Following a successful Monaco Yacht Show, Heesen Yachts has announced a major presence at this year’s Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show.
As Heesen notes, the United States is its largest market, and the shipyard is excited to showcase its yachts to this growing audience. During the five-day show (October 30 – November 3), Heesen will be located at the Superyacht Village, with three yachts on display: the 2022 50m semi-displacement “Book Ends”, the 2021 50m FDHF “ELA”, and the 2011 55m “After You”, originally launched as “Quinta Essentia”. These three yachts feature aluminum hulls, demonstrating Heesen’s unique expertise in working with this high-performing material.
“Book Ends” and “ELA” are the most recent deliveries in the shipyard’s semi-custom range, with both clients taking full advantage of the personalization options available. The owners of “Book Ends” used the yacht as the perfect platform to express their design tastes, including bespoke loose furniture designed by the owner himself. The owners of “ELA” worked closely with Cristiano Gatto to customize the interior to their lifestyle and preferences. “After You” highlights Heesen’s fully custom construction capabilities and demonstrates the lasting appeal of the shipyard’s designs.
Heesen works with many repeat American clients
Ruud van der Stroom, Heesen’s CCO, commented: “I am excited to attend the largest boat show in the world. The Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show is a pivotal event for us to connect with our clients and showcase our yachts to the American market. We are the only Northern European shipyard to offer yachts below 500 GT with fast delivery. The 50m hybrid ‘Project Orion‘ is available for sale with delivery scheduled for Q1 2025, while ‘Project Sophia‘, a 50m semi-displacement yacht, is available for delivery in Q1 2026. Heesen’s unparalleled Dutch quality and craftsmanship put us in a leading position.”
Heesen’s CEO, Niels Vaessen, emphasized the importance of the American market during this year’s Monaco Yacht Show press conference. He noted that the United States is home to 22 million millionaires and has a long-standing tradition and culture of yachting. Heesen has worked with many repeat American clients who have challenged the engineering and construction teams to push their limits.
Thom Conboy, Heesen’s U.S. representative, commented: “There is no question that the upcoming election has caused some American clients to delay their purchase decisions. This is being reported across luxury industries, and it is not surprising, especially considering other ongoing geopolitical factors. Once the election results are confirmed, we expect confidence to return to the market. The boat show is ideally timed for us to reconnect with our client base and showcase Heesen for when they feel ready to invest in their next yacht.”
