Heesen Magazine Autumn 2023

Autumn 2023

The future is feminine

All roads start with the guts to dream. Chasing it wherever it takes you. That dream is the fuel, required to create. Driven by passion, guided by expertise. Follow that path, to explore, to feel. So when you come to that next crossroad you can look back with satisfaction and no regrets.

That attitude defines us. And when that fire burns, we become unstoppable. We shape the hardest steel and strongest aluminium. With skill and dedication. With hard work and persistence. It’s then when you have created beauty.

This is who we are.

Power and Beauty. Confidence and Performance. That’s what our superyachts are made of.

We... are Heesen

6 Dream big – Exploring in the Heesen XV67

14 Excellence in absentia – Interview: Neville Crichton

18 Fake it before you break it – Yacht-friendly replica artworks

24 The future is female – Women yachting professionals

28 Love is the drug – An in-depth look at Project Venus

34 A taste of the exceptional – Heesen’s branded gin

36 For the yacht that has everything – Linley gift selection

38 Wellness redefined – Sampling Sparta’s healthful haven

42 The gift of colour – Heesen’s irresistible tulip

46 Survival modes – Keeping a cool head in pirate waters

52 Vive la différence – The Bahamas vs the Côte d’Azur

58 Future proof fifty – Heesen’s fabulous new 50m concept

62 Shocking blue – Hugo Kaagman, graffiti artist

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Treble harmony – Your choice of new yachts in build

Roll of the dice – Our pick of high-end games tables

Look to the future – Recycling starts in the shipyard

Finessing a pedigree 4400 – A new interior for Castlefinn

Cruising with canines – Giving dogs an on-board welcome

92 If you can’t beat them, eat them – Pragmatic haute cuisine

Exploring in the XV67

Dream big

Heesen’s spectacular explorer yacht concept will inspire a few lucky owners to take on cruises of ultimate ambition

Women in the yacht industry

The future is female

A rising tide of talent and commitment - Heesen’s perspective on equality and inclusion in the workplace

Bahamas vs the Côte d’Azur

Vive la différence Americans love it over here, Europeans love it over there –just what are the attractions of these prime yacht hotspots?

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Heesen’s latest 50m concept

Future proof fifty

New departure – a sneak preview of a superb new design for a steel 50-metre by the Harrison Eidsgaard studio

46 72

Captain Varun and the pirates

Survival modes

A time-served captain shares his experience and offers advice on transiting yachts through dangerous waters

High-end games tables

Roll of the dice

No modern yacht interior is complete without a games table, showcasing the ultimate in quality craftsmanship and design

Our team is currently busy at the shipyard in Oss and our fine cabinetry workshop in Winterswijk, where we are working on an exciting mix of yachts at different stages of construction. Whether it's our full custom yachts, like Ultra G and Sparta, undergoing intensive testing in the North Sea, our "smart custom" Project Oslo24, or our series of yachts ranging from 50 to 57 meters, our team is hard at work.

We are always looking towards the future and striving to create something new. Last year in Fort Lauderdale, we announced our collaboration with Harrison Eidhsgaard on a new 50m steel yacht. Ten months later, we are proud to present YN 21250 Project Grace, the first in this new 50m FDHF series, designed inside and out by the renowned London-based studio.

In this issue, we explore various exciting topics relevant to our business and yachts but also offer a unique perspective on the superyacht industry. One such topic is women in yachting, inclusion, and diversity, which Michelle Johnson extensively covers in an interview with our HR business partner, Angela Donkers. These values are integral to our company's ethos, and we are proud to reiterate this message. Finally, we are thrilled to feature a photo by Olga Dromas, a talented yacht photographer breaking barriers in a male-dominated industry, on our cover.

Last but not least, yachting guru and serial yacht owner Neville Crichton talks to Bill Springer and shares his view on our industry.

Clients can take advantage of shortened delivery times of our Series yachts built on speculation. Read about the projects available and for sale and meet our sales and marketing team at the boat shows to discuss your next yacht with them before coming to visit us in the Netherlands.

As they say in Monaco: “bonne lecture!”.

Arthur Brouwer, CEO Heesen Yachts

As summer is drawing to a close, we are excited about the upcoming boat show season. We look forward to distributing copies of our magazine to old and new industry friends, starting with Monaco and later in Fort Lauderdale

Extreme capability calls for extreme adventure. Heesen highlights five top destinations that will inspire owners to venture into new waters aboard the Dutch shipyard’s explorer concept – the XV67

IN THE HEESEN XV67

DREAM BIG

EXPLORING

“ The XV67’s luxurious beach club with dedicated watersports and dive centre on the lower deck aft is just what is required to explore these thriving waters ”

TEXT BY JULIA ZALTZMAN

French Polynesia

With its 5,000nm cruising range, even the most remote South Pacific islands become accessible aboard the XV67. French Polynesia is a place where soaring green peaks rise abruptly from the ocean and islands are ringed by coral reefs and shallow waters peppered with “motus” – small sandy isles. Such beauty is hard to match, though the region’s diverse marine ecosystem manages it. It’s home to more than 1,000 fish species and around 20 species

of shark, all drawn by the archipelago’s healthy reefs with more than 176 different corals. From August to November, the humpback whale breeding season is in full swing. The XV67’s luxurious beach club with dedicated watersports and dive centre on the lower deck aft is just what is required to explore these thriving waters, from the Opunohu canyons where blacktip sharks, sea turtles and schools of snapper swim, to a snorkel safari with barrel-rolling whale calves.

Patagonia

Patagonia is the cradle of South America. It boasts outstanding natural landmarks, such as the Perito Moreno Glacier and the Andes mountains, and its terrain and coastline are so vast that it’s one of the few yachting destinations that is best explored with the help of an onboard helicopter. The helideck aboard XV67 is designed to cater for an Airbus 145, which can carry up to 10 passengers plus

pilots and crew, to soar high above the rugged land that moves between icy wonderland to scrub plateau in minutes. Strong headwinds can be a common feature when cruising Patagonia, though at just 67m, the XV67 is compact enough to tuck into narrow inlets, or caletas, for shelter or to drop anchor in the granite-lined lagoons that play host to cormorants and penguins -- a dress rehearsal for the majestic Chilean fjords beyond.

Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has long been off limits. Now opening its arms to international tourism, it is fast becoming a hot ticket destination powered by the development of its ‘smart city’ Neom and the Red Sea Project. Included within Pelorus’ 2023 collection of ‘Gamma’ destinations, which the adventure company defines as “previously unheard of or overlooked countries, many of which are best explored by yacht,” those cruising Saudi Arabia’s coast will encompass an archipelago of 90 islands where mangrove restoration, floating coral nurseries and a 100-hectare landscape plant are in development. Shoreside excursions also include rock tombs of the ancient Nabataean city of Hegra, ziplining, quad biking through canyons and sleeping in desert camps. Considering the Kingdom’s focus on sustainable and regenerative tourism, the XV67’s hybrid propulsion and optimised hull design for reduced fuel consumption make it a natural fit.

Greenland

The standout feature of the XV67 interior is arguably the three-storey owner’s suite with a raised bow lounge that

connects via a staircase to a private exterior space on the bow terrace. It’s the ideal platform for viewing the incredible wildlife that

roams free throughout Greenland. Polar bears languish idly on floating pack ice. Musk oxen and reindeer are spotted far and wide. In the water, humpback whales breach the surface. In the sky, white-tailed eagles soar. There’s even a dedicated observation deck for guests to gaze at the starlit sky by night under the glow of the Milky Way.

Antarctica

Few people have explored Antarctica. Even fewer have dived its underwater realm by submarine. In 2022, Greenpeace conducted the most southerly research submarine dive to take place in the Antarctic where they encountered slopes, canyons and walls of the ocean floor that were covered with brightlycoloured corals, sponges, feather stars and countless other marine animals. The XV67’s large vehicle storage on the main deck aft makes the yacht well equipped to take guests to the edge of the world. The space is designed to carry an assortment of expedition equipment,

including Zodiac tenders for icy waters and tundra landings, and even a personal submersible. With the option

of an ice-class steel hull, there are few superyachts that can outdo Heesen’s grand expedition concept.

HEESEN OWNER NEVILLE CRICHTON

EXCELLENCE IN ABSENTIA

TEXT BY BILL SPRINGER

A complete interior redesign for one of the world’s most experienced superyacht owners? No problem! Well, maybe just one –the pandemic

When it comes to prolific yacht owners, it’s pretty hard to top Neville Crichton. He is quick to point out that he has owned and raced numerous iconic Maxi yachts. His sailing plaudits also include first place

finishes in the Fastnet, Sydney-Hobart and Transpac among other iconic offshore races. And now that he has bought and is in the process of refitting the classic J-Class yacht Rainbow to be ready to compete in 2024, it’s obvious his yacht racing interests are not confined to the newest technology.

Below The 50-metre Heesen Como, latest in a series of Neville Crichton’s superyachts

He has also been a prolific yacht builder, who has commissioned more than 50 yachts during his decades-long sailing career. In addition to owning and skippering highly decorated racing yachts, he has also owned a series of large aluminum sailing and motor yachts designed by Ed Dubois and built by a company he founded in the 1980s, Alloy Yachts.

But that was then.

design was not up to his standards. And that’s when he called some other friends he trusted – Luca Boldrini and Francesca Muzio of FM Architettura in Milan.

“As you know, Neville is a very important yacht owner,” says Luca Boldrini. “We met a few years ago because he liked our style. And then he calls us during the worst part of the pandemic and says, ‘Guys, I really like to work with you on

He bought his current yacht, the 50-metre Heesen Como, during the pandemic. In fact, he bought it sight unseen. “It was a good boat at a good price,” he says via Zoom from his Australia-based office. He bought it based on advice of a trusted friend, because he couldn’t actually go see the boat in person during the Covid lockdown.

Crichton is also quick to point out that he could tell by the photos that the boat’s older interior

a boat. I trust you very much but I'm stuck in Australia so I cannot go to see the boat.

“Can you do me a favour? Can you go and take a look at the boat and let me know what you think? I can see from the photos that the interior is a little bit too flashy for me. I want you to tone it down and simplify it. I want to make it more essential. I want to make it more modern. I want it to have a calming feeling.”

Above The yacht’s redesigned main saloon and sky lounge

Below Como’s owner, Neville Crichton at the helm of Alfa Romeo

Of course Boldrini said yes.

“But you know, Neville has always been ahead of the curve when it comes to anticipating what he and just as importantly his potential yacht buyers want,” adds Francesca Muzio. “And that’s why we’ve loved working with such an important yacht owner. I mean yes, it was a challenge because he pushed us beyond our vision. But it was worth it.”

In the end, their redesigned interior has a soothing feel that was inspired by Luca and Francesca’s design work in Asia. “We did the refit very quickly,” says Francesca. “Because of course Neville wants everything to be done quickly. But we love how this has come out, because it brings the calming feeling of nature into the yacht.”

As you can see from what the interior looked like before the refit and after, the use of warm wood, calming colors and soft textures has created an entirely new experience throughout the yacht. The clever louvred wall panels not only soften the intrusion of the tender storage bays, they also make the main saloon more intimate as well. Add elegantly designed bespoke furniture, deep pile carpets and sophisticated lighting and voila, you get an entirely new yacht -- during a pandemic, for an owner who never got to see it in person.

