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First Look: Royal Huisman unveils new images of 81-meter SEA EAGLE II

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By Nina Done   31 March 2023

Royal Huisman has released a collection of stunning new images of the elegant 81m (266ft) sailing yacht SEA EAGLE II , currently the largest aluminum sailing yacht in the world, following her global voyage covering over 45,000 nautical miles. 

Showcasing never seen before images since her low-key delivery under the shadow of the pandemic in 2020, pictures reveal her dramatic lines, plumb bow and majestic Panamax rig under power, courtesy of Dykstra Naval Architects and Mark Whitely Design. 

Her vast rigging encompasses three mainsails that can be hoisted simultaneously for ultra-efficient post-lunch getaways, while her aluminum hull ensures a lightness, acceleration, strength and fuel efficiency, giving her the edge over other heavy, sail-assisted yachts. 

As well as being an aesthetically alluring yacht, one with real presence on the water, this is a yacht that regularly sails at double-digit speeds and takes a matter of minutes to go from anchored to sailing.

Commissioned by an experienced owner, the brief was clear: to create an extremely comfortable and spacious sailing yacht with good sea keeping and exceptional amenities for both guests and crew, alongside the important functional aspects of performance, reliability and power under sail.

Supersized sailing yachts like this are no longer an impossible dream, Royal Huisman’s CEO Jan Timmerman points out: “Continual innovation, accumulated expertise and rigorous self-challenge have come together through our highly skilled and dedicated team to produce Athena, SEA EAGLE II and, currently in-build, the world’s largest sloop, the 85 m (280ft) New World Sloop aka Project 410."

Available for charter

Now on the yacht charter market, guests can experience the elegance and sophistication of this contemporary yacht for themselves. From her beautiful outdoor cinema to her multiple al fresco dining areas, there is an abundance of space onboard where guests can kick back, relax and socialize in style. 

Accommodating up to 12 guests across six elegantly appointed cabins, the yacht is versatile for a variety of charter party configurations. She is also capable of carrying up to 14 crew onboard to ensure a relaxed private yacht charter experience.

If you'd like to learn more about chartering sailing yacht SEA EAGLE II, please get in touch with your chosen yacht charter broker . 

Alternatively, feel free to compare and contrast the entire fleet of sailing yachts available for charter .

Featured Royal Huisman yachts available for charter

90m Royal Huisman 2004 / 2019

57m Royal Huisman 2010 / 2021

52m Royal Huisman 2007 / 2017

47m Royal Huisman 1998 / 2023

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• Royal Huisman
• SEA EAGLE II
• all-aluminum
• Sailing Yacht

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Sea Eagle II: One of the world’s finest superyachts

• Toby Hodges
• July 5, 2023

Stunning images of the 81m schooner Sea Eagle II in French Polynesia are a rare chance to see one of the world’s most magnificent superyachts in full flight. Toby Hodges finds out more from the team behind the design

It’s very rare to see quite such a large vessel, the world’s largest aluminium sailing yacht in this case, truly in its element: sailing full bore in an idyllic location. To us sailing fans, it’s the equivalent of a birdwatcher photographing an exceptional species of finch, kingfisher or indeed eagle. With regards to Sea Eagle II , however, these images really do make you re-evaluate your impressions of scale.

We’ve talked in detail about this superyacht before, when it was just a vision, a project in build. But these pictures, showing it in full flight, help bring a long list of impressive technical statistics to life.

While there are many big yachts, there are very few sailing yachts as large as this – officially eight, but of those considered proper sail-powered rather than sail-assisted yachts, arguably only three. And certainly very few we’ve seen that can sail like this: seemingly with relative ease, control, power and grace.

The extensive photoshoot in French Polynesia shows Sea Eagle II really shifting under its own easily furled canvas. This should come as no surprise to anyone familiar with Dykstra Naval Architects. Look at the spray flying off the towering stemhead – this is no sailing motoryacht. From bow-on you can see the hull is comparatively very slender, with purposeful chines and a flare to the topsides aft. The waterline is fully extended as the sections transition from a rounded U-shape bilge forward to a flat run aft.

Long waterlines together with a modern, beamy aft shape helps create massive volume, powerful performance and low heeling speed. Photo: Tim McKenna

Combine this with the long glass deckhouse and it reminds of a modern explorer yacht or a naval craft. Its hull lines are strikingly efficient, purposeful even. Her 6m draught aside, you get the impression there is nowhere Sea Eagle II can’t soar to. That it has already completed a circumnavigation and sailed 45,000 miles in its first three years is less surprising when you consider just how long legged it is – indeed the crew and designers have reported sustained passagemaking speeds of over 20 knots.

But why the look, why that sailplan, and how did it get from concept to sailing in Pacific islands?

A classic start

The initial brief was actually for a more classical yacht, similar to the 90m schooner Athena that Royal Huisman built for Jim Clark in 2004, before the owner realised he’d prefer the benefits that come with a more modern shape with straight lines. This allowed for a much longer waterline and beamy transom for more stability, volume and comfort at less heel.

Passagemaking performance aboard a practical and safe yacht to manage easily was the target. Sea Eagle II was commissioned by an ageing owner who wanted a large, stable and easily driven yacht – which is why it ended up being twice the length and three times the volume and sail area of the previous Sea Eagle , a 43m yacht which launched from Huisman in 2015.

owerful schooner sailplan with heavily roached equal sized mains. The upwind sail area alone is equivalent in size to five basketball courts. Photo: Tim McKenna

The modern look came from Dykstra’s Erik Wassen, lead naval architect for the project, who I caught up with to discuss how the design transpired and if it has fulfilled its brief. Where a classic yacht “has lots of details to give it life – I thought a round bilge boat with no detail on it is just incredibly dull,” he replies candidly. This helps explain the yacht’s prominent chine, “single aft, turning into a double chine forward, to give it detail,” while in the transom the topsides are inverted, and have some negative camber. “That’s what your eye picks up – it emphasises that masculine look.”

As well as the aesthetic trickery, it’s a shape that works from a naval architecture point of view too: “the knuckle gave me more beam in the forward end of the boat where we have the foremast. The chainplates can be separated more without having too much flare in the boat.”

To manage this canvas, 34 winches can all be pushbutton controlled from the helm stations. Photo: Tim McKenna

Sea Eagle II ’s striking styling is set off by the long deckhouse with its straight glass windows, which cements an explorer look. The UK’s Mark Whitely, who designed the interior, drew this profile. “We went with that and explored it further to sink the bridge half into the superstructure to keep the overall height limited,” Wassen explains.

A schooner rig featuring three carbon masts with furling booms was deemed the most effective way to give Sea Eagle II  the most manageable sail power at the Panamax limit (61m). Dynarigs, as used on the Dykstra projects Maltese Falcon and Black Pearl , were not appropriate for an owner who preferred more classic styles. And while Wassen says they did consider square-top sails, the additional complication was considered too high at the time (around 2017). Instead, the three heavily roached mains have proven to provide ample sail area.

