You can feel the excitement in the air as everyone at Holland Jachtbouw awaits the entrance of mighty Athos. The hull construction by our sub-contractor is very close to completion and the entire hull will soon be sandblasted and given an undercoat. It is made of 5383 aluminium, a special high modulus material that increases strength and is less prone to corrosion. Athos will be the largest sailing yacht yet built in this type of metal.

Measuring 62 metres overall, this centreboard schooner will have a beam of 11 metres, weigh 370 tons at half load and have a 1980 mē upwind sail area on carbon spars. Uniquely for a yacht of this size, we will be building Athos fully to veritas.

Another unique feature – and there are many more on the horizon – is that many details and engineering features have already been incorporated into the hull at this early stage of the project. The HJB engineering department has worked very closely with the naval architect and sub-contractor to facilitate this forward-thinking approach, which will offer excellent synergies in time and efficiency once the yard’s work gets underway.

We cannot announce the actual date for reasons of security and privacy - but those who live on the route from Rotterdam to Amsterdam will be in for a big surprise should they happen to look out of their window at the right time! The next time the project will see the water after that will be some time in 2009, when HJB unveils the world’s largest privately owned, modern two-mast schooner.