Dutch shipyard Royal Hakvoort has launched the hull of the 45-metre Project YN 256. This is the first time the build has been seen since construction was first announced in September 2023.
Hoek Design Naval Architects is collaborating with the yard on the retro-styled project, with a design brief for a yacht both "unique in style" and wheelchair accessible. Sustainability was also an important feature, with Project YN 256 to be powered by a hybrid engine delivering a range of 3,500 nautical miles and a top speed of 14 knots. She will also have the ability to sit at anchor in "silent mode" for up to eight hours. Delivery is scheduled for 2026.
Project YN 256 is characterised by a round bilge displacement hull, a slightly flared bow and a classic-style funnel that doubles as additional storage. Both main and upper decks are wrapped almost entirely in floor-to-ceiling glass with rounded glass corners, offering superior views and natural light from all guest areas. The bulwarks on the main and bridge deck are also in glass.
Unusually for a yacht of this size, the owner opted for a three-cabin configuration, with two full-beam VIP cabins on the lower deck and the owner’s suite located forward on the main deck with a centerline king-size bed, walk-in wardrobe and an ensuite. Glass sliding doors connect the suite to an intimate foredeck with loose seating and a private conversation area.
The interior, which has not yet been revealed, is said to be "contemporary, modern and minimalist" with an open-plan saloon and dining area. Other highlights include a gym with oak parquet flooring and a saltwater pool that doubles as a garage for a five-metre tender or allows the vessel to host large parties on the aft deck when the pool is covered.
Accessibility was key to the design of Project YN 256, which will be equipped with an elevator that services all three decks, side decks wide enough to accommodate a wheelchair, and a hydraulic transformer on the swim platform to allow wheelchair users to move from the dock to the main deck.
For Project YN 256, the design team have employed techniques used in sailing yacht design to create improved weight distribution and hydrodynamic resistance for better efficiency and performance. Another feature adopted from sailing yacht design is a hydraulic side boarding platform, with a side boarding ladder setup amidships.
"It’s been a real pleasure working with such a prolific sailing yacht designer. The ‘outside the box’ thinking is refreshing and allows us to reflect on certain build and design principles that have become so entrenched," said Klaas Hakvoort, owner and managing director at Royal Hakvoort Shipyard. "We pride ourselves on the diversity of our fleet and how when we say full-custom, we mean full-custom – and Project YN 256 is unlike anything we’ve built before."
This follows the delivery of the 61-metre superyacht Asia.
Read More/Royal Hakvoort's 61m superyacht Asia delivered to owner