TATOOSH - the view from the bridge

For the inside track on the largest new yacht to join the Burgess sales fleet, we spoke to Captain Richard Hielckert of the 92.4m TATOOSH during her refit in Germany.

Richard Hielckert has been one of the rotational captains on board TATOOSH for the past six years. We spoke to him as he joined the yacht in Germany where she is undergoing an extensive refit and her 20 year class survey. TATOOSH is available for purchase with Burgess asking EUR 90,000,000.

What was your path into yachting?

I captained cruise ships for 15 years. My first son was born and he sailed with us for the first two and a half years. When my second son was born I stopped cruise ships and tried to work from home but soon figured out that I need to work in a team environment. Out of the blue an ex colleague I hadn't seen for seven years called to say 'I'm in the area, can I come for a beer?' He worked in yachts and said 'If you ever feel like going back to sea again, let me know.' So yachting it became. I previously worked with Burgess actually, back in 2013-14. I worked with Alan Dale on the 70.1m Lurssen SAINT NICOLAS.

Which areas of the yacht are most popular with guests?

It really depends on the charter guests, so from cabin spaces, pool areas, the observation lounge with great views and a flip-down TV, the range of options inside and out for breakfast, lunch and dinner. We have done outside set-ups where the helipad was utilised as a sunbathing area and the swim platform with the dive area and jacuzzi behind it are always popular. The boat deck is a fantastic area to just relax either inside in the lounge or outside on deck, read some books or play music. The main deck aft lounge is always a great place to receive guests with welcome drinks and make them feel at home instantly.

Where has TATOOSH cruised in the past?

In my time it's mostly been the Caribbean and Mediterranean but we did visit Fernando de Noronha, a really special island off the Brazilian coast, not many people have been there. Then we went to Namibia and South Africa before heading back to the Caribbean.

Looking at the cruise folder, she's been all over the world. She's toured Africa, the Middle East, Indian Ocean, Far East, South East Asia, the Atlantic islands, the east and west coasts of the Americas. We were preparing a trip up the Amazon but unfortunately that never happened.

How capable is TATOOSH?

The way she is built, TATOOSH is capable of anything. We've sat at anchor in 60-plus knots of wind with no problems, she is a very seaworthy yacht, very stable. Everything is solidly built, German built. Everything is over spec instead of under spec and from my point of view that's a very comforting thing to know.

What else makes TATOOSH stand out in your opinion?

She is completely unique, a beautiful yacht, absolutely one of a kind. To me, if you don't recognise TATOOSH from a distance, you probably don't know yachting. She's absolutely timeless. There's still no other yacht out there like her.

The whole dive set up is particularly spacious compared to other yachts. Having a 12.4m sailing yacht, Julia, hanging on the side is a big part of what makes her distinctive. Julia's being serviced too and even today she is still a top of the range sail racing yacht. The other tender is a 12m Hinckley and whenever we are in Miami where Hinckley is big, people come out in their own Hinckleys to talk to us.

It's also the welcoming feel inside, she's a relaxing yacht. It sounds an odd thing to say about a 92.4m yacht but she feels cosy, very special, more like a huge house than the marble and gold you see on a lot of other yachts.