Sunreef Yachts signs contract for a new composite performance catamaran
Following two superyacht launches in 2010, Sunreef Yachts continues moving forward in the field of large yacht design. In early 2011, the shipyard received an order for an 82 feet Double Decker, and the company is now delighted to announce a new sale of a similarly sized 80 feet LOA yet dramatically different concept based on light displacement, performance and speed.
Commissioned by a European owner, the Sunreef 80 will be made of an advanced composite sandwich combining vinylester, PVC foam and carbon/glass fibre, with a carbon mast and boom, standing rigging by Kevlar and total sail area of 340 m2, weighing just 45T lightship and 60T fully loaded. The sleek and sporty exterior line was designed carefully to reduce windage and water resistance.
The yacht is designed to comfortably accommodate 9 guests and 4 crew. For the very first time on a Sunreef single deck catamaran, the owner suite will be located on the main deck. As is the case for all Sunreef catamarans, the cockpit and flybridge will feature dining areas, sunbathing pads and extended storage.
The mould is currently under construction, and the yacht is due to be launched in March 2013. The Sunreef 80 will begin the new composite superyacht series intended for owners who wish to enjoy fast sailing adventures without giving up on comfort and fully customized interiors.
We say:
Difficult to get much from the design at this stage, but it’s a crisp unsurprising yacht, a step away from Sunreefs more bold designs. Similar layouts and lines can be found from a few designers and example of this genre of cat is already sailing. At a distance in a harbour will the non cat nerd really know if this is a Sunreef or, say, a Yapluka etc etc.
Also hard to guess whether this is a new mould or adapted from a previous build. New moulding could cost 1-2 million so this would have to become a production model.
All in all this looks a great distance cruising yacht. Looking forward to performance curves and seeing the boat actually leave the dock somewhere between the 45T lightship and 60T cruising weight. Let’s hope the owner doesn’t get too carried away with toys and add-ons.
Sunreef are doing an amazing job here, they have taken the catamaran industry by the scruff of the neck and given it a good shake. Well done! We have one minor complaint. Bodies like the MCA, RYA and many others in the yachting industry have defined a Superyacht as 100ft+ yet according to Sunreef every cat in their fleet seems to be a Superyacht. Without a doubt they are super yachts, but not all Superyachts.
