When the subject of sailing yachts is brought up, the general image conjured is that of a strikingly dark, sleek monohull with pure white sails billowing against blue skies. Most newcomers to sailing will also imagine a grand, historic yacht from centuries past – and for that reason the modern catamaran, while just as romantic, remains on the sidelines to receive little, if any attention.
Yet the advantages of sailing a catamaran particularly stand out on a luxury charter holiday: a shallower draft allows your party to venture closer to the exquisite secluded beaches, and an above waterline hull makes for bright and ventilated interiors without the reliance on air conditioning to shift the air flow. The wide beam of a catamaran often reduces the amount of unwanted noise filtering from living spaces into cabins, not to mention providing larger living spaces overall.
As for the modern element, the photos below will attest to the level of sophistication these contemporary interiors receive from globally known designers. Before you head off on your next grand adventure, take a look at these 12 fantastic vessels all built within the last decade, and uncover the unsung allure of catamarans.
There’s even a motor yacht among all those sails.
1. Enigma
Sailing catamaran ENIGMA – A Lagoon 620 model. Photo credit Nicolas Claris
Lagoon is the world leader among modern catamaran builders, celebrating the launch of its 100th hull in May this year. Sailing yacht ENIGMA was built in 2013 and the immaculate interior contains a spacious living room surrounded in all directions by windows or glass doors that lead out onto the aft deck, where the shaded outdoor lounging area provides alfresco dining and sun-touched seating for the best place to relax with hobbies while taking in the watercolour surroundings.
Up on the bridge deck is the cockpit, where guests can spread out on the sunpads or sunbathe on the aft deck.
Luxury catamaran ENIGMA comes with an impressive selection of water toys, including adult and child water skis, kayaks, 2 x paddleboards, a wakeboard, snorkelling gear and diving equipment for Rendezvous diving.
For ease of access to the water with all the water toys, there are two swim platforms and a ladder.
Luxury catamaran ENIGMA – Salon view aft
Length: 19m/61ft
Beam: 10m/32ft
Draft: 1.3m/4ft
Accommodation: 8 guests, 4 cabins
Price per week: $28,000-$33,000 USD p/w plus expenses
Charter grounds: Caribbean
2. Lady Katlo
S/Y LADY KATLO – Built by Lagoon Yachts
The Caribbean can be your playground at any time of the year with catamaran LADY KATLO: Following her 2013 refit she boasts a beautiful interior and exterior salon designed for family and friends charters of up to 6 people. With fewer cabins comes greater space and when guests return from trekking around the Grenadines or swimming and shopping in the BVIs, the cabins will feel more like a personal retreat than a cubbyhole containing a bed.
For entertainment, a media library and games consoles for entertaining the kids while sailing to your next destination, and the water toys selection contains water skis, a wakeboard and snorkelling equipment for family fun in the sun.
Luxury yacht LADY KATLO – Aft deck
Length: 18m/62ft
Beam: 10m/32ft
Draft: 1.5m/5ft
Accommodation: 6 guests, 3 cabins
Price per week: $26,000-$30,000 USD p/w plus expenses
Charter grounds: Caribbean
3. Lucy Z
Sailing yacht LUCY Z – Built by Sunreef Yachts
Luxury yacht LUCY Z from Sunreef Yachts stands out among other sailing yachts due to her brilliant red sail, yet in the vibrant charter grounds of Corsica and Sardinia her burst of colour is all a natural part of the region’s flavour.
Join in with the local culture and savour the best bars and clubs after an afternoon snoozing on a secluded beach with all the facilities of your superyacht to hand: With a draft of only 1.5m/5ft, swapping one water toy for another or heading back on board for refreshments has never been easier.
The interior is where she truly shines, however: custom mahogany furniture and embellishing set the stage for sophisticated dining and entertaining. There is a piano, guitar and djembe on board for live music and when out on the water superyacht LUCY Z has everything guests need to learn how to kitesurf or select from plenty of other water toys.
Luxury catamaran LUCY Z – Salon at night
Length: 23m/74ft
Beam: 11m/35ft
Draft: 1.5m/5ft
Accommodation: 7 guests, 3 cabins
Price per week: €40,000-€44,000 USD p/w plus expenses
Charter grounds: Mediterranean: Corsica, Sardinia
4. 19th Hole
Superyacht 19TH HOLE – Built by Sunreef
Spending the summer along the winding Mediterranean shoreline and winter among the pale sands of the Caribbean, sailing yacht 19TH HOLE follows the best weather to give her guests a stellar experience inside and out.
The interior decor is striking and sultry using a combination of black and white accented with azure blue in the communal living areas, and while you relax in the living room you can watch your meals being prepared in the galley in front of you.
