Each week, we place a spotlight on one of the world’s finest yachts for charter. This week, BOAT steps on board the 50-metre superyacht Home, a fine example of why Heesen yachts are cumulative bastions of the charter fleet…
When it comes to building a successful semi-custom yacht there are a few shipyards that have nailed the perfect formula. Heesen is one of them, producing perfectly proportioned, attention-grabbing superyachts time and time again that stand the test of time.
Not only does Heesen’s magic formula hold remarkably well on the brokerage market, but charter too with a fleet of hugely successful charter yachts including Moskito (for charter with IYC), Arkadia (with Y.CO) and Aurelia (Fraser).
Home, which was delivered in 2017, is no exception to the rule and a hugely successful vessel in the charter fleet. Her profile has a cutglass, icy appearance thanks to her aggressive bow and large forward windows cleaved into the hull.
On the technical side, Home is something of a beast too, being the first hull to couple hybrid propulsion to the proven Fast Displacement Hull Form by Van Oossanen Naval Architects, which comes with a string of benefits to the more conscious charter guest including a 48 per cent hike in efficiency compared to other 50 metre yachts.
Other highlights stem from the galley, where the chef, Owen, has been with the owner for several years and has been denoted ‘phenomenal’, by the charter manager. Sending out well-presented and flavoursome dishes, he and the crew received outstanding feedback from the Bahamas Charter Show in January.
Key Features
LOA: 49.8-metres
Builder: Heesen
Year: 2017
Guests: 12
Crew: 9
Home's aggressive lines are the first noticeably striking feature, designed by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects and inspired by another Heesen build, the 50-metre Sibelle. It’s almost as if she slices through the waves beneath her – she looks intentional. But Home isn’t merely style over substance.
Her vertical bow serves a dual purpose, helping the yacht to carve through waves, but also creating more room on the interior to place the crew accommodation. To stay under 500GT, Omega created walkaround decks with cut-out bulwarks that offer uninterrupted sea views from each of her two lounges.
The brief to the designer, Cristiano Gatto – who was brought in by the owner – was for a modern, comfortable interior; the keyword was simplicity, not minimalism. Simplistic, yes, but striking? Absolutely. There aren’t many yachts of charter out there that follow such a bold colour scheme, which is chrome, neutrals and white and a deep burgundy that is infused across the entire interior.
The main saloon is taken over by a huge L-shaped leather sofa, which sits upon a pleasing toe-sinking silk-grey rug. It is – as the brief suggests – simplistic, but by no means boring. A set of intertwined reuleaux triangle lights shine down onto a bright white dining table at the end of the main saloon, with white leather chairs and white placemats. There is no other colour in sight here in the entire table setting, just the chromed base of the wine glasses and silver charger plates – an international and crisp design.
While there may be a lot of white on board, things are still relaxing and welcoming. Up in the upper deck lounge, the white sofa sits directly on the interior teak flooring next to woven pouffes and a chrome-inlaid bar.
While it is immaculate, the upper deck saloon it’s not the kind of space you’re going to worry too much about holding a glass of red wine, perhaps due to the use of burgundy in the colour scheme. The unique styling takes inspiration from the owner's on-shore properties with a contemporary, "Ibiza-style" feel.
Home can sleep up to 12 guests in six cabins: a full-beam master suite can be found on the main deck, while a full-beam VIP cabin (another benefit of the vertical bow), two double cabins and two twins are found on the deck below.
Life on board Home
"A home away from home" – that’s what her owner was hoping to achieve when they came into the build. It had already started when they came on board, having been drawn with floor-to-ceiling windows. For this, plenty of space to relax was key, of which Home has plenty in the main saloon sun deck and quite unusually has two bucket chairs impressively hovering over the bow.
Like most successful charter yachts, guests will find themselves spending most of their time up on the sun deck, that is when they’re not out on water. There's a sit-up bar shaded by a hard top as well as a Jacuzzi and even space for dancing. A quartet of sun loungers can be found aft with yoga mats tucked underneath, while a projector and a screen set-up can transform the deck into an outdoor cinema.
Another one of Home’s many lounging spaces is the skylounge, which in effect is an extension of the outside deck with beanbags, day beds and teak flooring. The space is serviced by a bar and is a popular spot for lounging around in the shaded spot to take in the view. Here the furniture can be removed, a mirror ball and a smoke installed and the area becomes a dedicated party room.
Toybox
Williams Jet tender
SeaDoo Jetskis
Inflatable kayaks (2-man)
Clear kayak
Stand-up paddle boards
Waterskis, wakeboards, wakeskate, skimboard, Flyboard
E-Foil
Zapata Hover Board
Fishing gear
Snorkeling gear
Where will Home be cruising?
Home is available for charter with Edmiston with a weekly rate from €265,000. This summer she will be cruising the Mediterranean before crossing over the Atlantic to spend a winter season in the Caribbean.