Panamax sloop Nilaya has departed from her construction hall at the builder’s Vollenhove facility in preparation for the installation of her towering rig in Amsterdam. Nilaya’s racy, low profile with its straight bow, wide transom, and twin rudders, echoes the look of her owners’ previous highly successful maxi-racer of the same name. Not surprisingly, she is from the boards of the same naval architecture and design firms, Reichel / Pugh and Nauta, both firms with impressive reputations for high-performance sailing yachts.
Exploring all the options for a luxurious performance cruiser also capable of podium finishes at superyacht regattas, the team made full design studies for the yacht in both carbon and aluminum using computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to optimize hull shape and balance. Royal Huisman’s Featherlight™ method, an evolution of nearly 60 years of aluminum yacht-building experience melded with the latest carbon technology, provides her owners the best of both materials for a no-compromise yacht.
Nauta Design’s Mario Pedol noted that the choice of primary hull material did not fundamentally change the yacht’s layout or total weight. “With Reichel / Pugh, we set the target weight. Royal Huisman really embraced the concept. It was a very good process, good collaboration.”
The Featherlight™ process makes use of Finite Element Analysis (FEA), a design methodology rooted in spacecraft technology. FEA modeling enabled selecting various construction materials and varied Alustar aluminum plate thicknesses and frame spacing to maximize hull stiffness while minimizing total displacement. With engineering and weight management brought in-house, the approach was comprehensive, extending to lighting, insulation, and all mechanical systems. The interior, too, benefited from careful weight analysis. All interior structural members utilize lightweight foam coring.
Capturing the carbon fiber expertise of its sister company Rondal, Royal Huisman’s engineering team used this synergy to analyze and predict which structural components would be best made of composites or aluminum. For example, the entire 17.5m / 57-foot curvaceous coachroof and guest cockpit structure are carbon composite. Likewise, the recessed tender well on the foredeck (that transforms to a seating area for cruising or a flush deck for racing) is also carbon composite as are a watertight bulkhead, crew entrance, twin rudders, the keel trunk and a cockpit bimini hardtop.
Project 405 is also the first yacht of this size range designed to take advantage of structured luff sail design pioneered by Doyle Sails, a choice that allowed the entire Rondal mast, rig, and components to be lighter — a key point considering her Panamax air draft. To take advantage of the very narrow headsail sheeting angles possible, Rondal created a radical new curved carbon fiber spreader design that is both shorter and more aerodynamic than anything previously available. Rondal also supplied new generation hybrid (carbon and aluminum) captive winches, hatches and various sail handling gear. Most deck hardware is titanium.
"The success of the innovations with Project 405 paves the way to use this bold new approach for future builds. I am proud of the investment we have made in advanced engineering and of the way teams from Royal Huisman and Rondal advanced new solutions to meet the brief from very knowledgeable clients and designers. The owners as well deserved congratulations for pushing everyone to achieve just a little bit more and for encouraging innovation at every step. Nilaya will be the world’s lightest aluminum sailing superyacht for her length: she rewrites the script for high-performance superyachts,” says Jan Timmerman, Royal Huisman CEO.
The 46.8-meter Project 405 Nilaya will be delivered to her owners in the coming months.
Royal Huisman is a Dutch shipyard established in 1884 in Ronduite, building and refitting custom luxury sailing and motor yachts at its shipyard in Vollenhove, the Netherlands.
Credits: Tom van Oossanen/Royal Huisman
The twenty-sixth hull of Custom Line Navetta 33 has entered the water at the Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard in Ancona. This elegant displacement superyacht with an overall length of 33 meters and a beam of 7.52 meters entered the water on March 15th in the presence of the owner family from the Americas and all Custom Line’s employees.This model is the result of collaboration between the Strategic Product Committee, which handled the exterior styling, and the Ferretti Group Engineering Department, whose architects and designers created the interiors, with strategic interior design consulting provided by the Custom Line Atelier.The latest addition to the superyacht scene boasts an interior design, featuring pale color tones ranging from beige to various shades of green. Custom Line Atelier's team of architects and the rest of the shipyard's project group worked closely with the owner to fully customize the spaces, creating a seamless and harmonious flow between the interiors and exteriors. The yacht's furnishings were carefully selected according to the owner's wishes, in collaboration with top design brands, and the use of refined materials such as Taj Mahal marble in shades of beige and lacquered wood further enhance the yacht's luxurious feel.The yacht's attention to detail is unparalleled, ensuring an unforgettable cruising experience for guests. Every aspect of the yacht has been carefully considered, from the design of the furnishings to the choice of materials, resulting in a genuinely refined and elegant vessel.The Ferretti Group, led by Chief Executive Officer Alberto Galassi, is now one of the world’s leaders in the construction and sale of luxury yachts and pleasure vessels, with a unique portfolio of brands: Ferretti Yachts, Riva, Pershing, Itama, Mochi Craft, CRN, Custom Line and Wally.Credits: Ferretti Group
