Royal Huisman Unveils Aera

The ultimate hybrid superyacht combines wind, water, hydrogen & hydrogeneration to power luxury cruising.

Royal Huisman unveils AERA — a groundbreaking 50m / 164ft hybrid catamaran that redefines sustainability and  blurs the lines between power and sail, showcasing an unprecedented matrix of technical innovations in the process.

Royal Huisman, the innovative Dutch shipyard behind the world’s first hybrid superyacht, now unveils AERA – a bold departure from traditional yachts. She transforms how luxury vessels use wind and water, fuel cells, and biodiesel to cruise nearly carbon free and to anchor with zero emissions for up to 72 hours.

The result of a multi-year R&D investment by Royal Huisman, sister company Rondal, Artemis Technologies, and Cor D. Rover Design, concept AERA pairs top research into wind-assisted propulsion, hydro-generator advances, a unique energy storage system, and a super-efficient, head-turning design.  The result is a yacht that sails and motor sails with levels of efficiency, stability, ease of operation and comfort never before achieved. 

Game-changing wing 

At AERA’s core is a towering 35m / 115ft Wing Sail that enables the yacht to go from stationary to sailing in as little as a minute. This groundbreaking 245m2 / 2,640sqft unstayed wing, inspired by America’s Cup yachts, rotates 360 degrees and requires no sheets, winches, or deck hardware. 

Automation is the key. The captain enters the destination or direction, and perhaps a desired speed or arrival time as well. The computerized control system handles all wing adjustments for the desired speed and conditions, adding a boost from retractable electric sail drive units if motor sailing is the best option

The dramatic-looking unstayed wing uses airfoil technology with adjustable trailing-edge flaps that automatically optimize performance or completely depower by feathering into the wind. Extensive testing on a prototype confirmed the wing’s ability to safely handle extreme weather conditions while providing dramatically superior efficiency – calculations show a traditional sailing rig would need 40 to 60% more area to match this wing’s power. 

Zero-emission innovation

AERA steps up Royal Huisman’s environmental mission with multiple clean energy systems. A 580kWh battery bank can power the yacht’s entire hotel load silently for 11 hours. Escaping the weight and bulk of multi-megawatt systems aboard some next-gen superyachts, Rondal’s latest hydro-generators constantly and silently charge this battery bank underway.

When stationary and away from a marina, batteries can be topped up by a hydrogen fuel cell. Three 62kg / 137lbs pressurized hydrogen bottles powering the fuel cell can create enough electricity for an additional 72 hours of zero-emission operation. When motoring or motorsailing, generators running on HVO (89% less carbon emissions than diesel) power the yacht’s DC electrical grid and her retractable 500kW azimuthing electric drive units – the same award-winning technology created for Royal Huisman’s 60m / 196ft SARISSA, charging batteries simultaneously. 

Through a combination of design and technology features, we expect AERA to offer owners the ability to enjoy the superyacht lifestyle with less environmental impact than comparable 10-passenger yachts. 

Visionary design

Cor D. Rover designed AERA’s bold asymmetrical profile atop twin hulls as the perfect complement to the Wing Sail. It provides an impressive 694m2 / 7,470sqft of exterior deck space for up to 10 guests in a spectacular main deck primary suite and four cabins below yet stays below 500GT. Three deck levels – unheard of in sailing yachts – create unique experiential living spaces while reducing HVAC needs through smart shading. By uncoupling the walls of interior rooms from the superstructure, he reveals a uniquely fresh flow of spaces and the ultimate in relaxed, indoor/outdoor living.

Simplified operation

CEO Jan Timmerman emphasizes AERA’s ease of use to be able to sail with confidence: “AERA represents more than technological advancement — it’s a complete redesign of sustainable luxury yachting that makes clean cruising irresistibly attractive to owners seeking both environmental responsibility and comfort.”

• The next-generation Wing Sail by Rondal makes AERA as easyt o get   underway and operate as a motoryacht.

• AERA boasts 670 square meters / 7,212 square feet of exterior deck space, spanning her 50 meter / 164 feet length, comparable to a typical 65 to 70 meter / 213 to 230 feet monohull motoryacht.

• AERA’s dynamic package is fit for tomorrow: Rondal wing sail, retractable propulsion system, Rondal captive mooring winches, energy storage system (consisting of compressed hydrogen, a fuel cell and batteries), Rondal hydro generators, variable speed generators, HVO biodiesel fuel tanks, laser exterior lighting

• “During a couple of months of exchanging ideas, we were convinced that a catamaran was the perfect platform, both for a psychological approach to the fixed wing and for a cat’s inherent stability under sail. And on top of that, you get phenomenal decks.” - Cor D. Rover, Cor D. Rover Design

• “The work we are doing with Royal Huisman is cutting edge and focusing on our ability to simulate forces, loads, and actuation.” - Dr. Iain Percy, Artemis Technologies

• “Aboard AERA, while raising the anchor, the captain enters the destination, sets the wing to automatic trim, the wing sail responds, and you are sailing in less than a minute.” - Jan Timmerman, Royal Huisman 

•  “AERA will have the space of a New York penthouse overlooking Central Park. Yet, each day a different, and better view.”