It’s an thrilling time in Asia for crusing catamarans, with the Singapore Yachting Pageant in late April internet hosting the Southeast Asia debut of the Lagoon 55, whereas sellers Simpson Marine and Europa Yachts are organising Lagoon Escapades in Thailand and the Philippines respectively in the direction of the top of the 12 months.

The occasions are the most recent in a latest sequence of activations by the world’s main pleasure catamaran builder within the area, which is overseen – together with younger sister model Extra – by the Groupe Beneteau Asia-Pacific workplace in Hong Kong.

Final 12 months, a Lagoon Seventy 7 was delivered to Japan, the place it grew to become the nation’s greatest crusing catamaran, whereas a Lagoon 42 was displayed on the twenty seventh Yokohama Floating Yacht Present (September 30-October 2).

In October, Simpson Marine hosted the most recent Lagoon Escapade Thailand, three years since its earlier version. In Hong Kong later that month, the area’s greatest yacht vendor staged the Asia premiere of the Lagoon 55, a mannequin that debuted in Europe in 2021 and launched the model’s “aft terrace on the ocean”.

In March this 12 months, a Lagoon 42 displayed on the Japan Worldwide Boat Present in Yokohama, whereas in April a Lagoon 46 confirmed on the Sanya Worldwide Boat Present in China earlier than a Lagoon 40 exhibited on the Busan Worldwide Boat Present in Korea.

In the meantime, the Lagoon 55 used for the regional debut in Hong Kong was delivered to its proprietor in mainland China, whereas additional items of the Lagoon 55 arrived within the Singapore and Philippines, the place one other is about to reach this 12 months, with Japan additionally set to welcome the mannequin.

Hong Kong and the Philippines are the primary markets to welcome the Lagoon 51 that debuted final 12 months and solely made its US debut on the Miami Worldwide Boat Present in February. Extra items of the model’s most eco-friendly mannequin are scheduled for supply to China, Thailand and the Philippines this 12 months.

Lagoon is about to rejoice its fortieth anniversary in 2024 with the launch of a number of new fashions, whereas new improvements – that may be retro-fitted – embody a brand new resolution to deal with and purify water on board for consuming.

In the meantime, on the Cannes Yachting Pageant final September, sister model Extra staged the world premiere of its all-new Extra 14, which has proved a giant success, with manufacturing offered out by way of 2024.

It was a powerful follow-up to the favored entry-level Extra 11, which has offered over 250 items world wide because it debuted in 2020, the 12 months after the model launched with the 12 and 15 fashions. Designed to supply related crusing sensations to monohulls, the model’s twin-helm design provides a energetic expertise for skippers, whereas all fashions function naval structure by French studio VPLP.

The primary Extra 11 was not too long ago delivered to Hainan, whereas throughout Asia-Pacific, the model’s gross sales are led by the constitution and cruising paradise of Tahiti in French Polynesia, adopted by the likes of Japan, Australia and New Zealand.

NEW TECH, NEW 80

Fountaine Pajot, the world’s second-biggest leisure cat builder, has additionally been energetic in Asia, with a Tanna 47 and Alegria 67 set this 12 months for Hong Kong, the place Asia Yachting now represents the model’s crusing catamarans in addition to its motor yachts, and has already delivered an Isla 40.

An Astrea 42 is about to reach in Bali in June by way of Yacht Sourcing, whereas an Aura 51 arrived in Korea earlier this 12 months. Launched final 12 months, the Aura 51 is notable for the choice of built-in photo voltaic panels providing as much as 2,000W (2kW) and marks the beginning of a brand new sustainability-focused new period for the builder.

The mannequin adopted Fountaine Pajot’s announcement to create low-carbon and ideally internet carbon-neutral cruising boats by 2030, with the builder forming the in-house ODSea (Observe, Design & Save) Lab to develop eco-friendly applied sciences.

Quickly after the launch of the Aura 51, Fountaine Pajot launched the mannequin’s Sensible Electrical model, which debuted on the Cannes Yachting Pageant final September. It was the model’s first mannequin to function electrical motors and an clever on-board administration system, together with lithium batteries and a hydrogeneration system.

This 12 months, Fountaine Pajot launched its first hydrogen-powered cruising cat, the Samana 59 Sensible Electrical x REXH2. A collaboration with EODev, a hydrogen options specialist, the prototype makes use of applied sciences from the 100ft Power Observer catamaran, which is roofed in photo voltaic panels, has two wing sails and an electrolyser that permits it to supply its personal hydrogen.

Fountaine Pajot can be making ready to make a splash at this 12 months’s Cannes Yachting Pageant (September 12-17) when it phases the world premiere of its ‘New 80’ flagship, one other collaboration with the Berret Racoupeau studio headed by Olivier Racoupeau, which has designed for Fountaine Pajot for over a decade.

Earlier than that, in late June, the La Rochelle builder is internet hosting sea trials for all seven of its present crusing cats – Isla 40, Astrea 42, Elba 45, Tanna 47, Aura 51, Samana 59 and Alegria 67.

STRONG IN ASIA

Together with Lagoon and Fountaine Pajot, Leopard is likely one of the three giants of manufacturing pleasure cats and not too long ago showcased its whole vary of each crusing and energy cats on the Worldwide Multihull Present at La Grande Motte within the south of France.

