Holterman will soon deliver its first X-65 to an adventurous owner with ambitious cruising plans

Dutch yacht and superyacht builder Holterman Yachts will soon deliver the first of its X-65 models, which will be available to view during the upcoming HISWA Te Water boat show in Lelystad, the Netherlands, 28 August to 1 September 2024. As Northern Europe’s largest in-water show, HISWA Te Water is the perfect place to showcase this extraordinary, owner-operated addition to the growing X fleet.

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Boasting steel construction, spacious storage areas, innovative exterior elements and an interior that features a double-height lower saloon-cum-office, the X-65 is not only the ultimate robust cruiser, this first hull is also a yacht built around the needs of a European client with ambitions to cruise Northern European waters and the Norwegian fjords.

“The client, like our other clients at Holterman, came to us with a specific brief for a specific yacht,” begins Bernd Weel, principal of Bernd Weel Design – the studio behind the design of all Holterman’s X range of yachts. “He liked the X lines and the design of the boats, and he asked us to draw a yacht specifically made for his needs that also carried the design cues of the other X models. That DNA is evident in various aspects of her design – the long glass recess in the hull is very similar to the one found on the X-78, as is the superstructure, and the line of the top of the bulwark is similar across all X models.”

The owner’s requests were mainly focused on the interior layout, resulting in a split-level living area with a modern and beautifully equipped aft galley plus a seating and spacious dining area at main deck level overlooking an atrium-style lower saloon that offers an office area plus a television lounge. The centreline helm sits at the forward end of the saloon overlooking the lower lounge, with excellent visibility all around the yacht.

The lower saloon has an added function too – the television lounge area can convert into an additional double bed in case of extra guests or family staying over. “The owner really wanted that lofty lower saloon area where he could have an office for work – the plan was that he could work while cruising and as a result extend his trips and cruises on the boat,” Weel explains.

It’s not just about onboard comfort and convenience, however. The X-65 was developed to be capable of tackling more serious cruising, and that demand from the owner infuses every aspect of her construction. “He had a dream to cruise the Norwegian fjords, and for that you need a really robust boat, which the 65 is – she has a steel, round-bilge hull, which is not only incredibly strong but which also offers a low centre of gravity which means she will be a very stable and comfortable boat,” Weel explains.

“She is also made for longer trips, and on the layout, the key was to have enough space for the family to stay on board,” he continues. “She is an ideal cruiser, particularly for Northern European waters and coasts around the world that require a yacht that has more capabilities than standard production models!”

That cruising capability is matched with design considerations essential for longer-term cruising, including the need for ample storage. The X-65 offers this in spades, thanks to a huge aft garage. “That’s something she borrows from her larger siblings – I was actually really surprised when I saw the garage for the first time in real life, because there’s a lot of volume in the back,” says Weel. “It means you can really put a lot of gear and equipment there, from big water toys, bicycles or electric scooters to an extra fridge or freezer for extended cruising. I think it’s a real USP of this model.”

It’s not the only USP – the exterior spaces are also perfectly set up for social cruising. Forward, the bow cockpit offers seating and a dinette plus forward-facing settee that converts into a sunpad. In the aft cockpit, Weel has deliberately eschewed convention to apply common sense instead.

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“The aft cockpit has a pretty cool set-up,” he asserts. “On a lot of models there’s a U-shaped sofa at the stern and you end up looking forward into the saloon. On the X-65 we have two L-shaped sofas to the sides with very social tables, which means you look aft and out over the water. And along with a transverse aft sofa, you can have a really big group of people here.”

Aft of the cockpit, a large hydraulic swimming platform not only serves as a beach – complete with bench sofa hidden in the transom door – and an easy access point for the water, but also as a stow point and launch platform for a large tender.

It all adds up to the perfect combination of style, substance, form and function in a yacht constructed to the highest levels of quality by a shipyard with 60 years of yachtbuilding experience. “Her lines, long and flowing, include sculptural surfaces that create reflections and shadows in the design,” Weel says. “They were all conceived to capture the essence of elegance, emphasised by a decent amount of tumblehome in the hull. The design is modern and sits perfectly among her siblings in the X range, and the fact that this model, like the others in the range, was born from a client request makes me really proud,” Weel concludes. “It’s confirmation that we’re doing something right, and that’s a great feeling – just like cruising on the X-65!”