The World’s Largest Sportfishing Yacht Reveals Plenty of Surprises
Extra special.
There are luxury yachts. There are sportfishing yachts. And then there’s Special One—a custom-built, 52-metre Royal Huisman. Blending luxury yacht amenities with real fishing credentials, Special One reigns as the largest luxury sportfishing yacht in the world.
Having made its world debut at the 2024 Monaco Yacht Show, Special One promptly established that this yacht is all about superlatives. A pair of MAN 20V diesels give this special vessel a top speed of 32 knots and a cruising speed of 14. Coupled with an enormous 47,000-litre fuel capacity, it can go a long, long way in search of trophy fish.
Superlatives also abound in describing the yacht’s basic structure. The boat has six decks in all, with an onboard three-person pneumatic glass elevator linking the primary living spaces on the main deck, the upper deck, and the bridge deck levels. A floating spiral staircase in dark and light wood wraps around the elevator like a helical snake for more leisurely passage between interior decks.
Instead of a deck with views of the cockpit, the mezzanine aboard this yacht offers comfortable seating to look aft or ahead to the dining area.
For the sportsmen is a room for bait and tackle, including rods, reels, spooling machines, and live bait freezers, near the cockpit. A game chair, outside, can be raised or lowered with ease.
Walnut joinery, custom furnishings, and stonework define the interior decor. For consistency, most of the joinery veneer was sliced from a single massive walnut tree to ensure grain and colour consistency.
Stained oak cupboards and ash flooring—including an oval floor inset in the formal dining area that’s formed from 237 separate pieces of ash and wenge parquet—complete the yacht’s woodwork, while loads of leather (both on the walls and furniture frames) soften the interior while helping to dampen sound.
Windows with panoramic views can be found in the master suite, located forward on the main deck and accessed by a separate entrance. Custom artwork and twinkling LED lights above the bed add a unique, personalized touch.
Below, four luxurious staterooms—a double, two twins, and a forward VIP suite—branch off a long corridor in typical sportfisherman style to pamper guests in opulent comfort.
Throughout, the yacht’s decor is largely neutral, with the main deck salon featuring off-white sofas and armchairs arranged as two L-shaped seating areas. When evening comes, there is ambient lighting built into the bottom of the walls and furniture.
If the main salon is for relaxation and dining, the sky lounge caters to onboard entertainment, where the three-seat bar is under a glass chandelier and a display cabinet features an art piece made of bronze. For someone looking for a cozy nook with a great view, go one deck higher on the bridge deck to the raised sofas.
Anyone who thinks that fishing is dull will surely change their mind after spending any amount of time onboard Special One. Royal Huisman’s masterpiece brilliantly blends luxury yacht comforts with offshore fishing credentials in a way that’s never been seen before. But given reaction to this magnificent yacht, it’s a good bet we’ll see further takes on the concept in the years ahead.
