"Asia": Five-decker from Royal Hakvoort represents a new generation of motor yachts

Moving the centre of their lives to their yacht - what sounds like a dream has become a reality for the owners of "Asia". They now spend around 290 days a year living on their 61-metre five-decker, which they commissioned from the Dutch shipyard Royal Hakvoort back in 2019 - shortly before the coronavirus pandemic. The virus, which paralysed the world for several years, also influenced the construction process of the voluminous displacer. "We were lucky enough to meet the owners in person just a few weeks before the world came to a standstill. This enabled us to understand their lifestyle and filter out where their focus lay in our joint new yacht build," reveals Klaas Hakvoort, who runs the business of the traditional shipyard in the tranquil fishing village of Monnickendam together with his brother Albert.

Asia" was realised for this purpose

Travelling the world self-sufficiently and freely - preferably with a bunch of friends and lots of family on board. This is what "Asia" was designed and ultimately realised for. Since her launch almost two years ago, the displacer has been in constant use. The latest Royal Hakvoort build makes intensive use of its range of 4,800 nautical miles at a moderate cruising speed of ten knots. So it comes as no surprise that the BOOTE EXCLUSIV team saw "Asia" for the first time during the Sea Cloud readers' trip to St Barth's Bucket in the harbour of Gustavia, with premium space at the harbour entrance. Visually, nobody can ignore the elegant appearance when the 220 square metres of glass surface sparkle in the sun. At night, the colour-changing underwater lighting provides a Caribbean welcome.

However, "Asia" is far more than just an aesthetic eye-catcher - she represents a new generation of motor yachts that combine entertainment, comfort and environmental responsibility. Her name suggests Asian roots, and destinations such as Japan, Indonesia and Alaska are indeed on the owners' travel wish list. Behind the Explorer in White is an American couple who have transformed their decades of experience with boats and yachts into a customised dream ship. After several yachts from American shipyards such as Viking and Valhalla as well as a Feadship, they ventured into a large new-build project for the first time. "The result exceeded their expectations to such an extent that they stayed on board for four months straight after the handover and hardly left 'Asia' the following winter," the shipyard proudly reports.

Choosing the perfect team

Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design was responsible for the exterior and interior design - a Dutch studio known for its elegantly minimalist yet detailed designs. The constructive calculations were carried out by the tried-and-tested computers of Diana Yacht Design, which had already provided the nautical expertise for the majority of all Hakvoort projects. Jordon Weinmeier, the owners' captain of many years, supervised the construction and advised on all technical matters. The owner's wife, on the other hand, was heavily involved in the design of the interior and worked closely with Paul Costerus from Sinot. Her vision: timeless design with a sporty touch, plenty of natural light and - contrary to the typical Sinot aesthetic - bold colour accents.

"Asia" owners want to minimise ecological footprint

From the outset, the owners attached great importance to minimising the ecological footprint of their dream ship. All available technologies that enable measurable emission reductions were implemented - even with conventional diesel propulsion. This approach begins with the design of the lines: a displacement hull with a bow bulb ensures significantly improved efficiency. Depending on the speed, the steel nose installed just below the water surface reduces fuel consumption by up to eleven per cent. At the heart of the environmental concept is a sophisticated hybrid system with PTI/PTO functionality (Power Take In/Power Take Out). This makes it possible to move the yacht at low speeds using only electric motors, while generators or the two main engines remain switched off. The result: significantly reduced diesel consumption and virtually silent operation.

Three generators are supplemented by a powerful battery bank. This combination ensures that the gensets always operate in the optimum power range. When the load is too low, the battery bank charges, and when demand peaks, it releases energy. This intelligent load distribution - known as peak shaving - not only extends the service life of the generators, but also optimises fuel consumption. The battery power is even sufficient to supply the yacht in crew mode or to hold its position using the Dynamic Positioning System without starting the two Caterpillar engines, each with 1,350 kilowatts of power, or deploying an anchor - which protects the seabed.

All generators are equipped with SCR systems and Xeamos soot filters. The exhaust pipes run right up to the mast, which prevents oil contamination in the water. A heat recovery system uses the heat generated by the engines to heat the water in the Jacuzzis - the large pool on the upper deck holds 6,600 litres of water. In addition, a condensation system collects the water produced by the air conditioning system, treats it and stores it in the deck wash tank. This reduces the water treatment requirements and thus saves energy. The two Caterpillar engines are also certified for HVO fuel, which is significantly more environmentally friendly than conventional diesel.

Beach club with bar and sauna

The engine room has been designed to be easy to maintain and is located forward of the centre of the ship - a deliberate decision to give guests the entire lower deck with direct access to the beach club. This includes a bar, a sauna, several terraces and a large bathing platform.

