Upgrading
With 15 weeks worth of bookings in its second consecutive year in the Mediterranean, Heesen’s 37m Aurelia has been very active within the charter market since its launch in 2011. Captain Guy Booth shares how the decision to replace the existing Castoldi-built tender came about.…
With 15 weeks worth of bookings in its second consecutive year in the Mediterranean, Heesen Yachts’ 37m Aurelia has been very active within the charter market since its launch in 2011. Not surprisingly, regular use has led to the need for new systems and equipment. After consulting Captain Guy Booth, Aurelia’s owner took the decision to upgrade his Castoldi-built tender.
The decision to source a new tender was made during last year’s Monaco Yacht Show (MYS) and was a relatively quick one for the owner who came to the conclusion that a new boat was needed after several thorough soakings en route between the shore and Aurelia, which was anchored outside the port of Monaco.
It would be easy to get overwhelmed by the wide array of tender companies and variety of models on display at MYS, but according to Booth, the owner was immediately drawn to Pascoe International’s SY9 open tender. The SY9 tender on display impressed during sea trials with the Pascoe team but the decision to purchase was halted when the owner realised that there was a minimum 12-month delivery time due to a full order book.
Undeterred, the owner asked whether he could purchase the demo model from MYS. “Essentially, the boat was already designed and built, but we were able to heavily customise it,” says Booth. “The modifications took roughly four months and we took delivery of the boat in early February 2013.”
Developed in-house by Pascoe, with styling input from Ken Freivokh Design, the demo SY9 was fitted with a host of features including a Simrad integrated system with audio control and 15-inch display, LED bow docking lights, bimini down lighting, underwater and deck lighting, antifouling and towing packages and a tender tracking system. “As a demo model, this tender had been carefully thought through and presented extremely well,” Booth continues. “It was completely fitted-out with leading technology and, to be honest, there was little required from us.”
To convert the boat into the official Aurelia tender, modifications such as the colour of the pontoon and paint were needed in order to match it to the mothership’s distinctive blue and orange finish. Pascoe created four visual options based on the owner’s brief and the custom ‘10’ logo artwork. Input from Booth led to further refinement of the design, with alterations to the towing facilities, boarding/swim ladder, anchoring arrangements, bimini/canopy set-up, placement of cleats and mooring equipment.
It was important to the owner that the new boat be able to transport more guests comfortably, easily and safely. Capable of transporting 12 guests and two crew, the SY9 is powered by a V8 twin-turbo diesel Yanmar 8LV engine producing 390hp. Connected to a Yanmar ZT370 dual prop drive supplied by Barrus, the tender offers a top speed of 48 knots. The stepped hull design also aids in the smooth and responsive acceleration provided by the propulsion system and offers a safe ride when operating at higher speeds.
On top of superior performance and greater capacity, the SY9 has a single lifting point that allows for a simpler and quicker launch and recovery when compared with its older counterpart. A model of similar spec would you set you back around 350,000 euros.
“The owner loves the new boat, and so do the crew,” says Booth. “In fact, the last time the owner was on board, he jumped on to it (with a certified crew member) and drove it himself for about 150 miles, tearing off into the distance at full speed, or sitting behind Aurelia, surfing in the wake.”
Read the full article in Issue 10 of The Superyacht Owner.
The decision to source a new tender was made during last year’s Monaco Yacht Show (MYS) and was a relatively quick one for the owner who came to the conclusion that a new boat was needed after several thorough soakings en route between the shore and Aurelia, which was anchored outside the port of Monaco.
The new SY9 alongside Aurelia
It would be easy to get overwhelmed by the wide array of tender companies and variety of models on display at MYS, but according to Booth, the owner was immediately drawn to Pascoe International’s SY9 open tender. The SY9 tender on display impressed during sea trials with the Pascoe team but the decision to purchase was halted when the owner realised that there was a minimum 12-month delivery time due to a full order book.
Undeterred, the owner asked whether he could purchase the demo model from MYS. “Essentially, the boat was already designed and built, but we were able to heavily customise it,” says Booth. “The modifications took roughly four months and we took delivery of the boat in early February 2013.”
SY9 can reach a top speed of 48 knots
Developed in-house by Pascoe, with styling input from Ken Freivokh Design, the demo SY9 was fitted with a host of features including a Simrad integrated system with audio control and 15-inch display, LED bow docking lights, bimini down lighting, underwater and deck lighting, antifouling and towing packages and a tender tracking system. “As a demo model, this tender had been carefully thought through and presented extremely well,” Booth continues. “It was completely fitted-out with leading technology and, to be honest, there was little required from us.”
To convert the boat into the official Aurelia tender, modifications such as the colour of the pontoon and paint were needed in order to match it to the mothership’s distinctive blue and orange finish. Pascoe created four visual options based on the owner’s brief and the custom ‘10’ logo artwork. Input from Booth led to further refinement of the design, with alterations to the towing facilities, boarding/swim ladder, anchoring arrangements, bimini/canopy set-up, placement of cleats and mooring equipment.
SY9's canopy keeps the main seating area protected up to 20 knots
It was important to the owner that the new boat be able to transport more guests comfortably, easily and safely. Capable of transporting 12 guests and two crew, the SY9 is powered by a V8 twin-turbo diesel Yanmar 8LV engine producing 390hp. Connected to a Yanmar ZT370 dual prop drive supplied by Barrus, the tender offers a top speed of 48 knots. The stepped hull design also aids in the smooth and responsive acceleration provided by the propulsion system and offers a safe ride when operating at higher speeds.
On top of superior performance and greater capacity, the SY9 has a single lifting point that allows for a simpler and quicker launch and recovery when compared with its older counterpart. A model of similar spec would you set you back around 350,000 euros.
“The owner loves the new boat, and so do the crew,” says Booth. “In fact, the last time the owner was on board, he jumped on to it (with a certified crew member) and drove it himself for about 150 miles, tearing off into the distance at full speed, or sitting behind Aurelia, surfing in the wake.”
Read the full article in Issue 10 of The Superyacht Owner.
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