The name 'Solis' is a constant reminder of the sun," explained the owners. "'Solis' means both centre and source of energy for us, just like the sun." The owners are siblings. Right from the start, they had a rough idea of what their 30-metre class should look like. Sea-friendliness, reliability and comfort were always more important to them than speed. The fact that the length then increased by a few metres to 34 was actually part of the normal course of such planning and by no means a deviation.
The owner and the shipyard developed a liking for each other. "Solis" was to be a yacht for the family. Mulder Shipyard, founded in 1938, is run as a family business by managing director Dick Mulder. Orders such as the one for the 24 metre long "Eleonora" in 2009 and the 28 metre long "Mimi" accelerated the current upswing. Last year, Dick Mulder delivered his latest flagship, the "Solis", to the owners. He owes the order to his expansion. In 2011, the shipyard chose a location in the south of Holland. In spring 2013, the new shipyard facility in Zoeterwoude-Rijndijk went into operation, with two halls and a dry dock for projects up to 45 metres in length. This meant that "Solis" also found a suitable building site for its size. Dick Mulder does the woodwork and metalwork in his own shipyard. He outsources the hull and superstructure to subcontractors. The shipyard assembled both elements of the "Solis" shell in 2014.
It was the mix of family business and new workshops that, after exploration by International Yacht Register's brokers William Molloy and Stephen White in several other shipyards in Northern Europe, made the "Solis" order clear. The interior and exterior design, styling and interior, was carried out by James Claydon and Mike Reeves in Lymington, England. The exterior features a steep stem and rather squat-looking superstructure under a hardtop above the sundeck. The days of the bright white-as-white seem to be coming to an end: Coloured hulls are the trend. The shipyard painted "Solis" in a light beige colour. From the side, a trained eye will immediately notice the split-level solution for the wheelhouse. The captain's workplace floats above the saloon without its own deck and can also be reached under the bimini from the forward section of the top deck.
The Claydon Reeves duo had already worked in the automotive industry prior to their collaboration. Perhaps this led to the decision not to present the lavish abundance of all possible materials for the interior, as is often the case, but to focus on a reduction in the types of wood and fabric. The duo primarily used oak, without discolouration or special treatments, without brushing or elaborate finishes. Instead, in addition to the usual surface treatments, they used different grain patterns to create lively interiors.
The expense is therefore limited, but obeys clear rules. From the outset, the owners naturally saw their yacht as a mediator between water and sky. Claydon Reeves therefore incorporated this idea into the interior as much as possible. They avoided sharp edges and points, favoured soft shapes and curves, especially in the furnishings, and opened up as many unobstructed views of the sea as possible, even in the limited spaces. "The sea is everywhere. Owners and guests feel in constant contact with the water all around them," says James Claydon.
Generous glazing, a balcony and steps that constantly draw the eye back to the surroundings of the "Solis" prove useful. In one of the two VIP cabins, the second forward on the main deck, a particularly large skylight above the king-size bed contributes to this. Claydon: "The stars of the Milky Way twinkle here at night."
The colour scheme also had to adapt to these rules. It reflects its surroundings on the water and takes its colour palette into account: sea, beach and sand. The colour spectrum therefore ranges from accentuating turquoise through all possible shades to dark blue. Claydon and Reeves kept the décor simple. It should not distract from the panorama. The layout of the rooms largely follows the standards. Guests travelling by tender and mooring at the bathing platform reach the saloon via a wide staircase leading up to the cockpit. Particularly in the aft area, the saloon glazing from the ceiling to the floor provides the best views. A seating area with light-coloured upholstery and sand-coloured carpet on oak floorboards dominates the scene here.
Further ahead in the dining area with table and chairs for eight people, a balcony to starboard enhances the feeling that inside and outside belong together. The large glass panels can be slid open to starboard, the bulwark folds down and the view extends over the edge of the plate to the nearest beach, a wonderful place for a sundowner. The eight seats around the dining table are sufficient for owners and guests, as "Solis" does not offer more sleeping space. They are sufficient for the siblings and are spread over two VIP suites and two double cabins on the upper and lower decks.
The two VIP accommodations are very different from each other. One, the one with the starry sky above the bed on the main deck, is closer to the sun, but cannot compete in width with the other VIP suite on the lower deck thanks to the all-round open deck. The latter has the entire width of the hull in front of the engine compartment at its disposal. Large windows immediately draw the eye to the surface of the water. The furniture and textiles here and in the two double cabins in front of this VIP suite also reflect the theme of sea, beach and sand.
One deck above the VIP suite with a view of the Milky Way awaits owners and guests on the split top deck. A circular pool with sunbathing area makes itself at home here. A bar at the front end just below the fixed bimini surrounds it with four stools and promises cosy happy hours. Two steps further forward, there is a shaded semi-circular sofa with a dining table with barbecue and bar under the bimini.
A convenient side companionway leads down and back to the main deck. The main deck can be completely circumnavigated thanks to a surrounding open deck, past the balcony on the starboard side. On the foredeck, a ladder above the anchorage provides access to the forward sunbathing area above the VIP cabin; aft, the running deck extends past the saloon glazing directly into the cockpit.
From there, the wide steps descend to the bathing platform. The crew stows the tender behind the stairs in a lazarette, which is 5.50 metres long for the boat.
What's missing on board? Not everyone needs a cinema or a weight room with half a dozen pieces of gym equipment. The cockpit sofas can be transformed into a complete sunbathing area, replacing a beach club at waterline level. The owner and guests are looked after by a crew of seven, including the captain, who live in the foredeck as usual. The fact that the speed of their "Solis" is not a priority for the owners is also evident from the engine. The two Caterpillars together develop one thousand kilowatts for an almost contemplative cruising speed of ten knots. The economical consumption also enables transatlantic journeys with a length of 34 metres.
Dick Mulder believes that his investment in the new shipyard facilities, along with quality, price and short construction time, ultimately tipped the scales in favour of the order. He has enjoyed working with the designers Claydon and Reeves; co-operation with the English office for a second and larger project has already begun.
