Heesen Yachts, the Dutch builder based in Oss, has built an international reputation for custom aluminium motor yachts that combine high speed with the volume and fitout quality of the finest semi-custom builds. In St Lucia, a Heesen charter brings Dutch engineering and the pace for which the yard is known to one of the Caribbean most extraordinary island destinations: the island of the Pitons, the enclosed anchorage of Marigot Bay and the calm of Rodney Bay.
Heesen yachts in charter typically run from approximately 35 to 60 metres in aluminium, with a design philosophy that prioritises speed, efficiency and volume for the overall length of the vessel. The yard builds to a semi-custom brief, with each owner selecting from a set of proven hull forms and specifying interior and deck layout to their individual requirements. Interiors are designed by respected European studios and finished to the standard the Dutch building tradition demands.
Weekly charter rates for a Heesen in St Lucia run from approximately 130,000 to 350,000 euros. The advance provisioning allowance of around 30 percent covers fuel, Rodney Bay Marina or anchorage fees, provisions from the island and crew gratuities. Peak Caribbean season runs from December through April.
St Lucia suits a Heesen charter well. The speed for which these yachts are known becomes genuinely useful when the itinerary covers Rodney Bay, Marigot Bay and the Pitons anchorage in a single week: there is always time for one more stop.
