The boat was originally launched and christened ‘L’Aquasition’ in 1990, but has now been upgraded to a virtually new custom project built to its new US owners’ specifications, and has been rechristened ‘At Last’.
‘At Last’ now displays a different profile, due to Derecktor’s major reconstruction of her wheelhouse, which required cutting away the yacht’s formerly raked aluminum superstructure, raising the roof and installing vertical windows. The result is a command center that offers the captain a vastly improved view of the waters around the boat, as well as a comfortable observation space for the owners.
Designer Claudette Bonville of Claudette Bonville & Associates consulted on the interior refit of ‘At Last’, which required gutting large portions of the yacht and taking them back to the aluminum framing. Bonville’s classic interior design for the yacht replaced the white lacquered walls from the ‘Lady Joy’ era with warm anigré woodwork, with maple and walnut accents.
The space planning was reworked to provide a more fluid traffic pattern for the owners, guests and crew. Originally, the entry to the main-deck master stateroom led directly off the dining salon. Derecktor Florida’s craftsmen built an entirely new side corridor for the suite and consolidated the former his-and-her baths into a unified master bath.
Another major renovation required disguising the stainless steel support beams for the yacht’s central spiral staircase with ‘faux bois’ columns and replacing its adjoining semicircular skylights with solid metal flooring. The Heesen’s skylounge lacked a day head; an innovative half bath was created in the space formerly occupied by the upper skylight.
On the lower deck, the yacht’s fitness room was gutted and transformed into a VIP stateroom with king berth. Her three other staterooms received a total refurbishment, and a Pullman berth was added to increase her capacity to sleep 11 guests.
The systems, instruments and equipment on board ‘At Last’ are all upgraded. It now features a Media Center entertainment system, NightWatch ship’s monitoring system, and Atlas universal shore power converter.
The KaMeWa water jet drivers were refurbished and her main engines replaced with twin MTU 12V 4,000 diesels. Top speed is now 18 to 20 knots and cruise speed is 16 knots, making it possible to visit more destinations within a week’s itinerary. The yacht’s shallow draft, which is only five feet seven inches due to the water-jet installation, also makes more destinations accessible.
The newly refit ‘At Last’ will be on display at the Hilton Fort Lauderdale Marina location at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show, to be held from October 29-November 2, 2009.
