aquijo sailing yacht mast height

672 Wine Club

• Motorcycles
• Car of the Month
• Destinations
• Men’s Fashion
• Watch Collector
• Art & Collectibles
• Vacation Homes
• Celebrity Homes
• New Construction
• Home Design
• Electronics
• Fine Dining
• Benchmark Wines
• Brian Fox Art
• Disneyland Resort
• Ka La’I Wakiki Beach
• Kalamazoo Grill
• Raffles Hotels & Resorts
• Tributary Idaho
• Sports & Leisure
• Health & Wellness
• Best of the Best
• The Ultimate Gift Guide

Boat of the Week: The World’s Largest Sailing Ketch Doubles as a Luxury Home on the Water

The 283-foot vessel just happened to set a record for its size. the owner was more interested in seeing the world from a bespoke lap of luxury., julia zaltzman, julia zaltzman's most recent stories.

• These Charter Yachts Let You Tag Hammerhead Sharks and Count Spirit Bears for Research
• These Luxe Villas Are the Place to Stay in This Retro-Chic Enclave on the Tuscan Coast
• The 7 Most Exciting New Superyacht Marinas in the World
• Share This Article

The 282-foot Aquijo might be the largest high-performance sailing ketch in the world, but that wasn’t the primary goal of its design. The owner’s intention was to build a fast world cruiser that could sail to the ends of the earth, but just as importantly, have huge amounts of interior space that would make the sailing superyacht feel like home anywhere.

Related Stories

Forget diesel. the world’s largest sportfishing yacht will run on vegetable oil..

• This Bonkers New 6×6 Land Rover Defender Is Built to Be a ‘World-Ender’
• Inside Rolls-Royce’s New N.Y.C. Studio for Designing Ultra-Luxury Dream Cars

Aquijo is a boat built for escapism. “The owner wanted to go and see the world on his yacht,” Gerhard Veldsman, her captain, told Robb Report.   “We’ve been around the world once already, and returned to Holland in early 2020 to complete the boat’s five-year survey. After Covid hit, everything changed.”

The plan had been to make a refit pit stop in the Netherlands before heading through the Northwest Passage to the Pacific, and then embarking on a second world circumnavigation. That voyage has been postponed until travel restrictions ease, or at least until a time when fragile countries are less vulnerable to the pandemic. “I doubt the vaccine will be available in the small island nations as quickly as everywhere else” says Veldsman. “So we’re just sitting tight.”

The owner wanted the same amount of interior space in his sailing yacht as similar-sized motoryachts.  Courtesy Edmiston

Built in 2016, Aquijo was an unusually complex sailing yacht, a collaboration between Oceanco and Vitters. Her owner is a seasoned sailor who first chartered every large, iconic sailing vessel out there, from the 289-foot Maltese Falcon and Enigma (when named Phocea ) to Mirabella V, before embarking on a design and build of his own yacht.

“His aim was to take the best design pieces out of each of those yachts to construct Aquijo ,” says Veldsman. “That included matching Maltese Falcon in size, but adopting a large bar on the aft deck with a beer tap.”

There’s no denying that Aquijo is a beast. She has 64,500-square-feet of sails. At full pelt, she reaches speeds in excess of 20 knots which, for a 1,600 gross-ton yacht, is an impressive sight to behold. “When you have a boat of Aquijo ’s size and weight traveling fast through water, you need a team of people who understand not only the principles of sailing but also what happens below deck in terms of the hydraulics.”

Courtesy Edmiston

Features like the indoor spa pool beneath the opening skylight are one of many features that make Aquijo a liveaboard yacht.

Aquijo has a significant amount of complex hydraulic power. Vitters’s knowledge in building large custom sailing boats was a primary reason for the owner selecting that shipyard in Zwartsluis, Holland. But at 282-feet, the boat was too big for Vitters to construct at its facilities. So, Vitters built the sailing systems, and Oceanco was chosen to build the hull and superstructure.

Exterior design was by Bill Tripp, with the contemporary interior by Dölker+Voges Design. Together with the owner, the designers conceived a sailing vessel matching a comparable-sized motoryacht for interior space. “Balancing the abilities of a lightweight, high-performance sailing yacht with all the space and luxury of a motoryacht is why Aquijo is the size that she is,” says Veldsman. “We had to go big to accomplish that.”

Aquijo pairs an efficient cruising hull with lots of weight in her lifting keel, the largest of its kind ever designed. With the keel down, the draft is an impressive 38 feet. “We once cruised up the Sicilian coast in 40 knots of wind, and all the motoryachts were turning around but we were able to sail through it,” says Veldsman.

The owner took different designs from other super sailing yachts for Aquijo and added features like the bar and al-fresco dining table.  Courtesy Edmiston

Notable design features include neon headboards, extensive deck space and a private owner’s terrace that takes you from bed to balcony in two steps. The 197-foot-high crow’s nest offers the best views on board. The beach club, with Jacuzzi below a main deck skylight, is one of the owner’s favorite spaces on board, particularly in colder climates. The boat’s 300-foot masts are too tall to travel through any canals, which means navigating the Polar regions to get to different continents. Vast, remote waters like those off the coast of Patagonia, where wind speeds can reach 70-plus knots, is where Aquijo comes into her own.

This summer, Aquijo is cruising around the Mediterranean, with charters in Turkey already confirmed through Edmiston, before heading to the Caribbean for winter.

Read More On:

• Sailing Yacht
• Vitters Shipyard

More Marine

A Frothy Genoa International Boat Show Proves the Yachting World Is Alive and Kicking

This New 223-Foot Superyact Has 4 Decks, 3 Pools, and One Giant Cinema

Baltic Yachts Just Unveiled Its First Catamaran, a Sleek 107-Foot Multihull

Meet the Wine Club That Thinks Differently.

