|On Board| There is a
|On Board| There is a lot of enthusiasm on the part of the designers; it has opened up the possibility for them to reinterpret catamarans in a modern way – Federico Rossi, COO of Rossinavi something as different as possible from the current offer on the market.” As the next generation of yacht owner shows increasing enthusiasm for eco-conscious options, the trend for catamarans looks set to grow. And it’s not just the large shipyards that are fighting for their stake in the market. Several young disruptors are crafting impressive fleets of eco-conscious – or even zeroemission – vessels that offer owners a “guilt-free” way to sail. Polish yard Sunreef is one of the pioneers of solar yachting. It produces an increasing offering of ecoconscious sailing and power catamarans – some of the most recent and exciting include the 33m Explorer Eco, an electric-powered aluminium and composite catamaran with transpacific range; and Sunreef 88 Ultima, a 27m yacht that combines monohull dynamics with multihull space. Austria-based Silent-Yachts, dubbed the “Tesla of the seas”, is another. It’s developed a growing portfolio of innovative zero-emission production catamarans, the most recent launches being the Silent 80 – a trideck version of its popular Silent 60 model – and the explorer-style 37m Silent 120. Over in Germany, Alva Yachts, founded in 2020, aims to elevate Silent-Yachts’ offering with innovative “green” catamarans such as the Ocean Eco 90 H2, which is powered by hydrogen energy. In Istanbul, another newcomer, VisionF Yachts, is making waves with its aggressive 24m catamaran 80 BLCK and new flagship the 30.5m VisionF 100. It’s clear that interest for catamarans is on the rise but Rossi believes they shouldn’t be compared to the sleek monohull models that have been popularised in recent years. “Certainly, the streamlined lines make a monohull more elegant than a catamaran and, consequently, more appealing to the public. However, the double hull, for yachting use, is very appropriate, as it has very home-like proportions in the living areas.” He also points out that the catamaran’s greatest asset is also its biggest challenge. “As the size doubles, larger berths are needed and manoeuvring becomes consequently more complicated.” If demand for multihull yachts continues, improved marina infrastructure will be needed to accommodate them in further destinations around the world. In the meantime, the catamaran is unlikely to replace the monohull but instead become another option for the conscious yachtsman looking for space, efficiency, and peace of mind. From top: Perini Navi’s Art Explorer; the Alva Yachts Ocean Eco 78 Previous page, from left: the WiderCat 92; the Silent 60 PHOTOS FROM TOP: © PERINI NAVI, © ALVA YACHTS 40 CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM
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