Luxury Catamaran

GUNBOAT 66 "PHAEDO" IN THE 2011 ROLEX FASTNET RACE

2012-01-27T14:42:00.001+01:00

SOME NEWS OF THE GUNBOAT 66 "PHAEDO" IN SAIL MAGAZINE

2012-01-27T14:28:00.000+01:00

Phaedo after the ARC: Shifting into Cruising Mode

By Charles J. Doane • Posted: Jan 10, 2012 Wandering the docks at Rodney Bay Marina in St. Lucia in December as the last of the 2011 ARC fleet came trickling in, I was mostly interested in talking to folks on American-flagged boats. The Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (to cite its formal name), which starts each November in the Canary Islands, is very much a European event and the Americans who run it are often a bit out of the ordinary. Without doubt, the least ordinary American boat in this last edition of the rally was the Gunboat 66 Phaedo.

Read the complete article.

WALLY POWER CAT BY JOHN BADALAMENTI

2012-01-27T14:12:00.003+01:00

This designed was received by Tuvie as a result of their "submit a design" feature where the website welcomes their readers to submit their design/concept for publication.

The main interest in this luxury catamaran is that it is made of 3 body parts allowing the two hulls to move independently and thus to stay flat in fast curves. It was designed by John Badalamenti a student at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena.

OUR PARTNER WINDWARD ISLANDS CORPORATE MOVIE IS ONLINE

2012-01-25T16:43:00.001+01:00

Sunreef Yachts Launches Its First Yacht of 2012, the Sunreef 70 POMAIKA’I

2012-01-25T12:18:00.001+01:00

Sunreef Yachts is delighted to announce its latest launch, the Sunreef 70 POMAIKA’I, which means “Blessed, good fortune” in Hawaiian.

This is the eight unit of this yacht model, the most successful of the past year. Two more units are currently awaiting construction.

POMAIKA’I is a stunning owner-version yacht with the port side hull housing just the spacious master cabin comprising a queen-size bed, desk, sofa, extended storage, and a superb bathroom with a full-size bathtub with a Jacuzzi option and his and hers sinks.

The starboard hull houses two double guest cabins and one crew cabin accessible from the cockpit. The saloon comprises a dining area for 8 and a fully equipped galley. The navcom equipment is by Furuno and audio-video by Harman-Kardon. The modern interior design combines light anegre wood with wenge and dark grey upholstery.

The yacht will soon depart for the Caribbean where her owners will sail for a couple of months, after which she will head to Hawaii.

WHAT IS A GUNBOAT ? BEAUTIFUL VIDEO

2012-01-24T17:02:00.000+01:00

FIRE AT SUNREEF SHIPYARD - REACTIVATION

2012-01-21T14:52:00.000+01:00

After a fire in one of the production halls at the Sunreef Yachts shipyard in the evening on 19 January 2012, the company has already started rebuilding lost units.
Some yachts under construction have been destroyed but the key moulds have been saved which together with the determination and increased commitment of all the workers will help minimise delays in the construction process.

The shipyard has already begun adapting another production hall and moved the moulds to the new site. The production will be recommenced on Monday, 23 January. Francis Lapp, President of Sunreef Yachts, assures that all their employees will have a lot of work within the next few days. “We will even need to increase our production capacity to rebuild the lost units and start works for the recently signed contracts”. The shipyard will maintain all their previous contracts. The delay in delivery due to this unfortunate force majeure will not exceed 3 months.

“After so many tokens of support from our Clients, yacht owners, suppliers and many other friends of the Sunreef Yachts shipyard, we are highly motivated to action”, ensures Francis Lapp.

The shipyard continues its development strategy and will exhibit as always at all major boat shows and organise its prestigious events as usual. New Sunreef Yachts models will be shown at the 2012 Cannes International Boat Show according to plan.