Royal Huisman’s sister company Rondal built the three equal size high modulus carbon masts, as well as the furling booms, captive and drum winches, while Carbo-Link supplied the carbon standing rigging.

Note the size of the crew to get a scale of the aft deck and beam. Photo: Tim McKenna

Straightforward sailing

The beauty of the sailplan is that it can set so much canvas on easily managed push button furlers. The 34 winches are all interfaced and controlled by Rondal’s integrated sail handling system. The Stratis-built fore, main and mizzen sails can raise simultaneously thanks to plenty of hydraulic juice powered by twin 120kW gensets and power take-offs on the main engines.

When you include the staysails that can set off each mast and the yankee, there are seven furling sails from Doyle, totalling around 3,500m2. And that’s without a kite (which the new owners are looking into adding, with rumours of future racing events such as the RORC Caribbean 600 ).

“Tacking is very straightforward,” reported Royal Huisman’s commissioning skipper: “the mains mostly look after themselves with only minor adjustments.

“Gybing naturally takes a little more orchestration, as on any large yacht. But it is still a smooth and safe process.”

Side decks you could fit a skittle alley on, yet protected by high bulwarks. Photo: Tim McKenna

The yankee sheet has the most load, but even that’s on an 18-tonne pull winch, which is reasonably common in large yachts. To depower the sailplan, the crew typically reef from the mizzen first, with the reefs all on halyard locks.

In terms of performance, this is a mile-munching machine. “In a good breeze, on a beam reach, with reefed sails, it does 20 knots comfortably without pushing it,” Wassen reports. This is confirmed by Huisman’s commissioning skipper who reported high boat speeds that are easy to maintain: “We comfortably recorded 22 knots in moderate wind conditions. In fact, at 16-18 knots boat speed, I found myself regularly checking the B&G speed displays for confirmation because the motion is so relaxed. Sailing fast with just a gentle heel [typically max 10-15°], she feels very safe.”

Wassen stresses it’s never had a race crew aboard, so has never been pushed. “We know the boat has been doing sustainable 20 knot+ deliveries… so I think the performance polars we made are doable.”

Palatial space at anchor. Transom hinges to create a full beach terrace. Lazarette includes a crane for the 8m guest tender plus toy space. Photo: Tim McKenna

He attributes the commendable performance to the long waterlines, where buttocks slowly rise to a transom that is only just clear of the water. But credit must go equally to the stiff and strong build. Typically yachts of this scale are built in steel, which results in a much heavier structure. Royal Huisman are masters in large aluminium craft and this, its largest to date, helped them further the technology – learnings which have continued to progress with the launch of its recent full performance yacht Nilaya and the colossal 85m sloop in build.

The complexity of Sea Eagle II ’s build, and its four years in engineering and construction, cannot be understated. The goal was to find the right balance between strength and flex, the former to ensure the necessary longitudinal strength and rigidity, the latter to absorb the dynamic shock loads from waves.

bridge fit for a ship for fully protected watchkeeping. Photo: Tim McKenna

Glass doesn’t bend

An example of such a construction challenge lay with how to mount such a long, rigid deckhouse structure, which comprises so much laminated glass, onto a more flexible aluminium hull. “When we were doing the FEM [finite element method] analysis, we noticed that the glass mullions would be picking up a lot of the load,” Wassen explains: “the deck is participating in the overall structure and a boat with this beam will deflect and bend in waves.”

As glass won’t flex, the build team needed to include some tolerance between the roof and mullions. Aerospace specialists developed an adhesive specially for this project, using it to bond the forward section of the deckhouse to create 2cm of flex.

The al fresco dining area beneath the aft overhang, with grand stairs each side to the flybridge. Photo: Tim McKenna

This long run of glass is central to the overall aesthetic, something Mark Whitely elaborates on: “The essence of the yacht’s appeal is illustrated by long, uninterrupted lines of glass, a subtle sweep of superstructure and a blister to enclose the semi-raised bridge.

“The proportions and low profile were driven by the owner’s request to have a continuous floor from the exterior dining space, right through the large main saloon to the forward dining saloon, with no steps.” The photos confirm side decks you could bowl down, and fore and aft decks clear enough for racket sports.

The formal dining and leisure area at the forward end of the deckhouse. The curved, forward windscreen gives a panoramic outlook. Photo: Tim McKenna

Elsewhere on deck there are foldout boarding platforms on both sides. Outside and inside worlds are separated by flush sliding glass doors which disappear into their own garages, while steps each side of the dining area lead to the expansive flybridge to offer another full deck of entertaining space and an ideal vantage point to helm from.

Another prime feature of Sea Eagle II’s design is the full bridge nestled between flybridge helm station and the main deckhouse, from which it can be commanded in heavy weather. Deciding at which of the many long tables to sit or relax at would seemingly be the only headache for owners and guests. Whether alfresco on the aft deck, inside/outside bar seating, the decksaloon or a formal dining and leisure area forward with 180° windscreen views, all are on the same level.

The main accommodation is for 12 guests, while forward of the foremast is a separate low profile entrance for the 14 crew to reach their quarters. The stowage space for toys is formidable, complete with cranes to launch all with minimal fuss.

A modern silhouette of purposeful performance, with lengthy waterlines and an extended deckhouse. Hull chines are mirrored on the booms. Photo: Tim McKenna

However, while it offers palatial comfort at anchor, this is a yacht that clearly comes alive under sail. In summary, these photos prove what the jury at the Design & Innovation Awards 2021 said when awarding Sea Eagle II with the ‘Best Naval Architecture Sailing Yachts’ award. “She is not just a large cruising yacht with global capability but a beautiful boat that sails well.”

Sea Eagle specifications

LOA: 81m 266ft Beam: 12m 40ft Draught: 6m 20ft Hull speed: 22 knots Main engines: 2x 1,081kW Generators: 2x 120kW Air draught: 61m 201ft Sail area: 2,580m2 27,770ft2 upwind / 3,552m2 38,233ft2 downwind Design: Dykstra Naval Architects + Mark Whiteley Design

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By Jack Hogan 22 Aug 2023

Sea Eagle – a true sailor’s superyacht

Three years after a low-key launch, captain mike douglass discusses the striking schooner as it embarks on a busy charter schedule….

Delivered in 2020 at the height of the pandemic, Sea Eagle ’s arrival on the superyacht scene was, as even Royal Huisman admits, ‘low-key’ compared with the stature it has now gained in the upper bracket of sailing superyachts.

TSG caught up with the stunning 81-metre schooner as it was completing a yard period at STP Palma ahead of a busy charter season. Cutting an imposing figure at the end of the dock, Sea Eagle has very few contemporaries for true comparison, whichever way you look at it.

