Design and Construction
The Gouden Leeuw was drawn by Hoek Design, the studio that has optimized more than 250 Lemsteraken using in-house velocity prediction programs developed from the early 1980s. Built by Engelaer in 1995, she is a 14.00-meter Lemsteraak constructed within the lineage where these vessels had long since moved from wooden planking to riveted and then welded metal hulls. Her commissioning by a single Amsterdam owner and her continuous service under that owner for two decades speak to the durability expected of the type rather than to any production-series repetition.
History and Lineage
The yacht's documented life begins with her 1995 build on behalf of B.C.M. Douqué of Amsterdam, with ownership records showing the same individual from 1995 through 2016. By 13 August 2018 she was at Dragør in Denmark, confirming her continued Baltic circulation well after the original ownership period. As a Lemsteraak, she belongs to a Dutch tradition built in either the Roefaak cruising-trunk configuration or the open Visserman cockpit layout, though her specific arrangement is not detailed in the available record.
The Verdict
The Gouden Leeuw is a singular Hoek Design Lemsteraak of substantial length, built in steel-era construction by Engelaer for a committed long-term owner. The available history establishes her dimensions, designer, builder, and ownership span with precision, but offers no comparative sailing assessment, accommodation plan, or structural critique.
Pros
- 14-meter Hoek Design Lemsteraak with documented 1995 Engelaer build
- Single-owner stewardship from 1995 to 2016
- Clear registry identity (VA133) and traceable 2018 location in Denmark
Cons
- No published handling, rig, or interior documentation in the available record
- Layout configuration (Roefaak or Visserman) not specified for this hull
