SUPERYACHT #521
Sep 2005
Article selected from our quarterly magazine dedicated to the largest
and most luxurious boats with information, interviews, technical
articles, images and yachting news
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Article by
Angelo Colombo
Photos by Tom Nitsch
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ROYAL HUISMAN "ANTARES"
Antares, the brightest star in the Scorpio constellation and also
known as the "heart of Scorpio" due to its red colour and its
position, has inspired poets and writers and aroused the interest
of civilisations such as the Egyptians (there are remains of
temples oriented towards the star) and the Persians who considered
it one of the four royal stars.
But on this occasion "Antares" is
far closer than the 604 light years that separate it from the
earth: we are not dealing with a heavenly body but with the work
of a team consisting of designers, engineers, technicians and
master craftsmen who, at the Dutch shipyard Royal Huisman, have
made "Antares" a sailing reality. A yacht then: a ketch to be precise.
Designed by Bill Dixon, who declares: "working on this
project was a really fascinating experience for my team. Renewing
relations with a customer you already know means setting out from
total understanding with both owner and skipper."
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TECHNICAL DATA
LOA: 39.98 metres
Length on waterline: 33.75 metres
Beam: 8.77 metres
Draft: 4.22 metres
Displacement: 211 t.
Ballast 59.630 kilos
Hull speed: 14 knots
Height of mainmast: 44.45 metres
Height of mizzen mast: 31.64 metres.
For further information: Royal Huisman Shipyard BV; Flevoweg 1
8325 PA; P.O. Box 23 8325 ZG Vollenhove Holland; tel. +31 527
243131; fax +31 527 243800; e mail yachts@royalhuisman.com;
website www.royalhuisman.com.
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The interiors
are the work of Dick Young Design, a work group headed by Dick
Young who, after having defined the design guidelines with the
owner, succeeded in creating a new style featuring wide use of
rare wood combined with fabrics and accessories. These give the
very pleasing effect of continuity in the interior. There are four
cabins in all for the owner and his guests, three of them aft of
the amidships area and one forward. The owner's suite aft runs the
entire breadth of the beam and includes a dressing table area,
sofa, office corner, large bathroom with separate toilet and
direct access from the aft cockpit. The other two cabins in this
zone are, respectively, one with twin beds and private bathroom
and one with double bed, dressing table area and private bathroom.
The fourth and last cabin is forward of the internal saloon-
dinette area amidships and consists of a double bed, dressing
table area and en suite bathroom. The crew's quarters, developed
over the entire forward portion of the hull, consist of three
cabins, one with double bed, two with bunk beds and all with
bathrooms. Adjacent there is a canteen and related service rooms.
The main deck, partially covered with the low profile thrusting
deckhouse, is laid out as follows: the indoor bridge, situated on
the starboard side, with seating for the helmsman and equipped
with numerous electronic navigational and manoeuvring aids; a
dining area with armchairs and L-shaped sofas and, farther aft, a
relaxation area that can comfortably accommodate up to 16 with its
large size C-shaped sofas. In the open, by the mizzen mast, the
double steering station from which, on any point of sailing, the
imposing sail area can be kept under control and the yacht handled
efficiently, thanks to numerous electronic repeaters for
instruments, rigging and alarm switchboard. As mentioned
previously, the boat is ketch rigged. Both masts are in carbon, as
are the booms and rudder, all made in the Dutch yard which is well
known for its various departments capable of producing every
element installed on the vessels it builds, including deck gear.
The owner's requirements mainly concerned the possibility of good
performance sailing in comfort, for himself and his large family.
Hence the development of spacious and comfortable interiors and
well-separated indoor and outdoor relaxation areas equipped with a
great number of entertainment accessories. "Antares" will be
sailing chiefly in the Mediterranean but her potentialities allow
her to make ocean crossings in all tranquillity. In fact building
was carried out in accordance with the strict Lloyds/MCA
regulations to which the yacht corresponds in every detail. As for
the building materials, aluminium was chosen for "Antares", in
particular an alloy called Corus Alustar Temper H321 for the hull
and H112 for the other parts. For figures enthusiasts, "Antares"
is the 379th yacht built at the prestigious Royal Huisman
shipyards. Among the special features of the technical set-up we
may point out the carefully studied positioning of the indoor
bridge and the two external stations, created in such a way as to
ensure a constant visual link between those working indoors and
those handling manoeuvres outside. Moreover the electronic
instrumentation of all three stations is interconnected to supply
univocal and complete data. Aft of the two external command
stations there is an open area divided into two distinct parts
where you can enjoy sailing while checking the entire sail area
and, especially, enjoying the spectacle offered by the downwind
wash-board. On the forward deck there is also housing for the
tender, an RIB handled with special davits. As for the engine
room, which houses a 715 HP MTU 8V2000 M70 and the main plant, it
is spacious and easy to inspect. Thanks to numerous electronic
aids, with repeaters on the bridge, all plant activities or
anomalies can be monitored.
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