As the world’s largest aluminium sailing yacht, it takes its place in the top 10, alongside Huisman’s Athena . A contentious list at the best of times, the key criterion that elevates Sea Eagle relates to the word ‘sailing’. Sea Eagle ’s comparatively light weight, long waterline and powerful, yet manageable, Panamax rig ensure it lives up to the cliché of being ‘a true sailing yacht’.

Originally built for a discerning owner with blue-water cruising and private usage in mind, it’s now under new ownership and ready to make a bigger splash. At the time of writing, it’s in Sweden, where it will spend the summer cruising the Nordic region before returning to the Mediterranean in late September.

According to Royal Huisman, the original brief for Sea Eagle was to “create an extremely comfortable and spacious yacht with good seakeeping and exceptional amenities for both guests and crew, offering outstanding passage-making performance so that the owner could take in as much of the world under sail as possible. A true sailor’s yacht – practical, powerful, safe and easily managed. Finally, it had to be functional, favouring simplicity and reliability over unnecessary frills.”

A walkthrough of the yacht clearly reveals that this brief has certainly been followed. The guest accommodation is spacious but not excessive. Undoubtedly, the designers could have taken more space for the owners’ areas, considering the available volume. Instead, it’s obvious that it has been intelligently used to provide the necessary storage, working areas and crew accommodation to fulfil the rest of its brief: that of an efficient world cruiser.

In the pantheon of very large sailing yachts, Sea Eagle is in the minority. It may seem like a misnomer, but a dirty secret of some large sailing yachts is that they don’t sail as much as their smaller cousins or common conception suggests.

The reasons for this are manifold. A combination of the extreme forces at play, the danger associated with accidents and the high cost of replacement and associated lead times in case of mishaps can leave crew skittish when it comes to hoisting solely for the purposes of a passage.

“ Sea Eagle has sailed over 55,000 miles in the first three years,” says its captain, Mike Douglass. “A lot of that has been under sail and without engines. It handles very well, and having the confidence to do these passages with very little engine use is a testament to the build quality.”

A contributing factor to this confidence is the fact that the massive sail area (2,580 sq m/27,770 sq ft upwind; 3,552 sq m/38,233 sq ft downwind) is spread over three masts. The hoisting and furling time is roughly equivalent to a sloop of 50 metres, meaning managing this kind of sail set-up is not as daunting as it may have been half a generation ago.

Behind this ability is the energy-generation and management system. Electrical and hydraulic power come mainly from the twin generators. In addition, there is a hydraulic take-off from each main engine and peak shaving from the powerful battery bank, resulting in a significant volume of hydraulic capacity (500kW) – well in excess of requirements to hoist fore, main and mizzen sails simultaneously.

The 60-metre carbon Rondal masts, as with all that leave the Rondal factory, are built in one piece. The carbon-fibre roller furling booms, captive reel and drum winches, and flush deck hatches were also manufactured by Rondal, while continuous carbon-fibre standing rigging was supplied by Carbo-Link. The sail plan is then managed by Rondal’s Integrated Sail Handling System which interfaces spars, rigging, winches and sailing hardware in a custom configuration.

“Environmental impact reduction is better achievable when the vessel is responsive to the breeze and can sail by wind to the desired destination,” says Erik Wassen, of Dykstra Naval Architects . “The powerful rig geometry of Sea Eagle can be quickly adapted to the conditions encountered, allowing her to safely sail for proportionately more miles of the journey.”

Douglass adds, “When you look down the line of the great Huisman sailing yachts using similar rigs – Blue Papillon , Hyperion – they are tried and tested. We’re just running three of them side by side.”

Sea Eagle ’s Panamax rigs are integral to its world-cruising credentials. The ability to transit the Panama Canal (while fitting under the Bridge of the Americas with a 61-metre clearance) means the yacht can sail from the Caribbean to the Pacific without the arduous trip around Cape Horn.

After a planned Caribbean charter season, and hopefully a racing schedule, that’s exactly where it will head. As with increasing numbers of intrepid yachts, the wilds of Central and South America await.

Large sailing yachts are idiosyncratic, none more so than Sea Eagle . They appeal to a smaller section of the charter market and have to contend with a smaller pool of prospective clients. And, at 550,000 euros per week (via Burgess as the sole CA), it’s at the sharp end of the sailing charter market.

“I have no doubt that what Sea Eagle offers more than overcomes this price point,” says Douglass. “We have a very experienced charter crew and some great sailors. The space on board, the comfort underway and the experience that we can offer, compared to what the same price gets you in the motoryacht market, it’s incomparable.”

Having been on the build crew and eventually captaining sailing yacht Vertigo , the 2011 67-metre Alloy Yachts ketch, through one of the busiest sail charter programmes imaginable, as well as more recently the 83-metre Abeking & Rasmussen motoryacht Secret , Douglass understands the finer points of successful sailing charters.

“There are minor adjustments that need to be made,” says Douglass. “For example, with a six-metre draft like we have on Sea Eagle , it’s vital to explain to guests who may not have experience on sailing yachts our limitations versus opportunities. We may not be able to get all the way into this bay, but we can offer this other experience in return.”

There are other subtleties that set Sea Eagle apart – less glamorous than the sailing capability but no less vital for its global chartering aspirations. The Pacific specifically tests the boundaries of a conscientious vessel’s garbage-management systems. Ironically, many will run out of cold storage before they run out of fuel. Having systems in place to manage overlooked factors such as this is vital to effective and low-impact chartering.

As experienced charter brokers will tell you, aligning the right client with the right boat in the right place is tough. Many owners are taking their yachts on global programmes that are redefining yachting’s global boundaries. is looking to follow suit.

However, the bread and butter of the charter market remains the Mediterrranean/Caribbean split season. Attracting clients to the furthest reaches of the Pacific, although richly rewarding for those willing, is still a challenge.

“Rather than sporadically picking up charters, the vision we have is to slowly build a network of charter guests that have an emotional investment in the yacht and are interested in its programme – people who have been on board, perhaps in the more traditional destinations, who we can share the yacht’s plans with and look 12 to 24 months down the line,” concludes Douglass.

“We are embarking on a busy and challenging programme. It’s great to have an owner who’s open to discussion and happy to let the expertise, both on board and in various fields or regions, guide us. Our approach is always to assess the process and make sure we are operating the boat as safely and effectively as possible.”

This article first appeared in The Superyacht Operations Report . To gain access to The Superyacht Group’s full suite of content, publications, events and services, click here to join The Superyacht Group Community and become one of our members.

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Sea Eagle II: the world’s largest aluminium sailing yacht

SEA EAGLE II: Royal Huisman has built the world’s largest aluminium sailing yacht

The 81-meter contemporary schooner was perfectly on schedule for her delivery date, but Covid-19 restrictions in the Netherlands prevented the finishing touch from being completed.

Despite the strict regulations introduced last spring, the shipyard was able to get up in a very short time.

All this allowed the team to safely “pick up where they left off” in these extraordinary times and with very high quality standards that have made this shipyard an important reference all over the world.

