Cats out of the bag: The most exciting new multihulls to know now

Whether you’re after cutting-edge tech, massive volume or sleek sailing performance, the latest wave of multihulls has something for everyone. Sam Fortescue rounds up the standout designs from Sunreef, Baltic, Lagoon and more.

Sunreef 43M to showcase cutting-edge composite tech

LOA: 43m
Beam: 15.40m
Guests: 12 + 7 crew

Work to mould the hull of the Sunreef 43M Eco was completed in February, passing a major milestone for this huge catamaran project. Built in vinylester and glass fibre using the “one shot” infusion technique, the 43-metre long and 15-metre wide hull represents the largest ever built this way – anywhere, by anyone.

The advantage is precise control over the amount of resin used in the layup, with drastically reduced emissions of volatile organic compounds. And the result is a lighter, stiffer hull – vital when working at this scale. In total, the hull has a composite surface area of 1,700 square metres, built up of about 160 layers around a foam core, and weighing 50 tonnes.

Next up, the deck, flybridge and bimini mouldings are taking shape – all earmarked for one-shot infusion. When the yacht is delivered to her owner in late 2025, she will go straight into the list of the world’s top 10 largest catamarans, taking second place on the sailing side. “The scale of the hull infusion project is unique in the industry and underscores our pioneering role in shaping the future of energy-efficient yachting,” says Francis Lapp, Sunreef Yachts founder and president.

Much about this impressive yacht can be expressed in superlatives. Sunreef is known for embedding solar panels in the topsides, superstructure and spars of its yachts to generate renewable power. Accordingly, the Sunreef 43M has an astonishing 120 square metres built into the hull alone, with 250 square metres of solar across the whole vessel – giving a capacity of 60kW.

It’s enough to power the electric motors that drive the yacht for 12 hours and at anchor or alongside – solar energy can keep the yacht’s hotel systems running silently off battery power overnight. Not only that, but a regenerative propulsion system allows the yacht’s propeller to make electricity while the boat is sailing. This is stored in a huge 1MWh battery system.

The cat should be fun to sail as well, with an impressive 1,000 square metres of upwind sail area, which balloons to 1,600 square metres downwind. Speeds well into double figures will be the norm for this boat, but the real draw is the enormous volume and open deck space. Exterior highlights include the giant flybridge with a spa pool, flexible lounging/dining space with a bar on main deck level and the Ocean Lounge beach club, with its fold-down side platforms.

The interior is still a closely guarded secret, but we know that there is accommodation for up to 12 guests.

If smaller Sunreefs are any measure, we should expect a generous owner’s suite occupying the forward section of the main deck, where it has prime views. Meanwhile, guest cabins will be fitted with large double beds. A second boat has just been sold, with the hull already in the pre-moulding phase.

Baltic 107 shapes up for glorious sailing

LOA: 32.9m
Beam: 13m
Draught: 1.7m to 5m
Guests: 8 + 6 crew

Big sailing catamarans are rare, although their smaller cousins have reached stratospheric popularity in charter hotspots around the world. New sailing projects at the larger end of the spectrum are picking up, though, as Baltic Yachts’ recent reveal showed. Known for its high-end performance monohulls, Baltic is leaping wholeheartedly into the multihull world with a large 33-metre boat (in-build).

From the outside, she has a fairly conventional appearance, with raked sterns and a sleek superstructure. The lines from Berret-Racoupeau are artfully drawn, though, because you don’t recognise the true scale of the yacht’s 33-metre hulls. This allows the inclusion of a flybridge deck without overbalancing the yacht’s proportions or pushing the centre of effort too high.

 It is clear from the design that this is a true sailing cat – as you’d expect from this design pedigree. Moulding on the advanced carbon-Corecell composite hulls is well under way, with the promise of a stiff and extremely light boat capable of squeezing every fraction of a knot out of low winds. Pivoting centreboards will make her weatherly without excluding her from shallow waters, and controls are all led to the twin flybridge helm stations.

Los Angeles-based interior designer Jamie Bush has been brought in by the client in a first marine project for him. His portfolio shows an eclectic style with quirky elements and splashes of colour, and he promises an unusual interior drawing on modernist influences, using warm woods and crisp whites. Accommodation runs to an owner’s suite and three guest cabins, plus six crew.

Baltic says this will be an environmentally aware boat, citing the hybrid electric propulsion. She is designed to use power as efficiently as possible, to permit long periods away from the dock, as you’d expect from a yacht designed to explore.

