Sunreef 74'

The 35 m prototype maxis, spawned by the Jules Verne Trophy and The Race might suggest the (apparent!) ease with which they prompt all the superlatives, is opening a new royal avenue to the nautical industry. This is both true and false, because the specification of these stratospheric rockets, in the hands of tightrope walkers, is a long way from what clients or owners expect of a yacht. The equation between performance and comfort, maneuverability and reliability, is difficult to resolve with such extraordinary sizes, and while the specification is for a pig that flies, the result may mean taking the helm of a technological pachyderm! With the assistance of the Vincent Lauriot-Prévost Marc Van Peteghem offices, the Sunreef team has just succeeded its challenge; it appears to have work around the many traps set for multi-yacht designers, and its 74’ boat is a magnificent long haul cruising craft which is rational, (very) luxurious and agreeable to use.

The Sunreef range

This family of multihull boats is in the upper segment of the world’s production: between 50’ and 150’! There are two enigmas raised by assuming this technical and marketing position: do we have the necessary know-how? and is there any clientele for these giants? The answer is yes, but requires some explaining. The design of the 74’ was entrusted to the Van Peteghem/Lauriot-Prévost offices. Their experience in constructing exceptional multihull boats is beyond argument and enabled it to take up the challenge of mastering so powerful and complex a platform. At Sunreef, the managerial team has the necessary experience, and the choice of the industrial tool at Gdansk is a rational one; the North Poland shipyards are one of the bigger heads in naval construction. The skills and the equipment of this immense technical yard make it ideal for the construction of large leisure units. Their rigorous engineering, their experience with quality inspection in the construction of civil and military boats, combined with highly competitive production costs, make this Baltic port one of the leading European nautical center points!

Sunreef 74’

This catamaran was first presented at the Monaco Boat Show, but when I discover it, it is berthed along the main quay in Toulon. There is no doubt that the exceptional nature of the boat shows at a first glance. The proportions of the 74’ are harmonious, the lines are tight and the personality of the design in some ways suggests Italian motor-yachts, but the impression of power given off by the two 23 m floats and the 30 m high mast is something else. Painting is worthy of a prestige unit and the classic cosmetics (navy blue hull, golden coach lines and white deck) strengthen the general feeling of quality given off by the boat. On the desk, the sober design reveals perfect ergonomics, and movement on board can be as fluid as you wish. Flats, trampolines, mast base, skirts and cockpit offer surfaces of outstanding comfort. Access to the upper deck is via a particularly safe-feeling spiral companionway; at the top, there is a fabulous perspective open to the view and the maxi-view captain’s post includes a mess and “transatlantic” class sunbathing space. This particularly convivial area for relaxation and maneuvering is a total success; before entering the inside, it sets the standard for Sunreef. Total safety is enhanced by stainless steel guardrails.

Aluminum constructions

It might seem that aluminum had been ruled for multihull boat construction because of the possibilities offered by composites (based on wood or foam); but the material is extraordinary, and in the hands of talented metalworkers, allows solid and long-lasting craft boats to be built. There are limitations to the alloys; the skill of the welder-shaper cannot be improvised, and the finish (insulation, filling and painting) is laborious. This is where the Polish shipyard plays its ace card: the know-how of its metalworking teams is optimum, and production costs make it possible to devote the necessary time and professionalism to the task, while remaining highly competitive. Therefore, the Sunreef 74’ superstructures and hull are all aluminum. Implementation is magnificent, and the tremendous network of runners, couples, omega brackets, shaped metal is fitted carefully and accurately. It is impossible to imagine the thousands of hours it takes to obtain a “yacht” finish on such a big platform! Interior and exterior paintwork, insulation, preparation and filling with ultimate patience, represent a budget equivalent to the boiler-making work itself! The result is astounding, and it is impossible to detect that the construction is all metal.

Luxury, calm and lightness

The interior fittings of a multihull boat like this represent an unfathomable puzzle: from the design of the volumes to the decoration, not forgetting sound and heat insulation, lighting and ventilation, everything has to be perfect in line with the standard of the manufacturer, preserving the personality of the buyer, being functional and above all extremely LIGHT! The bulkheads, furniture and floors are therefore all of glass-foam sandwich composites covered with split wood, leather or teak lathes. The floor is covered with thick and tough carpeting, the choice of materials and colors shows particularly dependable taste, and the general beige-varnished wood look gives the interior a particularly “design” feel. Craftsmanship is evident everywhere, but the concern for perfection is neither boring nor ostentatious. This luxurious and sober atmosphere generates creative volumes throughout, with ingenious ergonomics. The leading charm of this catamaran is probably of supplying everybody on board with the atmosphere they want: outstanding emotion and communion with elements on the bridge, intimate cabins, convivial pleasures in the lounge and cockpit.