VISIT OF THE LAGOON FACTORY IN BORDEAUX

2012-01-09T14:54:00.003+01:00

Finally, Lagoon made it possible to embed video from You Tube so here is a presentation of the large Lagoons factory in Bordeaux. Enjoy :)

SUNREEF SIGNS CONTRACT FOR A NEW COMPOSITE PERFOMANCE SUPERYACHT, SUNREEF 80

2012-01-09T14:33:00.003+01:00

Following two superyacht launches in 2010, Sunreef Yachts continues moving forward in the field of large yacht design.

In early 2011, the shipyard received an order for an 82 feet Double Decker, and the company is now delighted to announce a new sale of a similarly sized 80 feet LOA yet dramatically different concept based on light displacement, performance and speed.

Commissioned by a European owner, the Sunreef 80 will be made of an advanced composite sandwich combining vinylester, PVC foam and carbon/glass fibre, with a carbon mast and boom, standing rigging by Kevlar and total sail area of 340 m2, weighing just 45T lightship and 60T fully loaded. The sleek and sporty exterior line was designed carefully to reduce windage and water resistance.

The yacht is designed to comfortably accommodate 9 guests and 4 crew. For the very first time on a Sunreef single deck catamaran, the owner suite will be located on the main deck. As is the case for all Sunreef catamarans, the cockpit and flybridge will feature dining areas, sunbathing pads and extended storage.

The mould is currently under construction, and the yacht is due to be launched in March 2013. The Sunreef 80 will begin the new composite superyacht series intended for owners who wish to enjoy fast sailing adventures without giving up on comfort and fully customized interiors.

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2012

2012-01-04T14:42:00.001+01:00

I wish all of you a happy new year for 2012 with many many more news to come on the luxury catamaran blog.

WATCH THE LAGOON 620 VIDEO

2011-12-21T16:36:00.003+01:00

Lagoon has just launched a web site specially dedicated to video's of the range and the owner's meeting. On this website you can see the video of the Lagoon 620.

MISHA MERZLIAKOV 52 METERS LUXURY CATAMARAN

2011-12-21T15:58:00.004+01:00

Seen on Superyachtimes.com this amazing 52 meters luxury catamaran designed by young designer of the year finalist Misha Merzliakov. You can read the full article here.

GUNBOAT 78 IN BUILT

2011-12-07T15:32:00.000+01:00

FIRST PICTURE OF THE PROUT P 77 SAILING CATAMARAN

2011-12-06T12:26:00.004+01:00

Thanks to Jacqueline Steinert from Prout for sending me the first pictures of the Prout P77 sailing catamaran.

GUNBOAT 66 LAGUZ

2011-12-05T15:29:00.001+01:00

THE LAUNCHING OF DAMARAK II

2011-12-02T15:58:00.001+01:00

60 Sunreef Power – New Motor Yacht for 2012 from Sunreef Yachts

2011-12-02T13:03:00.004+01:00

The 60 Sunreef Power was made in response to the growing demand for compact yet highly impressive powerboats. This yacht has all the features of the popular 70 Sunreef Power, except its 27.8 ft / 8.5 m beam that makes it more convenient for crowded marinas, especially in the Mediterranean.

The first unit of the 60 Sunreef Power has been commissioned by a European owner, and will be laid out in a semi-owner version with two double cabins in the forward section, two double cabins in the starboard hull, and one double, one bunk-bed cabin in the port hull. All cabins have private bathrooms and abundant storage. The interior of the main deck will feature the galley and a dining area, while a mezzanine floor located in the midship will feature the internal helm station and lounge, providing access to the forward guest cabins and the flybridge. The spacious sun deck, Sunreef’s speciality and trademark, comprises the external helm station, wet bar, dining area and a huge sun pad, ideal for outdoor lounging in the sun. There is also an option to include a Jacuzzi on the flybridge.

The interior design is modern and minimalist, based on wenge and oak contrast, finished with cream and white upholstery and brushed stainless steel details.

The mould is already completed, with the hulls and wet deck made in-house, and the superstructure with flybridge engineered by the Dutch company Nedcam with Styropor / PU-paste system on a CNC milling machine. The hulls and wet deck have been infused with glass/vinyl ester/balsa sandwich using vacuum infusion technology. The next step will be the installation of bulkheads and the addition of the flybridge, scheduled for mid-December.