Nearly all board systems, such as gensets, air conditioning, waste water treatment and electronics, were thoroughly tested in the year prior to launch to avoid any surprises during the commissioning stage.

Spectacular speeds over 21 knots can be achieved by the world’s largest aluminium sailing yacht by powering up SEA EAGLE II’s Rondal rig, which can carry over 3500 square meters of sail area evenly distributed over her carbon Panamax masts.

The full sail area is controlled by 34 winches from sailing system integrator Rondal.

The largest winches for the world’s largest aluminium sailing yacht – for the yankee, staysail sheets and mizzen sheet runners – are capable of a tremendous 18 tons (18000 kg) pulling load.

Thanks to these record numbers, SEA EAGLE II will be ranked among the top 10 largest sailboats in the world.

Upon delivery to her owner, she will be the largest aluminium sailing yacht in the world.

Her masts are over 60 meters high and the yacht has a 4-meter rudder, the largest ever built with this material.

The yacht will also have a hydraulic crow’s nest, which will rise up the main mast and give supreme 360-degree views out to sea.

The interiors consist of 6 cabins for 12 guests, a master suite and a cabin for 13 crew members.

Mr. Yin has wanted to reaffirm his confidence in the shipyard’s abilility to build his ultimate dream yacht, commissioning the SEA EAGLE II.

Royal Huisman ‘s team has make this great dream come true, keeping the promise ” If you can dream it, we can build it”.

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Boat of the Week: Meet the 266-Foot ‘Sea Eagle II,’ the World’s Largest Aluminum Sailing Yacht

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The owner is an experienced yachtsman who drew up his Sea Eagle II wish list while sailing aboard his previous 142-foot sloop (also named Sea Eagle ). His next yacht had to be bigger—much bigger, in fact, at almost twice the length and five times more interior volume.

At the same time, the owner demanded outstanding sailing performance. (The owner and captain both declined interviews about the voyage, but Royal Huisman provided extensive notes about the yacht after it traveled thousands of miles.)

That kind of new technology required extensive planning. Before the build commenced, a virtual model of the yacht was built, tested, refined and re-tested for over six months. It was a smart move, considering the yacht’s technical specs, both above and below the waterline. Beneath the hull, Sea Eagle II ‘s 16-foot-long, massive rudder—the largest carbon-composite rudder ever produced—is fitted with fiber-optic sensors laminated into the blade to provide real-time performance data, such as torque and deflection. That level of data not only helps while racing but also optimizes the vessel’s efficiency for long-distance cruising.

Above the vessel, the sail plan is over 37,600 square feet. That outsized volume of sail across three masts is controlled by 34 winches using a remote sail-management system developed by Dykstra Naval Architects, Rondal, Carbo-Link and Doyle Sails.

“Despite her size, Sea Eagle II gets moving quickly,” said the captain in the notes. “From a skipper’s perspective, especially when racing, this means you can always be confident of performance.”

The hull, painted in flag blue, is built from aluminum, chosen for its lightness and strength. It served the owner’s preference for simplicity and reliability, but also proved challenging when joining the long, low superstructure, much of which is made from laminated glass.

The shipyard glued the two materials together using a technique developed in the aerospace industry. It allows for up to 8 inches of flex between the deck and structure, yet provides a secure, weathertight bond. And the curved, forward windshield provides a stunning panoramic view for everyone on board.

The exterior design was by two renowned design firms, Netherlands-based Dykstra and UK-based Mark Whiteley Design, which also did the interior. One of the advantages of a joint design approach is the extra set of eyes on both internal and external areas. For example, the hull chine sweeping beneath the crew portholes to meet the waterline gives the superstructure “a curved tension,” according to Whiteley, yet also maximizes interior space.

For Dykstra, the focus was on speed and handling. “The modern styling allows a beamy transom and almost full-length waterline, providing better sail-keeping capabilities and promising faster crossings in greater comfort,” said Dykstra’s Erik Wassen. “The yacht can sail with less heel, greatly improving the comfort on board.”

Both the owner’s suite and five other staterooms for 10 guests are located on the lower deck. One guest cabin can be converted into a gym. True to form, the owner’s desire for transatlantic sailing drove many of the layout decisions, including a large hatch on the aft deck where a stern platform with concealed steps, a 26-foot tender, a crane, water-scooter and dive gear are stored.

Sea Eagle II may have returned from its globetrotting adventure, but judging by the owner’s lust for travel, it won’t be in the nest for long.

Click here to see more images of Sea Eagle II.

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THE SEA EAGLE SOARS

…of the contemporary flybridge schooner, SEA EAGLE II (nowadays SEA EAGLE). A true sailing yacht, this 81m / 266ft  beauty immediately earned her place alongside the shipyard’s Athena in the elite club of the world’s 10 largest sailing yachts.

Delivered in 2020 under the shadow of the pandemic, SEA EAGLE II’s arrival on the superyacht scene was inevitably low-key. Today, following her extensive world exploration, and with over 45,000 nm under her keel, Royal Huisman is pleased to set matters right and place this magnificent schooner in the spotlight she deserves.

Designed by Dykstra Naval Architects and Mark Whiteley Design, SEA EAGLE II has dramatic and purposeful contemporary lines with a plumb bow. Her very long waterline and powerful Panamax rig ensure effortless, mile-eating performance. On her sail trials, she comfortably recorded 21.5 knots in a moderate breeze. Despite her massive sail area (2,580 sq m / 27,770 sq ft upwind; 3552 sq m / 38,233 sq ft downwind), all three mainsails can easily be hoisted at once – taking no more time than required for a sloop of half this size. The efficiency of this sail management system understates the technical challenges behind it. Exceptional cooperation of an ‘A Team’ of Dykstra, Rondal, Carbo-Link and Doyle Sails made everything possible.

SEA EAGLE II is currently Royal Huisman’s largest yacht. Project 410, the 85m / 280ft sloop, will take over this title on delivery. Nearly 60 years of aluminum yacht-building experience have provided the shipyard with a level of expertise in constructing hulls of this material that few shipyards can match. This is especially true for sailing yachts of this size. The advantages are equally large: lightness, acceleration, strength and fuel-efficiency being just a few characteristics of a true sailing yacht versus a heavy, sail-assisted motor yacht.

SEA EAGLE II is currently Royal Huisman’s largest yacht. Project 410, the 85 m / 250 ft sloop will take over this title on delivery. Nearly 60 years of aluminum yacht-building experience have provided the shipyard with a level of expertise in constructing hulls of this material that few shipyards can match. This is especially true for sailing yachts of this size. The advantages are equally large: lightness, acceleration, strength and fuel-efficiency being just a few characteristics of a true sailing yacht versus a heavy, sail-assisted motor yacht.

