Customers Volker and Katrin Henkel
On a beautiful sunny morning in April 2022, we are hospitably welcomed aboard Volker and Katrin Henkel’s Elegance Express at the harbour in Jirnsum. ‘Buying a boat is not something you do easily,’ begins Volker Henkel over a cup of coffee. ‘For years in a row we visited boot Düsseldorf and looked at all the boats there. We also visited some of the shipyards during that time. After three years of orienting there were three yards left. We chose Boarnstream Yachting because they build steel motorboats and because of their then newest design, the Elegance. There was also a click between the yard and us. We found some people from yards with beautiful ships arrogant. Other yards had a beautiful line of yachts, but not under 15 meters. Moreover, Boarnstream was able to meet many of our requirements. In 2017, our Elegance was launched and not for a single day have we regret our decision yet.’
A homely yacht
‘The interior of the boat is not maritime,’ says Katrin Henkel. ‘That really appealed to us. Everything is very light and the colours of the upholstery, oor and panels of cupboards are very natural. So, during the construction process we were given many samples to look at at home at our leisure. I had cleared out a room and just put samples of the interior of the boat there. That helped a lot in choosing the right colours and materials. Because everything was at home, you could also view it in different light throughout the day. The interior of our boat now bears many similarities to our house. The boat really feels like home. As the construction of the boat progressed, the full-size interior was displayed in the hallway. That too was very helpful in imagining the space on board.’
Volker nods in agreement and adds that technology also played an important role in choosing Boarnstream. ‘They were able to build a faster Elegance than the standard version, the Elegance Express. Our snow-white Elegance is a semi-glider with special underwater hull, which allows her to plane. Under the oor are two engines of 370 hp each and the top speed is 22 knots. When we sail on the Rhine with current against us, I don’t want to have to look at the Lorelei for hours,’ Volker says with a smile. ‘Actually, it’s a wolf in sheep’s clothing.’ Before deciding to build this unique Boarnstream, they had a Galeon 420 Fly. A polyester motor yacht with ybridge, fast, with an aggressive look. A wonderful boat with lots of steps though and in terms of appearance the opposite of the Elegance. Volker and Katrin were looking for more comfort and an interior where everything was at ground level as much as possible. ‘We immediately fell in love with the design of the Elegance,’ say Volker and Katrin. ‘The name and the design t together extremely well.’ Volker goes on to talk about the technical aspects of their Elegance. ‘We wanted a boat that can be crewed well by two, but is also spacious enough to stay on. This 13-meter boat t us like a jacket. Another important facet was the width of the boat. We sailed our Galeon on the Schwielowsee, southwest of Berlin and Potsdam. Our berth fits a boat of up to 4.40 meters wide. So at our request, this Elegance was made 15 centimeters narrower than standard. We sailed with the Elegance on The interior of the boat is not maritime. That really appealed to us the Schwielowsee until 2019. We stopped working in that year and since then the yacht has also been in Jirnsum in the summer.’
Katrin adds: ‘From the first moment we set out with the Elegance, we saw many thumbs up on other boats. One time a yacht sailed toward us quite quickly. When they were close, they said they just wanted to get a better look at the boat. We were in fact the first and only snow-white Elegance with deep black elements in Potsdam. All those compliments were a whole new experience for us, we had never experienced that on our Galeon before.’
Volker loves engineering; during his working life he has built gas stations and roadside restaurants all around the world. ‘We are completely self-suficient on board. The generator is very quiet,
but it allows us to stay free from shore while having enough power on board, also 230 volts thanks to the inverter. We have a diesel
tank with a capacity of 1,500 litres and a drinking water tank of 600 litres. Whenever we want, we don’t have to dock for a week without sacrificing comfort.’ Volker walks away for a moment and returns with a small device on a cord. ‘Look, with this I can control the boat remotely. The range is a hundred meters, in theory I don’t even have to be on board here in the harbour, for example. Everything that was technically possible Wies told us extensively and clearly from the beginning. Therefore, we knew what we could choose from and we could also make well informed choices. Boarnstream uses the most modern techniques and we could already have them built in.’
