Superyachts & Marine

World’s Largest Aluminium Sailing Yacht Sea Eagle II Launched

Published

6 years ago

January 8, 2020

Brenon Melse

Sea Eagle II has just been launched by its maker, Royal Huisman the Netherlands based builder that prides itself in building dreams.

Sea Eagle II at the Royal Huisman shipyard in Vollenhove, Netherlands. Credit: Royal Huisman

World’s largest aluminium sailing yacht
World’s 7th largest sailing yacht
Royal Huisman’s largest yacht ever

It was called project 400, a project so big it required the Dutch shipyard of Royal Huisman to first extend its main construction shed just to contain the massive project. It also required the builder to adopt new methods of product development and construction.

Leaving the build hall in Vollenhove. Credit: Royal Huisman

A dramatic image was released in 2018 of the rotating of the 81m / 266ft contemporary schooner’s hull at the Royal Huisman. Its sheer size was amazing. The critical operation required two cranes on the hardstand at the build hall’s opening, and a further two cranes sitting out on the water on barges. At one point during the task, half of the aluminium hull could be seen hanging over the water while the other half of the hull was still over the hardstand and still inside the shed.

Sea Eagle II hull rotated at the Royal Huisman shipyard in Vollenhove. Credit: Royal Huisman

So who commissioned this project and how did it come about?

A prominent Taiwanese businessman and philanthropist, Dr Samuel Yin, was waiting for his first Royal Huisman, called Sea Eagle, to be built and was due for delivery in 2015. But even before its completion there was talk of desiring something larger, something that had more boat speed, something whereby more or the world could be seen under sail, his ultimate dream yacht!

It was eventually to be aptly named Sea Eagle II but first started life as project 400 for build purposes. A year was spent on the design, engineering and construction planning before the 6 metre fixed keel was laid in June 2017. That keel alone took 2 weeks to fill with lead!

The 81m Sea Eagle II Exterior Render. Credit: Royal Huisman

So you can imagine the pride of Royal Huisman as the marques largest build to date rolled out of the hall in Vollenhove above the self-propelled modular trailers on schedule and in all its glory.

From here, Sea Eagle II’s three masted carbon composite Rondal Panamax rig will be installed upon launch at Royal Huisman Amsterdam to ready her for sea trials and on-board crew training.

Sea Eagle II Interior Concept Render. Credit: Royal Huisman

What Royal Huisman says

“Together with Dykstra Naval Architects and designer Mark Whiteley, Royal Huisman made this grand aspiration into a striking reality, keeping their promise of “If you can dream it, we can build it.”

“The Royal Huisman team and Project 400: always a special and emotional moment to say farewell before a superyacht creation leaves her home in Vollenhove. In total, 21 yachts were either new constructions or refit projects for Royal Huisman and Huisfit in 2019. The team is now more flexible capacity-wise than ever before, working in close collaboration with selected and highly qualified co-makers for specific projects in Vollenhove, Amsterdam and flexible locations. These partnering companies work closely together with Royal Huisman’s in-house team. What continues to set Royal Huisman apart from others, however, is that the shipyard remains unique in advancing all essential superyacht skills and knowledge in-house (design, engineering and production).”