Heesen Amore Mio: Tradition and Innovation in Perfect Balance
Craftsmen from the Netherlands have long been heralded for fine craftsmanship and unique shipbuilding techniques. Emerging as the leading shipbuilding region in the 16th century, Dutch craftsmen proved more efficient than any others in the European market. Superior Dutch design was highly regarded throughout the Baltic, Adriatic, and European regions.
Five centuries later, the Netherlands continues to lead with quality and innovation, home to a number of exceptional yacht building companies located along its fractal coast. Among respected names like Feadship, Holland Jachtbow, AMELS, and Oceanco, Heesen Yachts stands tall amid recent accomplishments and awards, collecting impressive hardware in Monaco, Florence, Cannes, and Ft. Lauderdale.
While not every yacht can be the biggest, the fastest, or the most expensive, every Heesen yacht is the very best it can be, built to highly demanding standards, with a passion for the craft and without compromise. One such yacht, Heesen’s Amore Mio, exhibits all of the reasons that Heesen continues to earn deep respect throughout the industry in addition to being the largest sports yacht to ever be constructed in the Netherlands
The Specifications
At 45m/147’7”, Amore Mio’s aluminum hull and superstructure place the vessel solidly into the superyacht category, yet it can hit a 30 knot top speed with ease, powered by two MTU 16v 4000 M731 engines. The 2,750 nm range at 12 knots easily clips along the full route of the Caribbean, top to bottom, or across the Mediterranean, end to end, without stopping to refuel. Five posh cabins accommodate 10 guests, served by 7 crew.
Sweeping aft from the edgy knuckle bow to the long stretch of main deck glazing, the crisp lines penned by Omega Architects present a strong, finely chiseled profile. The look is perfect for a dramatically different sport yacht, illustrating why Heesen has chosen to work with Frank Laupman at Omega for more than a decade.
Interiors by Cristiano Gatto Design complement Amore Mio’s contemporary style, with well-chosen textures, fabrics, and materials. Evidence of Cristiano’s skills as a sculptor, notable by his graduation from The School of Fine Arts in Venice, are everywhere, illustrating his philosophy approaching each design project as a work of art.
After regulation sea trials, a Captain’s Day found Amore Mio’s Tripp Hock putting the yacht through its paces in challenging situations. Maneuvering deftly throughout a series of emergency maneuvers, including crash stops, dead ship conditions, and single engine operations, Amore Mio performed brilliantly under light load in the North Sea, leading Hock to comment, “To my relief, all the coffee cups stayed on the tables,” proving worthy of her ‘power with comfort’ motto.
