Nordia 55' Cruiser

Nordia 55' Cruiser

TRUANT OF SARK is a blue-water cruising yacht of the first quality. Van Dam Nordia are world renowned for producing semi-custom yachts with extraordinary joinery and superb systems.   The owners of TRUANT were very involved in the build and TRUANT set the benchmark for the Nordia 55, which was one of the most successful yachts ever produced by Van Dam. She has had one owner from new, and has always been exceptionally well maintained. Her latest refit at Berthon brought her right into the 21st century. She is in immaculate ready-to-sail condition and offers comfortable, capable sailing for a family; and with her flexible layout forward, she is also perfect for two couples to cruise in great comfort. Not for sale or charter to U.S. residents while in U.S. waters.

When deciding to commission the build of TRUANT, we carried out extensive research to find the right yard. We chose Van Dam for their engineering skill, their craftsmanship in aluminum and wood finishing, their flexibility, and their overall attention to detail. We wanted our Nordia 55 to be a new, more modern yacht than the existing Van Dam 54 and the Van Dam team were ready, willing and able to help us with that.

With Robert Van Dam we modernized the hull shape, to achieve improved performance and enhanced aesthetic appearance. This increased interior volume considerably in the saloon width and length, and in the owners’ aft cabin and sugar-scoop stern width. We also moved the backstay off the stern and onto the deck, uncluttering the bathing platform.

On deck forward we moved the anchor windlass from electric to hydraulic, put on a pulpit seat, and a flush hatch for the forward lazarette. The cockpit was lowered by 4 inches, to make it safer and the coamings more comfortable; a new design of integrated spray hood and bimini were fashioned; and a 16 mm teak deck was added to all flat surfaces: coach roof, cockpit sides, and stern.

However, the most major changes to a traditional Nordia were in the interior. We really liked the skill of the yard, but not their traditional rosewood and detailing. We commissioned UK designers, Fieldwork Design, to create a wholly new cherry wood interior, with a high level of investment in wood design and the creation of the feeling of space. We created flowing lines of sight with runs of ebony inlay and bull-nosing in cherry. We used paneling on larger surfaces in all cabins to bring out the curves and contours in contrasting cherry woods. We softened the interior lines by using curved surfaces throughout, with beautifully crafted entrance steps, curved forward cabin doors, and curved cupboard doors, which transformed the traditional harder edges of the traditional Van Dam design. Fieldwork’s skill with lighting and mirrors, plus all-white bathrooms and white spaces in the external cabin walls throughout also enhanced the overall feeling of light and space.

On the floor we chose cherry and holly to harmonize with the rest of the woodwork. Again, detailing was key with curved lines around curved furniture and staggered line endings to emphasize the shape of the interior and furniture. The chart table and saloon table were inlaid with ebony in a simple compass design, drawing all the design elements together.

The overall effect was a totally new style of Van Dam, using the great skills of their craftsmen to transform their brand. TRUANT’s interior then formed the basis of the new Van Dam yachts going forward, but no other Van Dam had nearly so much intricate woodwork detailing or such extensive woodworking time investment. From the outset, TRUANT was recognized as a unique vessel, the result of a unique investment in crafted care and attention to detail. She was quickly voted the ‘Most Beautiful Boat’ by all other boats in the 1995 ARC (Atlantic Rally for Cruisers) and has been much admired all over the world ever since.

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