Heesen Yachts in the Netherlands is revealing details about Santosha, a 187-footer that is the first hull in a new class of high-speed aluminum builds from the Dutch shipyard.

Previously known as Project Akira, this yacht’s design was first revealed at the 2019 Monaco Yacht Show. Heesen’s team then began construction of the yacht on spec, with delivery expected this autumn.

The owners who purchased the build took the interior design in a direction different from what Heesen originally planned. The yard worked with interior designer Harrison Eidsgaard to include sustainable materials—including recycled wood, performance leather and “art silk” carpets—along with what Heesen calls “a carefully curated art display” on board.

Peter Wilson, who is acting as the owners’ representative, stated in a press release: “Our collaboration with Heesen on this project has yielded an excellent result. Collectively, we have been working as a cohesive team, with each party doing their utmost to achieve a world-class superyacht—one that is distinct from her peers. This was our second project with Heesen, and we look forward to many more in the future. Once delivered, I have no doubt that the clients will enjoy Santosha to her fullest.”

Some additional details about Santosha that Heesen just revealed include accommodations for 12 guests in six staterooms, a glass elevator, a 375-square-foot beach club, and a master bathroom inspired by the Garden of Eden, including a bas-relief snake. Heesen describes the master suite as an “owners’ apartment” that’s 750 square feet in size with a study.

Exterior design on this yacht is by Omega Architects. Heesen is projecting a 22-knot top speed. Range is expected to be 3,900 nautical miles at 13 knots. Gross tonnage is 780. The power package is twin MTU 16V 4000 M65L engines.

To allow for shallow-water cruising in regions including the Bahamas, draft on Santosha is about 7½ feet.

“Santosha is a yacht designed for those who appreciate the finer things in life, combining elegance with practicality and meticulous attention to detail with a relaxed ambience,” Heesen’s chief commercial officer, Mark Cavendish, stated in a press release:. “It stands as a true testament to Heesen Yachts’ commitment to excellence and innovation in yacht building.”

What does Santosha mean? The yacht’s name is Sanskrit and serves as a reminder to “remain happy under any circumstances or be contented with what we can achieve,” according to the shipyard. A lotus will be the yacht’s logo.

Take the next step: click over to heesenyachts.com

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Benetti Yachts in Italy is revealing details about the 134-foot Kahala. It’s a fiberglass yacht with exteriors by RWD, naval architecture by PLANA and Azimut-Benetti, and interiors in collaboration with New York-based Bonetti/Kozerski Architecture. 

Kahala’s primary exterior feature is the Oasis Deck aft. This section of the yacht has side wings that open the beach area into a nearly 970-square-foot terrace at water level. A nearly 1,500-gallon infinity pool is here—Benetti calls it “rare for a yacht this size”—and is heated with a massage function.  

Exterior styling is inspired by the automotive industry, with a plumb bow, vertical windscreen and long, glazed surfaces with silver frames. 

Inside, the team from Bonetti/Kozerski included a series of pieces from the 1950s to the 1970s. The idea is that they have an enduring elegance and simplicity that never go out of fashion. The firm also designed the rug in the main-deck salon, an area that has extensive glazing for natural light along with a custom table that seats 10 people for dining. 

Between the salon and the owner’s stateroom on the main deck is a sculpture that the owner commissioned from a Hawaiian artist, as a symbol of the owner’s deep ties with the state. 

Up one level, the wheelhouse has full-height glazing and seating for six people. Instead of a traditional helm station with a wheel, this yacht has what Benetti calls a “light bridge console featuring a futuristic design developed by Benetti and Fincantieri.” The carbon-fiber console has integrated software and controls laid out on two panels, like extra armrests for the captain’s chair. Racks for the navigation equipment are in an air-conditioned compartment abaft the wheelhouse to starboard, hidden by panels.

Also on this deck is the skylounge, which has a bar as well as a breakfast table. The skylounge connects to an outdoor space with custom sun pads that are similar to the ones installed above on the sundeck.

Belowdecks, there are four guest staterooms. Along with the main-deck master, they allow for a total complement of 10 guests. There are also four cabins for eight crew, as well as a captain’s cabin.

For heading ashore, the yacht has a side garage that can house a 20-foot tender. There’s a separate room for stowing toys near the beach area aft.

Let’s talk performance: According to Benetti Yachts, Kahala has two MAN V-12 engines that allow for a top hop of 17 knots, with transatlantic range at a speed of 11 knots.

