The proud owners of the first ILIAD 70 power catamaran, Ty Hermans and Georgina Heaven, invited Caroline Strainig on board to talk about their ILIAD, the culmination of a quest for the perfect yacht.
We all dream of it – the ultimate yacht, the one you’d build if you could afford it, incorporating just about everything you’ve ever imagined plus a few extras for good measure.
Well, Ty Hermans and partner Georgina Heaven have come pretty close to doing just that.
The couple bought the first 70-footer in the new range of luxury ILIAD power catamarans and because they were buying the signature yacht, their own wish-list has been incorporated in the design.
“We had been looking for quite a long time, so it was a spec list several pages long,” Ty recalls with a laugh.
Big and stunning
See the ILIAD 70 from a distance and the size and design immediately capture your eye, dwarfing everything else in the marina near her. Step aboard and you see close up just how spectacular the yacht really is.
The first aspect that hits you is the space. You have to keep reminding yourself this is a yacht, not a luxury house on the Riviera.
“Everyone talks about the stability of catamarans and that is certainly true,” Ty said. “But you just cannot go past them for space. If you look at this 70-footer, it has as much space as a 90-100-foot monohull, if not more!”
Layout and features
The main deck level, or mezzanine, is the equivalent of a palatial luxury apartment just in itself.
Aft is a large covered cockpit with seating and a hydraulic dive/tender platform with three transom lockers for fishing gear and surfboards. Siding doors disappear into the custom-built recess and open into the saloon, with a large U-shaped galley to port complete with Corian benchtops and a full-sized refrigerator, freezer and dishwasher.
Just forward of that is a raised internal pilothouse helm station with seating adjacent. In the centre and to starboard is a generous lounge area and forward of this a spacious and functional office.
Open-plan master’s suite
In the front is an open-plan master’s suite. Ty and Georgina suggested this as the ideal layout for a couple. In some other layout options this is another entertaining area instead.
It also has some of the best views in the yacht. “Waking up in the morning there is just spectacular with views 180-degrees forward over the bow and to the side,” Ty said. “Why wouldn’t you want that for yourself!”
The flybridge level has a second helm station, 10-seater lounge, sun beds and bar stools, plus a galley and wet bar. Aft is additional tender and jet-ski storage with a crane to make lifting on and off easy.
VIP guest cabins
Below aft are two VIP identical spacious suite with island beds, each with its own ensuite. Below forward to port is another double-bed cabin with ensuite and to starboard a bunkroom with three bunks and an ensuite.
The list of options and features is so extensive it would be impossible to include everything in a short article. Suffice to say, there is just about anything you could dream of, down to multiple ice-makers!
Everything looked beautifully designed and built which is not surprising, given the naval architect, Riccardo Bulgarelli, is renowned for the superyachts he has helped create.
Performance
The yacht was designed to be a long-distance cruiser with the ability to sprint when needed.
The ILIAD 70 cruises comfortably at 7.5-10 knots, with a top speed of 22 knots. Fuel capacity is 6,800, which will take you in excess of 2,500nm.
Ty and Georgina have found the inherent stability of a catamaran and bridge-deck height of 1.25 metres at half load makes for a comfortable ride offshore, with minimal slamming, yet another reason they are firm converts to all-things multihull.
Being a catamaran, there are two engines, which also makes the yacht super-manoeuvrable. “We’ve only used the bow-thrusters a couple of times in the nine months we have had it,” Georgina said.
Nothing comparable
One of the reasons the couple decided to buy a new overseas-built yacht when they wanted to swap from a Saba 50 sailing catamaran to a power catamaran was that they could not find a yacht that ticked all their boxes in Australia.
They also liked the fact the ILIAD brand was being developed in conjunction with the team at Multihull Solutions, which they had faith in after buying a yacht from them previously.
They say they cannot fault the support they have received, both during design, construction and after-sales service.
Enjoying the good life
Based in Brisbane, Ty and Georgina have already managed an extended cruise up to the Swain Group but long-term dream of cruising further afield, including the Med and maybe a world circumnavigation.
“The ILIAD 70 is built to be self-sufficient with heaps of redundancy; it could take you anywhere because it has got the fundamental things of an explorer boat,” Ty said.
And another aspect they both love about their ILIAD: “Even in the Mediterranean you could pull up anywhere, in any marina and not look out of place, even next to a 200-foot superyacht,” Ty said. “It really is an epic yacht.”
The only thing lacking in turning their dream into a complete reality is that they have yet to name their new boat.
“We’re still looking for that perfect name that really suits her,” Georgina said.