Hakvoort Launch Their Newest Megayacht "Apostrophe"

The Hakvoort shipyard in the Netherlands launched Apostrophe at the weekend on Saturday the 13th, the newest addition to their ever growing fleet of megayachts. She measures 40m (131ft) in length and was fully custom built with the owner working closely with Hakvoort and Reymond Langton Design who were responsible for her smooth exterior lines and her art deco interior.

A Russian Orthodox priest blessed Apostrophe in a ceremony which took place on Saturday at the Hakvoort yard and was attended by the owner, his guests and the Hakvoort staff responsible for her construction. This is the owners first megayacht built by Hakvoort but he is an experienced megayacht owner. At the keel laying ceremony three years ago he had described the project as his "baby" and said he was going to push himself to the limit make this one of the best megayachts on the water today.

"He was certainly true to his word," explains project manager Alexander Speksnijder. "Every suggestion made by the interior and exterior designer was accepted regardless of cost, and there have been no compromises in any area of the boat. Looking back at the early renderings of the exterior colour scheme and the glass art aspects of the interior, it is extraordinary how Apostrophe has turned out to be everything the owner intended."

During the launch ceremony, both the yard and the owner spoke openly about how the project had required everyone to pull together in a tough economic climate. "When we first signed the contract for Apostrophe five years ago we were living in a very different world," said Klaas Hakvoort, co-director of the family run shipyard. "Soon afterwards the recession began to bite and the usually cooperative banks refused to finance the construction. The owner’s business was also facing challenges and, together with the brokers Moran Yacht and Ship, whose contribution has been way beyond the norm, we came up with a unique solution. The fact that Apostrophe has already so successfully battled her first storm makes us all the more proud that she is one of the finest yachts ever launched by Hakvoort."

Her smooth exterior lines and large curved windows in the owner's area on the main deck and similar in the sky lounge above make you look twice at her thinking she has to be larger than 40m, surely. She has a magnificent open stairwell and custom designed chandelier that awaits guests as they enter through her main entrance.  

She will be able to accommodate 10 guests in 5 cabins which include the owner's master suite forward on the main deck and 4 guest cabins on the lower deck. She will now go through vigorous sea trials and testing, after which she will be delivered to her owner in mid June.