A true sailor’s yacht – practical, powerful, safe and easily managed

The inspiration behind SEA EAGLE II was her visionary owner, who began to formulate his ideas while circumnavigating his first yacht, the 43m / 142ft sloop SEA EAGLE (I), also built by Royal Huisman (and now exploring the world again as Ravenger, under new ownership).  The owner had a very clear vision of the priorities for his next project.

The brief for SEA EAGLE II was to create an extremely comfortable and spacious yacht with good sea keeping and exceptional amenities for both guests and crew. She had to offer outstanding passage-making performance so that the owner could take in as much of the world under sail as possible. She had to be a true sailor’s yacht – practical, powerful, safe and easily managed. Finally, she had to be functional, favoring simplicity and reliability over unnecessary frills.

And that is the yacht that Royal Huisman has so successfully delivered – with a good deal of team pride. SEA EAGLE II is almost twice the length and five times the volume of her predecessor – the largest project undertaken by the shipyard to date.

Supersized sailing yachts like this are no longer an impossible dream, Royal Huisman’s CEO Jan Timmerman points out: “Continual innovation, accumulated expertise and rigorous self-challenge have come together through our highly skilled and dedicated team to produce Athena, SEA EAGLE II and, currently in-build, the world’s largest sloop, the 85 m / 280 ft New World Sloop aka Project 410. Other breath-taking concepts, APEX 850 and WING100, are also generating considerable interest worldwide. Each example just awaits a visionary individual who will desire the opportunity to transform a revolutionary, true sailing yacht into reality. The next Royal Huisman supersized sailing yacht would be welcomed into the ranks of the world’s top 10. She will join the existing Royal Huisman-built, thoroughbred ‘supersized sailing yachts’, and – with our continuous increase of expertise – she would be our finest yet.”

Nearly seventy pages editor’s notes with background information and many more photos can be found in the full press release:  click here  (opens new tab).

Supersized sailing yachts by Royal Huisman: an attractive (and possibly even better) alternative to motor yachts

In general, the comfort of motor yachts is enjoyed by their owners while “on location” – in a pretty marina or at an idyllic anchorage. Sailing yachts provide the same enjoyment, but are also much (more) fun while… Read on at this website > news > inhuis stories & updates [ link ]

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Pictures: Inside the Launch of Royal Huisman's 81 Metre Yacht Sea Eagle II

Inside the launch of sea eagle ii.

The 81 metre three masted schooner Sea Eagle II has been seen for the first time after the yacht exited the shed on January 8.

Sea Eagle II was commissioned by the owner of the 43 metre Royal Huisman sailing yacht Sea Eagle , which was delivered in 2015.

The three-masted schooner is the owner's “ultimate dream yacht” the yard said.

Penned by Dykstra Naval Architects and Mark Whiteley , Sea Eagle II is now progressing “on schedule”. The carbon composite Rondal Panamax rig is set to be installed ahead of sea trials and crew training.

The yacht was sold in summer 2016 by Northrop & Johnson as Project RH400.

The project was first announced at the 2017 Monaco Yacht Show, with the yard revealing it would be the largest Asian-owned yacht.

The initial brief for Sea Eagle II called for a “world cruising, fast, comfortably and iconic looking” yacht.

Sea Eagle II is now the seventh biggest sailing yacht in the world, as well as the world’s largest aluminium sailing yacht and the biggest yacht ever built by Royal Huisman.

Accommodation on board is for a total of 11 guests and 14 crew.

The three-masted schooner features a plumb bow and carbon rigging by Rondal.

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SEA EAGLE Sailing yacht for charter

SEA EAGLE is a game-changing sailing yacht, a quite remarkable feat of design and engineering. With head-turning good looks, outstanding comfort and unbeatable performance, even in light winds, she possesses a unique attraction. She will also appeal to those who appreciate bold achievements as she is one of the 10 largest sailing yachts ever built. She is all about the superlative.

• The world’s largest aluminium luxury schooner yacht
• Winner of the International Superyacht Society Awards of Distinction for Best Sail above 500GT
• Outstanding sailing experience and performance with up to 22 knots under sail
• Unrivalled range allowing the most efficient relocation on charter
• Six guest cabins including one convertible twin cabin into a gym
• From anchored to sailing in minutes
• Guest crow's nest on main mast

About SEA EAGLE

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As well as being an aesthetically alluring yacht, one with real presence on the water, this is a yacht that regularly sails at double-digit speeds and takes a matter of minutes to go from anchored to sailing. She can harness the natural power of the wind and convert it into a blistering 22 knots, her vertical bow slicing through the waves with barely a whisper. SEA EAGLE is a yacht that places you at one with nature.

The sheer exhilaration of sailing at this speed cannot be overstated. There is a feeling of being connected to a natural force. This pace also makes it easy for her to relocate quickly, allowing you to sail where you want without sacrificing valuable time. When the day is calm, the yacht’s two large engines keep the itinerary on track.

Despite her ocean-taming pace and beguiling good looks, SEA EAGLE is very comfortable underway, ensuring utmost comfort when moving around on board in any conditions. Her highly experienced crew are available to help with your every need.

At anchor her vast deck spaces transform into a playground of possibilities. See the sun set with a cocktail on the flybridge as the chef prepares an informal dinner on the BBQ. Watch a movie on a huge screen in the main deck’s outdoor cinema or climb into the eagle’s nest that rises up the main mast to enjoy thrilling bird’s-eye views of your anchorage.

Enjoy a pre-dinner drink at the inside-outside bar on the main deck aft or take lunch in the open-air dining table shaded by the overhang before stretching out on the expansive aft deck. For special occasions there’s a formal dining room and lounge with wraparound views.

If you want to venture ashore to explore, she has a midships boarding platform that can be used in any conditions. Otherwise access to the water is via the folding swim platform aft, where the crew is ready to help you enjoy a vast range of watertoys, from waverunners to e-foils, SeaBobs to sailing dinghies, scuba diving kit to kayaks and SUPs.

When it’s time for bed, she has extremely versatile accommodation on the lower deck with two master suites, three twin suites and a gym that can convert into a children’s cabin, a nanny’s cabin with cot, or a staff cabin.

If your guests are seeking to understand the epic power of nature, appreciate the wonder of the ocean and revel in a seven-star retreat, no other sailing yacht delivers like SEA EAGLE. All this while enjoying a wonderful holiday afloat with a crew that everyone loves. Book your unforgettable charter today.

Tenders & toys

• 2 × Tenders
• 2 × Sailing dinghies
• Inflatable platform
• RYA training centre for jetskis & waverunners
• 2 × Waverunners
• 2 × SeaBobs
• 1 × eFoil
• 2 × Kayaks
• 4 × Stand up paddleboards
• Kite surfing equipment
• Scuba diving equipment
• Fishing gear
• Snorkelling gear

Please note that tenders and toys are subject to regular upgrades and changes. Contact a Burgess broker for the latest information.

