Every month, superyacht owners reveal where they are in the world and share their future plans. This month, BOAT speaks to the owner of Royal Huisman's 52-metre yacht Special One about taking delivery of the world's largest sportfisher and where she spent her first summer.
Owner of Special One
Length: 52m
Year: 2024
Location: Monaco
Congratulations on the delivery of Special One! What did it feel like to finally be on board the yacht?
It was a joyous moment. It’s a special feeling to see something you have created and worked on for a few years come together in real life. It was a family project and it is a place we can all enjoy being together. Dream come true.
How has the fishing been so far?
Fishing can’t be planned, so it’s really about enjoying the process. We have had fun and caught some good dinners.
Where have you been this season?
After leaving Royal Huisman we have mainly been in the Mediterranean, enjoying the weather and fishing.
Is the yacht performing to brief?
She performs extremely well at speed and is very stable – more than you would expect from a yacht this size and with these dimensions. The performance in terms of speed and stability is impressive and meets our expectations.
There is minimal noise and vibration when she is underway which is quite impressive when you know the size of the engines and the power she has. The systems are still being tweaked and adjusted as is normal for a new yacht but overall she delivers to the brief.
What was the initial pitch to your design team?
Quite simply we wanted to build a large sportfishing yacht in the true sense, with the enjoyment elements you get on a superyacht so all generations of the family could enjoy it. And speed was important – minimum 30 knots.
Do you have a favourite spot on the boat?
Besides fishing on the cockpit, the mezzanine lounge is a great spot to be. It’s really the centre of the yacht with good views and interaction with everything going on around you.
What are your long-range cruising plans?
We hope to spend some time in the Red Sea. I’m not sure if that counts as long range, but we’re looking forward to exploring it with Special One.
First published in the November 2024 issue of BOAT International. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.