Project 410 will be moved in November
When YACHT’s sister magazine, BOOTE EXCLUSIV, visited Royal Huisman in May 2025, the largest hangar remained locked. No comment on Project 410. Top secret. A few months earlier, the Dutch company had the 85-metre-long aluminium hull turned keel-down. Frers Design, Mani Frers’ studio, had released only a sketch with light lines, which hinted at a negative bow. Now Royal Huisman is lifting the veil – yet is still not showing any actual photographs.
Before the 2021 contract was awarded, the shipyard in Vollenhove initially set itself a two-year timeframe to assess the feasibility of the project. It was described as the greatest challenge in its history spanning over 140 years History of the shipyard . With over 350 employees, the Dutch shipyard follows a consistent, artisanal approach. Production covers an area of 30,000 square metres and extends so far into the depths of the building that escalators connect three levels. The yacht builders have been welding their hulls from aluminium for 60 years. Nor does Royal Huisman outsource the interior fit-out; indeed, they even create the wiring, pipework and the majority of the technical systems themselves.
From ‘large’ to ‘mega’
In November 2026, Project 410 is due to roll out through the hangar doors and be towed to Royal Huisman’s deep-water site near Amsterdam. There, the launch will take place, followed by the installation of the carbon mast – which is less than 100 metres long – and the matching boom. The shipyard’s subsidiary, Rondal, is responsible for the mast, boom and the integrated sail control system.
The mast was laminated in a single piece: layer by layer, the diameter increased, and time and again it was placed in the oven – which had been extended from 62 to 95 metres – where Rondal employees tempered the carbon spars at 100 degrees. The triangular ‘mega-mast’ resembles Sweeper variants and, with the mainsail hoisted, is likely to provide a significant sail area in its own right. The top-rigging is large-scale, and the mast has plenty of rake.
Arrow-shaped, high freeboard – and foils?
Neither the shipyard nor the designers mention the use of foils, but the press release states: ‘The design combines a shallow draught with high stability, enabling objectives to be achieved even at very low angles of heel.’ It is unlikely that Royal Huisman and Frers Design are relying on physical miracles. Rather, a visualisation shows the stump of an arm dipping diagonally downwards amidships, which could be part of a hydrofoil.
Project 410 is designed to be ready to sail within a few minutes and to deliver impressive performance even in light winds. Frers Design created a hull shape as the basis, which offers sufficient volume for two decks. The proportionally small deckhouse, with its stealth-like shape, resembles an oversized dodger. The lines of the hull remain strikingly flat and elongated.
Mani Frers says of the design: “The clean deck lines form a uniform arrow-like shape from bow to stern, into which the glazed wheelhouse is integrated, whilst the raked mast and the uniquely designed boom emphasise the yacht’s dynamic profile.”
First the interiors, then the lines
The interiors were designed by Wetzels Brown. Unlike many superyacht projects, the design process began with the interiors and the desire to be close to the sea. Only then were the silhouette and the structural elements of the yacht further developed.
The Amsterdam-based designers focused on the main living areas on the level below the deckhouse. Large windows are designed to bring the horizon into the saloon. Skylights and generous ceiling heights provide natural light and a direct view of the rigging.
At the stern, a veranda connects the interior with the beach club. This creates a seamless transition between the saloon, the shaded area, the sun deck and the water. The high freeboard is designed to provide additional privacy and protect the outdoor areas from rough seas.
Energy from sailing
From a technical perspective, Project 410 draws on solutions from Royal Huisman’s Tidal Shift sustainability programme. These include energy recovery whilst sailing, a high-capacity battery system and a quiet operating mode. The systems are designed to reduce energy consumption on board whilst enhancing comfort. Royal Huisman has not yet published any specific details regarding the sail area or the dimensions of the rig. Details regarding draught and displacement are also not yet known.
Peter Naeyé, CEO of Royal Huisman, says of Project 410: “The aim was never simply to build the world’s largest sloop, but to create a breathtaking sailing yacht dedicated to the joy of fast sailing. Seeing her now, so close to completion, fills us with great pride. She is an extraordinary team achievement.”
| Technical Specifications | Project 410 |
| Length | 85 m |
| Type | sloop |
| Fuselage | Aluminium |
| Concept, exterior and yacht design | Frers Design |
| Interior design | Wetzel's Brown |
| Mast and boom | Rondal, Carbon |
| Sail control | Rondal Integrated Sailing System |
| Shipyard | Royal Huisman |
Book recommendation for confirmation
It is proposed that Dream Yachts by François Chevalier and Gilles Martin-Raget. This large-format illustrated book presents 18 iconic sailing yachts, combining historical context with 349 photographs. The book demonstrates the close interplay between yacht design, construction, aesthetics and the history of great sailing yachts.
Sören Gehlhaus
Stellvertretender Chefredakteur BOOTE EXCLUSIV