The world’s largest true sportfisher, Special One — built by Royal Huisman with interior, exterior and naval architecture by Vripack Yacht Design — wins the Judges’ Special Award at the World Superyacht Awards within the coveted Best Motor Yacht – Semi-Displacement or Planing Motor Yachts 50m and above category.
The 20th edition of the BOAT International World Superyacht Awards, which was held in Venice in May, recognised the ingenuity and craftsmanship of the most remarkable luxury yachts in the world. The 52m Special One was shortlisted in a heavily contested category.
“To receive this award is particularly special for us as the judging panel comprises current and former superyacht owners, which gives validation to our owner-centric approach to design,” says Vripack’s co-creative director, Bart Bouwhuis.
“The owner’s desire to build one of the coolest and challenging boats to ever hit water was unwavering from the outset. Besides Special One’s great fishing ability and stunning performance is the amount of onboard comfort that it offers the owner and his guests, making this recognition on the world superyacht stage all the sweeter.”
According to the judges, the decision to single out Special One came down to the yacht being “so spectacularly different from the others” and it being a fitting award for a yacht with the name Special One. As one judge commented, “She is truly special! This yacht is so unusual, so different and so successfully done.”
Commenting on the owner’s brief, Bouwhuis notes: “It was imperative to the owner to keep the proportions true to a traditional American sportfisher, from the angle of the mighty six-decked tuna tower to the 45-degree flared bow topped.” Another owner request was for large exterior spaces to have fun with his large family, paving the way for the yacht’s main deck mezzanine, which serves as the hub of sociability.
The 28m2 fish cockpit is conceived to underline the owner’s passion for sport fishing. A professional DJ station and cinema on the foredeck are complemented by a cinema projector screen that rises from a large tender hatch, while the top tier is a cosy nook with wraparound seating.
Special One’s interior is characterised by elegant surfaces with walnut and stained oak cupboards, soft leather wrap arounds and ash flooring. The wooden oval floor in the formal dining area contains 237 pieces of meticulous parquet inlay. An unusual two-person vacuum elevator is enveloped by a spiral central staircase that forms the backbone of the yacht.
The main deck owner’s suite forward enjoys a gradual incline from dressing room to bedroom, handrails carved into bulwarks and rare book-matched Panda marble in the bathroom. In the sky lounge, a backlit bar and a bespoke blue glass chandelier matched with a glassware display cabinet forward that is flanked by two wine fridges each holding 150 bottles.
“Special One is full of innovative and unique features, including laser-powered fibreglass exterior lighting,” says Bouwhuis. “We are thrilled to have this remarkable yacht acknowledged by the judges in the coveted World Superyacht Awards.”