Receive editor-curated reds from boutique California producers four times a year.

Give the Gift of Luxury

Latest Galleries in Marine

Livia Superyacht in Photos

Football Season Is Here: The 7 Best Stadiums for ‘Sailgating’ Around the U.S.

More from our brands, from stylist to designer: sarah solis unveils galerie solis, melding european elegance with california vibes, pac-12 sues mountain west over ‘poaching penalty’, former mtv, discovery exec sean atkins named president/coo at dhar mann studios, which has also signed with caa, unesco warns against the looting and trafficking of artifacts from sudan, the best yoga mats for any practice, according to instructors.

Yachting World

• Digital Edition

A look on board the extraordinary 86m Aquijo, the world’s largest ketch

• Helen Fretter
• February 25, 2017

The biggest ketch-rigged yacht on the water, Aquijo is designed to push boundaries and horizons. Helen Fretter talks to her designers

The largest Bermudan rigged ketch ever launched, the 86m  Aquijo was designed by Bill Tripp and launched last year.

The build came about through a new collaboration between the two Dutch yards of Vitters and OceanCo, combining the former’s superyacht expertise with the latter’s custom motoryacht knowledge to create one of the largest sailing yachts in the world (see video of Sailing Yacht A, the world’s largest sail-assisted vessel, during early sea trials) .

The scale of Aquijo is remarkable: at 85m her LOA is considerably greater than the 60m superyacht designs Vitters is more accustomed to working on, hence she was built at OceanCo’s larger seafront site in Alblasserdam, the Netherlands. A steel hull and aluminium superstructure give a gross tonnage of 1,500.

Her twin carbon fibre masts reach 91m above the waterline, with matched main and mizzen. North 3Di sails of over 1,100 square metres each, give a total sail area of 3,247 square metres. Add in a code sail, and the canvas area tops 5,050 square metres. According to Vitters, Aquijo ’s lifting keel is the largest ever designed, at 220 tons (200 tonnes) of lead, with a minimum draught of 5.2m and maximum of 11.6m.

The yacht’s range under engine at 13 knots is 3,200 nautical miles and she has accommodation for 30 in total (12 guests, two owners, a captain, three officers and 12 additional crew).

However, her designer Bill Tripp says that it was sailing performance that drove the design. “We designed Aquijo around sailing loads and sheet loads, to keep them in a range that was controlled. She started design life as a sailboat that encompassed the machinery of a motoryacht, but she is not shaped as a motoryacht – she is easily driven.”

He adds: “Aquijo is also a sophisticated machine and brings most aspects of a 1600GT motoryacht with her. But she is for getting out there, and for going sailing. In Greece [last] summer, she would go out for an afternoon of sailing in a 35 knot Meltemi because it is so much fun to sail at 20 knots as if on rails.”

The new ChessieRacing designed by Bill Tripp is a true designer daysailer, but what is she like to sail?

Sail controls

Aquijo is designed for long distance bluewater exploration, hence limiting the air draught to fit through the Panama Canal (46m) was no longer a consideration. That freed up the design team to create one of the largest true sailing yachts ever conceived.

To make raising the enormous sail area possible, sophisticated reefing and sail handling systems have been developed. In-boom furling system allows the main and mizzen sails to be furled or unfurled in just four seconds. Custom built carbon and aluminium 40-ton winches control the sheets and halyards.

“When we go head to wind we hoist the main and the mizzen together, and I’d say on average that’s a six minute process,” says Tripp. “Then once they’re up you just bear off, and roll out the jib – 30 seconds say. And then you’re off, you have three sails up, and you’re only thinking about those three sails. It means going sailing is pretty easy.”

When sailing at this scale, manoeuvres take a degree of forward planning. “Because we have a staysail, and a heavy weather jib, we have to furl the big jib when tacking,” explains Tripp.

“Vitters organised a system that keeps just a nice amount of tension on the jib sheets furling in and out so that they are not flailing about. It’s not a dinghy tack, but it is safe and orderly. The spinnaker is on a fast furler and furls up in 30 seconds, making gybes less complex.”

Designed to function at up to 20° of heel, Aquijo ’s hull has been tested to withstand the full force of rigging and keel, including mast compression and the effects of her 200-tonne keel, in a knock-down situation. Vitters custom designed a steering system to give direct feedback of the hydrodynamic pressure on the rudders to the twin wheels to create the elusive sailing ‘feel’. There are two submarine anchors in a compartment concealed behind a flush hull closing plate.

Consistency of style

The owner’s cabin is situated on its own top deck, with a private outside area. Robert Voges, of Dølker and Voges, which designed the interior, says that the whole upper deck abaft of the wheelhouse is the owner’s area.

The sociable main deck includes the dining room and main saloon, linked to the outside deck by an inside-outside bar. The yacht’s real showcase feature is the ‘beach club’ on the lower deck, which includes a jacuzzi, sauna, hammam/Turkish bath, rainfall shower, and room for gym equipment, with an open walkway through to the transom swim platform. There is a further whirlpool spa bath on the outer deck.

A consistent aesthetic style has been adopted right throughout the yacht, according to Voges, who comments: “The brief from the owner was the whole area should look, if not the same, but be one language. All the details are the same, even in the crew area.”

Materials are luxurious; as the mast runs through two interior decks it is clad in flawless high shine stainless steel complete with integrated LED lighting – the single biggest technical challenge of the interior build according to Voges.

But it is the sea itself that provides the main focal point. Voges comments: “One of the most important things that the owners asked me for was to make everything feel open, to feel that there is not a difference between inside and outside, so you can feel the ocean.

From each position where you are sitting – dining or in the salon, or in the cabins – you can always see the water. We have planned the windows so even from the bed, you can see the water.”

