Among the standout vessels making waves this year is the Valder Sprint 20 – The Keys, presented by New Zealand yacht designers Valder Yachts in collaboration with Luke Brown Yachts at Ramp 8. This model follows their recent showcase of the Valder Sprint 20S – Bentayga at the Auckland Boat Show.
If you are somehow lucky enough to be at the Palm Beach International Boat Show, and then if you ever get the chance to step the Valder Sprint 20 – The Keys, take it. A Valder-designed vessel embodies Kiwi ingenuity, Kiwi precision engineering, and world-class Kiwi craftsmanship, seamlessly woven together in one extraordinary vessel.
Before even setting foot on The Keys, the first thing that grabs your attention is the bold, burnt orange hull—striking, confident, and utterly distinctive amid the sea of classic whites and blues. Then, of course, there’s the helicopter perched up top—but we’ll get to that later.
The Keys is a foiling, cruising catamaran. Constructed from carbon fibre which provides exceptional strength-to-weight ratio, The Keys is a lighter, faster, fuel-efficient vessel, built tough for the marine environment.
Step onto the boarding platform at the transom, and you’ll immediately sense that this yacht was designed by people who truly live on the water. Every element caters to those who love fishing, diving, or simply relaxing outside, all while keeping maintenance straightforward and effortless.
The transom is a beautifully considered space for outdoor water adventures. Wide and inviting, it’s an adventurer’s dream, seamlessly integrating a well-appointed fishing and diving platform with a spacious galley-style prep area. There’s a deep sink, a chiller, and long benchtops with storage. Everything is at hand as you need it.
Just beyond, an expansive outdoor dining area awaits, complete with comfortable seating and a substantial table constructed from reclaimed teak that makes long, lazy lunches a given. The table can be set in at dining height, or at coffee table height, all by the simple push of a button. So easy!
The deck is finished in premium quarter-sawn teak—stunning, durable, and easy to maintain.
For those who prefer extended time on the water, there’s even a shared head discreetly located in the transom area—ideal for quick access while swimming or fishing. The dedicated outdoor wall-to-wall underbench refrigeration is a detail only true boating people would think to include—because let’s face it, keeping your fresh catch outside, rather than bringing it into the main galley, just makes sense.
Slide open the glass doors, and the galley greets you with a seamless indoor and outdoor flow. The Keys offers a beautifully simple layout—functional yet refined. The open-plan design allows the transom to extend the salon’s living space by nearly a third, creating a light, airy feel. The Keys offers more than 121 square metres (400 square feet) of space. Wraparound windows further enhance this sense of openness, flooding the interior with natural light and ensuring uninterrupted views.
Inside, the colour palette is an easy balance of white-cream tones and rich American oak, delivering a timeless aesthetic that’s both classic and effortlessly sophisticated. It’s a space that looks as good as it is practical—ideal for a boat that’s destined to see its fair share of salt, sand, and the occasional fish splatter.
Just a short step from the galley is one of my favourite spaces on board—the bar. With its illuminated glass cabinetry, custom spirit rack, and three beautifully crafted, ergonomically designed bar stools, it’s the perfect spot to unwind. A Divino wine cellar ensures your favourite vintage is always at the right temperature, while 320 litres of fridge and freezer space keep everything else perfectly chilled. And for those who like their drinks ice-cold, the Isotherm ice maker is on hand to deliver.
The galley is exceptionally well-equipped, with a four-zone convection hob, oven, full-sized fridge-freezer, double-width sink, and even a dual-drawer dishwasher. Fisher & Paykel (a popular New Zealand appliance brand that exudes quality) appliances throughout speak to quality, while a dedicated space for a coffee machine ensures that mornings on board start just right.
Moving forward, the lounge is an inviting space of relaxed sophistication. Plush seating for up to ten encourages long conversations and leisurely evenings. At the bow, the double-seated helm continues this theme of understated luxury, with every detail carefully considered for both aesthetics and functionality.
For effortless manoeuvring, The Keys is equipped with the cutting-edge Marex 3D system from Aventics. This state-of-the-art 3-axis joystick simultaneously controls the engines and thrusters, making harbour docking and undocking feel like second nature. At the rear helm, the Garmin 8810 XSV chart plotter is a game-changer for serious anglers and seasoned skippers alike.
Descending via one of three staircases—two at the starboard and port, and one at the bow—you’ll find yourself in the lower deck’s accommodation quarters. Designed with comfort in mind, the yacht boasts four beautifully appointed cabins. Two feature ensuite bathrooms, while the third has an adjacent bathroom that doubles as a shared-family space. The master suite is the pinnacle of onboard luxury, with a spacious walk-around bed, bedside drawers on both sides, and an ensuite featuring twin hand basins. Another cabin also benefits from a walk-around bed, while the remaining two offer single-side access. The same easy, traditional aesthetic continues below deck, reinforcing the sense of refined elegance.
At the aft of the lower deck, space has been thoughtfully allocated for the engine room and storage—ample room for a jet ski or tender, plus plenty of extra stowage to ensure clutter-free extended voyages.
Step up to the foredeck, and you’ll find a spacious sunbed lounger, perfect for soaking up the sun. When shade is needed, a sleek Bimini provides the perfect escape from the midday heat.
And then, of course, there’s the ultimate feature—the helipad. Having a dedicated landing spot elevates The Keys to an entirely different level. Arriving by air? Now that’s making an entrance. Don’t have the use for a helicopter? No problem. The Keys has a huge 500kg hydraulic davit to lift up to 350kg/m2 of load onto the space where the helicopter could go if you had one. There’s enough space for two jetskis plus a large tender, or loungers and a sun shade.
The yacht’s fuel capacity of 9,460 litres and water storage of 2,100 litres ensure that long-distance voyages are possible without frequent stops. Whether cruising between U.S. scenic coastal spots or embarking on longer journeys across the Gulf, The Keys is equipped to handle it all.
The Valder Sprint 20 – The Keys is an impeccable blend of tradition and modern innovation. Whether you’re drawn to its timeless aesthetic, its seamless indoor-outdoor flow, or its high-tech helm, there’s no doubt this yacht will turn heads at the Palm Beach International Boat Show.
