Design and Construction
Royal Huisman built Antares in Vollenhove, Netherlands. She has an aluminium hull and superstructure, along with a teak deck. The yard paired the metal hull with a carbon rig and rudder, and the complete design went through the MCA/Lloyds certification process.
Antares measures 39.96 metres overall, with an 8.77-metre beam and a gross tonnage of 218. She is a substantial monohull sailing yacht, but her lines remain relatively clean. Dixon Yacht Design was responsible for both the exterior styling and naval architecture, while Rhoades Young Design created the interior.
Rig, Performance, and Handling
Period performance notes describe Antares as a powerful ketch, easily driven under both sail and power. She has a finely balanced helm with mechanical steering and easily reaches 14 knots under sail in moderate conditions.
A separate professional assessment gave her a top speed of 14.5 knots, a cruising speed of 13 knots, and a maximum cruising range of 3500 nautical miles. For motoring, a single Caterpillar C18 Acert diesel delivers 533 kW (715 HP) through propellers, providing quiet backup to the sail plan.
Accommodation and Interior
Antares accommodates up to nine guests in four staterooms, with quarters for six crew in three cabins. Her modern interior draws on 1930s design without becoming a heavy period pastiche. Textured leather, edelmessing, and specially selected French walnut create a rich palette, while discreet furniture design keeps the overall effect clean and understated.
The layout is intended for operation by a professional crew, and the restrained approach seen in the joinery carries through to the guest spaces.
Deck Layout and Equipment
The aft carbon coaming conceals an integrated, power-activated stern swim and boarding platform. Its push-button drop-down cap rail means the first step is down rather than over the side. Pop-up mooring cleats help keep the deck walkways uncluttered.
The two helm positions mirror each other. At the touch of a button, the helmsman’s seat adjusts up, down, fore and aft, and even to port or starboard.
For Med-style stern-to mooring, the transom closes and a gangway deploys. At the swim platform, a watertight door within a door contains a fully functioning fill station.
Refit and Ownership
Originally named Antares of Grand Cayman, the yacht now sails under the Jersey flag. She has been noted at the Pendennis refit yard in Spain, confirming an active refit life consistent with a yacht of her size and complexity.
The Verdict
Antares is a thoughtfully engineered 40-metre ketch that balances performance under sail with the comforts of a professionally managed luxury programme. Her carbon rig and rudder, aluminium construction, discreet interior, and highly mechanised deck make her a refined yet capable voyager.
Pros
- Powerful, easily driven ketch that reaches 14 knots in moderate conditions
- Carbon rig and rudder paired with an MCA/Lloyds certified aluminium design
- Discreet, 1930s-referenced interior in French walnut, leather, and edelmessing
- Mechanised swim platform, pop-up cleats, and mirrored helms with adjustable seats
Cons
- Large, crewed layout limits owner-operator simplicity
- Complex powered systems demand disciplined refit attention