Constructed by Robertson & Caine in South Africa, Leopard fashions are additionally used underneath totally different names by sister constitution corporations The Moorings and Sunsail. Its present three-model crusing vary was accomplished with the Lagoon 42 in 2021, with the small sister becoming a member of the 45 and the flagship 50 in a sequence that shares frequent options together with a ahead saloon door to the foredeck cockpit.

Different signature options embody the semi-raised helm to starboard, the place the skipper has a flybridge view however can even talk with these within the cockpit. Photo voltaic panels and lithium batteries are an possibility, whereas all new Leopards now function water purification expertise that permits homeowners and friends to get pleasure from consuming water straight from the faucet.

Of over a dozen Leopard powercats and crusing catamarans arriving in Asia since final 12 months, there have been three deliveries of the Leopard 50 to China and one to Japan, in addition to two items of the Leopard 45 to Korea.

In the meantime, Bali continues to steadily improve its presence in Asia, primarily by way of Asiamarine, which not too long ago hosted the Bali 4.2 Open Day in Hong Kong (see EVENTS) earlier than displaying the Catspace on the Singapore Yachting Pageant on the finish of April. Asiamarine has represented Bali since 2020, promoting over a dozen items, largely to Hong Kong but additionally to Singapore and Thailand.

The French builder’s crusing cat vary continues to be headed by the flagship 5.4 that debuted in 2018, however its six different fashions – together with the Catspace (40ft), 4.2, 4.4, 4.6 and 4.8 – have all been launched from 2020 onwards, with the 4.4 having its world premiere eventually 12 months’s Worldwide Multihull Present.

Bali’s latest mannequin is the entry-level Catsmart, which premiered at La Grande Motte this April. The 38-footer has a 21ft-plus beam and is the model’s first mannequin with out a flybridge, however new options embody two helm stations aft and the choice of two, three or 4 cabins.

“With the Catsmart, Bali is getting into the favored 38ft section and is reinforcing its portfolio, with seven fashions from 38-54ft,” says Eric Noyel, founder and CEO of Asiamarine, who hopes the primary Catsmart in Asia will arrive in the summertime of 2024.

“The Catsmart boasts the model’s well-known improvements however differs with the absence of a flybridge and the inclusion of two steering wheels behind the hulls for enhanced pleasure on the helm. Additionally, the two-suite structure is exclusive in the marketplace. She’s a small, compact multihull that can appeal to crusing lovers with a tighter price range.”

Since rising as an offshoot of Catana Group in 2014, Bali has grown quickly and joined the world’s hottest crusing cat manufacturers on account of pioneering options just like the signature ‘Bali door’, a full flybridge (on all however its smallest mannequin), sliding saloon home windows, ahead saloon door and strong foredeck.

“When our shoppers or prospects go onboard a Bali for the primary time, we frequently hear, ‘wow, there’s a lot area’, which is the very best remark we are able to obtain,” Noyel says. “Additionally, the Asia market is especially looking forward to innovation and new experiences, which makes Bali catamarans notably enticing.”

ECO FIRST

Sunreef continues to make headway into Asia, with final 12 months’s appointment of Hong Seh Marine as its vendor in Singapore and this 12 months’s announcement of Lee Marine as its consultant in Thailand. The Polish shipyard can be increasing its presence within the UAE the place it has opened an workplace in Dubai and is growing a manufacturing facility in Ras Al Khaimah.

Sunreef continues to develop its Eco vary of crusing catamarans, which started final 12 months with the launch of the primary 80 Eco, Marie- Joseph. The mannequin had its world premiere on the Cannes Yachting Pageant final September earlier than showing on the Monaco Yacht Present later that month and this 12 months’s Dubai Worldwide Boat Present in March. The primary Sunreef 60 Eco, Surreal, additionally launched final 12 months.

Not too long ago, Sunreef revealed its second all-electric 80 Eco crusing catamaran. In distinction to Marie Joseph’s dark-blue hull, the second 80 Eco has a light-green hull dominated by Sunreef’s darkish ‘photo voltaic pores and skin’ and hull home windows, whereas its white superstructure options the ultralight composite–built-in photo voltaic panels on the edges and flybridge arduous high. In contrast to Marie-Joseph, the brand new mannequin doesn’t have photo voltaic panels across the mast.

Along with the solar-power system, Sunreef’s Eco fashions are additionally in a position to generate power from the passive movement of the 2 propellers by way of a complicated hydrogeneration system. All power obtained is used to energy each the resort home equipment and electrical propulsion for silent, emission-free cruising.

The shipyard provides Eco variations of the corporate’s present vary of crusing fashions, first seen in 2018 with the Sunreef 60 and Sunreef 80 earlier than the primary items of the 50 and 70 adopted in 2019 and 2020 respectively.

The Sunreef 80 has been the most well-liked of the 4 fashions, underlining the builder’s concentrate on massive catamarans, though the shipyard said that gross sales throughout final 12 months’s Cannes Yachting Pageant included two Sunreef 60 Eco and three Sunreef 60 sail catamarans.

Sunreef can be growing the 80 Eco Hydrogen for an proprietor who desires to “go far and depend on clear power, even when there’s not sufficient daylight to generate solar energy”. The shipyard is engaged on a system that can allow hydrogen to be produced from sea water, utilizing solar energy and hydro era. The yacht can even embody Sunreef’s solar-power system, which is able to help with powering all onboard operations and the electrical propulsion system.

This text was first printed on Yacht Fashion.

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