Totalling 34-m in length, Lady Lene is a tri-deck, all-aluminum yacht explorer that unites the spirit of adventure with unmatched standards of comfort, enabling its passengers to enjoy a life of discovery
Lady Lene, a bespoke 34 m superyacht by Dutch shipyard Van der Valk, was launched at the end of 2021. Since then, she has made quite an impact, inspiring several owners to design and build their own bespoke superyachts based on her naval architecture.
She received a Judges Commendation at the 2022 World Superyacht Awards and won ‘Best Interior Design’ at the 2023 BOAT International Design & Innovation Awards.
The fact that the boat continues to win prestigious awards, a couple of years after her launch, demonstrates the exceptional results achieved by the team of professionals who worked together to craft this fully custom explorer.
High standards of design and craftsmanship
As a family-run company, with a pedigree spanning several generations, Van der Valk understands the value of keeping their word and creating yachts that stand the test of time.
Lady Lene is a testament to their commitment to exceptional design and craftsmanship, exemplifying the fact that the owners are considered members of the family who are always welcomed home, often for repeated orders.
Designer Guido de Groot highlighted that Lady Lene was constructed and delivered within a relatively short period of time, despite the yacht’s large size and complexity.
Unique design ensures efficiency and superior performance
This expedition-style superyacht features exterior design from the minds of Guido de Groot Design, who also collaborated on the stunning interiors alongside Carla Guilhem, with naval architecture by Ginton Naval Architects, and Diana Yacht Design.
Accommodation consists of two owner’s cabins (one on the upper deck and one located midship, on the lower deck) as well as two VIP cabins and a bunk for children on the lower deck. The main deck is home to a spacious and airy open-plan lounge and dining area perfect for relaxing in all weathers.
As the true focal point of the yacht’s design – and a clear priority for her highly sociable owners – the aft entertainment space offers an alfresco bar and swim platform. This area was designated by Lady Lene’s owners as their dedicated zones for relaxing and dining.
High ceilings can be found throughout the yacht to make the most of all of the available space.
Performances
Performance-wise, Lady Lene also leaves nothing to be desired. The owner’s desire to optimize hydrodynamic performance at both cruising and top speed had been met.
The round bilge fast-displacement hull and two MAN 1650 hp engines enable her to reach a top speed of 18 knots, whilst cruising comfortably at 14 knots.
The superyacht is also fitted with a hull vane to lift the stern, thus increasing comfort, the maximum speed, reducing noise, all while increasing hydrodynamic efficiency to save more than 12.5% on fuel consumption, when cruising at 11 knots. A further pair of fixed foils cut pitch to provide a more comfortable ride.
Full accessibility
The yacht’s state-of-the-art interior was designed with accessibility in mind, a requirement set by the owner. To ensure full wheelchair accessibility, an elevator connects each deck, while smooth, curved corners with no sharp edges or harsh angles were incorporated into the design.
The floors were designed to be completely level with no protrusions or steps, meeting the requirements of the Americans with Disabilities Act Standards for Accessible Design, and making the yacht fully ADA-compliant.
Elegant, tall ceilings create the sense of freedom
Guests onboard Lady Lene will experience stunning panoramic views as they sail into the sunset, gazing through the large landscape windows situated in the spacious dining room and open-plan lounge.
An eye-catching and retro exterior, by Guido de Groot Design, sees Lady Lene with a seductive mocha hull and a distinctive white superstructure, making her stand out from the other superyachts.
With a gross tonnage of 260, the superyacht offers gloriously high ceilings, allowing for a light and spacious luxury yacht interior that transforms her into a home at sea.
The large lower deck features a swim platform, while the aft deck houses the main event, and the true focal point of the entire yacht. Guests can enjoy alfresco dining at the sleek, oval table as they sit beneath the enchanting outdoor chandelier. Or relax on the stylish sofa located along the stern.
Timeless interiors with a hint of nostalgia
With her interiors inspired by an era often regarded as the pinnacle of yachting, Lady Lene pays homage to the distinguished yet famous Art Deco period of the early twentieth century.
Carla Guilhem confirms that “the revival of this 1920s and 1930s style was our main concept for the design”. A neutral, romantic palette makes her timeless yet sentimental, with a uniquely sophisticated style.
The use of natural oak, leather, and suede create an inviting and snug ambience, yet the sumptuous feel remains throughout. Curved walls, fluted woods and metal touches in champagne gold generate a calm, timeless, and truly welcoming space.
