| Holland Jachtbouw 141 |  |
The Frisian island of Terschelling, which locals call "Skylge"
in their native tongue, lies in the north country of the Netherlands. An
immensely popular cruising ground, Terschelling draws yachtsmen from all over
Holland. The locals are known for both their seamanship and resourcefulness. Few
trees grow here, and the resulting lumber shortage has, over the years, driven
islanders to be creative with anything and everything that washes ashore. Most
of the farms and barns on the island were built with wood recovered from the
innumerable shipwrecks surrounding it. The most famous of these is the 1799
wreck of the Lutine, whose bell hangs in the offices of
Lloyd’s of London and was traditionally rung to announce a major maritime
disaster.
| Click on the Spec and Design tab at top to see complete list of resources. |
 "My mother was born on the island, and I spent much of my
childhood there," said the owner of 141-foot (43-meter) Skylge. She is a classic
schooner with a wholly Dutch heritage. Her naval architecture is by Hoek Design,
and she was built and launched by Holland Jachtbouw last September. "I think it
is one of the most beautiful places on earth, and it seemed only natural to name
my yacht after the island. (Click image to enlarge)
Built in high-tensile aluminum alloy, Skylge has the low
freeboard, long overhangs and solid teak deckhouse of her nineteenth-century
forebears. It is perhaps a surprising choice for an owner from the motor racing
industry who previously owned a 70-foot Baltic Yacht and a 28-meter powerboat.
"I’m actually very nostalgic, and I love the old-style yachts," he explained.
"Modern designs are only modern for a few years, whereas Skylge is timeless. She
will always be beautiful."  The impetus behind the owner’s decision to go to designer Andre
Hoek and build with Holland Jachtbouw came from a sales advertisement he saw in
a magazine for the 100-foot cutter Sapphire, the first large aluminum yacht by Hoek
Design and built by the Dutch yard in 1996. Although Skylge shares
Sapphire’s graceful lines, she is very different in basic concept and interior
décor. Her carbon spars, Kevlar runners, high-aspect Spectra carbon mainsails
and roached foresails all point to her racing pedigree, but her interior layout
has been designed with convivial family cruising and chartering in mind. (Click image to enlarge)
"The owner came to us wanting a schooner rig for its classic
looks, and a shallow draft so he could use his existing marina berth in Spain,
plus a deckhouse as far aft as possible to be able to see the full length of the
deck," explained Hoek. Although the owner later acquired a deeper berth, the
draft issue prompted the decision to go for an innovative lifting keel, for
which Skylge won the 2006 ShowBoats International Award for Highest Technical
Achievement in a Sailing Yacht (see TechTalk sidebar).  Interestingly, Skylge is the first schooner to be built with a
lifting keel, and the first with a keel-fin chord length of such short measure.
Chord length is the distance from the fin’s leading edge to the trailing edge
and is measured parallel to the keel/rudder axis—not over the curved surface.
Skylge’s chord length measures just 2.2 meters, making for a faster and more
agile boat. (Click image to enlarge)
The lifting keel was also a consequence of Skylge’s interior
layout, which is unusual for a yacht of her size. The Hoek Design team sought
overall balance by placing the engine room amidships and master stateroom aft.
The owner, however, was set on the opposite.
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