Asiamarine Celebrates Lagoon’s 40th birthday and becomes official dealer
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June 27, 2024
5:44 pm
Hong Kong’s Asiamarine invited guests to share two new landmark moments recently, celebrating Lagoon Catamaran 40th anniversary and its new appointment as official dealer for the French multihull brand.
Guests boarded Lagoon’s impressive Sixty 7 at Hong Kong’s Aberdeen Marina Club
Asiamarine, the Hong Kong-based luxury yacht distributor, brokerage and charter operator, welcomed excited boating enthusiasts to celebrate the 40th anniversary of Lagoon Catamarans and its appointment as the global brand’s official dealer with a luxurious launch party on June 21, 2024.
Around 100 guests gathered at the Aberdeen Marina Club to celebrate the milestone and new venture and were treated to a tour of one of Lagoon’s most spacious models, the 20.15m Lagoon Sixty 7. As guests roamed the elegantly staged boat, which was decked in a French country theme and decorated in blue and turquoise, the colours of the Lagoon brand, they were able take in wide-open, luxuriously-appointed spaces, from the generous lounge area.
The power catamaran has four cabins and an expansive lounge
With over 7,000 catamarans built, Lagoon offers a range of models from 40 to 78ft. The Sixty 7, which is now available to charter through Asiamarine, certainly holds a pride of place. As the event progressed, Asiamarine’s Lagoon Brand Manager Alexandre Tricot promised jovial guests that the launch party would be the first of many to come and noted the growing demand for luxury catamarans in the region.
For the occasion the multihull was decked in Lagoon’s turquoise and blue brand colours
Increasing appetites may well be sated with the arrival of two new models arriving soon. A brand new Lagoon 46 is planned to touch Asian waters in December of this year, when it arrives in Hong Kong, followed by a Lagoon 51, early in 2025.
Asiamarine’s position as official dealer for Lagoon will continue to bring the popular catamarans to Asia
The Lagoon 46, an elegant sailing catamaran designed with young families in mind, and the Lagoon 51, a 15.35m high-performance cruiser, are popular order at Asiamarine, and this year are available with exclusive Lagoon 40th anniversary offers.
In the new flagship CLX99 are glimpses of a much-loved predecessor, but with revitalised exteriors, interiors and features this edition is a bold reimagination.
If the bold form and workboat-chic aesthetics of the CLX99 feel familiar, you have probably once, twice or more admired her earlier sibling, CL Yacht’s CLX96, a striking design that turned heads when it launched at the Fort Lauderdale Boat Show in 2022.
New flagship, the CLX99 sports a striking silhouette
A powerhouse combination that brought together the prolific product designer Jozeph Forakis’s vision for performance with an angular primary superstructure and strategic use of carbon fibre, the boat felt definitively different inside and out.
Many areas have been reimagined and extended, including the aft beach area and skylounge
Now Forakis, back on board and lending his unique point of view once again for the creation of the new flagship CLX99, appears to have taken the mould and reformed it.
Forakis, an award-winning designer whose pieces have been shown at New York’s MoMA, has retained a kind of core essence and ethos of the original onboard the CLX99, evident in its rugged good looks but while the first iteration was praised for its wide array of diverse spaces, this latest incarnation pushes the boundary with increasingly voluminous interiors and exteriors – and an overall length of 100 feet.
The designer prioritises light and 360-degree sea views in the sky lounge
“The hull is the same great hull as CLX96,” confirms Martin Lo, CL Yachts Director, but the superyacht displays a substantial difference in terms of naval architecture, layout and choice of materials, he says.
Among many refined features is a transformed skylounge aft of the forward-raked sunscreen, now extended an impressive three metres and featuring a same-level helm separated from the guest saloon. With a bulkhead crafted mostly from glass, guests are afforded good looks at the boat in operation, as well as 360-degree panoramic views that invite the outside in.
Calming styling features rounded edges and beach tones inspired by pebble-decked coastlines
An arch incorporated into the bulwark on the aft-sundeck extends the space and with a dedicated lounge settee that invites relaxation or provides additional space for entertaining.
Meanwhile, the aft end has also been given a new twist, with the water-level beach and swim platform now boasting large drop-down bulwarks that create generous sea terraces on either side.
“The drop-down bulwarks really enhance the aft terrace, while there is an option for a spa pool on the foredeck,” Forakis says.
The skydeck is designed with relaxation and gatherings in mind
Extending space inside was also key for the designer. The main deck has received a two-metre extension, which in turn led to a reorganisation of the interior space.
A generous dining room forward has a galley adjacent, with portside access for the crew, while a spacious relaxation area features an enlarged sofa that runs from this sanctuary to the dining area to the observation lounge.
A redesigned lower deck offers five staterooms on the standard version, which include a large, full-beam master suite, two VIP doubles forward, and two guest twin or double cabins, which are all en-suite.
