A coastal cruising operator says business has benefited by offering visitors cruises on a catamaran using the Deep Blue Hybrid propulsion and energy-management system.
Mundo Marino’s hybrid sailing catamaran
“Cruise the Bay of Malaga on an ecological sailboat,” reads the advert for the sightseeing tour on Mundo Marino Eco, a sailing catamaran fitted with Torqeedo’s Deep Blue Hybrid technology.
The 24m-long, 10m-wideMundo Marino Eco is the first hybrid catamaran in the fleet of passenger boats owned by Mundo Marino, which transports tourists along the Costa del Sol every day.
There are several tour providers that offer bay cruises, but the Deep Blue Hybrid propulsion and energy-management system distinguish this eco-catamaran as it sails silently and without emissions along the coast.
Lower helm on Mundo Marino Eco
From out in the bay, passengers aboard Mundo Marino Eco can admire the skyline of the capital of the Costa del Sol, the Moorish fortress called Alcazaba of Malaga and the 14th-century Gibralfaro Castle.
It feels good to sail around the bay with a drink in hand while listening to relaxing music, especially when it’s in a sustainable manner.
After all, it feels better – and is better – to enjoy time on the water without damaging the marine environment through noise, exhaust fumes and other pollution.
Torqeedo Deep Blue Hybrid system on Mundo Marino Eco
David de Haro and his father co-founded Mundo Marino 25 years ago. For the first year after Mundo Marino Eco was commissioned, De Haro captained the Mundo Marino Eco himself. Nowadays, he only fills in when a mechanic or captain is out of action.
More often, you find him sitting in the office charting the course of the company, which has benefited from its first major move to green propulsion. “Business is good,” says De Haro, who believes sustainable tourism is a growth market.
View aboard Mundo Marino Eco
Mundo Marino offers a range of tours, 60-minute harbour tours, and swimming excursions into the turquoise Mediterranean. The sunset cruises are usually booked out weeks in advance.
“We’re mighty proud of our eco-catamaran,” De Haro says. He even has the elegant white boat as a screensaver on his phone.
Built at the Drassenes Dalmau boatyard, north of Barcelona, the catamaran is also equipped with two 300hp diesel engines, which proved useful in transporting the yacht from Barcelona to Málaga. But in everyday tour operations, De Haro says, they’re hardly ever used.
Torqeedo Deep Blue 25/50kw inboard
On an average one-hour tour of the bay with 150 passengers, the diesel engines are not needed at all. “It’s so quiet and relaxed on board,” De Haro enthuses. “The electric motors are perfect for our short trips and moderate speed of four knots.”
He’s most impressed with the sophisticated onboard energy-management system, which uses renewable energy to meet the catamaran’s various operational needs.
For example, the solar system powers the lighting, water pumps, music system and refrigerator. When there’s enough wind, the catamaran sets the sails and uses hydrogeneration to recharge the batteries.
Torqeedo Deep Blue 40kWh battery
Tourism businesses are increasingly realising that more sustainable operations can provide a competitive advantage, as vacationers are interested in patronising green businesses and new experiences.
In fact, many of Mundo Marino Eco’s passengers show a real interest in the catamaran’s ability to generate its own power under sail.
“When they see the battery indicator suddenly change from yellow to green while sailing, many of the passengers are simply amazed,” De Haro says. “They often say, ‘That’s free energy!’”
For more information on Torqeedo, email Tamás Brunecker of Torqeedo Asia-Pacific.
With power catamarans moving into the mainstream, monohull builders like Prestige and Gulf Craft have been moving into the multihull market, while Aquila maintains markets leadership.
Power catamarans used to be the preserve of the world’s leading sailing catamaran builders, who were able to use their expertise – and sometimes existing hulls – to develop twin-hulled motor yachts.
Fountaine Pajot introduced its Trawler series of powercats in 1998, Leopard ventured into powercats in 2007, and both continue to be among market leaders. Lagoon’s launch of its Seventy 8 in 2017 and Sunreef’s debut of its 80 Sunreef Power two years later kick-started the growing popularity of larger models.