Being the trendsetter that he is, Neville knows that owners want yachts that make it easy to connect to nature. People want to own and enjoy yachts not only because of their style, but because of the lifestyle that well-designed superyachts make possible. And when it comes to the superyacht owner lifestyle, few have the vison that Neville Crichton has.

" Can you do me a favour? Can you go to take a look at the boat and let me know what you think?"

Above The yacht’s original main saloon

PIXELLATE YOUR PICASSO

FAKE IT BEFORE YOU BREAK IT

Digital tech is coming to the rescue of connoisseurs for whom life on board is not complete without their priceless – and vulnerable – artworks

TEXT BY JULIA ZALTZMAN

Digitisation transformed the music industry. Now it’s set to do the same for art. This is big news for important artworks that depend on meticulous care for their survival. As art specialist Pandora Mather-Lees says, “the true role of art ownership is custodianship” – so, for collectors with an irresistible urge to hang priceless pieces aboard their yacht, could new technology finally offer a safe way forward?

While climate control aboard a well-maintained superyacht goes a long way to mitigating damage from humidity, temperature and sun exposure, the threat of fire and accidents remains ever present. The safest route of all, to exchange the genuine article for a low rent reproduction of a Chagall, Kandinsky or Gauguin, lacks appeal for serious collectors and connoisseurs. But now, new scanning technology, developed by Arius Technology in Canada, in partnership with Canon and Crozier Fine Arts, can accurately replicate prized artworks in a way that’s never been done before.

It all began with the Mona Lisa, the most famous painting in the world. In 2004, the Louvre Museum in Paris subjected Leonardo da Vinci’s masterpiece to an exhaustive forensic examination deemed vital for its preservation. Though now exhibited under bulletproof glass, the painting’s long-term condition

has suffered over more than 500 years from warping, light exposure and even vandalism.

The mission was to create a 3D high-resolution digital model. A non-contact portable scanner was designed and built specially for the task. It works by creating a very high-res data

Left

A digital replica of Vincent van Gogh’s ‘Irises’

" It’s preferable to cutting an original artwork , which despite being copyright infringement, is known to have happened"

file using a laser with the precision of ten microns – one-tenth of the width of a human hair. The result is a 3D fine art print that fully replicates the original painting, including colour and surface relief.

It’s the first step towards generating a digital archive of priceless masterpieces, but it

also opens a new avenue of opportunities. Art historians can study works with an unprecedented level of detail, capable of feeling the texture and brushstrokes on canvas – something never permitted with original artworks. It also helps with digital restoration, compensating for areas of degradation that naturally occur over time.

“Every painting that is more than 100 years old is not in perfect condition,” says Stephen Gritt, director of conservation and research at the National Gallery of Canada. “Discolouration occurs, and dirt gathers. When these areas are corrected in the digital file, the printout provides a view of how the painting would have looked when first completed.”

For collectors, the technology allows them to safely store and appreciate artwork in multiple locations, including superyachts, where replicas can be resized to fit spaces in the bulkhead. “It’s preferable to cutting an original artwork, which despite being copyright infringement, is known to have happened,” says Mathers-Lee.

Patrick Robinson, chairman of Arius Technology, notes that the concept of placing replicas of priceless paintings within superyacht interiors is gaining traction. “Given that one cannot differentiate between the 3D textured reproduction and the original, the owner avoids both legal export risks as well as physical damage to the artwork,” he says. “There are billions of Euros of unique artworks floating in international waters on superyachts, but fine art on the move is extremely vulnerable. Now owners can both protect and enjoy their investment by allowing their art to appreciate at home or in safe storage whilst having a copy on board.”

and lends itself well to the printing process.

Since scanning the Mona Lisa, Arius has worked with conservators at the Tate Britain, the National Gallery of Canada, the Mauritshuis in The Hague and others to create replicas of some of the world’s most loved art, including The Girl with a Pearl Earring by Johannes Vermeer.

The implications of the technology don’t just apply to old artworks. Stale Amsterdam is a contemporary artist who creates large, coloured and textured works by dripping paint onto canvas. Using Arius’ elevated printing and scanning process, he creates large volume 3D reproductions of his paintings, complete with accurate topography and pigment.

Of course there is a distinction between a fake and a replica – one is produced with dishonest intent, while the other is merely identical to the original. But there is a delicacy here, which is why Arius avoids printing its replicas on canvas, using instead an aluminium composite which is light, thin

The platform, together with future development into AI applications, is now poised to ignite the art world, says Robinson, and set the superyacht art world free: “Any insurer will bemoan the hazards of moving and installing art, but the superyacht environment presents particular risks. By having an identical copy on board, owners avoid all of this without having to compromise on the opulence of the interior.”

"There are billions of Euros of unique artworks floating in international waters on superyachts"

Above Patrick Robinson Right Close-up of a print replica of Awakening by Jylian Gustlin

THE FUTURE IS FEMALE

TEXT BY MICHELLE JOHNSON

Each February, the world comes together for UN International Women’s Day – a day of activism and celebration designed to highlight the gender gap and the needs of women around the world. This year, Heesen’s HR business partner Angela Donkers marked the event with a live discussion about women in yachting, hosted on the shipyard’s social media channels and designed to put the spotlight on the brilliant work of women in our industry.

It's fair to say that, in recent years, the luxurious and adventurous world of yachting has taken great strides to confront some of the industry’s biggest challenges – such as the question of ocean conservation and environmental responsibility – and begin the long process of creating a more sustainable and modern environment for ocean-lovers. One significant area of concern is gender disparity: in 2021, the first ever diversity report by She of the Sea found that, of contributing organisations, just 28% of 1,800 yacht crew members were women, and only 1.9% were captains. Shoreside, the stats look rather better, with participating companies counting 34% female managers and 17.4% female directors within organisations – but 75% of these companies said they

experienced challenges “with recruiting, placing, promoting or retaining” minorities and women, both within their organisations and externally as yacht crew.

One prominent female captain working today is Captain Sandy Yawn, who became a household name on the US reality series Below Deck Mediterranean. Captain Sandy, as she is best known, has been part of the show since 2016, with last year’s show featuring the 49.8m Heesen hybrid superyacht Home. This year, she was the centre of the stormy tenth series of Below Deck, when she replaced Captain Lee Rosbach for five decisive charters that saw her shake up the crew.

A fly-on-the-wall look at life on a luxury yacht charter crew, life on the show has not been entirely smooth sailing, with alcohol-fuelled nights out often shown to ramp up drama between crewmates. This year, Australian spin-off Below Deck Down Under dealt with a sexual misconduct scandal when producers had to step in to prevent a male crew member from assaulting a female colleague; he was immediately fired. A female crew member was also fired for inappropriate behaviour towards a male colleague. Captain Sandy praised the Down Under production team and crew –

Heesen’s Angela Donkers tells all about the rising tide of equality and inclusion that is seeing women making new waves in the yachting world

particularly Captain Jason Chambers and Chief Stewardess Aesha Scott – for their quick and decisive handling of the incidents.

Earlier this year, Sandy released her memoir, Be the Calm or Be the Storm, along with launching her foundation Captain Sandy’s Charities – which raises funds and awareness for charities across sectors including maritime employment opportunities. Driven to inspire other women to enter the yachting industry, she said: “I am so happy to be on the show. It shows little girls and women all over the country and the world that they can have a life at sea.”

Sharing Captain Sandy’s passion for diverse recruitment, Angela has great hopes for the inclusive future of the yachting industry. She says that, although meaningful change

takes time, there is already some indication that a new wave of gender equality may be entering the production line. In fact, one of the most exciting changes that we are seeing in modern yachting is the rise of women in STEM roles –science, technology, engineering and maths.

“Heesen currently employs 55 women across the company, of which 17 women are active in production,” she explains. “It’s exciting to see that more women are opting for technology roles, and we also see this within Heesen. Because of their expertise and because of the cooperation and the atmosphere they bring, they have great added value. In addition, diversity is important, not only in gender but also in age and origin.”

Angela has become particularly involved in Heesen’s recruitment and retainment during

" I am so happy to be on the show.

It shows little girls and women all over the country and the world that they can have a life at sea"

Above Captain Sandy Yawn

her three and a half years at the Oss-based shipbuilder, where she considers herself “a sparring partner” that supports both employees and executives. “My main concerns include career development, physical and mental health, leadership, recruitment, and culture and happiness at work,” she says. “In addition, I am a counsellor, so our employees can regularly come to tell their story and ask for advice. No week is the same, which makes the work fun.”

She suggests the key to continuing this forward momentum – and attracting more women and gender-non-conforming people into the yachting industry in general – is the same when it comes to local recruitment and on a global level alike.

“We must encourage more girls and young women into STEM roles -- the younger, the better,” says Angela. “We work with schools throughout the year – for example, giving guided tours to students – to show young people what it’s like to work at Heesen. The tours are given by colleagues with a lot of experience, who can show and communicate how much fun it is to work in yacht building.”

Heesen also participates in the annual Dag van Techniek convention on 17 June. “It’s a unique opportunity for companies from Oss and the surrounding area to inspire children and their parents, and introduce them to the world of technology,” she says. “I think it is important to lead by example and I hope that, in the future, more women will choose technology so that there is more balance in the field between the various genders.”

But, Angela says, equity doesn’t stop at recruitment. “As a woman, it can sometimes feel like you have to do more than your best just to be seen as equal, especially in an environment that

is [traditionally] male.” Heesen’s HR department, which is a team of six, is therefore active in ensuring there are opportunities for leadership training for promising employees and executives alike. “We are responsible for making sure that the right person is working in the right position, which in turn ensures more job satisfaction.

“But it’s also important that we invest in leadership, so that our managers are better able to compliment and motivate their employees. We do this through the Heesen Academy programme, while executives follow leadership programmes called the Heesen Masters and Heesen Professionals.”

With new technologies and innovations driving the yacht building industry to ever greater heights, there is certainly no shortage of opportunities for those interested in entering the workforce. For women, Angela has this advice: “Don't be underestimated. Show what you can do, and you will make a difference.”

Below Alicja Bogdan, who works at Heesen as a Production Planner

LOVE IS THE DRUG

The ancient goddess of love and beauty was also the daughter of the waves. What better name for a yacht project? Under on-spec construction at the shipyard in Oss, this stunning 55-metre will be ready for delivery in 2025

TEXT BY JUSTIN RATCLIFFE

The latest in Heesen’s best-selling 55-metre Steel class, Project Venus has had her svelte yet muscular lines restyled by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects to add a more contemporary touch. This design evolution is important for Heesen, which likes to keep its designs current and means that this new

project will share only her technical specifications and engineering with her predecessors in the series.

Horizontal lines emphasise the length of the yacht, and the superstructure is adorned with a “shark tooth” motif, a design feature halfway along the side of the bridge deck

that lends the yacht a unique and powerful personality. The clean and streamlined design is further emphasised by having no fashion plates – a design feature that also improves the indoor / outdoor connection.

Heesen turned to Luca Dini Design & Architecture for the interior styling, to bring additional pedigree and Italian flair to the project with a style the studio calls “audacious classic”. Suave and sophisticated but also welcoming and family-friendly, the colour palette is based on vibrant aquamarine, punchy blue and gentle ivory fabrics combined with contrasting veneers of almond-toned oak, darker oak, teak, eucalyptus and rosewood, in both satin and gloss. Sunlight entering the panoramic windows add that extra sparkle to the textures and finishes.

