As the world’s largest all-aluminum sailing yacht, Royal Huisman’s Sea Eagle II is worthy of attention. She’s equally worthy, however, for proving that super-size sailing yachts don’t have to be sail-assisted yachts (essentially motoryachts with masts). This three-masted schooner has covered more than 45,000 nautical miles since delivery in 2020 mostly with her sails hoisted. Stepping aboard the yacht Sea Eagle II means experiencing a technical marvel.
The owner of this 266-footer (81 meter) is not your average owner, as you can imagine. In fact, he was in the midst of a circumnavigation almost a decade ago when he began planning her. (That circumnavigation, by the way, was aboard another Royal Huisman, the 141-foot/43-meter Sea Eagle—now Ravenger and in other hands.) He wanted more space for more guests and crew, along with outstanding amenities for both groups. Further global cruising primarily under sail was a must as well. Straightforward operations versus frills were additionally important. Ultimately, she needed to be a bona fide sailor’s yacht.
Four years in the making, the yacht Sea Eagle II proved her mettle during sea trials. She registered 21½ knots with aplomb in a moderate breeze. Thirty-four winches from Royal Huisman’s sister company Rondal control her significant sail area. It’s nearly 28,000 square feet (2,580 square meters) upwind and just over 38,200 square feet (3,552 square meters) downwind. The crew can hoist her three mainsails simultaneously, too, in about the same time as a sloop half her size. “The powerful rig geometry of Sea Eagle II can be quickly adapted to the conditions encountered, allowing her to safely sail for proportionately more miles of the journey,” explains Erik Wassen of Dykstra Naval Architects, which designed her. Her sea trial captain adds, “As a past dinghy racer, I was delighted that a boat of Sea Eagle II’s size could turn so smoothly and swiftly.”
The interior and on-deck amenities make life welcoming, and reveal a clever feature. A U-shaped bar straddles the deck saloon entry, truly an inside-outside leisure space. The sliding glass separating the alfresco area and interior, though, is just as remarkable. It’s not a typical sliding door. Rather, it has individual moving panels that slide out of sight.
For the convenience of guests, one of the five staterooms below converts into a gym. The owner’s stateroom is on this level as well. Crew (14 in total) can access the guest area swiftly via stairs connecting to their accommodations below and forward. It may surprise you to find that not only does the crew area have good natural lighting, but also it has a handful of cabin arrangements. Regardless, all crewmembers can gather in the good-size mess, plus have use of a study. And, when the tender that stows forward on deck is in the water, its bay turns into a social cockpit for the crew.
With upwards of 45,000 nautical miles under her hull, what’s next for Sea Eagle II? More cruising, of course. After all, this yacht was never intended to sit still.
Royal Huisman royalhuisman.com
Dykstra Naval Architects dykstra-na.com
Mark Whiteley Design markwhiteleydesign.com
More About the Yacht Sea Eagle II
LOA: 265’7” (81 meters)
Beam: 39’4” (12 meters)
Draft: 19’7” (6 meters)
Guests: 12 in 6 staterooms
Hull speed: 22 knots
Sail area: 27,770 square feet (2,580 square meters) upwind, 38,233 square feet (3,552 square meters) downwind
Builder: Royal Huisman
Stylist: Dykstra Naval Architects & Mark Whiteley Design
Naval Architect: Dykstra Naval Architects Interior Designer: Mark Whiteley Design
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