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Ngoni is also known as The Beast, a more apt nickname that speaks volumes about his abilities on the water. A true masterpiece of engineering and design, it was built and delivered by Royal Huisman to its owner in 2017. It is based on a design by Dubois Naval Architects, and it is the last project on which the designer esteemed Ed Dubois worked before he passed away.
The shipowner’s brief read only this: “Build me a beast. Don’t build me a wolf in sheep’s clothing. It must be an avant-garde and innovative weapon, fast and furious. I want to get off the wheel after a day of cruising feeling completely overwhelmed by the excitement of fast and convenient cruising.
The owner, reportedly oil industry executive Tony Buckingham, with an estimated net worth of over $ 700 million, is also an experienced sailor. He wanted a ship that could excel and he wanted something with clear racing yacht DNA. Ngoni is a sailboat or sloop – one of the largest and most beautiful ever built.
The total cost of the project was $ 50 million. The annual running cost is an additional $ 1-3 million, but for the next homeowner who can afford it, it’s well worth it. Ngoni is a striking vessel of incomparable elegance, with performance to match and many innovative elements that make her one of a kind.
Measuring 58 meters (190 feet) in length, Ngoni combines a slender aluminum hull with an enormous rig to navigate. The inverted cut line adds structural rigidity and the rounded plumb arc has undergone tunnel testing to ensure minimal wind disturbance. The rigging is carbon composite, with the mast reaching 75 meters (247 feet) and the mainsail measuring 853 square meters (9,182 square feet). Designed to be easily deployed by the owner, the rig rolls up into the hull.
Because the owner requested light, adjustable yet firm steering, Ngoni has one of the largest composite rudders ever built. The lifting keel is made of solid milled aluminum parts and reduces the draft from 8.1 meters to 5.3 meters (26.5 to 17.3 feet), making the yacht incredibly fast.
Atop the hull is an elegant and understated double-curved molded glass superstructure. This is the main deck, which houses the satellite navigation office, lounge and dining area aft, all easily connected to each other by sliding glass doors, and to the outside by cupboards. – electronically controlled glass vents. In short, the entire main deck can appear as a single continuous unit open to the outdoors, if guests wish.
The interiors are by Rick Baker and Paul Morgan, and they’re just as striking as the exterior. Here, too, the owner was very demanding in the most difficult and vague way: “Don’t design a traditional yacht interior.” The result is a masculine design interspersed with powerful colors, a welcoming and resolutely elegant interior that invites relaxation and quality moments with loved ones.
Materials used range from polished veneers and vivid resins, sculpted metal and rich fabrics, marble and onyx imported from Italy. The living room includes a curved sofa overlooking the window and a dining table, with a separate dining area partially outside. The roof incorporates at least three skylights, letting in much more natural light.
Below deck are the three suites for six guests: the master suite, a twin bedroom, and a second bedroom with a queen-size bed. The bedrooms have en-suite bathrooms and are elegantly furnished in warm, bright colors. The master suite has its own superyacht-worthy gym, an office with a small bathroom and its own bathroom with hammam. A hidden staircase leads from the upstairs master bedroom to the back patio.
The crew of 9 or 10 sleeps in separate quarters up front, and has access to the mess attached to the professional kitchen.
Although seemingly small, Ngoni comes complete with a garage that houses a Williams 565 Tender Diesel Jet boat and a Bombard Commando C3 inflatable sports boat for crew use. It also comes with a crane to lower both to the water. For entertainment, it offers a hot tub on the deck, plenty of lounge and sunbathing areas, and an Olympic-sized diving board.
Powered by a single MTU 8V 2000 M72 diesel engine developing 966 hp, Ngoni can reach top speeds of 17 knots and sail at 12 knots for a range of 4000 nautical miles.
Here is The Beast in motion:
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