Van der Valk has splashed the 39.92m Shine, the biggest yacht launched by the Dutch boutique shipyard to date. Shine will undergo sea trials and final commissioning ahead of delivery in time for the summer boating season.

Formerly known as Project Evo, the yacht was officially christened Shine during her launch ceremony at the Van der Valk shipyard in the inland city of Waalwijk in southern Netherlands. The event was attended by the yacht’s owners, owner’s representative Thom Conboy, project team members, representatives from the design and engineering teams, and shipyard workers.

Cristiano Gatto Design developed the exterior styling – based on an original SFG Design concept that captured the owners’ attention – and was also appointed to develop the general arrangement and interior design.

Cristiano Gatto, the Italian studio’s founder, recalled: “The project began with a preliminary concept of around 36m based on a profile drawn by SFG Design, while the clients were searching for an interior designer to develop the layout and style.

“We met during the Palm Beach International Boat Show in March 2023 and started discussing furniture, including a collection I was designing at the time. That shared interest created a strong connection, and from there we were able to shape the concept into the 40m yacht she is today.”

As the owner prefers to drive his own vessels, a key part of the brief was to keep the yacht within an owner-friendly size while achieving the level of finish expected on much larger yachts. “The owner wanted a micro-megayacht built to the same standards as a 60m or 70m project,” Gatto explained. “The result exceeded my expectations.”

Shine features a round-bilge, fast displacement hull refined by Ginton Naval Architects. Combined with lightweight aluminium construction and twin MTU 16V2000 engines, the yacht is expected to achieve a cruising speed of 19 knots and a top speed in the low 20s.

Diana Yacht Design supported the project with structural engineering, integrating the exterior styling, interior layout and fast-displacement hull into a cohesive structure.

Yoeri Bijker, Van der Valk’s Commercial Director, stated: “From the earliest discussions with the owners and design team, it was clear this project would push boundaries in both design, engineering, and craftmanship.

“Shine stands out as a refined and highly capable 40m yacht, combining sleek exterior lines with a carefully considered interior and versatile layout. As the largest yacht launched by Van der Valk to date, she reflects the skill and dedication of every department within our shipyard.”

Although Shine is Van der Valk’s biggest launch to date, the shipyard’s current builds include the 48m Project Zen scheduled for delivery in 2028.

vandervalkshipyard.com