November 25, 2008

MULTIHULLS WORLD "BOAT SHOW ISSUE" PUBLISHED - MULTICOQUES MAG "EDITION SALON DES MULTICOQUES" PUBLIE

The latest issue of the Multihulls World magazine is already avaible to download online or to purchase at your favorite book store. I am lucky to have been able to write the catamaran yachts section in this issue.
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On Multihulls World website you can also Download back issues, special issues like the last one about "Around the World cruising on a multihull" and multihulls tests conducted by the magasine editorial staff. This can be interesting if you you plan to purchase a catamaran for example. If you prefer the paper issue you can order it on line or suscribe at the magazine for a year or with the discovery option for 3 issues. The staff of the Magazine will be present at the Paris Boat Show from the 6 th to the 14 th of December. You might see me on the stand in Paris.
So get the magazine and start reading and dreaming.

November 24, 2008

"DOUCE FRANCE" STILL THE LARGEST MEGA CATAMARAN - AVAILABLE FOR CHARTER

I recently added a link to "DOUCE FRANCE" website in the Catamaran Category because I just recently found her website. There are some nice pictures and her charter calendar for the lucky ones interested.
"DOUCE FRANCE" is still the largest luxury catamaran launched so far until "HEMISPHERE" is (which I really hope comes quickly). You can find information about her in the luxury catamaran blog. Just for a rLieneminder "DOUCE FRANCE" was launched in 1998 by Alumarine on VPLP drawings and an Anne Monique Bonadei interior design.
She is actually sailing in the Seychelles area and will be back in the Mediterranean for the summer season. She accomodates 12 guest in 6 staterooms with ensuite bathrooms, and a crew of 8. She looks brand new after having completed a year long refit at the New Zealand Yacht Shipyard where all the systems were checked and changed when needed, and she was painted.

November 17, 2008

MOXIE YACHTS - THE M 61 - AN INNOVATIVE LUXURY CATAMARAN - A VPLP DESIGN BUILT BY THE JAZ SHIPYARD IN CAPE TOWN

MOXIE was named after the 51 footer Trimaran skippered by 65 years old Phil Weld in the 1980 OSTAR race. Phil Weld made it first to Newport. The M 61, designed by VPLP, and built in carbon is certainly from the same blood. Some of you will recognize the lines of the famous "CILIAM", the Lago 92 also by VPLP with the same interior designer Anne Monique Bonadei. With this World class team, including Cape Town base Jaz Marine shipyard, Moxie Yachts has defined a new concept of high speed cruising in total confort. For performance, the MOXIE 61 will be fully buiLt in carbon from bottom of the dagger boards to top of the mast. VPLP has imported a sail and deck plan from their experience in designing self handling offshore racers. The mast located aft for better weight distribution will be rotating with a Kevlar rig. The hulls are powerful and feature retractable dagger boards for upwind performance and easier access to nice moorings.

For the confort, a roof as large as the beam garantees a lot of space and light inside. The interior lines are clear and clean. The M 61 offers a large owner suite, two nice ensuite cabines for the guests, and sleeping quarters for the crew and kids. A very large and confortable cockpit is protected from the sun by a ridig bimini top.

The MOXIE 61 is scheduled to be launched end of 2009. Need any body for the sea trials ?

November 13, 2008

BEFORE PARIS BOAT SHOW LUXURY CATAMARAN UPDATE

I wanted to take some time a few weeks before the Paris Boat Show to write this post about my clients, partners and friends of the blog.

I am currently working with and for Gregor Tarjan on two major luxury catamaran projects. Both will be tremendous breakthroughs in this small market niche. Gregor is a very well know Multihull specialist in the US and has published the successful catamaran bible “CATAMARANS Every Sailor's Guide". He has a lot of energy and just like me really is a catamaran fan.



ALCYON YACHT
Paul Renaud has lately designed a 125 footer and a 164 footer for a Swiss client that will soon be introduced in his new website. I like Paul designs because he is just filling a missing niche: Designing very large catamarans inspired by motor yacht comfort but with catamaran advantages. I am working on his new website structure and content. I will keep you informed when it is launched.

FRANCK DARNET DESIGN



I trained Franck Darnet’s team to efficiently handle PR. They have been very successful with it and have got national coverage in the French Press in famous financial newspaper “Les Echos”, weekly best selling magazine “ Le Figaro Magazine”, and yachting magazines such as “voiles et voiliers”, “voile magazine”. They also have achieved international coverage in Yachting magazines including a five page article in “YACHT DESIGN”. Franck Darnet has designed the NAHEMA 120 and 150 and recent yachts such has the SUNRISE 45. He is involved with his Miami based partner Karine Rousseau in many other projects such as an eco-friendly hotel, submarine houses, luxury motor homes...



Olivier’s Racoupeau design office is really busy as usual working for Beneteau, Fountaine Pajot and on one off projects such as the Z 90 a very innovative catamaran to be launched next year. I wrote the design office last two newsletter as well as part of the website.

