An experienced owner has brought an exciting team together to create a stunning new project that lists three important “firsts” for Royal Huisman:
- Our first yacht completely styled by the gifted team of Redman Whiteley Dixon, with Todhunter Designers providing interior decoration.
- Our first build with naval architecture by Ed Dubois.
- Our first sailing yacht with a flying bridge.
A very motivating aspect of this project for Royal Huisman is the comprehensive involvement of the owners alongside the architects, the stylists and the yard – a real working partnership within a stimulating team culture.
The owners have brought significant experience with previous yachts (including a 47m Perini Navi and a 55m Feadship) to this project, providing a well-informed focus for their team choices and challenges. They have particular interests in technology and design and participate in frequent meetings at the yard, at the designers, and at their own offices to stimulate ideas and momentum.
Justin Redman and his team have responded to the brief with a graceful flying bridge offering sleekness, style and amenity. Redman and Emily Todhunter have defined the interior, with owners’ and guests’ accommodation abaft the engine room and the crew area forward. A central dining area and separate saloon are amidships above the engine room, with the main galley on a mezzanine deck and the pilothouse on a raised deck. Two 6.4m Castoldi tenders stow in a garage on the main deck, above the crew cabins.
With a specification calling for the amenity of a motor yacht within a high performance sailing yacht, Dubois reduced wetted surface and set a swing keel within a 3.8m-draft fixed keel. He optimized beam and added some 120 tons of internal ballast to improve stiffness and stability beneath 1,780 m2 of sail, set on a ketch rig. The mainmast is just under 62m, to clear Panama’s Bridge of the Americas at low water. Advanced lightweight composites will be used for masts, deck hatches and other components, with PBO for rigging.
The owners chose Royal Huisman, we understand, not only for our reputation, Dutch spirit and teamwork, but because they valued the contribution our “all under one roof” building philosophy would make to the efficiency, quality and harmony of the design and build process.
Twizzle will sail away from Vollenhove in early Spring 2010.