The fixed furniture is crafted in-house by Heesen Yachts Interiors, but the free-standing furniture and accessories are supplied by a host of Italian designer labels such as Promemoria, Giorgetti, Henge, Catellani & Smith, Palagi Exteta, Ceccotti Collezioni and Poltrona Frau. Soft tan leather by Foglizzo, custom wardrobe handles engineered by the shipyard, and exquisite marbles from Invisible Grey and Jolie Grey to Fiore di Pesco and Ombra di Caravaggio complete the selection of fine materials.

Left Project Venus’s main saloon, designed by Luca Dini Design & Architecture

"The fixed furniture is crafted in-house by Heesen Yachts Interiors"

With a volume of 760GT, Project Venus is packed with all the latest features and design innovations. Unique to a yacht of this size, for example, the 82-square-metre master stateroom spreads across the entire beam on the main deck forward and sports a fixed balcony on the starboard side.

“This is something new that wasn’t a feature of the previous platforms,” says Silvia Margutti of the Luca Dini studio. “It’s a very special and cosy area – a secluded oasis perfect for enjoying a private breakfast or a cocktail at sunset away from the other guests.”

The yacht can sleep a total of 12 guests, including the owners, in four guest suites on the lower deck and a VIP suite on the bridge deck. In the bathrooms taps supplied by Gessi recall the Charleston era of the Twenties with a modern twist, while the shower controls, also by Gessi, have an analogue feel with ratcheted knobs and push buttons like a high-fidelity audio set-up from the Seventies.

“In the bathrooms we wanted to have glass partitions that offered transparency combined with a degree of privacy, so we’ve introduced a special textured and etched glass that lets plenty of light in but you don’t feel like you’re on display,” adds Margutti.

The connection between the outdoor and indoor social spaces is designed to make the best of both. For instance, Luca Dini chose to use outdoor furniture in the sky lounge on the upper deck to cement the connection even further. The sundeck is home to a Jacuzzi and a lounge area, while the beach club is also a wellness area with a sauna, large shower and fully equipped bar, as well as easy access to the water. Storing the yacht’s tenders on the foredeck means that this aft space is always available for use by guests without having to unload tenders and toys.

Project Venus features a steel Fast Displacement Hull Form devised by van Oossanen Naval Architects that has been honed to perfection

Below Designs for the master stateroom and a spectacular owner’s bathroom

by Heesen’s engineers. The two MTU 4000 M63 IMO Tier III engines provide a top speed of 15.5 knots and a transatlantic range of 4,500 nautical miles when cruising at 13 knots.

The FDHF ensures that Project Venus will be very efficient throughout her entire speed range and behaves comfortably in all sea conditions. To complete the package, a fin stabilisation system will reduce the yacht's motion both while under way and at anchor.

Of course, Project Venus is for sale and a future owner is still in time to adapt the interior styling to his or her personal tastes – although in the studio’s experience these changes are usually minor: “Of the seven Heesen projects we’re involved in at the moment, not much at all has been changed in terms of materials and finishes,” says Margutti. “Sometimes the client will ask for some small modifications in their own personal space in the master suite, but generally they choose to stick with the proposed concept.”

Above Project Venus’s sun deck

"This is something new that wasn’t a feature of the previous platforms"

Heesen is proud to introduce its own bespoke spirit, tailor-made by Skully Gin, a unique and exceptional Dutch brand

HEESEN LIFESTYLE

A TASTE OF TH E EXCEPTIONAL

TEXT BY HAN THOMA

The quirky Dutch brand Skully Gin was created in 2015 by Brabantian entrepreneur Koen Smulders. Like Heesen, Koen prides himself on doing things differently. To establish his brand, he not only invented perfect gin recipes, but also invested heavily in product presentation and publicity, collaborating with 13 artists around the world to create 141 works of art, inspired by Skully Gin.

The absolute highlight was a unique design by Belgian jewellery designer Jochen Leën, who created a €4,700,000 bottle with a 65.17 carat Paraíba Tourmaline gemstone, achieving – not surprisingly – a new world record for the most

expensive bottle of gin. In recent years, Skully Gin has grown strongly and is now available in more than 20 countries.

The name originates from Koen's passion for skullrelated items – he has been a fan of skull watches and antiques ever since childhood.

“The Heesen-branded Skully gin is the latest addition to our fast growing collection of brand extensions,” explains Mark van Heffen of Heesen.

“This smooth and carefully crafted spirit contrasts beautifully with the roughness and toughness of the steel bottle holder. It is a perfect match with the craftsmanship of our yachts, I would say, and will make a great gift.”

FOR THE YACHT THAT HAS EVERYTHING

Ever wondered what might make the perfect gift to be enjoyed at sea aboard a yacht? Luxury interiors brand Linley offers five bespoke ideas for the most discerning yacht owners

TEXT BY JULIA ZALTZMAN

STRIPE POKER BOX

Linley has a world-renowned reputation for fusing striking design with exemplary craftsmanship, and its stripe poker box made from black bolivar with a grey sycamore stripe design is a perfect example. Games night will be something to look forward to when this hand-crafted delight comes out to play. The four card suits are shown across the top in contrasting marquetry. Open it up and you’ll discover a flocked grey interior that is moulded to store clay poker chips (including the all-important dealer chip), dice, two packs of playing cards, large and small, and missed blind buttons. There is also a removable, black veneered top tray, a lockable diamond escutcheon and an engravable plaque inside the lid for a personalised touch.

DIRECTOR'S CHAIR

The temptation to shout, “And cut!” is undeniably strong the minute you lay eyes on this gorgeous made-to-order director’s chair, yet it is also unquestionably suitable for the superyacht skylounge of your dreams. The framework is machined from 7075 T6 aircraft grade aluminium, finished off with brass and tensile steel bolts, while the arms and lower leg rails are constructed in hand-polished, solid American walnut. The pièce de résistance is the tanned leather seat and backrest made from light tan bridle butts sourced from Britain's only remaining traditional tannery in Devon. Carefully selected and fashioned by an award-winning saddler and harness maker, the hides are traditionally hand-stitched to create a stunning juxtaposition with the aluminium frame.

£6,500.00

£7,995.00

WORLD MAP TABLE

It’s little wonder that the Linley world map table is only made to order. It takes more than 40 individually selected veneers to handcraft this bespoke work of art. The main body of the table is made from dark stained walnut in a high gloss finish, while the base features gorgeous nickel stringing. Alongside the ripple sycamore that features in the top marquetry there are numerous natural and hand-dyed veneer inlays, including ash burr, quilted maple, lacewood, fumed eucalyptus and ziricote. The contrasting effect of each timber's colour maps out the world with its different countries – enabling the recipient to locate their place on the Seven Seas in style. A further six types of wood, including a touch of ebony and strips of mahogany, not to mention the twinkle of black mother of pearl, are used to finish it off with some dazzle.

£58,000.00

TRAFALGAR DOUBLE TANTALUS

It's not uncommon to want to display a coveted collection of rare whiskies, especially if it involves a display as chic as the Trafalgar Double Tantalus. Protect your valuable single malts in these two lead crystal decanters housed in macassar ebony and dark stained walnut with a high-gloss piano finish. The Tantalus is lockable, to keep it safe from small people, and features an engravable escutcheon that is just crying out to be monogrammed. The elegant piece is named after Tantalus, a Greek mythological figure who was made to stand in a pool of water that receded before he could take a drink, beneath a tree whose fruit ever eluded his grasp. Such torture is guaranteed to evade the recipient of this beautiful double decanter set.

LONDON SKYLINE HUMIDOR

The home of Linley is London, which makes the London skyline humidor particularly fitting. While the Tower of London, Tower Bridge and trees of London's famous parks are depicted in gentle shadow using tay and bolivar veneers, the recognisable shapes of St. Paul's Cathedral, and architectural landmarks, such as the Gherkin and the Shard (as the locals call them), soar against a soft grey figured anegre sky. Lined in cedar wood with an inbuilt humidification system, the humidor is ideal for storing cigars in a maritime environment – though its contents needn’t be limited to just that. From tea to valuables, the humidity-controlled box is both lockable and engravable – and also available as a dedicated jewellery box – which makes it the perfect statement gift for those with keepsakes to keep safe and memories to lock tight.

£5,250.00

£6,995.00

SPARTA’S STUNNING SPA

WELLNESS REDEFINED

TEXT BY GEMMA FOTTLES

Crafting a fabulous health and beauty haven on board

Project Sparta, Heesen’s largest steel yacht to date

The past few years have seen an explosion in the wellness industry. Yoga, meditation and breathwork are no longer reserved for those on a deep spiritual journey but recognised in the mainstream as powerful tools to maintain our general well-being. This paradigm shift towards inner peace and holistic health is also evident in the yachting industry, with an increasing focus on larger, more innovative spaces dedicated to wellness on board.

Heesen’s largest steel superyacht to date, the 67-metre Project Sparta, epitomises this trend, boasting an entire lower deck devoted to an expansive and multifaceted wellness experience.

“The amount of time owners are spending on board is increasing, and yacht owners are prioritising their health more than ever,” explains Joost Roes of Winch Design, the award-winning team behind the design of Sparta.

A few years ago, increased time on board might have translated to expanded social areas. Now, Winch notes, the evolution of wellness spaces has taken precedence.

“Owners are more and more willing to dedicate space onboard for a wellness area, with large spas starting to take over the best real estate of the yacht. Sparta is the perfect example of this, with the entire lower deck dedicated to the spa,” adds Joost.

The owner’s vision for Sparta’s wellness area centred around creating a bright, open, and serene space. Inspired by Japanese aesthetics, the spa boasts an array of exceptional amenities, including an oval whirlpool, steam room, sauna, gym, beauty area, and lounge.

While these features may be found on other large luxury yachts, Sparta significantly prioritises the wellness experience: 65 square metres on the lower deck exceeds what is commonly found on a 67-metre yacht. The central feature of the spa, a large Jacuzzi with a custom exterior finish, required meticulous integration, while the sauna incorporates abundant natural light and curved, rounded edges. A 5-metre-wide custom artwork panel inspired by natural textures and colours offers a serene backdrop to the wellness area.

“We are very proud of the sauna we managed to create,” says Julia Roestenberg, senior interior designer at Winch, reflecting on the challenges of creating a remarkable wellness experience.

“It was a challenging brief that resulted in a unique space that brings in lots of natural light and provides a harmonious space within the spa.”

Sparta’s owner extended the importance of wellness throughout the entire yacht, which is another clear signal of the remarkable shift in the importance of well-being on board. Winch Design embraced this concept by working with three elements assigned to each deck to create a holistic design.

Drawing inspiration from the earth element, the main saloon features pioneering natural

Below An artist’s impression of Sparta’s wellness area

materials – many of which have sustainability at their core. Dining chairs upholstered in real palm leaves exemplify the integration of sustainable and organic elements. A coffee table, crafted from a dark brushed oak tree trunk and adorned with forest green marble, serves as the centrepiece of the relaxed seating area, adding a tactile and three-dimensional leaf-like tabletop.

