The much-anticipated 85 metre sailing superyacht Aquijo, created in collaboration between Dutch yacht building powerhouses Oceanco and Vitters Shipyards, has been delivered to her owner. It's the first delivery this year for both yards.
Built under the project code name P85, Aquijo is significant as the first collaboration of this kind for the two yards, for her sheer size – she will be one of the largest sailing yachts in the world – and for the fact that even at her notable size, she is designed to be a true performance sailing yacht.
Hull No 3069 for Vitters and Y711 for Oceanco, the aluminium ketch-rigged yacht features design and naval architecture by Bill Tripp. The two yards along with Tripp Design worked closely in every step of the design and build of Aquijo, in cooperation with the owner’s representative Master Yachts.
Aquijo combines Oceanco’s experience building custom motor yachts larger than 80 metres LOA with Vitters’ talents in creating high-performance sailing yachts. The result is a highly complex, performance-driven sailing machine.
Vitters developed a custom steering system for the new yacht. It works by translating the hydrodynamic forces on the rudder blades directly to the steering wheels on the flybridge, thus providing the helmsman with immediate feedback and a feeling for how the yacht is moving through the water.
This is a huge innovation as often on larger yachts the biggest complaint from those at the helm is you can’t “feel” the yacht’s movements, and therefore respond as quickly, as one would on a smaller yacht. This innovation helps satiate the builder’s brief to build a real performer and is, “as nimble and easy to handle as a yacht of smaller dimensions, proving that a [sailing superyacht] can have competitive sailing capabilities with relative ease of sailing”. Attention has also been paid to safety and comfort for both crew and guests while sailing.
Dölker + Voges is responsible for the comfortable and modern interior design, that spreads out over four decks, combining shared living spaces and private accommodations.
She has a high-volume superstructure that affords clear sightlines from inside, and the layout is designed with a holistic view to blur the lines between interior and exterior living spaces.