For those who love the thrill of the open sea, speed is an essential element of their sailing experience. For years, catamarans have been a top choice for sailors who want to explore while enjoying the benefits of speed, comfort, and luxury. In recent years, the trend towards high-end fast catamarans has exploded. If you are looking for speed combined with affordable luxury, look no further than the fastest catamarans on the market.
How fast can cruising catamarans usually go?
Cruising catamarans can reach speeds that can exceed their respective theoretical hull speed thanks to their light weight, generous amounts of sail area, and minimized wetted surface area. It is not uncommon for them to reach sailing speeds of 30 knots or more. They can also offer better stability than a monohull, making them an ideal choice for long ocean passages.
What Makes the Fastest Catamarans on the Market more Rapid Than the Others?
The fastest catamarans on the market benefit from high-tech materials used in construction, such as carbon-fiber composites, which make them lighter and stiffer. These materials help reduce displacement and wetted surface, which in turn increases speed. The design of a catamaran also plays a major role in its speed, with catamarans featuring narrow and aerodynamic hulls often being faster than those with wide and flat hulls.
The weight factor that influence the speed
First and foremost, weight is a crucial factor in the performance of a catamaran. A lean, agile, and light boat requires less energy to move, making it faster, more fuel-efficient, and easier to handle. In contrast, heavy and packed boats with additional equipment or luxuries tend to be slower, less fuel-efficient, and difficult to maneuver.
One key factor that can contribute to the weight of a catamaran is the amount of equipment and luxuries onboard. Performance catamarans are generally designed to prioritize speed, which means they tend to have less equipment and fewer luxury items than slower boats. For instance, luxury items such as generators, watermakers, air conditioners, washing machines, dryer, entertainment systems can add up to the boat’s weight, affecting its speed and mobility.
The design of performance catamarans also plays a significant role in their weight. These boats are usually built with lightweight materials such as carbon fiber, which significantly reduces their overall weight. They have smaller cabins and fewer storage spaces, which also helps to keep the boat lean and agile.
Another critical component that affects the catamaran’s weight is the hull design. Performance catamarans’ hulls are generally narrower than other types of catamarans, which leads to less surface area in contact with the water. This reduces the water’s drag force and increases the boat’s speed.
Daggerboards: The Secret Weapon of Performance Catamarans
When it comes to performance catamarans, every little detail counts. Whether you’re racing or cruising, the right equipment can make all the difference in the world. One such piece of equipment that has become a staple on high-performance catamarans is the daggerboard.
Daggerboards are retractable keels that extend downwards from the bottom of the catamaran’s hull. They serve two primary purposes: to provide lift and to regulate drag. By extending the daggerboard into the water, the catamaran gains lift, allowing it to sail faster and more efficiently. The daggerboard also helps to regulate drag by reducing the amount of sideways movement caused by wind or waves.
One of the key benefits of using daggerboards is that they allow catamarans to sail closer to the wind. This means that a performance catamaran with daggerboards can outperform a traditional sailboat when sailing against the wind. Additionally, because the daggerboards are retractable, the catamaran can still navigate in shallow waters without causing damage to the daggerboards or the hull.
But it’s not just about the benefits of having daggerboards – it’s also about the design and engineering of the daggerboards themselves. Performance catamarans often have custom-designed daggerboards that are optimized for speed and efficiency. These daggerboards are typically made from high-strength materials like carbon fiber or titanium, which can withstand the high stresses of sailing at high speeds.
The design of the daggerboards also plays a critical role in the performance of the catamaran. A well-designed daggerboard will have a low aspect ratio, which means that it is shorter and wider than traditional keels. This allows the daggerboard to generate lift while maintaining a low drag coefficient, making the catamaran faster and more efficient.
The Fastest Cruising Catamarans Currently on the Market
The world of luxurious and high-performance catamarans is probably mostly dominated by Gunboat and HH Catamarans leading the way. Gunboat’s 68ft, 72ft, and 80ft models excel with speeds over 30 knots, thanks to cutting-edge materials and construction techniques. HH Catamarans has gained popularity with its HH55 and HH66 models, offering speeds of up to 35 knots along with lavish features like spacious cabins and gourmet kitchens. Explore other top brands such as Kinetic, Balance, and Outremer, all offering a perfect blend of speed and luxury. Kinetic’s 62-foot catamaran delivers impressive performance and comfortable accommodations for up to six people. Balance introduces a range of catamarans from 42 to 76 feet, providing high speeds, stability, and luxury. Finally, Outremer’s sleek 51-foot catamaran ensures an exhilarating sailing experience with speeds reaching up to 25 knots. Embark on an unforgettable adventure with these extraordinary catamaran options.
The Gunboat catamaran: the performances of a racer in a luxury cruiser catamarans
When it comes to catamarans, Gunboat is a brand that stands out from the crowd. Known for their exceptional quality, performance, and luxurious design, Gunboat delivers a unique sailing experience that has captivated the attention of sailors around the world. Their latest offerings – the Gunboat 68, 72V, and 80 – are perfect examples of the brand’s commitment to delivering top-of-the-line sailing yachts that offer the best of both worlds: the performances of a racer in a luxury cruiser catamaran.
The Gunboat 68 is a spacious and comfortable yacht that boasts an internal helm station and sophisticated lounging areas. With room for up to six cabins, including a spacious master, and a forward cockpit, the Gunboat 68 offers everything that sailors could ask for in a luxury catamaran. But don’t be fooled by its luxurious design – the Gunboat 68 also offers exceptional performance, making it a true racer’s yacht.
