FOUR FROM ROYAL HUISMAN
MM597
Delayed by the pandemic, this 59.7m yacht has been in build at Royal Huisman since 2020 and should be delivered in March. Details have been scant, but the aluminium hull makes no secret of the fast lines of this ‘no-compromise’ sloop. Malcolm Mckeon is behind the design, with its reverse bow and vast beach club – the carbon fibre-superstructure and mainsheet arch is low slung. To meet the need for speed, there is a lifting keel, retractable propulsion and lightweight carbon fibre rudders.
Mckeon says that innovations in integrated rig control and the latest tech on board will allow her to push the boundaries of efficiency and performance. Loose-luffed headsails will be stored on large reels mounted below the foredeck, while the Rondal winches and the main tender well are also tucked out of sight below flush decks.
Accommodation runs to 12 guests and 10 crew with the styling by Liaigre.
Aquarius II
The husband and wife team that had the 56m Aquarius built in 2018 are back at Royal Huisman with an even larger ketch project dubbed Aquarius II. They are said to have described the original ketch as “close to perfect”, but just wanted more space. The new 65m ketch will be built by the same team, including Mark Whiteley for the interior and Dykstra for the naval architecture.
Performance is a key requirement, so the boat will feature carbon spars and integrated sail handling by Rondal. Structured luff sails and a retractable keel are also part of the brief. The owner wants to win (again) at St Barths.
Her interior will be woody and classic in styling, with the extra space helping to heighten the sense of luxury below. She will also pack some smart hybrid technology for quieter, more efficient operation and peak shaving for power.
Construction on the Alustar hull began last summer with delivery expected to be some time in 2024.
Nilaya
Royal Huisman is exceptionally busy at the moment, not least with putting the finishing touches to the 46.8m sloop Nilaya. At the time of writing, she had just emerged from the shed at Vollenhove for transport by barge to Amsterdam to have her huge rig stepped, ahead of delivery later this year.
Naval architecture by Reichel-pugh and design from Nauta will give this cruising yacht solid performance – a fact underscored by Royal Huisman’s use of its new Featherlite building technique. This allies precise aluminium hull construction with a carbon fibre interior and superstructure for an 11% weight saving versus full aluminium, with excellent strength and performance. Huisman says Nilaya will be able to compete with full carbon yachts in regattas. Carbon captive winches and a state-of-theart carbon rig with curved spreaders – all by Rondal – also play their part. Structured luff sails from Doyle require less tension and therefore a lighter rig. The interior, meanwhile, has not been revealed, though it will have space for eight crew and 10 guests.
New World Sloop
Roya Huisman has billed this
85m commission as the world’s largest sloop, being built for a very experienced owner.
Mani Frers drew the lines and the exterior, while Gill Brown has created what sounds like a pretty wild interior, “that will literally transport her guests into a New World”.
The brief is for a boat that’s easy to handle, with sails hoisted in minutes and the ability to exceed wind speed even in light airs. It will also be more sustainable than usual, with ‘structural recyclability’ inside and out, hybrid power and renewable energy generation tied to a giant 2MW battery bank. Engineering work has begun on this enormous project, with construction starting in the summer. Royal Huisman is not taking the risk of publishing a delivery date.