The aft water-level beach and swim platform has received a crowd-pleasing update
It’s also possible to add a main deck master suite in place of the forward dining and observation lounge, (while retaining five suites on the lower deck) to allow up to 12 guests.
Natural coastlines were a starting point in the comfortable interior styling, which has resulted in sensual curves, circular shapes and smooth finishes that the designer says are reminiscent of pebbles. Outside, hull windows on the lower deck have been redesigned with clean, continuous lines.
Forakis’ angular stylings were informed by rugged workboat design that nodded to the CLX96’s ultimate seaworthiness and reliability, but real functional design thinking is evident in technical spaces like the engine room, which on the new30.5mCLX99 is fitted with aft generators that makes maintenance on the engines more accessible.
Heralded product designer Jozeph Forakis has been given free rein on the CLX96 and CLX99
Five crew members can be accommodated in quarters located aft between the engine room and the aft bulkhead of the master, ensuring the CLX99 is suitable for fully-crewed charter trips.
If the CLX96’s unusual design was seen as a bit of a risk for CL Yachts on its release two years ago, then the new flagship CLX99, which continues the art of architecturally-refined disruptive design, is proof that the risk paid off.
Created as an expedition vessel, the new Nimbus 495 Flybridge has been designed to allow for far-flung adventures, and a way to cruise in comfort for weeks rather than days.
Nimbus introduces the 15m Flybridge 495
Sweden-based Nimbus celebrated entering the explorer segment recently, with the arrival of its biggest flybridge to date, the Nimbus Flybridge 495. The voyager vessel touched water for the first time in an archipelago outside of Gothenburg this June.
Nimbus built the new coupé as a floating home away from home
Nimbus’ coupé models have been a favourite way to explore the Nordic region for more than 40 years, but as adventurous spirits grow and horizons broaden, so too do boat sizes. The new 15m flybridge is intended to provide passengers a floating home and an ideal vessel from which to explore further afield.
The yacht’s design centres on passenger flow
The Scandinavian shipyard notes seasons on the Mediterranean, the US East Coast or Alaska. To facilitate this, the 495 Flybridge’s expansive size prioritises social areas and free space. It provides mod-cons such as washing machine, dishwasher, and generator, plus an increased tank capability necessary for longer – and less stressed – voyages.
Large glass windows offer undisturbed views
This vessel also makes long harbour stays enjoyable thanks to freshwater accessibility and emission-free propulsion.
A spacious kitchen sits within the saloon
Considerations for the deck layout were to create a space within which it felt safe and easy to manoeuvre with a minimum of crew even in variable conditions. Accordingly, the design centres on making the boat easy to move to shore, and for passengers to flow easily between foredeck to aft deck, cabin to bathing platform – with ample views of the surrounding areas no matter where they are positioned.
The boat has been built with a seamless connection between the saloon, the large aft deck and a robust bathing platform on the same level.
Gather, drive, dine in the coupé’s salon
But it’s the salon that acts as the heart of the coupé boat, says Joacim Gustavsson, who is chief designer at Nimbus Group AB. “That’s where we live on board. That’s where we have the driver’s place, the dining area, the social lounge and the kitchen.”
Nimbus introduced theFlybridge 495 in Gothenburg
Distinguished by its size – the 495 is the shipbuilder’s biggest flybridge to date – the boat establishes a new standard for the Nordic coupé and responds to the increasing numbers of sailors that wish to live out in nature for longer stretches of time.
Wise Equity announces majority stake in Absolute Yachts
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June 27, 2024
1:25 pm
Wise Equity’s funding will support new growth for Absolute, the Italian manufacturer of luxury motoryachts.
Absolute has built its success on navetta, flybridge and coupé yachts
Wise Equity has announced it will acquire a majority stake in Absolute, the northern Italy-based shipbuilder. The investment, which will be made via its Wisequity VI fund, will assist with the Italian manufacturer’s plans for growth and development.
With the agreement, Wisequity V1 will acquire a major stake in the luxury-yacht maker.
Absolute, founded in 2002 by Sergio Maggi and Marcello Bè, is a leading manufacturer of navetta, flybridge and coupé yachts from 47 to 75ft. All yachts are currently made in-house at its production plant in Piacenza.
The manufacturer has seen increasing growth and expects to close out this financial year in August with more than €110 million in revenue. It says of that sum, about 90 per cent was made abroad. The manufacturer, which has a sales subsidiary in the United States, operates in more than 30 countries.
The deal will support the Italian shipbuilder’s continued growth
The transaction involves the acquisition of a majority stake by Wisequity VI and its co-investors, the significant reinvestment of the majority of the existing shareholders and the presence of Angelo Gobbi as Absolute’s Honorary Chairman, to ensure the manufacturer’s strategic and managerial continuity.
Gobbi was jovial about the investment. “Absolute’s motto is: ‘he who hesitates, is lost!’” he said following the announcement. “That is why for some time now we have been reflecting on the future of Absolute. We must continue to evolve, as we have always done.”
