Are two hulls better than one? If the array of new build and new concept catamarans are anything to go by, it’s a question the yachting industry appears to increasingly be asking.
Celebrity endorsement in the shape of Rafael Nadal has certainly helped raise awareness of the category, but beyond the tennis ace’s custom Sunreef 80 Power, more and more yacht owners are coming to see that cats are worthy of their attention: The twin hull design delivers larger volumes, greater stability, as well as increased efficiency and speed when compared to its monohull equivalent.
Beyond leisure cruising in shallow, tropical waters, today’s class of catamarans are being primed for global expeditions. The category is also shining bright with early prototypes demonstrating how yachting is going green, such as the hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered power-cat tender by America’s Cup team Emirates Team New Zealand.
From classic models to rugged explorers and support vessels to a hydrogen-fuel-cell-powered cat, here are seven stellar twin-hulled vessels that show how versatile the power-catamaran design can be.