Ambitious plans

Aquijo is available for charter, but the owner also has some ambitious voyages of his own in mind, not least a trip around Cape Horn.

Asked what inspires people to build a yacht of Aquijo ’s stature, designer Bill Tripp comments: “They’re not looking for the sure thing, they’re really looking for the unknown. They don’t know what it’ll be like sailing in South Georgia, or diving on a reef with hammerhead sharks at night. These are experiences they will remember all their life.

“On a boat like Aquijo it’s the use of it, and the feeling you get. It’s not about fine wines or great speaker systems, it’s about bringing you to things you wouldn’t otherwise experience.”

"Aquijo" : Floating superlative - the largest ketch in the world

Martin Hager

 ·  14.02.2023

With a length of 85 metres, "Aquijo" still occupies sixth place in the ranking of the world's largest yachts. But it will soon slip down a place when Jeff Bezos' superyacht "Koru", with its 127 metres, sets sail. But the German industrial magnate, for whom the steel-aluminium yacht was built by Oceanco and Vitters, need not fret. She still has plenty of superlatives. And she has already fulfilled her purpose, travelling far and wide, as can be seen in the videos at the end of the article.

World record: The superyacht has the largest sail area

The "Aquijo" carries a maximum of five sails (main, mizzen, genoa, staysail, code 1) on its two almost 90 metre high carbon masts, which together form an area of 5,872 square metres. World record! No yacht carries more sail laminate. All the sail systems, including the sheets, stays and winches, were elaborately calculated and designed for the superyacht in order to withstand the enormous loads acting on the enormous rig. "The genoa sheets carry 40 tonnes, and the captive winches had to be developed first," explains designer Bill Tripp on the aft deck. "The masts are hydraulically pressed onto the foundation plates with 350 tonnes, and 73 tonnes act on the backstays."

The technical challenge of building the voluminous two-master (1,538 gross tonnes) was so great that two highly specialised shipyards had to join forces in order to build the sailing-experienced owner his dream yacht. "There has never been such a forced co-operation in the superyacht industry," explains the first engineer Robert Vadas as he walks through the huge, elongated technical room. "All sailing yacht components were developed, manufactured and installed by the Dutch shipyard Vitters, while the construction of the hull, interior and all motor yacht components were realised in the large halls of Oceanco. During the construction phase, it was sometimes difficult to find the right contact person for some components, but the result is impressive."

Most read articles

The superyacht's draught has a variance of 6.3 metres

Oceanco welded the hull of construction number Y711 from steel, while the superstructure of the three-decker was made from aluminium. A lifting keel provides the necessary stability under sail, allowing the draught to be reduced from a maximum of 11.60 metres to 5.30 metres.

"The owner had very clear ideas about his new yacht right from the start," says Bill Tripp. "He wanted a length of around 85 metres, two masts, plenty of space for his family and friends and, above all, a powerful rigging package that would allow him to sail quickly and safely."

At almost 90 metres, the masts are so high that it is not possible for the superyacht to navigate the Panama Canal, so "Aquijo" had to be designed to withstand the harsh climate and strong winds around Cape Horn without any problems. "In our worst-case calculations, we had to ensure that the hull could withstand the enormous forces of the rig and the 11.60 metre deep keel in the event of a knockdown," explains Bill Tripp.

The sail plan of the Gigaketsch differs significantly from the usual ketch configurations. "We refer to the yacht internally as a 'sketch', a mixture of schooner and ketch, as the two masts are almost the same height," says the designer. "We wanted to realise a sail plan that allows the sail area to be evenly distributed over the three main sails: genoa, main and mizzen." In order to reduce the mast height slightly while maintaining the same sail area, the designers fitted the main and mizzen sails of the superyacht with head sections that flared far aft. "With the fathead sails, we save ten metres of mast, which has a positive effect on the centre of gravity. The battens in the sail head also ensure that the sails reef very well."

As the fathead sails would get caught on the backstay when tacking and jibing, the masts are held by backstays that have to be operated for every manoeuvre. "With a yacht of this size, I rely on experienced sailors who know exactly what to do every time I change course," says South African captain Gerhard Veldsman. "Technically, I could also sail 'Aquijo' alone. But that would be like flying an Airbus A380 without a co-pilot."

Pods as thick as a forearm

The customised sheets and halyards with the diameter of a trained man's forearm are operated via twelve captive winches (basically like winches on an off-road vehicle), which are oil-pressure controlled and well concealed in the winch compartment. Further massive deck winches are also available for taming the gigantic 3Di sails from North Sails.

The superyacht proved that "Aquijo" can sail fast just a few weeks after its delivery in summer 2017: at wind speeds of 35 knots, the two-master was already travelling at 20.4 knots, with the Cape Ketch sailing at an average speed of 19 knots that day. "You feel super confident on board, even when the wind is blowing at more than eight knots, as it was that day," says Gerhard Veldsman.

The size of the superyacht also has its disadvantages. It takes time before "Aquijo" is ready to sail. "It takes eight minutes to set the main, mizzen and genoa," says the first engineer. "And we need about three minutes for the tacks, as we first have to furl the genoa a little so that it slides around the staysail stay."

The superyacht has the largest carbon fibre rudder blades in the world

To enable the owner and captain to steer as directly and sensitively as possible, the Vitters engineers realised a system that transmits the hydrodynamic forces on the world's largest carbon rudder blades directly to the steering wheels on the flybridge. This allows the helmsman to feel the rudder pressure in real time and react accordingly. "The system works really impressively. Thanks to the direct control, 'Aquijo' feels like a much smaller yacht at the helm," says Bill Tripp enthusiastically.

