50 Years of Diana Yacht Design
Written by: Parisa Hashempour
Publication: SuperYacht Times
In 1971, Diana Yacht Design first opened its doors in Amstelveen, the Netherlands. Over the past 50 years, the naval architecture and design company has championed Dutch Maritime heritage, developing award-winning naval architecture and engineering for some of the world’s most exciting superyacht projects.
“To mark 50 years operating in an industry that has undergone so much change is truly remarkable. DIANA’S strength throughout the past 50 years is a testament to the company,” says Creative Director Hans-Maarten Bais. Here, we turn back the clock on the designer’s brilliant back story.
1971 Diana Yacht Design
Diana Yacht Design first opened its doors as a naval architecture and design company and published one of their first concept designs.
1979 C-Side, 35m
C-side (ex-Eleanor Allen), is an elegant classic yacht from DIANA’s early days. Originally built in 1979 by Feadship with exterior design and engineering by DIANA. Her insides now feature a completely new design and the yacht’s old car garage and car lift were removed from her stern.
1984 Rio Rita, 56m
This era-defining yacht was launched in 1984 at Feadship’s De Vries shipyard, with DIANA calling her one of the “loveliest transom-stern motor yachts ever built”. The styling and architecture of the vessel blends contemporary and classical looks.
1985 Cleopatra C, 57m
Launched in 1985 as the well-known GAIL III. This was the first project where DIANA teamed up with the legendary designer Jon Bannenberg.
1987 Nickeline, 26m
Built in 1987 by Dutch shipyard Moonen Yachts, Nickeline sports design, naval architecture and engineering by the DIANA team.
1991 Mata Mua, 38m
Mata Mua was one of the three, famous Colombaio motorsailers which were revolutionary charter vessels at the time.
1998 Attessa IV, 100m
Formerly known as Evergreen, she was built by the Japanese Evergreen shipyard Corporation for the chairman of Evergreen Shipping. Later rebuilt as a completely different yacht, she is distinguished by a rounded bow, broad beam aft, and upper decks towards her centre.
2007 Rose Pigre, 44m
The Royal Denship yacht has a steel displacement hull, and with five spacious cabins and a gym that can be converted into a sixth, her creators say she is ideal for family cruising.
2008 Maximus Star, 30m
Handsomely shaped by René van der Velden Design and with naval architecture by DIANA, she has a flared bow, sloped stern with twin stairways, a graceful sheerline and bold fashion plates.
2011 Pamela V, 45m
Pamela V is reminiscent of famous DIANA yachts of the 80s like Jamaica Bay or Rio Rita. Her owner opted for an energy storage inverter on board to create a sustainable vessel.
2013 Robbie Bobby, 34m
Formerly known as Heliad II, she was launched from the Lynx shipyard in the Netherlands. With gentle curves and well-balanced proportions, the vessel delicately combines tradition with contemporary design.
2014 So’ Mar, 38m
Winner of the World Superyacht Awards in 2015, So’ Mar was launched by the Turkish shipyard Tansu. Strong and sharp lines give her a military-like look. DIANA was behind both her naval architecture and engineering.
2016 Legend, 77m
This explorer yacht is a Class 1 ice breaking ship converted into a charter yacht. Her design and engineering were completed by DIANA, and in 2017 she was announced the best superyacht in the rebuild category at the World Superyacht Awards.
2019 Scout, 63m
The timeless and elegant explorer yacht was built by Royal Hakvoort. She features both interior and exterior design by the British design studio H2 Yacht Design. DIANA was behind her naval architecture.
2020 Venera, 28m
The third motor yacht in the explorer range was built by Van der Valk shipyard. With a raised pilot house, she features exterior design by Guido de Groot, and naval architecture by Ginton Naval Architects and DIANA, who was also responsible for the yacht’s engineering.
2021 Diana R.50, 47m
DIANA describes their latest superyacht concept, the sleek and bold Diana R.50, as a yacht created on a proven hull design with “seaworthiness at her core”.
This article was originally published in the Summer 2021 issue of The SuperYacht Times newspaper.
