Until recently, the idea of combining a sportfisherman and a superyacht into a single vessel sounded, well, absurd. For decades, the two styles existed at opposite ends of the boating spectrum, the former known for utility-focused performance, the latter as a showcase for the latest in design and entertainment. Yet those disparate mission statements found common ground this summer with Special One, a six-deck, 171-foot colossus that assumed the title of world’s largest sportfishing yacht.
“It had to be luxurious, but an authentic fishing machine,” says Jan Timmerman, CEO of Royal Huisman, builder of Special One, regarding the owner’s instructions. The Dutch yard, better known for technical sailing yachts, applied its knowledge of lightweight construction and naval architecture to create the 32-knot dual-purpose speedster, while designer Vripack made a study of stateside sportfishing brands to appropriate the best elements, including the category’s unmistakable profile.
“Fishing led in every decision,” says Marnix Hoekstra, Vripack’s creative director, of the design brief. To that end, the cockpit has live wells, fish boxes, outriggers dozens of rod holders, a custom mahogany fighting chair, and the same sonar used on commercial fishing boats. A fish-spotter’s nook sits 46 feet above the water. As for Special One’s superyacht side, the interior is defined by walnut joinery, oak accents, and a translucent material that mimics stone. There’s also an elevator, a 300-bottle wine cellar, and an audio system with 150-plus speakers.
While this Royal Huisman project was a dramatic one-off, it represents the growing trend toward much larger amenity-laden craft for serious anglers. “You have to go where the fish are—Mexico, Costa Rica, Venezuela, even the Azores, so you need bigger boats with more range,” says Michael Rybovich, a Florida builder of custom sportfishing vessels. “And since you’re farther away, you need more creature comforts, because the more time you spend on a boat with other people, the smaller it gets.”
A decade ago, 60 feet was optimal for sportfishing; today, it’s closer to 80 feet. Rybovich’s yard completed the 82-foot Persistence last year and, in 2021, the 94-foot III Amigos, both with sumptuous interiors. “Everything meets an extremely high level of craftsmanship,” says Rybovich. “I’d put our fit and finish up against any other superyacht yard in the world.” It’s a bold claim to be sure, but one that no previous generation of sportfisherman specialists would have even imagined suggesting.
Multi-outboard center-console craft are also being upscaled. Next year will see the launch of Scout’s 670 LXS; at 67 feet, it will be the world’s largest center console. Comfort, too, is being maximized in this class. “Fishability and performance are major desires,” says Chris Landry, director of communications for Viking Yacht Company, which builds the Valhalla line. “But they also want air-conditioning and an escape from the inclement weather.”
To complement its Valhalla V-55, Viking will be launching the Valhalla 55 Sport Yacht built on the V-55 hull, but with “more focus on luxury and performance,” according to Landry. Historically, those two words were contradictory in the fishing world. Now, they’re becoming inseparable.