What defines a gentleman’s yacht? If you ask world-renowned yacht builder Heesen Yachts, it’s a combination of impressive performance, outstanding and innovative features, sophisticated styling, and more industry firsts than fingers on one hand.
Ultra G lives up to the hype, fortunately.
Heesen calls Ultra G a “thundering full custom motor yacht,” and that’s perhaps a more telling descriptor than the one assigned to it by trade publications.
Based on the patented Van Oossanen Fast Displacement Hull Form (FDHF) naval architecture, it’s a full custom model from the series of the same name. It comes with interiors curated by British design firm Harrison Eidsgaard, and while essentially a sportfishing yacht, it’s also essentially a gentleman’s yacht.
Ultra G lives at the intersection of a luxury superyacht and a fishing boat, drawing inspiration from Heesen’s sportfishing yachts from the ’90s, with an all-aluminum hull and superstructure and powerful engines that take it to impressive speeds.
Total length is 197 feet (60 meters), with accommodation for up to ten guests across four suites and a master suite that sits on its own private deck. Separate quarters are provided for a crew of 14. Being a full custom build, its layout was designed in close collaboration with the owner, and this is where things get… unconventional.
For instance, despite being a luxury superyacht, Ultra G doesn’t have a beach club. It has, instead, a super fancy fishing platform with storage space for 40 rods, ice lockers and freezers, live wells, and flushing systems. Also here is an outdoor Fisherman’s Lounge, offering a spot to chill and tell fishing tales on large sofas while watching the live feed from several underwater cameras.
The identity of the owner of Ultra G was never made public, but it is known that he is a billionaire passionate about sportfishing. Up until now, he’s been unsurprisingly secretive about the interiors of his recently-delivered superyacht, not that anyone can blame him for it. If he can afford annual maintenance, there’s no sense in putting Ultra G on the charter market.
Only a handful of press people were ever allowed onboard, which accounts for the scarcity of photos of the elegant interiors. SuperYacht Times was recently invited to do so, resulting in the breathtaking video tour available below. It shows glimpses of spectacular features that had already been detailed in the press, but it’s always nice to see more than renders – to put a face to them, if you will.
Ultra G comes with an “out of this world” cinema, whose highlight is Samsung’s The Wall All-in-One 146″ 4K screen. The Wall alone retails for some $572,000 and some change, as you probably know. This space, dubbed the media room, can work as either a private cinema or a gaming room (but there’s also a poker table and a karaoke machine here). Or it can stream video from the underwater cameras, should the same gents want to move the party into a different space.
Speaking of parties, there are several areas where proper partying can be done. The open-plan salon can host more formal soirees, including fine dining and wine tasting, being equipped with temperature-controlled wine fridges, a professional sound system, and a DJ deck. For when guests want to really let their hair down, there’s an upper deck lounge right next to the media room, equipped with DJ decks, speakers, foam- and smoke machines, and disco lights.
Another innovative feature, which Heesen describes as an industry-first, is the pet-friendly “relief area.” It’s a patch of artificial grass on one of the wraparound terraces, where guests can walk the pooch without worrying about making a mess or, for that matter, cleaning up. The area is rigged with sensors hooked up to sprinklers, so as soon as the pooch goes, it self-cleans.
More conventional features are also present: formal dining areas, alfresco dining, and socializing, a conversation lounge, a wellness area with everything from a sauna to a steam room and a snow room, a pool, a jacuzzi, and plenty of tanning spaces. They’re all elegant, too, perhaps in a way that’s a bit too masculine, but beautiful nonetheless.
Ultra G is not just Heesen‘s best yacht; it’s also the yard’s fastest. Power comes from 22,000 hp MTU diesel engines that take it to a top speed of 37 knots (42.5 mph/68.5 kph) while still offering the smoothest, most enjoyable experience for those onboard.
Launched one year ago, Ultra G underwent sea trials and was delivered to the owner in late 2023. Today, it is one of the most beautiful and fastest superyachts in its size category, but also among the most secretive. So duly enjoy this rare look inside!