16 new high-performance luxury multihulls

There’s been the odd singular crusing superyacht to this point, the likes of the 44m Pendennis-built Hemisphere and Perini Navi’s latest 46m floating artwork gallery ArtExplorer, whereas JFA has quietly gone about launching a handful of 85-110ft {custom} crusing catamarans.

However a brand new satisfaction of huge cats is coming. Final 12 months John Mountain launched his carbon bluewater sailboat Air Yacht 80 after failing to seek out his most well-liked mix of efficiency, house and superyacht high quality.

And it’s the efficiency aspect which has triggered this new pattern that we centre on in these pages. Yachting World readers could have seen an identical motion with monohulls of late, the place manufacturing yards have stepped as much as cater to a semi-custom demand within the 70-90ft sector.

We devoted these pages to them two years in the past, detailing the most recent launches from YYachts, Solaris, Grand Soleil, CNB, Ice and Swan. Now with an growing variety of sailors in search of that dimension, fashion and pace mixture on two hulls, it’s fuelled an actual surge of recent, massive (and largely quick) cats.

Gunboat can arguably be credited with igniting this efficiency cruising cat cult and we’ve been writing about and reviewing a mess 45-60ft quick cruising cats in YW lately. Now they’re rising in dimension, house and tempo. McConaghy, Steadiness, Kinetic, Superior Yachts, Black Pepper, Remedy Marine and HH are all producing or have just lately launched various ranges of efficiency cats across the 70ft area.

Usually, these contain carbon or E-GRP light-weight composite building, extremely tremendous bows, and highly effective rigs with booms saved low down. The place Gunboat and HH are taking it to the subsequent stage of luxurious light-weight efficiency, we will see the needle shifting additional nonetheless, and at every finish of the spectrum too.

Article continues beneath…

At its sharpest, Persico’s new foiling 72 is being examined by the American Magic crew and can certainly show essentially the most speedy ‘cruise-equipped’ multihull to this point. Thrill seekers must also try S6’s dynamic foil-equipped Infinti 72 design, and the most recent photos of Daedalus’ jaw-dropping D75, D100 and D165 tasks.

For the big a part of the market much less obsessed by pace comes the true house race that multihull platforms can present – a market cornered by manufacturing yards Sunreef, Lagoon and Fountaine Pajot over the past decade, however one additionally seeing some evolution.

Assume flybridges like flats, drop-down balconies and freestanding designer furnishings, albeit mixed with innovation in greener supplies, propulsion and photo voltaic know-how. Scaling up additional, Echo Yachts in Australia is nicely into the secretive construct of a monster 58m catamaran superyacht, which is able to go straight in to assert the spot because the world’s largest crusing multihull.

Welcome to a brand new period of Tremendous crusing, that of supercats, megacats, and notably the performance-oriented maxicats.

New MaxiCats – Area & actual tempo

Superior AC72

Italian boutique yacht builder Superior Yachts has turned its consideration for the primary time to multihulls. Lively within the 60-80ft monohull sector, Superior presents semi-custom yachts with tremendous Italian styling requiring a small crew of two or three.

It has began constructing the moulds for a 72ft catamaran that matches the identical transient, with naval structure by the famend Reichel/Pugh. Efficiency is definitely an vital consideration, however that is actually designed to be a snug offshore cruising cat for bluewater cruising – or simply loafing around the Med. It’s inbuilt E-glass with a carbon-fibreglass deck and superstructure to maintain the centre of gravity down and displacement to 35.5 tonnes.

The previous is vital if you add within the low-profile flybridge and towering carbon rig from Lorima. It additionally makes use of 4m-deep centreboards which raise into the boat hulls. “We’ve got the next power-to-weight ratio than anything within the crewed yacht cruising functionality class,” stated gross sales director Jay Nolan.

“We put Gunboat and one or two others actually in a separate Grand-Prix class. We’re not as highly effective as that – we’re particularly stopping wanting essentially the most scary efficiency the place cats are a bit of edgy.”

Sail dealing with and navigation is all introduced again to the flybridge, permitting the yacht to be sailed by a pair. The electrical rudder management means it will even be straightforward to place a helm on the nav desk within the shelter of the saloon. “We’re building-in the power to have protected controls not simply with canvas on the flybridge,” added Nolan.

