In its 20 years of setting up high-end customized catamarans, Sunreef has constructed a novel and enviable place on this planet of multihulls.

Based by Frenchman Francis Lapp, the Polish model has made a worldwide identify for itself for its massive and opulent catamarans – and is now combining these property with eco-friendly expertise. So, is the modern Sunreef 80 Eco making an attempt to resolve an unattainable equation? We went in quest of the reply within the waters of the Gulf.

Within the Dubai Marina district, close to the synthetic islands of Palm Jumeirah, Sunreef’s first Eco crusing cat suits completely into its surroundings. Every little thing in Dubai is about extra, whether or not it’s the size of the pontoons or the relentless warmth, however we arrive on the 80 Eco in a small automotive – electrical, in fact.

Lapp is the proprietor of the yacht, naming it Marie-Joseph in tribute to his dad and mom, together with his household travelling to the UAE from France for this particular launch occasion. The catamaran is well worth the journey, exhibiting electrical propulsion, clever vitality administration and new photo voltaic panel expertise.

The shipyard’s inexperienced tech is most evident within the photovoltaic cells built-in into the metallic navy-blue hull and superstructure, which shine like a thousand lights beneath the Gulf solar.

Monitoring All Methods

At both the decrease helm or on the flybridge, the massive contact screens help you management and monitor all on-board features, from the 2 180kW electrical motors to the opening and shutting of the electrical curtains. The ergonomics and reactivity of the interfaces actually are a credit score to the shipyard.

Lapp initially labored in Poland in electrical energy for the development business and his expertise within the subject has helped Sunreef pioneer onboard expertise. Three years and 6 months after presenting the electrical Sunreef 60 crusing yacht E in Cannes, we are able to see how efficiently the expertise has been mastered.

What’s extra, working every part is intuitive. Monitoring of the primary battery financial institution, composed of 5 lithium models of 183 Ah at 600V every, is the cornerstone of the system. State of cost, discharge, temperature, voltage, consumption – all the knowledge is straight away accessible and simply readable in figures or graphs.

With fingertip management, you’ll be able to change to the web page for the 2 electrical motors. Just like the batteries, whose compartment is air-conditioned, they’re monitored by thermal cameras that detect any irregular rise in temperature. The interface additionally permits monitoring of diesel tanks, recent water, waste water, pumps, lighting, navigation lights and so forth.

Delivering a catamaran that’s each modern and dependable was a significant problem. Many features incorporate redundancy, with one piece of kit in use and one other on standby, however instantly accessible. That is the case with the inverter, working off the 24V batteries to energy lighting, electronics and blinds.

Considerably incongruously, the boat additionally has two mills as a security backup, though they hadn’t been used up to now, in response to the skipper. Within the occasion of the batteries’ amperage dropping too low, a generator would begin mechanically. Manually switched on for an illustration, it’s inaudible in its double cocoon.

Photo voltaic Protection

On board the Sunreef 80 Eco, the corporate’s engineers have managed to put in 1,720sqft (160sqm) of photo voltaic panels and that is the primary yacht that includes the expertise throughout the hull topsides and across the carbon mast, which is conductive. It’s an actual technological achievement, described as a revolution by the shipyard.

Along with protecting an distinctive space, these panels have distinctive traits. They’re lower than a millimetre thick, as robust because the composite hull, versatile, comparatively gentle at 0.3 lbs per sq. foot (1.5kg/sqm) and environment friendly.

As no present photo voltaic expertise met such demanding specs, Sunreef launched into a brand new enterprise by designing – and now manufacturing – their very own photovoltaic cells. The connections, the set up, and the way in which to interchange any cells within the occasion of injury are all jealously guarded secrets and techniques.

At anchor, when situations are good in the course of the day, the vitality produced by the photo voltaic panels on the Sunreef 80 Eco can surpass the consumption of the boat, even with the air-conditioning on. The charging depth, due solely to photo voltaic vitality, can theoretically attain 20kW.

Heading Out

As we come off the dock, absolutely the silence and the entire lack of vibration provide a brand new sensation on board. As an alternative, we hear the gentle notes of a virtuoso pianist enjoying dwell within the immense saloon, the dwell music highlighting the yacht’s noiseless efficiency. Moreover, a hydrogeneration system can add to the on-board charging methods.

The 5ft 3in-high home windows, the aft bay window opening to a width of greater than 10ft and the cameras within the mast providing a chicken’s eye view of the platform enable piloting from the decrease helm station, which is on starboard aspect. However it’s from the flybridge that, together with his fingertips, the skipper performs with the 2 motors and the bow thruster.

Heading out to the primary anchorage beneath motor, we reached 10 knots at full energy. Extra fairly, the cruising velocity is round seven knots. The consumption is then 30kW per engine and the digital shows guarantee us we’ve got 8hrs of full autonomy with none recharging.

Other than the aft hydraulic platform, every part on board is electrical, from the winches to the furling of the headsails and the cooker hobs.

On condition that essentially the most ecological option to journey is beneath sail, the fully-battened mainsail is historically mounted on batten automobiles and never a furler. The anticipated efficiency beneath sail in gentle winds is modest, however the waterline size ensures it averages above 10 knots if the wind exceeds 15 knots.

Customized-Made Inside

As at all times with boats from the Gdansk producer, the structure inside is solely modular, each within the distribution of volumes and within the decor. With thick carpeting, noble supplies and cautious lighting, we’re firmly on this planet of luxurious that seduces each celebrities – from tennis legend Rafael Nadal to F1 star Fernando Alonso – and extra discreet homeowners.

Invariably, aboard a catamaran with the size of a tennis court docket, the area and volumes are spectacular, ranging from the aft cockpit and into the huge saloon, which is flanked by two massive C-shaped sofas. There’s sufficient area between them to arrange a big eating desk. Heading ahead, you cross the helm and the bar on the way in which to the foredeck or ahead terrace.

There are a number of choices for the structure of every hull. On this unit, the galley occupies the aft finish of the port aspect, whereas ahead are a visitor cabin and the proprietor’s suite, each accessible by way of a second companionway.

Within the starboard hull, there are three cabins together with one for the crew. The evening zone affords managed temperature, absolute silence, high-end bedding, marble within the loos and a sea view via the massive home windows.

Up on the flybridge, the 360-degree view is spectacular, and beneath means, the obvious wind is shortly noticeable. However, at anchor it will likely be notably solicited.

Beneath its inflexible roof (coated with photo voltaic panels), the flybridge hosts a helm, a saloon space for 10 visitors, an outside galley, a lounge with modernist armchairs and even two treadmills. Too dangerous these run on electrical energy as a substitute of manufacturing it!

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