For the past couple of days, Sarasota, Fla., local have enjoyed a familiar spring sight—the MTI Super Cat Pro Floors Racing catamaran powered by Kasse Racing engines testing in advance of the upcoming offshore racing season. That’s standard operating procedure for Grant Bruggemann, who manages the team throttles and throttles the cat maintained at Grant’s Signature Racing in nearby Bradenton for New Zealand-based owner/driver Wayne Valder.

With Valder Yachts added to its livery, the Pro Floors Racing MTI is simply beautiful. Photos by Brian Jackson copyright Grant’s Signature Racing.

“There is still a bit more work to be done, but it went great,” said Bruggemann. “We’ll ready for the season-opener in Marathon (Fla.) next weekend.”

But this time around, folks who caught those test sessions saw something different. The 42-footer’s hull-side and deck graphics, a wrap handled by Ryan Beckley and Adam Williams at Kinetic Animation of Bradenton, are now a mix of Pro Floors Racing and Valder Yachts, one of Valder’s businesses back home.

The 42-footer will be ready for the season-opening, Race World Offshore-produced 7 Mile Grand Prix next weekend in Marathon, Fla.

Valder Yachts currently offers a carbon fiber catamaran hull/hydrofoil-assisted model dubbed the Valder 20. The vessel is 66 feet long and powered twin 1,300-hp Mann diesel engines. Designed for open-ocean cruising, the Valder 20 hs a 2,499-gallon fuel capacity.

With four cabins that can handle eight overnight guests, the luxurious cruiser is the product of a collaboration among Valder, Roger Hill Yacht Design and Scott Lane Boat Builders. Each air-conditioned beauty has a 21-foot beam and posh common spaces from its expansive to saloon to its fully-equipped galley.

“Not for sale in U.S. waters, boat No. 1 has just arrived in the States and she is called The Keys,” said Valder. “This boat is for the start of our marketing campaign, and our second build is five months away from completion

“Interest in this unique, custom-built model is extremely high,” he added.

Valder Yachts: “Where luxury meets speed.”

But for the moment, at least, the yacht outfit’s namesake primarily is focused on his first offshore race of 2023.

A closer look at the catamaran’s updated graphics.

“We’re looking forward to having a great season,” he said

Despite appearances, some things never change.

Next stop, Marathon in the Middle Florida Keys.

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