MONACO—Royal Huisman, the venerable, 140-year-old Dutch maker of supersailing yachts, presents a 30+ knot super sport fisher motor yacht aptly named Special One at the Monaco Yacht Show. In 2021 and again in 2024, the yard delivered groundbreaking aluminum motor yachts that other builders turned down.
Phi, delivered in 2021, is at 58.5m (192ft), the world’s longest motor yacht under 500GT. Special One is a record-breaking 52m (171ft) sport fisher making her debut at the Monaco Yacht Show. It is the largest in the world, capable of 30+ knots.
The owners of Phi and Special One knocked on Royal Huisman’s doors, looking for demanding speed profiles. Royal Huisman has been making aluminum sailing yachts for 60 years. It takes a shipyard skilled at squeezing the most out of the confines of a sailing yacht hull to meet the challenge of keeping full-featured motor yachts under 500GT.
Royal Huisman’s recent accomplishments include the 60m (196ft) Sarissa, the 47m(154ft) Nilaya, a yacht built with Royal Huisman’s Featherlight construction technique and the 81m (266ft) super-sized schooner Sea Eagle.
It is now building Project 408, a 65m (212ft) performance ketch, the 85m (280ft) Project 410, the world’s largest sloop, and Project 411, the world’s tallest sloop. Four of the Top Ten largest sailing yachts are built by or currently under construction at Royal Huisman.
Royal Huisman can tackle complex and innovative projects such as those with restricted hull volumes and those pushing the boundaries of traditional yacht design. These skills are polished through decades of delivering sailing yachts where weights and balance were critical for race-winning.
For motor yacht clients, this expertise means more net space for amenities and efficiency. By incorporating advanced technologies and creative solutions, the shipyard team delivers yachts that combine functionality, performance, and cutting-edge aesthetics in a package with utmost reliability.
Rather than persuade the Phi and Special One owners to scale back their demands, Royal Huisman worked closely with the designers and architects. Its engineering team ensured that every aspect of the yacht met its exact specifications and class requirements.
Phi is a high-spec, custom tri-deck motor yacht, the longest yacht below 500 GT. Phi owner’s rep Guy Booth said, “We spoke with most pedigree shipyards. We were frustrated to be told, ‘You can’t do that,’ and so the idea of [talking to] a sailboat builder came up. The response from Royal Huisman was, ‘We’ve never done something like this before. But we are certain that we can.’”
Special One, the world’s largest sportfishing yacht, was designed inside and out, including naval architecture, by Vripack Yacht Design. She has six decks finished to the highest standard of luxury and the performance of a top tournament sports fisherman.
“If someone had told us in five years there will be a 52m sport fisherman that goes 30-plus knots, our feedback would be, ‘Impossible,’” said Bart Bouwhuis of Vripack Yacht Design. “But it is possible! She goes from 0 to 30 knots in 46 seconds. Several other shipyards could not have built this yacht because it’s extremely complex from a technological point of view.”
Royal Huisman CEO Jan Timmerman is confident about his company’s motor yacht prospects. “Each Royal Huisman project reflects a client-focused approach which ensures that every yacht reflects an owner’s personal style and vision, regardless if they are sail or power.”
About the Royal Huisman motor yachts:
Phi has a low profile conceptualized by Cor D. Rover, who also supplied her sensuous exterior design based on the Golden Ratio and interior layout. The naval architecture is by Van Oossanen, and the interior is by Lawson Robb. The yacht has a top speed of more than 22 knots. Her Fast Displacement hull renders the yacht 30% more efficient than a traditional 500GT yacht, significantly reducing greenhouse gasses.
Special One is the world’s largest sport fishing yacht. Her specifications required her to reach the fishing grounds at 30 knots. She can accommodate 10 guests, nine crew, and six outdoor social areas. She has an outdoor cinema with a DJ platform, a sound system, gyro stabilization, a retractable offshore 3D fish finder, and the world’s first pneumatic elevator on a yacht.