Discussing her work further, Guilhem said: “As a design, it is very fluid and flows well when you walk around. I am proud of the circulation on board: it doesn’t feel like you are passing from one room to another when you move around in the space. My three words to describe the interiors of Lady Lene would be calm, welcoming and liveable. The interiors do not interfere with the exterior design but work with it, and our idea was that the owner and family could feel comfortable living there for a long time.”
Four opulent staterooms accommodate up to eight guests, with the master suite also offering panoramic vistas through its vast windows. A crew of up to seven can also be accommodated for, across four cabins.
Award winning interiors for Guilhem’s debut offshore project
The prestigious BOAT International Design & Innovation Awards ceremony was held in Italy on 8th February and Lady Lene’s interior designer flew over to attend, only to discover that she herself would be standing on the winner’s podium, accepting an award for ‘Best Interior Design, Motor Yachts 499 GT’.
An significative triumph, considering it was Guilhem’s first yachting project, undoubtedly establishing herself as a household name within the yachting industry.
Carla comments: “Although we’d previously worked with great pleasure with the owners of Lady Lene on their residential properties, this project was like entering a new world.Superyachts involve different processes, and I was very grateful to the Van der Valk Shipyard for how willing they were to open their doors to someone new and help me understand how it all works.
I really put my heart and soul into this project: you can feel it in an interior that achieved what the clients were looking for. To win such a prestigious award in an industry of design giants makes me very proud and I cannot thank the owners enough for their trust in the team at Carla Guilhem Design.”
The judges also applauded another key feature of the design, in that it was completely accessible for wheelchair users.
They went on to say: “There is easy flow all around the decks, from the stable boarding walkway that has been designed so it’s wide enough for a wheelchair, all the way to the cabins, which are accessible via a lift. It’s a feature that is seldom seen in a yacht of this size.”
Naval architecture that ensures smooth navigation
The owners of Lady Lene had specific requirements for their yacht, including the ideal solution to ensure the smoothest and most comfortable navigation possible.
To enhance efficiency and to meet the requests, the owners sought out Van der Valk, fully established with years of experience in the industry, who went on to assemble a Dutch dream team of four.
Naval Architect, Jaron Ginton of Ginton Naval Architects, discussed how the design of the hull, the wave-piercing bow, and extraordinary rudder placement contributed to the yacht’s ability to perform to a high standard.
“The most noticeable feature is the wave piercing bow. It is not bulbous but wave piercing, with the purpose of extending the water line length. For the design speed of this boat, a longer water line is essential for reduction of resistance, and here we actually increase the length of the water line. Another special feature is that we did not put the rudders behind the propeller as normal, but outside the circle of the propeller: this gave us better efficiency.
Also, the hull shape is slightly concave above the propeller, to increase the propeller hull clearance that contributes to the noise reduction. The hull vane has the function of reducing resistance and flattening the stern wave.”
More efficient, faster, and more comfortable to operate…
…of water under a vessel’s stern, providing a forward thrust that is greater than the drag it creates. This results in reduced resistance for the vessel, leading to significant fuel savings.
In addition, the Hull Vane suppresses the vessel’s stern wave, reducing noise levels and creating less disturbance for others. The technology also keeps the vessel at an even keel throughout its speed range, reducing trim variations and allowing for higher top speeds in shallow waters. It even damps pitching motions, improving on-board comfort and safety.
With the Hull Vane, naval architects can design vessels that are more efficient, faster, and more comfortable to operate. It’s no wonder that this technology is quickly becoming a popular choice for many yacht and ship owners worldwide.
Established in 1997 and headquartered in Leiden, the oldest university town in Holland, Guido de Groot Design is an award-winning studio that has become renowned for its innovative and sophisticated yacht interiors as well as exteriors. Employing eight designers of varying nationalities, the studio specializes in creating designs for luxury motor and sailing yachts.
Over the years, the studio has earned a reputation for working with some of the most prestigious shipyards around the world, delivering projects that seamlessly integrate interior and exterior design, ranging from sailing yachts, fast motor cruisers, and displacement yachts. The studio philosophy is rooted in the idea of creating high-quality designs, both interior and exterior, that are appreciated for their purity and harmony. This ethos is reflected in the yachts that have been brought to life by the studio, making them a prominent name in the world of yacht design.
Van der Valk Shipyard pride themselves on being a family-run company that spans several generations. Founded in The Netherlands in 1967 by Wim Van der Valk, the shipyard was born out of a passion for yachts and a love of watersports.
Over half a century later, Wim Van der Valk remains as the driving force behind the Dutch based shipyard, which produces their yachts at their base in Waalwijk, which is located in the southern province of North Brabant, close by to the city of Tilburg, and an hour away from the capital. From the very beginning, it has established itself as a player of relevance in both aluminum and steel superyachts. Van der Valk.
