Every month we put our 3 questions to a yachting industry professional. This time, we caught up with Christiaan van Loenen, yacht designer of Mulder Design.

1: How did you get into the yachting industry?
As a Dutchman I have always been fascinated by vehicles, mobility, and boats, which naturally led me to the yachting industry. The combination of design, engineering, and the freedom of the open water made it the perfect field for me to pursue my passion. The process of transforming initial concepts into new, nice looking, functional vessels is a daily source of motivation for me!

2: What’s the most challenging aspect of your job?
Making things look stunning while ensuring they can actually be built! The balance between aesthetics, functionality, and feasibility is always a challenge. A concept or render might look great on paper, but the proces up to the final design is exactly the challenge.

3: What has been your proudest moment?

Seeing a 44 ft yacht I worked on hit the water for the first time. We joined the first water test and sailed away at full speed. And then, as a team, you look at each other, knowing the mission is accomplished. That is a magical moment where everything comes together. It’s an indescribable feeling to witness a design that started as sketches and 3D visualisations become a real, functional vessel—and then see it set sail. That moment reaffirms why I am so passionate about this profession: creating something tangible and meaningful that offers people a unique experience on the water.