The hull of a 54 metre sloop known as Argo 54 has been launched in the Netherlands at the Jacht- en Scheepswerf Gouwerok BV shipyard in Aalsmeer.
The project, also known as hull 549, will be completed by Greek shipyard Omikron Yachts and is now en route to the yard's facilities in Athens via shipping container.
All photos: Tom van Oossanen
The yacht features an exterior profile by Juan Kouyoumdjian with structural engineering designed in collaboration Rob Doyle Design. Mark Whiteley will complete the yacht's interiors, following a brief for a well-connected, single-deck space with enough separate areas for relaxing and entertaining. The design team has a beam of 9.6 metres to work with.
The yacht is characterised by lightweight aluminium construction and a single mast that will that provide 1,905 square metres of downwind sail and 1,382 square metres of upwind sail. The masts, which will be stepped in Greece, have been produced by New Zealand-based firm Southern Spars.
The Argo 54 has a draft of 9.5 metres when lowered and 3.7 metres when raised. Once delivered, the Argo 54 will be among the ten largest single-masted sailing yachts.
