Repeat orders reveal real confidence in a shipyard. Royal Huisman is reaping the rewards with Aquarius II, a cruising ketch it previously announced as Project 408. Interestingly enough, the sailing superyacht comes from exactly the same build and design teams, with exactly the same looks and amenities. “After all, I want to keep winning Bucket races!” one of the owners exclaims.
The new 212-foot (65-meter) performance ketch belongs to the same owners as the 184-foot (56.18-meter) cruising ketch Aquarius (above) from 2018. Therefore, besides Royal Huisman, Dykstra Naval Architects and Mark Whiteley Design are involved. The above-mentioned Bucket races will definitely be on Aquarius II’s itinerary, since Aquarius proved her mettle in her debut in 2019. In fact, she was first in class. “Aquarius has proved to be an exciting sailboat,” her owners state, “and she sails gracefully and powerfully.” (Related to this, if you’re attending the St. Barths Bucket later this month, look for Aquarius to compete once again.)
With design and engineering already underway, Aquarius II will have a carbon rig and integrated sail handling. Both are coming from Royal Huisman’s sister company, Rondal. Additionally, she’ll employ a retractable keel. These features all meet the owners’ performance-oriented musts. Royal Huisman is building her entirely of aluminum as well, with hull and superstructure construction starting this summer.
Of course, the owners want to relax and enjoy with family, too. Of their 184-footer, they say, “Her layout has exceeded expectations, with ample opportunities for both privacy and socializing.” Therefore, Aquarius II will make use of her extra length and volume for the staterooms, saloons, and on-deck areas. Décor-wise, anticipate a classic, calming ambience.
In reflecting on these repeat customers, Royal Huisman’s CEO, Jan Timmerman, says the yard “must be doing something right.” Even with that, though, he cautions, “In truth, we need to get many things right to earn such confidence, but that doesn’t mean we never get a thing wrong. The key factor is the effort we put into solving problems and learning from them. Clients give us different reasons for their repeat orders, but among the most regularly mentioned is client focus. This includes…a flexible, can-do approach to design, engineering, and production.”
Dykstra Naval Architects dykstra-na.nl
Mark Whiteley Design markwhiteleydesign.com
Royal Huisman royalhuisman.com
Leave a Reply