The Athena was built in 2004 at the Royal Huisman Shipyard, Vollenhove, Netherlands according to a design by Gerard Dijkstra. It is named after the goddess of the same name , who is also her figurehead . Her hull speed is 19 knots . Pieter Beeldsnijder was responsible for the interior and exterior design. The maiden voyage of Athena led from Holland to the Spanish Mediterranean coast. Although her preferred territory is the European and American waters, her mooring is Cairns in Australia. Current owner is Netscape co- founder Jim Clark .
The Athena was the largest private sailing yacht in the world until the Maltese Falcon was launched .