In contrast, anyone entering the aft deck of the 14.50 metre wide "Aquijo" immediately has the feeling of being on a sailing giant. An expansive dining table dominates the area, in front of which is a large bar that skilfully connects the aft deck with the saloon. Hamburg design studio Dölker + Voges, which worked closely with the owner's wife, was responsible for the interior styling of the superyacht. "The design is modern and elegant and yet, in our opinion, natural and refreshing," says designer Robert Voges. Mutenye, ash and teak wood predominate on the three decks, with stainless steel details setting the tone in almost every room.

A glass lift is part of it

The unusual number of decks for sailing yachts is based on the owner's desire to have a spacious private area above the main deck. "To prevent the yacht profile from appearing too massive, we placed the bridge on half a deck between the owner's deck and the main deck." A glass lift connects all levels. "I never thought I would design a sailing yacht with a lift," smiles Bill Tripp. "Incidentally, the entire yacht is barrier-free; a friend of the owner is in a wheelchair and will be a frequent guest on board."

Beach club, pool, sauna, whirlpool - this superyacht has it all

An owner's bedroom with a fantastic panoramic view towards the stern is one of the absolute highlights of the unusual layout, as is the large beach club and spa area on the lower deck. A skylight on the aft deck floods the wellness area below, including indoor pool, sauna, steam bath and lounge corner, with natural light. Those who prefer to lie in the fresh air and sun in the bubble bath can choose the whirlpool on the flybridge. From up here, you have the best view of the sails and, with the helm stations in front, there is always plenty of action.

Two gimbal-mounted dining tables allow for a cosy al-fresco lunch even when the boat is heeling at 20 degrees. If the view from the fly is not enough, you can climb into the mast cage at the front of the main mast and sail up to the penultimate spreader at a height of 75 metres. Overview and adrenaline rush guaranteed. The superyacht, which is approved by Lloyd's Register for a maximum of twelve guests and a crew of 17, has an interior volume of 1,538 gross tonnes that outdoes many a 70-metre motor yacht. And yet the owner was never interested in causing a stir with the size of his yacht.

Travelling the world in the greatest possible comfort under sail - that was the starting point for this incredible project. "An assignment that gave me a few grey hairs," laughs Bill Tripp. But the effort was worth it. With its enormous sail area totalling 5,872 square metres, the world's largest ketch will remain at the top of the list of sailing giants for a long time to come. Spectacular giants such as the 106 metre long Dyna rig project "Solar" or the 143 metre "A" may be even more voluminous - but these extreme designs will certainly not round Cape Horn. Because the following still applies: anyone who wants to round the notorious headland on the Chilean rocky island of Isla Hornos must be carved from special wood. Although: steel, aluminium and carbon fibre will certainly do the trick.

Other interesting superyachts:

• Four entry-level superyachts around 20 metres
• Bezos fleet forms up in the Netherlands
• "Prevail" - cool cube

"Aquijo" in Patagonia

Shooting under sail, most read in category yachts.

Oceanco 2016

Summer Charter

From €505,000 p/w

Winter Charter

Please enquire

Sophistication. Volume. Pedigree.

Built by Vitters and Oceanco, 86m sailing yacht Aquijo redefines the top-end sailing experience. With vast interior volumes, an Aquijo yacht charter offers the space and amenities normally only seen on motor yachts. These include a guest elevator, interior and exterior dining for up to 24, three outdoor bars and a stunning beach club with steam room, sauna and ocean view Jacuzzi. A mast of 90 metres and an impressive sail plan ensure spectacular sailing and 7 adaptable cabins provide ultimate accommodation flexibility for up to 12 guests. Combining the vision of an experienced yacht Owner with the finest Dutch craftsmanship, Aquijo sets new standards in sailing and sophistication.

Not for sale or charter to U.S. residents while in U.S. waters

CHARTER LOCATION

Summer: South Pacific & Australasia

Standout Features

This is Aquijo

Unparalleled space

More space that other sailing yachts, with impressive ceiling heights.

Easy access between decks.

Private Terrace

Extends from the Principal cabin.

Adaptable Layout

A flexible seven-cabin layout offers numerous possibilities for any group.

Outdoor Bars

With a bar on three of her four decks Aquijo is set up to entertain.

Spectacular Flybridge

Spacious with large sofas, Jacuzzi, sunpads and gimballed tables.

Dutch Pedigree

Built by Vitters and Oceanco, Aquijo boasts exceptional pedigree from two top Dutch shipyards.

Unusual for a sailing yacht, the beach club offers a spawith steam room, sauna, hot tub and lounge.

Main deck's 24-seater dining table, BBQ, and bar create the ultimate social space..

Media Gallery

Aquijo Through the Lens

Sailing but not as you know it

Superlative Spaces

On the flybridge, which is impressively spacious, there are large sofas, a Jacuzzi, sunpads and gimballed tables (so your drinks stay put). It’s a superlative space to relax or take in the sailing action.

Entertainment Guaranteed

With a bar on three of her four decks, there’s every opportunity for seamless service at all times. Try the main deck, where there’s a 12-seater bar with a retractable television, multi-coloured lighting and beer on tap.

Dine Under the Stars

When it comes to dining, there’s nowhere better than the 24 person dining table on the main deck aft, situated under a retractable skylight.

Accommodation

Total Escapism

Aquijo offers total disconnection and complete freedom. Her seven adaptable cabins, with no TVs or Audio systems, offer numerous layout possibilities for different groups. The peace and escapism is unrivalled.

Cabin Arrangement

Principal Cabin

The bridge-deck master suite features his and hers ensuites and a private terrace with gimballed dining table.

Convertible Cabins

Two cabins each with ensuite and lounge that split into two separate cabins if needed.

Guest Cabins

Two additional guest cabins; one is wheelchair accessible.

Make a Splash

What's in the Toybox

2 x 8m Tenders 1 x 6m Tenders 11 Plastic kayaks Jetski One-man Hobie Quest Fanatic inflatable SUP Fanatic rigid SUP Wakeboards RS Aero sailing dinghies Sets of dive gear Fishing rods Assorted inflatable toys

Please note that the tenders and toys on board the yachts are regularly updated. Please contact Y.CO for the most up to date list.

