World's Largest Sportfish ‘Special One’: Six Decks Of Luxury
Take a look at the world’s first true sportfish superyacht.
July 3, 2024
A Jumbo-Sized Sportfish Yacht
Dutch boat builder Royal Huisman, lauded for producing some of the worlds finest superyachts has announced the delivery of Project 406, "Special One."
Most sportfish yachts typically measure between 60, 70, 80 or even 90 feet long. But standing at 171 ft, Special One has taken the title of the world’s largest sportfish yacht. The sportfish superyacht is about to make its maiden voyage from the Royal Huisman shipyard in the Vollenhove, Netherlands.
The extended bow and high bulwarks enable the crew to work safely without fear of going overboard. Image via Royal Huisman/ Tom van Oossanen.
Special One is a true Sportfisher, designed for a private owner who is passionate about big game fishing. Boasting an interior volume of 500 GT, there are six decks, and a large amount of the space on board is dedicated to entertaining and socializing on outdoor deck space There are several locations outdoors to relax, providing necessary separation onboard for long-distance cruising.
The naval architecture, exterior and interior design are courtesy of Vripack Yacht Design Studio. Despite it's grand scale, Special One still follows the traditional American sportfish boat proportions with a long flaring bow.
Performance wise, the super-sized sportfish machine topped 30+ knots during recent extensive testing and trials on the North Sea.
Custom-designed for the owner, Pascarelli Consulting acted as the owner's representative during her build, collaborating with Bush & Noble for expertise on sportfishing and Hampshire Marine.
It's football pitch-sized cockpit aft is fully rigged for sportfishing. The low and uncluttered layout provides space for diving and pulling prized fish on board. When it's not used for fishing, the aft deck is the perfect location to serve a large group of 20 to 30 guests for a memorable drinks toast, or the area can be converted into a waterline dance floor.
Alustar® aluminum was selected for the motor yachts superstructure thanks to its ultra-light yet robust strength qualities.
Find out more aluminum boats by reading Aluminum Boats Can Fish Entertain And Even Tow.
The flybridge boasts outstanding helicopter views of the water and a viewing platform where guests can go to watch the fishing action. The high vantage point from the tower provides enhanced visibility of surrounding waters making it easier to spot fish.
Jan Timmerman, CEO of Royal Huisman says: "The delivery of Project 406 is a testament to our commitment to delivering unique and bespoke superyachts. The individual aspirations and challenges of our motor yacht milestone projects were well outside the comfort zone of other yards. This motoryacht project showcases our ability to create custom solutions that perfectly align with our client's vision. We are excited to see 'Special One' embark on her journey and provide unforgettable experiences to her owner: the ultimate expression of personal freedom.”
Special One possesses the finesse of a contemporary superyacht and the performance of a high calibre sportfisher. The super-sized sportfish yacht will be presented by Royal Huisman at the Monaco Yacht Show in September, 2024.
Above: The spacious aft deck. Image via Royal Huisman/Tom van Oossanen.
Specifications:
LOA: 171 ft/ 52 meters
Beam: 32 ft/ 9.8 meters
Volume: 499 GT.
Cruising speed: 20 knots
Top speed: 30 knots
Browse for old and new sportfish yachts on boats.com
If you are an avid fisher and unsure what type of boat you might want to read our Fishing Boats Guide.
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Sportfish Yachts Q&A
What is A Sportfish Yacht?
A sport fishing boat, also known as a ‘sport fisher’ is a power boat designed for recreational fishing by anglers and rigged (with rods and lines). Common characteristics include a spacious aft cockpit on the stern, fitted with a chair fixed to the deck to which a rod can be secured.
The distinctive, long and sweeping bow with high bulwarks have been engineered to displace waves and maintain stability when moving at speed to fishing grounds in bumpy conditions.
What Is A Flybridge?
A flybridge is an upper helm station above the main deck, typically covered by a hardtop. In the early twentieth century military-grade vessels designed the concept of a flybridge yacht because there was a need for additional control stations over the wheelhouse, equipped with different types of weapons during wartime, eventually leading them to evolve into more sportfishing style boats rigged with fishing gear.
Advantages Of A Flybridge Yacht
When caught in inclement weather or fishing at night, a flybridge often provides better visibility of the open seas, shoals of fish or indications such as diving seabirds. Steering from within a wheelhouse can be challenging in pelting rain, even if wipers have been fitted.
Flybridge’s make berthing a yacht far easier thanks to the 360-degree visibility from above. The captain has an extra set of navigational equipment available to them, and the height advantage makes maneuvering easier.
The flybridge offers an additional outdoor living space, making it an ideal spot for social gatherings.
Popular Sportfish Boat Builders
If you are dreaming of the perfect sleek sportfish yacht fully rigged and designed for catching big game, here are some of the leading boat builders that specialize in offshore fishing are Viking, Bertram Yachts, Hatteras, Boston Whaler, and Grady-White.