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• Balance trainer
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• Training bench
• Yoga instructor
• Massage room
• On board masseuse

Please note that fitness equipment and wellness facilities are subject to regular upgrades and changes. Contact a Burgess broker for the latest information.

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Sea Eagle, the world largest aluminium sailing yacht

Her design alone took a year to complete. Her build took a further four.  But the 81m schooner, Sea Eagle, splashed by Royal Huisman in 2020, was worth the wait. Having clocked up an astonishing 45,000 nm since she first set sail, she is one of the 10 largest sailing yachts in the world and the largest aluminium-built one overall. ( Here all our posts about Royal Huisman )

Best Naval Architecture

Winner of the “Best Naval Architecture” category at the Design & Innovation Awards 2021, Sea Eagle was commissioned by an owner with a very clear vision honed over years aboard her predecessor, the 43m sloop, Sea Eagle, penned by Germán Frers and Rhoades Young Design. 

Sea Eagle, by Dykstra Naval Architects e Mark Whiteley 

He wanted a practical, powerful, safe yet easy to manage craft, a brief used by Dykstra Naval Architects and Mark Whiteley Design used as their springboard for their design. 

Sea Eagle is clothed in glorious waterlines topped by a powerful Panamax rig spanning three masts, the tallest of which towers 61m over her deck. She spreads 2,580 sqm of sail upwind and 3552 sqm downwind. 

According to Erik Wassen of  Dykstra Naval Architects, this combination of sleek waterlines and that edgy rig deliver “huge stiffness under sail, improved stability and thus onboard comfort. The sail plan is easy to adapt to changing weather too”.

All the big names in the sector chipped in with the Dykstra team on the rig: Rondal supplied the 34 winches and furlers for the electro-hydraulic sail system, Carbo-Link the carbon rig and Doyle Sails the sails. The result? Sea Eagle confidently delivered 21.5 knots in moderate winds in her sea trials.  

Sea Eagle: powerhouse of technology

The 81, schooner is a powerhouse of technology and technical solutions, all of which complement her sleek profile, axe bow, almost vertical transom and long superstructure which includes a deckhouse topped by the fly. Mark Whiteley of Mark Whiteley Design told us that the long strip of glazing on the deckhouse perfectly encapsulates Sea Eagle’s seductive charm.  

“As the design developed, we honed in on a faceted feature which helps give Sea Eagle her distinctive modern signature, lightens the and softens all the various elements making up this volume,” he says. “The overall effect gives the superstructure ‘a curved tension’ that draws the eye from bow to stern”. 

Sea Eagle’s proportions and low profile are also the result of the owner’s brief. “He wanted to have a continuous floor from the exterior dining space, right through the large main saloon to the forward dining saloon, with no steps. Thanks to the expansive glazing the latter also has direct contact with the natural environment,” concludes Whiteley. 

The lower deck is given over to accommodation with a master suite joined by a further six double guest staterooms, one of which can convert to a gym. The décor here centres around a white colour scheme paired with pale woods. The furnishings are simple very much in line with the owner’s request for a functional, reliable, frill-free yacht.  

Sea Eagle was designed and built to explore the world’s seas. Most importantly, she is the work of a yard that, as Royal Huisman’s own CEO Jean Timmerman, explains, is now building Project 410, an 85m that will soon be crowned the world’s largest sloop. “But we also some truly breath-taking concepts,” he continues. “Like the 85m APEX 850 and the innovative 100m ketch, WING100, that are attracting a lot of interest. All they need now is a visionary owner to turn these revolutionary sailing yachts into reality”.  

Emilio Martinelli

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This New Yacht Is Sailing to Gorgeous, Lesser-known Ports in the Caribbean Sea — and I Was on Board With 'Below Deck's' Chef Ben

Emerald Cruises' new Emerald Sakara ship brings guests to smaller ports in the Caribbean and Mediterranean, with an onboard marina and the occasional Bravo-lebrity.

Paul Brady is the news director at Travel + Leisure and the brand's expert on cruise travel. He has been covering the travel industry for more than 15 years for outlets including Condé Nast Traveler , Skift , and The Huffington Post .

The Staterooms

Bars and restaurants, where emerald sakara sails, shore excursions, amenities and entertainment, family-friendly offerings, accessibility.

Paul Brady/Travel + Leisure

With a couple dozen guests looking on, chef Ben Robinson was showing how to slice and dice a fresh red snapper. “You kind of feel him — but you don’t fondle him,” said Robinson, the fan favorite from the Bravo reality show Below Deck, who’s always ready with a quip. As he pulled a perfect filet off the bone, he explained how to salt the fish and that there’s no more important relationship than the one you have with your fishmonger. “My advice is to always be friendly,” he noted. “I like to support my mom-and-pop [businesses]. If you become familiar with them, they’ll say, ‘Hey, I got this in this morning.’”

The cooking demo, which also featured a ceviche how-to and tips on knife sharpening, was one of many “Chef Ben” moments on my trip aboard Emerald Sakara . It’s the newest 100-passenger vessel from Emerald Cruises, which launched in the fall of 2023, a sibling vessel to the Emerald Azzurra .

During an eight-day voyage in March from San Juan, Puerto Rico, to St. John’s, Antigua and Barbuda, the reality personality was definitely one of the star attractions. Robinson spent several evenings in the galley, creating special dishes such as a panko-crusted veal striploin stuffed with pesto.

He also hosted a well-attended Q&A about his life in the kitchen — and spent plenty of time connecting with fans, many of whom booked the trip specifically to chop it up with Below Deck alum.

“We definitely booked because of Ben,” said Shannon Welnel , a Montana-based travel advisor who had lots of praise for his cuisine — and the yacht-like atmosphere on board the 100-passenger ship. Other guests I spoke with admitted they hadn’t seen much Below Deck, but were intrigued by the chance to chill with a Bravo-lebrity.

Emerald Sakara

• With a max of just 100 passengers, Emerald Sakara feels at times like a private yacht, with no lines and no crowds, and outstanding service from a highly experienced crew.
• Minimalist rooms recall the stripped down aesthetic of Miami Beach or Mykonos, Greece, with pops of color from Missoni Home accents and a sleek-yet-functional bathroom with plenty of storage space.
• While this small ship has but one restaurant and one poolside cafe, there’s plenty of choice when it comes to meals, whether you’re hitting the breakfast or lunch buffet or choosing from the dinner menu.
• The onboard marina, which is open in favorable weather conditions, offers watersports and swimming off the stern of the ship.
• Easy to understand and mostly inclusive pricing covers meals, beverages at mealtime, many tours, and surprisingly speedy Wi-Fi.

The intimate-ship vibe was also one reason the chef wanted to hop aboard. “This definitely has more of a yacht vibe than any other [ship] I've been on,” Robinson told me one afternoon. “A hundred passengers is not a lot,” he said. “I've been on boats with 2,500 passengers, and you really do feel like you're anonymous. But here, the service is great, and you really are treated as an individual and someone important. And you kind of lose that on the big boats.”

