Royal Huisman has unveiled new images of Project 410 at the Monaco Yacht Show, offering the clearest view yet of the 85-metre sailing yacht now in the final stages of construction at the shipyard in Vollenhove, the Netherlands. Once launched, she will become the world’s largest sloop-rigged sailing yacht and will rank among the ten largest sailing yachts ever built.

The project, which has remained highly confidential until now, features an overall concept, exterior design and naval architecture by Frers Design, with interiors by Wetzels Brown. The aluminium hull reached a major construction milestone in 2024, when Royal Huisman revealed the spectacular turning operation of the enormous structure.

The next major step is scheduled for November, when Project 410 will leave the Vollenhove new-build facility for transfer to Royal Huisman’s deep-water location near Amsterdam. There she will be launched, followed by the stepping of her carbon mast and installation of the matching boom, both developed by Rondal, Royal Huisman’s sister company, together with the integrated sail-handling system.

Her dimensions are inevitably one of the defining aspects of the project, but according to the shipyard the owner’s brief was, from the outset, to create first and foremost a true sailing yacht. Project 410 has therefore been conceived to be ready to sail within minutes and to deliver rewarding performance even in lighter airs, despite offering the volumes and levels of comfort expected from a megayacht of this size.

Frers Design developed a hull form capable of providing sufficient volume for two decks around a single mast while keeping the deckhouse proportionally compact. The relatively high freeboards enhance privacy and protection, while the naval architecture combines shallow draft with high stability, allowing the yacht to reach her destinations at comparatively low heel angles.

“Pure deck lines form a single arrow shape from bow to stern, incorporating the glass pilothouse, while the raked mast and uniquely engineered boom reinforce the yacht’s dynamic profile,” explains Mani Frers of Frers Design. The relationship between the yacht’s exceptional scale and the effort to preserve the clear visual identity of a true sailing yacht is one of the key elements of the design.

Energy management also plays an important role. Project 410 incorporates several solutions developed within Royal Huisman’s Tidal Shift sustainability programme, including energy regeneration under sail, a high-capacity battery storage system and the ability to operate in silent mode. These technologies are intended both to reduce energy consumption and to enhance comfort on board.

The development process for the interiors was also unusual. Wetzels Brown began by defining the onboard experience and the relationship between the living spaces and the sea, before working with Frers Design on the yacht’s wider architecture.

Large hull windows, skylights and generous headroom bring natural light deep into the interior. The principal guest areas are arranged on a single level within the hull beneath the deckhouse. A double-height main entrance leads towards the saloon, while aft a veranda provides a natural transition to the beach club and the water. Forward lies the owner’s private suite.

“For us, the interior is about creating an environment where people can relax, feel close to the sea and create memories. The exterior, interior and experience of sailing have been developed as one continuous expression,” says Gillian Brown of Wetzels Brown.

With Project 410 now approaching launch, Royal Huisman is preparing to bring the largest sailing project ever built by the Dutch yard to the water. “Project 410 represents an extraordinary combination of vision, scale and innovation,” comments Royal Huisman CEO Peter Naeyé. “The ambition was never simply to build the world’s largest sloop, but to create a stunning sailing yacht that remains true to the pleasure and performance of sailing.”

It is an approach that neatly sums up the project: translating onto an 85-metre platform the qualities of a genuine sailing yacht, from performance and efficiency to the effective use of sail power.