We find the innovations in other places as well. ‘Look,’ says Katrin, ‘ we can slide the outer tent away like a curtain. It falls into the vertical space at the back of the salon. Once slid away, you don’t see any of it. This Canopeasy system is really a godsend. Also, the hatch in the salon floor is not just a hatch. We have under floor heating throughout the boat, including in this hatch cover. That is very pleasant and feels extremely luxurious.’ When Katrin opens the hatch, a staircase appears, providing access to the cellar where food supplies can be stored.
Service
‘It looks like a simple boat,’ says Volker Henkel. ‘Sleek, purposeful and without super luxious items. Appearances are deceptive, as the boat is equipped with all conveniences, but they do not immediately stand out.’ Meanwhile, Volker presses a button next to a low cabinet to starboard and the TV screen automatically rises!
‘We also find the service of Boarnstream fantastic. The first two years we sailed in Germany, but in winter we moored at the shipyard in Jirnsum. One year we didn’t have time ourselves to sail the boat
back to the Netherlands, so Wies arranged for a skipper to come to Potsdam to do that for us. The boat is now in Jirnsum all year round. We have just arrived, and everything is ready for use. The engine had been winterized and is now summer-ready again. The boat has been polished, the water tank is filled with fresh water and the floor heating was on when we boarded. Really super. Before winter we had already fuelled the tank with diesel ourselves. So we can go out right away.’ The choice of Boarnstream also had to do with the fact that it is a family business with the new generation now at the helm. ‘You feel that and you also feel the energy that is in the company. They are bubbling with ideas and their enthusiasm is contagious.’
Center Sleeper
Whether this will be the last boat they will have built? ‘In four or five years I want an Elegance Center Sleeper. I like that one even better. You then have two oors with headroom but the boat will still not be too high. The draft remains limited as well. This is not a cheap boat, but craftsmanship has its price. I know from my own experience that craftsmanship costs something, but the quality that Boarnstream delivers is very good. A centre sleeper will be our last boat and it doesn’t need to be able to plane. On such a boat we can grow old comfortably and relaxed.’
Maastricht and Wadden Sea
For now, Volker and Katrin are delighted with their current Elegance. ‘We can now stay on board for as long as we want,’ says Katrin. ‘Only for important events of friends and family do we have to return home. Or we ask friends to come to Jirnsum to go sailing with us and explore Friesland. Then they can experience for themselves how friendly and convivial the Frisians are. That’s really a big difference from the atmosphere we have in Germany where almost everything revolves around status.’
The inland waterways and the ijsselmeer are by now familiar cruising grounds. This year Volker and Katrin want to go to Maastricht. Volker: ‘Ideally, we would then like to experience a concert by André Rieu
at the Vr thof. We also want to try the Wadden Islands. The best thing is that we don’t have to do anything anymore and everything is possible.’
All of Volker and Katrin’s yachts were named Dolce Vita, including the Elegance. This is their fifth yacht with that name, hence Dolce Vita with five stars. ‘That stands for our ve-star life,’ Volker concludes.
Sailing season 2022
In September, we met Volker and Katrin again. ‘No, we unfortunately didn’t make it to Maastricht,’ says Volker. ‘In Utrecht one evening we were having a lovely dinner in a restaurant. Upon returning to the boat, our cheerful mood turned acutely. A bunch of thieves had tried to break in. First by putting a crowbar against the window somewhere at the stern of the boat and then again at the doors at the back of the cabin. Considerable damage, but fortunately the boat is so strong and solid that they did not get in. In Utrecht we reported the attempted burglary, and the Dutch police arranged it quickly and smoothly. We wanted to return to the yard as soon as possible to have the damage repaired.
We were already very satisfied with Boarnstream’s yacht service,
but how they handled this repair is really fantastic. First we got an emergency window, so we could go out again immediately. How the yard arranged this so quickly in the summer vacations is actually a mystery to us, but they got it done. All praise!’
The damage has now been permanently repaired and the insurance company has paid for the damage in full.
