The word “knowledgeable” is often applied to a yacht owner with experience gained from owning a boat or two. Nilaya’s owner far exceeds that description with thousands of sea miles both cruising and racing production and custom yachts. “I have been sailing in dinghies since I was a child,” the owner said. “My first yacht was a Swan 48, followed by several other Swans which I [was] cruising and racing for many years.” With the last 12 years sailing and campaigning the previous Nilaya to many podium finishes, he and his wife had a well-reasoned list of requirements before they entered into discussions with their architects, designers and representative about the next boat.
NILAYA
DATA & DIMENSIONS
Yard no. | 405 |
---|---|
Type | High-performance cruiser sloop |
Naval architect | Reichel / Pugh |
Exterior and interior design | Nauta Design |
Length overall | 47m / 154ft |
Hull material | Aluminum and carbon composite |
Year of Delivery | 2023 |
Layout | Sailplan and General Arrangement |
Owners’ representative | Nigel Ingram, MCM Newport |
Noting that their carbon fiber yacht produced a lot of noise and vibration – a motion he calls ‘nervous’ – for new boat, they wanted the lightweight benefits of carbon but sought a quieter package that felt solid and was built to the highest standards. For the new Nilaya, which would be 12m / 42ft longer, he and his wife sought a yacht that could offer their family and guests the opportunity to “explore the world in the utmost comfort and safety, but at the same time could offer an exciting and fast sailing experience.”
Delivered to her owners in June 2023, 47m / 154ft Nilaya spent the summer cruising in the Med. With over 10,000nm under her keel, Royal Huisman can shine a spotlight on the yacht that pioneered the shipyard’s comprehensive Featherlight™ approach. Nilaya blends the strength and motion of an aluminum hull with the speed and displacement weights common to carbon fiber maxi yachts. She is destined for global stardom: link.