This leaves the aft cockpit free for visitors to loosen up. There’s additionally a ahead cockpit to benefit from the breeze at anchor. The primary deck is flush, with glass doorways aft sliding utterly away to open up one massive indoor-outdoor house.

Configuration and end is a matter for particular person homeowners, however the idea from Cassetta Design places a grasp proprietor’s cabin within the port hull and three visitor cabins to starboard, with house for 2 crew. A big hydraulic platform aft serves for bathing and watersport toys, or carries a young as much as 4.6m in size when underway.

Holld 74

This Dutch startup and Zwartsluis yard has a concentrate on luxurious, aiming to place the tremendous into efficiency cruising catamarans. The founders are utilizing their twenty years of carbon composite superyacht boatbuilding expertise, mixed with that of designers together with Eliot Thorne, to supply full carbon semi-custom cats ‘as technically superior as they’re visually beautiful’. Holld guarantees a bespoke construct programme for every proprietor utilizing hybrid-ready platforms, sensible digital methods and versatile modular interiors. This primary 74 is already in construct.

“We didn’t got down to construct one other manufacturing multihull,” says founder Guido Achtelik. “We got down to re-engineer the class from the bottom up, utilizing carbon and epoxy infusion, digital construct processes, and an obsessive concentrate on precision, longevity, and efficiency with a superyacht end.” The launch of the model shall be throughout the Cannes present.

Gunboat 80 Agave & new mannequin teaser

Agave has been tearing it up since she hit the water in final Could, however this second model of Gunboat’s 24.65m flagship is decidedly a (swift) cruising boat. The place the purple hull primary was at all times destined for the Highland Fling racing programme, hull quantity two was customised with plenty of extra cruising-friendly options, notably across the inside.

Make no mistake, although: within the phrases of Gunboat, that is nonetheless an ‘objectively epic crusing machine’! From the pre-preg carbon layup and rotating mast to retractable T-propeller rudders and daggerboards, Agave is designed in true Gunboat custom for exhilarating efficiency.

The yard experiences that she matches true wind pace from 5 knots and tops out at over 30 knots, whereas the foils on the rudders cut back pitching in oceanic swell by 30%. Grand Prix equipment embrace ECsix carbon rigging, titanium fittings and HydrauNautic hydraulics with stress sensors and a quick-release system to de-power the mainsheet, Cunningham, outhaul and different key controls.

With 16 hydraulic controls, the boat is designed for short-handed crusing. There’s little element in regards to the cruising inside, however the usual design permits for 3 visitor cabins and as much as three crew.

In the meantime, Gunboat is hinting at an thrilling new product vary to be unveiled on the Cannes Yachting Competition. The French yard is remaining tight-lipped in regards to the particulars, however we all know that the debut mannequin shall be an 80-footer and that it’s going to have a flybridge.

“What we’re about to disclose isn’t just one other yacht,” stated advertising and marketing director Rodolphe Cadoret, “It’s the beginning of a completely new phase in high-performance crusing – a undertaking that fuses long-distance functionality, refined onboard expertise, and the unmistakable Gunboat DNA.” The veil shall be lifted on 9 September, however Gunboat is likening the transfer to that which noticed Porsche launch the Cayenne as its first luxurious SUV.

Black Pepper Code C.69

French pace service provider Black Pepper is at it once more – this time with a catamaran. Pitching its debut multihull at a punchy 69ft LOA, the yard has simply revealed a second order – earlier than the primary has even been delivered. The 2 hulls have already been accomplished by companion Multiplast in Vannes and towed to Black Pepper’s premises in Nantes, the place they dominate the construct shed.

Infused in carbon fibre, the hull of the C.69 is mild regardless of loads of hull openings. Actually, the yacht solely displaces 17.5 tonnes mild – so maybe 21-22 tonnes absolutely loaded – not dangerous for a 70-footer!

The yard says it did a number of soul looking out earlier than launching the multihull undertaking with designers François Pérus and Romain Scolari. The transient was ‘good-looking, quick, protected and high-tech’. The result’s eye-catching: reverse bows and a heavy, bevelled tumblehome with a low coachroof and an extended bowsprit. There are sunbeds simply forward of the mast, whereas the helm stations on the quarters appear to drift above the deck.

