Aquijo bY THe DeCkS
Aquijo’s guest spaces include a flybridge, bridge/owner’s deck, main deck and lower-deck beach club.
The flybridge has seating next to the helm for those who want to be close to the action. Aft on this deck is a Jacuzzi surrounded by sunpads, as well as a lounging and dining area with sofa seating. In keeping with sailboat traditions, the dining tables are gimbaled so drinks won’t spill when the yacht is heeling.
The bridge deck, a half-deck below the flybridge, comprises the captain’s cabin to port and the owner’s stateroom to starboard. The master suite has access to a private aft deck with lounges, a gimbaled dining table and a bar. Aft on this deck are twin staircases down to the main deck.
On the main deck are the salon and indoor/outdoor bar with seating for 12, beer on tap and a retractable television overhead. There is dining capacity for as many as 20 guests. The roof retracts for starlit dinners, and multicolored lighting enhances the entire area. Two horseshoe-shaped sofas overlooking the ocean are perfect for barbecues. One of the most stunning features is an in-deck skylight that peers down to the Jacuzzi in the beach club on the lower deck.
Steps lead to beach club/spa area. Here, there is easy access to the water through an aft exterior door. The U-shape sofa on the starboard side creates a pleasant lounging area. On the port side are a steam room and sauna.
Aquijo accommodates 12 guests in seven staterooms, including the master suite. She also has two VIP suites, each of which can convert into two separate staterooms, one double tailored for guests with disabilities, and one twin. There are also two convertible lounges on the main deck, and a guest elevator. Each stateroom is differentiated by a bold color scheme, and all have an uncluttered modern feel with textured wood walls, leather and stainless steel trim, and ocean views. In keeping with an au naturel spirit of a true sailing yacht, there is no TV or audiovisual system in any of the guest staterooms.
The foredeck has a settee where guests can enjoy the sailing experience while seated below Aquijo’s headsails. says, Master Yachts’ role was to keep the builders on track and ensure that all safety requirements were met.
“When we say watertight doors, we mean watertight. When we say build to be strong, we mean strong. This is not just a Cannes-St. Tropez boat,” he says. “She is designed to go around the world.”
The owners have mentioned going to Patagonia, the Straits of Magellan and various atolls in the South Pacific. With Aquijo’s steel hull and lifting keel, she is ready for almost anywhere her travels take her. She can also cruise relatively shallow waters. However, her exceedingly tall masts will prevent her from transiting the Panama and Suez canals, so she has to be strong and stable enough to weather a journey the long way around.
When asked why someone would want such a big sailboat, Tripp said a yacht Aquijo’s size would unquestionably ride out 40-foot
waves in greater comfort than would a 164-foot (50-meter) yacht. He heard from the owners when they were in Greece last summer as a meltemi was blowing 35 to 40 knots. They reported Aquijo handled the weather and waves well.
Vitters brought its wellrespected sailing know-how to the project, but Aquijo put that builder to the test, too.
“Even with the experience of more than 30 large sailing yachts, building Aquijo was a challenge,” says Louis Hamming, managing director of Vitters. “The sailing loads were all more than anything that has been seen on any other yacht. This meant customizing every part of sailing equipment on board, and in many cases inventing something new.”
Vitters also implemented a steering system it invented with feedback to the bridge, meaning it reacts to the load on the rudders. The load puts pressure on the wheel so you can feel which way to turn. On Aquijo, the distance between rudder and wheel is nearly 147 feet (45 meters), far greater than on most sailboats.
“From the first sea trial in the North Sea, we hoisted the sails and headed into the wind and it was easy to keep her there,” Tripp says. “We got right up to speed, doing exactly what she was designed to do.” She has the ability to sail closehauled at 40 degrees off the wind. “Aquijo acts in the same way that a sailing dinghy might act in terms of performance, acceleration, the feeling of the actual sailing and ease of handling of sailing systems,” Hamming says.“Her performance in all wind conditions makes her ideal for both daysailing and ocean passages,” adds DeBuse, who is hoping to entice clients seeking some sport along with a luxury charter. “We have been pleasantly surprised by the significant interest we have received from clients who have only previously chartered motoryachts.“
Combining the comfort of a superyacht and the thrill of real sailing, Aquijo has indeed raised the bar.
For more information: +31 78 699 5399, oceancoyacht.com; +31 38 386 7145, vitters.com; +1 203 838 2215, trippdesign.net; +49 40 41 4681 0, doelker-voges.com; +377 93 50 12 12, y.co