EXCLUSIVE

I am very happy to have been contacted by ExclusivE founder: Georges Benarroch. He is an amazing personage (as we say in French). Georges has chartered many cats, and has worked very hard to put together the ExclusivE 76 concept with the goal of building the best catamaran in this range. We are almost there, the first unit should be launched first semester next year. I am actually working on his new website and have put together a complete PR plan for him for next year. So look out you will be soon hearing a lot about the ExclusivE 76.


JFA


JFA is building the VPLP 110 to be launched in 2010. Their reputation of a very serious and quality orientated shipyard, with a small structure close to the client is growing in the industry. I have written for them their latest news letter. I hope we will get a chance to work together again in a next future.

MULTIHULLS WORLD

Jean Christophe Guillaumin, the editor of Multihull world, called me sometime ago and asked me if I would be interested in writing articles about luxury cat in his magazine. Guess what my answer was ? So check the next issue for the Paris Boat Show and you will discover a complete section on yacht catamarans, as well as a complete survey of most of the recent all sized catamarans afloat as well as future projects. If you can not find the magazine in a library close to you, you can download it on the website.



NAHEMA


The NAHEMA 120 is being built in la ciotat (France). I was missioned by NAHEMA for a year to make the brand know on an international level. With more than 20 articles in the international yachting press and a very large coverage on the web I think it really is a success. They are now on their own and I hope I will get a chance to work on other projects again in the coming future.


WILLMAR


Philippe Guillemin established Willmar a few years ago in Florida. He is the main importer of Fountaine Pajot catamaran and distributes the ExclusivE 76 and other Gilles Ollier designs. He really has a great expertise in catamarans for having built and sail many of them and worked on yachts building projects all around the world. Willmar had some trouble with being found on the web and wanted French speaking people looking for a good value cat in the US and Caribbean to be able to find them. I have launched for him a blog in French working on the necessary most efficient tag words to be found on the web.



SPECIAL THANKS TO :


Ewa Starchuska, the experienced SUNREEF PR, for sending me regular information to publish on the blog and sharing some ideas about our jobs. I think we work quite the same way.


Chandler Collins, GUNBOAT marketing and pr for keeping me updated on the GUNBOAT catamarans.

Hugo le Breton, Le Breton Yachts, for keeping me updated on the SIG 45 a real breakthrough in catamaran design, a great project.


Tom Ashwell, from Synergy Yachting Partner, for launching with me the www.catamaranpro.com forum which is not really famous yet but we hope will have more success with all the future launches of luxury catamarans.

Greg Young, the talented designer of the Young 80 for sending me news about his designs.

Gayle, from Seaspray Magazine, for cheering me up and being a real catamaran fan.

All the suscribers to the RSS feed and regular readers who didn't suscribe yet.


All of you who have sent me emails and with whom I am keeping in touch even outside the blog.



FUTURE DEVELOPMENT


I am actually trying to find a computer partner in the Rennes area ( France) to help me developing a nicer format to the blog with added interactive features. So Stay Tuned...

November 10, 2008

THE SIG 45 IS SAILING - FAST - FIRST VIDEO

Not only she is beautiful but she sails fast. Enjoy watching the Sig 45.

LUXURY CATAMARAN UPDATE WITH YOUR HELP

I am looking for recent news, pictures... for the following Cats to publish on the blog.
Also if you are crewing a large catamaran and have some pictures and news they are welcome.
The same if you are the lucky owner of one of this great cats.


DOUCE France
LADY BARBARETTA
ALLURES
RAPHOLI
CILIAM
ORION
SUN TENAREZE
HIGHEST HONOR
LONESTAR
MAGIC CAT
ETOILE MAGIQUE
ALUMARINE 80
LADY PACA
FAT CAT
CORIOLAN VI
ZINGARA
AKASHA
CHE
NAHEMA IV
INDIGO FLYER
BLUE GURU
BELLA DONNA
WONDERFUL

November 3, 2008

PROUT 93 - THE LEGEND LIVES ON !

In 1960 the Prout Brothers designed the first "SNOW GOOSE" an 11 meter cruising catamaran, more than 40 years later the legend lives on with a range from 45 to a 100 foot built in China.



Celebrity Yachts, a canada based company, is now the manufacturer of the Prout Range. The Prout are built in china at 30 % the cost of a European or American built catamaran with the same level of quality (that's what their website says, I know some readers won't be happy about that). The PROUT 93 is built out of E-Glass and Isophatalic Resin to German Loyds recommandations. The new design of the Prout range is quite nice compared to the old ones. The Prout 93 offers a very large salon with a great view on the outside. The dining room can seat up to twelve guest. Of course the interior can be fully customized but the layout offered in the brochure is quite interesting and shows how spacious the Prout 93 is. The huge platform welcome not only the dining room but also 3 bar areas. One of them displays a Japanese style tepannyaki grill. The owner suite at mast foot is huge with a splendid view on the sea, a retractable flat screen TV, a separated master bath with double sinks and a jacuzzi type shower. The hulls host two vip guest staterooms with king size beds and two smaller guest suites.


No doubt with such a design and at a reasonnable cost the Prout 93 will be a success.