A PEEK BEHIND THE CURTAIN

摘要

Here's the big question: How on earth is it possible to choose only 240 pages' worth of material when discussing one of the most successful yacht-design firms in modern history one that has produced more than 7,400 designs from its offices in the Netherlands? That's what the team behind the book Yacht Design by Vripack has done, offering a rare look not only at interior and exterior designs that have come off Vripack drafting tables since Dick Boon penned the firm's first wooden sailboat in 1961, but also giving an insider's explanation of engineering and naval architecture that have gone into many of the designs since then. Readers can forge a new understanding of the company's creative process, as well as note plenty of ideas for yachts they might want to commission in the future. The sheer breadth of design styles that Vripackhas turned out sets the firm apart from most others past and present. There's the 122-foot Zeepaard expedition yacht, whose globe-cruising owner eventually removed the windshield wipers, since the bridge wasn't seeing a drop of water in any ocean. At the other end of the spectrum is the Wajer 38, a sleek 37-foot superyacht tender that can top 40 knots. There's the 164-foot Envy5, with aft platforms that lower to port and starboard, opening the onboard gymnasium to fresh breezes and views. There's the Bavaria E40, a 40-footer whose entire interior was created through virtual prototyping, saving time in the design process, Vripack's ability to work creatively and intelligently has earned the firm no fewer than 40 awards in leading superyacht competitions. Some of those award-winning designs are in this book, which is a lovely design unto itself.