On the aft deck there is a spacious outdoor living area where guests can spread out with hobbies or simply sit and watch the sun sink down over the horizon. The shaded cockpit above the main deck provides an alternative place for guests to dine alfresco together or relax after a fun and tiring day trying out the exhaustive supply of water toys, which include but are not limited to:
- 2 x Seabobs
- 2 x kayaks
- 2 x paddleboards
- snorkelling equipment
- fishing equipment, and
- inflatable and towable toys
Luxury catamaran 19th HOLE – Saloon and galley
Length: 23m/74ft
Beam: 11m/35ft
Draft: 2m/7ft
Accommodation: 10 guests, 4 cabins
Price per week: €40,000 p/w plus expenses
Charter grounds: Mediterranean, Caribbean
5. Maverick
Luxury catamaran MAVERICK – Built by Sunreef
2013 luxury catamaran MAVERICK from Sunreef Yachts has everything to entertain guests of all ages and fitness levels, offering up a comprehensive variety of water toys, including sail boats, scuba diving gear, windsurfers and wakeboards.
While travelling to your next amazong location, the state-of-the-art entertainment system will bring crystal clear clarity to the library of over 1000 films, 30,000 songs as well as video games.
The perfect balance between indoor and outdoor living space, high energy and laid-back fun, luxury catamaran will pack your days with so many opportunities that you’ll never want your holiday to end.
Luxury yacht MAVERICK – Aft Deck
Length: 21m/70ft
Beam: 10m/34ft
Draft: 2m/6ft
Accommodation: 12 guests, 5 cabins
Price per week: €36,500-€41,750 p/w plus expenses
Charter grounds: Bahamas, Caribbean
6. Hutiane
Superyacht HUTIANE – Built by Nuovo Arsenale Cartubi
Luxury catamaran HUTIANE was built in 2011 by Nuovo Arsenale Cartubi and refitted in 2015 to offer impressive surroundings reminiscent of a motor yacht while still retaining all the benefits of the sailing experience.
Expansive windows allow the light to filter through into the interior salon and formal dining area, and the angle retains privacy while berthed. Out on the aft deck the alfresco dining area is complemented by a hydraulic lifting swim platform that can act as sun lounging area or provide easy access in and out of the water for guests with water toys such as Waverunners and kayaks.
The flybridge is one of the most popular areas for parties on board, providing generous seating for alfresco dining between guests as well as a bar for serving cocktails and a barbeque to serve up your freshly caught fish.
Master suite occupiers have a further level of luxury, with a hammam within the en-suite bathroom.
S/Y HUTIANE – Afternoon tea on deck
Length: 31m/102ft
Beam: 12m/40ft
Draft: 2m/8ft
Accommodation: 10 guests, 4 cabins
Price per week: €70,000 p/w plus expenses
Charter grounds: Western Mediterranean
“With the huge array of luxury charter catamarans at breathtaking destinations across the world, there has never been a better time to book your summer holiday. Contact CharterWorld for more details about any of the above superyachts today.”
7. Ipharra
Luxury yacht IPHARRA – Built by Sunreef
A finalist at the Showboats Design Awards 2011 for the Naval Architecture Award: Sailing Yachts and Interior Layout Award: Sailing Yachts categories, superyacht IPHARRA is proven for quality and a popular choice among catamaran lovers in the busy Mediterranean season.
The contemporary interior blends pale wood with monochrome patterns for elegance that make effortless use of the natural light always entering from the surrounding windows. Towards the aft, a galley kitchen is fitted close to the lounging area for convenience whether serving morning coffee or an evening aperitif.
The uncovered flybridge is a hit with sunbathers and party lovers alike, giving guests the chance to dine alfresco before lying back on the sun loungers or moving them aside for ample room to dance.
Superyacht IPHARRA – Alfresco dining in the cockpit
Length: 31m/102ft
Beam: 13m/42ft
Draft: 3m/10ft
Accommodation: 12 guests, 5 cabins
Price per week: €50,000-€55,000 p/w plus expenses
Charter grounds: Mediterranean, Caribbean
8. Ombre Blu
Sailing catamaran OMBRE BLU – Built by Lagoon
The perfect family yacht offering an unbelievable amount of services for her size, luxury catamaran OMBRE BLU epitomises the advice that it’s the crew makes your charter experience successful: Stewardess Melissa is a trained massage therapist and Captain Francesco is a qualified dive instructor familiar with the best and most choice dive locations in the Mediterranean and the Caribbean.
“Dear Melissa and Francesco, Thank you for the most amazing vacation! These past 7 days have been perfect – the weather, food, accommodations etc. Thank you for sharing your beautiful boat with our family. It is clear that you value the satisfaction of your guests and go above and beyond expectations. We have created life long memories aboard the OMBRE BLU and you two will forever be in our hearts!”
– Charter guests aboard M/Y OMBRE BLU, Amalfi, June 2016
The interior of this 2008-built Lagoon yacht uses light-coloured oak and wenge to produce an airy environment ideal for any time of the day for rest and relaxation after the hours have disappeared in exploring the gorgeous coastlines of the Amalfi Coast or Sicily. As well as an aft deck area for guests to use, the forward deck has a cockpit for informal dining and sunbathing out on the nets as the sea water flows by underneath you.
