Start of construction of the largest aluminium yacht

Martin Hager

 · 17.07.2017

Start of construction of the largest aluminium yachtPhoto: Royal Huisman
Start of construction of the largest aluminium yacht | ht
Royal Huisman celebrated the keel laying of the 81 metre long three-masted schooner designed by Mark Whiteley and Dykstra Naval Architects, which is being built in Vollenhove for an Asian owner.
The team behind Project 400: Royal Huisman, Dykstra Naval Architects, Mark Whiteley (right) and the brokers from Northrop & Johnson Asia. | a.Photo: Royal HuismanThe team behind Project 400: Royal Huisman, Dykstra Naval Architects, Mark Whiteley (right) and the brokers from Northrop & Johnson Asia. | a.

In order to be able to weld the modern three-master, the sailing yacht specialists' largest shipyard hall had to undergo a refit. Steel beams were integrated into the hall floor in order to guarantee an absolutely level working surface.

The extravagant exterior design of the aluminium displacement vessel with vertical stern and raised steering position was created in cooperation with Mark Whiteley and the creative team at Dykstra Naval Architects.

"Fast and comfortable" was on the wish list of the owner, who is planning extended voyages with his impressive supersailer. The schooner's special features include a crow's nest on the Panmax main mast and a generously equipped tender and toy garage in the stern. The crew stows the crew tender in a bay on the foredeck.

The interior - also designed by Mark Whiteley - is dominated by oak and walnut wood and the layout has been optimised for a maximum of twelve guests.

Delivery of the 81-metre schooner equipped with a rigging package from Rondal is scheduled for 2020.

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Photo: Royal Huisman
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Martin Hager

Martin Hager

Editor in Chief YACHT

Martin Hager is editor-in-chief of the titles YACHT and BOOTE EXCLUSIV and has been working for Delius Klasing Verlag for 20 years. He was born in Heidelberg in 1978 and started sailing at the age of six, in an Opti of course. This was soon followed by 420s, Sprinta Sport and 470s, which he also sailed on the regatta course with his brother. His parents regularly took him on charter trips through the Greek and Balearic Islands. Even at a young age, it was clear to him that he wanted to turn his passion for water sports into a career. After graduating from high school and completing an internship at the Rathje boatbuilding company in Kiel, it was clear that he did not want to become a classic boatbuilder. Instead, he successfully studied shipbuilding and marine engineering in the Schleswig-Holstein state capital and focused on yacht design wherever he could. His diploma thesis dealt with the “Testing of a new speed prediction method for sailing yachts”. In 2004, the superyacht magazine BOOTE EXCLUSIV was looking for an editor with technical and nautical background knowledge, a position that was perfect for Martin Hager. The application was successful and a two-year traineeship was arranged. After twelve years as an editor, the editorial team changed and he took over responsibility for BOOTE EXCLUSIV as editor-in-chief in 2017. After long-time YACHT editor-in-chief Jochen Rieker moved to the role of publisher, Martin Hager also took over the position of editor-in-chief of Europe's largest sailing magazine YACHT, which is celebrating its 120th anniversary this year, at the beginning of 2023. When he's not working on topics for the two water sports titles, Martin Hager likes to go out on the water himself - preferably with kite and wingfoil equipment or on a little after-work trip across the Alster.

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