Eight years later, the answers to thesequestions seem obvious, and Sunreef hasmade a name for itself as a major player inthe multiyacht segment. The Gdansk-basedbuilder presented, at Cannes, the verysuccessful 114’ CHE as well as the new 58’IN THE WIND, aboard which we spent2 days.

MULTIHULLS COMING FROM THE COLDThe port of Gdansk has a thousand-year-oldmaritime tradition and houses some giganticarsenals. The town, ideally situated on the

edge of the Baltic Sea, on the Vistule river,has 500,000 inhabitants, and the nauticalactivity draws on the huge local skills at itsleisure. Supported by a university fabric andnumerous technical schools; the regionaltraining schemes are reactive, and arediversifying. For its big boats, Sunreef atfirst benefitted from the presence of toplevel aluminium boilermakers and fitting outcabinetmakers, and now masters the skillsof modern composites. The builder makesits hulls using infusion, as well as thecarbon masts and booms, and sub-contrac-

ted locally to equip CHE (34m) with a full setof rails, stanchions and pulpits in titanium –absolutely superb!

AN EXCEPTIONAL TOOLIn 10 years, Sunreef Yacht has progressedspectacularly and launched more than 50boats of from 60’ to 120’! Few of the playersin yachting can pride themselves on suchresults. The success of this industrialadventure is linked to the enterprising per-sonality of its founder (Francis Lapp), to hisambitious and accurate view of custom or

126

SUNREEF 58' IN THE WINDAn up to date builder and boat

TEST

In March 2004, when we tested the Sunreef 74' (an exceptional size for the time!Multihulls World N° 74), we asked the question: is it possible to build biggercruising catamarans; does the clientele for these boats really exist?

1

Text: Philippe Echelle - Photos: Philippe Echelle and DR

126-129_essai_Sunreef 58_MM150-US_essai 07/11/11 21:07 Page126

semi-custom catamarans, butalso to suitable marketing and asuitable manufacturing centre.A talented manager, Francis hasrecruited and federated youngand dynamic skills in all areas(communication, design, tech-nical studies) which optimise the reactivity to customers’requests, and the expertise tomeet the demands of customi-sation. A new 25,000m² factorycan house boats of up to 50min length; a 300-tonne floatingcrane takes care of thelaunches! 340 of the 400 wor-kers take care of the produc-tion, the research and develop-ment consists of 30 people,and a 30 year old Frenchman,Thomas Serré, is in charge ofthe architecture!

MADE-TO-MEASURE YACHTSSunreef’s vocation is to buildcustomised multihull yachts,and the Polish builder seems tohave established a sound repu-tation amongst wealthy ama-teurs. For several years now,the models exhibited at theCannes Boat Show have madeup a choice shop window, butthe presence this year of the114’ CHE strongly reaffirms thismastery, and allows the deve-lopment accomplished sincethe 74’ (CHE n° 1!) to be mea-sured. Sunreef is now capableof offering completely innova-tive atmospheres or turningowners’ dreams into reality, byexpressing them through crea-tive design and artistic fini-shing. The use (on the 114’CHE) of splendid sliced bamboodecoration enhances theimpressive interior architecture,and demonstrates the skills ofthe Gdansk craftsmen. The sizeof these giants reveals complexsets of problems, which appea-red insoluble not so long ago.The rigour of the MCA andVeritas standards applicable tothese big boats covers alldepartments of the project andwould exhaust an operator whowas poorly prepared for suchstakes. Semi-custom boats

benefit from this expertise.

THE 58’, A SUNREEF IN ITSOWN RIGHT

It succeeds the 62’, and is moreliveable whilst remaining com-pact (1.2m less) so as to meetthe manoeuvrability expecta-tions of owners without a crew.It borrows a large part of itsarchitecture and takes advan-tage of the experience genera-ted by the 30 examples of thissuccessful model. Although it isthe youngest of this enormousrange, the 58’ displays the cha-racteristics of its big sisters.Intended for the comfort of itspassengers, its aim is above allto satisfy its owner and create away of life. John, the captain ofIN THE WIND, confided that hisholidays with his children andgrand children had been a suc-cess, an aim he had neverachieved with the superb 70’Sparkman/Stevens he ownedpreviously!

