Heitaros: World’s coolest yachts

Yachting World has been asking top sailors and marine industry gurus to choose the coolest and most innovative yachts of our times, and offshore legend Mike Golding nominated the superyacht Heitaros. Here’s the report:

I first saw Heitaros sailing in St Barth and thought it was a beautiful 60- or 80-footer but, as we neared, a crew looking as small as ants could be seen moving around the deck. This huge 60m (218ft) superyacht ketch is heavily disguised with perfect proportions that completely fool the eye.

Conceived by Dykstra Naval Architects, built at Baltic Yachts in Finland and launched in 2011. She’s a Panamax yacht, designed to fit the maximum air draught to get under the Bridge of the Americas on the Panama Canal.

Heitaros is a wonderful fusion of traditional looks and state of the art hull design and construction. Superyachts are seldom cool, in my view, but Heitaros is an exception.

I’m full of admiration for owners willing to engage in projects of this scale: the yacht is a technical masterpiece that has retained the elusive character of a true classic.

For Yachting World’s list of cool boats, click here.