The recently launched 65m (213ft) Galacitca Star by Heesen Yachts has just completed her extensive and vigorous sea trials in the North Sea. To everyone's delight she exceeded her top speed of 27kts demanded by contract by almost 2kts reaching a speed of 28.8kts.
She left the Heesen yard on the 11th May and straight away put 150km under her belt, at an average speed of 10 knots, on the Maas river to Rotterdam harbour. On the way she passed under nine bridges, some of them with a very small clearance such as Keizersveerbrug where the gap between the top of her superstructure and the bridge was an extremely small 40cm, not one to be watched by the faint hearted. Then on Monday 13th the mast with all the navigation and communication equipment, which was transported by barge, was installed.
Her FDHF (fast displacement hull form) was jointly developed by Heesen and Van Oossanen Naval Architects and at high speeds has a much smaller stern wave than you traditional semi displacement hulls, thus creating a smoother ride for her 12 guests.
Some of her most interesting features include a duplex beach club thats split between the main and lower decks at the stern, a 10sqm balcony that leads off from the beach club and a 22m glass bottomed swimming pool on the main deck. On the lower deck of the beach club you will be able to find a sauna, hammam, shower room and a fully equipped bar that is encapsulated by the glimmering light from the glass bottomed swimming pool above.
Galactica Stars deliver is scheduled for the end of June 2013, so watch out for this beauty at a marina near you during the summer.