S/Y OMBRE BLU – Sofa and library
Length: 15m/51ft
Beam: 9m/28ft
Draft: 1.4m/5ft
Accommodation: 6 guests, 3 cabins
Price per week: €12,500-€17,500 p/w plus expenses
Charter grounds: Mediterranean
9. Quaranta
Motor catamaran QUARANTA – Built by Curvelle-Logos
Not all catamarans are sailing yachts: superyacht QUARANTA from Turkish builders Curvelle-Logos removes the disadvantages of monohulls yet keeps all the benefits of modern motor yachts, including the ability to reach speeds of up to 25 knots.
Among her contemporary interiors is a large salon for group members to gather before heading out on the water toys to the beautiful bays of St Tropez or Iles d’Hyères. The bar will provide an excellent choice of refreshments upon your return, which you can savour out on the aft deck or at the Portuguese deck seating towards the bow.
Her spacious sundeck hosts sun loungers, a large alfresco dining table and a forward Jacuzzi for those all-important sunset views as you soak your cares away.
Winner of the Catamaran Award at the World Superyacht Awards 2014, luxury catamaran QUARANTA was also a finalist for the Semi-Displacement or Planing Three Deck Motor Yachts from 30m to 44.9m category at the same awards show, as well as at the International Superyacht Society Awards 2014 for Best Power 24m-40m. She also has RINA Class environmental certification, so you can have all the indulgence without any of the guilt.
Luxury catamaran QUARANTA – Main salon
Length: 34m/111ft
Beam: 9m/30ft
Draft: 2m/8ft
Accommodation: 12 guests, 6 cabins
Price per week: €119,000 p/w plus expenses
Special discount: €99,000 p/w plus expenses for any South of France charters booked up to the 7th of July
Charter grounds: Mediterranean
10. Hemisphere
Superyacht HEMISPHERE – Built by Pendennis
Built in 2011 by Pendennis in an uncommon departure from their usual monohull sailing yachts, luxury catamaran HEMISPHERE was greeted with critical acclaim at the various awards ceremonies after her debut, winning both Interior Design Award: Sailing Yachts and Interior Layout Award: Sailing Yachts at the Showboats Design Awards 2012 as well as becoming a finalist in the Naval Architecture Award: Sailing Yachts, Sailing Yachts and Recreational Area for Guest Use Award. At the World Superyacht Awards 2012, she received a special commendation for Best Sailing Yacht in 40m+ size range.
Whether your group intends to dance the night away or spend as much time lounging around as possible, the massive salon is created with multiple places for guests to sit and socialise, breaking off into smaller groups for private conversation while remaining close to the action.
Sailing yacht HEMISPHERE – Salon
Length: 44m/145ft
Beam: 17m/54ft
Draft: 3m/9ft
Accommodation: 12 guests, 5 cabins
Price per week: €189,000-€217,000 p/w plus expenses
Charter grounds: Mediterranean, Indian Ocean
11. Blue Deer
Luxury yacht BLUE DEER – Built by Sunreef
One of the most recent builds on this list, superyacht BLUE DEER from Sunreef offers a calm and relaxing atmosphere for family and friends groups looking for the quintessential Mediterranean charter experience. Stocked full of water toys, including Seabobs, kayaks, paddleboards and scuba diving equipment, there will never be a dull moment during the charter as your party discovers the impressive array of marine life surrounding the Italian Riviera and Capri.
Dine alfresco under the stars and make use of the generous aft and forward decks for your viewing pleasure, before using the water toys to make the short distance to your own private beach.
Superyacht BLUE DEER – Salon seating
Length: 23m/74ft
Beam: 11m/35ft
Draft: 2m/7ft
Accommodation: 10 guests, 4 cabins
Price per week: €36,500-€39,500 p/w plus expenses
Charter grounds: Mediterranean, Caribbean
12. Douce France
Luxury catamaran DOUCE FRANCE – Built by Alu Marine
Fitted with a classic environment ideal for celebrating special occasions, luxury catamaran DOUCE FRANCE is an extraordinary charter yacht available in the Indian Ocean and South Pacific over the summer months.
The warm and inviting salon has everything you need for evening entertaining and relaxing throughout the day, including a wide selection of music and films to watch on the widescreen TV, a wet bar and comfortable seating layouts both inside and out on the aft deck. Exercise at sunrise out on the aft deck before taking coffee in the invigorating sea air.
The impressive collection of water toys (including sail boats, windsurfers and scuba diving gear) is perfect for exploration above and below the waves and the hours will fly by before you realise that it’s time for your next mouthwatering meal.
At the end of the day, relax with a massage out in the open air while the verdant islands of the Maldives and Seychelles linger temptingly on the horizon.
Sailing yacht DOUCE FRANCE – Timeless style in the salon
Length: 42m/138ft
Beam: 15m/51ft
Draft: 3m/8ft
Accommodation: 12 guests, 6 cabins
Price per week: €95,000-€105,000 p/w plus expenses
Charter grounds: Indian Ocean, South Pacific
With the huge array of luxury charter catamarans at breathtaking destinations across the world, there has never been a better time to book your summer holiday. Contact CharterWorld for more details about any of the above superyachts today.