March 27, 2023
Ahoy Club has announced the appointment of Katya Hall as Commercial Director, USA, as part of their ongoing expansion in the United States. A highly experienced sales and charter broker with over 15 years in the superyacht industry, Katya will lead the Sales Brokerage, Charter Retail, and Central Agency streams of the business, furthering the brand's growth outside of Australia and Europe.Katya HallEllie Malouf, CEO of Ahoy Club, commented on the new appointment: "Katya's market knowledge, experience, and passion for customer service closely align with our company values. We're excited to have her join us on our journey as we expand our brand globally."Ahoy Club at the Palm Beach International Boat Show 2023 Ahoy Club offers a portfolio of superyachts, megayachts, and villas, combined with personal concierge services, providing unique customer experiences such as access to bucket list events, exclusive offers, and brand partnerships. The company's vision is to create memories that last a lifetime, and with the appointment of Katya Hall, they are confident in delivering exceptional customer service and experiences to clients.73m Coral Ocean is available for charter with Ahoy Club With offices in Sydney, Golfe Juan, Monaco, and soon to be Miami, Ahoy Club continues to establish itself as a leader in the luxury yachting industry, with a commitment to customer satisfaction and innovation.Credits: Ahoy Club
March 27, 2023
Fraser Yachts has sold the Project Virtus XP Hull #01 (53M/173’, Mengi Yay). David Legrand and Alain Auvare from Fraser Monaco represented the seller, while Mengi Yay brought the buyer.The 52.6m yacht boasts features fit for the demands of discerning clients in search of a go-anywhere and elegant vessel, including a helipad, pool deck, master bridge deck, guest main deck, gym, and ample tender storage. This explorer yacht, penned by designer Paolo Dose fromVYD Studio and engineered by Dutch Van Oossanen Naval Architects, combines the Virtus experience with the exhilarating features of the Explorer line.The Mengi Yay Virtus Explorer XP superyacht provides accommodation for up to ten guests across five staterooms, including a master stateroom on the main deck with a king-sized bed and a private foredeck. Nine crew members are on hand to attend to guests' needs.Notable features onboard the Mengi Yay Virtus Explorer XP yacht include a helipad, pool deck, gym, and tender storage. Powered by twin Caterpillar engines, the 498 GT motor yacht has an expected top speed of 16 knots and a cruising speed of 12 knots. Hull #02 is now available for sale and is currently in-build with an expected delivery date of 2025. Mengi Yay Yachts was founded in 1964 in Turkey. Now the company owns one of the largest (19,365 sqm) yards that were specifically designed for the refit and refurbishment of existing craft as well as the manufacturing of the new motor and sailing yachts. Credits: Fraser
March 27, 2023
Aras Kazar once again surprises the public by presenting his new trimaran concept called Wakinyan, which is a Lakota word for "thunder." The word is usually translated as "Thunder Spirits", "Thunder Beings," or "Thunder Birds".The trimaran, which can be easily called a floating bird, is 130 meters long with a 26m beam and total width of 38 meters. The interior offers a soft and gentle color solution. The trimaran has five bedrooms and one master suite. Wakinyan notable features included the pool on the aft, a spa inside. Thanks to the full glass decks the guests will have almost 360 views with lots of natural light for the interior.Wakinyan is not one of those boring slow superyachts, says European designer, she is equipped with all-electric and hydrofoil technology that she can reach a maximum speed of 32 knots. Recently, the вesigner has spoiled us with his futuristic concepts, including 150m Ono and 66m Noy.Credits: Aras Kazar
March 24, 2023
Princess Yachts has introduced the new Princess S80 to the S Class. Inspired by urban living, the S80 provides a sense of contemporary elegance, with a single level main deck, flowing furniture and sophisticated detailed interiors. The 25.43-meter model has been designed by the shipyard's team with the Olesinski and Pininfarina. The Princess S80 yacht follows her predecessor, the S72, which debuted at boot Düsseldorf this January. She features full-length windows along her main deck that extend to her cockpit canopy to provide a sheltered area from the sun. The interior is available in four different wood options. The cockpit can be equipped with seating including adjustable twin upholstered L-shaped seats which can manually slide in-board, outboard and forward facing alongside twin coffee tables and twin aft sun pads which flank the teak-capped stairs leading to the spacious electro-hydraulic bathing platform.The all-new S80 can accommodate eight guests below the deck, including a full-beam owner’s stateroom amidships, via a private lobby area in the lower companion way. Thanks to the twin MAN engines she can reach 34 knots and delivers an excellent driving experience. British yacht builder Princess Yachts was founded in 1965, manufacturing fibreglass yachts ranging from 13 to 40 meters in length. Its parent company is the French luxury group LVMH. Credits: Princess Yachts
March 24, 2023