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Heesen Yachts in the Netherlands has sold Project Venus, a 55m Steel model that is already under construction and well on its way toward its delivery date.

The owner previously owned a Heesen, and is coming back to the yard for this build.

“Returning to Heesen was an easy choice for our client,” says sales broker Rupert Connor of Luxury Yachts. “We know that their high-quality standards and desire to exceed our needs will result in yet another fabulous build. There is no other shipyard in the world where you can sign for a yacht in June and they deliver in 10 months a high-quality yacht customized to our needs. Their revised 55m platform offers a best-in-class layout and engineering platform. Our whole build support team is thrilled to be working with Heesen again.”

Silvia Margutti of Luca Dini Design and Architecture is handling customization of the interior design to reflect the owner’s taste and lifestyle, with enough time left in the build schedule to make alterations of that nature. Heesen’s team says it expects to launch Project Venus this coming January, even while incorporating any changes that the owner would like to see in the interior décor.

The shipyard can project such a fast launch date because construction on Project Venus began back in November 2022, as part of Heesen’s overall business plan to minimize the time between a yacht’s sale and its delivery.

The steel hull, an iteration of van Oossanen Naval Architects’ FDHF design, was fabricated at Talsma in Friesland, also in the Netherlands. Heesen’s team will build and install the interiors.

Project Venus comes in at 760 gross tons.

Also happening at Heesen Yachts: The yard has joined the hull and superstructure on Project Sophia, a 164-fdvoot yacht that is currently for sale with delivery scheduled in the first quarter of 2026.

Project Sophia is a fast-aluminum design with exteriors by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects and interiors by Cristiano Gatto. The yacht has a hard-chine, shallow-draft hull designed by Heesen’s in-house naval architects.

A recessed propeller tunnel keeps draft at 7 feet, making the yacht usable in the Bahamas.  Twin 16V 4000 M65L MTU engines are already installed, with Heesen projecting a top speed of 23 knots and a trans-Atlantic range of 3,100 nautical miles at 11 knots.

Accommodations are for 12 guests in five staterooms, including a main-deck master.

Take the next step: head over to heesenyachts.com

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Tankoa Yachts in Italy has launched Diamond Binta, a fully custom, 190-foot motoryacht that is on track to be delivered to its owners by the end of July.

Diamond Binta project was commissioned in 2021 for what Tankoa says is “an experienced owner seeking extended voyages and unrivaled luxury.”

With the designation Tankoa T580, Diamond Binta has exterior lines by Francesco Paszkowski and interior design by Margherita Casprini. Construction is in steel with an aluminum superstructure.

“This new yacht, our first 58 meters, is the result of years of collaboration between the Paszkowski studio and Tankoa,” Eva Orsi, president of Tankoa Yachts, stated in a press release. “I am proud of this project, which represents an evolution from the owner’s previous 50-meter yacht M/Y Binta D’Or. Its timeless design combined with cutting-edge solutions is the result of teamwork between client, designers and shipyard, blending elegance and functionality. This construction confirms Tankoa’s reputation as a boutique shipyard.”

Tankoa also built Binta D’Or, which was the first of the yard’s 50-meter yachts with its hybrid propulsion package. That yacht made its debut in 2019 as Hull No. 2 in its series, and had a design similar to Vertige, which was Hull No. 1 in the series.

As a fully custom project, Diamond Binta takes everything up more than a few notches in terms of the owner being able to customize his ride. Notable features on Diamond Binta include a forward helideck and an aft beach club with fold-down bulwarks. The onboard spa includes a massage room. Up on the fly deck, there’s a gym and a swimming pool. The yacht’s garage can accommodate two tenders, including a nearly 30-foot limo tender.

Accommodations include a master stateroom along with five guest staterooms, with a corridor on the lower deck that connects the staterooms to the beach area, passing through a viewable engine room.

For now, those are all the details that the shipyard has released—but Diamond Binta is scheduled to be on display at this September’s Monaco Yacht Show, after which the owners plan to cruise in the Mediterranean. So, be on the lookout for more insider information to come soon.

What else is happening at Tankoa Yachts? In June, the shipyard launched another Paszkowski design. Rilassata is Hull No. 6 of the S501 series. It’s also expected to be used in the Mediterranean.

Take the next step: visit tankoa.it

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Palm Beach Motor Yachts has announced a new flagship, the Palm Beach 85. 