Angelo Gobbi, current President of Absolute takes an Honorary Chairman role going forward
Wise Equity, he said, was an ideal partner to strengthen and support the manufacturer through its next phase of growth.
Wise Equity SGR manages closed-end investment funds that invest in small and medium-sized companies, with a special focus on Italy. It currently has three funds under management. Wisequity VI was launched in May 2023 with a total commitment of €400 million. The Absolute deal is its fourth investment.
Benetti shows off M/Y Legend with nods to nautical nostalgia
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June 27, 2024
11:45 am
Italian shipbuilder Benetti has shared more on the design choices that went into the crafting of its Motopanfilo M/Y Legend. The 36.8m motoryacht is inspired by traditional navettas and is the sixth hull in this series.
Sharp angles and sinewy lines update the classic navetta style
Francesco Struglia’s design reinterprets the traditional features of iconic Benetti styling, and is inspired by the Italian shipyard’s alluring navettas of the 1960s and ’70s, which were loved by royalty and rock stars alike.
The yacht’s silhouette is characterised by sharp lines and elegant, elongated forms. Distinctive exterior lines bring continuity between the hull and superstructure, feature bronze highlights and are connected by an angled piece of fibreglass, set from amidships to the aft, that defines the profile.
The boat boasts a design that is ‘tradition meets tomorrow’
Claudio Lazzarini and Carl Pickering fashioned interiors that replay the elegance of classic motoryachts through a modern lens, creating a boat that feels like a boat, rather than an apartment at sea and is rich in nautical themes and motifs.
Warm woods and rounded edges are both modern and comforting
Light woods, white leather and neutral-coloured soft furnishings highlight the yacht’s architectural lines, and portlight-shaped lighting fixtures and a white-leather-clad mast feature in the central staircase add to the feeling of nautical heritage. In the saloon, Pickering has added white lacquered beams to wood ceilings, and wooden beams on white ceilings to evoke the feeling of standing inside the belly of a whale.
Fabrics, including summer linens, are by Lora Piana Interiors
Materials are light and luxurious. Warming Alpi teak adorns walls and floors, Tuscan Calacatta marble is used on the main deck and Italian Antartide pink marble below, with fabrics provided by Lora Piana Interiors.
The yacht can accommodate up to 10 guests across five cabins, with additional space for up to seven crew members in a layout that includes a large main deck owner’s suite forward and four guest suites on the lower deck, all featuring double beds.
The master suite is forward on the main deck
A spiral staircase from the lobby leads guests through two decks to the skylounge on the upper deck.
Outdoor living was a major focus of the design, and there are myriad places to enjoy life alfresco including the spacious sun deck and bow lounge, both of which can have spa pools.
A look at the whale rib-inspired beams
A spacious beach club captures the feel of a classic beach cabana with a collapsible, accordion-style bimini top and features a pull-out bar and a custom grand piano-shaped sunpad on the sundeck, which was requested by the owner and designed by Lazzarini Pickering Architects.
Designer Francesco Struglia wanted to create open, liveable spaces
A selective catalyst reduction system (to reduce nitrogen oxide in exhaust fumes and purify exhaust gases) is integrated to meet IMO Tier III regulations, and the yacht also has a double-capacity desalination plant so that she can spend extended periods anchored offshore.
M/Y Legend is powered by two MAN V12 engines and can reach speeds of up to 17 knots.
Electric boats set minds racing at the 11th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge
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June 26, 2024
10:44 pm
Quays will be buzzing in Monaco for a week this July as more than 700 students from more than 40 universities contribute to support 21 crews and 50 boats for the 11th Monaco Energy Boat Challenge.
The Monaco Energy Boat Challenge tests alternative propulsion methods using clean energy
The international zero-emission on-water event organised by the Monaco Yacht Club, in partnership with the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, will take place from July 1-6, 2024 with a chief aim to showcase the efficiency of alternative propulsion and hull design innovations across three classes: Energy, Solar and Open Sea.
40 international universities will attend this year’s challenge in Monaco
Electric boats already on the market will be featured at the event, which is open to the public, alongside prototypes and vessels due to launch. The challenge draws key industry players keen to advance the future of engineering by way of more sustainable alternative propulsion systems.
Teams have been selected from 21 renowned universities for the 2024 edition, including the University of Cambridge, the Pontifical Catholic University of Chile, the Politecnico di Milano and the Technical University of Berlin, with 14 nations represented, including China.
Speed trials and endurance tests are on the event line-up
They are challenged to use new technology, innovative materials, and alternative propulsion systems that reduce environmental impact all while maintaining nautical performance. Vessels are tested for manoeuvrability, endurance, sea trials, speed record and enter the YCM E-Boat Rally, where 15 commercially available electric boats will be on the start for this eight to 10 nautical mile course including El-Iseo, the first 100 per cent electric Riva designed by the Ferretti Group.