The first unit is due for launch in late May 2012.

Key features:

Construction: High Tech Composites

Range: 4000 nautical miles

Cruising speed: 20 knots

Top speed: 25 knots

Living area: 118 m²/ 387 square feet

Berths: 8-10

Delivery: 2012

Base price: 1 500 000 euro

Design: Sunreef Design Team

Various layouts available: galley up/down, owner, semi-owner, charter

Specification:

Length overall: 18.9 m/ 60 feet

Breadth overall: 8.5 m/ 27.89 feet

Lightship displacement: 30 T

Draught: 1.20 m/ 3.94 feet

Main engine range: 2 x 300HP to 2 x 800 HP (first unit features 2 x 800 HP MAN)

Fuel capacity: 2 x 3000 L /2 x 792 US Gal

Water capacity: 2 x 390L/ 2 x 103 US Gal

MULTIHULLS WORLD LAUNCHES ITS 150 ISSUE, HAPPY BIRTHDAY

2011-11-15T15:51:00.002+01:00

Mutihulls World was born some 26 years ago and launches this month its 150 issue including its 2O12 buyers guide.
You will find in this guide 4 pages dedicated to luxury catamarans which I wrote.
I want to thank the editor for renewing his trust once again.
To celebrate this event, Multihulls World has launched a special countest with 150 gifts to win between the 15 th of novembre and the 15 th of December.

Sunreef Yachts Introduces New Concept, The Sunreef 75, To The Ultimate Range

2011-11-07T14:01:00.006+01:00

In 2010 Sunreef Yachts has launched a new range of performing fast cruisers ranging from 70 to 170 feet. The shipyard is now introducing a new addition to this range - a sophisticated design for an ultra-modern, high-performance sailing catamaran, the Sunreef 75 Ultimate.

It is the proud successor to the Sunreef 80 Ultimate, which has provided the basis for further upgrades and improvements resulting in the creation of the 75 footer. Renowned for its innovative projects, Sunreef explores the worlds of sport, powerful emotions and adventure.

The Sunreef 75 Ultimate carbon fibre yacht has thin and sleek marine hulls with a reversed bow and integrated stepped hull chins, essential for the yacht's high performance. The superstructure will be shorter and more minimalist than onconventional leisure catamarans, which will add to the boat's lightweight and streamlined look. The flybridge is beautifully integrated in the superstructure and will be large enough to feature the main helm station and relaxation area. Both hulls will be covered with uncut teak and the forward section of the superstructure will be covered with glass panels, making the vessel luminous and providing the guests with breathtaking views.

The hulls and back section of the superstructure will be left pure white and thus create a trendy modern balance with black and white colours. An additional option for the hull are solar panels, providing the yacht with natural solar energy that can be connected to the water heating system. Two vertical retractable wind generators will also be installed on each hull. The mast will be moved back to the centre of the boat helping to achieve the optimal balance, thus creating the ultimate navigation comfort. The sail plan is calculated to reach top speeds of 20+ knots. As for the propulsion system, Sunreef's engineering office is currently working on hybrid and further electric propulsion for this and other units.
Internal space will depend on the Client's preferences, following Sunreef’s custom finish philosophy. Two options are available: leaving the saloon as an open, undivided space, or fitting it with the galley, dining area and lounge. In both scenarios, the owner suite will be located on the main level in the forward section.

SURVEY : WHAT SIZE OF CATAMARAN ARE YOU LOOKING FOR ,

2011-10-05T11:45:00.003+02:00

The pool I ran on the blog with the question "What size of catamaran are you looking for ?" is closed.

We've got 212 answers with the following dispach:

inferior 40 feet	13 (6%)
between 40 and 59 feet	79 (37%)
between 60 and 79 feet	68 (32%)
above	52 (24%)

Quite interesting results if you are looking to sponsor the blog.

SWIFT MULTIPLAST BUILT FOR SALE BY WINDWARD ISLAND

2011-09-30T09:48:00.006+02:00

Advertisement : "SWIFT" a fast racing catamaran customed to private use is for sale with Philippe Guillemin at Windward island.