Ascending to the upper deck, the master suite embodies the lightness of air, featuring soft fabrics, sky blues, mother-of-pearl inlays, and an abstract patterned Tai Ping carpet. Meanwhile, the forward section represents space, accentuated by an impressive constellation wall artwork.

A spectacular oak staircase by Alex Hull connects these natural elements, employing intricate carving, staggered panelling, and vertical lighting to guide guests on their journey through the yacht.

Winch Design excels at striking the right balance between guest and crew movements, ensuring a general arrangement that fosters harmony on board. The use of elegant and calm architectural design, coupled with thoughtful detailing and finishes, contributes to the creation of serene and mindful spaces. Soft lighting further enhances the ambience, enabling guests to fully immerse themselves in a tranquil environment.

Above

" Elegant, calm architectural design layered with interesting detailing and finishes is key to providing a tranquil and mindful space”

THE GIFT OF COLOUR

Each spring, the Heesen Tulip travels across the world’s oceans to the shipyard’s extended family – an emblematic flower symbolising Dutch heritage and Heesen’s enduring entrepreneurial spirit

TEXT BY JULIA ZALTZMAN

To many of us, tulips are quintessen tial spring flowers that brighten up our gardens and interiors. In the Netherlands, the tulip is a source of national pride and a symbol of the Dutch Golden Age. Just as Heesen set a course over 40 years ago to build yachts that showcase craftsmanship, vision and bold design, the vibrant tulip flies the flag for Dutch entrepre neurial spirit and resounding determination. The Netherlands’ love affair with the flower began in the 1600s. It soon evolved into a prized possession, a beacon of hope and, alongside boatbuilding, one of the most emblematic representations of Holland. The country remains the largest producer of tulips worldwide, exporting around three billion bulbs per year.

Tulips are wildflowers native to central Asia. They came to Europe from Turkey in the 16th century when the sultans introduced huge beds of tulips to their parks and palace gardens. Their name derives, via Turkish, from the Persian word for ‘turban’. Their intense, saturated colours stood apart from other flowers known to Europe at the time and

the numerous varieties, with intricate patterns and flame-like streaks on the petals, were vivid and exotic. The bulbs became a coveted luxury item, which was reflected in the exalted titles that growers gave their varieties often prefixing the name with Admirael or Generael to bolster their importance. As demand increased the price of fashionable bulbs soon reached extraordinary highs, triggering a period in history that became known as ‘Tulipmania’. At its peak, tulip bulbs were worth more than gold and could be sold for six times a person's annual salary.

The Semper Augustus was the holy grail of Tulipmania, adored for its crisp, white petals with deep, velvety red flames that lick the edges. It was the rarest tulip of all, and in 1633, with only 12 bulbs available, one reportedly sold for 5,500 guilders – enough to buy a grand house on the most fashionable canal in Amsterdam.

The major price acceleration began in 1634, only to collapse dramatically just three years later when buyers refused to show up at a

Cool facts about tulips

Fact #1

Tulips follow the sun even once displayed in a vase.

Fact #2

Tulips are one of the few flowers that continue to grow after they've been cut.

Fact #3

The tulip bulb and flower petals are edible. During times of famine towards the end of World War II, recipes for drying and milling the bulbs to make flour for bread, as well as tulip soup and boiled tulips, saved the lives of many. Belgian actress and Hollywood icon Audrey Hepburn, whose family moved to the Netherlands during the war, famously recounted her memories of eating tulips to survive.

Fact #4

Like hyacinths and garlic, tulips are a member of the allium family, which gives the bulbs an onion-like flavour, while the petals taste like peas and cucumbers.

routine bulb auction in Haarlem. It’s believed the area was suffering from an outbreak of bubonic plague, which the buyers sensibly wanted to avoid, but the market crashed and the speculative bubble – generally considered to have been the first in history – unceremoniously burst.

Tulip season runs from the end of March until mid-May. The Netherlands’ well-drained soil and long spring season provide perfect conditions for tulip growing, and when spring arrives, large parts of the country erupt into a vast, multi-coloured patchwork quilt.

The vibrant purple of the Heesen Tulip is unique, combining Holland’s heritage with

Heesen’s rebrand. Just like its yachts, the Heesen Tulip is home-grown by a specialist Dutch producer and is only available to the extended Heesen family – a true full custom creation. A purple tulip is associated with royalty and is the perfect gift to wish someone a new start – or a successful maiden voyage! Red tulips symbolise love, whereas pink is for sending good wishes, and white is a mark of respect.

Visitors flocking to the Netherlands to see this emblematic flower in full bloom head to Keukenhof, the largest tulip garden in the world

with over seven million tulips. To witness the largest contiguous area of flower bulbs in the world, Kop van Noord-Holland on a stretch of land between the North Sea and the IJsselmeer offers a rich and impressive display adjacent to the waters where every new Heesen yacht begins its outbound journey.

Both tulips and yachting are a cornerstone of Dutch heritage, embedded in the country’s DNA and now intrinsically linked, thanks to Heesen’s enduring legacy.

"

When spring arrives, large parts of the country erupt into a vast, multi-coloured patchwork quilt"

Above Keukenhof, the most beautiful spring garden in the world

CAPTAIN VARUN AND THE PIRATES

SURVIVAL MODES

BY MARILYN MOWER

Ithe yacht's speed and course. It has no AIS signature. Attempts to hail the vessel receive no response. The vessel creeps closer; the watch crew describes it as an outboardpowered skiff with two men aboard. The captain alters course a few degrees; so does the skiff. The captain returns to the original course and increases speed by one knot; the skiff matches the turn and then begins to increase speed. Suddenly, on the edge of the radar screen, three fast contacts over to port start closing on the yacht. Three little echoes off to starboard that looked like fishing boats a moment ago begin to do the same.

TEXT

Below Captain Varun Raj Pakalapati

Be prepared, and keep a cool head – how to prevent your yacht becoming prey, as recounted by an experienced skipper in this startling first-hand account

The captain alerts and musters the crew. He announces grimly that their status has changed from yacht-in-transit to pirates’ prey.

Captain Varun Raj Pakalapati knows this drama well, because in 2019 he was in the middle of it. An Indian Army veteran and past member of the Indian Olympic sailing team, he had made the passage from the UAE to the Mediterranean 16 times. In 2019 he was Master of the 47m steel displacement Heesen superyacht Asya.

"I had finished my watch and been in my cabin for about an hour,” he recalls, “when the first officer called me and said, 'Captain to the bridge; pirates.' I told him to increase to maximum speed and headed for the bridge. It was 1 pm, broad daylight and an otherwise empty ocean.

"From the radar, we could see that they were using wolf-pack tactics. One skiff starts the chase and then as it closes, six more boats rush in from the sides. Running at maximum speed throws a big wake that keeps the skiffs from getting close enough for boarding, so they chase and hope we will make a mistake or that the boat will have a mechanical problem. Then they pull alongside to check access and bridge location. They know they have opportunities outside of the patrolled areas — merchant ships at anchor are their usual goal, but they might think of a lone yacht as a soft target.

"I took evasive action to shake them off from time to time as we undertook our piracy protocols. Under the laws of the sea and our flag state rules, you cannot fire pyrotechnics in the direction of the skiffs to frighten them

"

When the first officer called me and said, Captain to the bridge; pirates"

as the signals might be interpreted as distress calls, and unsuspecting, unarmed vessels might approach to offer assistance and become targets themselves. The first step was to broadcast our position and direction, a description of the skiffs, and describe their threatening behaviour on channel 16 to all ships in the area. We also informed our agent ashore.

"I ordered non-essential crew to the citadel room. If boarding looked imminent, the rest would join them. It has been my responsibility to have selected and stocked a citadel with emergency communications, as well as food, water and sanitary provisions for the entire crew for seven days. In our case, that was 13 people in the bosun's locker, which we could lock and barricade from inside. We had brought aboard a three-man, professional, armed security detail. They arrived on the bridge in full tactical gear and issued me a helmet and a bulletproof vest. If boarded, I would shut down the engines, grab the keys and go.

"The seven skiffs continued to follow and buzz us as we steamed along at full speed — about 15 knots. Their intention was clear. We could see their weapons. They were just pushing us and hoping we would make a mistake. But we had weapons, too, and we were as prepared as we could be. The head of the security detail may, at his discretion and if he knows a crew member has professional arms training, bring a weapon to be used to defend the bridge in the worstcase scenario. Our team knew my military background and issued a shotgun for the bridge.

"More than an hour went by and the pirates were still chasing. International convention and our flag state rules say that the pirates must be closer to the yacht than 500 metres before personnel aboard the yacht can begin firing, and only after the captain gives the order. When the pirates began to test that distance,

Yachts and guns

"Yachts are not allowed to carry weapons,” says Varun. “To do so when entering a foreign port, even if the captain declares them, could lead to lengthy delays and perhaps arrest. If a yacht has to cross dangerous waters, it is best to hire a professional detail that boards the yacht at the beginning of the trip without weapons, and leaves at the destination the same way."

So how were the security personnel armed and prepared for a fight aboard Asya?

"You have to get a permission from the flag state to bring weapons aboard for the specified passage. There are floating and well defended arsenal ships in international waters offshore of the world's trouble spots. All the security agencies have their own cache and personnel on site. In our case, we left Dubai and sailed close to Fujairah off of the UAE. The security team directs the yacht to an offshore location where the weapons are retrieved. After clearing the pirate-prone part of the passage – currently, this is considered to be Eritrea – the yacht will rendezvous, again in international waters, to rid itself of guns and ammunition before entering port.

"For our size yacht, the detail is three and they are usually ex-military. I have used the company Allmode for seven years. The weapons are usually two sniper rifles, a shotgun and a minimum of 1,500 rounds of ammunition. We do not carry handguns."

Top tips

• Hire a good security company. For the 10-day passage from Dubai to the Suez Canal this will cost €10,000 to €32,000 depending on the number and type of guards. Ex-military teams from Europe and the US command the highest prices because they tend to have the most combat experience.

• Plan to arrive at the bottleneck at dawn.

• Have a citadel space ready and stocked. It should have independent electrical, ventilation and communications systems.

• Like the silent alarms in banks, yachts have two security buttons for use in case of attack, which send an alarm to navy communications, the IMO, flag states, UN security agencies and "pretty much everyone." One of the buttons will be located on the bridge, the other will be hidden elsewhere in the vessel. Be sure crew know its location.

• Invest in night-vision cameras and binoculars and high-lumen searchlights that may dazzle boarders.

• Rig firehoses to deter boats trying to get close enough to board. Merchant ships can rig their fire systems or water cannons to spray scalding hot water mixed with a chemical irritant, but few yachts have enough hot water capacity for this.

• If waiting to join a convoy do not anchor, keep moving.

our security detail made their appearance. They held their weapons where the men in the skiffs could easily see them."

If the presence of three men in tactical garb and full body armour didn't dim their bravado, the threatening display of the sniper rifles probably did. Captain Varun continued evasive manoeuvres. Her wake and the height advantage of the guards were enough to make the pirates drop back, and after a further half hour, they broke off the chase. Asya resumed her course to the coast of Somalia, where the IRTC or International Recommended Transit Corridor begins, patrolled by international naval forces. Here, escorted convoys form for the 1,200nm westbound voyage around the Horn of Africa and through the narrow bottleneck between Yemen and Djibouti. This is the most dangerous part of the passage. With the convoy travelling at a steady 12 knots, it's a tense five days, even with the navy presence.