Boats use earth-friendly solar panels and hydrogen-based tech without sacrificing performance
Hydrogen appears to be a favoured choice among the participating teams, with hybrid hydrogen-based technologies fueling 10 projects, and 11 running on fully Lithium-Ion batteries.
Eighteen teams will compete in the energy class, putting on show some intriguing new innovations. From Institut Polytechnique de Paris (ENSTA) comes a three-engine project inspired by differential propulsion, while Britain’s Cambridge University Riviera Racing will showcase their hydrogen-powered foiling catamaran. This year’s competition is the first time foils have been permitted to be added.
Spain’s Universidade de Vigo will debut a unique hull design in the solar class with lines similar to a catamaran that should allow the boat to reach impressive speeds.
Sialia Yachts’ Deep Silence, one of the largest full-electric propulsion boats available on the market, will appear in the Open Seas category for boats already in the market, or about to launch, alongside hydrogen-powered boats, Madblue Marine P-01and Inocel-Poséidon, which will be supplied with hydrogen on July 5 by Natpower.
A new electric, high-performance day boat, the Tridente, developed in collaboration with marine technology company Vita, who are long-term supporters of the event, will no doubt cause a splash.
Green energy boats take the waves in the Monaco Energy Boat Challenge
The Monaco Yacht Club aims to be a major player in promoting sustainability in the yachting sector, and its Monaco Energy Boat Challenge has become a flagship event. Alongside races and on-water displays is scheduled a series called Tech Talks, to further the discussion on environmentally-aware boating.
The event is also an opportunity for the challenge’s young competitors to connect with industry leaders. They are invited to take part in a Job Forum that offers work placements and mentorship and last year resulted in over 80 interviews.
This year, contestants are eligible for a new award. The Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation Sustainable Yachting Technology Award will award the competition’s best energy-efficient or carbon-reducing solution with a grant of €25,000 to further research and prototype development.
Sanlorenzo’s SP110 Wins Prestigious Compasso d'Oro 2024 Design Award
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June 26, 2024
9:32 pm
Sanlorenzo’s open coupé SP110, launched in 2022, won at the 28th edition of the Compasso d’Oro 2024 awards held in Milan this June.
Launched in 2022, Sanlorenzo’s SP110 blends tradition and innovation
Part of Sanlorenzo’s “smart performance” range, the SP110 was honoured at this year’s Compasso d’Oro 2024 award ceremony, an important Italian design award, founded by Gio Ponti in 1954 and held at Milan’s ADI Design Museum on June 20, 2024.
The award has become a prestigious one in the design world, honouring Italian design.
The SP110 features exterior design by Zuccon International Project who incorporated aerodynamic shapes and a distinctive style that, alongside Piero Lissoni’s minimalist interiors, Tilli Antonelli’s product development and Marco Arnaboldi’s hull design, impressed the judges, who spent two years in the selection process.
Judges called the hull a “floating home”
Also considered were the hull’s commitments to sustainability. The 33m SP110 is a performance cruiser powered by three fractional propulsion engines with an SCR emissions control system and uses solar panels on its roof. These, alongside other eco-conscious features, reduce emissions.
Ample interiors merge light tones and lightweight materials such as lava stone
Spacious, open-plan design, thoughtful light surfaces and innovative design, highlighted through an expanded sundeck and equipped bow dinette, further swayed judges, who are made up of about 150 experts from varied disciplines.
Innovative design such as the SP110’s expanded sundeck impressed
An accompanying rationale published with the award praised what it said was “a new relationship between transparent and opaque surfaces, and new living solutions,” on the hull and said the cruiser “interprets the idea of a floating home through new proportions.”
Sanlorenzo’s awarded SP110 will join a display in Milan alongside other winning products
In total 20 products were awarded at the Compasso d’Oro 2024, with 39 honourable mentions. They will all become part of the Compasso d’Oro Collection, on display at the ADI Design Museum until Sept. 16, 2024.
Burgess has announced it will team up with China’s prestigious Wanda Yacht Management and Club Reign, part of Wanda Hotels & Resorts, to showcase the country’s yachting lifestyle.
Burgess will tout Wanda’s Sunseeker RUI HUA 2 in their new partnership
Burgess is a veteran yacht supplier based in the United Kingdom, with multiple offices worldwide, including New York, Sydney and Dubai, and is a specialist in yachts of over 30m.
The broker will work alongside Shanghai-based Wanda Yacht Management General Manager Leo Yang, who becomes Burgess’ Chief China Representative, collaborating with teams in Hong Kong, Singapore and Monaco.
A key part of the broker’s marketing platform will be Wanda’s 33m (108ft) Sunseeker RUI HUA 2, which is the first private superyacht available to cruise the Hangpu River and cruises past the famous Bund and Pudong skyline.
Wanda Group’s Leo Yang will oversee teams in Asia in his new role
In addition to becoming RUI HUA 2’s exclusive international marketing agent, Burgess will also become yachting partner for Club Reign, an elite membership club with operations in 10 top cities in China, all located within Wanda’s flagship hotels.
