Dutch shipyard Royal Huisman has revealed a 100 metre "supersized sailing yacht" concept named the WING 100 that takes its name from its advanced wing mast rig.
Its creators, Royal Huisman, Dykstra Naval Architects and Mark Whiteley Design, said the concept marks the arrival of a new megayacht category as a true 100m+ sailing yacht that doesn't need to rely on the power of a motor.
The WING 100's innovative rig by Rondal is comprised of two freestanding masts that rotate at the touch of a button with airfoils integrated with the sails. The shape of the airfoil can be remotely adjusted to maximise or reduce power, while the wing masts require no standing rigging which keeps the decks clutter-free and available for guest use.
The concept is billed as the world's most innovative sailing yacht concept and has been conceived with a visionary owner in mind. Its design appeals to both sailing yacht owners and motor yacht owners looking for a crossover that minimises their environmental footprint without sacrificing comfort and amenities associated with a large motor yacht. As well as her rig, breakthrough technologies continue throughout to create a fully sustainable and energy-efficient vessel that is able to explore the further corners of the planet.
“The emergence of sailing yachts on this scale, with the level of energy efficiency and eco-responsibility offered by WING 100, would have been unthinkable just a decade ago,” said Royal Huisman CEO Jan Timmerman. “The team is incredibly excited to be at the forefront of this conceptual revolution. We look forward to applying our renowned innovation and engineering skills to the realisation of this highly ambitious project – creating the fourth and largest Royal Huisman build yet in the global top 10 of supersized sailing yachts.”
While the WING 100 remains a conceptual design, if built it would rank among the world's largest sailing yachts alongside other Royal Huisman builds including Athena and Sea Eagle II. Currently underway at the shipyard is an 85 metre sloop, which is set to be the world's largest single-masted sailing yacht.