aquijo yacht interior

What if speed meets indulgence?

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Aquijo: Inside the three-year circumnavigation of the world's largest ketch

Taking perilous winds in her stride, 86 metre Aquijo has just completed a mesmerising circumnavigation. Captain Gerhard Veldsman tells Georgia Boscawen about their awe-inspiring encounters

“When a glacier cracks and an apartment-sized block of ice falls to the water, it sounds like a gunshot,” recalls captain Gerhard Veldsman of Aquijo . Few things in life could compare to a spectacle as thrilling as a lone 86 metre sailing yacht anchored at the face of a gargantuan glacier in the Chilean fjords. However, for Veldsman, his crew and the owners of Aquijo , this is just one of a long list of awe-inspiring encounters they had during their circumnavigation of the globe. Setting off in the Med, they headed to Cape Verde, then down to Patagonia and across to Oceania in a voyage that spanned more than three years.

At 86 metres, Aquijo is the largest ketch in the world – a thoroughbred, and the fruit of not one, but two Dutch powerhouses: Vitters and later Oceanco , which joined forces to complete this unique sailing yacht.

In 2010, Bill Tripp of Tripp Design Naval Architecture penned the lines for a yacht capable of both global cruising and racing. This proposition drew the two shipyards together. Vitters brought high-performance sailing yacht pedigree, and Oceanco brought its prowess in the 80-metre superyacht sphere.

Aquijo ’s design is influenced by the need for flexibility. The sailplan is subdivided with each sail producing similar forces, while keeping the number of sails and system parts to a minimum. The result is hasty sail setting, easy tacking and a vessel that is unequivocally fast.

“She responds very quickly,” says Veldsman. “For such a big boat she sails incredibly well. You can turn the rigs like you would on a raceboat – I think a lot of people find it surprising how fast she sails for such a big boat.”

This design also means she is more than capable of handling conditions when things get rough, which, as Veldsman points out, they certainly did on several occasions. The first leg of the tour – cruising to Cape Verde and over to Punta del Este, Uruguay, before heading to Patagonia – was already remarkable, but it was when the yacht reached Ushuaia, in Argentina, that the owners came on board for an extremely windy bucket list moment.

“We picked up the owners for a four-week trip that would see us round Cape Horn,” recalls Veldsman as he brings up charts of this once-in-a-lifetime expedition. “Of course, it was windy, and we anchored in a spot called the False Horn – a protected area often mistaken for Cape Horn – and I remember saying to myself, ‘If the wind is blowing more than 45 knots in the morning, I’m going to call it.’”

Veldsman awoke to find the wind blowing far over 50 knots in the protected anchorage – a moment that could have seen a sheepish retreat to base. “We poked our heads out from False Horn, and we had wind speeds of 60 knots.” Determined, Veldsman proceeded anyway,  and sailed Aquijo around the perilous cape in violent conditions.

“Travelling upwind on the starboard side, that was the worst part, and we had ski goggles on, rain and sleet coming at us, and the whole family outside – it was amazing,” he adds.

From here, Aquijo sailed to Patagonia, cruising through a place informally referred to as Glacier Alley and up to Puerto Montt in Chile – a leg that reinforced the need for meticulous planning in blissful isolation. “That southern part is very remote and it’s quite a distance. There’s nowhere to buy food, no civilization at all – it was incredible,” says Veldsman. “The boat was built for this purpose. So, it’s quite well set up to be able to cope with cold weather, and we carry enough food, fuel and water to deal with just about anything.”

In this part of the world, the weather can change in an instant, from no wind to 60-knot winds at a moment’s notice. Veldsman explains that the ice here also flows down at speed in the middle of the night and you can wake up to find the yacht entrenched in it.

For Veldsman, Patagonia was the highlight of the whole tour. Aquijo even took a couple of charters while in the region, before relocating to South America and cruising around Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and over to the Galápagos with a stop at the secluded Cocos Island.

Aquijo then sailed back down to the Southern Pacific and French Polynesia, but this wasn’t a case of passing through. During the tour, Aquijo hosted local guides, scientists, expert divers and often worked with EYOS to source the very best people for each adventure. “It was all very action-packed – there was an excursion every day, with a guide, too,” explains Veldsman.  “It’s important to get the right guides when you go to these places as you’re only going to do it once. It was incredible.”