While Robinson doesn’t have immediate plans to join another Emerald cruise, he told me that there were plenty of parallels between his life on megayachts and what the Sakara offers its guests. “It’s been incredible,” he said.

I had to agree. The Sakara certainly has much to offer, both in spite of its smaller size and because of it. While it’s available to book by the cabin, like any cruise ship, it still manages to feel at times like a private yacht, particularly when it sails to less-commonly visited ports such as Culebra, on Puerto Rico, or St. Bart’s. In the latter, we dropped anchor near Eric Schmidt’s yacht, Whisper , and had the whole day to explore the glitzy island and its capital, Gustavia. (After a drive around in the morning, I managed to catch the beautiful sunset from the lovely little Shell Beach, right in town.)

“The benefit of being on a small cruise ship like this one is that we can enter small ports and areas where others can’t,” said Robert Kuznin, the captain of Sakara , who previously worked with several cruise lines, including Paul Gauguin, Seabourn, and Virgin Voyages. “For example, when we dropped anchor in Esperanza Bay,” he explained about our stop at the island of Vieques, “there were only two meters under the keel — and that was the shallowest I’ve ever been!”

Courtesy of Emerald Cruises

The ability to go places that larger ships can’t was also on display one morning on St. Kitts, one of the final stops of my trip. It was still early in the morning, but already four mega-ships were docked in Basseterre, the island’s capital. Instead of tying up next to them on the busy cruise pier, we dropped anchor just off the beach in South Friar’s Bay, a long sweep of sand in the island’s southern reaches. There were no crowds to contend with, no paperwork hassles, no touts offering dodgy cab rides. A five-minute tender ride to the beach was all it took to meet our local guide. Time from leaving the breakfast buffet to our first stop? About 25 minutes. Even the most efficient mega-ship would struggle to make that happen — and they can’t drop anchor right off the one of the best beaches on the island. 

Other moments aboard Sakara felt like something out of Below Deck . One afternoon, I made my way to the yacht’s marina, a platform at the stern stocked with lounge chairs, refreshments, and water toys such as a floating trampoline and inflatable sea kayaks. I jumped off the stern into the Caribbean and then tried out the ship’s Seabob, a floating gadget that’s like a cross between a Jet Ski and an electric scooter.

As I continued my joy ride, I could see another vessel anchored just north of us. Turns out, it was David Geffen’s private yacht , Rising Sun . Of course, we were there first.

Here’s a closer look at all the amenities of the Emerald Sakara , which sails seasonally in coastal waters in the Caribbean and the Mediterranean Sea.

Laurent BENOIT/Courtesy of Emerald Cruises

Welcome to your starship: the stripped down, white-and-gray cabins on Sakara feel sci-fi chic, particularly when the accent lighting is switched on. They’re also, thankfully, spacious and super functional, with ample storage space (including a safe), a small minibar, a coffee station, and a clever headboard built-in that’s a great spot for your charging devices and water bottle. Most of the 50 rooms and suites have verandas; ocean-view staterooms are the exception. Bathrooms are just big enough, with plenty of storage, and are stocked with Espa products and a hair dryer. My cabin, 421, was a 300-square-foot balcony suite toward the aft of the ship on deck four: I never once heard noise from the surrounding cabins or in the hallway, though I did occasionally notice sounds and vibrations from the vessel, something that is common on even the largest of ships. A note on power plugs: my stateroom had U.S.-style outlets throughout as well as USB-A charging ports on either side of the bed, a nice touch.

Because Sakara is smaller than most cruise ships, it can’t compete on sheer volume of bars and restaurants. Still, the food on board is solid. La Cucina is the only true dining room, with both indoor and outdoor seating; it has somewhat limited hours compared to the round-the-clock dining options on bigger vessels. That being said, I certainly didn’t go hungry: a breakfast buffet is complemented by traditional à la minute options such as omelets and pancakes; lunch is also buffet style with a carving station. Dinner is more restaurant style, with options from an ever-changing daily menu plus always available classics such as Caesar salad, shrimp cocktail, grilled salmon, and spaghetti bolognese on offer. (Many dietary restrictions and preferences can be accommodated.)

On my voyage, chef Robinson put together several special plates, including what might’ve been the best dish of the week: a sesame-crusted seared yellowfin tuna with celeriac puree. The Below Deck star also put together a panko veal striploin roulade one night and, another evening, offered a citrus-cured hamachi with, in a touch of molecular gastronomy, “mango spheres.” Elsewhere on board, a poolside cafe, Aqua Café, has quick bites like burgers and flatbreads, as well as sweets and coffee pulled from a Cimbali espresso machine. The cocktails served in the Amici Lounge and the Sky Bar were consistently excellent, mixed by a talented team of pros who’ve previously worked on Seabourn ships and in some of Dubai’s top hotels. One weaker spot was the selection of wine on board: pours at mealtimes are included, but they didn’t rock my boat. A short list of “chairman’s wines,” available at extra cost, included a couple by-the-bottle finds such as 2013 vintage Cristal ($650) and some mid-tier Bordeaux and Burgundy options.

Paul Brady/Travel + Leisure

Though small, this ship isn’t an expedition yacht. Rather, it’s specifically designed for warm-weather coastal cruising, meaning it spends the lion’s share of its time in places such as the Caribbean and, in the Northern Hemisphere’s summer months, the Mediterranean. My trip aboard was spent entirely in the Leeward Islands of the Caribbean, where passages between ports were short and the seas were often calm. (We did occasionally encounter some swells of up to two meters, or 6.6 feet. I saw many guests wearing medicated patches to prevent motion sickness throughout the trip.) Sakara typically spends a season of several months in a given region, with a variety of cruise lengths offered, ranging from six to 24 days. In 2024, the ship will spend April through November in the Mediterranean. Sakara will return to the Caribbean at the end of the year, through April 2025.

Tours off the ship were a strong suit for Emerald, at least on my voyage. Most stops offered a variety of activities, ranging from a simple transfer to a nearby beach to a full-on, multi-hour tour. Usually, I found myself ashore with a very small group of folks — fewer than a dozen — and all the guides Emerald arranged were true pros. Passengers raved about a kayak paddle through the bioluminescent bay on Vieques, something I sadly didn’t try myself. I did, however, enjoy a short guided hike on the island of St. John, to the pristine beach along Salomon Bay, which was all but deserted. The organization of excursions felt flawless to me, thanks no doubt to the crew and shore excursion manager, Pilar Atencio. Worth a mention, too, were Atencio’s detailed briefings on what to expect each day. While these sorts of “port talks'' are common on ships of all sizes, they felt particularly useful on Sakara because of how intimate our groups were; many passengers made a point of attending the pre-dinner talks every night, for info on what to expect about our anchorage, historical background on each island, and detailed info about what each tour offering would entail.

