At the end of the nineties, many people asked Van Wijk Maritiem whether it would be possible to build a larger boat that would meet all modern standards and would be fitted with a real saloon. With these wishes in mind, Pieter Beeldsnijder, Van Wijk?s regular designer, went to the drawing board. Soon thereafter, he presented a first draft with the working title ?Project 2000?. Based on this design, Van Noort started working on the basic moulds for hull, deck and several other components. Due to the curved shape of the hull and the high standards of workmanship demanded, this was not an easy assignment. In 2002, after completion of the basic and production moulds, Van Noort could start the final construction and finishing work on the first Van Wijk 1030, which was presented on the Dutch boat show Hiswa te Water with the well-chosen name Numero Uno. The smart and well thought-out design and the high standard of workmanship was well received by the public, as was made clear by the large number of orders placed. By 2004, these longboats are being serial build by the highly qualified Van Noort team. Comprehensive information on these sloops is available on the Van Wijk Maritiem website: www.vwm.nl.