Galathéa 65

Welcome aboard

Presented to the public for the first time at the Cannes Boat Show last year, the Galathéa 65 positions itself at the summit of the builder’s range, in the famous Flagship Class. This is nothing more than bringing together under this name the builder’s top of the range catamarans. At the moment, only the Eleuthera and Galathéa 65 sailing cats and the Cumberland and Queensland 55 trawlers have the right to wear this prestigious logo. On approaching the Marines de Cogolin pontoon in the Golfe de St Tropez , where our test Galathéa was awaiting us, we discovered a slender, streamlined catamaran, a sailing boat which finally looked good amongst the superb boats which had arrived for the ‘Voiles de St Tropez’. Thanks to the wide steps on the sugar scoops, we climbed aboard easily and entered the cockpit. Here the builder has not done things by halves, as the table can easily accommodate up to eight people, with space remaining for friends on the genuine settees bordering this area, which is well protected by the rigid bimini, and when anchored at St Barth or Portofino, can be turned into a very nice reception area. And of course there is the sunbathing area over the dinghy, which is both pleasant to use and useful, as it protects the dinghy from the aggression of sunshine and spray. An excellent idea, even though attaching the dinghy could become a bit ‘sporting’!

The Galathéa 65 has a beautiful hull, which allows it to sail in the slightest breath of air...

But it’s when you pass through the wide door leading to the interior that the atmosphere created by the designer Jean-Jacques Coste takes on its full dimensions. To port, the coffee table bordered by an elegant settee turns in an instant into a dining table for 10 to 12 people. Opposite, we find the American-style galley, with a wide bar and a huge working surface. This galley will allow the chef to treat the guests to an excellent meal! Finally, the last area in this XXL-sized saloon, the chart table is forward facing and positioned forward, so night watches can be stood in the warmth and with a 360° view of the horizon. At anchor, a simple, but clever system allows the seating backrest to be reversed, thus offering an additional seat for two people on the table side. This Galathéa, n°3 in the series, is a private owner’s version. The port hull is dedicated to him, with a very beautiful suite, equipped with an athwartships queen-sized double bed, a nice bathroom, a lounge area and an office/library, whilst forward of this area we discover a cabin which could perfectly accommodate either guests or the owner’s children, and finally, a crew cabin. There are numerous stowage spaces everywhere, which make life aboard easier... In the starboard hull, there are three other double cabins with their bathrooms. Note that the builder is offering a version with six double cabins, plus two crew cabins, for the Galathéas that will be working in luxury charter! The accommodation is practical, and even though the lack of stowage is regrettable, life aboard the Galathéa will be very pleasant. The builder has taken great pains to offer a top of the range boat with finishing to match its ambitions. The handling of the areas, both inside and out is remarkable, as is the work on the overall design. On this kind of boat, the owner must be allowed to give his imagination free rein. The builder is therefore offering a whole palette of possibilities for the interior atmosphere, to allow everyone to enjoy their boat to the maximum. This is the Flagship Class’ plus point!

No flybridge on the Galathéa, but a particularly pleasant sunbathing area...

An innovative, fluid deck plan

But a catamaran, however luxurious, is above all built to sail. And from this point of view, the Galathéa has rather interesting potential. At Fountaine Pajot, thanks to their racing heritage, they have always put a lot of work into the ergonomics, the comfort and the ease of use a deck plan should offer. And on this Galathéa, the R and D department have shown all their expertise. The builder has chosen not to offer a flybridge, as the majority of its competitors do, but a raised steering position to starboard, access to which is via a few steps from either the saloon or the wide side deck. The numerous handrails will reassure both the least experienced crew, and the experienced skipper in rough weather. The helmsman’s seat is big and comfortable for three adults. The steering console is practical, and all the necessary information is available. Forward of this console, there is a battery of Harken electric winches (three 70s and a 60) and a rope bag capable of swallowing up all the halyards and sheets etc. The position at the helm, both standing and sitting, offers an excellent view over the water, without being too exposed. At the helm of this big catamaran, you will feel safe, even in bad weather, in this totally enclosed space where you can hold on. In fine weather, or in the trade winds, this will without a doubt be the crew members’ favourite place... Another challenge successfully met, the position in front of the battery of winches is ergonomic, and it’s easy to start trimming the sails like you would on an America’s Cup boat...or almost! This big catamaran can be manoeuvred single handed from this area, assisted by well-designed fittings and the electricity which makes each manoeuvre disconcertingly easy. Beware however of forgetting that the forces on this kind of boat are quite simply enormous, and that good anticipation is absolutely essential. But rest assured, if you don’t feel you can handle a 65-foot catamaran, everything has been provided so that a professional crew can do it for you… and allow you to enjoy the areas at your disposal to the full. Moreover, on this subject, one of the Galathéa’s ‘musts’ is the sunbathing area on the bimini. In the centre, next to the steering position, a huge sunbathing area will accommodate up to four people for a tanning session both at sea and at anchor. And then there is the deck saloon, to port, raised like the steering position and offering a really pleasant area. Six people can chat here face to face, whilst enjoying the view, the sun and the cooling breeze in the hot Caribbean sunshine... The best! .

