After recently announcing their collaboration with specialist French estate agents Au Club des Vingt, Boatshed Midi Canals is delighted to announce another collaboration, this time with architect Virginie Druhout creator of the stunning motor yacht Joséphine designed expressly for cruising Europe’s inland waterways. The design brief specified that the vessel must be able to comfortably cruise Europe’s canals and rivers, even the restricted Canal du Midi but retain the style and luxury of an ocean going “Mega Yacht”. “I had the benefit of starting with a clean sheet of paper” said Virginie Drouhot, “and was able to create a two deck, twin screw, 30 meter motor yacht to inland waterway dimensions.” The result is an impressive blend of art, architecture and engineering with graceful curving exterior lines that sweep back to a sedan stern, for crew R&R whilst sculpted windows and port holes ensure light floods into the interior. Twin spiral staircases connect the upper and lower decks and a flying catwalk connects the upper lounge deck to the foredeck. There are four identical guest cabins forward with granite bathroom suites and two double crew cabins in the stern each with en-suite facilities. Graham Wharmby of Boatshed Midi Canals said, “I captained the Yacht Joséphine for the 2003 Tall Ships event at Rouen where she served as the Presidents Yacht. It was an experience of a lifetime and I am delighted that Virginie has agreed to work with us on barge and boat refit projects as well as new build projects, her talent and passion for her work are an inspiration and takes the services that we (and other members of the Boatshed Group) can propose to our clients to a new dimension.”
To cement the new collaboration Virginie was present at the recent “Open Castle” event presenting the design and project management services for both new build and refit projects that she and Boatshed Midi Canals can now offer.