Keeping it in the family – Wajer Yachts
We speak to Dries Wajer, MD of Wajer Yachts, about how the company has evolved in the past 30 years
Words: Jemima Wilson
Whether you’re in the Mediterranean, the Balearics or the Bahamas, the clean, sleek design of a Wajer Yacht is instantly recognisable. Founded in 1992 by Dries’ father Dorus, Wajer Yachts quickly became synonymous with quality, craftsmanship and those unmistakably iconic lines, with every boat made by hand in the north of the Netherlands, meaning no two Wajer Yachts are the same. Now renowned as a leading yachting brand, Dries aims to keep growing the business to become a globally-known name within the next 20 years, with a focus on pioneering sustainability and innovation for the next generation.
Dries and his father Dorus Wajer
JW: How and when was Wajer Yachts founded?
DW: It was 1990 when my father, Dorus Wajer, decided to quit his job and started working on his dream – building his own Captain’s Launch. He loved the classic lines of the ‘Captain’s Launch’, and, as it turned out, there happened to be a gap in the market for it. In 1992 he founded Wajer Yachts, and at that time, he sold the sloops in our own backyard. My mother welcomed the (potential) clients with a cup of coffee and my sister and I made sure the boats were clean and ready.
JW: What was the first Wajer Yacht to be produced and why was it unique?
DW: The very first boat was the Wajer Captain’s launch (a sloop), but the first fast sailing Wajer Yacht was the Wajer 37. In the year we launched her, she was declared Motorboat of the Year 2006 by watersport journalists at the Amsterdam boating convention. The Wajer 37 was unique because it had so much outdoor space (we Dutch people love to be out in the sun), and the boat was designed and built with an extreme eye for detail. Moreover, it was the first boat in the Benelux with a Volvo IPS system: a forward-facing propeller as a propulsion system that also allows you to manoeuvre the boat, even sideways, with a joystick.
1994. Dries in the ‘Captain’s Launch’
JW: Has yachting always been a family passion?
DW: For sure! Since I was a little kid, we were always out on the water. My parents loved to go sailing and my dad taught me how to windsurf. When I was 7 years old I could already navigate the Captain’s Launch myself, even though I was too little to be able to look over the bow.
JW: When did you start working in the business?
DW: This actually went very naturally. When I was growing up, I helped clean the boats and assisted my father with test drives and at boat fairs. After finishing my studies I took the Wajer 37 to the South of France to explore the market over there. This was a turning point for our company and my career, because from that moment on I was in charge of selling the boats in the Mediterranean. My father stayed in the Netherlands to manage the production and development of new models.
Dries Wajer
JW: Describe a typical day for you as Managing Director?
DW: Luckily for me there is no typical day. My ideal day is to be out on the water with potential clients, sailing around the Mediterranean. During the summer season I often travel to Saint Tropez or Ibiza and Mallorca, where we run our service Hubs. In the winter season I go to Miami, where we have our Wajer Marina. Additionally, I spend my time developing future models, and of course you can find me at our shipyards a lot for meetings with colleagues and to keep an eye on the production.
JW: What sets Wajer yachts apart from other yacht brands today?
DW: We set ourselves apart because of the quality and the service we offer. First of all the quality; all of our yachts are built by hand in our shipyards in the Netherlands. My dad always says that building the perfect boat is not in the first 90% of production, but in the last 10%. Our aim to develop and produce a boat that guarentees 100% quality makes the difference in my opinion. Our tagline is ‘Without a worry’, and that’s what we stand for. We make sure our owners can enjoy their Wajer without any hassle a boat can bring. Not only does this mean we clean the boats and maintain them, but we also make sure we have all spare parts in stock so we are able to fix any defects before the client event notices them.
Every Wajer Yacht is made by hand
JW: What is distinctive about Wajer design and how can you spot a Wajer yacht?
DW: We love sleek, clean and timeless design. We put a lot of effort into the details to ensure every yacht looks perfect. For instance, the swing-over anchor arm fully retracts into the anchor hatch and even the cleats are seamlessly incorporated for the sleek and high-quality appearance characteristic of the Wajer fleet. Moreover, we are very innovative. We have patented an automatic fender system, so with a push of a button, the fenders come out automatically and inflate themselves. On the Wajer 77 we even have deck cooling to prevent your feet from burning when the deck is hot because of the sun. We like to make our yachts as comfortable as possible.
JW: How are you aiming to be more sustainable as a business?
DW: We are well aware of the importance of sustainability, so we do everything we can to produce our boats as sustainably as possible. Five years ago we installed 3.000m2 of solar panels at our shipyard. The Volvo IPS Drives are way more efficient than regular drives so they consume less fuel. We are also doing trials with bio fuels to lower our emission. But the most important thing is we have a team of engineers working on a sustainable alternative for diesel engines. I can’t share a lot about it now, but we aim to have the prototype ready next year.
The Wajer 77
Inside the Wajer 77
JW: The latest Wajer 44 is smart connected – what are some other technological innovations Wajer is developing?
DW: The most important development at the moment is sustainable propulsion technique. We have a team of experts who have been working on that for over two years already, and we cannot wait to share it with the rest of the world next year.
JW: What is your vision for Wajer in the next 20 years?
DW: We aim to be the benchmark in the market. We want to be ahead of the rest when it comes to sustainability and innovation. We want to expand in the US, where we just opened our Wajer Marina in Miami. But there are many more interesting markets for us. In 2043 Wajer should be a globally-known brand!
The new Wajer 44
JW: Where is your favourite place in the world to go on a Wajer Yacht?
DW: I would say the Bahamas and Exumas. I’ve made this trip several times with friends. First we discovered Miami by boat, then we made the 6 hour-crossing to Nassau. From there we discovered the most beautiful islands of the Bahamas and Exumas. We went snorkeling in Thunderball Grotto (where the James Bond movie Thunderball was shot), as well as swimming with pigs and turtles. The nature over there is just magical.
JW: Do you have any exciting new boat launches coming up?
DW: Certainly! This summer we will launch our brand new Wajer 44 and we are of course working on some secret projects, so follow our social channels (@wajeryachts_official) to stay updated.
Want to find out more about the newest Wajer Yacht? Read our article about Wajer 44.
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