The dominance of brands like these has been challenged in recent years by powercat-focused Aquila, which was formed in 2012 and launched its 100th unit five years later. However, the popularity of the 36 Sport cruiser that debuted that year and the earlier 44 Yacht flybridge then spearheaded an enormous growth surge, with each model selling about twice as many units as the company produced in its first five years.
In the US, the Aquila 36 Sport was even competing with some of the world’s leading monohull yacht builders for sales in its size sector. The industry was watching as powercat sales rose year after year, with monohull yacht builders among those taking notice.
GROUPE BENETEAU’S MAJOR MOVE
At the 2019 Cannes Yachting Festival, Bluegame announced it would be moving into the multihull market and the much-anticipated BGM75 is set to launch this year.
Prestige M48
However, Prestige was the first of Europe’s leading luxury monohull motor yacht builders to move into multihulls, debuting its M48 at the Cannes show last year and showing it among an otherwise monohull-dominated Hall 6 at Boot Dusseldorf this January.
The builder says over 30 units have been ordered of the M48, which was designed by Italy’s Garroni Design, Prestige’s long-time collaborator, while French designer Philippe Briand handled naval architecture. Garroni also designed the M8 set to debut at this year’s Cannes Yachting Festival (September 12-17), with the 65ft model featuring hull design by Marc Lombard.
Prestige, renowned as a world leader in 40-60ft monohull motor yachts, is now one of four Groupe Beneteau brands producing multihulls.
Lagoon started in 1984 as a catamaran offshoot of Jeanneau and over the past two decades has established itself as the world’s most prolific builder of pleasure cats, topping 6,000 units in early 2021. Sister brand Excess was founded in 2019 with a focus on sportier, twin-helm sailing cats.
Four Winns TH36
Last September, Prestige’s M48 premiere at Cannes coincided with the low-key ‘prototype’ debut of Four Winns’ first twin-hull model, the TH36 designed by Garroni and Lombard, which made its official world premiere at April’s International Multihull Show in La Grande Motte and will also show at Cannes and the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (October 25-29). These recent moves into multihulls show the boatbuilding giant’s vast confidence in the platform.
Rosalie Le Gall, Product Manager at Prestige, says: “The M-Line all stemmed from discussion within Groupe Beneteau about where we can go with motor yachts at Prestige and how to go beyond what we’re already doing. We analysed the trends and needs of the market and saw that people are expecting more and more space, and were less concerned with speed.
“The stabilisation systems needed for beamier monohulls are amazing but expensive, heavy and use a lot of power, while we also have a responsibility towards reducing fuel consumption. The conclusion was that the catamaran platform really answers all these needs. It even offers more than we expected.”
Prestige can draw on vast catamaran expertise within Groupe Beneteau, but as it approached the multihull market from the view of a monohull yacht builder, it started from a blank sheet of paper.
Prestige M48
Erwin Bamps, Brand Director of Prestige, said the builder chose to create its own architecture as he believes the powercat market is not so evolved that it presents a standard set of norms and minimums required by potential clients.
“This was a very important step for the evolution of Prestige,” Bamps says. “However, this is not a consolidated market. Everyone has a different interpretation of what powercats should look like. If you go to five powercat manufacturers around the world, you find very different concepts.”
However, principals at Lagoon, whose powercat models comprise the Sixty 7 and Seventy 8, did advise Prestige to include a full-beam owner’s suite, stating that it was a key differentiator in the market.
Olivier Besson, founder and CEO of Asia Yachting, which represents Prestige in Hong Kong, Thailand and the Philippines, is expecting the first M48 in Asia to arrive in Hong Kong by the end of this year or early next year, with later hulls for Asia-Pacific destined for Japan and Australia.
“The positioning of the M48 is quite different in the sense that it’s a real Prestige, in the level of luxury of finish,” Besson says. “I think the innovation of the master cabin is really something quite special. I also believe the large swim platform that goes so high and so low, plus the big storage for toys, is very practical. I believe it’s a very interesting product.”
CGI of Prestige M8
Prestige will consolidate its own presence in the multihull sector with the M8, which again features exterior design and layouts by Camillo Garroni, while Lombard oversees naval architecture.
