VanDutch 40

Onboard the VanDutch 40

The VanDutch 40 reads as pure line and open space: a low-slung hull, uncluttered helm and a sundeck laid out with the same restraint that defines the brand's minimalist design. At 12 metres, it comfortably seats up to 10 guests across a wide cockpit and forward lounge, with the single cabin below serving as a private retreat for changing or shading from midday sun rather than overnight accommodation. The absence of visual clutter — no towering superstructure, no stacked decks — puts the emphasis on company, conversation and the water itself, which suits guests who want a boat that feels more like a fast, well-finished tender for a day out than a floating hotel.

Cruising at close to 38 knots, the VanDutch 40 turns distance into a non-issue along the Catalan coast out of Port Olímpic. A run down toward Sitges, roughly 35 kilometres south, is well within a half-day window with time left to anchor and swim before heading back, and the same speed makes shorter loops around Barcelona's bay quick and unhurried rather than a race against the clock. Harbour traffic near the commercial port and ferry lanes still calls for a measured, skipper-led exit, but once clear of the approaches the VanDutch 40's planing hull covers ground with none of the vibration or noise associated with larger, heavier motor yachts.

This is a strong fit for a small group of friends, a couple wanting an active day on the water, or anyone chartering for an afternoon rather than a multi-day passage — the single cabin and 10-guest capacity make it a day-boat proposition first, not a live-aboard one. Barcelona Yacht Rental books the VanDutch 40 for exactly that kind of outing: fast transfers along the coast, an anchor stop for swimming, and a return to Port Olímpic before evening, with route timing built around the guest count and the day's sea conditions rather than a fixed itinerary.