IN THE WINDLaunched at the beginning ofspring, this first boat is repre-sentative of the expectations ofthe enlightened clientele forthese catamarans with customi-sed interiors and equipped withall the available options! Theoverall silhouette does not havethe slimness and the elongationof an Iphara or the Che, but thecomplex-free hedonism of theservices appeals to everyone! Asaloon and steering position onthe flybridge, an exterior diningroom and the luxury of thecabins justify a little corpulence.The silhouette benefits fromgood acceptability and the boatcatches the light well, eventhough the height of the goose-neck (justified by the rigidbimini!) raises the visual centreof gravity. A curved boom fittedlower and a fluid wind deflectorwould alleviate this difficultycleverly! The overall presenta-tion is really convincing and theimage of the little yacht is notencroached on.

Sunreef is now capable of offering completelyinnovative atmospheres or turning owners’

dreams into reality...

127

2

3

4

1 : The Sunreef 58’s overall presentation is really convincing andthe image of the genuine little yacht is not encroached on.

2 : Under sail, this catamaran performs respectably... In strong winds,speeds of 10 to 12 knots are commonplace!

3 : Even though the boom is excessively high, the Sunreef 58 haspretty lines...

4 : A wild anchorage, a comfortable cat, and all that remains is to enjoythe evening... ….

126-129_essai_Sunreef 58_MM150-US_essai 07/11/11 21:07 Page127

ARCHITECTURE ANDCONSTRUCTION

Sunreef has been practisinginfusion for 6 years now, and forthe 58’, set up a complex resindrainage network, which allo-wed lamination in one singleoperation for the hulls and thewhole of the primary structure,with the omegas, to obtain aone-piece chassis. Balsa is usedas a core (foam as an option)associated with vinylester andpolyester resins and glasscloths. The mast and boom, incarbon/epoxy are manufacturedby the Sunreef teams. Theunderwater design is classic;the full, almost circular hull sec-tions are intended to tolerateload variations, but the forwardsections are slim and the coun-ters are completely coherent.The keels have a low aspectratio, to reduce the draft, whilstensuring stability when bea-ched. The bridgedeck has a lotof overlap; it is quite low and theprotrusions in the hull occupypart of the tunnel, to offer amaximum amount of internal

space, which may lead to para-sitic impacts. Optimisation ofthe scantlings of future modelswill favour a significant weightsaving, of more than 2 tonnes,to improve the flow at this level.

GUIDED TOUR ABOARDThe optional engines (2 x 110hpYanmars) are really accessiblefor ordinary maintenance or amore technical service. Thesame goes for the generator,housed in the starboard enginecompartment. The circuits forwater, engine cooling and fuel(with diesel centrifuge) positio-ned on the bulkhead have alsobeen rationally fitted. Grey tech-nical bilge paint and coded mar-king of the functions would beappreciable. Stowage for the batteries andthe air conditioning machinery isjudiciously grouped together inthe central locker at the mast

foot. The main feature isobviously the cockpit lounge-fly-bridge-saloon-galley unit. Thecare dedicated to the fluidity ofthe relationship between thesefour centres is a strong point ofthe quality of life aboard the 58’.Dinners will be eaten in the log-gia, which acts as a welcoming,protected terrace, predisposedto convivial or romantic eve-nings. We tested the judiciousdinghy management system(without davits): returning from adiving trip or the market will nolonger be acrobatic! The fly-bridge area offers a unique, per-

fectly safe viewpoint, with anupper saloon-sunbathing area,the steering position and thecontrol line piano. The 4 cabinson this private owner’s versionare all enviable and superblyequipped (air conditioning, TV,DVD); the owner’s studio is

obviously the biggest. TheJapanese style decorationdraws on the contrasts in the

light tints of the floors, the deepshades of the wengé decorationand the red alcantara. The taste-ful design research is supportedby attractive joinery and anunquestionable build quality.

ON THE WATEROur test version was equippedwith big 110hp engines (shafttransmission), a copious solu-tion, ideally suited to the boat’smixed programme. Control ofthe machine is taken care of

TEST

The 58' is a real sailing boat; it sails wellin light and moderate conditions...

