A wild foam party on the top deck, sportfishing from the stern, a DJ party in the salon, a games tournament in the media room. The list goes on. Each space of the soon-to-be-delivered, 197-foot Ultra G is designed for maximum enjoyment but defies the usual stereotypes of what a conventional superyacht should look or act like.
The new Heesen, which Robb Report toured last summer, isn’t all about novelties. Its propulsion system is unusually powerful: The 22,000 hp MTU diesels connected to oversized four water jets deliver a top speed of 37 knots. Greased lightning for a yacht that size. Ultra G has “the most horsepower of any Heesen ever,” says the captain, who asked not to be named. But then he proceeds with a more debatable claim: “This is the best Heesen ever made.”
The yacht’s interior is more superyacht than sportfish.
Heesen Yachts
Ultra G went into construction several years ago as Project Skyfall. The yacht is recognizable on the water with its bold, Omega Architects–designed exterior, accentuated with black and red lines. And while it’s suitably sporty, don’t call it a sports yacht. And though it’s packed full of fishing technology—a rare trait for a superyacht—it’s not a sportfishing vessel. Heesen calls it a “sportsfisherman in yacht disguise.”
On the aft section, designers have swapped an open beach club for a fishing platform. The space is equipped with numerous features to elevate the fishing experience—and protect the yacht. “We have rod holders everywhere and on the back deck is a flushing system,” says the captain. “There are also lockers to keep the fish on ice, freezers that flash-freeze fish down to the right temperature, and live wells for keeping the bait alive until we get to the fishing spot.”
To enhance the experience, the designers created an outdoor “Fisherman’s Lounge” in the cockpit, kitted out with comfy sofas and screens showing live feeds from underwater “fishfinder” cameras placed across the hull.
The outdoor “fishing lounge” has overhead rod holders, but also a television connected to underwater cameras to survey activity below the surface.
Heesen Yachts
The styling of Ultra G’s interiors comes from British design house Harrison Eidsgaard, which created an aesthetic that’s surprisingly contemporary and elegant in comparison to the masculine exterior. A base palette of grays, golds, and greens is complemented by layered lighting and natural wood finishes in rich caramel oak, which is the majority of the interior, along with limed-oak accents.
A charcoal-hued stone theme runs throughout with textured jura and veined pietra grigia limestone, which are both used generously. Textured linear wall coverings by Innovations add color and personality, while the custom furniture pieces are artworks in themselves. In the dining room, the table—in walnut with brass inlays—is a piece of art by Alex Hull, while the headboard in the bedroom is a custom abstract art piece in plaster by DKT. Even the day head has been given an artistic touch, with an accent wall featuring a custom scooped panel by Dmitri Livenstov.
The heart of the interior is the open-plan main salon. The space is wide and filled with light, thanks to the panoramic windows and sliding doors that create a connection to the outside. The lounge is fitted with bespoke features that you’d be hard pressed to find on any other sportfishing yacht, including custom temperature-controlled wine fridges, DJ decks, and a top-tier sound system that is ideal for parties.
In the dining area, the wine cellar.
Heesen Yachts
Speaking of which, a noteworthy architectural highlight can be found on the deck above, where a staircase winds through a glass-topped atrium to the upper deck lounge to the ultimate party pad with DJ decks, powerful CAT speakers, disco lights, and even a teak-friendly machine that sprays foam to get the party started. The glass top slides back at the press of a button, and closes again to protect the atrium from rain—or, in this case, foam.
Another interesting space is the full-beam media room, located just off the main salon. Its focal piece is a giant Samsung screen known as “The Wall.” As well as movie screenings, the device can be used for live viewing, gaming, and even watching the fishing outside.
“We put a camera on the bow so when you’re sitting here looking out on the horizon, you basically maintain a 180-degree view with what you see in the side windows and what’s in front of you on the screen,” the captain says. “It’s a lot of fun.”
The Atrium is another defining feature on this yacht of many faces.
Heesen Yachts
The room also has a poker table and various games consoles, including a PlayStation 5, karaoke system, Xbox, and several fish finder viewers. The setup allows guests to watch their favorite film while keeping one eye on where the yacht is sailing—and their fishing rods—all at the same time.
After a day of activities, the owner can retire to the full-beam owner’s suite. In the private hallway is a giant “whale’s tale” piece of art, a walk-in-wardrobe, a bathroom with standalone bath, and a giant bed with another huge television screen.
The cabin opens onto a private deck with a wraparound terrace that houses another unique element: a dog-relief area. Controlled through sensors and cameras, the patch of synthetic “grass” is automatically cleaned with sprinklers after a pet has done its business.
The patch of synthetic “dog grass” has sensors and a sprinkler that clean the mat after the dog is finished.
Heesen Yachts
To accommodate an additional eight guests, there are four guest cabins, including two doubles and two twins. The yacht also quarters to sleep 14 crew.
Ultra G, as the name suggests, is a yacht of extremes. As for being Heesen’s best yacht ever? We’ll let you decide.
Click here to see more images of Ultra G.
Ruben Griffioen