The 65-metre sailing yacht Aquarius II has been spotted during her sea trials, following her launch at Royal Huisman's facilities in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Commissioned by an experienced yachtsman, Aquarius II is the successor to his 56-metre Aquarius (now Aspara) and brings together the original design and build team: Dykstra Naval Architects, Mark Whiteley, and Royal Huisman.

While larger yachts are often seen as superior in the yachting world, they come with unique challenges. Erik Wassen of Dykstra Naval Architects explained, "Once you exceed 60 metres in hull length, it becomes a challenge to fit enough sail area for a mast height of 62.5 metres, which is typically the threshold for passing under the Bridge of the Americas." The owner, however, was unfazed by this, having already navigated the Panama Canal. This allowed the team to increase the mast height to 67.5 metres, providing ample sail area despite the yacht's inability to cross the canal.

The owner's vision was to retain the essence of his current Aquarius while adding nine metres in length, resulting in a 45 per cent increase in volume. This expansion includes space for a fourth guest cabin, a gym, and a reconfigured owner's cabin featuring a wraparound sofa. Aquarius II boasts two masts, a lifting fin keel with a draught of 7.6 metres, and a total downwind sail area exceeding 4,500 square metres.

Erik Wassen noted, "The owner enjoys sailing, so the yacht needs to be swift in setting sail. This is achieved through in-boom furling and by keeping deck equipment simple and uncluttered. Aquarius II will be straightforward to sail." He added, "As boats grow larger and heavier, they often become less responsive. The original Aquarius was more responsive than expected for its size, and the owner aims for a similar responsiveness with the new yacht. Hence, the large sail area ensures stability and ease of movement, allowing quick acceleration in light conditions."

Collaborating with Royal Huisman, Rondal and Doyle have ensured optimal performance for racing with a crew of 30, while also making the yacht easy to sail globally with a reduced delivery crew. Drawing from the experience of the original Aquarius, Aquarius II features semi-hybrid power generation, battery and load smoothing, enhanced climate control, side boarding arrangements, and a sail and mast design that leverages Doyle’s structured luff developments and Carbo-Link’s solid carbon Elipse rigging.

Aesthetically, Aquarius II has a slightly lower forestay, a different ratio between the main and mizzen masts, and a lower-profile deck house. "With a 400-tonne boat, the loads on the rudder are significant. There's a delicate balance between a good helm feel and struggling with the helm. We've put considerable effort into optimizing the rudder shape and balance," Wassen concluded.

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