Royal Huisman announces record-setting sloop: Noir

NOIR - Royal Huisman Project © Royal Huisman

With the new contract for Project 411, Dutch custom superyacht builder Royal Huisman enters record territory again with Noir, an 81-metre / 264-foot sailing yacht.

Noir has been conceived by a skilled owner and his team for the pleasure of sailing with his loved ones and closest friends.

This Malcolm McKeon design will feature the world's tallest sloop rig, soaring to 93 metres / 305 feet. A unique yacht, she is designed for world cruising and exploration, fully in keeping with the shipyard's mission to deliver "the ultimate expression of personal freedom." Her profile will feature McKeon's contemporary styling with a reverse bow for maximum waterline length and a flying bridge for generous outdoor living space under way. Large areas of glass and folding platforms will keep guest connected to the sea. Speed, power, and responsive handling are part of the brief developed by Noir's experienced owner. She is specifically sized to carry a 14 metre / 45 feet tender to allow coastal exploration and to transport guests and provisions without repositioning the yacht closer to a harbor. Details of the yacht include that it will be all-aluminum construction with auxiliary power supplied by electric drives. Rondal will supply the mast, boom, and integrated sailing system. In keeping with her code name Noir, all the deck gear and all her windows will be black.

When completed, the yacht will rank among the world's Top 10 largest sailing yachts. However, her 93-meter / 305-foot mast height solidly lifts her to first place for the world's tallest sloop, with her air draft exceeding the current tallest rig by about 4 metres / 14 feet. "We are very pleased to be building again at Royal Huisman," said Malcolm McKeon. "Having built our award-winning 59.7-metre / 196-foot Sarissa there, we are well acquainted with the shipyard's engineering skills, innovations, and the level of craftsmanship."

Details of the yacht's interior are under wraps currently, but the design is being developed by GCA Architects of Barcelona, Spain, a firm noted for its contemporary approach to residential and commercial buildings. Its impressive projects include Spain's first "smart" building and the world's first platinum-certified LEED structure. Designer Josep Juanpere Miret said the interior will complement the contemporary exterior styling and mix woods and other natural materials and textures for a relaxed yet luxurious atmosphere.

"The capabilities of Royal Huisman can be seen in various ways, with no doubt the most important proof point being that we are selected by knowledgeable owners as the builder for their incredible and unique yachts. I am pleased and humbled that we can highlight Royal Huisman's 140th year of operation with the announcement of such a significant project," said CEO Jan Timmerman. "Of the hundreds of vessels our shipyard has delivered in its history, Project 411 will be our fourth yacht in the ranks of world's Top 10 largest sailing yachts."

Main specifications:

• Name: Noir
• Shipyard number: Royal Huisman Project 411
• Type: Performance sloop
• Length: 81m / 264ft
• Naval architecture + exterior styling: Malcolm McKeon Yacht Design
• Interior design: GCA Architects
• Owners' representative: Occam Marine
• Hull + superstructure material: Aluminum
• Air draft: 93m / 305ft
• Rig + Integrated Sailing System: Rondal
• Builder: Royal Huisman