A successful series of sail trials mark the concluding stage and upcoming delivery of the three-masted Royal Huisman built schooner Sea Eagle II. Once delivered in July, it will be the world’s largest aluminium sailing yacht as well as the largest yacht ever built by the Dutch yacht builder.
Earlier this year, the Sea Eagle II, designed by Dykstra Naval Architects and Mark Whiteley, was transferred from the shipyard’s headquarters in Vollenhove and launched in Amsterdam. Its three carbon Rondal masts and booms were installed and tuned at Royal Huisman’s Amsterdam facility. The 81-metre schooner with a plumb bow was on schedule for delivery, but Covid-19 restrictions in the Netherlands prevented the trials on the North Sea from being completed until now.
Nearly all board systems, such as gensets, air conditioning, waste water treatment and electronics, were thoroughly tested in the year prior to launch to avoid any surprises during the commissioning stage. Strict Covid-19 regulations and detailed protocols introduced in Spring eventually allowed the team to safely continue their work. The sail handling and remaining propulsion systems were successfully tested and signed off during recent trials.
3500 square metres of sail
The yacht can reach speeds of over 21 knots by powering up its Rondal rig, which can carry over 3500 square metres of sail area evenly distributed over its carbon Panamax masts. The full sail area is controlled by 34 winches from sailing system integrator Rondal. The largest winches – for the yankee, staysail sheets and mizzen sheet runners – are capable of an eighteen tonnes pulling load.
Royal Huisman’s largest yacht ever was commissioned by the owner of the 43 metres sloop Sea Eagle (Royal Huisman, 2015).
Pictures by Royal Huisman / Tom Van Oossanen.