The new yacht will be available in a skylounge, a flybridge or a sedan version and powered with twin or triple diesels, among other customizable features. According to the builder, the PB85 prioritizes spacious and well-appointed living areas, something the release notes as a unique luxury for yachts in the 80-foot range.

Elisa Corti, a media spokesperson for Palm Beach Motor Yachts, told Yachting via email that the Palm Beach 85 will be the largest model built by the company to date with larger models also planned for the range.

“The company is excited to introduce its industry leading technology and performance to the 25+ meter market,” Corti said. “Depending upon engine options, the company predicts a cruising speed in the mid- 20 knots and a top speed of 28 knots.”

Highlights of the PB85 will include a living and entertaining space that spans the entire main deck, from the cockpit to the helm forward. Nearly 360 degrees of glass provide abundant natural light. There is also a generous aft deck for easy water access.

Accommodations will be an owners’ choice of three or four staterooms with four heads, including a full-beam master stateroom with king-size berth, en suite head, and sizable windows for more natural light. There’s also an en suite VIP stateroom, a guest stateroom and head to starboard, two crew cabins aft, a crew head and a crew galley.

All versions and customizations chosen will include Palm Beach’s proprietary V-Warp Technology, a hull design and a construction philosophy developed by CEO Mark Richards’ experience as an ocean-racing champion and performance yacht designer. This technology combines hull form, exotic construction materials and a precise build process.

The V-Warp Technology hull has qualities that reduce drag while adding buoyancy, stability and lift, allowing the boat to reach planing speeds with minimal energy and effort. The builder says the hull will effortlessly maintain an approximate five-degree running angle throughout the entire speed of the curve.

The PB85’s hull is infused with E-Glass unidirectional and multi-axial fiber for an optimal resin-to-glass ratio, resulting in a strong, fast and efficient form. The hull is fused directly to the carbon fiber structure, bulkheads, deck and superstructure of the vessel to enhance overall performance –including fuel efficiency.

“The Palm Beach 85 represents a dream achieved,” Richards said in the release. “When I was a young man working on the docks in Sydney, I would watch the yachts cruising through the harbor and knew that one day I’d do the same on my own boat. When the Palm Beach 85 splashes, she’ll be the largest yacht we’ve built, and will represent a new level of luxury, fuel efficiency, and performance in the yachting industry.”

The interior of the vessel will have teak cabinets and doors, with the owner’s choice of furnishings and carpet flooring on the upper and lower decks. 

Additional PB85 equipment specs include Twin Volvo Penta IPS1350 engines at 1,000 hp, two Fischer Panda 19,000i generators, full galley appliances and smart TV’s in the salon and all staterooms.

“At Palm Beach, we’re constantly improving, innovating, pushing ourselves, and exceeding industry expectations—the PB85 is the result of countless hours of hard work by our entire team,” Richards said. “I am extremely proud of what we’ve been able to achieve.”

The Palm Beach 85 is currently under construction with the first several sold. The projected completion date is January 2025.

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CL Yachts has unveiled its CLX99, a new flagship superyacht in the CLX range of luxury vessels.

According to a news release from CL Yachts, the CLX99 is a successor to the CLX96, which debuted during Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS) in late October 2022. The CLX96 featured bold styling and design inspiration from outside the traditional yacht sector. That’s how CL Yachts partnered with designer Jozeph Forakis. Forakis would later make headlines in 2023 for unveiling the design of a 3D-printed yacht.

Now CL Yachts is partnering again with Forakis to create the new CLX99. The release notes that at first glance, the new CLX99 draws heavily on its sister vessel’s styling and design DNA. That said, the yacht builder stresses the new yacht isn’t just a facelift to the CLX96, but an entirely new model at superyacht scale.

That means more interior volume, more external space, more design elements and more features that have been refined for the demands of European and Asian markets.

“The hull is the same great hull as CLX96,” said CL Yachts Director Martin Lo in the release. “With its excellent design ensuring performance, stability, handling, and sea-worthiness, the beach area has been extended and the new yacht reaches an overall length of 100 feet. Indeed, there are substantial differences in terms of naval architecture, layout, and choice of materials and finishes.”

Lo continued to state that the desire to create this new model stems from an analysis of market and owner needs, combined with the aim of having a CLX version that can satisfy all markets. He reiterated that focus markets for the CLX99 include Asia and Europe, as well as the secondary charter market.