Call it small but mighty: Sakara has all the essentials, which is a bit of feat for a ship this size. A cozy spa has wellness and beauty treatments, as well as a small hairstyling and facial studio; morning yoga and stretching are available on deck. The fitness center, with a few cardio machines, a Peloton bike, and a variety of weights and other gear gets the job done. The smallish pool and a top-deck whirlpool were lovely — though I spent most of my time in the ocean: the Sakara ’s marina deck is a key feature, and it was open several afternoons during my trip. It’s like the greatest pool party you’ve ever been to, complete with piña coladas, sea kayaks, stand-up paddleboards, and a trampoline, right off the stern of the ship. It is, truly, as much fun as it sounds like, though it is subject to the whims of weather and ocean currents. Also available in some destinations are e-bikes from Gocycle, which are available on a first-come, first-served basis; during my trip, several guests gave them a spin on the island of Vieques. Sakara also carries a ton of snorkeling gear and beach towels, which passengers can borrow whenever they like. In terms of performances, this isn’t the vessel for Broadway-style shows, but guitarist Jamie Ferguson and voyage director Nathalie Millet added plenty of live music to the trip.

The youngest passengers I spoke with on my cruise were in their 20s — and they were traveling with their parents. Sakara is perhaps the perfect ship for families traveling with adult children, since it offers such a diverse array of activities to suit different tastes and activity levels, while visiting intriguing destinations. The ship is also intimate enough that everybody can gather easily for meals — or a swim off the stern — without fighting the crowds common on larger vessels. On the other hand, Sakara is probably not the best choice for families with younger children: there’s no kid-specific programming, and you’re likely to be the only ones aboard with little ones. “Emerald Cruises yachts are recommended for people aged 12 and up, and they must be accompanied by and share a cabin with an adult aged 18 or [older],” a spokesperson shared with T+L.

Sakara is probably best described as somewhat accessible: the ship has elevators to all decks and the crew was, on my trip, very accommodating to those with mobility challenges. There are handrails throughout, and bathrooms feature shower grab bars. That being said, several areas of the ship — the outdoor dining terrace, for example — require navigating at least one step even once you’ve reached the deck in question by elevator. “Due to the nature and size of the ships, wheelchairs and scooters are not allowed to be used on board,” a spokesperson told T+L. When the ship is at anchor, it’s only possible to go ashore by tender or Zodiac, both of which could be challenging for those with limited mobility. As Emerald’s FAQ explains: “Guests with limited mobility will require help from a companion, since the crew is limited.” Also of note: many announcements are made only by loudspeaker with no hearing-impaired alternative.

Seven-night sailings on Emerald Sakara start from $2,775 per person, and you can book at emeraldcruises.com .

Planned Outage for Some Cornell Lab Services

Several Cornell Lab of Ornithology services will be unavailable beginning March 19 through 6:00 a.m. U.S. Eastern time on March 21 . This is a one-time disruption while we migrate more than 1.6 billion eBird observations and additional project data to new servers. After the move, our websites will have improved reliability, stability, and room to grow. Thank you for your understanding during this outage.

Don’t worry, your data (checklists, media, Bird Academy courses, Merlin life list, etc.) will be safe during the migration and will be unaffected when we come back online.

Unavailable: The following websites and services will be down during this period:

• eBird.org , including eBird portals, eBird Alerts, the eBird API, eBird Science, and data downloads
• Macaulay Library
• Birds of the World

Partially affected: Several Cornell Lab projects will remain up but services that require a login will be unavailable:

• Bird Academy login and store will be unavailable. Users will be able to access most course materials if they were logged in to the site before the outage. Snap ID quizzes will not function during the outage.
• NestWatch and Project FeederWatch login and data entry will be unavailable both on the website and the app. Please record your data on paper and enter it after the outage ends.
• eBird Mobile app : The Explore and My eBird functions will not work during the outage. You can use the app to create checklists and then submit them after the outage ends. Your eBird data will be safe.
• Merlin Bird ID app : Sound ID will continue to work, as well as Photo ID, Step-by-Step, and Explore, using your recent locations only. You will not be able to save sightings, refresh your life list, update your location, or log in to your account. These functions will return when the outage ends and your data will be safe.

Unaffected: The following sites will continue to function as normal:

• Cornell Lab of Ornithology institutional website
• All About Birds
• Cornell Lab YouTube channel

What Can I Do During the Outage?

Go out birding.

• If you already have Merlin Bird ID app installed, you can still use it for some purposes. Though you won’t be able to update your location, save sightings, or refresh your life list, the ID functions will still work with your saved locations, and you can still browse species using Explore Birds
• If you already have the eBird Mobile app installed on your device, you can start eBird Mobile checklists during the downtime and submit them once eBird is back online. Learn how to Enter Sightings with eBird Mobile

Explore Birds Online

• Read about science, conservation, and birdwatching on All About Birds and in our magazine, Living Bird
• Watch wild birds live on Cornell Lab Bird Cams
• Browse our natural history films on the Cornell Lab YouTube channel
• Watch recorded webinars on everything from Merlin tips and tricks, to feeding birds at home, to conversations with scientists, and more

Stay Connected

• Watch for status updates on our Facebook and Instagram channels
• Join us for two days of fun activities on the  @Team_eBird Instagram  account
• Have some fun by sharing your “life without eBird” on social media. If you’re missing your live eBird access during this outage, share how you’re coping with the hashtag #eBirdLife. We’ll be right there with you!

Join Our Email List

The Cornell Lab will send you updates about birds, birding, and opportunities to help bird conservation. Sign up for email and don’t miss a thing!

Golden-cheeked Warbler by  Bryan Calk/Macaulay Library

Cargo calculator

What’s distance & time.

It’s a logistics application created to estimate distances and times between sea routes under particular parameters.

How it works?

You insert your origin and destination and then the system displays data about distances and time estimates from SeaRates database.

What’s the information based on?

Open sources combined with information from various shipping lines and nautical agencies. This information has been collected for over ten years and is regularly updated.

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Distance & Time made simple

Often customers are given a very rough estimate of their delivery. “It will take two to four weeks”, for example, or “it can be delivered by Friday if you place your order in the next 12 hours”. This gives a frame of reference to the customer, but all other things being equal, given a choice between several companies with similar prices, the customer will choose the one with the fastest delivery service. So precise information is always preferred, since it is often necessary to prepare or be personally present for the delivery. Not to mention that properly timing your delivery is crucial to avoid work gaps in production. Save yourself some unwanted trouble by installing our Distance & Times tool to help you compete in the marketplace!

Usually the transport companies integrate the app with Logistics Explorer to also provide customers with instant shipping rates from/to anywhere in the world. It can also be enhanced by Route Planner to also schedule shipments easier and track sea lines

Distance & Time

Make your site better by integrating tools from searates, shipping distance & time calculator.

Distance & Time is web application, which allows to calculate distances and transit time between two points using different modes of transport.

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