Yacht Nilaya Now in Her Owners’ Hands

“We are always a bit sad to see one of our yachts sail away,” notes Jan Timmerman, Royal Huisman’s CEO. “It’s a bit like a child leaving home. At the same time, we are proud to have delivered another unique vessel, especially one that advances innovative engineering and build technology.” He’s speaking about the delivery of the sailing yacht Nilaya. The performance cruiser sloop is the first to employ new design and construction methods for the shipyard.

Also known as Royal Huisman Project 405, the 153-foot (nearly 47-meter) project combines aluminum and composite construction. That in itself isn’t unusual—composite saves weight, of course. Specifically, Royal Huisman researched and developed a method it considers more of a hybrid approach. It additionally developed its own software to analyze various structural components for weight savings without sacrificing stiffness or strength. It calls its multi-disciplinary approach Featherlight. Some areas add stiffness by bonding carbon fiber to aluminum, for example. Elsewhere, bonding replaces fasteners. Ensuring the yacht Nilaya would be a global cruiser while simultaneously a superyacht racing competitor, Featherlight eliminated 11 percent of weight over Royal Huisman’s already light Alustar aluminum projects.

the sailing yacht Nilaya features Nauta Design's styling — PHOTO: Tom van Oossanen

“For such a large yacht, the acceleration is exciting as she rapidly reaches high speeds,” notes Nigel Ingram of MCM Newport, the owners’ project manager. “She has reached all her project targets with ease.”

How high are high speeds? Mario Pedol, co-founder of Nauta Design, the yacht’s stylist and interior designer, was aboard for sea trials on May 31, with the owners and their team. The “beautiful sunny and windy weather” on the North Sea was a terrific test. “By the time the mainsail was hoisted, the breeze had built to a steady 18 knots,” he says. “We sailed on a broad reach with the mainsail and Coze Zero and rapidly reached a truly impressive 17 knots boat speed.”