Burgess’ Chairman in Asia, Jean-Marc Poullet, said he was delighted to partner with Wanda Group as the supplier is focused on building its presence in China.
Shanghai’s famous skyline is a draw for sailors on the RUI HUA 2
Leo Yang, who was Marketing Officer for China’s first America Cup challenge back in 2006, and has managed operations at Wanda for over a decade said the partnership was an exciting one at an exciting time for the industry. “Together we look forward to helping Chinese customers discover and enjoy the yachting lifestyle,” he said.
The Burgess in Asia boards the RUI HUA 2. Pictured are Mark Woodmansey, Head of Brokerage, Asia; Leo Yang, Chief Representative, Mainland China, Hwee Tiah, Head of Charter and Business Development and Jiyu Xie, Fleet Manager, Asia
Burgess started its operation in Asia in 2015 and now has offices in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Tokyo.
Polish shipbuilder Sunreef Yachts has just launched a second edition to its Sunreef 100 Power superyacht fleet, with the release of The 100 Sunreef Power 2.0.
On a bright and sunny day, Sunreef Yachts showed off the new 100 Sunreef Power 2.0
Sunreef Yachts has just shared the first shots of its latest luxury super cat, a second edition of its much-loved 100 Sunreef Power model, the new 100 Sunreef Power 2.0. With room for 12 – plus crew – the new multihull features a full-beam master stateroom on the main deck that comes with private access to the bow terrace.
Making a splash. Sunreef Yachts is headquartered in Gdansk, Poland.
The ultramodern catamaran also displays a 16m-wide walkaround beach club on the aft deck, with hidden aft garage providing plenty of space to tuck away two jet skis and a refuelilng station.
A first glimpse of the luxurious superyacht
And that’s not all for the bespoke features. An enclosed cigar lounge, with plush lounge sofas, an 85-inch TV and bar is fitted out on the flybridge.
Designed for all-year navigation, the superyacht is powered with twin 1300HP engines.
The second edition continues the popularity of the first, and contains expansive hideaways.
The latest release comes amid a time of expansion for Sunreef who have reported a 40 per cent growth in revenue over two years, with increasing demands for its 100 Sunreef Power model. Sunreef splashed its first 100 Power in late 2021.
World’s largest sailing cat at Australia’s Echo Yachts
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June 20, 2024
4:11 pm
Australia’s full-custom superyacht builder Echo Yachts is to construct the world’s largest sailing catamaran.
Echo Yachts is an award-winning custom superyacht manufacturer
The vessel is a 57m twin-masted design commissioned by an experienced private client, and follows a number of catamaran and trimaran superyachts built by this progressive Western Australian yard.
“We have teamed with two renowned sailing and aluminium multihull design firms to deliver this project,” said an Echo Yachts spokesman.
“An extremely efficient aluminium hull form is complemented by twin masts carrying a total sail area of some 1,660sqm for eco-efficient, long-range cruising.
“Weight reduction, simplicity and ease of operation will further characterise this project,” he said.
Renowned Dykstra Naval Architects of Amsterdam, Netherlands, are providing the yacht’s exterior styling, layout and naval architecture. The yard has an enviable list of completed projects, including Black Pearl and Hetairos among other masterpieces.
Said Dykstra’s Thys Nikkels: “We look forward to working with the owner’s team, Echo Yachts and One2Three to take the current design concept to the next stage.”
One2Three Naval Architects are also involved in detailed naval architecture and structural design. The same specialist company helped build the international award-winning 84m aluminium trimaran White Rabbit delivered in 2018, and the 56m adventure catamaran Charley 2 in 2023.
Both were constructed at Echo Yachts for Singapore owners, and the yard at Henderson south of Fremantle in the Australian Marina Complex has been attracting interest from Southeast Asian clients in particular, as it is relatively nearby and easy to visit during the build process.
Initial images of the in-build 57m sailing cat concept, with further details to be released during construction.
Echo Yachts owner Mark Stothard, a long-time Southeast Asia and East Asia visitor, commented: “We are extremely excited and proud to have been selected to custom build this magnificent catamaran sailing superyacht, and look forward to bringing the yacht to fruition with our client, Dykstra and One2Three.
“This new superyacht will truly elevate the term ‘green superyacht design’, with its low resistance catamaran hull form, sail-powered capability and other emission reduction technologies.”
Steve Quigley of One2Three Naval Architects said he was honoured and thrilled to be selected for another ground-breaking Echo Yachts superyacht.
“Being in the forefront of innovation is our aspiration, and successfully commercializing technology is our passion.
“The Echo-Dykstra full custom 57m sailing catamaran will cement Echo Yachts’ Australian build capacity on the world stage for unique superyachts.”
With stability, space and speed, powercats are seeing fast-rising popularity among motoryacht enthusiasts, with a huge number of brands debuting new models.