Lodging runs to 2 massive double cabins and a triple with a fold-down berth, supported by as much as three crew. However the structure is versatile. The second boat will function a tough bimini extending aft from the coachroof to cowl a part of the cockpit. Its helm stations have been simplified and introduced additional inboard, leaving clearer facet decks.

And it’ll even have a hybrid diesel-electric drive. The primary boat shall be launched on the finish of the 12 months, the second in 2026.

Baltic 107

It was massive information when efficiency yacht builder Baltic revealed its first multihull order final 12 months. Berret-Racoupeau’s 33m low profile design features a flybridge and a full-beam bathing platform aft in addition to cabins for eight visitors.

However the efficiency is what makes this boat stand out: pivoting centreboards, an enormous sail space and high-tech lay-up in carbon Corecell sandwich. Since we final lined it, moulding is now full consistent with supply in summer time 2027. “With bulkheads put in, the 2 hulls have been launched from their tooling and related collectively by way of the moist deck midsection,” stated Baltic’s Henry Hawkins.

“Additional structural members will now be put in in addition to the graduation of system and inside fit-out. We proceed to obtain enquiries concerning the boat and potential future catamaran tasks.”

Kinetic K6

Kinetic Catamarans, builders of efficiency voyaging cats the KC54 and KC62, is launching a formidable-looking new K6 vary. It is going to be formally introduced on the Cannes Yachting Competition this September, however we have now the unique preview after talking with founder Bob Hayward and veteran boatbuilder Leon Scheepers.

K6 contains a brand new 63 and a 67, the previous is for personal use, designed to suit right into a 20m berth, the latter is extra geared toward crusing with professional crew. This US-based model builds semi-bespoke high-end carbon fibre cats from its yard in Kynsna, South Africa, which is at the moment finishing an enlargement and redevelopment, to assist accommodate the brand new K6 vary and extra bigger fashions to come back.

Cannes would be the first time its yachts can be found to view at a present in Europe, a key market having offered 4 KC54s right here now.

Along with design companions Simonis Voogd, Kinetic specialises in clear traces and prefers to not have daggerboards protruding by way of the decks. “We’re staying with centreboards because it’s a system that works very nicely,” Hayward explains.

Managed by line drivers, these are contained beneath the floorboards. “Our yachts are world cruisers, so when you hit one thing like a coral head, a weak fuse permits it to robotically ride-up. Substitute the fuse and also you’re again crusing in 20 minutes,” he provides, having examined the speculation on his personal KC62 within the Pacific.

The highly effective sail plans are supplied with slab-reefing or in-boom furling. Choosing a push-button managed mainsheet and traveller plus furling sails makes the 63 manageable short-handed. Be aware, the traveller is led to the coachroof, which takes important structural engineering, however retains the aft cockpit free for a leisure zone.

An opulent ahead cockpit sees sunbeds constructed into the deck and a retractable awning above. Kinetic received’t do a flybridge, however its ahead helm stations are key for its homeowners, near the sail controls. The K6 additionally has twin exterior wheels on distinct mezzanine ranges for optimum visibility.

Superyacht vibes proceed with a large fold-down swim platform, carbon davits that fold out of the roof helps and bulwark facet doorways. The port hull presents a full proprietor’s suite, together with an workplace, with its personal personal entry aft. These are 48V powered yachts, together with the aircon and refrigeration, and use Integral E-drives delivering as much as 15kW every into the home batteries financial institution.

Keep tuned for extra to come back within the subsequent couple of years from this maturing model.

HH80

If there does occur to be anybody left on the market nonetheless pondering cats don’t look cool, then maybe present them an image of the HH80. This bang-up-to-date Morrelli & Melvin turbo cat is perhaps the one beast on the market to get close to a Gunboat 80’s efficiency. A carbon epoxy construct with prepeg boards, it has a 30m-high mast and is able to hull flying. Are you able to think about that?

HH says it has the bottom increase at school for a low centre of effort and quick, clean experience. Whereas the sunshine displacement determine is just not given and can depend upon inside fitout, a beneficiant cruising payload weight of as much as 40 tonnes is offered. HH has some kind at this supersize stage too, having delivered the HH88 two years in the past.

