Talk of global economic breakdown was conspicuous by its absence on the opening day of the 18th Monaco Yacht Show where exhibitors appeared in bullish mood none more so than the Royal Huisman shipyard who announced details of no fewer than three new orders for very large sailing yachts.

The most spectacular of these was an 86m (282ft) three-masted barque (pictured) designed by Gerard Dykstra’s Amsterdam studio and due for launching in 2014.
This vast project is not dissimilar to Jim Clark’s three-masted, fore and aft schooner Athena, but the big difference in the new yacht is her traditional square rig, albeit set on carbon spars and yards, with a vast amount of automatically controlled running rigging much of it associated with the braces which will be trimmed conventionally. Dykstra is well versed in this type of rig and enjoyed success with the traditionally square rigged Stad Amsterdam, a commercial sail-training vessel. It will be interesting to see how he transfers the principals of this complex but nonetheless efficient rig to a private yacht.

Huisman’s sister company Rondal will be charged with the task of producing the complex carbon rig spread over three fixed masts, but even the designers are still trying to resolve the issue of stowing the 12 squares. For trimming the yards, they may well turn to the traditional Jarvis bracing-winch, used on wind-jammers of yesteryear, a cone-shaped horizontal drum capable of hauling in and easing lines simultaneously. This really will be a case of back to the future.

Just before the announcement at Monaco, Andrew Winch signed the contract to design the interior of the new aluminium hulled yacht which will be equipped with a diesel electric powerplant and display some advanced design for energy saving.

The project will be managed by Yachting Partners Interntional, now part of the BRS Group and Alex Braden was on hand to outline the company’s involvement.

Also announced (see Yachting World November for details) were orders for a 47m (154ft) plumb-stemmed ketch similar to the Panamax yacht being built at Baltic Yachts, but less extreme, and a 36m (118ft) sloop with long overhangs and, like the ketch, equipped with a lifting keel. The highly experienced Jens Cornelsen will project manage both yachts which represent his 18th and 19th consecutive sailing superyacht projects.