The mighty hull: Athos arrives at Holland Jachtbouw

In a spectacular and daring operation that involved power and ingenuity in equal measure, the hull of the world’s largest privately owned, modern two-mast schooner has been safely delivered to Holland Jachtbouw (HJB). Athos was driven into the yard’s brand-new assembly and finishing hall, which measures 69 x 20 metres. This leaves some little room for manoeuvre for the work on Athos, which has a LOA of 62 metres and a beam of 11 metres. Uniquely for a yacht of this size, HJB is building Athos fully to MCA specifications and Veritas regulations.

Forward thinking
The hull was constructed by a sub-contractor in Rotterdam, which worked in close cooperation with HJB engineers to ensure many details and engineering features were incorporated at the earliest possible stage. This forward-thinking approach offers HJB excellent synergies in time and efficiency now the finishing work is underway.

Super strong 5383 alloy
Before being transported to the HJB yard near Amsterdam, the entire hull was sandblasted, veneered and sealed with an undercoat. The structure is made of 5383 aluminium, a special high modulus metal that increases strength and is less prone to corrosion. Athos is the largest sailing yacht yet built in this type of aluminium.

Canal tour
Onlookers between Rotterdam and Amsterdam had an extra reason to remember Valentine’s Day 2008 as the giant hull of Athos was towed on her own keel along the Dutch canals. Early on the morning of February 15, the HJB yard was a hive of activity as the 84-ton hull was lifted out of the water onto a floating pontoon. For the first time in Holland, an ingenious system was used to slowly sink the end of the pontoon until it rested on a special stone carrier step adjacent to the quay.

Accuracy assured
The hull of Athos was then driven off the pontoon at an exactly level angle in a completely stable operation. Once installed in her new home, a complex measurement system was used to ensure the yacht was situated exactly on the waterline. This will facilitate the work of the craftsmen as they build in the interior of Athos, which is expected to be launched next year.