Built by Multiplast in 2000 for the Race and Loik Peyron where she finished second.
In 2002 with Bruno Peyron she won the Jules Verne Trophy .
In 2003 she became Kingfisher with Dame Ellen McArthur.
Then in 2006 under the name Gitana 13 with Lionel Lemonchois she went on a record chase .
NY San Francisco in 43 days.Honk Kong London in 41 days.
She was purchased in 2010 and went to a refit for a Pacific cruise for a private very experienced Yachtsman.
The improvements as been done with the choice of high quality equipment with special care to keep the weight as close as possible of a round the world racing configuration

SUNREEF POWER 70 "DAMRAK II" MAIDEN CRUISE IN SCANDINAVIA

2011-09-28T11:53:00.009+02:00

DAMRAK II’s Maiden Voyage in Scandinavia. One week in heaven.

After her launch in Gdańsk, Poland in May 2011, the 70 Sunreef Power Damrak II has departed for her maiden voyage to Scandinavia with the owners Olivier and Katia, their 2 year old daughter Anna, and a couple of their friends, Marcus and Mia. They were accompanied by three crew members : Joc, Shaz and Stephanie. They wanted to explore the untouched beauty of Nordic landscapes before heading to the Mediterranean for the summer.

DEPARTURE FROM DENMARK

The boarding was planned from the dock in front of the splendid Admiral Hotel located in the centre of Copenhagen, occupying an ancient market place just by the Royal Palace.

“We arrived in Copenhagen the day before to visit the city with our friends, Marcus and Mia, who live in Gothenburg (Copenhagen’s neighbour city). We had dinner at a local restaurant where we had a chance to try smørrebrød, a kind of excellent Danish tapas,” recalls Olivier.

“We boarded the Damrak II the next morning. I was very proud to see the admiring smile on my friends’ faces when they watched the yacht approaching from the channel in front of the Royal Palace. They are boat owners themselves, so their appreciation meant a lot to me,” says Olivier.

Damrak II is the second 70 Sunreef Power yacht owned by Olivier and Katia. They sold their first Damrak last year and bought the new one introducing some minor modifications to make it even better for chartering. “The shipyard has kept to production deadlines perfectly, so we can enjoy our yacht right now before the summer charter season starts,” explains Olivier. They decided to follow the route from Poland to the Mediterranean to make the maiden voyage to Scandinavia. “We couldn’t do this trip with our first boat because the weather forecast in Norway was a disaster,” recalls Olivier. Luckily this time the weather was predicted to be fantastic, and the travellers were impatient to begin their adventure.

After just five minutes of cruising, the first disappointment! No, it’s not about the Damrak; it’s just that Olivier’s illusion was shattered when he saw that the Copenhagen mermaid statue was much smaller that he imagined. “She is so tiny that we could hardly see her from the Damrak, passing only 30 meters away from her,” laughs Olivier.

Finally they could head towards the channel separating Denmark and Sweden. The Damrak cruised between the sea of wind turbines and the huge, magnificent bridge linking both countries.

For about an hour they tested the Damrak to find the most efficient cruising speed. The choice of the new engines (2 x 800HP Mann instead of 2 x 455HP Cummins on Damrak I) was the right one. “On Damrak I, the cruising speed was 10 knots with fuel consumption 22l/h per engine (44l/l in total). On Damrak II, even with slightly heavier engines, we reach 11 knots at 1350rpm keeping the same fuel consumption. With the 16 000L of fuel that the Damrak can store we can get a range of 4000 nautical miles at 11 knots, which is truly impressive. If we reduce the speed to 8 knots, the fuel consumption drops to 6l/h per engine (12l/h in total), which means a range of 10 500 nm, enough to cross the Pacific without stopovers… which I wouldn’t do anyway given the number of beautiful anchorages in Polynesia,” says Olivier.