“With CLX96 I was given free rein to think beyond the boundaries of conventional yacht design, and I was able to meld my passions for intelligent design, sailing, with the imagination and dreams of an ‘outsider,” Forakis said in the release. “ CLX99 takes all those elements, and the double-reverse-angle workboat chic of CLX96, and carries them forward into new -dimensions of style, function and practicality to meet the varied demands of differing global yachting markets. CLX99 is beautifully balanced, wonderfully proportioned and architecturally refined. She is a true ‘navetta’ epitomizing the pinnacle of nautical luxury, promising an unparalleled experience to owners, guests, and charterers alike, no matter how or where they indulge their yachting lifestyle.”

Designing the CLX99

The CLX99’s main deck benefits from a six-and-a-half-foot extension, which has led to a reorganization of the interior space aboard the vessel. Forakis states in the release that the CLX99 features a large dining room forward with the galley adjacent and with portside access for the crew. It also sports a relaxation area with a big sofa and plenty of multifunctional space for diverse needs and further customization.

Meanwhile, the lower deck has also been revised and redesigned. The standard version of the CLX99 has five sizable, en suite staterooms that include a full-beam master suite, two VIP doubles forward and two guest twin/double staterooms.

The crew area is located aft between the engine room and the aft bulkhead of the master, which allows for insulation from technical noise from the owner. This space has been extended and reconfigured to accommodate up to five crew members, making the CLX99 more suitable for fully crewed charter operations. Including crew, the vessel accommodates a total of 12 guests.

Topside, the sundeck, skylounge and flybridge helm have all been modified to optimize the size and emphasize luxury. The release notes that the CLX99 retains the trademark “Terrazza Portoghese” social zone of the CLX96, which creates an expansive seating and sunning area forward of the bridge that serves as a secondary, elevated bow terrace.

Forakis highlights the vessel’s forward-raked windscreen in the release.

“The skylounge has been extended by over three metres, with the helm – which is on the same level as the skylounge – separated from the guest saloon allowing the captain to work freely without interfering with the guests,” Forakis said in the release. “However, the skylounge forward bulkhead is essentially largely glass, which not only means  CLX99 retains the 360-degree panoramic views, but also means guests can still observe the operation of the yacht. A sliding door connects the two spaces.”

Elisa Corti, a media spokesperson for CL Yachts, told Yachting that the company is promoting this model through dealers and brokers. While there isn’t a set timeline for release yet, Corti said fingers are crossed that CL Yachts will start production on the CLX99 soon.

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Custom Line, which is part of the Ferretti Group in Italy, has launched its new flagship: the first all-aluminum Custom Line 50.

The yacht was launched at the Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard in Ancona. Its name is Asante, and it comes in at less than 500 gross tons.

“A 50-meter dream. This is the new Custom Line 50, confirming the brand’s state of grace at both design and production level,” Ferretti Group CEO Alberto Galassi stated in a press release. “Cutting-edge research and innovation, in terms of both style and materials, comes together in the use of aluminum, which also offers significant performance and fuel consumption benefits.”

He added: “The new flagship, which opens up a new market segment for Custom Line, is a vessel bathed in light and water, born out of extraordinarily in-depth and effective studies into the yacht’s volumes and spaces.”

Beam on the Custom Line 50 is 31 feet, 6 inches, allowing for sizable guest spaces in the interior. The overall design is a collaboration between the Product Strategy Department led by Piero Ferrari and the Ferretti Group Superyachts Division Engineering team.

Exterior styling is by Filippo Salvetti, while ACPV Architects’ Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel designed the custom interiors. Custom Line’s team says that the brokerage house Performance Boats USA, LLC also played a key role as the owner’s representative on the project.

Asante has four decks. The master stateroom is located on the upper deck with sole-to-ceiling windows that allow for 180-degree views of the surroundings. This stateroom also has direct access to a private terrace in the bow with a lounge area and a sunpad.

Four VIP staterooms are located belowdecks, allowing the yacht to accommodate a total of 12 guests. There are separate quarters for nine crew, with the captain’s cabin located next to the wheelhouse.

The main deck, like the upper deck, has sole-to-ceiling windows to immerse guests in the surrounding marine environment. The yacht also has a water’s edge beach club with direct access to the outdoor area that’s aft on the main deck and fitted out as a private lounge. These two exterior spaces are integrated by a rectangular pool in the stern.

When is the Custom Line 50 Asante expected to make its world debut? At the Monaco Yacht Show later this year. That boat show is scheduled to take place from September 25 to 28.

