Following intensive sea trials in the North Sea at the end of 2009, Heesen Yachts successfully delivered of 4YOU. Her interior design was conceived by Omega Architects, who created a fresh contemporary style rich yet understated with clean lines and luxurious details.
Founded by Frans Heesen in 1978 in Oss, The Netherlands, Heesen Yachts was the first Dutch shipyard to employ aluminium alloy for the construction of yacht hulls. Since that time the yard has become a world leader in the design, engineering and construction of high performance, all-aluminium motor yachts. 4YOU is a sister-ship of hull number 12947, Sirocco, (launched in 2006) and hull number 14247, Celestial Hope (launched in 2008).
Guests arriving on the main deck aft are welcomed into the vast main saloon, passing first through an art-embellished lobby.
This leads on into a social area furnished with coffee tables, armchairs and pouffes where an eight-seater table, custom made from American walnut and topped with leather, is inlaid with intricate patterns of matt silver. The room's soft colour palette, focuses on tones of beige and taupe set against the pale background of a creamy silk carpet, while the use of semi-gloss varnish also contributes to the relaxed and cool atmosphere.
Guests can also enjoy the second saloon on the upper deck, where a brightly lit sky lounge offers three comfortable sofas and a choice of poufs that can also serve as coffee tables.
Here, guests can enjoy live music from a baby-grand piano that dominates the aft portion of the room, while the plasma screen is hidden by a unique piece of art deco-inspired art, made by Dutch glass maker Glass Déco, this combines several panels of glass, delicately coloured in pale blue and light gold, to create a marine scene. A further example of inlaid stainless steel can be seen in the doors of a dark wood cabinet.
An elegant full-service bar topped with American walnut and white Carrara marble is positioned aft, adjacent to the sliding doors that give access to the aft portion of the bridge deck, where the primary function is open air dining.
Forward on bridge deck, in front of the modern bridge, is another wonderful spot for guests to have breakfast, or simply to enjoy the view.
One deck above is the sundeck whose centre portion, like 4YOU's sister-ship Sirocco, can be partially enclosed. This deck offers an open-air fitness centre and a spa pool area that can be fully covered by an awning supported by carbon-fibre retractable pillars.
Located forward on the main deck, the master suite is entered through the owner's office and leads on through a pair of walk-in wardrobes to the master bedroom, which occupies the yacht's full beam.
Eight more guests can be accommodated on the lower deck in four cabins, of which two are twins and two are VIP doubles.
In 1992 Heesen Yachts expanded the business to include the construction of traditional, long-range, steel-hulled displacement yachts. Today, the company can create magnificent private yachts within the size range of 37 metres and 65 metres in length (121ft 4in to 213ft 3in).
In 2009 Heesen Yachts has delivered four magnificent motor yachts, three with semi-displacement hull forms (the 44m, Jems; the 44m, My Petra; and the 47m, 4YOU; and the 47m, Blind Date with a full displacement hull form.
Twelve further yachts, whose combined lengths total some 560 metres, will be delivered to their Owners by 2012.
4YOU is available for charter in the Caribbean and will be available in the summer of 2010 in the Mediterranean through Moran Yacht & Ship.
Interior photography by Emilio Bianchi
Exterior photography by Alexis Andrews