Words: John Higginson; Photos: Shipyards & Dealers
Granocean’s Azure 3 features a spectacular curved pool
Rossinavi made global news earlier in February this year for the preview of its five-strong selection of Nolimits brand of aluminium superyachts from 30-45m, which are represented exclusively by Camper & Nicholsons. In May, it caused more waves when the family-owned Italian shipyard launched the 43m Seawolf X, formerly known as Sea Cat, one of the most anticipated powercats of recent years.
Designed by Fulvio de Simoni with interiors by US-based Meyer Davis, the sub-500GT hybrid powercat has an LOA of 140ft and a 45ft delivery from the Carrara shipyard to Monaco had to double as its first sea trial.
Offering a whopping 780GT and almost 6,500 sq ft of glass windows,This Is It is among the world’s largest charter catamarans, and available in the Med from this summer through IYC.
Power catamarans like these have soared in popularity in the boating market over the last two decades.Take a tour of the new models, and new players, entering the sector.
SUPER CATS IN ASIA
SpaceCat, a SilverYachts SilverCat 36M, is now available to charter
In Thailand, SpaceCat is currently available for charter with Northrop & Johnson and is the first hull of the SilverCat 36M series designed by Espenino and built by SilverYachts.
The four-cabin SpaceCat, which arrived in Phuket in 2022, has an overall length of 118ft and a beam of 44ft (13.3m), which provides a platform for 478GT of volume, while attractions include a 5.5m-long pool on the aft deck, lots of water toys and up to eight crew. Meanwhile, SilverYachts is working on the SilverCat 24M and 22M models.
China’s Heysea made a huge splash in 2020 when it released its Vista 43M. The powercat has a beam of 12m and a draft of 2.3m, while twin 715hp Caterpillar engines and 60,000 litres of fuel give it a range of 4,000nm.
This May, the Chinese shipyard staged the world premiere of its V75 at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, with a V56 design to follow.
Also in China, Granocean announced the 32m Azure III, its largest powercat to date, with a 12m beam, an enclosed flybridge and a spectacular, curvaceous pool.
Granocean also offers an X-24 with helipad capability and is set to complete a carbon version this summer, while other upcoming launches include a 42ft carbon cat that will be the tender for the Singapore-based Charley 2.
Heysea’s Vista 43M is a grand double keel superyacht well-suited to long-distance cruising
MAKING NEW WAVES
Last year’s Monaco Yacht Show displayed a record five catamarans were among the 117 yachts in Port Hercules including Bluegame’s BGM75 and Sunreef’s 80 Eco and 80 Power Eco. Even more notably, there were two one-off custom builds from The Italian Sea Group: the 46.5m ArtExplorer sailing cat by Perini Navi and This Is It, Tecnomar’s radical 43.5m powercat.
In 2018, Australia’s Echo Yachts built the 84m aluminium trimaran White Rabbit and the 56m powercat Charley 2 (2023) for Singapore owners.
In Italy, Wider started the year by launching the first hull of the WiderCat 92. Designed by Luca Dini Design in partnership with Wider Centro Stile, the WiderCat 92 started with four hulls on order, with the second expected in 2025.
Wider’s advanced serial hybrid propulsion system includes twin electric motors delivering 500kW each to the thrusters, two 349kW variable-speed generators for electrical energy production, n°30 LiFePO4 (Lithium-Iron Phosphate) batteries and a state-of-the-art battery-management system.
Generators operate at low power consumption, allowing cruising in ZEM (Zero Emission Mode) with a 27nm range at six knots in silence or a 14-hour autonomy on battery power at anchor. Additionally, 150sqm of solar panels ensure self-sufficiency at anchor, with any excess energy stored in the batteries for nighttime use.
SUNREEF EXPANDING
The Sunreef 100 Power is the Polish shipyard’s largest to date, designed for all-year navigation
Sailing catamarans initially popularised the twin-hull platform before many of the world’s leading cat builders also started producing power catamarans.
Founded in Poland in 2002, Sunreef, whose dealers in Asia include NextWave in Hong Kong and Hong Seh Marine in Singapore, is a world leader in the segment, launching the 74ft Che in 2003 and powercat, the 70ft Jambo, in 2008. It now builds powercats from 44ft upwards and sailing catamarans up to 143ft, and recently launched the ultramodern and luxurious 100 Sunreef Power, its largest completed model to date.
Last year, Sunreef showcased the 70 Power at Cannes, which completed the brand’s ‘New Beginnings’ range that includes the 60 Power, 80 Power, and the 50, 60, 70 and 80 sailing cats. Those models, now sometimes tagged ‘classic,’ distinguish them from Eco solar electric versions.
Already, Sunreef has launched the 60 Eco, 70 Eco and 80 Eco sailing cats, and last year used two hulls of the 80 Power Eco, Athena Too and Sol, for the powercat’s world and US premieres. This year, the 60 Sunreef Power Eco will have its world premiere at Cannes.
