YN19550 Project Altea is sold!

Heesen is delighted to announce the sale of Project Altea, YN 19550, the second yacht to be built on the Nova Plus design and engineering platform.

An all-aluminum 50-metre that features the patented Fast Displacement Hull Form, Altea comes in at just under 500GT, and was begun by Heesen as a speculative build. Her contemporary exterior design by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects soon caught her owners’ attention, with its long waterline, vast outdoor spaces, floor-to-ceiling windows and a purposeful profile characterised by chunky spray rails and an almost vertical bow. Once her Cristiano Gatto interior, Dutch pedigree and short delivery time were added to the mix, a deal was soon struck – Altea’s owners being already familiar with Heesen’s unrivalled levels of quality and craftsmanship, having chartered several recent yachts from the Heesen fleet.

Project Altea’s top speed of 19.5 knots and transatlantic cruising range of 3,750 nautical miles at 12 knots come courtesy of two 1,080kW (1,448hp) MTU 12V 2000 M72 engines, and with her FDHF hull design she will be one of the fastest and most economical motor yachts in her class. A draught of just 2.15 metres also makes her the perfect yacht to enjoy the Bahamas’ shallow anchorages and the crystal clear seas around Sardinia.

Six elegant staterooms can accommodate twelve guests, while five cabins are provided for the yacht’s nine-strong crew. Cristiano Gatto is now working with the owners and their team to fine-tune the yacht’s warm and tranquil interior design, with a selection of contemporary loose furniture that will personalise the yacht to their taste and lifestyle. A carefully considered combination of leading brands and custom-designed items will complete the indoor and outdoor spaces, their luxury and comfort eloquently expressed by tactile combinations of simple but refined materials, such as the leather and parquet floor in the main saloon, and the precious Loro Piana fabrics of the bespoke sofa.

While different colour accents underline each cabin’s individuality, the main deck is characterised by a deep-sea blue that flows from the saloon through to the master suite. The sky lounge features rich purple hues that extend to the outdoor areas, where bespoke Paola Lenti furniture creates a classic contemporary ambience.

The yacht will be primarily for the use of the owners’ family, but will also be available for charter by selected clients. During the purchase process the owners were represented by Franco Ambrosi of Zarpo Yachts. After delivery Project Altea will join the Zarpo Yachts and Tony Lovec Yacht Management fleet, and offered for charter in the Mediterranean and in the Caribbean. Her experienced Italian captain, Antonio Gerini, will supervise the yacht’s completion and take the owners to explore the Mediterranean this summer and the Bahamas next winter. Captain Gerini has a long history with Heesen, having previously supervised new builds and captained other yachts in the fleet.

Project Altea will soon leave her dock and will remain in Heesen’s harbour for commissioning before going to the North sea for intensive testing. Delivery will be in time for the summer season.

Arthur Brouwer, Heesen CEO, comments: “We are honoured to welcome the owners and their family to the wider Heesen community, and look forward to delivering their dream yacht in time for a glorious Mediterranean summer filled with sunshine, sea breezes, and perfect days.”