Water Babies


THE BOYS AND GIRLS COME OUT TO PLAY, AND SPLASH, DIVE, RUN, YELL, HOP AND HOLLER. AFTER A YEAR OF BEING STUCK TO THEIR CONSOLES, JUST HOW DO YOU KEEP THEM OCCUPIED ON BOARD? WORDS: CLAIRE GRIFFITHS


F


rans Heesen, owner of Heesen Yachts obviously knows a thing or two about boats. And while for some people these beasts are designed and built to impress friends (or adversaries), the best thing about the boats is the whole family can clamber on,


and as long as the kids are happy and occupied, every generation can go about doing exactly as they please.


The focus was on fun back in 2015 when Heesen commissioned his 47m MY Lady Petra, very much with his large and multi-generational family in mind. At the time he said, “My wife Petra and I have decided to build a larger yacht to accommodate all the members of our family; three children and seven grandchildren. With relatives and friends, it is a big clan! We love family life and we believe that it’s wonderful to spend time together; but to really enjoy it, it’s essential to get well organised and live in a functional space, so that living together on board is a pleasant and joyful experience rather than dreadful chaos. Our first yacht – My Petra, a Heesen 44 metre semi-displacement – was not built for our family, but we chose her because of the early delivery (one year in advance compared to the 37m we had under construction). We have made a good use of the time we spent on board and considered My Petra as a great training ground. Personally I knew how to build a boat, but I had to learn how to enjoy one myself! So, Petra and I have ‘studied’ the habits of our family and took notes that we used later to guide our choices during the design process. We are satisfied with the boat we have built, but of course, there are things we would like to do differently in the next one.”


He chose the yacht for the flexibility of the layout, dedicating the forward area of the main deck (traditionally the master cabin) as a play area for his seven grandchildren where they could romp and rage in their own private kingdom. The outdoor areas were also designed with spaciousness in mind with enough room for everyone to do what they wanted. Said Heesen, “The outdoor areas are conceived for our social life. The spaces are generous and can welcome all of us. The sundeck is the place where our children and their kids enjoy most of their time outdoor: Aft there is a cozy area with sofas and coffee table under the shade of a canopy, ideal for the parents to watch their kids wallowing in the Jacuzzi.”


But the kids don’t need to just wallow in the jacuzzi because if they delve into the toy cupboard they’ll find a whole lot more than a bath with a few bubbles.


ONBOARD | SUMMER 2021 | 45


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