The third unit from Dutch shipyard Zeelander Yachts' flagship model, the 24-metre Cor D. Rover-designed Zeelander 8, has departed the yard's sheds in Groot-Ammers for delivery to her owner. She is scheduled to make her world debut at the Monaco Yacht Show in September.
The motor yacht follows the second unit, Mojo, which was delivered earlier this year, following the first, Silver Dawn. However, according to the builder, she is the "most powerful Zeelander 8 built to date", fitted with 4,000hp quad Volvo Penta IPS-1350 engines which delivered a top speed of 40 knots during sea trials - a first for the model.
The series is renowned for its "whisper quiet" interior sound levels, which, at full speed, were recorded at just 65dBA on board. The model is also built for open water, with the latest unit offering a range of 630 nautical miles at a cruising speed of 32 knots. At an economical speed of seven knots, she can reach a range of up to 2,700 nautical miles.
"Built entirely bespoke in the Netherlands, the new yacht is what happens when an owner truly understands what a Zeelander is," said founder and chairman of Zeelander Yachts, Sietse Koopmans. "He came to us having already lived weeks at a time with a Zeelander 7, working and resting aboard. He knew exactly what he wanted more of. The result is deeply personal, and in our view, one of the finest Zeelander 8s we have built."
Aside from her top speeds, the third unit is also set apart by her sporty dark grey profile, which differs from her sisterships with their light silver and white schemes. Each Zeelander 8 is defined by customised main deck layouts; on board the latest unit, the owner's brief requested similarities with his previous Zeelander 7 but with greater space throughout.
As a result, the main saloon is centred around a large dining table, chosen as such for her owner's enjoyment of entertaining at anchor. A generous galley is located nearby, positioned as part of the experience, complemented by the yard's signature curved sliding window, which opens the space to the aft deck. Here, instead of a conventional bar, there is an oversized L-shaped sofa in the sheltered corner - the owner's favourite spot on board.
Inside, the interior introduces "one of the most distinctive materials used in any Zeelander to date" with swamp oak - a timber recovered from riverbeds. The wood – which has been submerged for decades, absorbing minerals to turn it almost black – forms the primary surface throughout the yacht and is complemented by leathers and a finish in Porsche Agate.
The yacht has been designed for an active life on the water and features storage for a Williams 435 jet tender, Seabobs and flyboards. The new build can also be owner-operated without the need for a permanent crew, though additional berths provide crew accommodation if required.
Koopmans concluded: “For owners who spend their working lives surrounded by people, a yacht without crew is not a compromise. That is the point. No schedules to coordinate, no staff to manage, no professional distance to maintain. Just the water, and the freedom to be entirely off duty. The Zeelander 8 makes that possible without asking anything in return: low-maintenance materials, Volvo IPS propulsion and systems built for simplicity mean the yacht runs quietly in every sense of the word.”
Last month, the Dutch shipyard confirmed the sale of the fourth unit from the series to an American owner.
Read More/In-build "whisper-quiet" Zeelander 8 yacht sold to American owner