Zeelander Z72 showing off her curves in US

- Hull #1 just delivered to an American owner

- The groundbreaking 72-foot yacht is the shipyard’s flagship

- Highlights include superyacht-level comfort features and smart use of space

- Panoramic saloon, 110-sq-ft beach club with cabana, tender garage among best features

- New hull promises an even better ride

- Top speed of 40 knots with triple Volvo Penta IPS performance and handling

- Distinctive Zeelander design evolved to create a completely new yacht

- Exterior design developed in collaboration with Cor D. Rover

- Interior design by Zeelander’s in-house design team

- The full-option Z72 will be exhibited at Newport International Boat Show (September 12-15) and Norwalk Boat Show (September 19-22)

Zeelander Yachts is delighted to announce that its largest yacht to date, the Zeelander Z72, has been delivered to her proud US owner, a loyal customer of the shipyard.

Largest ever

The Zeelander Z72 is largest yacht to date of Zeelander Yachts, a leading Dutch shipyard that creates high-end motor yachts with an elegant New York commuter-style profile and excellent performance.

Zeelander Yachts is specialized in building small superyachts. During the last 17 years, the shipyard has provided yachts with the highest degree of design, function and construction detail. Years of experience combined with the needs of today are behind the development of the newest and largest member in the Zeelander family. The Z72 is an exceptional flagship that combines superyacht-design features and finish levels with Zeelander’s noteworthy profile.

The exterior look

The timeless exterior design look of the Z72 is developed in collaboration with Cor D. Rover. Rover also contributed to the design of the bestseller model so far for the yard — the Zeelander Z44.

“An S-Shaped sheerline, a wider stern and even more curved surfaces,” said Floris Koopmans, Marketing Coordinator at Zeelander Yachts. “We believe true yacht building is a form of art: Whilst keeping true to the iconic shape, the Zeelander design has evolved. A legendary icon, an evolution of timeless design is what we envision for the Z72, a Rolls-Royce of the sea.”

The 72-foot (22-meter) LOA gives the design a bit more room to breathe, with even more pronounced curves. This yacht is undoubtedly a Zeelander, but something wholly new as well.

“The first Z72’s color is the elegant and sophisticated Flag Blue,” explained Koopmans. “But we have infinite color combinations to offer. Most customers prefer exotic metallic paints. We even have diamond-encrusted paints available.”

The Z72 continues the trend begun by Zeelander Yachts showing off her curves. Each new yacht from this builder initially makes a splash with her exterior lines and the Z72 is no exception, with a striking S-shaped sheerline. The distinctive rounded stern unfolds invitingly to reveal a spacious 110-square-foot swim platform. An understated bowrail shadows the sheer for the length of the yacht. Three pairs of extremely large hullside windows punctuate the curvaceous hull. They illuminate the belowdecks accommodations, as well as subtle, flush-finished superyacht features, such as a boarding door and a side-entry garage that fits a tender, a waverunner and four seabobs. The superstructure has a raked, curving windshield and large side windows, topped by a coachroof with a finely drawn grabrail.

The windshield is a true piece of art. In total, there are three huge, double-curve panoramic windows at the helm. “In addition to being very wide, they are also very high, allowing for maximum visibility and making the owner feel like they are close to the water,” said Floris Koopmans. “There are only two factories in the world able to manufacture a window like this because of its extreme complexity. We spared no expense in achieving our vision of this gracefully curved yacht.”

Interiors by the Zeelander in-house team

The Zeelander in-house team created the interior design of the Z72. The company takes a unique approach to yacht design, actively involving owners of its yacht in the discussion about models under development. This allows Zeelander to get a better sense of how active boaters use their boats, and about specific features and design elements.

“Owners of Zeelander Yachts know what they like,” Floris Koopmans said. “When they share their experiences, we know that no one has a better sense of how the boats are used. That discussion has led the way to the Z72.”

Huge expanses of glass surround the entire enclosed space of the deckhouse, which encompasses the helm area forward, backing up to a large dining table. At the aft end is a roomy, functional U-shaped galley. The coachroof overhead has a broad sunroof to brighten the table.

“We have made the boat very open, spacious and airy, so you always have the feeling that you are outside at sea,” Koopmans adds. “A very large convertible sunroof and a retractable aft sliding window gives the Z72 the appeal of a cabriolet, but without its limitations.”

The helm console consists of an angled, ergonomic pod on centreline with glass-bridge electronic navigation displays. A wide three-position bench seat accommodates the skipper and companions with virtually uninterrupted 360-degree lines of sight, thanks to the large windshield, huge windows with narrow mullions, and the elevated position of the helm deck. The companionway stairs curl invitingly down to the lower deck from the starboard side of the helm.

The dining table is directly abaft the helm bench and keeps even more companions close by. A wide settee aft and a two-seat bench to port serve the table. The table itself is sculpted with curved sides, a surface inlaid with hardwood, and it sits on the same elevated deck as the helm station. The helm bench converts at anchor to face aft, to allow additional table seating, a Zeelander tradition. The dining table sits on automated multi-position pedestals that will allow it to lower and accept a filler cushion to serve as an additional guest berth.