Behind the battery of winches, you quickly want to start trimming...

Under sail...and engine!

We only had a very short time slot to test the flagship of the Fountaine Pajot fleet, and unfortunately, although the sun was present, the wind insisted on remaining absent. Not the slightest breath of air, not even enough to fill the very beautiful Incidences sails. The 134m² fully-battened, square-headed Hydranet mainsail and the 160m² gennaker on its furler finally succeeded in moving the 30 tonnes (loaded) of the Galathéa, to give us a run at...2 knots, in a hardly perceptible 4-knot breeze! Not so bad, finally, but after a few minutes spent playing with all the control lines to try and get moving, the wind dropped completely and definitively. The day before our test, there was a 15-knot breeze blowing, and the Galathéa took advantage of it to gallop across St Tropez bay at 9.5 knots, under gennaker, and sail closer to the wind at 7.5 knots. To be confirmed in a longer, and above all windier, test: we won’t hesitate to make the sacrifice and spend a week aboard in the West Indies, so we can test it for real... As the wind had deserted us, we took advantage of the good weather to check the Galathéa’s capacities under engine. Because even though this catamaran is first and foremost a sailing boat, it is well known that the demands of modern life sometimes, or even often, oblige the skipper of this kind of boat to use the iron topsails to be on time for an appointment. So there we were in St Tropez bay, playing with the throttles and enjoying the very pleasant steering position. No surprises, on just one engine, at 1,800 rpm, the catamaran jogged along nicely at 7.5 knots, as against 8.7 knots with both engines. A pleasant cruising speed, comfortable and not too thirsty with the diesel. At 2,700 rpm, the Galathéa, still on an oily sea and in ideal conditions, reached 11 knots, with no vibration or noise. A very good point then for both the quality of the soundproofing and the choice of engines on this test boat: 2 x 150hp, with folding three-bladed propellers.

Inside, the atmosphere is warm and up-market.

Conclusion

After three (short) hours on the water, it was time to give our beautiful boat back to its owner. Getting back into the harbour was a mere formality, even though a lot of skill is needed when bringing the boat alongside – it is nearly 20m long and 9.5m wide! At the moment, none of the Galathéas built has been fitted with bow thrusters, but depending on your programme, it is an option which should be envisaged. As we left this catamaran, we had to admit that the builder has succeeded in its challenge of offering a beautiful sailing boat, with top of the range accommodation, capable of meeting the expectations of an owner looking for a prestigious boat for luxury charter, or to take his family and friends to the other side of the world.

The chart table with its clever reversible seat. The crew will appreciate keeping watch here.

The plusses

- Interior design - The handling of the areas, inside and out - The deck plan and the steering position

The minuses

- No feeling to the helm - A higher selling price than the direct competitors

THE COMPETITORS

Model Architect Builder Windward sail area in m² Weight in t Price exc. VAT in euros Lagoon 620 VPLP Lagoon 230 27 1,050,000 Privilège 615 M. Lombard Alliaura 214 22 1,435,000 Sunreef 64 Sunreef Sunreef 215 28 1,250,000

Technical specification

Hull length: 19.35 m Waterline length: 18.72 m Beam: 9.50 m Draft: 1.55 m Air draft: 26 m Unladen displacement: 23,600 kg Laden displacement: 30,600 kg Mainsail area: 134 m² Genoa: 78 m² Fresh water: 1,050 l Diesel: 1,400 l Standard engines: 2 x 110 hp Architects: Berret Racoupeau Yacht Design Designer: Coste Design & Partners Price of Maestro version: from 1,732,250 euros exc. VAT Price of 6-cabin version: from 1,763,000 euros exc. VAT

Caption

01: The deck saloon, to port of the steering position, is particularly pleasant, both at anchor and at sea. An area which will always be occupied, without a doubt!

02: Pleasant, comfortable and reassuring – the choice of a raised steering position allows all the control lines to be removed from the cockpit, which thus becomes uniquely a living area. Easily accessible, this area is also really comfortable. It easily accommodates three, whilst a fourth can have fun trimming the sails in front of the battery of winches.

03: The cockpit is well protected by the rigid bimini, and offers an area worthy of...a reception room.

04: The beautiful suit of sails from Incidences is in Hydranet, with a tri-radial cut. The mainsail is hoisted and the genoa unrolled with electric winches. Easy and practical even shorthanded!

05: Behind the cockpit table, the sunbathing area which covers...the dinghy. The system has the advantage of protecting the dinghy from the elements and offering an additional relaxation area.

06: A tubular aluminium gate protects access to the sugar scoops at sea. But at anchor, access to the water is made easy by their width. You would even be able to rig a windsurfer here...

07: Voluminous, bright, comfortable and...air conditioned; the cabins offer top of the range comfort.