Heesen — man and company — built their reputation by being unafraid to try something a little different. Different never meant reckless, however, as the advances were always backed by solid engineering and planning, and then executed with skill and precision. First, it was building yachts that were faster than others, including a number that set records for their speed, all without sacrificing comfort or seaworthiness. The  innovations continue today, and there is no reason to expect them to stop any time soon (see “The Wizard of Wings” on page 33 of our December 2012 issue).