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Aquarius, 65 metres shaped by continuity

Royal Huisman Aquarius takes the concept of her predecessor to 65 metres, adding volume, advanced technology and performance conceived for racing as well as cruising

The new Aquarius preserves the identity of the previous 56-metre ketch while growing to 65 metres with 45% more volume and a genuine performance spirit

The new Royal Huisman Aquarius began with a rather unusual request in the world of large custom yachts: change a great deal without changing what had already worked so well. The owners of the previous Aquarius, now named Apsara, wanted their new yacht to retain the same identity, elegance and rewarding sailing experience, while providing more space, greater capability and even more ambitious performance.

That idea evolved into a 65-metre performance ketch, nine metres longer than the previous yacht completed in 2018 and offering a declared 45% increase in volume. From a distance, the two yachts can even appear remarkably similar, a deliberate decision that reveals how important the original design remained to the owners.

Growing without losing her identity

When owners consider their yacht close to perfect, designing its successor becomes a delicate exercise. Aquarius was not about starting again, but understanding what deserved to remain and where there was still room for improvement.

As the family grew and longer periods on board became part of their plans, additional space emerged as one of the central requirements. The extra nine metres, combined with greater hull depth and beam, created substantially more volume without radically altering the proportions and visual character of the previous Aquarius.

The result retains a modern classic character while using its larger dimensions to improve social spaces, crew areas and the yacht’s capabilities for extended cruising.

The same team for a new project

Continuity also shaped the choice of people behind the yacht. The owners reunited the core team responsible for the first Aquarius: Royal Huisman as builder, Dykstra Naval Architects for naval architecture, Mark Whiteley Design for the interiors and Godfrey Cray as the owners’ project manager.

The yacht is constructed in Alustar® aluminium, while Royal Huisman’s sister company Rondal supplied the carbon rig and integrated sail-handling system.

It is precisely this combination of seemingly classical forms and contemporary technology that gives Aquarius much of her personality. Her appearance does not immediately reveal everything she is capable of once under sail.

Larger, with an even stronger focus on performance

Increasing the dimensions was never intended to turn Aquarius into simply a more spacious yacht. One of the owners’ requirements was also to enhance her sailing capabilities.

The design therefore incorporates solutions intended to maintain a balance between the comfort expected from a large sailing yacht conceived for international cruising and the performance required to compete in superyacht regattas.

Rondal’s carbon rig and integrated sail-handling technology are designed to manage the yacht’s substantial sail areas, while a lifting fin keel contributes to performance under sail. The yacht also incorporates hybrid power-management technologies intended to optimise onboard energy generation and use.

From cruising to the St. Barths Bucket

Aquarius was not created exclusively for racing. She remains fundamentally a yacht for family use and long-distance cruising, but the ability to move from cruising mode into competition is part of her character.

At the 2026 St. Barths Bucket, one of the best-known events on the superyacht racing calendar, the new 65-metre yacht demonstrated that dual personality. Aquarius consistently finished second in her class during the race days.

It is a very different environment from cruising with family and guests, yet that contrast helps explain the scope of the project. The same yacht can undertake long-distance voyages and, with a racing crew on board, compete around a demanding regatta course.

A year of recognition

Aquarius’ performance and technical approach were also recognised by a series of international awards during 2026.

In February, she received the Best Naval Architecture – Sailing Yachts honour at the Design & Innovation Awards. In May, Aquarius won the Sailing Yachts, 40m and Above category at the World Superyacht Awards and was also named overall Sailing Yacht of the Year.

In June 2026, Robb Report selected Aquarius as its Best of the Best winner for best sailing yacht.

The awards approach the yacht from different perspectives, recognising her naval architecture, overall achievement and interpretation of the contemporary sailing superyacht.

Evolution rather than revolution

Aquarius tells a different story from superyachts conceived to introduce an entirely new design language. Here the decision was almost the opposite: start with a yacht that had already deeply satisfied her owners and allow that concept to evolve.

The 65 metres of the new Aquarius therefore do not erase the experience of her predecessor. They amplify it through greater volume, new systems, broader cruising capabilities and increased performance.

That may be the most revealing aspect of this Royal Huisman project. In custom yachting, innovation does not always have to mean breaking with the past. Sometimes it means understanding a yacht well enough to know precisely what should remain and what can still be taken further.

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Royal Huisman, Aquarius

23 August 2026
© MED Yachting Editorial Team
Aquarius, 65 metres shaped by continuity
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