Charter Aquijo in South America

Adventures In Nature

Bahia Herradura to Puerto Jimenez. Cruise from Costa Rica to Panama. Live la Pura Vida. Raft on the Pacuare River. Fly over vibrant green landscapes.

A Chain of Offshore Jewels

Cucumber Beach Marina to Belize City. A twelve day exploration of Belize's uninhabited islands and atolls by superyacht.

A Peaceful Green Jewel

Playa Herradura to Marina Papagayo. Discover Costa Rica, an adventurer’s dream. A peaceful idyll. Wildlife wherever you turn.

Untouched Wilderness

Las Catalinas to Puerto Jimenez. Experience the endless possibilities that a yacht charter on Costa Rica’s coastline has to offer.

Charter Aquijo in the South Pacific and Australasia

Pearl of the Pacific

Port Denarau to Port Denarau. Take a step back from the hustle and bustle of city life and escape to the Mamanuca and Yasawa Islands; white sandy beaches, blue lagoons and luxurious resorts.

Natural Paradise

Whangaroa to Auckland. Epic landscapes. Green islands. Mirror calm turquoise waters. New Zealand is the ultimate playground of the Pacific.

Uninterrupted Island Bliss

Samarai to Alotau. Venture off the grid and cruise through the Milne Bay Region of Papua New Guinea.

More Yachts Like Aquijo

Maltese Falcon

Your privacy.

We use cookies to enhance your browsing experience, analyse our traffic and provide personalised marketing. You can choose whether to accept these, or reject all but essential cookies, according to our Cookie Policy .

LET'S CHAT.

Get in touch with one of our teams around the world.

Where you'll find us

Monaco — MC

London — UK

Fort Lauderdale — US

Auckland — NZ

What if speed meets indulgence?

Exterior design.

Interior design

Specifications

Cookie preferences.

Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.

Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.

Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.

Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.

Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.

• THE PRINCESS PASSPORT
• Email Newsletter
• Yacht Walkthroughs
• Destinations
• Electronics
• Boating Safety
• Ultimate Boating Giveaway

• Cruising and Chartering

Aquijo Yacht: Large Sailing Yacht Ready For Charter

• By Kim Kavin
• Updated: September 12, 2016

Aquijo is arguably the most impressive sailing yacht available for charter anywhere in the world. I know that’s a big statement to make about a brand-new yacht, but let’s consider the facts.

The 279-foot Aquijo was delivered to her owners earlier this year following joint construction by the powerhouse Dutch shipyards Vitters and Oceanco . She was built to a standard that made her a first-of-its-kind project for both yards.

Bear in mind, these are the shipyards that produced innovations ranging from direct-drive pods on performance cruising yachts (previously seen only on racing yachts, according to Vitters) to a brackish-water pool with a height-adjustable floor made of glass-reinforced plastic (a first that Oceanco claimed in 2012, with the 290-foot superyacht Nirvana ). On Aquijo , one of the innovations is a steering system meant to provide immediate feedback at the helm, enhancing the experience of holding the wheel aboard a yacht of substantial size. In other words, charter guests can stand at the helm of the 279-foot yacht and feel her respond much as a smaller yacht would, amping the exhilaration factor at 17 knots in just over 21 knots of breeze.

And let’s put a fine point on Aquijo ‘s size — because it’s impressive. In terms of length overall among sailing yachts in the global charter fleet, Aquijo ranks just behind the Perini Navi Maltese Falcon and the Royal Huisman Athena , both of which remain iconic even though they are more than a decade old. The masts aboard Aquijo are a vertigo-inducing 295 feet tall. She is the world’s largest high-performance ketch, a distinction that holds true when describing yachts used privately as well as those offered for charter.

And then there are Aquijo ‘s features. Vitters and Oceanco previously built some of the most in-demand yachts available for charter, including the 180-foot Marie (which appears on page 68) and the 282-foot Seven Seas, built for director Steven Spielberg with an onboard theater that continues to wow guests of all ages. Aquijo incorporates everything the yards have learned about guest comfort and memorable spaces, culminating in elements like the beach club in the photograph at left. It is the type of space rarely found aboard sailing yachts of any size, and it includes what you see in the photograph plus a sauna and steam room.

That beach club is just one of many elements that Aquijo shares with super-yachts on the charter scene. She also is handicapped-friendly, with a stateroom designed to accommodate a wheelchair as well as a swim platform that lowers into the water for easy access. Y.CO says that she is also the only sailing yacht for charter that has an elevator.

Indeed, upon her entry into the Y.CO charter fleet this past summer, Aquijo was an instant competitor not only to the most impressive sailing yachts, but also to superyachts.

“When you have an 86-meter sailing yacht that’s over 1,500 gross tons, you’re competing with motoryachts,” says Tom DeBuse, director of charter management for Y.CO. “I’m in negotiations at the moment with a guy who’s taken large motoryachts in the past, and he has taken some sailing yachts in the past. He’s taking Aquijo because she has everything a large motoryacht has, plus.”

Aquijo is expected to move to the Caribbean this winter, where she will undoubtedly be the most in-demand sailing yacht for charter from St. Barth straight down to Grenada.

Bill Tripp of Tripp Design Naval Architecture in Connecticut handled Aquijo ‘s design. She is the largest project from the renowned naval architect, whose other work has included the 148-foot Saudade and the 164-foot Better Place , both built by Wally. The owners of Aquijo reportedly brought Tripp a preliminary layout by the German firm Dölker + Voges , which handled interior design. The owners tasked Tripp with creating a package around that interior that would provide safety, comfort and speed.

