Horizon II Leapher Yachts Superyacht: The 61m Explorer That Marks a New Shipyard’s Debut
A new Dutch shipyard has launched its first yacht. Horizon II, the maiden superyacht from Leapher Yachts, completed sea trials off the coast of Vlissingen in June 2026, and for a debut build, she reads with the confidence of a yard that has been doing this for decades. At 61 metres, she is the first hull from Leapher’s NAVIX60 platform, and she arrives at a moment when the explorer yacht segment is more competitive than ever.
Horizon II Leapher Yachts: Design and Exterior
Exterior and interior design on Horizon II come from Cor D. Rover, a Dutch studio with a strong track record in explorer and expedition-style builds. The brief was clear from the outset, a true long-range explorer, built to go places most yachts cannot reach. The result is a profile that focuses on function without sacrificing considered design. Her grey hull is angular and purposeful, with stacked superstructure levels that give her considerable volume without unnecessary visual drama. Wide side decks, a foredeck rescue boat station and a generous aft working area all reinforce the expedition brief.
Van Oossanen and O7 Designers handled naval architecture, two studios whose combined expertise in high-performance and long-range hull forms makes them a natural fit for a build of this nature. The result is a hull certified for polar-classed operation, Ice Class notation allows Horizon II to navigate high-latitude regions that remain off-limits to most private yachts.
Horizon II Leapher Yachts Superyacht: Expedition Capability
The most significant specification on Horizon II is her operational autonomy. Leapher designed her to remain at sea for 40 days without resupply, a figure that places her firmly in expedition yacht territory rather than simply an explorer-style motor yacht. That level of autonomy requires careful engineering across fuel, water, provisions and waste management systems, and it shapes every decision the team made during the design process.
Her polar-classed steel hull allows access to Antarctica, the Northwest Passage, Svalbard and other high-latitude destinations. Furthermore, her range and autonomy mean she can cross oceans without the logistical constraints that limit most private yachts to established cruising grounds.
Construction and Delivery
Leapher Yachts launched Horizon II from the Tolkamer facility in the Netherlands in March 2026. She subsequently completed a full programme of sea trials in the North Sea before Leapher delivered her to her owner. Tolkamer, situated on the Rhine near the German border, is a practical base for a yard specialising in long-range explorer builds, deep-water access and proximity to the North Sea make sea trials straightforward and efficient.
Leapher Yachts was established with a clear focus on the long-range explorer segment. Horizon II is the first hull from the NAVIX60 platform, a design developed from the outset to accommodate the demands of serious world cruising. Additionally, the yard has positioned the platform as a proven foundation for future builds rather than a one-off commission.
What Horizon II Means for the Explorer Segment
The explorer yacht segment has expanded significantly over the past decade. Owners are increasingly drawn to yachts that can do more than anchor in established Med or Caribbean anchorages, they want vessels capable of genuine expedition use, with the range and certification to back it up. Consequently, the competition among yards offering explorer-capable builds has grown accordingly.
Horizon II arrives as a credible first entry into this market. Her polar classification, 40-day autonomy and Cor D. Rover design pedigree place her alongside established explorer builds from yards with far longer histories. For Leapher Yachts, that is a strong opening statement.
FAQ
What is Horizon II?
Horizon II is the maiden superyacht from Dutch shipyard Leapher Yachts, launched in March 2026. She is the first hull from the NAVIX60 platform, measuring 61 metres and designed for long-range expedition cruising.
Who designed Horizon II?
Exterior and interior design come from Cor D. Rover. Van Oossanen and O7 Designers handled naval architecture.
What makes Horizon II an explorer yacht?
Horizon II carries a polar-classed steel hull and Leapher designed her for 40 days of autonomy at sea, allowing her to access high-latitude regions and complete ocean crossings without resupply.
Where was Horizon II built?
Leapher Yachts built Horizon II at the Tolkamer facility in Tolkamer, the Netherlands.
When was Horizon II delivered?
Horizon II completed sea trials in June 2026 and was delivered to her owner shortly after.
