US Aviation Millionaire’s Fresh European Superyacht Is $45M Worth of Pure Luxury

It sounds like a blissful fantasy, but some folks get their brand-new custom "boats" worth tens of millions in just a few weeks, ready for the most lavish vacations on the water. When you're a millionaire, a serial yacht owner, and a shrewd businessman, it's easy to make something like this happen.

Robert Book, who built his fortune as Chair of Jet Support Services, got his first Heesen superyacht in 2017. The 46.7-meter (153 feet) Book Ends was built on speculation and sold just a few weeks prior to completion. At the time, Bob Book was visiting European shipyards in search of an already-built yacht. He was impressed with Heesen's project, and he told the team he wanted it ready by the middle of June when he was going to meet a friend in Monte Carlo.

In other words, the yacht's delivery journey was an extensive trip all the way from the Netherlands to Monte Carlo, covering 2,500 nautical miles (4,630 km). But the challenge was an easy task for Heesen – Book Ends was delivered on time, to the set location, in perfect condition.

That was the first Book Ends, which would be followed a few years later by the bigger version with the same name. The 2022 50-foot (164 feet) Book Ends was a confirmation of Bob Brook's fruitful collaboration with Heesen. We often see serial yacht owners go from smaller to bigger pleasure craft christened with the same name.

The first Book Ends meant a life-changing experience for the millionaire businessman and his wife, both originally from New York. It was their first Dutch superyacht and the beginning of their Mediterranean cruising adventure. Prior to that, Book had stuck to mostly American-built and Italian boats and to cruising along the US coastline.

With his first Book Ends, the US yacht owner was ready to make a big change. He understood that only top European shipyards could build the right superyachts for cruising the Med. The 2017 Book Ends was a 47-meter steel-hulled displacement yacht. Heesen's in-house architects and engineers were known for delivering exceptional performance and doing it on time.

Bob Books had only one complaint, later stating that Dutch shipyards aren't as good with post-acquisition support as the ones in America. The couple also made quite a few changes to the yacht's style, removing a lot of things and adding TVs on the outside decks. According to Books, even onboard a fancy superyacht, American guests still want to watch sports while enjoying the outdoors.

A true businessman, Books never kept a pleasure craft for more than two years simply because it would lose value. By sticking to this principle, superyacht ownership was always a winning affair for him, instead of a money drainer. Before the 2017 Heesen, the couple had owned 17 vessels. This also explains why they parted with it so soon, moving on to the 2022 version.

Unlike the original, the new Book Ends is an aluminum semi-displacement yacht. Developed by the same team of architects as part of the Satori Class, this fast-cruising yacht combines exceptional performance with flawless luxury, all wrapped in a purely contemporary design.

The low-drag hull design combined with a reduced transom depth brought two main advantages. The vessel gained more than 10% in efficiency, while its draft of barely over two meters (6.5 feet) enabled it to reach further, exploring shallow waters.

New-generation engines complement this optimized design. Defined by Heesen as "green oceanic," the twin MTU engines include selective catalytic reduction (SCR) units that cut NOx emissions. Complying with the IMO (International Maritime Organization) 's Tier 3 standards, they're also powerful enough to propel Book Ends at an impressive 23 knots (42.5 kph). At half the speed, this fast beast can also promise a remarkable range of more than 4,000 nautical miles (7,400 km).

The younger Book Ends looks sleeker and sportier than the first one. The seamless result is actually born out of Heesen's ten-year program dedicated to design development. Omega Architects and Van Oossannen Naval Architects are acclaimed as industry leaders, and Book Ends is another one of their masterpieces.

While the exterior reflects the rigorous performance of Dutch craftsmanship, the interior adds a touch of Italian sophistication. Cristiano Gatto created a relaxing, informal, yet subtly luxurious atmosphere onboard Book Ends. One tip from the yacht's millionaire owner is to always keep the interiors neutral so that the yacht will be easy to sell later on. The new Heesen follows this principle, using only a few pieces of modern art to add color and vibrancy.

Book End's most intriguing feature is the highly adaptable beach club. Primarily a spacious lounge area during the day, it can also double as a welcoming gym at sea level for memorable workouts in the morning. At night, this versatile platform shifts once again, becoming a fabulous party area.

The 2022 Heesen was also designed to be comfortable enough for all of Book's friends and family members, who fell in love with Med-cruising after his first six-week vacation in these waters onboard the first Book Ends.

The main deck classically houses the master suite with a marble-covered bathroom, a separate office, and an oversized walk-in wardrobe. The lower deck houses all the guest cabins. All in all, up to 12 people can vacation onboard, accompanied by a nine-person crew (including the captain).

Just as lavish as the beach club, the yacht's sun deck is another peaceful oasis boasting a huge jacuzzi aft, flanked by sun pads. The forward area comes with plush lounge seating, while the center section with a protective hardtop provides the best spot for dining in the open air and enjoying drinks at the bar.

Last but not least, the expansive main salon reveals strikingly modern curved bulkheads that separate the lounging area from the dining area. This sophisticated room for formal dining is large enough for up to eight people, flaunting a huge round table and a massive chandelier. A modern elevator connects all the three decks.

Although practically new, the 2022 Book Ends is already up for grabs. Faithful to his business rules, the aviation mogul is ready to say goodbye to his latest supertoy. With its pedigree and low engine hours, the fabulous 164-footer won't have to wait long for a new owner despite the intimidating price. Book's second Book Ends is still fully worthy of more than $45 million. In the meantime, he's probably already searching for his third one.