In the world of large yachts, there sometimes seems to be no new superlative. And then an Open does sail faster than all the others, someone builds an even bigger yacht than any owner before them, or they set sail with even more precious paintings than the biggest Russian art collectors.
In summer 2018, Heesen also delivered a format that belongs in the yachting record book. At 51 metres in length, "Irisha" may be in the middle of the pack, but her use is spectacular and at the top of the UHNWI lifestyle. "The owner," says Heesen's press officer Sara Gioanola, "only really takes the yacht out for lunch or dinner. He uses it as a dayboat, so to speak." When asked again, the charming Italian replies in the same way. And you have to admit that the yacht looks exactly the same from the outside. Anyone approaching "Irisha" from the front or side will immediately be absorbed by her raised pilothouse, which is completely covered in dark glass and is more reminiscent of a sporty 70- or 80-foot yacht, such as a Pershing or an Otam.
Inspiration for "Irisha"
"However, our inspiration came more from an F16 fighter jet," says Ben Harrison, who is responsible for the exterior and interior design with his business partner Peder Eidsgaard. Even when it is at anchor, "Irisha" should look as if it is in motion. The nine curved panes with a total weight of 2000 kilograms are among the largest glass panes of this type ever produced in Europe, and a well thought-out structure holds them in position, as "Irisha" can travel at high speeds and in heavy weather. In the centre of the glass structure, the panes are therefore up to three centimetres thick.
Harrison and Eidsgaard, who have been in the league of sought-after yacht designers with their London studio for several years, were already active on the owner's first Heesen. In record time, they gave the former "My Petra", the ex-yacht of Heesen's shipyard founder Frans Heesen, a small refit. With this leap of faith and the "Irisha" owner's enthusiasm for the Harrison-Eidsgaard deliveries "Tango" and "Vanish", the order for the new yacht landed almost automatically with the London creatives and somehow also with Heesen. "We are of course known for our semi-custom ranges," says Sara Gioanola, "but half of our production is made up of custom builds such as 'Galactica Star', 'Galactica Supernova' and 'Irisha'." Twelve yachts, now up to 80 metres in length, are constantly under construction (as of 2019).
The focus is on food
But back to the yacht, more precisely to the aft deck, where - with a glance into the saloon - the owner's ideal daily routine can already be surmised. According to Gioanola, it usually looks like this in summer: From the villa in Sardinia, they first go for a swim, then to the yacht to catch up on the news on the tablet, followed by an extended lunch with friends before returning to land; sometimes there is also dinner on board. The dining table in the saloon, which is designed for 14 guests and was manufactured in-house by Heesen, can be extended to accommodate a party of up to 22 people; the so-called "winter garden" between the saloon and the al-fresco sunbathing area is also designed for socialising on this scale. If you are sailing off Sardinia in early spring or late autumn, you can dine outside under cover, as glass panes shield you from the weather almost all round. In charter mode, however, and therefore in commercial operation, these side windows would have to be replaced by nets, as the "conservatory" would otherwise raise the volume of the yacht above the 500-gross-tonne threshold. A nice move, but one that will not be used very often, as the owner will only make "Irisha" available to charter guests for a very limited period of time. The weekly rate is around 300,000 euros.
Entertainment on board the "Irisha"
The sunbathing areas aft are also unusual. Heesen and Harrison-Eidsgaard arranged them very high so that those lying there can virtually talk at eye level with guests standing on deck. However, the main reason for the design is to create higher ceilings in the beach club and the tender garage below. Owners and guests have almost 30 square metres available on this level, including a sauna and day toilet. Down here, toys and tenders (ribeye, 6.80 m) can be moored if required and the turquoise waters of Sardinia can be explored.
If we stay on "Irisha" on the outer decks for the time being, it is essential to take a look at the 78 square metre Sundeck, which is also consistently dedicated to catering and entertainment. The bar area with two counters is located at the front. Eight bar stools are grouped around it, four of which can be swivelled so that all guests can watch the ship enter a harbour or bay with a drink in their hand. A veritable jacuzzi and a lounge area with a height-adjustable table complete the area, from which you can access the wheelhouse directly, as is also common on much smaller yachts with a raised pilothouse. A large leather sofa allows you to watch the captain at work in comfort; he steers "Irisha" from a Besenzoni carbon fibre chair, while Kelvin Hughes' equipment displays all the relevant data for operating and navigating the yacht. If you need to get from A to B quickly, "Irisha" mobilises 6800 kilowatts of power from its two powerful MTU engines, which accelerate the 51-metre semi-glider to a top speed of 26 knots. If the journey is more leisurely, the 55,000 litres of diesel are sufficient for a non-stop trip of around 2,400 nautical miles at a cruising speed of eleven knots.
Layout of the 51-metre yacht
Whether this will ever be an issue on the "Irisha" dayboat remains to be seen. However, the conditions for a longer trip are also available inside. Four cabins on the lower deck - two with double beds and two with two single beds each - can accommodate eight guests. Two accommodations can be combined as a suite, which is sure to interest charterers with smaller children or charterers who want two large and three smaller cabins. However, the master suite on the main deck, which is accessed via a generously dimensioned lobby, is more than a touch more comfortable than the VIP cabin on the lower deck. In addition to the sleeping quarters, the owner has access to an office, a dressing room and a bathroom spanning the full width of the hull. Like the entire yacht, the suite is designed in shades of caramel and beige, interspersed with dark grey and accentuated by stainless steel details. The highlight on the main deck is the owner's loggia, which can be used even when the yacht is underway. Equipped with a daybed, this barely visible private balcony is the perfect place to relax after a long lunch.
Not quite as privileged, but no less comfortable, is the Skylounge. Two reclining armchairs with fold-up footrests are available here, or alternatively a récamiere built directly into the wall with a direct view outside. The steward serves a nightcap at the bar supplied by Barn in the City - a piece of driftwood sprayed with gold and preserved with resin. Unusual, but perfectly suited to the unusual "Irisha".
Technical data
- Length over everything:51,00 m
- Waterline length:48,90 m
- Width: 9,00 m
- Depth:2,50 m
- Material: Aluminium
- Volume: 496 Gross Tons
- Motors: 2 x MTU 16V 4000 M93
- Motor power:2 x 3400 kW
- Maximum speed: 25/26 kn
- Travelling speed: 11 kn
- Range:2425 nm @ 11 kn
- Fuel: 55 000 l
- Generators:2 x Kohler
- generator output: 2 x 99 kW
- Water:16 200 l
- Construction: Heesen Yachts
- Exterior design: Harrison-Eidsgaard
- Interior design:Harrison-Eidsgaard
- Class:ABS, +A1 Commercial Yachting Service, AMS, Large Commercial Yacht Code LY3
- Shipyard: Heesen Yachts, 2018
This article appeared in BOOTE Exclusiv issue 01/2019 and was revised by the editorial team in November 2023.
