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 tip of the 12 months.
The occasions are the newest in a current 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 largest 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 newest Lagoon Escapade Thailand, three years since its earlier version. In Hong Kong later that month, the area’s largest yacht seller 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 models of the Lagoon 55 arrived within the Singapore and Philippines, the place one other is ready 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 models of the model’s most eco-friendly mannequin are scheduled for supply to China, Thailand and the Philippines this 12 months.
Lagoon is ready 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 bought out via 2024.
It was a powerful follow-up to the favored entry-level Extra 11, which has bought over 250 models all over the world 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 vigorous expertise for skippers, whereas all fashions characteristic 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 ready to reach in Bali in June via 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 Good Electrical model, which debuted on the Cannes Yachting Pageant final September. It was the model’s first mannequin to characteristic 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 Good Electrical x REXH2. A collaboration with EODev, a hydrogen options specialist, the prototype makes use of applied sciences from the 100ft Vitality Observer catamaran, which is roofed in photo voltaic panels, has two wing sails and an electrolyser that permits it to provide its personal hydrogen.
Fountaine Pajot can also be getting ready to make a splash at this 12 months’s Cannes Yachting Pageant (September 12-17) when it levels 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 without doubt one of the three giants of manufacturing pleasure cats and not too long ago showcased its complete 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 below totally different names by sister constitution firms 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 widespread 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 may also talk with these within the cockpit. Photo voltaic panels and lithium batteries are an choice, whereas all new Leopards now characteristic water purification know-how that permits homeowners and visitors 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 models of the Leopard 45 to Korea.
In the meantime, Bali continues to steadily improve its presence in Asia, primarily via 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 models, principally to Hong Kong but additionally to Singapore and Thailand.
The French builder’s crusing cat vary remains 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 finally 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 and not using a flybridge, however new options embody two helm stations aft and the choice of two, three or 4 cabins.
“With the Catsmart, Bali is coming into the favored 38ft phase 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 format is exclusive available on the market. She’s a small, compact multihull that may 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 because 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 stable foredeck.
“When our purchasers or prospects go onboard a Bali for the primary time, we frequently hear, ‘wow, there’s a lot area’, which is one of the best remark we are able to obtain,” Noyel says. “Additionally, the Asia market is especially anticipating innovation and new experiences, which makes Bali catamarans notably engaging.”
ECO FIRST
Sunreef continues to make headway into Asia, with final 12 months’s appointment of Hong Seh Marine as its seller in Singapore and this 12 months’s announcement of Lee Marine as its consultant in Thailand. The Polish shipyard can also be increasing its presence within the UAE the place it has opened an workplace in Dubai and is creating 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 exhausting 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 capable of generate vitality from the passive movement of the 2 propellers via a sophisticated hydrogeneration system. All vitality obtained is used to energy each the lodge 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 models 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 acknowledged that gross sales throughout final 12 months’s Cannes Yachting Pageant included two Sunreef 60 Eco and three Sunreef 60 sail catamarans.
Sunreef can also be creating the 80 Eco Hydrogen for an proprietor who desires to “go far and depend on clear vitality, even when there’s not sufficient daylight to generate solar energy”. The shipyard is engaged on a system that may allow hydrogen to be produced from sea water, utilizing solar energy and hydro era. The yacht may even embody Sunreef’s solar-power system, which can help with powering all onboard operations and the electrical propulsion system.
This text was first printed on Yacht Model.
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