The galley is at the aft end of the interior to serve the dining table and the cockpit equally well. The counters offer a subtle twist on the U-shaped galley, still handy for the cook to lean against for safe meal prep in a seaway, but with a gentle curve to help accentuate the Zeelander feel. There is copious stowage in numerous lockers, and high-end appliances of choice. A very large curved window separates the galley from the bar and closes off the helm from its exterior.

“The Z72 is extremely silent,” said Koopmans. “Unsurpassed levels of soundproofing and vibration control make her the apex of tranquility. The Z72 is truly a Zeelander yacht.”

Exterior decks

Because the aft bulkhead window dividing the galley from the cockpit retract, the aft counter doubles as an aft-deck bar and is served by four fixed stools beneath the coachroof overhang for a sleek take on the alfresco bar experience.

Abaft the stools is open deck space, sheltered by the extended house sides, followed by a step down to a fore-and-aft pair of settees with a cocktail table between. From this aft-deck area, the side decks offer easy, safe transit forward, where yet another sun pad awaits.

As an example of superyacht-level transformation, that iconic curving transom unfolds, and the backrest of the aft settee folds down to create an enormous sun pad, handy to the swim platform. The 110-square-foot platform serves as the teak beach at anchor, and is a main gathering area for water-loving family and friends.

The beach club of the Z72 is equipped with a cabana. “There are four carbon fibre poles that you pop into four holes on the platform,” Koopmans explains. “You lock these with a simple mechanism, span the fabric at the top and attach the optional side curtains.” The first Z72 unit does not have a jacuzzi, but it is an available option. It can be installed on the aft deck instead of the sunbed. The jacuzzi could then be closed to also serve as a sunbed.

A three-stateroom layout

Down the companionway stairs, the Z72 has a three-stateroom layout. The master is forward and shows a key benefit of this curvy, updated take on the classic high-sided commuter: headroom and forward volume. As with all Zeelanders, the décor is sophisticated, yet comfortable to allow for guests and family to enjoy their time aboard with ease.

The master stateroom features a king berth finished in an updated Herreshoff style with white perforated alcantara ceiling and overhead panels accented with dark makassar wood and leather floors. A large sunroof, hullside windows, curving bulkheads, and leather-trimmed accents combine with a large deck footprint to bring an authentic superyacht feel to the owners’ quarters. The superyacht sensibility continues to the master head, which features a walk-in, tiled shower, distinctive basin sink, its own hullside window and an expansive mirror.

Additional accommodations consist of a pair of guest doubles located amidships, where angled entry doors optimize the use of space while highlighting the mirror design. Each stateroom benefits from the same level of fit and finish, with private head with separate shower.

“Because the owner loves a good party, the Z72 has extra party lights and the biggest JL sound system in all spaces on the boat, including the helm area, galley, aft deck, foredeck, all the staterooms, and even the swimming platform,” Koopmans says.

The crew’s quarters are also on the lower deck, accessed through a hatch in the aft deck, where the crew has a berth and a private head and shower. The crew’s quarters are adjacent to another true superyacht feature, the large hullside tender garage, where a RIB tender and toys can be deployed and retrieved with no interference with activities on the swim platform.

“The first unit of the Z72 carries the 11-foot Williams 325 jet tender,” Koopmans explains. “With this tender installed there is room for a jetski and four Seabobs. However, our flagship with few interior modifications can accommodate an impressive boat, up to 16 feet long, which is incredible for a 72-foot yacht. As a shipyard, we are pretty flexible, different layouts and custom options are possible, so we can certainly satisfy our customers’ bespoke wishes.”

Performance

With a profile like that of the Z72, a yacht must be able to back up her looks with performance, and Zeelander offers a selection of triple Volvo Penta IPS engine choices that will do just that. With three, 1,000-horsepower IPS 1350s, the Z72 reaches a top speed of 40 knots, and benefits from the Volvo Penta integrated joystick system for excellent maneuverability.

Zeelander pays close attention to onboard comfort, including sound attenuation and vibration damping for onboard systems. The boat is available with a gyro stabilization system for optimal comfort. “The Z72 offers the same easy operation as the other Zeelanders—there are still some owners who’d like to take this out by themselves. We made that possible,” Koopmans says. “The gyro stabilization in combination with the Humphree trim tabs also makes this boat very stable in any condition.”

The Zeelander Z72 brings superyacht level design to a 72-foot (22-meter) profile that will turn heads in any port of call, and with the performance and comfort amenities to match.

Price

The Zeelander Z72’s base price is 3.345.000 EUR Ex VAT.

World debut

The Z72 will make a world debut in the United States in September 2019. The spectacular boat will take part in Newport International Boat Show (Newport, RI, from September 12-15) and Norwalk Boat Show (Norwalk, CT, from September 19-22). The exact berth numbers are to be confirmed closer to both shows.

Zeelander z72 brief specification