Unfortunately, one of the activities in the tropics almost had sinister consequences. “We had fantastic diving along the way and across to Tonga, Fiji and Vanuatu,” says Veldsman. “Although our boss got an infection over there that almost killed him. It’s quite common in the Tropics as small cuts and bruises can get infected very quickly.”

Veldsman recalls Papua New Guinea as another defining moment on the trip, on a par with Patagonia. Aquijo headed there after a short maintenance period in New Zealand. “Papua New Guinea is very remote, but the nature and the tribes are beautiful. We had a local guide with us who took us deep into the jungle and we even saw the Baining Fire Dance,” he recalls. This is a traditional night-time ceremony, celebrating many of the tribe’s life-changing events, such as initiating young men into adulthood. Tribesmen partake in passionate dance-based rituals.

“We will go back there and see the tribes of the Pacific river,” vows Veldsman. “These tribes won’t exist 20 years from now. You can see the crocodile men, who scar themselves to look like crocodiles, with bones through their noses, living in the jungle. It’s incredible – I look back and just think, wow!”

While the yacht was in Papua New Guinea’s New Ireland Province, another medical incident struck when one of the stewardesses fell victim to decompression sickness. “I needed to get her to the closest decompression chamber and our options were Port Moresby [Papua New Guinea’s capital], which is one of the world’s most dangerous cities, or Australia [almost  900 nautical miles away].” The stewardess ended up flying to Australia, where she made a full recovery.

Diving was an integral part of the tour and those on board were able to swim with whales and sharks, as well as taking in incredible coral reefs. “A lot of what happens in the Southern Pacific is in and under the water,” says Veldsman. “We used a well-known local diver, Rodolphe Holler from Tahiti Private Expeditions. When you’re in the water, the whales breach so close to you that you can touch them.”

As we talk, Aquijo is in Palma, almost 9,000 nautical miles from the whales that make their annual migration through the balmy waters of French Polynesia. However, plans are already afoot for her to embark on another global migration through the Northwest Passage, back to the Pacific and over to Japan. With adventure-seeking owners and Veldsman at the helm, there is no doubt that the largest ketch in the world will handle whatever is thrown at her.

First published in the September 2022 Life Under Sail supplement. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.

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AQUIJO YACHT CHARTER

86m  /  282'2   oceanco   2016.

• Previous Yacht

Cabin Configuration

• 1 Double/Twin
• 1 Convertible

Special Features:

• Largest high-performance ketch in the world
• 7 beautifully-appointed cabins offering fantastic flexibility for yacht charters
• Generous beach club complete with Jacuzzi, steam room and sauna
• Fantastic array of alfresco dining and socialising options
• 24-seater dining table with retractable skylight
• Wheelchair accessible

At 85.9m/281'10", iconic charter yacht AQuiJo features a compelling line-up of living areas and modern amenities and abounds in luxury and comfort

The 85.9m/281'10" 'AQuiJo' sail yacht built by the Dutch shipyard Oceanco is available for charter for up to 12 guests in 7 cabins. This award winning yacht features interior styling by Dölker+Voges Design.

For the ultimate sailing experience, AQuiJo offers the perfect mix of luxurious living coupled with plenty of adventure once her sails are unfurled. Step aboard and experience the magic of a sailing yacht charter for yourself. Her features include wheelchair accessibility, elevator, beach club and gym.

Guest Accommodation

Built in 2016, AQuiJo offers guest accommodation for up to 12 guests in 7 suites comprising a master suite, three VIP cabins, one double cabin, one twin cabin and one cabin that can operate as twin or double. There are 7 beds in total, including 4 king, 3 singles and 1 convertible. Additionally, there is a staff cabin on board. She is also capable of carrying up to 17 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed luxury yacht charter experience.

Onboard Comfort & Entertainment

A charter on AQuiJo is comfortable and convenient thanks to the provided amenities, notably a dedicated library, where you can unwind in seclusion. Make your day truly exceptional at the beach club plus you can visit the well-equipped gym so that you can keep up with your fitness routine at sea. Soak up the bubbles in style in the deck jacuzzi.

