In 2018, Dutch design studio Vripack launched the Rock 85, setting a new standard with its expansive open plan layout. Fast forward five years, and the Rock XWide, meaning extra width, is taking the design to new heights with a remarkable 35% more interior space and 25% more exterior space compared to its predecessor.
Bart Bouwhuis, Co-Creative Director at Vripack, highlights the key innovation, "Rock XWide has an impressive 8.5m beam, but we not only made the design wider but also developed a refined interior layout. We went ‘boom’ on the reinvention, and the results are incredible."
The strategic widening of the yacht amidships, rather than the side decks, preserves the essence of the interior while enhancing family dining, socializing spaces, and overall movement flow. The main salon now opens seamlessly onto a new 2.5m aft deck plunge pool through double sliding glass doors, replacing the previous door.
Guest cabins, a focal point of the redesign, have grown from three lower deck suites to an impressive four, maintaining spaciousness. An expansive full-beam owner’s suite on the main deck forward brings the total to five guest cabins – a remarkable feat for a 26m boat adhering to CE-A regulations.
Rock XWide is now equipped with more toys on the top deck, larger tender storage on the swim platform, and a transatlantic range, positioning it as unrivaled in its class. Two crew cabins, complemented by a brighter and more spacious galley, and a new crew mess with a breakfast bar, complete the enhancements.
Bouwhuis emphasizes that these revisions are a response to feedback from current Rock owners who have navigated their yachts globally. Currently under construction at the Turkish shipyard Evadne Yachts, the first hull signifies the realization of these groundbreaking design updates following the recent keel laying.
Vripack is a yacht-design studio with a portfolio that represents over 7400 designs, made strong through its extensive naval architecture and engineering experience. From the moment they opened their doors in 1961, Vripack studio’s approach to design has been governed by the playful interaction between form and function.
Credits: Vripack