Y.CO is advertising Aquijo for charter with 12 guests in seven staterooms. As you can see in the photographs at right, the onboard spaces are laid out to accommodate large and small gatherings alike. The top-deck hot tub is in addition to the one inside the beach club, so multiple groups of guests (think adults and children) can enjoy a soak at the same time, without having countless knees and ankles in the mix.

The main indoor and outdoor dining areas are sized to welcome the full complement of charter guests; smaller areas for snacks and more intimate meals are in spaces like the top-deck enclaves (with gimbaled tables for underway dining) and aft-deck nooks. Interior seating is designed to inspire conversation among groups of five or six guests, executing the impressive feat of making one of the largest sailing yachts on the planet feel, at times, cozy.

Aquijo ‘s décor is intended to feel contemporary and welcoming, not overwhelming. Note the use of aquamarine hues in everything from stateroom walls to sun-deck pillows. The onboard vibe, much like Aquijo ‘s beach club, brings the outdoors inside. Her wooden soles create a further, tactile connection to nature. (Imagine how your bare feet feel on plush carpeting, as opposed to cool wood. One sensation screams “formal” while the other whispers “beach-house chic.”)

There’s also the oversize windows in the guest stateroom, along with the multitiered chandeliers that appear to glow above the sofas and chairs in the conversation space. These design elements give the yacht a feeling of openness. The aft deck dining table is beneath a retractable sunroof, allowing that feeling to continue into the evening hours during meals under the stars.

Many of these elements, of course, are borrowed from the world of superyacht design, and they are why Y.CO markets Aquijo as a yacht that “offers the comfort of a large motoryacht while remaining a true sailing yacht at heart.” Even spots like the chaise lounges far aft (shown in the photograph to the left of this text) have the feel of a traditional sailing-yacht experience, but on a scale almost always associated with superyachts in the 180-foot-and-larger range. You can see a few of the steps to the main deck peeking out of the side of the photograph. Imagine walking down them, in your bathing suit, and settling in to enjoy the view astern from such a sizable platform. It is an experience that can only be had aboard precious few charter yachts in existence.

It is also worth noting how elegantly Tripp and the shipyards answered the owner’s call for safety on board. That is key to the charter-yacht experience — clients are not always seasoned yachtsmen, let alone sailors. Look at the photograph on the next page, which shows handrails on both sides of the lighted steps to the next deck. You can also see good-height side decks behind the table to starboard. They prevent overboard falls without affecting the water views of guests enjoying dinner.

To call Aquijo impressive is accurate. To anticipate the charter experience she will provide is thrilling. To know she is available for bookings in the Caribbean this winter is, truly, the stuff of which vacation dreams are made.

That quality of pure inspiration, maybe more than anything else, qualifies Aquijo as the most remarkable sailing yacht now available for charter, anywhere.

• More: Caribbean , Charter , Cruising & Chartering , Florida & Bahamas , Y.CO
• More Cruising and Chartering

Cruising Made Easy with The Moorings

Top Bar Harbor Maine Sights For Visiting Cruisers

Spend Thanksgiving on a Yacht

Cruising into Adventure: Discover Nantucket

Silver Bullet: Pershing 90 Express For Sale

Long-Range Voyager: 2006 Ocean Alexander 58 Pilothouse For Sale

Octoport’s Carbon-Fiber Yacht Furniture Elevates Life Onboard

World Traveler: Westport 112 Raised Pilothouse For Sale

• Digital Edition
• Customer Service
• Privacy Policy
• Terms of Use
• Email Newsletters
• Cruising World
• Sailing World
• Salt Water Sportsman
• Sport Fishing
• Wakeboarding

• Ordered by Shipyards & Yacht Brands
• Ordered by Date
• Yacht Designers
• About and Contact
• Yacht Support Vessels
• Tenders & Toys
• Some interesting other sites in the superyacht world

AQUIJO // Vitters // Oceanco

The 85m ketch-rigged high-performance sailing yacht aquijo is a collaboration between dutch shipyards vitters and oceanco ..

Vitters is well-known for large sailing yachts and Oceanco is a specialist for even bigger motor yachts. Her exterior design and naval architecture were delivered by Tripp Design , while her interior design was made by the Hamburg-based design office  Dölker + Voges .

Although AQUIJO  is very big for a sailing yacht, her profile looks sporty to emphasize her promise to be the world’s largest high-performance ketch with a two-deck superstructure (and a flybridge on top) for a lot of space inside and outside.

Sailors like me are fans of rudder feedback which is not really given on big yachts. Vitters developed a rudder system which translates the hydrodynamic forces to the steering wheels on the flybridge.

Her interior is clean, contemporary and modern. The forwarded mast has a height of 90m and is one of the tallest in the world.

Many wishes for a lot of fun and safety journeys to AQUIJO ‘s owner and the crew.

SHARING IS CARING - THANK YOU!

Chrisco // cnb, wing 100 // royal huisman, swan 98 // german frers // misa poggi, bmw technology takes role in the america’s cup, baltic 80 custom, nyumba // nauta design // southern wind, mm38 // malcolm mckeon yacht design, black pearl // oceanco.

About Publisher

Using a minimum of third party cookies for YouTube, Vimeo and Analytics.

Privacy Preference Center

Privacy preferences.

Google Analytics

WHERE CAN WE TAKE YOU?

Enquire now.

Thank you for contacting Ocean Alliance. We will reply to your enquiry as soon as possible.

• South Pacific
• East Mediterranean
• West Mediterranean
• Bahamas & Caribbean
• South East Asia
• North America
• Indian Ocean
• Central & South America
• Northern Europe
• Yacht Marketing
• Yacht Charter Management
• Yacht Commercial Structures
• Yacht Operational Support
• Yacht Fiscal Support
• Meet The Team
• Yachting for purpose

Built in 2016, this spectacular 85m yacht is the world’s largest high-performing k etch and marks Vitters Shipyard and Oceanco’s first cooperative effort.  

