ONBOARD Magazine summer 2021

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
Frans 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