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Stratos Yacht: Master of the Sea
A major premiere: at MASTERS EXPO, Lengers Yachts unveiled the design of its first in-house yacht, the Stratos Dutch Built 50. "For those who want the best of the best." Director-owner Bas Lengers on realizing his vision.
A resounding scoop: at MASTERS EXPO the design of Lengers Yachts' first own ship was launched: the Stratos Dutch Built 50. “For those who want the best of the best.” Director-owner Bas Lengers about the realization of his dream.
During the 2021 edition of MASTERS EXPO, I was at the Lengers Yachts stand in conversation with Bas Lengers. This was interrupted by an employee who excitedly shouted “he's here, Bas” and placed a show display case with a model boat on our table. It was actually not intended for my eyes, but now that it was there… “This will be our first own yacht,” the CEO of the now internationally operating yachting company confided to me. “Devised and developed by the top of the Dutch yacht building industry. It should be ready in 2023. I can't say more about it now, except that there was no budget for quality. Everything I think should be in a ship is in it.” It is now ten months later. I am once again sitting at the table with Bas, this time in his office in Muiden, with an opened laptop in front of me on which a video is playing of the arrival of the hull of the yacht in Lelystad, Lengers' new yard, but more about that later. “This was quite a moment, you know. The first child is born!”
Highest quality standards
Bas does not hide the fact that it has always been his dream to launch his own ship. And now it's here: the Stratos. “I felt that the market was missing a tough and robust ship that is truly seaworthy and built at superyacht level. A ship that allows you to go out in all weather conditions, an SUV on the water. I dare say with certainty that the Stratos Dutch Built 50 is the most seaworthy ship in its class. It boasts the highest quality standards, CE classification A, which means it can handle wind force of more than 8 on the Beaufort scale and waves of more than 4 meters in height. Hence the slogan 'Dominate the Seas'.” To make the ship so strong and stiff, Bas explains, a special grid has been designed - which is very unique for a ship of this size. High-end composite materials are used. The entire structure is made of carbon. As a result, the center of gravity is low, which benefits the stability and unique sailing characteristics of the ship. The deep V hull allows the ship to glide through the water like a hot knife cutting through butter. Even with high waves, this ship will not slammed prevent. The specially designed ergonomic ones are also unique pilot seats with shock absorption, to make sailing with high waves comfortable. The freeboard of the gangways is also very high, so that spray water does not stand a chance in extremely high waves. This also allows you to move around the ship safely. To further strengthen the latter, a carbon railing with LED lighting has even been installed. “The Stratos Dutch Built 50 gives an open but at the same time very protected and safe feeling.”
Built to perfection
Bas' vision and personality come together in this almost fifteen meter long ship, which reaches a speed of almost 40 knots. Decades of nautical expertise and passion poured into one superior project. “The name Stratos did not come out of the blue, it is derived from stratosphere. We want to reach that height in terms of quality, functionality and performance. We do use the term 'built to perfection': every detail has been thought of, every aspect has been fully developed, and nothing has been spared. The ship is manufactured by only the best designers and builders from the Netherlands, who excel in their profession and have already proven this. The ship was designed by Bernd Weel and we have a lot to do with it naval architects from Sealevel. We do not do mass production. Construction is limited to five to eight yachts per year. Because we also want to continue to pay full attention to the other beautiful ones brands in our portfolio: Sanlorenzo, Bluegame, Prestige and SACS. In short: construction can be done without time pressure, every detail of the Stratos receives full attention. This can be seen in the finish: it is of a stratospheric high level. The interior, with sleeping space for four people and of supercar GT quality, is extremely refined. There is a whole study in the outdoor cushions alone.”
Highlights
The highlights of the Stratos are almost inexhaustible. A small selection: The carbon hardtop can be opened, so you can sail in the sun if desired. Something you don't often see on yachts of this length. This also applies to the range of 400 to 450 miles (740 to 830 km): that is an astonishing range for this class. Substantial investments have been made in noise reduction, so that the sea can be optimally enjoyed. For example, the engine compartment and the interior are separated by a soundproof technical insulation room. You can personalize the exterior based on color scheme, with a choice of approximately twenty-five colours, metallic and non-metallic. You can personalize the interior by choosing from three different color styles. And then there is a laundry list of options. Options at superyacht level, including a hydraulic submersible swim platform. “The Stratos is for those who want the best of the best,” says Bas. “And as you have come to expect from Lengers Yachts, we also offer the maximum in terms of service – the customer is completely unburdened. Based on our story, we have already sold the first copies of the Stratos in advance to relations, all very experienced water sports enthusiasts. They immediately felt confident! These boats are delivered in Mallorca, Ibiza, Saint-Tropez, Cannes… And we have also sold one in Amsterdam. So soon you could see the Stratos Dutch Built 50 on the IJ.”
Lengers Marine Center
Lengers Yachts has expanded with a marina in Lelystad especially for the Stratos. What was once Schaap ShipCARE is now called Lengers Marine Center. Leen Schaap and the team will remain with the company, which means that thirty years of expertise and management in the field of composites have also been taken over. “We do the assembly and production in Lelystad. So we have everything in our own hands! In addition to the Stratos yachts being built there, we will also house service, repairs and winter storage in Lelystad. Muiden is becoming more of a gallery, where sales are made.” Are there any further plans for the Stratos? Bas can't say anything about that now. But anyone who knows him a little knows that there is always development going on. I think I'll visit him again next year.”
The worldwide pre-launch of the Stratos Dutch Built 50 took place at MASTERS EXPO, Thursday, December 8.
MASTERS MAGAZINE
This article is from MASTERS MAGAZINE. The winter issue of MASTERS was created in collaboration with Jordi van den Bussche. Many will know him as YouTuber Kwebbelkop, but he has been working hard as an entrepreneur for some time, as he explains in the Great Interview. What is new is that his company JVDB Studios offers to do social media marketing and short format content marketing for other companies. “They can also figure it out themselves, but we cracked the code.” Jordi gives a platform to like-minded entrepreneurs such as Jay-Jay Boske, Demy de Zeeuw, Chahid Charrak and Marcella de Bie, and discusses developments surrounding games, crypto and NFT: “Just as bitcoin turned the financial system upside down, will that also happen with gaming.” This extra thick winter issue also focuses on Lengers' first own ship, an interview with Corendon CEO Atilay Uslu, specials about the new BMW 7 Series and Samsung foldables, and - exclusively for MASTERS! – an interview with Max Verstappen.
