-
Guests
26
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Cabins
13
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Crew
19
| Length | GT | Built (REFIT) |
|---|---|---|
|
69.65m
|
1,945 GT | 1966 (2022) |
| Beam | Draft | Top Speed |
| 12m | 4.5m | 13 Kts |
The 69.65m classic yacht Sherakhan was delivered to her owners in 1966 by Vuijk Scheepswerven. The yacht's elegant exterior design is by Verkerk Yachting Projects, while her interiors are the work of Claudia Rijntjes.
Key Features
- At anchor stabilisers
- Dedicated Balinese spa
- Former Dutch training ship
- 18-person sundeck spa pool
- Hydraulic swim platform
- 3,500nm cruising range
Design & Construction
Designed around a displacement steel hull and an aluminium superstructure she features a 12m beam and a 4.5m draft. The yacht is built over 5 decks with an internal volume of 1,945 GT (Gross Tonnes).
Exterior Design
Sherakhan wears her working-ship origins quite openly. The 69.65m (228.5ft) hull began life in 1966 as the Dutch merchant navy training ship Princess Margriet, and much of the current yacht still sits on that original steel structure. The hull plating was built at around 30mm thick and, after decades of service, had lost only about 1mm to corrosion.
The conversion from training ship to explorer yacht changed the proportions dramatically. Around 200 tonnes of steel superstructure were removed and replaced with roughly 60 tonnes of aluminium, which allowed Sherakhan to carry much larger upper decks without piling excessive weight high above the water.
That history explains the profile. The bow is high and full, the bridge sits well forward and the decks are broad and functional rather than tightly sculpted. White paint, varnished timber and teak soften the commercial shape, while the canoe stern retains the rounded character of the original vessel.
The sundeck is one of the strongest guest areas. An oval spa pool sits close to the centre of the deck, surrounded by open teak, loungers and dining beneath canvas shade. A curved bar and built-in grill allow food and drinks to be prepared up here, so the deck can stay in use without constant service traffic back inside.
Further forward are rows of loungers and a deck shower, while several other open decks create quieter places away from the main social areas. The images also show just how much clear deck Sherakhan carries for her length. Even with tenders and operational equipment aboard, there is room to move around without exterior furniture taking over every available metre.
Interior Design
Sherakhan's interior makes much more sense once you know what sits beneath it, as the conversion had to work around a 1960s training ship, and the result has far more character than a conventional purpose-built superyacht.
The bridge is a good example. Timber panelling wraps around the working console, with navigation screens and switches set directly into the wood. Large arched windows bring in plenty of light, but the layout still feels like a command centre rather than a decorative wheelhouse.
The main saloon is the opposite in scale. At around 20m (65.6ft) long and 9m (29.5ft) wide, with a double-height section rising to roughly 7m (23ft), it is one of the defining interior spaces aboard. The glass-bottomed pool overhead brings daylight into the room by day and coloured light from the water after dark.
A 7.5m (24.6ft) curved dining table follows the form of the gallery above and combines wenge, white ash and teak. Open glass-and-steel staircases rise to the upper gallery, while the lower level also carries lounge seating, a television, fireplace, white baby grand piano, bar and dance floor.
The yacht doesn't stick to one interior mood throughout. Some rooms use pale finishes and open layouts, while others are much more club-like. The lower-deck library, for example, has the darker, enclosed character of a traditional reading room.
A major 2022 refit also expanded the wellness spaces, bringing in a Balinese-themed spa with bamboo detailing, pebble textures, low lighting and a central Jacuzzi. The finish is intentionally warmer and more intimate than the public saloons above.
Accommodation
Sherakhan accommodates up to 26 guests in 13 cabins, which is an unusually high overnight capacity for a yacht of this length.
The owner's suite sits forward and spans around 50m² (538ft²). The bed is placed on the centreline with windows around much of the room, while separate seating areas sit to port and starboard. There is a walk-in wardrobe, private study and direct access to the upper deck.
The owner's bathroom includes a large bath positioned beside an exterior window, while separate his-and-hers bathroom areas give the suite more privacy. The adjoining study can also be adapted when extra accommodation is needed.
The remaining cabins are spread across several decks and named after authors, with a mixture of king beds, convertible twins and connecting rooms. Some can be combined into larger family arrangements, while two have adjoining bunk rooms suited to children.
That flexibility is useful on a yacht carrying as many as 26 guests because the layout can deal with families and mixed groups without forcing everyone into identical cabins.
Sherakhan carries up to 19 crew, including spa staff.
Performance & Capabilities
Sherakhan is powered by a single Caterpillar 3512B DI-TA diesel producing 1,380hp.
That single-engine arrangement is a direct carryover from her working life. The original training ship operated with one main engine for decades, and Jean Verkerk chose to retain the same philosophy during the conversion rather than installing twins.
Cruising speed is around 11 knots, with a maximum of approximately 13 knots. With 128,000 litres of fuel, range is about 3,500 nautical miles at 11 knots.
The engine room remains very much a working space, with the Caterpillar occupying most of the machinery room and a long shaft line running aft through the adjoining compartment. It is a useful reminder that beneath the guest areas Sherakhan still carries the bones of a training ship built for hard use.
Stabilisers reduce roll at anchor, which matters on a yacht with such large open decks and a high guest capacity.
Wellness
The wellness side of Sherakhan became much more substantial during the 2022 refit.
The spa has its own dedicated area away from the cabins and saloons, with a central Jacuzzi, sauna, wet room, treatment room and massage facilities. Bamboo-patterned walls, pebble textures and warm lighting give it a deliberately different feel from the rest of the yacht.
Spa staff are included within the 19-strong crew, so treatments are part of the onboard service rather than something arranged only when a therapist comes aboard.
Up on the sundeck, another large spa pool becomes the centre of the open-air setup. Dining, a wet bar, grill, shaded seating, loungers and a rainfall shower sit around it, so this deck can handle most of a day without guests needing to move elsewhere.
The pool also has a second job. Its glass bottom forms part of the ceiling of the saloon below, bringing daylight into the double-height interior and giving the two spaces a physical connection.
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