UPDATE, APRIL 21, 2026: Sea trials are underway for the all-aluminum yacht Shine. She remains on schedule to start cruising in the Mediterranean for the summer.
Read on for our original article.
A conversation about furniture nearly three years ago helped lead to the christening of the yacht Shine in The Netherlands.
The entirely custom 131-footer (40-meter), a.k.a. Project EVO, is the longest and most-volumious yacht for Van der Valk Shipyard. “From the earliest discussions with the owners and design team, it was clear this project would push boundaries in both design, engineering, and craftmanship,” says Yoeri Bijker, the yard’s commercial director. Initially, the owners were in love with a 118-foot (36-meter) concept by SFG Design. Their broker, Thom Conboy, introduced them to Van der Valk for construction. Based on previous experience, the yard recommended a round-bilge fast-displacement hull design. Meanwhile, in the owners’ search for an interior designer, they met Cristiano Gatto. “We met during the Palm beach International Boat Show in March 2023 and started discussing furniture,” he says. The conversation included a new collection of his. “That shared interest created a strong connection, and from there we were able to shape the concept into the 40-meter yacht she is today.”
The yacht Shine grew in length for a few reasons, with Gatto restyling her, too. Part of it stemmed from adjusting aesthetic proportions. Other aspects resulted from the owners wanting “a micro-megayacht built to the same standards as a 60- or 70-meter project,” Gatto explains. The yacht Shine still needed to remain manageable for them to operate as well, since the husband likes taking the wheel. Additionally, canals near the yard meant the beam couldn’t exceed 28 feet (8.5 meters). Ginton Naval Architects, which came into the project in 2023, balanced that with the owners’ wishes for unrestricted navigation classification.
Diana Yacht Design, which provided structural engineering, had its challenges as well. The open-plan layout and large main-deck windows meant fewer places for structural support. Casper Marelis, one of the studio’s designers and naval architects, also says that “the aft section was particularly complex.” It features a transformer swim platform, an opening transom, and two deploying balconies, all needing seamless integration.
The interior design and exterior design further needed to be seamless, not disparate. Staterooms and saloons are sophisticated, Gatto says, yet complement the sporty profile. Notably, 78 materials, ranging from ebony to leather, appear throughout the yacht Shine. Naturally, the custom furnishings that started the conversation between the owners and Gatto three years ago are aboard as well.
The owners will take delivery in time for a maiden cruising season in the Med.
Cristiano Gatto Design cristianogattodesign.com
Diana Yacht Design dianayachtdesign.nl
Ginton Naval Architects ginton.com
Van der Valk Shipyard vandervalkshipyard.com
More About the Yacht Shine
LOA: 130’11” (39.92 meters)
Beam: 27’6” (8.4 meters)
Draft: 7’8” (2.35 meters)
Guests: 10 in 5 staterooms
Engines: 2/2,600-hp MTUs
Range: 2,200 nautical miles at 10 knots
Builder: Van der Valk Shipyard
Stylists: SFG Yacht Design, Fancy by Dada, Cristiano Gatto Design
Naval Architects: Diana Yacht Design, Ginton Naval Architects
Interior Designer: Cristiano Gatto Design
isabelle stordiau
I love how this story begins with something as precise and personal as furniture.
It says a lot about the level of detail behind Shine. When furniture, proportions, interior atmosphere and exterior identity are treated as one continuous experience, the result becomes much more than a yacht, it becomes a very personal world on water.
A beautiful reminder that refined design often begins long before the final form appears.