|On Board| technology.
|On Board| technology. “The catamaran has a very high propulsive efficiency and a significant increase in square metres to place solar panels, so the advantages were many, and fit perfectly with the new green technology,” Rossi says. After positive responses, Rossinavi revealed a fully electric concept, Sea Cat 40, and collaborated with esteemed architecture firm Zaha Hadid to design the 44m catamaran Oneiric. “It’s a synergistic work aimed at combining design, environment and technology,” says Rossi. This is the first time the market has seen such a high-profile studio collaborate on a multihull project, but Rossi says it won’t be the last. “There is a lot of enthusiasm on the part of the designers; it has opened up the possibility for them to do styling exercises with catamarans and reinterpret them in a modern way.” As well as becoming more design-forward, modern catamarans are increasing in length. Leading the charge in this arena is Perini Navi, which is currently working on the “largest sailing catamaran in the world” following increased demand from clients. The 47m Art Explorer, designed by Axel de Beaufort, is “characterised by maximum stylistic and technological evolution”, the Italian yard says. “This is something no one has ever done before until now. We are the only shipyard able to build such large catamarans in full aluminium [to a size] of 499GT.” The announcement can be seen as a sign of innovations to come at the yard, which was acquired by The Italian Sea Group in late 2021. Luxury hybrid yacht manufacturer Wider is also jumping on the bandwagon. After carving a niche in hybrid monohulls, the Italian yachtbuilder moved into catamarans, unveiling its first multihull WiderCat 92 in 2022. Penned by Luca Dini Design, the yacht features the company’s hybrid-electric technology and comes with a zero emission mode for silent, sustainable cruising. Speaking of the market’s increased interest in multihulls, Marcello Maggi, president of Wider, says, “We believe there are two main drives at play: one is the strong demand for catamarans due to their implicit increased living areas; the second is the exponential increase of attention to sustainability factors, as well as reduced consumption and less noise and vibration. “Moreover, from an engineering point of view, the greater width compared to a monohull allows the exploitation of a greater surface area intended for the use of solar panels, an additional source of energy for the Wider serial hybrid propulsion system.” Maggi also points to increased stability as a key benefit. “Multihulls do not need additional stabilisers – avoiding extra material aboard and everything that goes with it, from the construction process to the energy needed for navigation – as their structure already serves this purpose.” He foresees huge potential, particularly in creativity and design. “There is still a lot to discover in this particular segment. It is no coincidence that the brief given to the designers was clear: create PHOTOS FROM LEFT: © WIDER, ALBERTO COCCHI 54 CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM
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 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 “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. PHOTOS FROM TOP: © PERINI NAVI, © ALVA YACHTS From top: Perini Navi’s Art Explorer; the Alva Yachts Ocean Eco 78 Previous page, from left: the WiderCat 92; the Silent 60 CENTURION-MAGAZINE.COM 55