Le Gall says: “We haven’t raised the bridge deck height as much as we did on the M48, but we’ve raised the main-deck floor and overall height of the boat to make the saloon deck on one single level. We’ve also created some more space forward for the owner’s suite. That’s why it has much more space than competitors of this length, sail or motor cats.”
The first hull of the M8 is scheduled to depart for the US, where it could appear at the Fort Lauderdale show in late October. The second hull will be a special edition and will remain in Europe for the model’s world premiere at Cannes in September. It features a solar-panel system with a lithium battery bank designed to cover the yacht’s hotel load, with a highly efficient air-conditioning system among features designed to reduce energy consumption.
GULF CRAFT GROWS SILVERCATS
Meanwhile, Gulf Craft has steadily been developing its new SilverCat range, designed in-house and marking a return to catamarans for the UAE builder, which produced racing powercats in the 1980s. Today, it oversees four yacht brands: Silvercraft, Oryx, Nomad and Majesty, whose flagship 175 is the world’s largest composite production yacht.
Gulf Craft SilverCat 34 CC
Created within the builder’s Silvercraft brand of family cruisers, the SilverCat series kicked off with the 2020 launch of the enclosed SilverCat 34 Lux, built in the UAE builder’s Maldives production facility.
The SilverCat 34 Lux was Gulf Craft’s first speedboat equipped with solar panels to power all non-propulsion systems including air-conditioning, and the model is now offered in two other versions: HT with smaller wheelhouse and open-style CC (centre console).
The SilverCat 40 Lux debuted in 2021 and was followed by last year’s premiere of the 40 CC at the Dubai International Boat Show, while SilverCat’s flagship two-cabin 46 Lux premiered at the Dubai
show this March and is available with two 440hp inboard engines or four 400hp outboards.
Hulls and superstructures are made with a proprietary vacuum-infusion process, incorporate carbon fibre and even Kevlar, while the builder now also has a facility in Ajman (UAE) dedicated to the production of powercats.
Gulf Craft SilverCat 40 CC
Chairman Mohammed Alshaali, who co-founded the shipyard in 1982, says the time was right to introduce a pleasure cat series and has used each of the SilverCat 34, 40 and 46 models himself, including for fishing in the Maldives.
“We’ve found there is a trend and people like their advantages – stability, speed, space, everything – so we moved into the market with smaller models that are good for families and fishing,” says Alshaali, who says Gulf Craft will focus on sport cruisers and not move into flybridge catamarans.
“At the same time, we take care of the needs of clients in warm regions, so we offer air-conditioned interiors with a galley, cabins and so on. I love fishing and going to sea in catamarans. You feel the speed, yet it’s relaxing, and the economy is unbelievable, especially when you use diesel engines. SilverCat is still new, but we’re selling very well because I think the price is right compared to competitors.”
Gulf Craft SilverCat 40 Lux
Australian-owned ILIAD, which builds in China, hosted the debut of the 53S at this year’s Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show, while its other powercats include the 50 that launched the brand in 2019 and the 62.
For more information on ILIAD, the Thailand-built Cora Cat 48, France’s Leen Trimarans (50, 56, 72) and other brands represented by sister companies The Yacht Sales Co and Multihull Solutions, read PROFILE in Issue 71.
AQUILA POWERS FORWARD
Meanwhile, Aquila continues to grow from strength to strength, with company principals describing the MarineMax-Sino Eagle collaboration as the world’s No. 1 power catamaran manufacturer.
Aquila 42 Yacht
This year, Aquila debuted its 42 Yacht (click for Review)at the Miami International Boat Show and recently launched the 47 Molokai, which joins the 28 Molokai in the new Offshore series.
Featuring a design collaboration with French studio VPLP, the 42 Yacht is the fourth model in Aquila’s current line of flybridge motor yachts, which also includes the hugely popular 44 Yacht, 54 Yacht and flagship 70 Luxury (a hybrid version of the latter is in development).
“Aquila is extremely excited about the 42 Yacht, which offers great flexibility in terms of layout options, including two, three or four cabins,” says Yvan Eymieu, Aquila’s Asia-based International Sales and Distribution Manager.
“This versatility makes it an ideal choice for liveaboards, cruisers and the charter industry. The boat has experienced instant success in the USA and the first year of production is already sold out.”