Designed by Tripp Design Naval Architecture, AQUIJO is a breathtaking sailing yacht that offers the ultimate comfort and space. The contemporary luxury interiors are the highest possible quality whilst also featuring 270-degree panoramic views. The lower deck includes 6 guest cabins, each with their very own ensuite bathroom. Also situated on the lower deck is the exquisite beach club which has a jacuzzi, steam room, and sauna.  

Her unique steering system provides guests with impeccable sailing experience. This is an astonishing yacht that is designed to take you on a sail of a lifetime.  

• Charter Conditions
• Tender and Watersports

Tax Status:  Charter taxes, where applicable, will be due according to the rules and regulations of the chosen cruising destination Contracts:  MYBA – All agreements to be drawn up using the current MYBA E-contract Charter Agreement – Revised 2017 version

2 x 8m semi rigid tenders   1 x 6m military spec fully inflatable tender for ice and beach landings   1 x Yamaha Waverunner Jetski (3-person)   2 x One man Hobie Quest 11 plastic kayaks   2 x inflatable 2 persons kayaks   2 x Airhead inflatable towing donuts   1 x Sports Stuff inflatable half-pipe (2-person)   2 x Wakeboards – Hyperlite : Tribute   2 x JOBE Allegre Water Ski   1 x JOBE Progress Water Ski   2 x Fanatic inflatable SUP   1 x Fanatic rigid SUP   2 x RS Aero sailing Dinghy’s   8 x Sets of dive gear   6 Fishing rods for towing and casting with all related equipment   Assorted inflatable toys for floating behind the yacht: Flamingo, swan, pizza slice, pineapple   Jacuzzi’s: 1 on Fly Bridge, 1 large Jacuzzi in Beach Club plus sauna and steam room

You are using an outdated browser. Please upgrade your browser to improve your experience.

AQUIJO - 282' (86M)

Yacht, IMO 1012529

• VesselFinder
• Miscellaneous

The current position of AQUIJO is at South Pacific Ocean reported 5 mins ago by AIS. The vessel AQUIJO (IMO 1012529, MMSI 319085900) is a Yacht built in 2016 (8 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Cayman Islands .

Voyage Data

Ship position & weather

Recent port calls, vessel particulars.

