Named after a member of 1970s pop sensation ABBA, Heesen’s latest yacht is nothing short of breathtaking. Umesh Patel spends a day on board Agnetha, a multimillion-pound vessel, to discover what life on a luxury superyacht really feels like…
I’m a little embarrassed to admit that some of my earliest memories of Agnetha – yes, the Agnetha Fältskog from Swedish band ABBA – go back to heated playground debates when I was about six. My friends and I would argue over the all-important question: “Blonde or brunette?” I’ve no idea which of the two lead singers was my favourite, and it hardly matters now, but I certainly never imagined that decades later I’d be standing on the deck of a superyacht named after the band’s golden-haired pop icon.
Superyachts have always been the ultimate symbols of wealth and status. They’re the toys of the ultra-rich – Bezos has one, Zuckerberg too, even the Beckhams. So when Heesen Yachts, the Dutch shipyard, invited me aboard Project YN20955, the eponymous Agnetha, I was thrilled. What’s it like to spend a day on a 55-metre yacht?
“Don’t forget your passport,” someone reminds me as I leave the hotel. In Monaco, that’s not as strange as it sounds; sail a few miles in any direction and you’re suddenly in another country with its own border controls.
We make our way to the port aboard Monaco One, a sleek, compact catamaran that slips out of Monte Carlo with barely a ripple. It looks like something straight out of a Marvel film, though our pilot isn’t dressed head-to-toe in Lycra or wearing a mask. We glide toward Cala del Forte on the Italian Riviera, where Agnetha awaits.
As the catamaran enters the marina, yachts line up one after another, each more imposing than the last – proof, if ever you needed it, that size really does matter.
But I’m curious. Among these beautiful floating palaces, I ask, “Which one is Agnetha?” Anita Amalberti, the dock manager, gestures toward a superyacht with tinted-glass decks gleaming at the marina’s mouth, where deckhands are adding the final touches. “There she is,” she says. My pulse quickens. This is going to be something special.
Up the gangway and aboard Agnetha – every chrome detail, polished as if awaiting a royal inspection. But first, yacht etiquette: shoes off, slippers on. Captain Mike Rouse and his crew greet us, joined by Silvia Margutti, the interior designer behind Agnetha’s calm, contemporary look.
Silvia leads us through the yacht as it sets sail. The engines purr quietly below, and the ride feels exceptionally smooth as we leave the harbour.
Inside, shades of seafoam green, dove grey and cream set a tranquil mood. Everything feels bespoke – from the sleek cabinets to the suede dining chairs that hug you the moment you sit down. Windows frame the shifting seascape beyond, becoming part of the décor itself.
We descend the golden-lit staircase, the leather-wrapped handrail a subtle touch that reflects the attention to detail seen throughout. Agnetha comfortably sleeps twelve across six beautifully decorated suites. A master suite occupies the main deck, four guest cabins sit below and a VIP suite on the bridge deck. The layout balances privacy with social spaces, making it ideal for families, friends or charter guests.
It’s elevenses, with sandwiches, sweet treats and, yes, Champagne, served by immaculately dressed stewards. We sit on the deck around a beautifully designed circular teak table with a marble centre. The deck flows naturally from the lounge and cocktail bar, which I’m looking forward to enjoying later.
By now we’re anchored off Èze, that beautiful stretch of the French coast, and there’s only one thing for it – shorts on, dive in. The water’s so warm it’s hard to believe it’s late September. And of course, this isn’t the sort of place where you simply swim. On a superyacht, you play with expensive toys.
The crew bring out a pair of Seabobs – sleek, jet-powered devices that let you skim and dive like a human dolphin. Switch to sport mode and hold on for dear life. It’s like driving a Ferrari that happens to float.
Back on board and in need of a hot shower, one appears miraculously right on the swim platform, though modesty is advised. Or, if you prefer, take a soak in the jacuzzi on the sundeck, because really, what’s a multi-million-pound yacht without one?
Drying off under the Mediterranean sun, it suddenly makes sense why people fall for yachts. It’s not just the luxury – though that helps – it’s the tranquillity. Out here, the world slips away. Deadlines, emails, messages – all seem irrelevant.
Barefoot on the warm teak floor, I stare out at the sea that stretches forever… There’s a stillness here you only find when completely surrounded by water. Then, somewhere on the deck above, a Champagne cork pops. Lunch is ready.
As we finish the last spoonfuls of dessert, the engines hum to life and Agnetha begins her graceful journey back to Italy. Behind us, the hilltop of Èze fades into the distance, the yacht leaving a trail of frothy foam in her wake.
Once we return to the marina, Captain Rouse has to bring her into her berth. Think reverse-parking your Range Rover in a tight Waitrose car park is tricky – now imagine a 55-metre yacht in a crosswind. Deckhands are posted at bow, stern, port and starboard, walkie-talkies in hand, while he moves between controls, checking the hull as he goes. Calm, deliberate, composed – it’s like watching a performance of Giselle at Covent Garden, every movement executed to perfection.
Stepping back onto the dock, I feel unexpectedly wistful. You don’t want to leave her. It’s like saying goodbye to someone at the end of a holiday romance – you know it can’t last, but part of you wishes it could.
To make this nautical love affair endure, you’d need €75 million – yes, Money, Money, Money. Not that it matters; she was sold at the recent Monaco Yacht Show. Her sister ship, Frida, however, is already under construction and due for delivery in December 2025. Trying to compare superyachts Agnetha and Frida feels like déjà vu.
Mamma Mia! Here we go again…
Heesen Yachts has been building yachts in Oss, the Netherlands, since the company was founded by Frans Heesen in 1978. They specialise in 50 to 60-metre yachts, with bespoke projects extending up to 80 metres, built in steel or aluminium.
For more information on Agnetha and Heesen Yachts, please visit www.heesenyachts.com.
