Sunreef launches 80 Power Eco catamaran

Sunreef Yachts has launched an 80 Power Eco, which it has described as the “world’s most advanced electric motor yacht”.

The Eco version of the popular 80 Sunreef Power – whose owners include Rafa Nadal – entered the water at Sunreef’s second, larger production facility in Gdansk on Poland’s north coast.

The catamaran was commissioned by an experienced family of US-based boat owners “deeply engaged in sustainability and looking for the perfect eco-responsible motor yacht”, according to Sunreef.

The powercat features Sunreef’s revolutionary solar-power system, with panels fully integrated into the hull sides and superstructure, and has two 360kW engines and a set of 990kWh batteries.

The yacht also features an energy-saving air conditioning system and smart energy management, while the custom-tailored layout and décor includes four cabins to accommodate eight guests.

The owners have a long history in yachting, as they explained to Sunreef in an interview. Spending time on the water since childhood, they’ve raced sailboats and cruised extensively in New England, Florida and the Bahamas with family boats, also chartering in the British Virgin Islands.

“Our three generations of close-knit families have enjoyed countless joyful experiences on board our family yachts, but the climate impact of large power yachts is significant,” the owners said.

“We’ve taken extensive steps to impact the climate crises, so we could only consider a motor yacht if it incorporated technologies that are rapidly scaling in other sectors such as solar energy and electric vehicles. Given our focus on sustainability broadly, only an electric ‘Eco’ boat aligned with our values.”

Having researched the market with The Catamaran Company and visited overseas shipyards “to determine who was genuinely and successfully advancing state-of-the-art with electric and sustainable yachting”, the owners decided to build with Sunreef Yachts.

“The result of our discovery process was clear,” the owners said. “Sunreef leads the industry with research and development, high-quality production, highly evaluated sourcing, and compelling on-water performance.”

The couple, their captain, designer and broker all worked directly with Sunreef throughout the project, interfacing remotely with the shipyard’s client-facing team, sometimes on a weekly basis.

“Sunreef allowed for significant input and choice on our part. While we’ve never designed and built a yacht, we’ve brought our style and ideas from our home and hospitality projects, and enjoyed learning and shaping our future marine home,” the owners said.

“On-site visits were extremely efficient in terms of making early design decisions about layout, material, colours and furnishings. Sunreef is a family-run, private company with a history of high achievement, and that culture is evident throughout the organisation.”

The owners plan to spend summers on the yacht in the Northeast of the US, and winters in the Bahamas and the Caribbean when the boat is not being chartered. “The Caribbean is mostly a frontier for us and will offer a wonderful escape from the cold northern winters!”

www.sunreef-yachts.com