Royal Huisman in the Netherlands says the 154-foot Panamax sloop Nilaya has left the construction hall in Vollenhove and is ready to have its rig installed in Amsterdam.
Nilaya is the first yacht being built with Royal Huisman’s Featherlight design and production method, which the yard says reduces weight by 11 percent, compared to typical aluminum cruising yachts. The result is achieved through finite-element analysis in the design, the use of varied Alustar aluminum plate thicknesses, frame spacing to maximize hull stiffness and the use of foam coring in interior structural members.
The coachroof and guest cockpit structure are built with a carbon composite, as are the foredeck’s recessed tender well and several other elements. Most of the deck hardware is titanium.
Rondal is responsible for the carbon fiber mast, boom and standing rigging. Nilaya will be the first yacht in its size range to use the structured luff sail design that Doyle Sails created. To take advantage of narrow headsail sheeting angles that are possible, Rondal created a curved carbon fiber spreader design that Royal Huisman says is shorter and more aerodynamic than anything previously available.
Naval architecture and design are by Reichel/Pugh and Nauta. The project manager is Nigel Ingram of MCM Newport.
“While the new Nilaya is meant to take the owners world cruising, he also asked for a boat with all the good habits of their previous racer, meaning responsiveness and excellent handling,” Ingram stated in a press release. “Royal Huisman was not afraid to invest in research to explore and develop all manner of innovative weight-saving possibilities. They really chased the details.”
When is Nilaya expected to be delivered to the owners? Sometime before the end of 2023.
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