Frans Heesen is no stranger to megayachts, having founded Heesen Yachts more than 35 years ago and having commissioned a project from the same Dutch shipyard in 2009. Shortly after taking delivery of that yacht, christened Lady Petra, Frans and his wife Petra began planning a bigger one. That new Lady Petra maybe only about 10 feet longer, measuring 153’2” (47 meters), but she’s far more voluminous. More important, the current Lady Petra is far more able to accommodate his adult children and ever-growing grandchildren, while still providing privacy for him and his wife.
Frans and Petra were quite happy with the first Lady Petra. But, given that they have seven grandchildren, they easily entertain more than a dozen people on cruises. And, given that the grandchildren are of different ages, it’s important to have multiple spaces for the different generations to enjoy, either separately or together. A great example of this is the media lounge, forward on the megayacht’s main deck. The proud grandparents, parents, and kids put the 100-inch TV screen to good use this summer on their first family trip. Picture everyone spread out along the comfortable cushions. Then picture just the grandkids here, watching their favorite cartoons or movies, while the grown-ups enjoy some peace and quiet in the saloon.
Another favorite spot aboard Lady Petra for the family is the flying bridge. This huge, cockpit-like seating area is just forward of the wheelhouse. It’s ideal for meals or simply enjoying the scenery as the megayacht makes a 15-knot top speed (under MTU power). Because Lady Petra has a further alfresco area one level up, the different generations can continue to spread out. Note the awnings just visible on that upper deck, which is the sundeck. Beneath it is a hot tub, perfectly positioned for making the most of the views.
For the megayacht’s general arrangement and interior design, the Heesens turned to Bannenberg & Rowell, the London-based design office. Dickie Bannenberg, one of the firm’s principals, says that Petra in particular had admired their work aboard some other builders’ boats around the time they were considering commissioning this project. He adds that the Heesens wanted an atmosphere that would be welcoming to all ages, balancing the needs for adult sophistication against child-friendly finishes and furnishings. This close-up of the design details gives you a good idea of how Bannenberg & Rowell did just that. Rich-stained macassar ebony is matched with and contrasted by smoothed, laser-cut aluminum panels. Bannenberg says he and his business partner Simon Rowell selected a good deal of both to pay tribute to Frans’ careers as both a carpenter and a boatbuilder. (Frans was a carpenter prior to operating Heesen Yachts.) Elsewhere onboard, every piece of furniture was designed without sharp edges and protrusions that could cause the younger grandchildren to be injured.
A cleverly designed piece of furniture actually lies in the master suite, on the upper deck, solely for Frans and Petra to use. This motion-stopped photo shows a stewardess pivoting the table in the suite’s breakfast nook away from the settee. Frans says he and Petra keep different hours than their adult children and grandchildren, so it’s nice to have a private place to enjoy their morning coffee and more. To make it easier to get into and out of the seats, the tabletop swings out and then back.
Still in keeping with those different hours, the Heesens have their stateroom aft on the upper deck. (If you’re a parent or grandparent, you might just be thinking this is the smartest idea of all.) As you can see, sliding doors lead out to an alfresco area, and just beyond the edge of the photo, there lies a table that is nicely shaded by the overhang of the sundeck. Should the couple so wish, they can take full meals out here. Or, they can invite the rest of their family up the aft stairs to gather around the table, as it’s large enough to accommodate everybody.
When mealtime—or movie time—is over, the grandchildren are treated to staterooms below decks aboard Lady Petra. Two twins are accompanied by two queens. A third twin cabin, the one pictured here, is forward on the main deck. It’s a nice way to treat the youngest members of the family. And, it is reflective of something that Bannenberg said was made abundantly clear in every design meeting: This is above all a family boat.
Family boats sometimes are used by family members who find it increasingly hard to climb stairs and get around the way they used to. Many megayachts present obstacles to people like this; outside of an internal elevator, it’s simply too difficult to get from one deck to the other, especially if the elevator is far removed from alfresco areas. Not the situation with Lady Petra. The shipyard adapted a residential chair lift to rise up alongside the starboard-side bulwarks of the yacht. Heesen Yachts also designed and engineered a wheelchair lift (shown) that would take a person directly from the dock to the aft deck.
Lady Petra is the seventh in Heesen Yachts’ 47-Meter semi-displacement series, bearing the same 29-foot beam and 9’4” draft as her predecessors. Yet, she might just be the most customized one to date. She shows what can happen when family comes first.
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