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The Cat & The Cream By Jim Roberts

You might say it is a sailing yacht that happens to be a superyacht rather than the other way round…

The world’s largest sloop-rigged catamaran was launched in Europe last year, setting a new benchmark for luxury catamaran design and production. The Sunreef 114, a true super-cat, is a marvel of innovation and style and you’d be forgiven for indulging in a Cheshire-like grin should you

happen across this most classy of creatures.

In modern sailing, the popularity of catamarans has increased dramatically in recent years. From production yachts to dedicated catamaran charter f leets, ‘cats’ are evermore ubiquitous at the world’s waterfronts.

One of the world’s leading lights in custom and semi-custom catamarans is Sunreef Yachts. A family-owned and operated business based in Poland, Sunreef Yachts was set-up by two French brothers in 2000. With over 50 boats now afloat on various seas, they have really made a mark in this prestigious market.

Last year Sunreef put itself firmly on the superyacht map with the launch of a 114’ sloop-rigged catamaran - the largest sloop-rigged cat in the world.

For the less nautically inclined out there, the simple difference between monohull and catamaran is a single or twin hull respectively. While a monohull would ordinarily house the accommodation and facilities below decks, a catamaran contains some of these elements on the bridge-deck (the area spanning between the two hulls) such as the social area, galley and internal helm and navigation stations while down in each hull you will invariably find the cabins and facilities. Luxury catamarans come in both power and sail variants, as do monohulls.

With greater demand for catamarans, the design and manufacturing competition is fierce amongst the production vessels. Production purchase choices are fairly plentiful these days but there is now rising demand for custom and semi-custom designs. So what do you get in 114’ of custom-built catamaran? Quite a lot, it turns out.

Let’s start with the sheer scale of the vessel. Not only is it 35m long, it’s nearly 13m wide (42’). When that is translated into a huge, flat platform it makes for a massive amount of space. The Sunreef is a looker as well - long, lean hulls, wrap-around windows at the front of the saloon deck, contemporary hull window designs and a beautifully proportioned flybridge nestling above the cockpit and saloon.

Besides looking beautiful and elegant, this boat comes across as a sailing vessel. That might seem a strange thing to say but the sailing element of a superyacht is not always the first concern in design where layout and luxury take priority. You might say it is a sailing yacht that happens to be a superyacht rather than the other way round (often the case with sailing superyachts).Catamarans from around 45’ in length have recently shown a trend towards f lybridges for the primary steering position so it’s really no surprise to see that here. In addition to the helm position on the flybridge is a huge entertaining deck with dining table and wrap-around seating and a massive sun-lounge area. Guests can luxuriate in the sun or under the stars with a wonderfully elevated view to the waterfront or across the water. While under sail, up top is an exhilarating spot to feel the power and speed of the vessel and watch the crew at work managing the enormous sails.

Luxury catamarans generally boast the most amazing outdoor social spaces - the breadth of the aft deck allows the crew or guests

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to spread out either in shade or not as the whim takes. The Sunreef aft deck is split into alfresco dining to starboard and a coffee/banquet table and lounge area to port. Aft of this area is a teak-laid deck leading to steps down to the water on either side - an open invitation to take a dip.

The alfresco area is designed to f low seamlessly into the saloon through smoked glass doors creating a sense of outdoor openness even when in the saloon. A professional galley has been placed at the saloon level by request so that the food preparation area is a feature of social involvement. Separated by a glass wall it is the equivalent of a theatre kitchen and adds a professional touch when crew are at work or lends to an open-plan element when used by the owners. The galley can be hidden away behind blinds for the less-than-glamorous, post-prandial clean-up.

It was this level of attention to detail and the high-quality features that got Australian importer Multihull Solutions interested. According to director Mark Elkington: “We had followed Sunreef for many years. Features like the custom interior options, large engine rooms, f lybridge options, and power and sail choices suited Multihull Solutions’ product development strategy. After spending time at Sunreef ’s yard in Poland in 2009 we were amazed at the complexity of the yard and the diversity of the team. The icing on the cake was the sea trials on a number of models and we reached an agreement to manage the sales and distribution in Australia and New Zealand shortly afterwards.”

As you’d anticipate on a vessel this size the accommodation is sumptuous. Most of the starboard hull has been

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CUSTOM AND SEMI-CUSTOM

A custom-built boat is one where you have the choice of design, size, hull material, number of cabins and virtually anything your imagination can conjure.

Semi-custom is a well-designed, limited production boat where you choose the cabin layout, interior materials, instrumentation, mechanical systems, sails and so on but generally conform to the length and volume as set by the builder and naval architect.

MULTIHULL SOLUTIONS

Multihull Solutions is the exclusive Australian and New Zealand distributor for some of the world’s leading multihull brands. Multihull Solutions continually develops its business to offer the very best products and facilities catering to those looking for the perfect catamaran and strive to offer unprecedented levels of service within the marine industry.

multihullsolutions.com.au

dedicated to the owner suite with private access, twin beds, a large desk facing panoramic windows, full size wardrobes, bookshelves and a full-length mirror. The suite is also equipped with an audio-visual array (as are all cabins) while the bathroom is spacious enough for separate shower, toilet and vanity yet not so spacious that it is hazardous to use while at sea.

The aft section of the starboard hull features storage, large fridge, wine cellar and a twin guest cabin. The port hull has generous crew accommodation forward and twin guest cabins with private en-suite showers aft. The provision for good crew quarters says a lot about the owners - the crew space can often come across as a bit of an after thought.

The benefit of a custom build is that as an owner you have a huge amount of influence in what you get. The Sunreef 114 launched in 2010, called Che, had its interior styling designed by the owners. The concept for the interior was to follow a yin-yang philosophy of balance and the harmony of opposites. The choices included caramel bamboo wood applied to all f loor and furniture surfaces contrasted by grey upholstery and high-gloss turquoise tabletops and decoration elements. The teak deck on both the aft deck and flybridge deck completes the design.

Complementing the luxury element and adding a bit of fun is a host of toys and gadgets. The Sunreef 114 can hold two tenders - one in a garage under the aft deck and another on davits at the stern - waterski equipment, snorkelling gear, a seabob, two kayaks and a selection of inf latable water toys. Each cabin comes equipped with stand-alone f lat-screen TV/DVD and BOSE surround sound system. Whether in search of relaxing indoor or active outdoor entertainment, everything you could need is on hand.

The Sunreef 114 Che was born of a desire for good sailing, superyacht luxury and a sense of serenity and balance. In other words, it ’s a vessel capable of challenging ocean passages yet a beautiful and comfortable home for both guests and crew. These contrasting elements make the yin and yang philosophy of complementary opposites seem very apt indeed.