Captain Varun has also made passages through troubled waters in a 98-foot Azimut Leonardo named My Five, including a run from Dubai to the Maldives in 2014 without a security detail. Then, he had to use his wits to devise a way to repel borders.

"We were a fibreglass yacht; there was no way to put plating around the pilothouse or fill the deck with barbed wire without damaging the yacht. We had a low, wide swim platform where pirates would logically try to board. But to do that, they would have to get close enough to jump. I was determined they could not get that close," he says. He obtained a large bamboo pole the length of the yacht's beam. Every metre, he made a deep cut in the pole to weaken it and then he secured many long ropes to the pole. He and his crew attached the pole horizontally to the swim platform with just

enough slack that it floated slightly underwater. When underway, the pole was invisible in the yacht's wake. As they entered the known piracy area, running at night and with lights off, the crew tossed the coiled ropes into the water, where they, too, were invisible in the foam. "Pirates would logically approach from the stern,” says Varun. “If they got close, their propellers would snag a rope, the tension would snap the weakened bamboo pole and it would entangle the prop and immobilize their boat instantly — the driver not knowing why or how. Other boats trying to approach would meet the same fate."

Did My Five encounter pirates on that passage?

"Thankfully no, but we were prepared. In 2011 there was a mind-boggling number of acts of piracy. You might remember the sailing yacht Quest that was attacked and boarded by pirates off Somalia. I was the agent for that boat out

of Bombay. The two couples onboard were killed. I can never forget that. Never," Varun says. He noted that piracy around the Horn of Africa has declined with the organization of the IRTC and the presence of warships. But the April 2023 incident with the yacht Kalizma should be a reminder to captains to not relax.

"Be confident, but not overconfident," he says. "Oman to Bombay is a high-risk voyage. So are parts of Indonesia and even the coasts of Colombia and Venezuela."

" I can never forget that. Never"

VIVE LA DIFFÉRENCE

TEXT BY JILL BOBROW

In a superyacht, the world is your oyster. But sometimes it’s a question of which oyster to choose

BAHAMAS VS CÔTE D’AZUR

Why do Americans enjoy yachting around the Côte D’Azur, and what is it about the Bahamas that is such a draw for Europeans?

For American yachtsmen, aboard their own yacht or on charter, the compelling draw to cross the pond and cruise the Côte d’Azur no doubt has to do with France’s rich culture, history, fashion and, of course, cuisine. The South of France and the Bahamas could hardly be more different, but this study in contrasts is a classic case of apples and oranges, or comparing Tarte Tropézienne to Key Lime Pie. For Americans, the Côte d’Azur is a pilgrimage to seek a decidedly different experience, and places like Beaulieu, Antibes, Villefranche and Monaco offer that in spades.

Let’s take one of the most obvious destination ports — St Tropez. Located in the Esterel in the south of France, this picturesque medieval port town guarded by its high, 17th-century citadel, has long been hyped as an ‘it’ destination for the jet set. In the early 1900s this sleepy fishing village was a refuge for artists such as Paul Signac, Pierre Bonnard and Henri Matisse. By the mid 1950s, word of the quaint town and its gorgeous beaches had got out, thanks to Roger Vadim’s film ‘And God Created Woman’, starring Brigitte Bardot, which was filmed there. The village went from being famous for rockfish bouillabaisse to being the place to spot rock stars and other celebs, and it perhaps reached the height of chic when Mick and Bianca Jagger got married there in 1971. Corporate chic queued up for a piece of the action as designer shops proliferated and more and more villas popped up in the hills among the parasol pines.

But don’t let anyone tell you Saint Tropez is over. It is still very much a coveted summer destination for celebrities, everyday tourists, and superyachts. The town remains as undeniably charming as they come, with its faded ochre houses capped with red tiled roofs, and meandering cobblestone streets. With your boat docked stern to the quay in the Vieux Port opposite Hotel Sube and Sénéquier Café, you are bound to feel like a movie star. Sidewalk gawkers oohing and aahing over your yacht will have you retreating from the cockpit to the foredeck or the sun deck, and of course if you decide after a while that privacy is underrated, you can anchor off one of the beach clubs and call a water taxi to take you to Le Club 55 or any number of famed eateries where you can lunch

with your toes in the sand and drink magnums of Ott rosé all afternoon.

A cruise down the Côte d‘Azur will yield many other popular options, from Cannes to Antibes to Nice to Monaco and the many small harbours in between. For Americans cruising the south of France, no matter how good their onboard chef is, high on the expectation list is the gastronomical treasure that is French cuisine, from farm to market to table. While good cuisine is truly international these days and one can certainly find fabulous restaurants worldwide, great French food is not only found in Michelin-rated restaurants, but also at unassuming stalls in open-air markets in the old ports of Nice or Antibes, or in sidewalk bistros.

Below Musée océanographique de Monaco

Distinctive colored buildings of the French Riviera

And if you just choose to grab a baguette and some stinky cheese and a few fresh figs, it’ll be the best cheese sandwich you’ve ever had. Whereas a regular bottle of, say, Moet Chandon champagne that costs $40.00 and up in a US supermarket can be had in the South of France for 20 euros.

Europeans take all of this for granted. So why would they ever consider leaving their sophisticated and civilized ports to cruise in the Bahamas? Is it really “Better in the Bahamas” as the tee-shirts say?

A mere 50 nautical miles into the Atlantic from coastal Florida, the Bahamas cannot boast mountaintop castles or medieval monasteries,

and geographically speaking they are rather low-lying, built on a foundation of fossil coral and oolitic limestone. The average elevation of the islands is just 32 metres, and vegetation tends to be sea grapes, sugar apple trees, Caribbean pines and a variety of palms.

With no fewer than 700 islands and 2,500 cays, there are plenty of places to anchor and be alone. Only 16 of the major islands cater to tourists. In the clarity of its water and the astonishing pink and white sandy beaches and blue holes, snorkeling brings the same delights as scuba diving, with neon fish and abundant, multicoloured coral. Sport fishing is just about guaranteed to bring you a worthwhile trophy, and fresh seafood is a staple. One Bahamian

" With no fewer than 700 islands and 2,500 cays, there are plenty of places to anchor and be alone"

Below A bird’s-eye view of Nassau island at dawn

specialty that you cannot get in the South of France is conch served every which way: conch fritters, conch salad and cracked conch. Street vendors and beach shacks often proffer a fish fry with the freshest of fish. No white tablecloths, though, and expect to trade your rosé or bubbly for beer or rum punch.

The waters of the Bahamas are famously shallow with many reefs, so in a deep-draught boat, you have to take precautions and know exactly where you can and cannot tread. The Abacos are one of the boating capitals of the Bahamas, where the islands have a quaint New England feel to them as well as national parks filled with turtles, eagle rays, and other seafaring wildlife. There are also several marinas. The Exuma chain in the south comprises 365 islands and has the clearest water. Here at Big Major Cay you might encounter the wild pigs that swim out to your boat, and Thunderball Grotto (famous for its part in the Bond film) where you can go snorkeling. The nearby Staniel Cay Yacht Club is no Yacht Club de Monaco, but you will find a good restaurant and bar, and friendly people.

The islands of the Bahamas all have a low-key vibe and offer a sense of discovery – a feeling that you are the first to be there. There are many unnamed islands where yours can be the only footprints on the beach. For Europeans heading to the Bahamas, being in a place that is so beautiful and at the same time so casual, is a real treat. No need to pack high heels, and no matter how many clothes you bring, you’ll end up in a bathing suit and coverup for 90 percent of the time.

So – historic sites, shopping, fine dining and dressing up for all- night discos, or hanging out at a beach shack, snorkeling in a warm-water wonderland, and leaving your flip flops in a basket on the aft deck? Take your pick.

"There are many unnamed islands where yours can be the only footprints on the beach"

Left A resident of Big Major Cay’s famous ‘Pig Beach’

Left Spectacular snorkelling is just below the surface

50M YACHT BY HARRISON EIDSGAARD

FUTURE PROOF FIFTY

Heesen’s new 50-metre offers a new departure in yacht design, bringing nature together with the visual language of luxury living in one bold and persuasive styling statement

TEXT BY JONATHAN BELL

Heesen’s latest 50-metre steel hulled yacht marks a bold departure for the shipyard, combining advanced sustainable technologies with visual inspiration drawn from across the luxury design industry. The elegant hull and superstructure were styled by the UK-based Harrison Eidsgaard studio, incorporating new approaches to the graphic language of yacht design.

Heesen’s marketing director, Mark van Heffen, explains how the company expanded its reach and field of reference beyond the yachting industry, bridging the many disciplines required to shape a boat of this scale. “The 50m sector is important for us,” he says. “Around 70-80 per cent of our boats are in this size range. It has a lot of long-term potential, because these are the boats you can take into any harbour in the Mediterranean.”

The project showcases the next step in Heesen’s evolving design DNA, creating a signature look for 2030 and beyond. To stay relevant, the company embarked on an intensive period of research into luxury design trends. “As marketing director I’m steering this process,” says van Heffen. “I can also bring insights into the market. What made this special is that we didn’t only look at developments and trends like outside-inside living, sustainable technology, strong contemporary lines and elements of expedition yacht design, but also at our competition and their built and conceptual work. You should never underestimate your competitors.”

Most importantly, the Heesen team looked outside their own industry. “We explored

things like cars, watches, fashion, bicycles, for example, as well as technology like audio visual design and other luxury products like luggage,” says van Heffen. “We defined a selection of high-end luxury products to generate a sense of our current and future lines: Range Rover, Bang & Olufsen, Rolex, Montblanc, VanMoof, Hermes, and Louis Vuitton.” The aim of this exercise was to tease out certain design elements, whether in shape, colour or form.

All of this information went into the design brief. “Our strongest briefs involve working with all the disciplines within the company,” van Heffen says, explaining how the new 50m is the result of this collaborative

process, bringing together design and development, engineering, sales and marketing. “We took all this into account when we briefed the designers,” he continues. Functional and engineering requirements were also part of the package, not to mention the construction capacity of Heesen’s yard. These strong guidelines were paired with Heesen’s ongoing commitment to sustainable design, including energy saving technology and new materials solutions.

Heesen invited three studios to pitch for the exterior design. Harrison Eidsgaard secured the job after an exhaustive round of research, interviews and presentations. “The interior will take another year to develop,” says van Heffen, “and of course we’re looking at the same kind of process, as well as ensuring there’s a very strong connection between the interior and exterior.” This process will cover the requirements and demands of many different markets and cultures, as well as ensuring that any distinctive interior elements are buildable. “The aim is to build around eight examples of the 50m yacht,” van Heffen notes, “which is why understanding future trends in the market is so essential. We have a good balance between the mainstream and something with a distinct character and a clear Heesen signature.”

Harrison Eidsgaard’s design displays a strong balance between iconic simplicity and elegance. “It is a very bold and confident design,” says van Heffen. “But it’s also very future proof, with unique selling points like the open and extensive beach lounge, which combines the main saloon with the main deck, not a traditional beach club." A glass-walled transom pool further opens up this upper level, while elements like the clever garage arrangement below deck maximises storage without compromising the boat’s lines.