The first call of their trip was scheduled for Maarstrand in Sweden where they wanted to arrive before dinner. Covering over 150 miles in 7 hours wasn’t a problem for the Damrak. At 85% of engine power, at 2100rpm, the boat easily reaches 21 knots. “Which other yacht could give me an oceanic range and a maximum speed of 25 knots ? Apart from a megayacht, and still, I don’t even know any other option than a Sunreef cat,” insists Olivier.

ARRIVING IN SWEDEN

After a pleasant crossing, the Damrak arrived in Maarstrand for its very first Swedish call. Established on the rocky island and dating back to the Middle Ages, this little village is a tourist’s delight with its colourful wooden houses from la Belle Époque. The area’s granite rocky cliffs make it reminiscent of cruising in Brittany in France.

“It was very special to navigate the Damrak in this region where boats rarely exceed 40 feet in length. Navigation routes often include numerous straight channels only slightly larger than the Damrak. It felt strange passing all these typical Swedish houses and docks on the two islands so close to the Damrak,” says Olivier.

The next morning the Damrak left Maarstrand and its imposing fortress to arrive in Fiskebäckskil, a splendid picturesque village very popular among tourists, where Marcus and Mia own one a little red fisherman’s house.

As the marina is too small, the Damrak stayed out at anchor. Fiskebäckskil has a beautiful wooden church from the 18th century with colourful interiors and many hanging boat models. After a relaxing walk in the village, Olivier and his company decided to dine on the neighbouring island, Kärringön, at a traditional local restaurant called Petterssons. “Unless you check it on the map, you never know whether the land you see is a terra firma or an island. To be able to drive in this area you need to know all these complicated connections between bridges and ferries,” explains Olivier.

The next day the Damrak departed towards Smögen. To explore all the surrounding islands, the party embarked on Targa 44, Marcus and Mia’s boat, which allowed them to access the maze of channels and tiny islands.

Smögen is an island on Sweden’s west coast attracting many tourists thanks to its numerous leisure activities such as relaxing walks on the famous 600 m long pier with shops and bars serving delicious local cuisine, or resting on beautiful beaches perfect for swimming and sunbathing. All this is set in stunning, peaceful surroundings.

Smögen also has a renowned fish market where fishermen sell their fish straight from the sea. All the fish stands also sell delicious sandwiches or prawn salads. The prawns are already peeled and the salads are massive – a true bowl of freshness!

Back in Smögen, the party was getting ready for the big crossing awaiting them. They were about to depart to Stavanger in Norway. To do so, they needed to cross from Sweden towards western Norway for about 150 nautical miles and then to go along the Norwegian coast for a few hundred miles. To make sure they didn’t lose any precious moments of their tight schedule, they decided to do the trip by night at 20 knots. The anchor was up at 6 in the evening; the direction: westwards.

“The sea is very calm. That’s even better, we’ll have a quiet, pleasant night. After a delicious dinner made by Shaz, we decide to watch films in the saloon. With engines on full power, the noise is almost imperceptible and we have no problems talking and watching TV,” says Olivier.

He continues, “After the film we went to the flybridge to enjoy night cruising, which is always an unforgettable experience, especially in these conditions. It stays light very late. Will the sun never go down? Total darkness only lasts about three hours”.

WELCOME TO NORWAY

The Damrak arrived at 6 the next morning. “A quick look out of the window and I realized we have arrived at our destination, and the Damrak was cruising along Stavanger docks plunged in fog,” recalls Olivier. Dating back to Viking times, Stavanger is a very busy commercial port with a base for large cruise ships going north and many petrol companies. The city was chosen as the European Capital of Culture in 2008. It is situated by some of Norway’s most amazing fjords.

Leaving Stavanger behind, the Damrak explored long miles of famous Norwegian fjords before arriving at the beautiful Lysefjord. This stunning, 42 km long fjord meanders through 1 km high vertical rock faces. It’s one of the most picturesque sites in Norway, and comes recommended by National Geographic as one of the most beautiful places in the world. Lysefjord’s two main attractions are Preikestolen cliff and Kjerag mountain. Olivier, Katia and company enjoyed the hiking routes in the mountains among waterfalls, crystal clear streams and savage forests. It was a profound encounter with nature and a real delight for all of them.

