Van der Valk is helping one seafarer go bigger and better than before.
The Dutch shipyard has just announced it is building a third custom superyacht for a repeat client with ever-changing needs. Named after the Portuguese word for “raft,” the 115-foot Jangada takes design cues from the 82-foot Jangada and the 105-foot Jangada but is longer and more luxurious than its predecessors.
The owner behind the trinity of “rafts” commissioned his first in 2013. He has developed all three with Van der Valk and designers Nick Top and Guido de Groot. The first Jangada was one of the yard’s first raised pilothouse models and subsequently inspired other fleet members such as the 90-foot Helga. The successors have been tailored to meet changes in the client’s life, including the expansion of his family and changes to his home berths in the Bay of Saint-Tropez.
The owner’s wishes for this particular Jangada included even lower levels of noise and vibrations, hence the decision to have a steel hull, aluminum superstructure, and high-quality insulation throughout. Twin Seakeeper gyros and Humphree fin stabilizers will also be added to ensure smooth cruising on the high seas.
Inside, the main salon will feature ceilings that measure over eight feet and expansive windows that offer sweeping views. The full-beam owner’s suite will sit forward on the main deck, while cabins for the owner’s children and grandchildren will lie on the lower deck. The interior will be designed to the owner’s tastes, but the yard hasn’t yet shared any details or renders.
The owner also has opted for a few splashy features on the exterior decks. The new Jangada will have a 15-foot jet-stream pool on the flybridge and a plush lounge on the aft deck. An additional seating area in the bow will be precisely positioned to afford vistas of the owner’s home bay on the French Riviera. Jangada will even have a portside passerelle specifically suited to the pontoon height in that area.
Van der Valk has set itself the rather ambitious goal of completing Jangada within just 18 months, meaning the vessel should hit the seas in January 2026. Let’s see if it delivers.
