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alt="Bali, Leopard, Sunreef sailing strong"/>
In late April, Bali staged the world premiere of its 4.4 alongside its other five sailing models at the International Multihull Show at La Grande Motte, just a couple of hours along France’s south coast from its headquarters in Canet-en-Roussillon.
The Bali 4.4 (Review, Issue 65) is the latest of a remarkable series of new models launched over the past couple of years from a brand founded in 2014 by Catana Group owner Olivier Poncin. It started with the world premiere of the Catspace at the Boot Dusseldorf indoor show in Germany in January 2020 and continued that year with the launches of the 4.8 – the brand’s second-biggest model whose layout options include a remarkable version with six ensuite cabins – and the 4.6.
Last year, Bali launched the 4.2 and that was followed by the 4.4, which officially premiered this April, extending the brand’s range of sailing catamarans to six, a remarkable tight-knit portfolio that currently spans from the 40ft Catspace to the flagship Bali 5.4 that debuted in 2018.
A customised Bali 4.8 in Hong Kong
Bali’s ability to quickly entrench itself as a major player alongside Lagoon, Fountaine Pajot and Leopard in this sector is primarily because of its distinctive design innovations. The most notable is the wide ‘Bali door’ that electrically lifts into the ceiling and converts the cockpit and interior social space into one connected area.
Others include the solid foredeck, which notably increases living space and is complemented by a foredeck door on all but the smallest models. Sliding saloon windows, flybridges and huge fridges are other recognisable traits.
Recent Bali arrivals into Asia include a heavily customised Bali 4.8 with flybridge hardtop into Hong Kong for Asiamarine owner Eric Noyel, with the boat also placed into the company’s charter offerings. Asiamarine has represented Bali in Hong Kong and key Southeast Asia markets since 2020.
Bali is developing the Catsmart
And just when you thought Bali might pause for breath, the brand recently released designs for the Catsmart, a 38ft 7in cat with a 21ft 2in beam that will sit just below the Catspace as the new entry model.
Innovations include twin helm stations and a lowered boom due to the absence of a flybridge, while accommodation options range from a two-master layout featuring one en-suite cabin in each hull to a four-cabin layout with each hull featuring two cabins and a shared bathroom.
Leopard completed a refresh of their sailing models last year with the launch of the Leopard 42, which recently won the Sail 40-45’ category in the 2022 Multihull of the Year awards.
Leopard introduced its 42 last year
Having shown the model at this year’s International Multihull Show along with the 45 and 50 plus the 46 and 53 Powercats, Leopard plans to also exhibit its full five-strong fleet at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September. The brand also predicts production this year to be back to pre-Covid levels of close to 200 units and expects this to rise to 220 in 2023.
The Leopard 42, which made its Asia-Pacific debut at the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show last year, reflects ongoing input from Simonis Voogd, the Dutch design studio that also has an office in Cape Town, home of Leopard builder Robertson & Caine.
The model comes with three or four en-suite cabins – the latter an impressive offering on a 42-footer – and retains all the brand’s signature features including the foredeck cockpit with direct access from the saloon.
Upper lounge on the Leopard 45
Other signature features on Leopard sailing cats include the semi-raised helm to starboard, where the skipper has a flybridge view but can also communicate with those in the cockpit. In addition, and unlike her predecessor, the 42 includes an upper lounge following the lead taken by the 50 and 45, while solar panels and lithium batteries are an option.
“The flybridge lounge has been a very popular feature. Leopard engineered the lounge in such a way that you’re not compromising sail area and the boats still maintain the efficiency of the protected, singlehanded helm station,” says Kit Chotithamaporn, Leopard’s Yacht Sales Manager – Asia. “The lounge offers yet another usable space onboard and is the ideal place to enjoy a sundowner at the end of the day.”
Sunreef kick-started 2022 by launching its first two solar-skinned sailing catamarans, the Polish builder splashing the first Sunreef 80 Eco in icy waters in Gdansk before following up in April by lowering the first Sunreef 60 Eco into the water.
The first Sunreef 80 Eco pictured sailing in Dubai
The Sunreef 80 Eco, which has a beam of 38ft, was scheduled to have its world premiere at the Dubai International Boat Show in March, but after missing the event due to shipping delays, she remained in the UAE for sea trials and tests.
“After the show, we had customers on board for sea trials and they were impressed by how the yacht combines luxury and sustainability,” says Francis Lapp, founder and CEO of a company now celebrating its 20th anniversary. “We had very positive feedback on the silent engines and efficiency of the solar panels. It was also a good opportunity to test the energy-saving air-conditioning system.”
Aft cockpit and saloon of the first Sunreef 80 Eco
Unlike most other yachts with solar panels, Sunreef’s Eco models feature a proprietary ‘solar skin’ that can be applied on curved surfaces. The first 80 Eco features solar panels integrated into her hull sides, superstructure, bimini roof and even mast.
The 80 Eco’s sail wardrobe includes a 200sqm mainsail, 155sqm Genoa, 340sqm gennaker and 70sqm staysail. Under sail, the yacht can produce green energy continuously due to her hydrogeneration system, while other green tech includes custom-engineered, lightweight batteries and highly efficient air-conditioning.
“The first tests have shown a very good performance of all the systems – a very smooth cruising experience, efficient solar-power system, autonomy and hydrogeneration while under sail,” says Lapp.
Sunreef recently launched the first 60 Eco
“Sunreef Eco yachts obviously allow for massive fuel savings and it’s worth emphasising that the electric engines are almost maintenance-free. An owner of one of our electric Sunreef sail cats (without solar panels) has been cruising for three years without maintenance of the engines.”
Sunreef offers Eco versions of all its current range of luxury, semicustom sailing catamarans, which comprise the 50, 60, 70 and 80 models. Remarkably, the Sunreef 80 – which spearheaded the range with its world premiere at the 2018 Cannes Yachting Festival – is not only the largest but also the best-selling model in the existing Sail range.
Excess showed all three of its existing models, the 11, 12 and flagship 15, at this year’s International Multihull Show and will premiere the Excess 14 at Cannes in September.
The Excess 14 will show at Cannes
Models by the young Groupe Beneteau brand are designed to offer the ‘sensation’ of sailing monohulls with the living space and stability of a catamaran. Like the other models, the VPLP-designed Excess 14 has twin helm stations aft, while innovations include asymmetric hulls featuring redesigned windows.
World premieres at La Grande Motte included the aluminium CK 70 by Squalt Marine and the Windelo 54 Yachting, which joins the Windelo 50 among eco-friendly solar-electric cats produced by the Canet-en-Roussillon shipyard. Upcoming models include the 47 and 57, with all models available in Adventure, Yachting and Sport versions.
The Windelo 54 debuted at La Grande Motte
Meanwhile, Neel showed its 43, 47 and 51 trimarans at La Grande Motte. The La Rochelle shipyard is represented in key Asia-Pacific markets by Multihull Solutions. To read the first part of the article, click here.
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