The massive 81m Sea Eagle II // Royal Huisman

SEA EAGLE II is the successor of the 43m SEA EAGLE (I), delivered in 2015. Dykstra Naval Architects is responsible for the naval architecture and the exterior design. Interior designer Mark Whitely is also involved in the exterior design. The 81m aluminum yacht has space for 11 guests, including the owner and a crew of 14 people.

Furthermore, the yacht is the largest to date by Royal Huisman by volume (Athena is the longest with 90m, including bowsprit – the hull has a length of “just” 79.25 m). This new one is also the largest full-aluminum sailing yacht in the world to date.

Thys Nikkels of Dykstra Naval Architects:

“At Dykstra Naval Architects we are extremely excited and proud to be part of the creative team for the new 81m, three-masted performance schooner. Using our experience and inventive minds to create an innovative contemporary schooner yacht for fast passage making is one to tick off our Bucket List.”

Mark Whiteley of Mark Whiteley Design:

“Building a project with Royal Huisman is a very special experience for a designer, jointly designing an 81m new build is an opportunity of a career lifetime so I’m thrilled to be collaborating with Dykstra Naval Architects and the shipyard on this fast contemporary schooner”

The modern interior is based on Alpi Walnut and is for comfortable family cruising but also for business meetings. The superstructure has a private part for owner and guests.

Thys Nikkels of Dykstra Naval Architects explains:

“The plumb bow, very long waterline, sleek hull, and large sail area will give the yacht the required high speed and good performance.”

To be entertained in anchor bays, SEA EAGLE II will provide a lot of space for guest tender with dive equipment, kayaks, SUP boards at the aft area.

Although it is a massive vessel, the yacht will have a Panamax height. The carbon-fiber rig with furling booms by Rondal – Royal Huisman’s subsidiary for masts, booms, and other yacht components next to the shipyard. In my opinion, the two companies forming a superyacht mall where owners can inspect the yacht and the parts with one visit. Moreover, Rondal delivered 34 winches to control the sail area of 3,500 square meters. The most massive winches have a pull load of 18.000 kg.

“An impressive feature is that each Rondal mast is built as one piece. This means that for 80% of the masts’ thickness, full length, uninterrupted carbon fiber laminates were applied, giving the mast unique properties with a perfectly even-strength distribution – resulting in a beautiful even bend, so no ‘hard spots’.”

During the annual Dutch Superyacht Press Tour in 2018, organized by the Holland Yachting Group/HISWA, I had the chance to visit Royal Huisman, Rondal, and Project 400 / SEA EAGLE II. All the pictures and the videos where the yard shows the turning of the hull are awe-inspiring, but in real life, it is much more impressive. To stand on the hull felt like an oversized sailing dinghy; the second picture below is not another superyacht project – it is the flybridge, but with 38m, it has the measurement of a superyacht.

In 2019 – just one year later, I had the pleasure again to join the Superyacht Press Tour. I saw an almost-finished yacht, including the installed interior. Amazing to see how fast this complete custom project has been realized. The tenders are stored under big hatches and will be moved by hidden cranes.

The second visit showed the quickness of the shipyard with the Dutch quality of craftsmanship.