Lots of natural light in the interior was also high on the customer's list of priorities, which is why the exterior is dominated by large glass fronts - 220 square metres weighing around 15 tonnes. The rooms are thus opened up to the outside. The signature of the Sinot creatives is clearly recognisable in the interior design - in every detail. The fine balance of subtle materials, the seemingly simple appearance that reveals sophisticated details in the doors, walls and furniture on closer inspection. In addition, the strong colours explicitly requested by the customers provide a lively contrast to the dominant pale natural tones.

Each of the eight guest cabins features a characteristic bright colour that is repeated in the fabrics and bathroom tiles. Bright pink, intense blue, rich green - the Sinot team had to go through countless rounds of coordination until the right colours were found. The living areas are kept in neutral tones, with the dark Brazilian ziricote wood with integrated lighting elements in the pillars particularly eye-catching. An impressive light sculpture by Czech manufacturer Preciosa serves as an eye-catcher in the stairwell and foyer: a column made of glass spheres and metal that spans three decks and has been elaborately stabilised with rods. In addition, a lift connects all decks with each other.

The master suite extends over the entire upper deck and offers complete privacy. There is a small spa pool on the front terrace, next to a round seating area with a small table - the perfect place for an undisturbed breakfast in a relaxed atmosphere. The blue and white stripes of the Sunbrella fabric are a trademark of the owners and run through all the outdoor areas. An unusual feature is the beauty salon located on this deck with textured, white-painted walls, white onyx worktops and pink-coloured chairs. The textured walls echo the design of the silk carpet in the sleeping area, which offers 270-degree views thanks to huge forward-facing windows. Spacious separate dressing and bathroom areas for him and her round off the space on offer. The VIP suite on the main deck below fully utilises the width of the ship and functions as a second master suite. Formal dining is possible on two decks: in the saloon on the main deck or open air in the aft cockpit of the owner's deck. Up to 16 guests can dine together outside.

The sun deck at the top offers a resort atmosphere with a glass pool surrounded by a counter, bar stools and comfortable sun loungers. Media entertainment is provided by four large TV screens covered by the hardtop.

Wellness plays a central role

A fitness room equipped with numerous Technogym machines is located on the aft bridge deck, while the captain works on the modern Radio Zeeland bridge console at the front, and the view is excellent thanks to the elevated position. Bridge docks on both sides help with mooring. In addition to selecting the most efficient driving style via the various modes, the powerful fin stabilisers from Naiad Dynamics are also started on the bridge, which reduce pitching and rolling movements at anchor and also keep the ship's movements in check while underway.

The beach club on the lower deck has a spa area with a sauna, massage room and spa shower. A karaoke system is also used here in the bar - a clear statement for entertainment and shared experiences that perfectly matches the name. The garage had to make way for the wellness area close to the water and is located on the main deck below the owner's private bow terrace. The crew park two Xtenders dinghies here: an 8.1-metre limousine tender for dignified shore excursions and an 8.3-metre beach lander, which guests can use to get to the beach with dry feet. There is also space for two jet skis and a 3.9 metre Survitec lifeboat. Everything is designed to remain flexible even when anchored.

The crew of 18 has spacious quarters and a spacious mess on the tank deck. The interaction between owners and crew is more relaxed and companionable than is usual on many superyachts - a further indication of the owners' American origins and mentality.

The "Asia" owners' bucket list is still long

"Asia" proves that the desire for maximum freedom, comfort and environmental responsibility can be realised in one project. By combining efficient lines, innovative technology and well thought-out systems, Royal Hakvoort has succeeded in sending a conventionally powered motor yacht on a world tour with a measurably reduced ecological footprint - without compromising on design.

The owners have been proving for almost two years that the 61 metre long five-decker is not just a prestige object, but a real home on the water. They live on their dream boat almost all the time and explore the world - and their bucket list is still full of exciting destinations. We wish them a safe journey and look forward to seeing where "Asia" will be next.

Technical data

• Length over everything: 61 m
• LWL: 53,20 m
• Width: 11,60 m
• Depth: 3,47 m
• Displacement (empty): 1.071 t
• Gross Tons: 1.268
• Material: Steel/aluminium
• Motors: 2 x Caterpillar 3512E HD
• Engine power: 2 x 1,350 kW
• Speed (max.): 14.9 kn
• Speed (travelling): 13 kn
• Generators: 3 x CAT
• Stabilisers: Naiad Dynamics
• Fuel: 130.000 l
• Water: 20.000 l
• Entertainment: Icon Connect AV/IT system
• Tender: 1 Xtenders Limo (8.1 m), 1 Xtenders Beachlander (8.3 m), Survitec Rigde (3.9 m)
• Construction: Diana Yacht Design
• Exterior: Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design
• Interior: Sinot Yacht Architecture & Design
• Class: Lloyd's +100A1
• Shipyard: Royal Hakvoort, 2024