It’s since been flat-out constructing its newest vary, the brand new 44s, 52s and 56 to come back. The HH80 look is all curves and muscle, from the reverse bows to sculpted sections of the coachroof, which assist style ahead and aft cockpits. Under that glass-look roof is a mess of photo voltaic panels (round 11kW) on the carbon superstructure.

A self-tacking jib could possibly be managed by a captive winch for extra short-handed operation, and M&M’s predictions are it may provide glowing cruising potential with 250+ mile days attainable in simply 12 knots breeze! The design affords actual house to the ahead cockpit, with the winches and sail dealing with set nicely ahead initially of the longeron.

Strolling by way of the sliding doorways from there to the principle saloon have to be like coming into the Starship Enterprise (you possibly can nearly hear the ‘swoosh’ noise of the doorways). At 79ft, it presents essentially the most house and pace out there with out falling into restrictive massive yacht coding.

The HH80 is designed to go well with six to eight visitors with house for 2 to a few crew in devoted lodging.

Steadiness 750

Steadiness is a US/South African model/construct which has actually created momentum since its 2013 inception with a variety of refreshing efficiency voyaging cats filled with sensible and unique pondering. And now it’s gone massive, with a brand new flagship 750 that launched in Cape City earlier this 12 months, named Some Day. Steadiness claims it is going to redefine luxurious and pace.

The corporate is called so for good purpose, aiming to hit that stability of pace and agility utilizing tremendous hulls with daggerboards paired with ethereal, trendy consolation. The 750 provides a liberal sprinkling of luxurious into the combo. That is additionally the primary Steadiness with a ahead cockpit, linked to the saloon by way of a water-resistant door.

Providing one other leisure zone, this additionally homes the first winches on the mast base, so the boat could be trimmed from ahead or managed from both aft helm. We notably just like the inboard station Steadiness has designed, permitting its swing wheel VersaHelm to cant to a totally protected steering place.

A powerfully rigged yacht, the 750 is managed utilizing a full hydraulic system, together with rams within the increase, mast, beams, and captive winches. This promotes short-handed use, so two or three palms can sail and function the yacht. It’s additionally a sleek-looking design by Anton Du Toit, with low hulls and roof.

A flybridge is an choice, and Some Day has an in between ‘flylounge’ to present some sunlounger house between the photo voltaic area. The inside exhibits how the UK’s Design Limitless is without doubt one of the world’s finest at combining superyacht glam with light-weight supplies. Furnishings is all foam cored styled with wooden veneers, in lodging laid out with 4 or 5 cabins with or with out crew quarters.

The hulls, deck and construction are foam cored too, maintaining displacement to 32 tonnes. Infused E-glass is predominantly used for noise insulation, whereas there’s additionally loads of carbon reinforcement in high-load areas and bulkheads.

Persico Cat 72

Development work on this 72ft pace undertaking by Persico Marine has continued since 2023 behind a veil – till January this 12 months, that’s. The completed hull was revealed in a collection of photos which present simply how slender its twin hulls are, and the way they’re allied to a low-profile superstructure.

An unlimited longeron dominates the ahead half of the boat, which wastes no weight in fripperies comparable to foredecks. Underlining the efficiency potential of this 21.5 tonne Morrelli & Melvin undertaking, American Magic has ‘come on board’, with sea trials and fine-tuning of the boat, shifting to the crew’s base in Pensacola, Florida.

Persico guarantees it is going to ‘push the yacht to its limits’. And people limits look to be fairly far out, due to a full set of foils which are designed to maintain the hulls flying simply above the water. There are rake-controlled righting-moment foils (RMFoils) over 7m in size, daggerboards for leeway management, and T-rudders with rake management. The entire set-up is built-in with Gomboc’s Flight Management System, which manages the foil angles of assault.

Expectations are that the RMFoil is helpful from wind speeds of round 9 knots and permits the yacht to skim at 20 knots in simply 13 knots of true wind. Persico experiences that the system will robotically decrease the flight of the boat and handle speeds in response to the proprietor’s desire.

Nonetheless, a crew of at the least three is required to sail with a selection of two exterior helm stations or a protected inside wheel, which provides entry to mainsail administration and all flight controls. The yacht has a pared-back, trendy inside from Design Limitless.

