Roberto Bello, on the wings of passion

Roberto Bello is a nautical entrepreneur who has put his ideas into practice by building the Heron 56, a boat devoted to maximum efficiency, comfort and low fuel consumption

by Carla Pagani, photo by Andrea Muscatello

On the dock of Fiumicino, the last sun is shining on the water and the low houses. As it gets dark, the fishermen peek out shyly with their fishing rods shaking in the wind. On the pier the noise of the shrouds moving becomes audible. Roberto Bello looks out from the door of his shipyard to welcome us. Behind it is a large shed, a former carpenter’s workshop. This is the headquarters of Heron Yacht, the young nautical company that made itself known for a very innovative 56 – the Heron, precisely.

Unusual shapes, hydrodynamic efficiency, excellent navigation characteristics, low consumptions. The name already says it all: it has the speed and gracefulness of the heron flying over the water surface.

ROBERTO BELLO

 

Inside the shipyard, the ceilings are in a beautiful old-fashioned style with wooden beams in sight. Outside are the boats that Bello is restoring. He has been dedicated to refitting and storage for some years now, as well as to marketing four important brands (Cantieri Estensi, Cantieri di Sarnico, Tiara and Contender), with his company Co.Ge.Man,founded in 1992.

The Heron 56 was the beginning of his adventure as a builder in the world of boating. He welcomes us with a lively and vivid story: «I was born in Naples and grew up elsewhere, but then I returned to Naples out of love. It is a true training ground for life. I think today I could find myself anywhere and fit in without a hitch. The Vesuvius gives you an edge over everyone else».Bello made his debut in the boating industry in the years of the crisis. A brave choice. And smart, too.

«There was room for manoeuvring and experimentation. It all began when I saw a semi-finished boat in Peschiera in 2015. I bought the project, the semi-finished product, and the mould». In 2016, Bello took the model to Cannes. Many people stopped up to look: curious, interested people, colleagues, shipowners. «They gave me the necessary drive and convinced me that I should go ahead with the construction».
The debut was in Cannes in 2017.

Carefully studied ergonomics, indoor comfort and generous outdoor spaces. The design of the hull is by Massimo Picco, an architect known above all for his work in the sailing industry. But Bello added his personal touch, and together with Picco he created a unique and absolutely innovative product. «The most important thing is the line, more than speed. It’s not an aesthetic whim. It’s about functionality».

And the hull dictates the absolutely innovative line – truly one of a kind – without hydrodynamic support strakes, step or redan. With its vertical bow the boat gently cuts the waves.

The material employed in the construction is also what makes the difference on the Heron: Kevlar, a synthetic fibre invented in 1965 by a DuPont researcher which has also dressed amazing characters like Batman and Robocop. From science fiction to reality, with Heron Yacht. «Kevlar is a very elastic material». And at equal mass it is five times stronger than steel. «In fact, we’re moving an 18-meter boat with two engines that are usually used on a 13-14-meter». Try it to believe. 

Another strong point are the endless possibilities of customisation.«Our method is paradoxically like that of megayachts. Since we can produce only up to four units a year, we can devote enormous amounts of attention to the customer and build bespoke boats: once the hull, interior and deck have been made, we can transform them as we please».

Heron 38

 

But Bello is an entrepreneur with his feet on the ground and is convinced that on the market we must be humble and cautious. His father taught him this. He was «a great worker, even before he was a great entrepreneur. He taught me the value of relationships, the sense of limitation, respect, dialogue. I know I still have a lot to learn and experience in this industry. I like to listen and learn. I don’t have a closed attitude towards my competitors. In my opinion, sharing is the most important value».

When we ask him what his plans for the future are, Roberto Bello smiles radiantly. «We are working on the Heron 38. We first wanted to try our hand at a larger boat, to assert the solidity of our choices and technical solutions, in terms of reliability, efficiency and comfort. And we wanted to make ourselves known».And then there’s the issue of hybrid vessels. «It’s an industry I’m very interested in and one that I would like to invest in over the next few years. With the Heron 56, we have already worked a great deal on reducing energy consumption, in view of achieving a lower environmental impact».

Heron, in short, is synonymous with discovery, research and innovation. So, let the exploration continue! Looking towards the future.

(Roberto Bello, on the wings of passion – Barchemagazine.com – Marzo 2019)