Zeelander, the Dutch builder of gorgeous commuter-style boats, just had an owners’ rendezvous down the Rhine River in Germany, which served to showcase their popular 44-foot model and also to introduce owners to the idea of a new 55-foot cabriolet-style Corniche flagship (see rendering above).
At stops along the way, Zeelander asked owners for their input on the design, interior and materials for the new Corniche, which they will release at the end of May. “We have always listened to owners’ feedback,” says Leonardo van den Berg, commercial director of Zeelander Yachts, “but we have never involved them in a way like we are now.”
With its 44- and 55-foot models, Zeelander has established a look similar to the classic New York commuter boats of the 1930s; think Aphrodite, updated and with a European twist but with the same tumblehome, reverse transom, long sheerline, and low profile.
To date, Zeelander’s major market has been the U.S., but it also is active in Europe, particularly on the French Cote d’Azur. They’re calling the new cabriolet Corniche, which is the name of the famous road that winds from the resort of Saint-Jean-Cap- Ferrat to Monaco with some of the most beautiful views in the world. For more:
