Galactica Star

• LOA: 65 m
• Delivered: 2013
• Naval architecture: Van Oossanen FDHF, first full application
• Exterior: Omega Architects
• Interior: Bannenberg and Rowell
• Accommodation: 12 guests, 13 crew
• Top speed: 30 knots on trials
• Award: World Superyacht Award 2014

The yacht that opened a decade

When Heesen delivered Galactica Star in May 2013, it did more than launch a 65 metre flagship. Known in build as Project Omnia, she was the first full application of the Fast Displacement Hull Form developed with Van Oossanen. The hull promised the seakeeping of a displacement boat with the pace of something far racier, and the sea trials made good on it. She went on to win at the World Superyacht Awards in 2014. That recognition confirmed what the sea trials had already shown.

For Heesen the boat was a proof of concept that reshaped the entire range. Almost every yacht the yard has drawn since traces its efficiency back to this hull. For her owner she was a genuinely fast 65 metre with the manners of a much calmer boat. A decade on, she is still a reference point in any conversation about fast superyachts. Her influence on the modern Heesen range is hard to overstate.

Frank Laupman's fast lines

Frank Laupman of Omega Architects drew an exterior that looks quick standing still. The profile is long and lean, with a plumb bow and taut superstructure that suit the hull beneath. Over 267 square metres of deck spread across her three upper levels, so guests are never short of space in the sun or the shade. The styling has aged with unusual grace for a boat of its era. Frank Laupman gave her proportions that still look current today.

The clever touches are structural as much as cosmetic. A foredeck helipad doubles as a sun terrace, set over gull-wing doors that open to reveal a full-beam tender garage. Aft, a duplex beach club unfolds across the main and lower decks to bring guests down to the waterline. These were bold moves in 2013 and they still impress on board today. The result is a yacht that brings guests close to the water at every opportunity.

The first Heesen to carry the Fast Displacement hull, and still a benchmark.

Bannenberg and Rowell's free hand

Inside, Bannenberg and Rowell were given room to invent. Creative director Simon Rowell described a taut, disciplined design language that flows from space to space without a fixed theme. The result feels coherent and current, a single idea carried through the whole boat. It reads as calm, considered confidence. The materials feel restrained and expensive throughout. Guests sense the quality before they can name it.

The layout hosts 12 guests, with a full-beam owner's stateroom, an upper-deck VIP and four further double suites. A crew of 13 keeps the service seamless across her decks. Volumes are generous and the flow between social spaces is easy. This is an interior built for entertaining on a serious scale. Long stays aboard feel effortless thanks to the easy flow between spaces.

Thirty knots, honestly earned

The engineering headline is simple. Galactica Star reached 30 knots on trials against a contracted 27, and she does it while burning around 30 per cent less fuel than a conventional round-bilged hull of her size. That combination was close to unheard of at 65 metres in 2013. The Fast Displacement Hull Form was the reason, and this boat was its first full expression. That first success reshaped every Heesen that followed. The engineering has proved itself over a decade of service.

What that means for an owner is reach and pace without a punitive fuel bill. She can chase good weather or a dinner reservation at speed, then settle into an efficient passage the next morning. The efficiency also extends her range at cruising speeds. Few boats have matched the blend of performance and economy she introduced. That balance is what made her such a persuasive flagship in her day.

The owner it suits

Galactica Star suits the owner who wants a piece of yachting history with the performance to back the story. She is a fast, striking 65 metre with the deck space and beach club to entertain a full complement of guests. Her provenance as the first FDHF Heesen adds a layer few rivals can claim. For a buyer who values both speed and pedigree, she is a rare object. Her place in the yard's history is secure.

She also rewards an owner who cruises actively and dislikes waiting. The pace lets her cover ground that slower flagships treat as a delivery. The award-winning design and duplex beach club keep life on board memorable at anchor. She still turns heads in any harbour she visits. She is a yacht for an owner who likes to arrive quickly and in style.

Who it is for: The owner who wants a landmark fast 65 metre with award-winning design, a duplex beach club and true 30 knot pace.