This is one of ten sketch plans of a small Dutch-type bezan yacht which the Younger was designing for himself. They are identified by the coast of arms, a similar arms surrounded by the initials ‘W. V. V J’ being found in the form of a seal impressed on the stretcher of a painting formerly in the Ingram Collection, (this may refer to BHC0901). The date of the drawings in uncertain; the style might be as late as 1700 and the apparently English inscription ‘op sij dun [? upside-down]’ on PAF6571 also suggests a late date. PAF6562 is on paper the van de Veldes used in 1665, the form of the signature is quite as early as this and on this drawing there is the suggestion of a Dutch flag. PAH1853 and PAF6570, however, are on paper used in 1675.

It is possible that van de Velde planned originally to build a yacht while he was with the Dutch and he revived his scheme when he came to England. It is unlikely that she was ever built as designed because she cannot be recognized in any paintings and drawings.

This drawing illustrates a starboard profile of a small Dutch yacht with a large cockpit and glazed companion hatch leading down two steps into a cabin. It is fitted with a falling mast swinging in a tabernacle, but extending to the floor of the cabin and weighted at the foot.

Above are three sketches of the decoration of the fore end of the cockpit and over the entrance the companion hatch, showing van de Velde’s arms, above the double doors. There is detail of the dolphin decoration at the fore end of the hatch, detail of the step over the tiller looking aft, inscribed ‘leef soo breet als de koker [? Step as wide as the tiller trunk]’ and detail of the decoration of the port side of this step inscribed ‘leer, hoek [step, corner]’.

Inscribed in pencil ‘keer om [turn over]’ and on the back is a rough profile copied from the front, but with the fore part lengthened slightly and the stem and decoration near it shown in greater detail.