And regardless of potential speeds of as much as 40 knots, Persico describes it as possessing ‘the consolation of a cruising vessel’. The coachroof is studded with 2kW of photo voltaic panels and the yacht options electrical boats propulsion.

Supercats – Dimension & some pace

McConaghy Sapphire Plus MC & Panther

Whereas it constructed its title on its high-performance and record-breaking maxi monohulls, McConaghy has proved that it will possibly construct something, from AC40s and their hydrogen chase boats to a deep-sea submersible. It’s additionally no stranger to multihulls, together with its largest craft to this point, the sensational, futuristic 42.5m trimaran Adastra, which launched 10 years in the past. Latterly, it’s actually honed in on the big cruising multihull market, with its MC vary of crusing cats.

These Jason Ker designs, with their signature flybridge-mounted aft helms, started with the MC50 in 2018, and grew to incorporate final 12 months’s spectacular launch, the MC75 Jack. Such has been the curiosity in these massive cats that McConaghy has just lately conceived two full new ranges: a Panther line of electrical hybrid yachts from 48-68ft and a Sapphire vary of tremendous spacious supercats from 70-115ft. Each are, after all, carbon builds, the forte of this yard.

The Sapphire vary appears to be going after extra of the Sunreef house race market, albeit with distinctly extra crusing focus. Regardless of Sapphires aiming to supply ‘the most important inside quantity on the earth relative to their dimension’, they need to nonetheless sail nicely. The yard predicts they’ll be capable of common speeds within the teenagers – in 20 knots the S80 ought to attain at nearly 14 knots, and will even hit 20 knots on its day. Now that might be a sight!

Retractable composite centreboards drop 5m down from the hull on the push of a button to assist provide pointing potential, whereas sail dealing with methods use superior push-button know-how to make operation by a small crew straightforward. When it comes to consolation, these extremely voluminous yachts received’t be missing. A tough bimini covers each the ahead and aft cockpits, whereas the facet home windows can open out on the push of a button.

Vaan R8

An aluminium supercat. In spite of everything, it’s the fabric of selection for almost all of monohull superyachts. Vaan has been quietly making a reputation for itself as a specialist in luxurious aluminium multihulls with a concentrate on greener constructing. Its 40ft R4 and 50ft R5 have proved its use of recycled and absolutely recyclable aluminium as a viable materials for its semi-bespoke electrical powered yachts.

Our full overview of the R5 follows subsequent month, however suffice to say if you board this yacht and admire the end high quality and notably the pure mild the large coachroof home windows carry (due to the stiff construction), it’s straightforward to image the attraction of scaling up the design. Reassuringly, the naval structure is as soon as once more by fellow Dutch agency Dykstra, world-class superyacht designers.

Vaan likes to maintain the increase low for efficiency, so no flybridge on the R8. There’s, nonetheless, an inside helm, linking to a ahead cockpit, and if you mix these with the saloon and aft cockpit, it equates to formidable single-level residing house.

Siting the galley all the way down to starboard amidships may also emphasise this house. And it’s designed like a superyacht, so the crew quarters ahead hyperlink to the galley, mess and the bridge. Elsewhere, there’s house for 5 visitor suites, however one other good thing about aluminium is that every yacht is constructed to order so structure could be adaptable to go well with.

Equally, aft helms or benches could be chosen, a crane, davits, swim platform and so forth. The R8 shall be powered by two electrical engines with two diesel vary extenders and a 100kWh battery financial institution. Displacement is predicted to be between 35-40 tonnes. Development of the R6 is because of begin later this 12 months and Vaan has a number of severe prospects for this R8, a undertaking born from demand, founder Igor Kluin confides.

JFA 87

French yard JFA has been working with quick cruising monohull and multihull professional Marc Lombard on a successor to its 85ft crusing catamaran for a few years, and the brand new design is now nicely in construct. Measuring 87ft LOA, it has an prolonged flybridge, that includes a brand new navigation station, a sheltered bar and a big saloon, with photo voltaic panels on the hardtop.

