“Build me a beast. Don’t build me a wolf in sheep’s clothing. This has to be an edgy and innovative weapon; fast and furious.” The owner of Ngoni uttered these words upon signing a contract with Royal Huisman about three years ago. Interesting enough, that came about seven years after the two first began to talk. Fast forward to this week, and his 190-foot (58-meter) high-performance sloop is finally out in daylight. And, following her mast stepping, Ngoni will go through her paces on sea trials.
“Beast” may be a strong word for a sailing superyacht meant to be a luxurious entertaining place. She features a master suite with its own study and gym. Both of those areas can convert into a guest stateroom when wanted. Normally, Ngoni will accommodate four guests in two dedicated guest cabins. Regardless of whether the master suite splits off the spaces, it also has a viewing hatch, for air and natural light.
Even with these pleasantries, make no mistake: Ngoni emphasizes performance. The plumb bow and glass deckhouse lend edgy aesthetics. So, too, do the cascading transom steps. The owner approached Dubois Naval Architects for the looks and naval architecture. In 2014, the late Ed Dubois said, “This is a thought-provoking design that does not take for granted the marriage of high performance, style, and comfort.” He added that the challenge from the client represented “a dream project for a designer.”
While few facts are known, draft does range from 17 feet to 27 feet (5.3 meters to 8.1 meters), due to a lifting keel. In addition, the carbon fiber mast, to carry a square-head main, towers 233 feet (71 meters) high. Rondal, which made it, says it is among the three largest one-piece carbon spars in the world, in fact.
Royal Huisman chronicled Ngoni’s moves this month. Take a look:
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