Registered Owner

Address Website - Email - Address Website Email ISM Manager - Address - Website - Email - P&I Club - Classification Society   AQUIJO current position and history of port calls are received by AIS. Technical specifications, tonnages and management details are derived from VesselFinder database. The data is for informational purposes only and VesselFinder is not responsible for the accuracy and reliability of AQUIJO data. 483 IMAGES Massive 86m Oceanco/Vitters Mega Yacht AQUIJO with masts stepped AQUIJO AQUIJO AQUIJO AQUIJO AQUIJO VIDEO SUPERYACHT AQUIJO gorgeous sailboat Aquijo Luxury Yacht #aquijo #yachts #luxury #luxurylifestyle SY AQUIJO Yacht Mast Stuck Under Bridge Inside the Turquoise Yachts 53m Superyacht Jewels: A Journey of Luxury and Elegance COMMENTS Inside 86m Aquijo: The largest ketch in the world The world's largest ketch Aquijo with her 3Di North Sails aloft. All photos: Stuart Pearce. Aquijo was built at Oceanco's much larger facility at Alblasserdam, which enjoys direct access to the sea, but the teams worked closely together. At times it was a precarious balance to keep the demands of a sailing yacht in check: the loads are immense. Meet 'Aquijo,' the World's Largest (and Most Luxurious) Sailing Ketch Built in 2016, Aquijo was an unusually complex sailing yacht, a collaboration between Oceanco and Vitters. ... The boat's 300-foot masts are too tall to travel through any canals, which means ... A look aboard Aquijo, the world's largest ketch Add in a code sail, and the canvas area tops 5,050 square metres. According to Vitters, Aquijo 's lifting keel is the largest ever designed, at 220 tons (200 tonnes) of lead, with a minimum ... Aquijo (yacht) Design. The dimensions are: length is 86 m (282 ft), beam is 14.48 m (47.5 ft) and had a draught of 5.23 m (17.2 ft). The hull is built out of steel while the superstructure is made out of aluminium with teak laid decks. The yacht is Lloyd's registered, issued by Cayman Islands. She has a sail area of 3,995 m 2 . AQUIJO Yacht • Jurgen Grossman $100M Sailing Superyacht The sailing yacht Aquijo is a magnificent luxury vessel built by Oceanco and Vitters in 2016. Her design has been conceptualized by Tripp Design Naval Architects. Powered by robust Caterpillar engines, the Aquijo can reach a max speed of 16 knots and maintains a cruising speed of 12 knots. The yacht can comfortably accommodate 12 guests along ... "Aquijo" : Floating superlative The "Aquijo" carries a maximum of five sails (main, mizzen, genoa, staysail, code 1) on its two almost 90 metre high carbon masts, which together form an area of 5,872 square metres. World record! No yacht carries more sail laminate. World's Largest High-Performance Ketch, Aquijo: A Rare Charter This way, there's instant feedback and enhanced connection, so to speak, to the yacht, much the way there is on far, far smaller craft. Tripp Design, tasked with naval architecture, equipped her with a normal sailing rig at her owner's insistence, too. That means her masts—each about 295 feet (90 meters)—exceed Panamax height. Aquijo Yacht For Charter A mast of 90 metres and an impressive sail plan ensure spectacular sailing and 7 adaptable cabins provide ultimate accommodation flexibility for up to 12 guests. Combining the vision of an experienced yacht Owner with the finest Dutch craftsmanship, Aquijo sets new standards in sailing and sophistication. Aquijo: The World's Largest Ketch Aquijo was launched in January, 2016, in the Netherlands and has already gone through her 5-year refit. Her lifting keel is the largest ever designed, at 484,000 lbs. (220 tons) of lead, with a minimum draught of 17' (5.2m) and maximum of 38' (11.6m). Her carbon fiber main and mizzen masts are 298' (91 m) tall, and hoist sails that are ... AQUIJO yacht for charter (Oceanco, Vitters, 86m, 2016) A mast of 90 metres and an impressive sail plan ensure spectacular sailing and 7 adaptable cabins provide ultimate accommodation flexibility for up to 12 guests. Combining the vision of an experienced yacht Owner with the finest Dutch craftsmanship, Aquijo sets new standards in sailing and sophistication. Aquijo: Inside the 3-year global tour of the world's largest ketch At 86 metres, Aquijo is the largest ketch in the world - a thoroughbred, and the fruit of not one, but two Dutch powerhouses: Vitters and later Oceanco, which joined forces to complete this unique sailing yacht. In 2010, Bill Tripp of Tripp Design Naval Architecture penned the lines for a yacht capable of both global cruising and racing. 86m AQUIJO: world first report Aquijo enhances her sailing performance with custom 40 tonne winches with adjustable line speed, a unique submarine anchor system and Vitters' own steering system, which connects the carbon-fibre rudder blades to the flybridge wheels. The two 90 metre masts fly 3Di North Sails and give the yacht a total sail area of 5,051 AQuiJo AQuiJo is the world's largest high-performance ketch, built collaboratively by Vitters Shipyard and Oceanco. She integrates outstanding sailing credentials and state-of-the-art technology with exceptional space, comfort and luxury. 1 3. Her contemporary interior design works in harmony with the inside-outside style of living on board that is ... Aquijo Yacht, Sailing Yacht This one is aboard the sailing yacht Aquijo, built by Vitters and Oceanco, for charter with Y.CO. Courtesy Y.CO. ... to a brackish-water pool with a height-adjustable floor made of glass-reinforced plastic (a first that Oceanco claimed in 2012, ... The masts aboard Aquijo are a vertigo-inducing 295 feet tall. She is the world's largest high ... AQUIJO Yacht Layout & GA Plans Vertigo. Interactive, detailed layout / general arrangement of AQUIJO, the 86m Oceanco mega yacht with naval architecture by Tripp Design with an interior by Dölker+Voges Design. AQUIJO The 85m ketch-rigged high-performance sailing yacht AQUIJO is a collaboration of Dutch builders Vitters, Oceanco, Tripp Design, and Dölker + Voges. Motor Yachts. ... The forwarded mast has a height of 90m and is one of the tallest in the world. Many wishes for a lot of fun and safety journeys to AQUIJO's owner and the crew. Oceanco Oceanco ... AQUIJO Yacht Charter Price The award winning 85.9m/281'10" sail yacht 'AQuiJo' by the Dutch shipyard Oceanco offers flexible accommodation for up to 12 guests in 7 cabins and features interior styling by Dölker+Voges Design. Offering an enticing combination of luxury and adventure, AQuiJo has all the bells and whistles and a wealth of convivial social spaces for the ultimate sun-kissed yacht charter getaway. The Sailing Superyacht Reimagined Modern and sophisticated, Aquijo defines what a top-end sailing experience is all about. At 282 feet (86 meters) in length, Aquijo is the largest high performance ketch in the world. A veritable tour de force, she is not merely a motoryacht with sails. Her 295-foot (90-meter) masts carry identical 12,830-square-foot (1,192-square-meter ... Aquijo Charter Yacht Built in 2016, this spectacular 85m yacht is the world's largest high-performing ketch and marks Vitters Shipyard and Oceanco's first cooperative effort. Designed by Tripp Design Naval Architecture, AQUIJO is a breathtaking sailing yacht that offers the ultimate comfort and space. The contemporary luxury interiors are the highest possible ... Aquijo Yacht Aquijo is a sailing yacht with an overall length of m. The yacht's builder is Oceanco from The Netherlands, who launched Aquijo in 2016. The superyacht has a beam of m and a volume of . GT.. Aquijo features exterior design by Tripp Design Naval Architects and interior design by Dölker + Voges GmbH. Aquijo has a steel hull and an aluminium superstructure. She is powered by 2 Caterpillar Inc ... Naval Architecture / Custom Yachts / AQUIJO We chose to install an even-height ketch rig. The sail plan is subdivided so that each sail produces forces of a similar magnitude, as well as keeping the number of sails and system parts to a minimum. This allows for quick sail setting and reducing, easy tacking, and fast, four-sail reaching for long distance sailing. LOA: 85.9 m (281.8') AQUIJO, Yacht The current position of AQUIJO is at South Pacific Ocean reported 14 mins ago by AIS. The vessel AQUIJO (IMO 1012529, MMSI 319085900) is a Yacht built in 2016 (8 years old) and currently sailing under the flag of Cayman Islands. Plans & Prices. Aquijo The 86m sailing yacht AQUIJO is the largest high-performance ketch in the world and is luxuriously appointed. The main deck aft is the social hub of the yacht and features a 24-seater dining table with a retractable skylight. Her interiors, designed by Dölker & Voges, LEGO 75397 Jabba's Sail Barge review Though large-scale Ultimate Collector Series models are usually spectacular, I tend to favour minifigure-scale designs, like 75192 Millennium Falcon and 75313 AT-AT. These famous vehicles are ideal for premium recreations, in scale with minifigures, but there is potential for more. 75397 Jabba's Sail Barge is perhaps the most appropriate example and LEGO Star Wars fans have long discussed this ... catamaran gulet motorboat powerboat riverboat sailboat trimaran yacht