One dimension was clear from the start: the draught! "The maximum that is still practicable is 2.60 metres if - like us - you want to be out and about a lot in the Bahamas," says the owner openly. "With half-full tanks, our draught is 2.30 metres, which allows us to reach the most beautiful bays, such as Shroud Cay, where we particularly like to anchor."
The owners' passion for yachting grew over 20 years, during which they chartered regularly and worldwide - everything from a 24-metre Sunseeker to solid large formats. After the children had moved out, they finally had time to look after their own yacht. "We had gained a lot of experience building a few houses and felt it was the perfect time to realise our first own yacht," say the owners.
With the help of Northrop & Johnson's brokers, they found what they were looking for at the Dutch shipyard Heesen, which is known for its on-spec builds. These newbuilds are launched without owners on a speculative basis and are sold during the production process. Four yachts with lengths between 50 and 57 metres are currently under construction and could be delivered between the summer of this year and mid-2027. Opportunities for the impatient. "This way, customers save a lot of time and can sometimes take delivery of their yacht very quickly," says Heesen Managing Director Niels Vaessen, explaining the tried-and-tested concept. The later the owners get involved in the construction process, the less creative input they can have in the interior layout or design.
The name "Santosha" means "true contentment"
"Santosha" was launched as build number 20457 under the project name Akira and is the first yacht in Heesen's new 57-metre aluminium series and also the largest Heesen model to be launched without an owner. The four-decker, designed by Omega Architects under the direction of Frank Laupmann, has an interior volume of 780 gross tonnes, 400 square metres of living space and a lightweight and efficient fast displacement hull. The purchase contract was signed in April 2023 and 18 months later the aluminium yacht, designed entirely according to customer specifications, was launched.
"We have rarely met owners who knew exactly what they wanted based on their yachting experience," says owner's representative Peter Wilson, who closely accompanied the construction with his company MCM and has now also taken over the management of the 490-tonne boat. "It was great to see that the family enjoyed the building process and played a key role in creating their dream boat with their specific design ideas," enthuses Wilson.
The owners christened their 57 metres "Santosha". The name means "true contentment" in the ancient Indian language of Sanskrit; spiritually speaking, Santosha is a stable state of inner happiness. What a fitting name.
The exterior design immediately impressed the owners
"We were impressed by the exterior styling of Project Akira from the very first moment," say the owners. Frank Laupmann brought his unmistakable sculptural style to the new build and began work on the design back in 2019. "The design had to fit into the Heesen portfolio and still look new and modern," says the designer, explaining the creative balancing act. The high, almost vertical stem that extends to the upper deck is particularly striking. There is space for two six-metre tenders in the foredeck, behind which is a Portuguese bridge, which ensured that the superstructure moved aft and lost some volume. This division of proportions lends the exterior a certain lightness. In contrast, the negative bridge windows make for a striking appearance, while the long, continuous window strips emphasise the elegance of the design.
In contrast to the exterior, the interior styling changed considerably after the purchase agreement was finalised. London-based studio Harrison Eidsgaard originally had other plans. "Our idea was a more masculine penthouse style," says Head of Design Ben Harrison. However, the owners were looking for fresh and bright interiors, which led to a warmer colour palette and visually lighter materials. "They are both very precise when it comes to style, design and the quality of materials," says the designer. "They wanted 'Santosha' to be an extension of their lifestyle on land." This meant, among other things, that the beach club had to be converted into a fitness room, the owner's suite including bathroom had to be significantly remodelled and the guest bathrooms had to be converted.
Works carefully curated by the art-loving owners can be found throughout the ship, giving the rooms a personal touch. "Santosha" offers space for twelve guests in six cabins, including a large VIP suite on the upper deck, the 63 square metre owner's flat on the forward main deck and four guest cabins in the middle section of the lower deck. The 13-member crew lives directly in front of it. The main saloon and the skylounge one deck up have been redesigned, with the owners also focussing on a relaxed ambience. The front part of the saloon was designed as a dining area, with seating for up to twelve people at the walnut table from Parkway England. A chandelier from Lasvit provides pleasant lighting and creates an interesting contrast to the classic-style furniture. Custom carpets by Oliver Treutlein flatter bare feet in all guest areas; a lift made of glass and stainless steel connects three decks and blends seamlessly into the circular staircase.
On the upper deck in the skylounge, the focus is on the bar positioned on the port side. At the very front of this level is the bridge, from which the captain controls two MTU sixteen-cylinder engines, each with an output of 2,560 kilowatts, which propel the 10.30 metre wide "Santosha" to a top speed of 22 knots. With a cruising speed of 13 knots and 80,000 litres of diesel in the bunker, the vessel has a comfortable transatlantic range of 3,900 nautical miles. A route that the fast 57-metre displacement vessel will cover regularly. After a wonderful winter in the bays of the Bahamas, this summer "Santosha" will also go on an exploration tour of the western Mediterranean with charter guests at a rate of 400,000 euros per week.
A yoga manual states: Those who practise Santosha experience inner happiness and peace because they learn to be content with what they have. Who wouldn't want to experience this for themselves on board the latest Heesen newbuild?
Technical data
- Length over everything: 56,70 m
- LWL: 54,10 m
- Width: 10,30 m
- Depth: 2,30 m
- Displacement (empty): 490 t
- Gross tonnage: 780 Gross Tons
- Material: Aluminium
- Motors: MTU 16V 4000
- Engine power: 2 x 2,560 kW
- Speed (max.): 22 kn
- Speed (travelling): 13 kn
- Range @ 13 kn: 3,900 nm
- Generators: 2 x 175 kW Zenoro
- Fuel: 80.000 l
- Crew: 13
- Construction: Van Oossanen, Heesen
- Exterior design: Omega Architects
- Interior design: Harrison Eidsgaard
- Class: ABS shipyard:Heesen Yachts, 2024
- Charterbroker: Burgess Yachts