Aquila 47 Molokai
The 42 Yacht is scheduled to make its European debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September and next year will have regional premieres in Dubai, Singapore and Australia, at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show. Dealers in Asia include Simpson Marine and the brand has experienced significant success in Southeast Asia, with Thailand a particularly strong market.
Aquila recently announced KJM Marine as its Gulf dealer across UAE, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman and Bahrain. The company has secured orders for the Molokai 47 and is planning to showcase the flagship 70 Luxury at this year’s Abu Dhabi International Boat Show (November 16-19) followed by the Middle East debut of the 42 Yacht at the 2024 Dubai International Boat Show.
CL Yachts has kicked off CLB65’s Asia premiere, which offers personal tours of the flybridge motor yacht in Hong Kong until June 24. By Andrew Dembina.
The CLB line’s third model, which was preceded by CLB72 and CLB88, had its world premiere at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show last October. Hull two is the first to show in Asia, with responses to the 64ft 6in flybridge motor yacht already appearing positive.
Forward end of the flybridge
A few steps above its notably long hydraulic swim platform is a cosy cockpit. This connects to the saloon that, with its near-20ft beam, appears voluminous beyond the space offered in similar-length luxury motor yacht by many leading European brands.
Despite this extra volume and CL Yachts’ comprehensive use of resin coating across the superstructure and hull, the yacht can access shallow waters due to a 4ft 9in draft created by clever naval architecture by US-based Howard Apollonio, structural carbon-fibre, and the use of lightweight interior fittings and furnishing.
Aft galley and dining, and forward saloon
The expansive flybridge features a large seating area opposite a fully-equipped wet bar including barbecue and fridge. Two well-appointed helm stations – on the flybridge and in the saloon – plus wing docking control stations on both sides of the cockpit allow piloting and docking versatility. Twin Volvo Penta IPS 1050 engines are fitted in a spacious engine room, while 1350s are an option.
Created with family use in mind, CLB65 has a layout optimised for multiple activity options on board. The first aft galley on a CL Yachts model is a natural gathering spot and sits between the forward raised saloon and the aft cockpit, where the glass door and adjacent windows can be opened to create an airy, indoor-outdoor connection.
Master suite midships
The lower deck has three en-suite cabins comprising a generous full-beam master suite that’s well illuminated by large windows, a VIP stateroom in the bow, and a guest cabin with twin beds that can convert into a double.
Martin Lo, Director of CL Yachts, says the shipyard is developing a four-cabin option, which he thinks will be among features that appeal to owners in Asia-Pacific, where CL Yachts has dealers in Hong Kong, Singapore, UAE and Australia.
VIP suite in the bow
“A four-stateroom version is in the design process, which we think may be appealing,” Lo says. “The simplicity and practicality of exterior and interior design and materials, and the openness and great sea views from indoors also make this model very usable and enjoyable.”
There are plans for hull two to tour the region, but these are pending visits scheduled in Hong Kong with dealers flying in to inspect CLB65 and discuss possibilities.
The regional dealer has secured the sales of notable Galeon motor yachts in Hong Kong, Thailand and Taiwan.
Galeon 560 Fly at this year’s Miami International Boat Show
Asiamarine (click for Profile, Issue 70) has announced the first sale in Hong Kong of Galeon’s 560 Fly motor yacht, a new model from the European builder that had its world premiere at the Miami International Boat Show in February.
Eric Noyel, founder and Chairman of Asiamarine, said: “After the golden Covid years, the market had anticipated a decline in boat sales and yet 2023 is proving as resilient and active as last year. In this context, we’re particularly proud of the sales of these Galeon models in Thailand, Hong Kong and Taiwan this year.
“These firsts in Asia will increase exposure of Galeon in these markets and reach new customers drawn to the style and intelligence of the ‘transformer concept’, where the balconies truly increase the living space available for fun and enjoyment.”
Galeon 640 Fly
Asiamarine, which hosted a Bali Catspace Open Day in Deep Water Bay on June 8, also said sales of pre-owned yachts were at a record high in the first quarter “due to a noticeable increase in availability, which contrasts sharply with last year where buyers had no choice but to wait for long periods of time”.
