Royal Huisman Christens Newest High Performance Sailing Superyacht In Amsterdam

Dec 12, 2023

154-foot-long Royal Huisman Nilaya powers along on a beam reach

I used to be a sailor! In fact, I was the boat test editor at various American sailing magazines for many years. These days, I might spend virtually all my time on superyachts that are way too big for me to "test" the way I used to back in my plucky youth. But that hardly means that I’ve forgotten what it's like to slice upwind aboard a powerful sailboat with a butter-smooth helm.

In fact, I have a special love for well-designed, well-built sailboats up to 60-feet long because there's nothing better than "feeling" a sailboat respond to subtle steering changes, sail trim, wind and waves etc.. With the right boat, and the right crew in the right conditions, the best sailboats "come alive" in rewarding ways that large motoryachts, and even many large sailing yachts just can't.

New 154 foot long Royal Huisman Nilaya christened in Amsterdam

That's why I have a soft spot in my heart for Nilaya, the new, 154-foot-long Royal Huisman yacht. Since its general concept, exterior and interior design was done by Nauta Design, and naval architecture that was done the sailing speed experts at Reichel/Pugh Yacht Design, it appears to be one of those wonderful sailing superyachts that combines size with superior sailing performance.

According to advance reports, it was the first yacht to utilize the shipyard's new Featherlight™ design and production method. Continuous weight monitoring throughout the build allowed the Dutch builder to slice a whopping 11% of the weight off its typical advanced aluminum cruising yachts. And as I know from my old boat review days, well-designed boats that can shave weight without sacrificing strength and stiffness will generally perform better.

Not all sailing superyachts have such a clean wake!

Nigel Ingram of MCM Newport who served as owner's project manager seems to agree. "For such a large yacht, the acceleration is exciting as she rapidly reaches high speeds," he says. "Twin rudders and the light, positive steering give superb maneuverability and she has reached all her project targets with ease. Rondal's sailing systems enable fingertip control of the massive loads involved."

Nilaya under sail

Nauta Design created the general concept, the exterior design, and the interior design plan with the light, calm, contemporary décor. Ingram continues: "Below decks, life is as comfortable and quiet as one would expect of the latest performance cruiser from Royal Huisman. The builder's efforts toward building a light and stiff structure have paid off."

Mario Pedol, co-founder of Nauta Design, adds following his overall experience during sail trials:

"Nilaya is not good… She is superb."

Royal Huisman CEO Jan Timmerman called the Nilaya's departure bittersweet. "We are always a bit sad to see one of our yachts sail away; it's a bit like a child leaving home. At the same time, we are proud to have delivered another unique vessel, especially one that advances innovative engineering and build technology. Nilaya is a milestone in composite superyachts in the truest sense of the word and another fine example of Royal Huisman's ability to provide owners with the ultimate expression of personal freedom. We wish her owners and all onboard fair winds and following seas during both world cruising and many exciting regattas."