First hitting the water earlier this year, the brand new 49.98 metre Heesen superyacht Book Ends has been handed over to her owners.
The yacht was spotted undertaking sea trials at the end of June, where her anticipated top speed of over 23 knots was put to the test. Book Ends marks the second unit from the Dutch yard’s 5000 Aluminium series, following in the footsteps of 2021 delivery Aquamarine.
The yacht boasts a GT of 499 and has been constructed entirely in aluminium. Power on the semi-displacement superyacht comes from two MTU diesel engines, with a maximum range of 3,100 nautical miles when navigating at cruising speed. A draft of 2.15 metres allows her to access shallow bays and shoal water regions with ease.
“Building a new boat on time and on budget is always a challenge. This past year was particularly challenging with the remnants of Covid and various sanctions," commented owner Bob Book. "Despite what seemed like overwhelming odds, the Heesen team continued working closely with the Book Ends team in Oss to make the dream a reality.“
“Thanks to an extraordinary combined team effort, this state-of-the-art vessel has been delivered on time with the highest Heesen standards of excellence," he added.
Exterior design comes from Frank Laupman and the team at Omega Architects, who have given her a sharply tapered bow, distinctive bootstripe, and arching aft decks. Interiors come from Cristiano Gatto, and offer accommodation for 12 guests in five cabins, plus further accommodation for a complement of nine crew.
The master suite is located on the main deck forward and the remaining suites are found down on the lower deck. The yacht offers plenty of alfresco space for her owners to make the most out of life on the water, including a generous beach club and a spread of sunpads on the main deck terrace. There is a choice of alfresco dining areas for guests to take advantage of.
The yacht was sold under the project name Sapphire, with Thom Conboy, sales director of Heesen USA, handling the sale. She was sold in the third quarter of 2021 to a repeat Heesen client who previously owned a 47 metere superyacht launched under the same name.
“Being entrusted for the second time in under four years by such an experienced yachtsman is a source of great pride for our shipyard”, said Friso Visser, chief commercial officer at Heesen. “Everyone worked tirelessly to ensure the owners and their family could enjoy their new yacht this summer. May their days onboard Book Ends be filled with fun and joy wherever they may cruise!”
Heesen is also set to launch its latest 55 metre Steel model, Project Gemini, in the coming months.
Read More/On board with Bob and Amy Book, owners of 47m superyacht Book Ends