The dealership also represents Fraser in Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand, and said Fraser Asia has already sold more boats in early 2023 than throughout last year, stating that the number of superyachts for sale has “more than tripled”. www.asiamarine.com www.fraseryachts.com
Attracting many of the world’s leading yacht builders, the fourth Venice Boat Show featured 300 boats and showed the potential for yachting in the Upper Adriatic region.
Luigi Brugnaro (far left), Mayor of Venice
Over 30,000 people from 30 countries attended the fourth Venice Boat Show, according to organiser Vela, which said the visitors to the historic city on Italy’s northeast coast came from “all over the Adriatic basin and eastern Europe”. Vela organised the five-day event in the Venetian Arsenal district on behalf of the City of Venice and in cooperation with the Italian Navy.
Luigi Brugnaro, Mayor of Venice, said: “The Arsenal has confirmed itself as the home of the peoples of the sea, which includes not only those who strolled the piers searching for their ideal boat but also many dedicated workers, researchers and politicians. We have seen great interest around the vessels presented and equally great satisfaction from the shipyards involved.”
The Arsenal again hosted the five-day show
The show featured 240 boats in the water and another 60 on land. The 220 exhibitors were dominated by 180 from Italy, led by Ferretti Group, which has participated in every edition and showcased 10 yachts for a second successive year.
Ferretti Group staged the wallywhy150’s world premiere, a Custom Line Navetta 30 (93ft), Pershing 7X (69ft) and 9X (92ft), Ferretti Yachts 500, 580 and 720 models, plus a Rivamare (38ft), 56’ Rivale and 68’ Diable from Riva’s Open series.
The show attracted over 30,000 visitors
Alberto Galassi, CEO of Ferretti Group, said: “This year’s Venice Boat Show brought us great satisfaction, while highlighting the opportunity for sea travel and the economic benefits of tourism in this region. I’m increasingly convinced the Upper Adriatic and Venice can become our own French Riviera, due to the area’s beauty and the unparalleled year-round draw of Venice itself.
“We believed in the Venice Boat Show when others saw us as mere dreamers, just as now we believe that Italian seagoing, which accounts for half of global orders, can give solidity to this project, transforming the stretch of coast from Venice to Trieste into an international hub of great interest for leisurely sea travel.”
Motor yachts on display
Among fellow Italian shipyards, Azimut staged the European premiere of its Verve 42 alongside a Magellano 66, Fly 68 and Fly 72. Sanlorenzo showed an SL78 planing yacht, sister company Bluegame displayed the BG42 and new BG54, Arcadia returned with a Sherpa 80, while the steel-hulled Ducale 120 explorer by Oceanking was the show’s largest yacht.
Italian motor yacht builders also included Absolute, Rizzardi, Pardo, FIM (Fabbrica Italiana Motoscafi or
Italian Motorboat Factory) and Explorer by Luxury Ocean Yachts (LOY), while Invictus, Solaris Power and Rio Yachts were first-time exhibitors in Venice.
Sanlorenzo SL78
British builder Sunseeker displayed its new Superhawk 55 alongside a Manhattan 55 and Manhattan 68. A Fountaine Pajot Power 67 catamaran was among yachts from French builders including Prestige and Beneteau. Nautor Swan from Finland (and Italy) was among international builders, Turkey’s Sirena showed its Sirena 58, while Greece’s Omikron Yachts debuted its OT-60.
We could not have chosen a better place for the launch of our Omikron OT-60,” said Nikolas Dendrinos, Chairman of Olympic Marine, Omikron Yachts’ parent company. “This is a very well organised boat show in an incredible location, which was perfect for us to exhibit our vessel. We received a great amount of interest and can confirm we will be present next year.”
Sailing yachts increased 50 per cent
Meanwhile, displays of sailing yachts increased 50 per cent and includes the 100ft Whimsea by CNB and a Swan 65. Exhibitors include Beneteau, Lagoon, Dufour, Jeanneau, Pegasus and Italia Yachts, while first-time attendees include Elan, Bavaria, Solaris, Neo, Felci, Kufner and Hallberg-Rassy.
