Delivery of YN 19055 Project Castor – now named Solemates

• All-new accommodation layout
• Six luxury staterooms for 12 guests
• Ultra-efficient hull design and propulsion
• Exceeds all contractual expectations on sea trials
• The second Heesen to be delivered during the pandemic
• Available for charter with a global cruising plan

The latest in Heesen’s 55-metre Steel class, Solemates is the first to feature an all-new layout to accentuate her impressive interior volume of approximately 760GT.

Six staterooms on three decks accommodate up to 12 guests. The master suite spans 82 square metres and includes a study, a full width bedroom, separate his-and-hers walk-in wardrobes, and a bathroom with both shower and bathtub. Floor to ceiling windows flood the space with natural light and offer spectacular sea views.

A secluded VIP suite can be found up on the bridge deck, while the remaining four guest staterooms are on the lower deck – two of them with rail-mounted beds allowing quick conversion from doubles to singles. A spacious beach club and wellness area in the stern opens onto a fixed swimming platform, offering the guests easy access to the sea. The yacht’s tenders are stowed forward.

Solemates’ owner hired a stylist to personalize the interiors designed by Bannenberg & Rowell, with a bespoke selection of new veneers and fabrics to reflect the taste and lifestyle of the client. The muscular exterior lines of the 55-metre Steel class were penned by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects. Solemates’ medium-grey colour scheme highlights the elegance of the profile and gives the yacht her own unique personality.

Each individual deck area offers a different way to enjoy the outdoor life. The sundeck has a Jacuzzi, sun pads, a comfortable conversation area and a bar. Additional lounge chairs face aft. The aft terrace on the bridge deck is dedicated to alfresco dining, while the seating in front of the bridge offers a perfect spot to enjoy the view while under way. The main deck aft makes an ideal reception area, with built-in settees, coffee tables and armchairs.

Solemates sports the ultra-efficient ‘fast displacement hull form’, devised by Dutch hydrodynamicists van Oossanen and further developed by Heesen’s in-house naval architects and engineers. With this low-drag hull and two relatively modest MTU engines of just 1000 kW each, yachts in Heesen’s 55-metre Steel class are among the most efficient of their size in the world.
On her two-day pre-delivery sea trial, Solemates exceeded her contract speed and range.

Solemates is the second Heesen superyacht to be delivered since the Covid-19 pandemic struck.

“We adopted drastic measures early on, following Dutch government guidelines, both in our production processes and in the offices” explains Rick van de Wetering, Heesen’s Chief Operating Officer. “So we managed to introduce the necessary social distancing and were able to carry on our work with as little disruption as possible.”

Solemates will be available for charter in the Eastern Mediterranean via Luxury Yacht Group, who introduced the client to the shipyard and were responsible for project management during construction.

A sister ship, YN 19255 Project Pollux, is currently nearing completion and available for sale, with delivery in Fall this year.