Olivier van Meer Design

03/11/2026

PUFFIN 58 EXPLORER | DESIGNED TO GO BEYOND

A remote anchorage, a northern coastline or an ocean passage ahead. We designed the Puffin 58 Explorer for sailors who want the freedom to keep exploring, with a yacht that feels like home along the way.

As the flagship of the Puffin range, she brings together the familiar character of our sailing cutters with the practical demands of life further afield. Let us take you aboard, from her robust aluminium hull to the sheltered steering position and welcoming interior.

At the heart of the yacht is the raised deck saloon, offering panoramic views whether seated or standing. Being inside should still mean feeling connected to the places you have sailed so far to reach.

Directly aft, the fixed dodger provides a protected position from which to operate the yacht. It can be opened to the cockpit or fully enclosed and heated when conditions call for shelter, allowing you to remain comfortably on watch.

Her optional centreboard opens up shallower waters, while the strong fixed section of the keel protects the rudder and propellers and allows her to dry out.

As with every Puffin, there is room to make her your own. Layout, materials, equipment and the choice of cutter or ketch rig can all be developed around her owner’s wishes.

An unmistakable Puffin, with a world of possibilities ahead.

VMG Yachtbuilders

29/10/2026

Great footage 😍

29/10/2026

OVM BOATS ON TOUR: “QUADRA” AT THE TRADITIONELE SCHEPEN BEURS

We have shared quite a bit about “Quadra” so far, from the design process and her rebuild to seeing her finally under sail. Now there is a chance to see her in real life.

From 6 to 8 November, “Quadra” will be at the Traditionele Schepen Beurs in Museumhaven Willemsoord in Den Helder.

For our team, “Quadra” was a particularly interesting design project. We redesigned the complete aft section, the keel and the entire sail plan. Together, these changes restored her proportions, balance and sailing performance, while remaining faithful to the character of the original John Alden design.

A good opportunity to step aboard and see the result for yourself.

Quadra

De bijzondere schoener Quadra komt naar de beurs! Dit indrukwekkende zeilschip van ruim 26 meter lang is na vijf jaar afbouwen weer helemaal klaar om bewonderd te worden. Met haar lichtgroene romp, twee masten en maar liefst 343 m² zeiloppervlak is ze een echte eyecatcher in Museumhaven Willemsoord.
Kom naar de beurs en bewonder de Quadra van dichtbij!

📅 6, 7 & 8 november 2026
📍 Museumhaven Willemsoord, Den Helder

29/10/2026

NEW PROJECT: CH EXPLORER 305

Together with Cruising Home, we are working on an exciting and challenging concept: the 30.5-metre CH Explorer.

The client’s specific wishes bring their own set of challenges. That is what makes this such a characteristic Olivier van Meer project, with each decision shaped around the brief.

We’ll keep you updated as the project develops.

Cruising Home Unveils New CH Explorer 305 Concept

Cruising Home is proud to introduce the latest addition to its explorer yacht range: the CH Explorer 305. Developed in close collaboration with renowned naval architect Olivier van Meer Design, this impressive 30.5-metre explorer yacht represents an exciting new chapter in the evolution of the CH Explorer series.

Staying true to the philosophy behind the CH Explorer range, the CH Explorer 305 combines exceptional seaworthiness with a strong focus on comfort, generous living spaces, and safety. Designed for those who seek the freedom to explore without compromising on luxury or practicality, the new concept embodies Cruising Home’s commitment to creating capable, comfortable, and distinctive explorer yachts.

29/10/2026

Lovely to see “Kyara’s” restoration progressing well at VMG Yachtbuilders. A special 1923 launch, carefully restored for many more years on the water.

24/10/2026

A NEW CHAPTER FOR KYARA

We already knew the owners of “Kyara” through another large project we are working on together. They came to us with a question about their 1923 riveted iron launch. They had owned her for a long time, and she held great sentimental value. They wanted to continue using her on the waterways of Amsterdam, but the smoke from her diesel engine was a concern. They asked us to look at electric propulsion.

We arranged for the conversion to be carried out at Flagship Shipyard in Amsterdam. During the work, it became clear that the condition of the boat was poor in several places. We explained what we had found to the owners. They then chose to take on a much bigger project: a complete restoration, now being carried out at VMG Yachtbuilders.

A new boat might have cost much the same. But that was not what the owners wanted. “Kyara” carried too many memories, and they cared about keeping what they already had. They gave us considerable freedom to develop a plan for the exterior, interior and onboard systems.