The 60 Sunreef Power Eco features a composite-integrated solar power system
Its fast-growing Ras Al Khaimah shipyard in the UAE is focused on producing an Ultima series of powercats, which are slimmer and faster than their ‘classic’ counterparts. Sunreef says it has already taken close to 40 orders for Ultima models, which now comprise the 44, 55, 66, 77 and 88.
The 55 Ultima is the first model in production, with plans for a potential premiere this year at Cannes in September or the Abu Dhabi International Boat Show in November.
INBOARD POWERHOUSES
Lagoon, now represented by Asiamarine in Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand, is considered the world’s most popular pleasure catamaran brand, having built over 7,000 units. The French shipyard popularised large powercats when it debuted the Lagoon Seventy 8 at Cannes in 2017 and added to its powercat portfolio in 2019 with the premiere of the Sixty 7, with both models present in Asia.
Founded in 1976, Fountaine Pajot has built nearly 5,000 catamarans and entered the motor yacht sector in 1988, making it one of the world’s most experienced brands in the sector.
Headed in Asia by Kevin Corfa – represented by Asia Yachting in Hong Kong, and The Yacht Sales Co. in Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia – the La Rochelle builder produces MY4.S sedan (36ft), MY5 (42ft 4in), MY6 (45ft 11in) flybridge motor yachts, and the flagship Power 67 (64ft 7in).
Active Marine, a Japanese dealer, has sold a Power 67 that is being heavily customised by the client in collaboration with Fountaine Pajot Service.
Leopard, overseen in Asia by Kit Chotithamaporn, is a world leader in inboard powercats, having produced them since 2002, five years since the brand evolved as the privately owned versions of charter-specific sailing cats built by Robertson and Caine in Cape Town, South Africa.
Earlier this year, Leopard announced the delivery of the 100th unit of the 53 Powercat, a model that had its world premiere at the 2020 Miami International Boat Show and succeeded the brand’s 51 Powercat, which sold 137 units.
Cape Town is also home to Two Oceans, which builds a wide range of yachts, including monohulls and multihulls, sail and power.
Other brands that manufacture both sailing and power multihulls include McConaghy, Aventura, which entered the powercat sector with the 50 MY, and is developing the 38 SC and 38 MY models, and Moon Yacht, which has produced both the 60 Sail and 60 Power catamarans.
This Aquila 42 Yacht Power Catamaran is the smallest of its four models
POWERCAT SPECIALISTS
Twin Vee, with over 7,000 powercats launched in the US, produces outboard models ranging from 24-40ft, but it’s Aquila, founded in 2012, that has, arguably, led the population of powercats, producing both outboard and inboard models out of Hangzhou, China.
Exponential growth led to the production of 175 units last year, including the Offshore, Sport, Yacht, and Luxury series. Key models like the 44 Yacht and 36 Sport have sold over 200 units each, while the 32 Sport has sold over 90 units and the 54 Yacht over 80 units.
AROUND THE WORLD
PMG Shipyard in Thailand has developed its Heliotrope and Cora brands. The shipyard’s owner Philippe Guenat is a pioneer in the development of solar-assisted power catamarans. The first solar-assisted Cora 48 made its world premiere at this year’s Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show in Australia and a second hull with more solar panels will follow.
PMG shipyard introduced its family cruiser powercat, the Cora 48
Powercat builders that emerged before Covid-19 include Turkey’s VisionF, founded in 2019 which has built four hulls of the VisionF 80 and the aluminium VisionF 82 Alu. The model features a roof covered in solar panels and a powerful battery bank that can power hotel loads for 20 hours without generator support.
Serenity Yachts, founded by Boyd Taylor in 2016, also builds in Turkey. The American-owned company produces the 64, 72, 74, and 84 solar-electric powercats, as well as custom yachts.
ILIAD Catamarans, founded in Australia with a shipyard in China, has already sold nearly 30 units in the 50-70ft range to date. In 2022 came the ILIAD 62 which premiered at the Sydney International Boat Show in 2022, followed by the 53S at Sanctuary Cove and the 53F at Sydney in 2023. This year the ILIAD 53F won the Multipower category at the Multihull of the Year awards in France.
In South Africa, Hammer Yachts was founded in Cape Town in 2018 and debuted the HammerCat 35 in 2019, now producing about a dozen each year. The HammerCat 45 went into production last year, while the HammerCat 30 is expected to debut in 2025.
In Asia, several monohull builders have developed a line in twin-hull builds, including Taiwan’s Horizon, which has built about 60 powercats, led by over 30 units of the PC60, 20 units of the PC52, four of the PC65, three of the PC68 and a custom PC74.
In China, Aquitalia – best known for its flybridge monohull motor yachts – delivered a charter-specific 72ft catamaran to Phuket in 2019, and now an upgraded 75ft version.
Gulf Craft returned to twin hulls with the SilverCat range, launching enclosed 34 Lux from the builder’s Maldives production facility in September 2020. The 34 is now also offered in CC and HT versions, while other new models include the 40 Lux that debuted in 2021, the 40 CC (2022), 46 Lux (2023) and the 46 WA.