"The aim is to build around eight examples of the 50m yacht"

The sweeping shape of the hull conceals a spacious and multi-functional interior that can be configured according to customer taste. “Every interior in our series boats is fully custom – we never build the same interior twice,” van Heesen says. “We will create everything, from fixed furniture to accessories and loose furniture.” When it comes to building a Heesen, everything can be constructed in house, right down to the smallest side table. Design flexibility and customisation are essential aspects of Heesen’s DNA. “The earlier a client comes into the process, the more they can change,” says van Heffen, pointing out that there is space provided for a jacuzzi on the upper deck, for example.

The 50m epitomises minimalist luxury, distilling key concepts into physical form. “Elegance, nature, confidence, sporty, flow and simplicity” were chosen as the main characteristics for the design. According to van Heffen, a product that epitomised the ethos of the yacht was the new

fifth generation Range Rover. “It has strong, simple lines but it’s not boring – it has a certain strength as well as very nice functional elements,” he says, highlighting how the brand’s use of colour was especially influential. “You can work with several colours in our design, not just a single colour. We also have opportunities for coloured foils on the windows, and on the wheelhouse deck and sun deck we have improved the views, while the beach lounge has these big sliding glass doors that brings the outside in."

The new 50m can be supplied with Heesen’s hybrid propulsion system, along with a new regenerative heating system, with further research into new materials and other technologies being developed alongside the final design. “We always want to build boats that embody our DNA,” says van Heffen. Thanks to an intensive and collaborative design process, this forward-looking 50m yacht is a stunning representation of Heesen’s next generation thinking about luxury and innovation.

INTERVIEW: HUGO KAAGMAN

SHOCKING BLUE

Visitors to Heesen at the Monaco

Yacht Show will be inspired by a striking demonstration of Dutch rebellious art offering an entirely new interpretation of the worldfamous Delftware

TEXT BY HAN THOMA

Ask anyone what the Dutch are famous for, and you will probably hear ‘Delftware’ among the answers. This intricate blue and white ceramic originated in the late 16th century as an alternative to the mysterious and expensive Chinese porcelain that Dutch merchants were bringing back from their trading journeys to the East. The entrepreneurial potters of Delft had no access to the magical kaolin clay of their Chinese counterparts, but from a careful combination of European clays they succeeded in making their

imitation porcelain, which soon acquired a desirability of its own. In the heyday of Delft blue there were dozens of pottery factories, but almost all of them closed down over the centuries.

Delftware re-inspired

For a long time, Delftware was mainly bought by foreign tourists. But lately, its iconic craftsmanship has earned a new appreciation in the Netherlands, inspiring artists to create innovative and exciting new work. Legendary Dutch graffiti artist Hugo Kaagman has blended

his distinctive stencil-art with old Dutch themes and makes adroit use of Delftware, with results that he somewhat mockingly describes as 'Shocking Blue'. Alongside his personal work, Kaagman has collaborated with many brands to create quirky artworks, including aircraft prints for British Airways, a 65-metre Delft Blue wall at Schiphol Airport, and even decorations for Palace Huis ten Bosch in Japan. Kaagman’s latest partnership is with Heesen: which, like Delftware, is another icon of Dutch craftsmanship. We asked Kaagman about this latest project.

Above Artist Hugo Kaagman British Airways Boeing with Kaagman tail design in the 1990s

"

I started doing graffiti in the 70s, with different concepts like punk, reggae, zebra patterns and Delftware"

First, a little about yourself

“I’m a Dutch graffiti artist, who has spent half a century creating murals, paintings, graphics and ceramics. I started doing graffiti in the 70s, with different concepts like punk, reggae, zebra patterns and Delftware. Looking for the absurd, looking at weird things, lots of poetry, craziness; constantly discovering and combining new things and seeing if it leads somewhere.

In 1978 I started using stencils; shapes cut out in cardboard and then sprayed or airbrushed. I was one of the first with that technique, later made famous by Banksy. So I am considered a pioneer, the Godfather of Dutch stencils.”

Right Mr Menthol, who taught the Dutch to brush their teeth

"I decided to adopt a new approach to Delftware, and turn the tourist kitsch into good"

Where does your fondness for Delftware come from?

“From researching Dutch culture and history. It is world art avant la lettre, copied from the Chinese Ming Dynasty. An art form ignored for centuries that resurfaced in the 90s, when the Dutch were in search of their identity. I decided to adopt a new approach to Delftware, and turn the tourist kitsch into good.”

What exactly are you going to make for Heesen Yachts?

“I will use a propeller as a canvas to create a modern version of tradition. The perfectly white painted propeller looks like porcelain, with beautiful edges and curves. Drawing from my extensive collection of thousands of stencils, I will select and combine images and patterns that capture and represent the Dutch yachting atmosphere and Côte d'Azur lifestyle. But enough said, it’s still work in progress and I don’t want to spoil the surprise.”

What do you hope to achieve with this work?

“First of all, and that goes for all of my work, I want to charm people, make them smile, and make them aware of their cultural heritage. And because this artwork will be prominently placed at the Heesen booth, which is in a very central location at the Monaco Yacht Show, I want it to be a trophy, an absolute eye-catcher. Of course, I wouldn’t mind it becoming a popular Instagram or TikTok hotspot of the show.”

POST & WIN

If you are visiting the Monaco Yacht Show, would you like to win a Heesen Aficionado pack?

Then stop by at the Heesen booth, take a selfie with the Hugo Kaagman artwork, and post it on Instagram, using the hashtag

#delftbluebyheesen

TREBLE HARMONY

TEXT BY JULIA ZALTZMAN

Heesen’s speculative yacht building programme leads the industry in its ability to speed the buying process, providing astute clients with customised yachts underwritten by tried and tested naval architecture, propulsion systems, and engineering. We present three of the most eye-catching projects currently under construction

THE BEST THINGS COME IN THREES

Delivery 2025, Q2

Project Venus

house has helped create a significantly improved indoor/ outdoor connection that offers unsurpassed views of the sea.

When wanderlust strikes and the appetite for exploration takes hold, a yacht built for long range cruising is just the ticket. Packed with all the latest features and design innovations, large enough for guests to relax aboard in comfort, yet not too big to access the secluded bays and ports of the Mediterranean, Venus answers the call.

As the eighth sistership in Heesen’s 55-metre Steel Series, one of the most successful designs in the Heesen fleet, Project Venus enjoys an enclosed volume of 760GT and an ultra-performing Fast Displacement hull. Powered by two compact and IMO Tier III-compliant MTU4000

M63 engines, she reaches a top speed of 15.5 knots. But it’s the bold and masculine exterior lines by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects that give Venus her head-turning credentials.

Described by the Dutch designer as ‘elegant and muscular’, Venus’s profile is enhanced by her re-styled exterior. Horizontal lines emphasise the waterline length, while continuous sheets of tinted glass on the main and upper deck reflect shimmering sunlight from the ocean. The distinctive shark’s tooth detail is not just for show, either. The smart design signature on the overhang of the wheel-

The interior design by Luca Dini Design & Architecture in collaboration with Silvia Margutti features a few restyled elements, too. The window mullions in the main deck dining area and sky lounge have gone, giving uninterrupted views from virtually every angle. The sky

lounge opens directly onto an aft deck terrace, and these interconnecting areas are styled with loose outdoor furniture that invites the outside in.

The yacht’s Art Deco theme creates contrasts of light and dark by using a mixture of woods throughout, including oak, dark oak and eucalyptus. Dark metal details, lighter fabrics and tactile textiles, including examples from Pierre Frey for bulkheads

and curtains, and leathers by Foglizzo, add a softer feel.

With four guest cabins on the lower deck, the master stateroom on the main deck and a VIP suite on the bridge deck, clients interested in chartering in large groups have the choice of two main suites, although the 82m2 master – Silvia Margutti’s favourite area on board –is best suited to those who like to take a morning coffee in private. The cosy French

balcony in the owners’ apartment is a nook where they can enjoy the outdoors away from the rest of the guests, accessed through a sliding door on the starboard side. A full-beam bathroom with figures by Gessi is another owner’s perk.

“The owners’ cabin is in a very beautiful area on board this boat, but it is also showcases everything that we have used throughout,” said Margutti. “It feels like a small, private universe”.

Below A visual of Venus’s main saloon, and the sky lounge looking towards the aft deck terrace

Delivery 2025, Q1 Project Orion

The latest addition to Heesen’s 50-metre FDHF aluminium series is Project Orion. The exterior lines of this cuttingedge yacht were designed by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects, with an emphasis on vertical lines and large, full-height windows. The interiors are by Italian designer Cristiano Gatto.

"In this project we wanted to enhance the cabinetmakers’ work, to give the client a boat with a strong personality," Gatto explains. "The mastery evident in the interior construction defines the quality standards and underpins the elegance of this exceptional yacht. One challenge was our decision to move the beach

club from the centre of the boat, close to the guest area, to the space aft of the engineroom, directly connected with the outside."

Orion is a spacious craft of 499GT with hybrid propulsion, a sister ship to Heesen’s renowned and pioneering yacht Home. With two main engines of just 600kW apiece, her superbly efficient hull design ensures a top speed of more than 16 knots under diesel power. Switching to diesel-electric mode engages her generators and electric motors to produce a quiet and efficient nine-knot maximum. At ten knots she consumes just 45 litres of diesel per hour.

Above Visuals of Orion’s sky lounge and owners’ stateroom

Delivery 2024, Q2

Project Jade

Project Jade is a 50-metre of an entirely different stamp. The Cristiano Gatto team has designed her custom interior – or rather interiors, for the Venice studio has created no fewer than three related themes for potential owners to choose from, based on the elements of air, earth and water. Linking them all together is light.

"We have emphasised light even more than the choice of materials on board,” Gatto says. “We focused on light itself as if it were a solid presence, and it became a source of inspiration.” The special integrated, hollowed and sculpted panels between the windows, for example, create a graphic signature to enliven and direct the light and its shadows,

according to the designer. “This was conceptual work, more to do with an appreciation of light than with physical, three-dimensional design."

Well known for his meticulous attention to detail, Cristiano Gatto personally designed Jade’s custom lamps – with their rich depth of workmanship and purity of form, these are unique embellishments to the yacht.

An all-aluminium fast cruiser, Jade is a yacht whose racy, sinuous, semi-displacement hull lines complement crisp and clean exterior styling from Omega Architects. Smart naval architecture has focused on a shallow shaft angle, which in turn ensures minimal immersion at the transom, giving

Jade a draft of just 2.15 metres

ideal for exploring those out of the way anchorages that remain off limits to less refined craft – while her interior volume tops 499GT. Twin IMO Tier III-compliant MTU engines give her a top speed of 23 knots, with an ocean-crossing cruising range of 3,100 nautical miles at 11 knots.

Below Two views of Jade’s sky lounge and main saloon concepts

TEXT BY JULIA ZALTZMAN

ROLL OF THE DICE

Games nights can be shared by everyone, which is why the inclusion of a beautifully crafted games table aboard an elegantly built yacht has the power to take a quiet evening at sea and turn it into a night to remember

When the sun has set, the water toys are drying off and the night is still young, a superyacht games table comes into its own. Whether placed in a room with a view, such as the chess and backgammon table aboard the 47m Heesen Asya’s sky lounge, or making a games room out of the media and cinema lounge on the 60m SkyFall, a games table combines the enjoyment of group activity with exquisite cabinetmaking.

