Frans Heesen was in his 30s when he bought Striker Boats in the Dutch city of Oss. The year was 1978, and Heesen’s background wasn’t in shipbuilding. He came from high-tech plastics, and oh, did he have ideas.
For the next decade, Heesen worked to establish his brand, and then, in 1988, everything changed. That’s the year Heesen Yachts launched Octopussy, a 143-footer built for John Staluppi that topped out at just over 53 knots. It was the fastest yacht in the world.
Staluppi, in the documentary film “Octopussy: The Yacht That Could Not Be Built,” says Heesen accomplished what no other shipyard could, or would, do for him. Staluppi had built an empire of car dealerships, and while he says he knew he could never own the largest yacht in the world, he wanted the fastest one. To get that title, he’d need a yacht that went faster than the one owned by the King of Spain.
Many people thought the whole concept was crazy. A speed of 30 knots, let alone 50 knots, was big news at the yacht marinas back then. But designer Frank Mulder told Staluppi it could be done, and Staluppi connected with Heesen.
Whispers raced around the industry, suggesting the project could cost Heesen everything—because Staluppi put a penalty clause in the contract. If the yacht failed to hit 50 knots, then Heesen would have to pay $100,000 for every knot it fell short. If the yacht did not break 48 knots, then Staluppi could get his money back.
Heesen’s own team at the shipyard told him he was nuts to make that kind of a deal, but the founder insisted that they should have faith.
The rest is history’s wake. Heesen became known around the world as a builder of fast luxury yachts and then branched out into other designs. In 1992, the yard moved into steel-hull displacement motoryachts for long-distance cruising. In 1996, the 125-foot sport-fisher Obsessions launched, setting yet another standard. By 2008, the shipyard was expanding to add capacity, giving its team the ability to turn out eight yachts each year.
In 2013, the first Heesen fast displacement yacht, the 213-foot Galactica Star, hit the water. In 2018, the 262-foot Project Cosmos launched as the fastest full-aluminum yacht in its class, with a top hop of 30 knots. Today, Heesen Yachts often starts boats on spec and then welcomes owners to join the build process to allow real customization of the interiors, dramatically reducing delivery times for what end up feeling, in many ways, like fully bespoke yachts.
Read More: Updates and Recent Launches from Heesen Yachts
Throughout it all, the founder took calculated risks and helped to change the way the entire yachting industry thought about what superyachts could be.
“Frans Heesen embodied the spirit of Dutch courage, taking bold and sometimes audacious steps that defined the shipyard’s future,” the yard’s team wrote after he died. “His brave decision to embark on the challenge of building the groundbreaking yacht Octopussy is a testament to his visionary approach. Despite the immense risks involved, including the potential for the shipyard’s demise, Frans’ unyielding faith and determination not only ensured Octopussy was a triumph, but also propelled Heesen to global acclaim.”
The Yachting team adds its condolences. As the shipyard said: “His presence will be profoundly missed, but his spirit and vision will forever remain a guiding force at Heesen Yachts.”