NEW POWERCAT PLAYERS
Catana turned its attention to powercats, with its Yot 36
A host of new brands and established builders have entered the multihull sector post-Covid.
Prestige’s debut of its M48 at the 2022 Cannes Yachting Festival showed that household monohull brands were ready for action. Groupe Beneteau followed up with the 65ft M8 in 2023.
Both models have starred at many major shows around the world, and this year the M48 made its Asia-Pacific debut at Sanctuary Cove in partnership with dealer TMG Yachts. The M48 is set to appear in Japan this summer through dealer Yamaha Motor.
Asia Yachting, which represents Prestige in Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand and Malaysia, has sold at least three units of the M48, with one scheduled to appear at the Hong Kong International Boat Show towards the end of the year.
Elsewhere, new brands kept arriving. At the Cannes show in 2022, the first two aluminium Vandal Explorers appeared side by side, with one hull belonging to Vandal Marine co-founder Ben Mennem and the other to Espen Øino, who designed the rugged looking 46-footer.
At the overlapping Southampton show, British brand Archipelago debuted its aluminium 47, designed with Chartwell Marine and expects to debut the Archipelago 40 in 2025. Its portfolio of designs includes the 52F, the 63 powered by biomethanol, and 80.
Another big name, Bluegame, represented in Asia by Simpson Marine, entered the market in 2023, while Sanlorenzo’s sister brand debuted its BGM75 at Cannes, with one hull featuring Piero Lissoni’s zen-like interiors.
Bluegame’s game-changing BGM75 launched during the Cannes Yachting Festival in 2023
New players have included Tesoro, who quickly made a name with T38 and T40 luxury day boats, before debuting its T38 Power Cat at Cannes last September, Four Winns who debuted its TH36, the American’s first twin-hull motor yacht, a model represented by Asiamarine, and Portuguese Catana Group, who debuted Yot 36.
New Zealand’s Valder Yachts has built high-powered 68-footers, while China’s Skywalker launched the S60 Urban in Fujian last September. Makai premiered its M37 at this year’s Palma show and Spain-based Linx Tenders is building a second unit of its foil-assisted Linx 30 for the UAE.
Poland’s Dracan Marine hopes to premiere its first 42 at Cannes this year, while other upcoming brand-first models include the first Omaya 50 from Bulgaria, Xquisite Yachts’ Sixty Solar Power and 40 Powercat, and Nova Luxe’s Orphie 29 trimaran and Elight 44 powercat.
Further ahead, Cosmopolitan announced it sold its first 70 and is working on the development of an 85 with enclosed flybridge and a 125 with a sub-500GT volume.
Lazzara Yachts expects to deliver its first LPC 300 (70ft) in October to a French client, while fellow Turkish builder Bering, which laid the keel for its first aluminium B60 Cat at its Antalya facility this April, rounds out big-name brands moving into powercats.
The Thailand International Boat Show and Thailand Boat Festival will team up to deliver a single standout show in Phuket next year.
Next year’s Thailand International Boat Show will take place at Phuket Yacht Haven in January
Organisers of two boat shows, the Thailand International Boat Show and the Thailand Boat Festival, have formed a strategic alliance to deliver what aims to be the biggest and brightest Thai-based boat show yet.
Held in Phuket, at the Phuket Yacht Haven from January 9-12, 2025, the new iteration of the show will retain one familiar name: Thailand International Boat Show (TIBS).
David Hayes, CEO of JAND Events, which organises the Thailand International Boat Show, says the new partnership will leverage skills and experience from both sides that will elevate the event and help it to scale.
The move also comes in response to industry requests for one single, concentrated event, he said.
M Vision, who are the organisers behind the Thailand Boat Festival, and have significant experience hosting consumer events in the local market, proved natural partners as a new vision for growth for the show has evolved.
Thailand International Boat Show event remains as partners leverage complimentary experience
The show will be focusing efforts on growing international visitors and local attendees, Hayes said.
“M Vision’s experience organising large-scale Thai consumer events complements our boat show and luxury events experience, and while we look to further grow international visitors we will also build on our Thai visitor success this year and supercharge our efforts for 2025,” Hayes said.
Phuket Yacht Haven is a draw for local and international visitors
Opas Cherdpunt, CEO of M Vision Public Company Limited, said the show’s location, at the Phuket Yacht Haven, is ideal, giving “more space in the water and opportunities to add more lifestyle displays and activities on land.”
Another plus is the close access to the sea. Phuket Yacht Haven comes with direct access to Phang Nga Bay giving boat exhibitors opportunities to take potential buyers on sea trials during the show.
Activities include some pre-show excitement courtesy of the second annual Thailand Yachting Conference on January 8, as well as a yachting awards and gala dinner event that evening.
Asiamarine’s position as official dealer for Lagoon will continue to bring the popular catamarans to Asia
