Sailing Superyacht Ngoni in Action, and Teaching Role

Rare is the yacht video that teaches you something while you’re watching. This is one of them. Rather than just show off the sleek lines of Ngoni, Royal Huisman tells the story behind her build, in what’s more like a mini documentary.

By now, the initial story behind Ngoni is well known. The owner’s brief was as straightforward as they come. “Build me a beast,” he said. “Don’t build me a wolf in sheep’s clothing. This has to be an edgy and innovative weapon; fast and furious.” At 191 feet (58.15 meters), and with a 233-foot-tall (71-meter-tall) mast, the high-performance sloop certainly has an imposing profile. In addition, capable of a reported 17 knots, Ngoni should continue turning heads whether cruising or racing in occasional regattas.

Further to her performance, you’ll learn that the owner insisted on manual steering—no power assistance. This experienced sailor wanted to feel “completely knackered from the excitement of hands-on fast sailing,” he explains. The video details some of the challenging engineering on the part of Dubois Naval Architects and Royal Huisman.

Furthermore, for the first time, Royal Huisman is giving a few glances at the interior. Previously, scant details were available on what designer Rick Baker created. Interestingly—and, not surprisingly—the owner’s directive to him was as clear as it was to the shipyard. He wanted anything but a typical, traditional sailing-yacht interior.

Though you get to see just a few rooms, you get to appreciate the complexity of the opening ports, and their curved shapes. With a few nods to ethnic art, the interior is eclectic, warm, and relaxing. Included are just two guest staterooms, along with the master suite, which has a kitted-out gym. Overall, several spaces serve as the areas to unwind after an invigorating day’s sail.

Ultimately, the Ngoni video teaches you that beauty can be much more than skin deep. It can also lead to structural and performance advantages.

For an even more thorough education, Royal Huisman has produced a 19-minute Ngoni video.