Heritage
Wajer Yachts has been creating elegant, powerful and luxurious open day boats for almost a quarter of a century. The yard made history with award-winning models such as the Captains Launch, Wajer 37 and Wajer 38. Today Wajer Yachts continues to be driven by innovation and a desire to offer owners an impeccable sailing performance.
Click here to discover the Dutch yard of Wajer Yachts.
Family-owned
As a family-owned business, Wajer Yachts is renowned for its customer focused approach, high standard of service and premium Dutch quality. Company founder Dorus Wajer has spent most of his life on the water. Being a perfectionist, he often used to come up with ways to improve the boats he saw. Following his heart, Dorus started building his own launches on the lakes near Amsterdam in 1992. The Captain’s Launch, still famous for its quality, craftsmanship and iconic lines, dates from this period.
Thanks to a constant emphasis on product development, Wajer Yachts went from strength to strength over the years. In 2010, Dorus’ son Dries, who shares his father’s vision, perfectionism and passion for watersports, joined the company. Together they have further developed the Wajer models and enhanced the company’s professionalism.
A new standard
One of Dorus’ career highlights is the introduction of the new Wajer 55 in the summer of 2016. Using innovative lightweight materials and state-of-the-art production methods, the Wajer craftsmen have excelled themselves to provide a perfect balance of dynamic sailing and extraordinary comfort. The Wajer 55 blends all the characteristics that have made the Wajer brand, including an excellent performance, first-class quality, eye for detail and elegant design. Dorus, Dries and the yard that bears their name will again set a new benchmark for this class of motorboat.
Heesen is delighted to announce that YN 18350 ‘Project Maia’ underwent a technical launch and was christened Omaha on 20 April 2018 at the shipyard in Oss. At 50 metres, Omaha is the first in the new 50 metre steel class. Heesen introduced this new model to the market in March 2016 in the presence of a selected group of top brokers and international press, following the successful joining of Omaha’s hull and superstructure.
The project was then sold in December 2017 by Chris Collins of Ocean Independence, in close collaboration with Thom Conboy from Heesen USA.
The 50 metre steel model is a brand new design pitched just below the 500GT threshold. This replaces the highly successful and award-winning 47 metre steel class, arguably the most successful steel yacht series in the industry with no less than 13 sister ships built and launched since 2001.
Renowned international designer, Clifford Denn was chosen to create the bold exterior lines, taking inspiration from classic car design. Combining the Heesen DNA with his own bold and innovative design elements; car enthusiasts will no doubt recognise some of the exquisite design traits, such as the “Fiskers Whiskers” grille of the aft fashion plates and the navigation lights.
The functional wheelhouse is protected from the elements with forward slanted windows that give the yacht a muscular appearance. Incorporating a large roof overhang, it also has the added benefit of extending the length of the sun deck above. The Owners worked closely with Reymond Langton and Heesen’s in-house engineers to tailor Omaha’s interior design to suit their family lifestyle. Best described as contemporary and calm, Omaha’s interiors feature light-bleached oak and with stained walnut, with a combination of clean lines and textured materials. Reymond Langton have created a warm and inviting interior that blends high-level luxury with relaxed, easy sophistication.
At 50 metres, Omaha is a spectacular and powerful combination of engineering expertise and ground-breaking design by Heesen’s in-house team. Designed with a traditional full-displacement steel hull that gives her fantastic stability, she is powered by twin MTU 8V4000 M63 engines and is expected to reach a top speed of 15 knots, with a cruising range of 3,800 nautical miles at 12 knots. These figures will be confirmed during the extensive sea trials due to take place on the bracing North Sea in the upcoming weeks.
Omaha will be delivered to her proud new owners at the end of June. A sister ship is currently under construction under the project name Triton (YN 18850) and is available for delivery in 2020.
Esthec commercial director Marcel van der Spek was unanimously appointed as the new chair of the board of the HISWA Holland Yachting Group during the annual members meeting on 18 April. He will be joined by two new board members: Marsha van Buitenen, sales director at Feadship, and Michiel Haverkorn van Rijsewijk, CEO of Van Berge Henegouwen.
Van der Spek takes over the position of chair from Bas Nederpelt, whose three years at the helm have coincided with a growth of the Dutch superyacht market share from 17% to 21%. “The position of the Netherlands as a superyacht country has been further improved during this period,” Nederpelt says. “I am very confident that Marcel will be able to fulfil his new role in our association with distinction.’’
“I am honoured to be the new chair of the HISWA Holland Yachting Group and fully committed to this exciting new challenge,” Van der Spek adds. “I look forward to making a positive contribution to the growth strategy together with the enthusiastic group of association board members.”
Marcel van der Spek started his career in the professional automotive industry. After setting up a European network of nine branches from scratch, he joined Rientz W. Bol as co-founder of Esthec and has since helped the company become a worldwide success. Esthec is a patented, composite decking material that is produced and processed in an ecologically sound manner. In addition to sales and organisation, Van der Spek enjoys operating on an international scale.
“We are very pleased with Marcel’s appointment,” adds Jeroen Sirag, export director of the HISWA Holland Yachting Group. “He has broad experience in the superyacht industry and a clear strategic vision for his new role as chair of our association.”
Promoting the Dutch superyacht industry
The HISWA Holland Yachting Group’s primary objective is to promote the Dutch superyacht industry at home and abroad. The group profiles itself as a premium quality label, and maintains an international presence as a proactive and effective association that embodies craftsmanship, innovation and creativity. Based on a collective strategic plan, the HISWA Holland Yachting Group makes a genuine contribution to the global export position of the Netherlands.
The Singapore Yacht Show is Asia’s leading yacht and luxury show - the only one fully supported by the global yachting industry and the Singapore Tourism Board. It provides nautical lifestyle seekers with an unrivalled opportunity to discover some of the world's finest superyachts and boating brands in an elite and highly social setting.
Held at the award-winning ONE°15 Marina in Sentosa Cove, this globally-recognised on-water exhibition epitomises luxury lifestyle and brings together the biggest number of world-class yachts in the whole of Asia, consistently showcasing more regional premieres than any other event in the region. Glamorous parties, high-end entertaining, and an enviable range of prestige products and brands – supercars, fine dining, high fashion, art and beautiful timepieces - make the Singapore Yacht Show a firm fixture in the region’s social calendar.
The 8th edition of the Singapore Yacht Show will take place from the 12-15 April 2018.
To visit the website click here.
Show Times
Guests registration, and Show opening hours are yet to be confirmed and are subject to change:
April 12th, Thursday: 3pm to 9pm
April 13th, Friday: 3pm to 9pm
April 14th, Saturday: 3pm to 9pm
April 15th, Sunday: 3pm to 8pm
Location pavilions
Amels West Pavilion
Heesen Yachts West Pavilion - stand L8
Feadship Esplanada
The World Superyacht Awards 2018 will take place on Saturday 19th May 2018 in Florence, Italy. These awards recognise the remarkable ingenuity and innovation demanded by the design, engineering and construction of the world’s finest luxury yachts. Attended by the elite of the superyacht world, owners and industry leaders will come together to recognise the finest superyachts launched throughout 2017.
For more information click here.
Heritage, stability and personality
are the three pillars that form the foundation of the Dutch Yachting Industry