Franck Darnet’s inside makes use of the 11m beam to ship an enormous social house flush with the cockpit, and an exquisite proprietor’s cabin ahead at deck stage. The aluminium hull has been accomplished and was just lately married with the glass-epoxy composite deck, permitting inside methods to begin getting in.

Cabinetry is already taking form. The US-based proprietor plans to sail around the world with a household of 4.

Lagoon Eighty 2

We featured this yacht in our Cannes present preview final situation, the place it will likely be making it’s world debut this autumn. The hull design comes just under the 24m mark when it comes to class, making the boat a pretty candidate for constitution, identical to its 77ft predecessor.

Key options of the brand new mannequin embrace a big 50m2 flybridge with a hard-top and elective Jacuzzi, plus a large lifting bathing platform that extends the versatile cockpit house. Lodging is designed for eight visitors, the place the centrepiece is the proprietor’s suite with its drop-down balcony.

Free furnishings that may be specified by the proprietor is a brand new function, creating a lot better customisation potential. And the hull is manufactured from 40% bio-sourced resin, with a decrease carbon footprint.

Megacats – Supersized house

Sunreef 43

Moulding the hulls for this crusing cat was accomplished again in February and constituted the most important one-shot infusion undertaking on the earth, in response to Sunreef. Flybridge and bimini mouldings are additionally full, with work nicely underneath approach on the inside methods of this 140ft ‘supercat’.

The hulls alone account for 1,700m2 of composite floor and shall be embedded with a part of the 250m2 of third-generation ‘photo voltaic pores and skin’, able to producing 60kW of electrics. It may be saved within the large 1MWh battery system – a financial institution that may propel the yacht underneath silent electrical energy for 12 hours, or assure night time after night time of silent operation at anchor.

A regenerative propulsion system permits the yacht to make electrical energy whereas crusing. The 43 Eco ought to sail too, with speeds nicely into double figures. However the true draw is the large quantity and open deck house. Highlights embrace the enormous flybridge with a spa pool, versatile lounging eating house with a bar on the principle deck stage and the seaside membership with fold-down facet platforms.

There’s lodging for as much as 12 visitors and we anticipate a beneficiant ahead proprietor’s suite with prime views. Three boats have already been offered!

Echo Yachts 58m

Dubbed the ‘Journey Crusing Catamaran’, this true megacat guarantees to be the world’s largest luxurious crusing cat when accomplished. And Australian shipbuilder Echo Yachts has expertise right here, having already constructed a 56m powered cat and an 84m trimaran.

This all-aluminium, full-custom construct encompasses a twin DynaRig sail system. Designed by Dykstra Naval Architects in collaboration with One2three Naval Architects, the yacht is engineered to handle the complicated structural masses distinctive to crusing catamarans. It incorporates twin shaft mills that harvest vitality from trawling controllable-pitch propellers, and a battery storage system that ensures emissions-free operation and extends vary whereas underneath sail.

Sunreef 35 Eco

By no means one to slacken the tempo, Sunreef additionally introduced the sale of a brand new 35 Eco crusing cat late final 12 months. The 115ft boat is being constructed within the UAE and is slated for supply in 2028.

Like all Sunreefs, it is going to function an enormous photo voltaic array for renewable energy, in addition to huge out of doors areas, together with a 100m2 flybridge with a plunge pool. Lodging is for as much as 10, with a grasp cabin dominating the ahead part of the superstructure and filling the complete 14.7m beam.

Its rest room features a tub positioned with tremendous views out by way of deep glazing and freestanding his ‘n’ hers basins in limestone-effect composite. The saloon contains a sublime bar operating down the starboard facet and the yacht represents a brand new stage of inside end for Sunreef. An ‘ocean lounge’ is fashioned by a mix of the aft platform and the fold-down facet wings, reached down a couple of teak wood-lined steps from the aft cockpit lounge space. catamarans-lagoon.com

When you loved this….

Yachting World is the world’s main journal for bluewater cruisers and offshore sailors. Each month we have now inspirational adventures and sensible options that will help you realise your crusing goals.

Construct your data with a subscription delivered to your door. See our newest presents and save at the least 30% off the duvet worth.

Be aware: We could earn a fee if you purchase by way of hyperlinks on our web site, at no further value to you. This doesn’t have an effect on our editorial independence.