Formerly known as Project Altea, Dutch shipyard Heesen Yachts has delivered YN 19550 MY ELA to her new owners in Gibraltar. Simon Wittenberg sees what’s in store for the superyacht.
Heesen Yachts, based in Oss, in the Netherlands, has delivered YN 19550 MY ELA to its new owners in time to spend the summer cruising around the Mediterranean. Costing around €36 million, and mainly for family use, “ELA” will also join the charter fleet of Mexico’s Zarpo Yachts to be available for selected clients.
At 50 metres in length and sporting a lightweight, aluminium, fast-displacement hull, the vessel, previously called Project Altea, is the second addition to Heesen’s sub-500GT Nova Plus class, and is also a close relation of “Home” and “Electra“.
Propelled by twin MTU 2000-series M72 V12 engines, ELA can reach a maximum speed of just under 20 knots with frugal fuel consumption. Plus, with a draft of just 2.15 metres, this makes her the most efficient yacht of her kind for one constructed in the Netherlands. ELA is equally the first Heesen to sport a peak-shaving battery system, designed to make the yacht more efficient and sustainable.
A distinguished yacht with a striking profile, characterised by a vertical bow and bold spray rails, ELA was also available within a very short space of time once it had caught the eye of her new owners.
There were just three months between purchase and delivery, and the client worked with interior designer Cristiano Gatto (above) and the Heesen team to tailor the yacht according to their specific requirements.
This involved selecting new materials for all the upholstery and the key items from Paola Lenti, B&B Italia, Poltrona Frau, and Promemoria, as well as the design of bespoke pieces, such as tables, sofas, and lamps, which were then crafted by Italian ateliers.
On board, ELA’s twelve guests have access to six staterooms, the owners’ suite on the main deck forward and the remaining five cabins – a full-beam VIP, two doubles and two twins – on the lower deck.
Friso Visser, Heesen’s CCO, said that MY ELA is a magnificent addition to the Heesen fleet, and that the shipyard is very strong in the market segment of 50-metre all-aluminium yachts below 500 gross tonnes. He added that Heesen’s delivery team worked seamlessly with Captain Antonio Gerini and Tony Lovec Management to deliver the yacht without fuss and on time for the summer season.
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For more information on Heesen Yachts, visit www.heesenyachts.com.
Photography credit: Heesen Yachts / Dick Holthuis / Ruben Griffioen.
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