The Gunboat 80 takes everything that sailors loved about the Gunboat 68 and ramps it up to the next level, with even more space and more advanced features. Designed for sailors who demand the very best, the Gunboat 80 offers a cruising experience like no other. And as with all Gunboat yachts, performance is at the forefront of its design. Expect nothing less than exceptional sailing speeds and adrenaline-pumping races.
But perhaps the most exciting development in the Gunboat lineup is the new 72V. This unique yacht is a bit of a gamble for the brand as it features a flybridge. But don’t think that this will make it any less of a racer – the 72V is designed to be streamlined compared to traditional production catamarans, and it still offers exceptional speed and performance. And with a flybridge helm station, sailors can look forward to even more control and a truly immersive sailing experience.
“Cruisers do not understand the massive difference between a racer and cruiser, with tremendous emphasis on weight and performance.” Gunboat understands that difference all too well, and their commitment to pushing the limits of what is possible with luxury cruiser catamarans is what sets them apart. Gunboat is leading the way in the world of high-performance luxury sailing, and they show no signs of slowing down any time soon.
Read also: INTRODUCING THE NEW GUNBOAT 72V “WONDERFUL”: THE ULTIMATE FLYBRIDGE CATAMARAN
HH Catamarans
HH Catamarans may be a relatively new player in the world of high-performance cruising yachts, but they have quickly risen to become one of the most respected names in the industry. Built in Xiamen, China, by the same contractor that once had built Gunboats, HH Catamarans are designed to offer an unparalleled level of luxury combined with the ultimate sailing performance.
When HH Catamarans emerged in the market a decade ago, they had to make a crucial decision about what kind of boat they wanted to create. Ultimately, they decided to prioritize speed and performance over everything else, a decision that has drawn praise from seasoned sailors. Their boats range from 44ft to 88ft in length, all featuring exceptional craftsmanship and engineering.
One of the crucial features on HH Catamarans is their hydraulics and smart deck planning. Combined with their captive winches, these features allow sailors to get the boat off the mooring, sails up, and cruising at speeds up to 20 knots in just four minutes. This level of speed and agility is unparalleled in the world of cruising catamarans.
In addition to their performance and speed, HH Catamarans boast quality construction that makes them the strongest yachts possible without adding significant weight. Carbon and epoxy are used to create the strongest possible hull, while all lines run under-deck to create an uncluttered walkway. The stanchions are also a generous 900mm tall, providing necessary safety when sailing with friends and family. The continuous, unbroken toe rail runs the length of the deck, enhancing the boat’s aesthetics while keeping the structure stable.
Overall, HH Catamarans has carved out its niche in the ultra-luxury sailing market, offering high-performance cruising catamarans that deliver both speed and comfort in equal measure. Every detail has been carefully thought out, from the construction of the hull to the onboard technology and smart deck planning, delivering an unparalleled sailing experience for those who want to push their yachts to the limit.
The Kinetics Catamaran’s Unmatched Velocity and Beyond
Founded in 2018, Kinetic Catamarans is a US company based in Knysna, South Africa. Their team consists of Bob Hayward, a successful US real estate developer, co-founder of Summit Entertainment, and farmer, and Leon Scheepers, a highly respected South African boatbuilder with extensive expertise in multihull production. Both share a deep love for sailing and a strong commitment to improving the boating industry.
Their main goal is to build luxury performance cruising catamarans of the highest caliber. In 2021, they proudly achieved this goal when the KC54 received prestigious accolades shortly after its launch. The Cruising World Magazine awarded it the Boat of the Year in the Judges Special Recognition category, and it was also named the Best Large Multihull (50ft and above) by SAIL Magazine.
Nevertheless, Kinetic Catamarans has been making waves in the boating industry with their luxury performance cruising catamarans, and their latest model, the KC62, takes their offerings to a whole new level. This vessel boasts unmatched velocity and beyond and is a testament to the dedication and expertise of the Kinetic team.
One of the standout features of the KC62 is its lightweight design. The use of chemically-strengthened glass for the 360° windows, combined with other weight-saving measures, has resulted in a vessel that is both faster and more fuel-efficient than other catamarans in its class. In fact, the KC62 has been clocked at speeds of up to 30 knots!
But this vessel isn’t just about speed. It also offers unmatched comfort and luxury for its passengers. The spacious double cabins are outfitted with abundant clothing storage and en-suite bathrooms, while the saloons provide a cozy space for relaxing and socializing. The use of designer tables and stools and the latest appliances adds a touch of elegance to an already luxurious experience.
While the KC62 shares many of the features of other Kinetic catamarans, it also has its own unique touches that set it apart. For example, the vessel has two helm stations on each quarter and another one inside, as well as a forward cockpit that doubles as a leisure zone. This forward cockpit provides a cool and breezy spot for passengers to relax and take in the stunning scenery.
All of Kinetic’s vessels are designed by the highly experienced and innovative Simonis Voogd Design BV, and the KC62 is no exception. This vessel is a testament to the collaborative effort of a team dedicated to creating the highest quality, most luxurious catamarans on the water today.
Conclusion:
The market for fast cruiser catamarans is growing, with more brands and models being developed each year. These catamarans offer high performance, stability, and luxury, making them an ideal choice for adventurous sailors who want to explore the world in style. While the fastest catamarans on the market may come with a hefty price tag, the experience of sailing on one of these vessels is second to none. With their impressive speeds and luxurious amenities, it is no surprise that more and more sailors are turning to fast cruiser catamarans for their next adventure on the water.
