Giant schooner launched

If anyone working for BMW, Mercedes Benz or Lexus sat down to design a new car that looked like a Pierce Arrow from the early 1900s, a bunch of blokes in white coats would be called in to take them away. But commissioning luxury yachts that appear to be more than 100 years old is all the go among the world's billionaires.

US computer billionaire Jim Clark, husband of Queensland model Kristy Hinze, leads the pack.

In 2004 he launched Athena, the world’s largest privately owned yacht, a 295 foot three-masted schooner that looks like an Edwardian gentleman’s steam yacht with a few masts stuck through the upper decks. Last year Clark showed a little more taste when he launched Hanuman, a 132 foot J-class sloop that is a replica of the beautiful Endeavour II built for the America’s Cup in the 1930s by celebrated British aircraft designer T.O.M. Sopwith.

But now a well-heeled European has gone one better with the recently launched Athos, the world’s largest privately-owned two masted schooner. At 202 feet, Athos really does look like she sailed out of the mists of time.

But, despite her outward appearance, Athos is as modern as any yacht afloat. Designed by Andre Hoek and built by Holland Jachbouw in the Netherlands, Athos recently had her masts stepped and should be starting sea trials by the end of the month. Her impatient owner apparently wants delivery before the end of June.

Launching the yacht was no picnic. The yard couldn’t find a crane strong enough to lift her, so a trolly was built underneath the hull to allow the yacht to be rolled onto a barge for the two day trip from the boatyard to the Dutch port of Harlingen where the masts were stepped.

With accommodations for 10 in the owners party and room for 10 crew, Athos’ most striking feature is her vast, sweeping deck spaces. With all the sail functions controlled by computers and captive reel winches, there is none of the mess of sheets (ropes) that clutter the decks of older yachts.

Between the two masts is an area so clear it is given over to an outdoor dining table that can seat 20.

The low coach houses may look small but such is the scale of the yacht that they provide ample space for comfortable saloons where guests can shelter from bad weather.

Behind the main coach house is a outdoor entertaining area with seating for more than a dozen.

The builders say the towering 62 metre (200 foot) main mast is the largest carbon fibre mast ever built by Rondal.