AQuiJo benefits from some excellent features to improve your charter, notably wheelchair-friendly access, making this vessel suitable for all guests. Effortlessly return to your stateroom from any other deck onboard the elevator plus whether you want to work, use social media or stream movies on board this yacht, you can with Wi-Fi connectivity. Guests will experience complete comfort while chartering thanks to air conditioning.

Performance & Range

AQuiJo is built with a steel hull and aluminium superstructure. Powered by twin Caterpillar engines, she comfortably cruises at 15 knots, reaches a maximum speed of 17 knots with a range of up to 3,200 nautical miles from her 97,800 litre fuel tanks at cruising speed.

When not cruising AQuiJo has onboard an incredible selection of water toys and accessories for you and your guests to connect with the waters around you. Principle among these are two RS Aero sailboats to bring out the explorer in you. Also there are towable toys offering fun and adventure. Additionally, there are waterskis that are hugely entertaining whether you are a beginner or a seasoned pro. If that isn't enough AQuiJo also features scuba diving equipment, wakeboards, kayaks, paddleboards and snorkelling equipment. AQuiJo features three tenders, but leading the pack is a 8m/26'3" Tender to transport you in style.

Based in the magical waters of the South Pacific all year round AQuiJo is ready for your next luxury yacht charter. Let AQuiJo Discover the magical places, food and experiences of the the South Pacific.

Sail yacht AQuiJo is an outstanding pedigree yacht that delivers on all fronts for superlative luxury yacht vacations.

TESTIMONIALS

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Stand Out Features

Transitional Aft Deck Bar

Take advantage of the indoor / outdoor bar on the aft deck for easy entertaining and special nightcaps.

Beach Club Spa

The easy access beach club offers premium spa like facilities with a steam room and sauna, as well as a hot tub with stunning views.

Panoramic Sun Deck

Take in sweeping views around the yacht from the skyreaching sun deck on the flybridge.

AQuiJo Photos

Amenities & Entertainment

For your relaxation and entertainment AQuiJo has the following facilities, for more details please speak to your yacht charter broker.

AQuiJo is reported to be available to Charter with the following recreation facilities:

• 3 x 8m  /  26'3 Tender
• 1 x 6.8m  /  22'4 Xtenders 6.8M SOLAS RIB
• 1 x 6.9m  /  22'8 Xtenders 6.9m Peoplecarrier Tender

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

AQuiJo Awards & Nominations

• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2017 Best Exterior Design & Styling – Sailing Yacht Finalist
• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2017 Best Interior Layout & Design – Sailing Yacht Finalist
• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2017 Best Naval Architecture – Sailing Yacht Winner
• The ShowBoats Design Awards 2017 Most Innovative Sailing Yacht Finalist
• International Superyacht Society Awards 2016 Best Sail 40 M+ Nomination
• + shortlist
• Entertainment

AQuiJo is reported to be available to Charter with the following entertainment facilities:

• Lantic AV systems controlled via iPads
• The main saloon has a large TV and audio system
• TV in the Master cabin (not in guest rooms)
• Wifi in all cabins
• Outdoor television

AQuiJo is reported to be available to Charter with the following on board wellness facilities:

• Upright bike
• Power Plate
• Selection of dumbbells

For a full list of all available amenities & entertainment facilities, or price to hire additional equipment please contact your broker.

PADI CERTIFIED TRAINING CENTRE

Your family and friends could learn to scuba dive on your charter vacation onboard this luxury charter yacht. Sail Yacht AQuiJo is a certified PADI Dive Centre yacht so you could obtain your PADI diving card .

'AQuiJo' Charter Rates & Destinations

Summer Season

May - September

€505,000 p/week + expenses Approx $550,500

High Season

€605,000 p/week + expenses Approx $659,500

Cruising Regions

South Pacific Australia, Fiji, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea

HOT SPOTS:   Sydney, Whitsundays

Winter Season

October - April

South Pacific French Polynesia, Tahiti

Charter AQuiJo

To charter this luxury yacht contact your charter broker , or we can help you.

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