Bestevaer 49 Zenith delivered to Australian owners

The Australian owners had been dreaming of a new sailing yacht for 10 years. During those 10 years they made a detailed and complete wish list. They were very clear about what they wanted on board, such as the fully aluminium deck hatches, extra thick rudder stock, oversized anchor and welded-on the deck fixtures. They also wanted to be able to steer with a tiller.

Following their visit to our Open Day four years ago, we kept in contact with the Australian owners mainly via email and Skype. The entire sales and construction process took place 'online'. They visited the shipyard once during construction, and towards completion they stayed a little longer in Makkum.

It is very important for the owners to be independent and self-sufficient, which explains the large solar panels on the stern and sufficient water and diesel storage capacity. Doing away with power consumers such as a boiler, refrigerator and heating also reduces the need to start the engine to generate electricity. The hull and most of the deck sections are bare aluminium and unpainted to rule out the risk of corrosion and to reduce maintenance.

The interior is a shining example of custom yacht building. The pilot house has been extended one metre forward to create more space and to provide more light below. The galley is J-shaped and spacious with stainless steel worktops and deep, large drawers and cupboards for provisions and cooking utensils so that there's no need to keep going ashore for groceries. 

Next to the dining table is a diesel heater which provides warmth and a snug atmosphere in colder regions. The dedicated technical area was built under the pilot house to starboard, with the guest cabin on the port side. The owners have a large comfortable bed that occupies the entire width of the front cabin. Both the toilet and the shower have their own area, adjacent to the owner's cabin. The wood used for the furniture and carpentry, Bubinga, proved to be a challenge for the carpenters, but the end result speaks for itself!

Specification Bestevaer 49 Zenith

Yard:                                KM Yachtbuilders, Makkum, NL
Architect:                         Dykstra Naval Architects, Amsterdam, NL
LOA                                 14.97 m
LWL                                 13.72 m
Beam                                 4.40 m
Draught                              2.10 m
Displacement                 19.000kg
Ballast                             5.900 kg
Clearance height            22.50  m
Rigging                           Aluminium mast and boom
Type                               Sloop rigged
Main sail                         65.5 m2
Furling genoa                 110% 49.2 m2
Material                          Aluminium
Keel                                Vast
Rudder                           Single spade rudder
Cabins                            2
Baths                             1 toilet, 1 shower
Steering                         Tiller