Linley’s ‘classic games table’ above, made to order for a cool €28,600, is crafted from walnut with inlays of Macassar ebony and aluminium, with a reversable top that features a chess board, a baize-covered card table, and a concealed backgammon board. All the necessities for an evening of fun, including a die and a domino set, are stored neatly in the drawers underneath.

At near double the price, Linley’s Riviera games table invites guests into an immersive world of strategy. Crafted from high gloss blue stained

" Linley’s Riviera games table invites guests into an immersive world of strategy"

eucalyptus, the top features a classic chessboard and checkers board expertly crafted with precise squares and intricate borders to give a visually stunning playing experience.

Games tables first became popular during the 17th and 18th centuries when their designs and craftsmanship developed in intricacy to reveal fine inlay, marquetry and ornate detailing. French nobility and other upper-class citizens of Europe sought to create smaller, specialised games rooms to complement the cavernous halls used for ballrooms and large feasts.

Needlework tops were extremely common in early games tables, as they kept noise to a minimum and prevented cards from slipping. Most tables featured a double-sided top, one for a gaming board, the other with

tooled leather for writing on or resting a drink. The versatility of the furniture piece – a side table in the morning and cards table by night – meant that soon even the lesser nobility were commissioning such tables for their homes.

Folding games tables grew out of the French nobility’s distrust of their fellow gamblers, as they started to bring their own tables to card sessions. The particular traits of games like bouillotte introduced marble tops into the mix.

Heesen yachts with noteworthy games tables that have been beautifully crafted by Heesen Interiors include the 47-metres Blind Date and 4You, as well as the 60m Lusine. Entire casino rooms on board can recreate the magic of a wild night in Macau, but for a lower-key

Left Roulette trunk made by Italian games specialist Renzo Romagnoli

alternative, the roulette trunk made by Italian games specialist Renzo Romagnoli would be ideal for the aft deck on a balmy evening. It features a crocodile-print leather box with a mahogany wheel, brass metal insert, 200 acrylic chips, a brass and wood rake, printed felt, dice and two card decks, and makes an elegant gift for roulette enthusiasts.

Few games have gained as much momentum in Asia as mahjong. Developed in the 19th century in China, it spread throughout the world like wildfire and is today played across all seven continents. Classic mahjong sets from Shanghai in the 1920s were carried in simple wooden cases with brass carrying handles and a sliding front. The set included five drawers and hand-carved bone and bamboo tiles. Modern iterations, such as the mahjong dining table by Pendhapa which retails for €12,500 and is crafted from solid black teak and black lacquer, are full of intricate craftsmanship and hidden drawers.

For a truly 21st century experience, though, the thrill of playing on an automatic mahjong table is hard to beat. Aside from saving players a lot of time when wall building, therefore increasing the number of playable games in a short timeframe, they also sort the tiles at the end and start of each game and can make learning the game a more light-hearted experience.

For purists, though, nothing can beat the leather mahjong set made by traditional games maker Geoffrey Parker in collaboration with Chinese master craftsman Liu Jin. Hand-carved ox bone and bamboo tiles are presented in the brand’s signature attaché case of hand-bound green leather with a black suede lining. It’s the perfect example of how design-led board games and Heesen yachts alike pay homage to heritage craft.

"Developed in China, mahjong spread like wildfire and is today played across all seven continents"

Left Mahjong set by Geoffrey Parker Opposite Evolution games table by Linley

RECYCLING SUPERYACHTS LOOK TO THE FUTURE

TEXT BY GEORGIA TINDALE

Sustainability and the environ ment have long been hot topics in the super but 2023 has seen a renewal in interest and a sharpening of focus on these issues. Not only did we face Europe's hottest summer since records began – it was a season of temperature extremes, drought and wildfires across the continent, according to climate observation service Copernicus – but activists around the world have been drawing attention to the challenges of climate change with increasing urgency.

Members of groups such as Extinction Rebellion and Just Stop Oil have been taking part in headline-grabbing direct action throughout the year, including gluing themselves to motorways, blocking roads and throwing soup at famous paintings.

Taking environmental issues seriously and addressing sustainability have never been more important, nor more vital for future-proofing the yachting industry

And although the superyacht industry, niche as it is, may up to now have felt relatively immune to this kind of activity, any complacency was shown to be misplaced as soon as Extinction Rebellion protesters made their presence known at the 2022 Superyacht Forum at METSTRADE in Amsterdam. Clearly, questions surrounding superyachts and sustainability are not going away. But there are many in the industry willing to address the issues, which include the thorny yet vital topic of the recyclability of superyachts.

Thinking ahead

Unsurprisingly, when owners are discussing their prospective purchase with brokers, shipyards, designers or any of the many other parties involved in bringing a new yacht into being, the focus tends to be on all the fun they’re going to have during their period of ownership. 'End of life’ planning for their vessel seldom features at the forefront of these conversations.

As a relatively young industry, in which approximately two-thirds of the world’s 40m-plus fleet has been built in the last 20 years, we are not yet at the stage where the question of what happens to these vessels long term has any real sense of urgency

“

We collaborate with designers and shipyards to take the end of life into account when they build and design anything“

behind it. However, as our summer of climate extremes has demonstrated, complacency on these issues is no longer a viable option. There are some who believe that now is the time to get ahead of the issue.

One such voice is Robert van Tol, executive director of the Water Revolution Foundation, an organisation well-known in yachting for its

"It is the same with the choice of materials used on board,” he continues. “We need to be considering where they come from and what you can do with them at the end of their life. There needs to be more awareness of the ecological costs of creating something new. If you use recycled, rather than virgin materials as part of the build process, this will significantly reduce your 'bill of impact' on the planet."

life-cycle assessments, which offer a methodology for evaluating the environmental impact of a vessel throughout its life span.

"It is about encouraging a shift in thinking,” he says. “We collaborate with designers and shipyards to take the end of life into account when they build and design anything.” Yacht interiors, for example, will almost all be replaced at some point during the vessel’s life. Thankfully, he says, most interiors are based on panels, which can perhaps be repurposed rather than simply scrapped.

Refit recycling

When it comes to refit projects, as MB92 Barcelona's sustainability co-ordinator Marc Hervás highlights, recycling is becoming an increasingly important part of the conversation. "In the last few years, we have been looking into this with greater depth, and getting better results,” he says. “It is all about reusing and recycling materials at the end of their life."

However, it is much easier to recycle and reuse materials that are part of the refit project but are not part of the vessel itself, he admits.

Above Yacht refit: can all that plastic be recycled?

“To give you a concrete example, when you do any refit work, you cover the vessel with layers of polypropylene plastic to prevent any chemicals damaging its surface. We are now able to reuse or recycle this material, and give these plastics a better life cycle than we could previously."

When it comes to recycling or reusing components during a refit, everything depends on what was put there in the first place by the original shipyard. As Marc explains: "Our hands are tied, but it is about co-operating with shipyards and trying to be on the same path with the components and materials used. In general, metal and wood and some types of plastic are quite easy to recycle, whereas electronic devices and items that have a mix of materials in their composition can be very challenging."

A new way of thinking

While research into the environmental impact of using recycled materials to build yachts is still very much in its early stages – watch this space for some fascinating upcoming work from the Water Revolution Foundation, which will cover the use of recycled aluminium and steel – it is heartening to discover that, however far we still have to go, there are plenty of parties in yachting actively seeking to hold themselves accountable, and make improvements for the long-term survival of the industry, and more importantly, the planet.

This accountability can take many forms. It could include hybrid propulsion, as pioneered by Heesen's 50-metre Home back in 2017 – the world's first hybrid yacht with a Fast Displacement Hull Form – and which is now offered as an option for all future Heesen new builds.

It could also include designers, owners and shipyards having more open discussions about 'end of life' planning and the long-term

environmental impact of the materials being used. Finally, it can also take the form of responding with an open mind and without too much defensiveness when someone from outside the industry asks how yachting plans to factor in and mitigate, as far as possible, the impacts of climate change.

Let’s give the last word to Robert van Tol. "I would like to say to the industry: don't wait for customers to request change. You need to future-proof your business. Demand better solutions from your suppliers and offer better solutions to your customers. Then we can all make a major improvement throughout the supply chain."

" I would like to say to the industry: don't wait for customers to request change. You need to futureproof your business"

FINESSING A PEDIGREE 4400

TEXT BY REBECCA TARANTO

SUPERYACHT MAKEOVER

How one North American owner came into possession of a little-used 4400 Series and used his expertise to turn her around for resale

She was a bit tired-looking, but had less than 3,000 hours on her engines. Launched in 2010, San Bernardo was the sixth hull in Heesen’s wildly successful semi-displacement, all-aluminium 4400 series. An active charter yacht, San Bernardo underwent an interior refit in 2018. But then she sat, languishing in Palma and cared for by a skeleton crew, until a North American owner purchased her in 2021, sight unseen.

“Our objective was to have more of a blue water boat,” says the owner, whose previous yachts were a series of all-composite Westport builds, including two 34-metres and a 38-metre. “This time we wanted metal as opposed to fibreglass; we were looking for a yacht that was capable of venturing further in serious ocean conditions.”

While the owners were ready for a bigger build, they didn’t want a yacht that would prohibit them from visiting their favourite harbours in Maine and The Bahamas. When nothing on the North American brokerage market suited their needs, they expanded their search to Europe with a specific request for a Dutch-built yacht.

“I was familiar with Heesen and really like their yachts,” says the owner. “The Dutch craftsmanship is the best in the world and the Heesen yachts are the perfect blend of style, performance and workmanship.”

The owners first set their sights on a pre-owned Heesen 37-metre, intending to sending it to the U.S. to be refitted like new, but the deal fell apart. “A broker we had met in Europe knew of a 44-metre available for sale, but it was off the beaten path, in Spain,” the owner recalls. So they sent the broker to inspect San Bernardo, a deal was duly signed, and the yacht was renamed Castlefinn. She was shipped to Fort Lauderdale to begin a refit at Safe Harbor Lauderdale Marina, where the owners first stepped aboard. While the yacht needed “just a little TLC” with

Below Main saloon smarten up

regards to her core assets, her interior was rather bespoke to the previous owners. “The interior had a very strong Western motif,” laughs the owner. “It was horrendous.” He immediately called Fort Lauderdale-based yacht designer Destry Darr of Destry Darr Designs to oversee the interior refit. “I had worked with Destry before on my previous yacht and knew she could work with the existing interior to create a contemporary ambience that was modern and comfortable without being stark.”

While the MTUs had fewer than 3,000 hours and needed only minor overhauls, a lot of other maintenance was necessary as the yacht that had been sitting unused for some time. “It’s like letting a house sit empty,” says the owner. “This yacht was somewhat neglected, so it turned into a much bigger project than we originally anticipated.”

After a maintenance update that included flushing the fuel and water tanks, and once Destry’s work on the interior and deck areas was complete, the owners took Castlefinn up to Maine for the summer. But then a change

Above Re-designed master stateroom

" I’m sort of torn as far as selling the boat"

in their personal lives pivoted their focus. “I had a health event and at the same time our first granddaughter was born,” the owner says, “so we changed our plans and decided to finish refitting the boat and put her back on the market.”

