Showcasing Project Aura at the Superyacht Village during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show
October 31 2022
At the Superyacht Village during the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, we are showcasing Project Aura. She is a 50-meter Steel and the most recent delivery among our series yachts.
Captain Billy Lockhart, the Owner’s representative and the build captain of Project Aura, took delivery on May 17th and embarked on a 2,000 nautical-mile shakedown cruise from Rotterdam to Algeria via Gibraltar. 2,000 nautical miles in one go for the maiden voyage! Her speed ranging between 10 and 13 knots in seas that were sometimes quite rough. This was an impressive achievement… but not a fluke!
Captain Billy and his crew tackled this voyage with confidence because they knew what the previous boats in the series had already accomplished. Project Aura is the third in our 50-meter steel series, which has a proven track record. This was confirmed and reinforced by her sturdiness during the sea trials in the North Sea and via her consistent level of cruising comfort during the entire summer in the Mediterranean.
This leads to sharing again what we presented at the press conference in Monaco; our redefined portfolio offering has three pillars:
Series
Smart Custom
Full Custom
As the yacht market is saturated with many different offers, we want to be clear about what Heesen offers. And, within our commercial proposition, we also put forward a wide spectrum of choices, including steel, aluminum, displacement, semi-displacement, and FDHF…
To be successful in a crowded and competitive market, clarity is of the essence. Re-categorizing our commercial offer gives us the opportunity to show that Heesen is a one-stop shop.
Series
At Heesen, we pioneered the commercial and production principles of on-spec superyacht building. Now, we dominate the market in this sector. We can afford to do this because we are a very solid company with a significant financial position.
Construction on series yachts starts on speculation. Our five series models utilize proven naval architecture and engineering for reduced delivery times along with cost savings in design and development. Even if these yachts are based on existing hull designs and propulsion engineering, clients are free to personalize the interior to a certain extent.
Smart Custom
Smart Custom also offers major savings in time and money since the construction of the hull can begin while the design of the superstructure is still underway. The hulls that form the basis of the Smart Custom projects can be chosen from either our Series yachts or from previously completed Full Custom designs. This smart blend of proven performance and bespoke personalization comes with Heesen’s usual excellent value for money.
Full Custom
Our Full Custom projects begin with a blank sheet or from one of our concept designs.
Take inspiration from our fleet portfolio or begin afresh. Fully customized, 360-degree design and engineering offer the guarantee of your own unique Heesen yacht. The only limit is your own imagination and the yacht’s maximum length, draft, and height.
Breaking news!
We are thrilled to announce that we are working on a brand new 50-meter full displacement. We will launch this new series design by the end of the year.
Here are some details:
Our top priorities are efficiency and comfort. At 50-meters and below 500 GT, this new series will sport a Fast Displacement steel hull with great seaworthiness for optimal comfort in all sea conditions. Like all Heesen yachts, our new 50-meter steel will also be available with Heesen hybrid solutions to deliver a silent cruise.
The layout will feature an outdoor-indoor connection. There will be plenty of natural light via sliding windows in the main saloon, allowing fresh air in the room. From a functional point of view, the layout will offer separate crew routing for discreet and efficient service.
With tender and toys conveniently stored on the main deck forward, guests can enjoy a split aft deck terrace overlooking an infinity pool and a large fixed-swim platform.
Twelve guests will be accommodated in six staterooms, with the master on the main deck forward. This full-beam cabin will also offer the luxury of fresh air thanks to a French balcony on the starboard side.
Guess who the designers will be and win the Heesen aficionado press package!
We will announce the designers and further details later in December.