, the owners wisely are including several washers and dryers for towels. Finally, the galley is a showcase of professional culinary equipment, but also the owners’ personal domain. They love to cook for family and friends and were hands-on in specifying a cooking island, among other features.

“This project is an enjoyable challenge, and it is a pleasure to work with clients so invested in their yacht on a personal level,” De Groot says.

the yacht Samba by Van der Valk Shipyard is serene

With three-foot-high (one-meter-high) bulwarks alongside the side decks to keep the youngest family members safe, the yacht Samba remains on schedule to launch in the first half of next year.

Guido de Groot Design guidodegroot.com

Van der Valk Shipyard vandervalkshipyard.com