Castlefinn returned to Bradford Marine and the owners brought in a consultant to advise on what was needed to bring the nearly 15-year-old yacht back up to class. “There had been a refrigeration leak in the galley, so we ripped up the galley floor down to the metal and rebuilt it,” said the owner. The refit work also included complete refurbishment of the

A/C system, refurbishment of both generators, all new black and grey water systems, bottom work on the propellers and shafts, and a new navigation suite throughout.

“We also had to replace all of the through-hull fittings,” says the owner. “I had no idea we had that many, and they cost that much money!

“I started the project and I’m meticulous with my boats,” he says. “I need to be able to look the next owner in the eye and know that we did a thorough job. For all intents and purposes, this boat will be like new. She’s in the yard now - we are deciding whether or not to change the hull colour. The boat doesn’t need to be painted,

While Destry Darr has over 20 years’ experience managing complete yacht refits and new builds, the refit of the Heesen 4400 Castlefinn was a quick-turnaround decor refresh

that focused on the main areas of the boat, including the main saloon, skylounge, master stateroom, exterior deck areas and crew spaces.

“The owner called to tell me he had purchased a yacht sight unseen and wanted the strong Western interior motif softened,” says Destry. “I think his exact words were, ‘Get rid of all the cow!’

“Some of the furnishings had very high-end orange-toned Italian leatherwork in certain areas, such as the chair backs and legs as well as on the forward bulkhead and in the cabinet details,” she said. “We didn’t want to change

“Get rid of all the cow!”

Right Profile of the 44-metre Castlefinn

but I want it to really jump out at people in the marketplace. This is an amazing boat with a versatile hull. She has a great turn of speed as well as an incredible range. She deserves a really good home.

“I’m sort of torn as far as selling the boat,” the owner says. “But I love to cruise the coast of Maine and explore the little harbours where she’s just too big. So, the plan is to let her go and move into a smaller yacht, 30 metres or so. I do wish Heesen built one!”

Castlefinn is currently for sale through Worth Avenue Yachts.

the furniture completely due to the lead times and the costs involved, nor did we want to reupholster these leather frames, so we decided to work with them.”

Destry brought in complementary materials and colours to tone down the distinct decor theme without any major renovation in the main saloon. One of the biggest challenges, however, came in the form of the oversized custom cowhide drum shades over the dining table that were installed to be somewhat permanent. “Luckily, we were able to find a custom shade manufacturer who could make new drum shades in that size for us,” says Destry.

Although the carpet throughout was in good condition, it was necessary to change the very specific foyer carpet that featured the previous owners’ initials as well as a Greek key pattern. “Since we weren’t changing the carpeting in the entire saloon, we had the opportunity to do something different at the entry,” Destry says of the custom-cut carpet she commissioned in complementing deep blue and silver tones.

Knowing the way the owners like to use their yachts, Destry built an extra large curved sectional sofa with a storage ottoman for family movie nights in the skylounge.

The carpeting here was also changed as were the soft goods throughout, including all of the deck areas, which were completely re-upholstered with new cushions and pillows.

“Often it’s difficult to accomplish a successful interior transformation in a short timeframe,” says Destry, “but the caliber of the Heesen build - the quality of the wood, stone and cabinetry - makes it much easier when select furniture, upholstery and soft goods can get the job done.”

TEXT BY RISA MERL

Two special guests of honour regularly cruise on board the 50-metre steel displacement Heesen Ocean Z

– Milo and Dottie, the owners’ dogs. The yacht’s captain, Billy Lockhart (BL) , describes what life on board is like for these peripatetic pups

SEA DOGS

CRUISING WITH CANINES

Do these sea dogs have their sea legs?

BL: I’ve worked for the owners for two-and-a-half years, and they have been bringing the dogs on board their yachts that entire time — and probably before my tenure. Of course, when we took delivery of the Heesen last May, that tradition continued. The dogs are part of the owners’ family.

We’ve been all over the world and are now in Europe. We’ve trained them to be boat dogs! In the beginning, they were timid and scared about going up and down the stairs, but now they are fully acclimatized and have grown into good boat dogs. They roam freely inside and out. The crew might be up on the bow working and Milo will just walk up and sniff around, saying “hello”, and then go on his way.

Are there any challenges to having dogs on board?

BL: Well, there’s obviously a different process of house training — you can’t just stick them outside onto the lawn. We have turned the bow into a yard with fake grass. Milo got good at it quickly, Dottie’s had her occasional accident on the silk Tai Ping carpet… but animals are animals. That’s part of the deal.

Any funny moments with the dogs on board?

BL: Probably when me and my bearded South African engineer take the dogs for walks on shore. It must look funny to see two big men walking these fluffy little dogs around. So we’ve given them scary “street names” to make them seem tougher: “Here, Rhino! Here, Killer!”

Left Captain Billy Lockhart holding Milo

Dottie & Milo on deck

What do the dogs do when the owners go exploring ashore?

BL: When the owners go to shore for a tour or something, the dogs stay on the boat and hang with the crew. They ride to shore with the crew in the tender, and we find all the local parks and take them for walks. That’s when their Rhino and Killer personas come out!

Where do the dogs sleep on board?

BL: When the owners are on board, they stay with the owners in their cabin. Last year, the owners were doing some travel off the boat and it wasn’t conducive to bring the dogs, so they left the dogs on board with us for two months. The crew loved it! The dogs liked cuddling with the chief stewardess at night. Milo also likes to hide out and nap in the captain’s cabin. He will sit on the floor and stare up at the bed — because it’s too high for him to jump up onto it — until I notice and put him up on my bed for a snooze.

Ocean Z: award winner

At the Oscars of the yachting industry, the World Superyachts Awards, Ocean Z won the prestigious Neptune Trophy in the sub-500GT, over 45 metre category

Right Milo is dogtired after a long day at sea.

Have there been any near misses — dogs falling overboard?

BL: No near misses, luckily. We don’t actually have any nets on board, and that’s because they are very well behaved. Maybe with other dogs you’d have to take more safety precautions, but Milo and Dottie are attentive and don’t try anything crazy.

Should more Heesen owners take their dogs on board?

If anything, having dogs on board is a net positive. I’ve been working on boats for a long time and back in the day, the idea of dogs on boats was totally taboo. I think that’s changing. Now, granted, our dogs are little and they don’t really shed. And if they have an accident, it’s tiny. Not sure if I’d be OK with someone having a big St. Bernard on board, but obviously different dogs have different levels of impact and these dogs (Coton de Tulear breed) are low impact. They are small and not really any trouble to have on board. It’s a positive experience to have the dogs with us. In general, people enjoy dogs, and the crew get legitimate enjoyment out of having the dogs on board as well. I think it’s good for crew morale and for their mental health. I mean, if you don’t like having a cute little dog around, I can’t help you!

COOKING WITH INVASIVE SPECIES

IF YOU CAN’T BEAT THEM, EAT THEM

The endangered ecosystem of the Venetian lagoon has friends in some unlikely places – including high-end seafood restaurants

TEXT BY FERNANDA ROGGERO

"It started four years ago. Fishermen in the area were telling us about this pest crab, a non-native species that had arrived from the Atlantic a few decades earlier. Extremely aggressive, it moved up the food chain and reproduced massively. This is how the blue crab got into the menu at Venissa.”

Chiara Pavan has a gentle manner and a natural grace. An open smile. That she is determined and has very clear ideas about the meaning and future of cooking, you understand after exchanging a few words with her. She also quickly understands you: a talent that perhaps comes from her parents, both renowned psychiatrists.

She is passionate in talking about the project she is carrying out on the small island of Mazzorbo, in the Venetian lagoon, a stone's throw from the more famous and colourful Burano, together with her partner Francesco Brutto. Where Chiara is thoughtful and studious (a graduate in philosophy with a specialisation in philosophy of science), Francesco deploys a lightning-fast wit with the instinctive roughness of a pure soul. They have been cooking together for seven years. Now at Venissa they are committed to protecting the lagoon ecosystem, in close collaboration with local producers and

fishermen, and this gave rise to the idea of bringing to the plate those invasive species that risk compromising the fragile balance of the Venetian lagoon. Their kitchen is a constantly evolving laboratory, drawing inspiration from the garden as well as from fishing nets.

“The lagoon is a particular and extremely delicate ecosystem,” Chiara tells us. “In the last 15 years the fish population has been reduced by 70 per cent, while water pollution and warming seas have caused algae to disappear and invasive species to multiply. It is something we have to come to terms with.” And so we might as well start using them, these unwelcome fish and crustaceans.

The blue crab has less flesh but is sweeter than more familiar Mediterranean species.

“It's strange to us,” explains Chiara, who was recently named Best Female Chef by both

Right Chiara Pavan and Francesco Brutto

the Guida dell'Espresso and Identità Golose. “But in the United States you can find it in the supermarket. We currently have it on the menu as an appetiser, a terrine with apricot.” But it is served in various other ways, even in the filling of ravioli or on toast, or with millet, which at Venissa they prefer to rice because it consumes less water.

Brutto and Pavan have been collaborating for some time with marine biologist Carlotta Santolini, who set up the Blue Eat project precisely to promote the consumption of this crab. But the chefs’ culinary challenge with invasive species does not stop at the blueclawed crustacean. "For some time now, we have also been using anadara, the so-called 'Venus's chest',” Chiara explains. “It is a genus of bivalve that is picked up by clam trawl nets. Normally the fishermen would throw it back into the water: it is actually rich in haemoglobin and we serve it raw on black pudding, with plants harvested from the garden.”

Another unusual species that ends up on the tables at Venissa is rapana venosa, a kind of giant sea slug native to South-East Asia that arrived in the Adriatic from the Black Sea. Chiara and Francesco have been cooking it for a few years. "At first we cooked it like a pot roast, it was in the pot for almost thirty hours, now we serve it freshly seared, like abalone. But it is also good grilled”.

From the Suez Canal comes the sub-tropical ‘greenhouse fish’, grey and with slightly shiny flesh. In the lagoon it has found a cosy habitat and has a massive reproduction rate. Hated by fishermen because it cuts nets and lines with its sharp teeth, it is actually very versatile in the kitchen.

" We currently have it on the menu as an appetiser, a terrine with apricot"

Right Venissa’s private garden on the island of Mazzorbo

The project that Chiara is currently most passionate about, however, concerns jellyfish. She has been studying them in depth for a couple of years. "We are using the so-called 'sea lungs'," she explains, "which are very large jellyfish that we just blanch and grill.”

Given the invasiveness of the species in the Mediterranean one might wonder why a project to push their food use is not even supported by the EU. At the moment, however, EFSA, the European body in charge, has not yet made its decision and therefore the jellyfish cannot be considered a food for the time being

unlike crickets, whose flour has received EU approval.

Brutto and Pavan have an ethical approach to cooking and for some time now have stopped offering meat. They are against intensive farming, but not in an ideological way: “There are oyster and mussel farms that are supported by marine biologists, because of their ability to filter the water.”

Above Some

samples

On the subject of invasive species to be introduced into the diet, theirs is not, however, an isolated voice. In Rimini there is another chef, Mariano Guardianelli of Abocar, who started the Adria 37 project to promote the Adriatic's seasonal species.