Slovenia’s Pegasus Yachts presented its P50 in its traditional and electric versions. “We are grateful to the Venice Boat Show. This is the third edition we’ve attended and we’ve seen a great deal of development during these years,” said shipyard founder Marko Pas.
The show is a hub for Adriatic
“I believe it will continue to grow and will become a point of reference, just as the Genoa and Cannes shows are. We’re working on the American market and Venice is the ideal city for those who come from afar, as there are many direct flights from the largest cities in the US.”
Substantial growth was also evident in the electrical sector, with over 50 electrical vessels exhibited, a 30 per cent increase compared to last year’s edition. Exhibitors include Greenline, Candela, X Shore, Alfastreet Marine, FAP (Falegnameria Artigianale Pesce) and Rand Boats, while newcomers include Freepower, Laneva, Green Dream Boats and Amperetta.
Electric boats increased 30 per cent
Mayor Brugnaro said: “These five days have affirmed the will to transform this exhibition into a central event not only for our city but also for the eastern Mediterranean, as the show has demonstrated it has all the requirements to become a point of reference for the development and the economic growth of Italy.
“This year’s Venice Boat Show was beautiful, but the next one will be even better. We await all visitors who wish to return and repeat this incredible experience with us.”
Following the creation of an Explorer series of powercats, the Polish builder has developed the 33M Explorer Eco.
33M Sunreef Explorer Eco
After announcing an Explorer series with 40m and 50m powercats last year, Sunreef has released designs for a 33M Explorer Eco. The 33.4m (109ft 7in) powercat has a beam of 11.2m (36ft 9in), draft of 2m (6ft 7in), 535sqm of living area, 8,000 litres of water and accommodation for 10 guests and seven crew.
The yacht incorporates 990kWh of batteries and a 50kWpphotovoltaic system, with solar panels integrated into the hulls, top of the enclosed flybridge and the entire full-beam bow terrace on the flybridge.
The 33M Sunreef Explorer Eco also benefits from energy-saving air-conditioning, smart energy management system, state-of-the-art watermakers, water-saving taps, rainwater collection system and ultra-efficient boiler using heat recovery. Recycled and recyclable materials and fabrics can be used, while the décor can be custom-tailored.
Standout design features include a beach club or ‘Ocean Lounge’, which has a high-low central platform, fixed transoms and drop-down sides that double as doors for toy cupboards. A tender and a jet-ski can be carried on the central platform, while Sunreef says the yacht can also store dive compressors, Seabobs, e-bikes, e-foils and sailing dinghies.
Ocean Club on 33M Sunreef Explorer Eco
The aft cockpit can feature a central spa pool, sunbathing areas on both sides, and covered alfresco dining. The layouts can be customised for owners and Sunreef says an indoor cinema, a spa, library or gym can be incorporated into “vast and light filled interiors that can be adapted to any navigation plan and lifestyle”.
Sunreef has shared GAs that feature a full-beam saloon with a dining table to port and lounge, plus four guest cabins forward on the main deck. The flybridge has an open aft terrace, a full-width master suite and the wheelhouse, while the hulls include the main galley, crew mess and five cabins for seven crew.
“The definition of luxury yachting is changing. Tailored for exploration, from tropical islands to the most extreme latitudes, the 33M Sunreef Explorer Eco is a trans-Pacific electric superyacht that rewrites the rules with bold architecture and a fresh approach to travel,” Sunreef stated.
“A safe, self-sufficient and autonomous electric craft for long private expeditions, she was designed to take you to the most remote cruising grounds in silence with no fumes and no vibrations.” www.sunreef-yachts.com www.sunreef-yachts-eco.com
The first Pershing GTX116 superyacht made her public debut at this year’s Monaco Grand Prix, won by Max Verstappen.
The first Pershing Yacht GTX116, Caffeine (click for article), and her American owner attended the Monaco Grand Prix in Monte Carlo, with the 35m yacht having some play time in the Med to work on her own manoeuvres and cornering.
Painted a new shade of grey with a special shade of blue for the deckhouse, Caffeine has 150sqm of outdoor areas and a triple waterjet propulsion system with three 2,000mhp MAN V12s, producing a top speed of 35.5 knots and a cruising speed of 29.5.