There are many launches on Amsterdam’s canals with smooth, yacht-like lines. We wanted “Kyara” to remain something different. She is a riveted iron launch from 1923, and her age is part of her character. Her hull will be carefully restored and conserved, with the riveted construction kept visible. She should still look like the classic boat her owners know and love.

The aim is to preserve “Kyara’s” traditional look and feel throughout, while making her much more comfortable and modernising her systems. Authentic mahogany, insulation, good upholstery, a comfortable toilet, a coffee machine and an ice maker are all part of the plan.

Her electric propulsion will be supported by a range extender, allowing her to spend days on the water without relying on shore power. A compact black water treatment system is also planned. It treats toilet waste on board, bringing technology more often found on larger vessels to a boat of Kyara’s size. She will retain the character of a traditional launch, with modern comfort and technology carefully integrated into her design.

For us, this project is about giving a much-loved boat a future without losing sight of what makes her special. “Kyara” will carry her history with her, while being prepared for many more journeys with her owners.

17/10/2026

A SATURDAY READ | THE RIDDLE OF THE SANDS

The story of IJver began in late 2018, when a client came to us with an exciting commission: to create a wonderful classic boat for him to enjoy with his children and grandchildren, perfectly suited to the Wadden Sea. Completed in 2020, she became the first of the IJver Class.

For a nice Saturday read, discover Olivier van Meer’s story behind the boat.

"You would expect that by now all kinds of boats for inland and mudflats sailing exist. That’s what I thought as well. The only thing is that I kept remembering my dream from when I was a young boy. The dream in which I return to my childhood memories; scratching and messing around in the Dutch, German and Danish mudflats and along the coastal areas of the North Sea. It still remains the basis of my urge to ‘draw boats’.

A steep bow, not a thoroughbred cutter, but not a luxury motor yacht either. Sophisticated but not too round. Her own signature. A ‘cargo hold’ with various layout options; from open box beds to luxury cabins. No concessions made to her appearance. She must belong to the pre-war image of the Amstel, but also fit into the silhouette of the Bosplaat.

Staying upright when drying out. Sailing over the slack tide but also comfortably sailing through the ‘pits’ in front of Stavoren with southwest wind force 6. Equipped with many possible options, such as a really comfortable way to come aboard and disembark, or to easily step into the sloop while anchoring, using a refined folding transom staircase that does not disfigure the boat. Or the option to equip her with a well-insulated, removable hatch cover; enabling dining and sleeping under the night sky. Easily accessible space for all necessary and optional technology such as a generator, a Seakeeper stabilizer, etc.

An easy-to-handle boat, safe and hassle-free. Not only for Friesland, because perhaps you’d also like to sail the Danube. “Easy and simple” is much harder than it looks. But it’s also important. As one of my Puffin owners reminded me once again; “If you want to sail on for a lifetime, you should have the ability to be very lazy.”

Therefore, the entire boat is also low-maintenance, because maintenance is a waste of your time and money. She also has a very strong hull, as you never know where you will end up. While drawing, the seemingly simple list turns out to be non-existing in this combination at all.

Despite our 38 years of designing experience, the short summary is still a puzzle. A puzzle with a lot of unusual combinations and utterly detailed solutions. A special example of this ‘Mystery of the Mudflats’ was launched in the summer of 2020 at VMG Yachtbuilders in Enkhuizen."

08/10/2026

Well sailed, Team Quadra Sailing! Congratulations on taking the win at the Wilhelmshaven Sailing Cup. Always nice to see “Quadra” joining in and coming home with a result like this. ⛵️🏆

Wir gratulieren den Gewinner:innen und Platzierten der Regatta um den 24. Wilhelmshaven Sailing-CUP 🌊⛵

05/10/2026

ZEILEN ON TOUR | ENKHUIZEN

Last week, we enjoyed a lovely day sailing the Puffin 42 together with Magazine and Yachtbuilders.

01/10/2026

OVM SPOTTED | ZR.MS. “URANIA” | ENKHUIZEN | 29 SEPTEMBER 2026

Last month we shared Zr.Ms. “Urania” taking part in the Tall Ships Races. Now she is back in familiar waters, making a stopover in Enkhuizen.

As luck would have it, our team passed by with the new Puffin 42 during a photoshoot. A perfect opportunity to capture this shot of Zr.Ms. “Urania” back in Enkhuizen.