Lagoon Eighty 2 flagship built for charter chops

LOA: 24.97m
Beam: 11m
Draught: 1.90m
Guests: 8-10 + 3 crew

Lagoon, the world’s most prolific catamaran builder, has unveiled plans for a new sailing flagship, drawing on feedback from previous owners and crew. The hull design naturally brings it in at just below the 24-metre mark in terms of LWL and class, making the boat an attractive candidate for charter, just like its 24.4-metre Eighty 3 power variant, which will be launched later this year.

Key features of the new model include a 50-square-metre flybridge with a hardtop and optional spa pool, plus a 22-square-metre bathing platform that extends the flexible cockpit space. The main deck is a single open-plan social space with dining, lounging, galley and nav station all communicating. Accommodation is designed for eight guests, where the centrepiece is the owner’s suite with a drop-down balcony.

Loose furniture that can be specced by the owner is a new feature for Lagoon, creating much greater customisation potential. And the hull is made of 40 per cent bio-sourced resin, with a lower carbon footprint. It’s splashing later this year.

Flagship flurry for Fountaine Pajot

In just two years, the French catamaran builder has delivered five of its 23.99m flagship Thíra 80s, with orders in for around 20 in total. It is an impressive achievement by a yard better known for family cruising cats. Berret-Racoupeau penned the lines and designed the interior with big-boat features, including drop-down bulwarks, a well-equipped flybridge and a foredeck lounge.

Fresh model and new build at busy Sunreef

In addition to the world’s largest single-shot infusion project, Sunreef unveiled a few new models, including a new supermodel-scale Ultima 111 powercat, at 36.35 metres. It crowns the automotive-inspired line that starts at 13.72 metres and focuses on speed and performance. The 111 has fold-down aft platforms, a glass spa pool on the upper deck and a forward-looking master cabin with private foredeck terrace.

Work has also commenced on the first Sunreef 35M Eco sailing cat, sold late last year. The boat is being built in the UAE and is slated for delivery in 2028. It will feature a solar array for renewable power, as

well as vast outdoor spaces, including a 100-square-metre flybridge. Accommodation is for up to 10, with a full-beam master cabin dominating the forward section of the superstructure.

Splashdown at Two Oceans

Cape Town-based shipyard Two Oceans has been working on its 26.58-metre, 13.42-metre beam flagship power cat for two years and has just reached the launch phase ahead of delivery later this year. Moving the 10-guest, four-decker was a feat. A custom transport rig was built to move the 72.5-tonne vessel to the quay, which necessitated several walls to be removed and rebuilt. It then took a 399-tonne and a 227-tonne crane to transfer the boat to the water. Commissioning now gets under way and, when completed, the boat will offer a fantastic platform for luxury living, with a flybridge bar, private owner’s suite and VIP cabins.

Shadowcat takes on security focus with Sentinel

Shadowcat is putting finishing touches to a brand-new Sentinel series of support vessels focused on state-of-the-art security. It will use drones for optical and thermal imaging to assess for risks and evaluate anchorages, throwing a safety net around the mothership and tenders. Smart command and control platforms allow data to be securely shared between vessels, and there is also a comprehensive medical unit. Sentinel seamlessly supports the use of helicopters, light armoured vehicles and high-speed tenders. Although the concept is for a stand-alone Sentinel vessel, its features could also be integrated into existing Shadowcats.

Owner’s cabin opulence on Lazzara LPC 300

Rechristened to reflect its “outrageous” 300 square metres of usable space, Lazzara's 21.38-metre is really the LPC75, which has been in build for some years. Its secret weapon is the full-beam “lowered main deck”, which includes a fold-out balcony in the owner’s cabin. There’s a big saloon on the raised main deck and a flybridge with a generous bathing platform. At time of press, launch was due in late spring.

VisionF’s electric dream

The innovative Turkish shipyard recently put its new 23.97-metre electric catamaran E-Cat 80 in the water. Built in carbon fibre, the lines are from Marco Casali and MICAD, designed for optimum efficiency. Twin 180kW Danfoss motors combined with 21kW of solar panels permit extended silent operation, but there are 150kW generators in case the sun doesn’t shine.

 Voodoo Yachts creates magic

Water-jet propulsion makes this latest version of the 22.80-metre XF75 able to access very shallow waters and hit exhilarating top speeds of 50 knots. Cruising speed is about 35 knots, with a range of 3,000 nautical miles at an eight-knot eco speed. The secret is hydrofoil assistance. Oh, and you can land an H130 helicopter on top with jet fuel bunkering of 9,000 litres. A beast of an explorer from Down Under!

First published in the June 2025 issue of BOAT International US Edition. Get this magazine sent straight to your door, or subscribe and never miss an issue.