Throughout the journey, Katia and Anna appreciated the stability and solid structure of the Damrak, a marvellous companion for exploration at all conditions in comfort and ease.

After her maiden voyage, the yacht left for southern Europe to start the Mediterranean charter season. But Olivier and his family are already longing for new yachting adventures...

To be continued.

HEMISPHERE AT THE MONACO BOAT SHOW

2011-09-26T14:14:00.003+02:00

Thanks to Philippe Guillemin from Windward Island for sending me those few pictures of "Hemisphere" docked at the Monaco Yacht Show.

CURVELLE HULLS COMPLETED

2011-09-26T12:27:00.010+02:00

From Curvelle Yachts Blog
Curvelle Yachts in collaboration with Istanbul based builder Logos Marine have completed the first hull of the new Curvelle quaranta. This is believed to be the largest carbon hybrid epoxy composite catamaran motor yacht in the world.

Curvelle quaranta carbon hybrid epoxy hull

The quaranta has been over four years in design development, resulting in a final product with many innovative design features and unique selling points. The yacht is being built on speculation with in-house funding. Delivery is scheduled for November 2012.
The quaranta is certified by RINA classification for commercial yachts with an unrestricted (ocean going) range and 3rd edition MCA, with a comfortable compliance for more crew space than required under these new crew accommodation demanding rules.

Due to two meters extra beam and four decks, the 33.70 x 9m power catamaran has the interior space equivalent to that of a 40m performance mono hull. The award winning design was a collaborative work, Lila Lou for interior and exterior styling, Incat Crowther as specialist catamaran naval architects. Luuk V. van Zanten, the main driver behind the project is the instigator behind some of the great practical ideas such as the flexible layout which allows the six double cabins to be converted to three suites, six twins or any combination of these.
Another unique feature is the limousine tender storage and launching facility from the main deck. This allows guests to board the tender on the main deck and be lowered into water. The lifting platform also serves as a beach and is ideal for less mobile guests to enjoy access to the water.

This performance motor yacht with a cruising speed of 23 knots and transatlantic range is offered for sale at a very competitive introductory price under ten million Euros. Whereas other mono hull yachts with similar volume, fit out and performance can cost just about double.

The Curvelle quaranta can accommodate twelve guests in complete luxury with separate quarters for six crew. All guest cabins are on the main deck and provide exceptional views through extra large windows that the catamaran platform allows.
This new Curvelle flagship is now in full production within a large hangar in Tuzla, Istanbul. The yard still has capacity for a second quaranta to be constructed alongside.

JFA LONG ISLAND 85 LUXURY CATAMARAN

2011-09-21T10:32:00.004+02:00

JFA has positioned itself in the semi-custom catamaran market.

The architect Marc Lombard and JFA Yachts have developed a new concept for long crossing catamarans. Catamaran, for semicustom construction. The first order was recently signed.. The office of Marc Lombard has put all of their 25 years of experience with cruising and racing catamarans into this new 85’. The firm is also responsible for the interior design. By her size and her freeboard, this catamaran is designed to sail far and in the greatest comfort. The hulls and the bottom of the nacelle will be made of aluminum while the deck and superstructures will be made of composite. The desired goal is to build a multi-hull with its weight adapted to its navigation program. This catamaran proposes an innovative interior for her size: one owners cabin with a panoramic view forward in the nacelle and direct access to the trampoline. The interior saloon offers a 360° view and is equipped with an inside helm station, living area and bar. In the starboard hull there is one guest cabin, a large office and the owners bathroom. In the port hull there is a second guest cabin, the galley and 2 crew cabins. As shown here in the 3D illustrations, the outside areas are vast. The technical installations are concentrated in the engine room. The yacht will be equipped with a large tender (15’8”). A choice of layout options will be available for the Long Island 85’.

Length over all: 26.25 m - Length water line: 25.07 m - Beam : 11.93 m - Draft: 2.5 m –
Sail area: 360 m ²- Displacement max: 70 T - Propulsion: 2x 380 Hp