128

7

6

8 9

126-129_essai_Sunreef 58_MM150-US_essai 07/11/11 21:07 Page128

129

with such a reserve of power(8.5 knot cruising speed), butthe bow thrusters appears to beessential for pivoting in tightspaces. Generator operation isdiscreet, we couldn’t hear it; theengines are as quiet as possible,and don’t generate unpleasantfrequencies or vibrations. Theiroperation is imperceptible onthe flybridge. Installation of 2wind generators on the bimini isa step in the right direction! Thecontrol line piano is on the top ofthe coachroof, the battery of bigjammers is carefully organisedto distribute the pendants,halyards and sheets to the elec-tric winches ad hoc. The low fric-tion turning blocks are all assi-gned to reassuring stand-up orpivoting blocks (Harken)...takinginto account the forces in play.Lines are stowed in voluminous

rope lockers, but the Perspexlids are not attached. The superb23-metre carbon mast with nospreaders (cap shrouds – lowershrouds) is generously-dimen-sioned (as is the canoe boom)and supported forward by twoforestays equipped with furlers(genoa and staysail). The asym-metric or the gennaker are seton the bowsprit, which is inte-gral with the compression strut.As always aboard these bigboats, it is advisable to manoeu-vre methodically and with antici-

pation, but actions concerningthe sails are easy and the visibi-lity is perfect. The mainsail isequipped with a preventer linewhich controls the leech whenthe sail is ‘opened’ wide(bravo!). The foresails offer theusual ease of the cutter rig, andhoisting the spinnaker in itssnuffer only needs 2 people. The58’ is a real sailing boat; it sailswell in light and moderate wea-ther: we immediately reached 7– 8 knots in 12 knots of wind ona broad reach, and 9 knots with14 knots of true wind on thebeam. It will sail to windward ifnecessary and is capable of longdelivery trips or ocean cros-sings, as long as it is not tooheavily laden. In strong winds,speeds of 10 to 12 knots arecommon; expectations of higherspeeds do not correspond to the

boat’s programme, even thoughseveral 62-footers have jammedtheir speedo at 22 knots on ins-tantaneous speed

CONCLUSIONThe 58’ appears to have aimedaccurately. It is very comforta-ble, can be fitted out to itsowner’s taste and its use can beoptimised by charter manage-ment, for which the builderoffers a ‘turnkey’ service. Thischoice allows the owner to havea skipper aboard, so he canenjoy the boat immediately. Oncharter, this convivial catamaranwill be a success.

THE MINUSES:

THE PLUSSES:

• Obligatory boat management • Low bridgedeck• Difference between basic and fulloptions prices

• Relevant multiyacht concept • Build quality• Quality of life aboard

THE COMPETITORSMODEL

Builder:

Windward sail area in m²:

Weight in t:

Price exc. VAT in euros:

SANYA 57' LAGOON 560 NAUTITECH 542 SWISS 55'

Fountaine Pajot Lagoon Nautitech Swiss catamaran

150 210 144 121

18.8 28 15.5 16.45

867,690 825,000 798,490 1.250.000

5 : All the control lines return tothe steering position on the fly-bridge.

6 : The cockpit is really impres-sive. Perfect for organising somenice parties.

7 : The galley allows the crew topamper the guests aboard.

8 : As always at Sunreef, theinterior has been designed accor-ding to the owner’s tastes.

9 : The chart table...or how tospend your watches in incrediblecomfort...

10 : This owner’s version’s fourcabins are all enviable and super-bly equipped. But the must is ofcourse the owner’s cabin.

11 : The engine rooms are veryeasily accessible, for maintenance.A real plus!

5

10

11

THOMAS SERRÉ, THE SUNREEF58’s ARCHITECT

We haven’t tried to create a particularlyfast hull, but rather retained the versatilityin all circumstances and load conditions.The hull does not have too much rocker(banana shape), just enough to be able totack well! The keels are not very deep, toallow access to anchorages close to thebeach, without losing much efficiency. Theround sections limit the amount the boatsinks into the water, and the wetted sur-face area, when loaded, and allows goodperformance in light weather. The forefootand the transom are slightly immersed tocombat the start of pitching and improveperformance under power. This boat aimsfor a compromise between economicalconsumption, respectable speed and greatcomfort.

Architect: SunreefBuilder: Sunreef YachtsLength: 18.25mBeam: 9.20mDraft: 1.65mDisplacement: 26tAir draft: 27.30mMaterial: foam/glass/polyester–viny-lester sandwich carbon-epoxy reinforce-ments, infusion processMainsail area: 118m²Gennaker: 120m²Genoa: 63m²Staysail: 32m²Spinnaker: 230m²Engines: 2 x 75hp / 2 x 110hpDiesel: 2 x 700LWater: 2 x 390LPrice: 935,000 euros exc. VAT;1,450,000 euros with all the options

TECHNICALSPECIFICATIONS

126-129_essai_Sunreef 58_MM150-US_essai 07/11/11 21:07 Page129