Take the next step: click over to crn-yacht.com

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After just over three years of design and building, Heesen Yachts christened and delivered its 164-foot YN 20350, MY ALP with a maiden voyage from the Netherlands to its new owner in the Mediterranean.

ALP belongs to Heesen’s 50-meter semidisplacement series, and work on this vessel began on May 3, 2021. According to a news release from the yacht builder, celebrations began on June 10 in Hellevoetsluis, South Holland, where ALP was berthed following the successful completion of extensive testing in the North Sea.

Heesen boasts that ALP is built for fast cruising, comfort and luxury. Weighing below 500 gross tons, ALP hits a reported top speed of 23 knots and is Bahamas friendly with 7 feet of draft. Sara Gioanola, Heesen’s public relations manager, told Yachting in an emailed statement that the company is most proud of ALP’s shallow draft and top speed paired with a 12% improved hull efficiency compared to its previous 164-foot vessel.

The release states that Heesen is one of the few shipyards in the world that can build aluminum hulls in-house.

“Aluminium welding is a rigorous discipline that requires a combination of education, technical skills, focus and stamina,” the emailed news release states. “Precise engineering, exact construction, and effective project management ensure that the weight control meets the strict requirements without any compromise on luxury.”

The vessel features generous outdoor spaces for entertaining guests, a large sun deck with a whirlpool bath and sun pads, a fully equipped bar and dining area. Five staterooms comfortably accommodate 12 guests. There are five cabins for up to nine crew. The exterior lines, penned by Frank Laupman of Omega Architects, portray speed and sportiness with an elegant appeal.

Roughly 380 square meters of interior work was done by Cristiano Gatto Design. Additionally, Heesen’s fine cabinet-making company based in Winterswijk, allowed accommodations for last-minute personalization requests from the client.

Gioanola told Yachting that this is Heesen’s third yacht sold in collaboration with Superyachts Monaco.

“We truly enjoy their professionalism and knowledge,” Gionola said.

Mark Cavendish, Heesen’s chief commercial officer, also thanked Superyachts Monaco for their collaboration on this project.

“This time-honoured maritime tradition not only forges a bond between the vessel, the shipyard, the crew, and the sea but also invokes a sense of pride and anticipation for ALP’s future journeys,” Cavendish said in the emailed news release. “On behalf of everyone at Heesen, I would like to express our gratitude to Jim Evans and his team at Superyachts Monaco for their exceptional collaboration on this project.”

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CRN shipyard sends word that the 230-foot Project Thunderball has been moved by way of a barge to the Ferretti Group Superyacht Yard in Ancona, Italy. The fully custom steel-and-aluminum superyacht will now begin fit-out, with the yacht on schedule to launch in 2026.

Project Thunderball is a project done in collaboration with Vripack for exteriors and naval architecture, and with Nauta Design for interiors and outdoor furniture.

According to CRN, as soon as the hull arrived at Ancona, the shipyard completed a full-hull 3D scan and began preparations for carpentry and fit-out, along with installation of machinery and onboard systems. Furniture will be installed after that, and the exterior of the hull will be primed and painted.

Some of these production stages will happen in parallel, with different teams from the shipyard as well as vendors working at the same time. Y.CO is serving as the owner’s representatives and project management team, including handling on-site supervision and supporting coordination of the external contractors.

Project Thunderball’s layout will be across five decks with accommodations for 12 guests and quarters for 15 crew. Gross tonnage will be 1,100. CRN says there will be a traditional elongated bow, a low profile and “svelte lines like a sailboat,” with curved bilges.

Interiors are said to incorporate “a culture of the sea” in a way that combines heritage and a refined, contemporary look.

Also notable on Project Thunderball is a peak shaving system to increase energy efficiency and reduce fuel consumption.

Project Thunderball was originally announced in September 2023. According to the shipyard, brokers at Y.CO completed the sale in August 2022. The owner is reportedly a passionate sailor, so a smaller sailboat will also be delivered as part of the build project, in addition to the mothership.

Plans are for the boats to spend summers in the Mediterranean and winters in Florida and the Bahamas, with fishing and diving also part of the program.

What else is happening at CRN? In addition to Project Thunderball, the shipyard is building three more fully custom superyachts: two of them at 220 feet length overall, and another that’s 279 feet long. This past March, CRN delivered a 236-foot custom build with exterior lines and concept by Vallicelli Design and with interiors and exterior styling by Nuvolari Lenard. That yacht was a six-deck vessel with a gross tonnage of 2,003.

Where to learn more: go to crn-yacht.com

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