Berret-Racoupeau Unveils Supercat Design at Kata Rocks
The Royal Huisman shipyard is going to need bigger facilities if it is to build the new supercatamaran unveiled at the Kata Rocks Superyacht Rendezvous in Phuket Thailand.
It was at that event that the Royal Huisman shipyard announced that is was teaming up with Berret-Racoupeau Design to produce custom-built multihull superyachts, both power and sail, to redefine luxury catamaran design from the waterline upwards.
Making the announcement was Bart Kimman the Commercial Director of Camper & Nicholsons Asia who described the yacht as the perfect entry level superyacht for Asian entrepreneurs seeking to get a toe hold in superyacht ownership.
When it comes to yachting Asian culture is different says Kimman. The Asian owner seeks space, luxury, tranquillity and a stature. Having Camper & Nicholsons sell him a Royal Huisman wraps all that into one neat package”
He added, “Royal Huisman has been building sailing superyachts for over a century, and Olivier Racoupeau is a catamaran designer at the top of the game. Together, the two names resonate with a promise of excellence. The combining of two world-class brands is not an addition – it is a multiplier.”
“Our core business will always be big beautiful boats, but in partnership with Olivier Racoupeau we see an opportunity to expand our existing expertise into the world of multihulls,” says Jan Timmernam, CEO of Royal Huisman. “This is not a change in direction; it is an expansion of possibilities. There are very few multihulls in the superyacht world, but that could easily change.” Multihulls offer substantially more usable area than a monohull of the same waterline length, and are a great deal more stable than monohulls. In the last two decades Asia has seen a proliferation of multihulls at the ‘entry level’ for leisure boating, and Timmerman believes that the time is right to take catamarans upmarket.
With the concept set to be offered in two versions, a 33 metre sailing version and a 35 metre power version which would feature an extra deck production of catamaran with a 14 metre wide beam could present a conundrum for the Dutch builder whose current facilities are not wide enough to build such a craft. At the press conference to launch the concept Timmernam hinted that an announcement regarding new and larger facilities was imminent. When pushed to expand on that statement Timmernam smiled politely and said the world would have to wait until Royal Huisman was ready to break the news. He later told us tat it was likely that the news would break in January next year. Watch this space!
The new cooperation with Olivier Racoupeau has been a project more than two years in the making. “We met, we talked, and we were all saying the same thing,” recalls Racoupeau. “A real superyacht catamaran can be designed to suit a private owner, or would make an excellent charter vessel.
Many luxury resort operators are very keen on the versatility of just such a boat, that will allow guests to explore more exotic destinations and further afield than is presently possible.” The imminent launch of ‘supercats’ promises to raise seagoing standards of comfort and luxury to hitherto unseen levels of grace, space, and pace.
Berret-Racoupeau knows their way around a drawing board. His designs have been lauded for excellence, innovation, and performance. The new design concept for either a power or a sailing superyacht is intended from the outset to meet a growing demand for large custom-built multihulls in Asia.
Both versions benefit from an exceptionally large main deck offering the space and comfort levels of a very much larger monohull yacht. Including accommodation for 10 guests, these yachts will be unrivalled as charter yachts,.
Corporate and family entertaining are absolute priorities in Asia, and the open layouts of the Berret-Racoupeau supercats provide a good solution. The indoor/outdoor experience is enhanced by large beach club areas, magnificent open areas, and hinged side windows that open onto wide side decks rarely seen on catamarans.
It is an effect of which Racoupeau is particularly proud. He said, “The current generation of big motoryachts have fold-down balconies to create extra space – our supercats have fold-up windows instead, and the practical effect is even more spacious.” The powercat version adds even more space with a whole extra deck – the flybridge – that includes multi entertainment options as well as relaxation areas.
It takes craftsmanship of the highest order to execute such a project. Royal Huisman is the shipyard that discerning owners trust to create yachts of distinction and performance that win races as well as cruise the oceans of the world in safety and comfort.
Looking at the recent strong growth in numbers of multihull sales through Camper & Nicholsons in the Asia Pacific, Berret-Racoupeau and Royal Huisman could not have timed the introduction of their supercats any better.