Seven sailing yachts have made their way into Royal Huisman’s Huisfit team hands in The Netherlands. They’re all seeing a variety of systems overhauls, painting, and more—even one complete rebuild—via the shipyard’s dedicated refit and service division. Also noteworthy, among the seven projects, five are also Royal Huisman’s builds.
The biggest, and arguably most famous, of the yachts are Athena and Eos. These two, among the world’s largest sailing yachts, are repeat Huisfit customers. Eos first underwent works there in 2012, for example, getting rig work and five-year Lloyd’s re-certification work. The largest non-Royal Huisman delivery among the refits (Lürssen delivered her in 2006), Eos is undergoing rig work once again. Already, the Huisfit team has removed it, since the 305-foot (93-meter) superyacht sailed into town in late summer. Additional work includes overhauling the engines and gensets, plus new paint.
Athena (above), meanwhile, has an extensive checklist of her own. Some of it is nearly completed, too, since she arrived over the summer as well. (She’s at a contractor’s location, since Huisfit does work both at Royal Huisman and elsewhere.) Huisfit’s craftspeople have nearly finished overhauling her gensets and engines, for example. Beyond that, she’s getting all new teak decks—replacing the original planking from when Royal Huisman delivered her in 2004. In the video below, watch as the team hauls and moves the 295-footer (90-meter):
Unfortunately, the Huisfit team cannot disclose the work it’s doing for three additional refits, those being Foftein, Wisp, and Yonder. However, all three are Royal Huisman builds. Wisp, a 156-foot (48-meter) sloop, saw delivery in 2014, while Foftein dates to 1999, measuring 108 feet (33 meters). Yonder is the eldest, and smallest, delivered in 1980 and measuring “just” 56 feet (17 meters).
Regardless, Royal Huisman can discuss the last two projects. The 112-foot (112.17-meter) Spiip, a sloop from 2000, is getting a few upgrades to electronics and her electrical system. The last and final refit—one that many are following—is that of Vagrant. She’s from 1913, built by Herreshoff, being completely rebuilt. Vagrant was halfway through her refit in June. This included repairing and restoring her original interior woodwork, plus creating new crew’s quarters. The 109-footer (33-meter) further has new welding holding her old rivets in place and sealing them. Come springtime, the yacht should relaunch and undergo sea trials.
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