IN FOCUS
CONCEIVED IN 2004, the Amels Limited Edition range was realised in 2007 with the launch
of the fi rst 171 LE, Deniki. Based on a proven hull and technical platform, the Limited Editions
range set out to off er clients Amels’ renowned build quality coupled with a shortened delivery
time. To achieve its goal, Amels enlisted the help of some of the best-known designers in the
industry including Tim Heywood for the exterior – his association with Amels stretches back to
the 1980s while he was working for Jon Bannenberg – and Laura Sessa for the interior styling.
“Amels asked me if I would design an exterior around the GA they had developed,” Heywood
says. “I was able to create an exterior that really benefi tted from my experience on larger yachts,
and I tried to bring my signature trademarks
from the larger boats down to this scale. I’m
pleased to say it has been extremely successful.
We were originally aiming to build six in six
years – but they’re cutting metal on number 20
at the moment! It really has been remarkable,”
he adds.
As the original design for the 171 evolved
into the 177 and then the 180, so the range in
general grew in size, scope and ambition. Th e
family DNA is evident from the profi le lines
of each model, but all that changed when an
existing client requested something a little
diff erent. Th e result is the acclaimed 199 LE
named Event.
“Amels, the owner and Imperial Yachts
share the same passion for detail,” enthuses
Julia Stewart, General Director of Imperial
Yachts, which acted as brokers, build
supervisors and on-going yacht managers for
Event. “We were involved to the maximum in
the creation of the vessel, and our technical