Guided tour

The philosophy used on Sunreef 74’ unit No. 1 is that of a proprietary version, but with passengers treated to the same standard as the owner himself. The catamaran has space for 8 people in addition to the permanent crew, whose quarters are aft and to port of the galley. The moderate galley is totally functional, well ventilated and close enough to the bar to ensure practical service and passage for the dishes to table. It is also well isolated from the remainder of everyday life on board. The “mistress of the boat” and the professional cook are bound to appreciate it. The central nacelle is a real English club with bar, mess-dining room taking up all of the space available; the quality of the light and the design of the roof are magnificent. The interior control post is the main control module of the boat. The inherent complexity of the Sunreef 74’ specification is somewhat attenuated by the flexibility of the touch-sensitive screen which, by logical themes, groups together all the control functions. The central processing unit manages the essential parameters concerning life on board: generation of fresh watery, electricity, air conditioning, dehumidification, but in just a few seconds and without a technical manual, you will be able to start the motors, control the lighting or run a full safety check (in the event of a failure occurring, a backup panel with 180 manual switches will enable you to keep control of the boat). Before taking the stairs leading up to the owner’s suite, the console-cabinet will have opened up its secrets to you! It contains a large erectile LCD screen which transforms the mess into a home video theater. The owner’s apartment includes a desk, a sofa, a queen-size bed, real wardrobes, a bathroom and independent toilet. Captivating in all! The same comfort prevails in the three cabins of the starboard float. The treatment of the light and the video-sound sources (all digital) has been given specific thought. The availability and independence of these atmosphere-enhancing elements offer true pleasure.

Motorization, mast, rigging and sails

On the 74’, all the ancillaries are duplicated: generators, desalinators and, of course, the engines. The power of the machinery calls for installations, operational safety devices and test resources that are unusual in the leisure world. The general arrangement is an expression of professionalism; layouts are logical and the concern for the technical architecture shows through everywhere. In the engine compartment: machines, purges, filters and exhausts are all accessible and orderly. Optical fiber is present everywhere, and its intensive use contributes to keeping the control networks clean and tidy. This high technology connection system goes hand in hand with all the necessary rigor and proficiency, but Sunreef offers true experience in terms of industrial electricity and systems management. High tech equipment also simplifies the mast and rigging: the self-supporting tube (30 m high!) is a splendid achievement. Combined with a canoe boom and textile rigging consisting of two upper shrouds two lower shrouds a solent stay and a mast stay, the main motor is particularly powerful but simple and basic, like the two solent and Genoa jib wheels (manual, with boss assisted by electric winch). The foot of the mast uses the same philosophy: all the maneuvers to raise and lower the main cell are by a “piano” with flush-deck maxi blocks served by an electric winch, a marvel of simple architecture, like the perfect design of the mast organization. Only the preparation of long rope lengths is manual, requiring particular care because of the forces involved. During our test, everything operated perfectly; nevertheless, vigilance and method will be essential during nighttime reefing: a mess at the end of a boom will not be easy to reach!

Sea trials

The demands concerning the boat only allowed us one afternoon’s sailing off the Toulon, very little for a unit which only really discloses its potential after several hundreds or thousands of nautical miles. Above all, we wanted to get the feel of the “beast” during dynamic operation and discover some of the facets of its personality, with the assistance of a strong breeze from the NW. Anchors away and we are off to sea, swinging into the wind. The boat picks up speed quickly (5 minutes), slowed only from time to time by the occasional higher wave. Using the main sail alone, the 74’ progresses well and we leave the Toulon channel with a strong aft wind; the length of sheet to be paid out to reach the upper shroud is surprising, as is the ease of maneuvering, but jibing needs to be prepared well in advance. This large multihull, weighing almost 40 tons, accelerates eagerly, and we are out in the roads at 9 knots. In the open water, we pay out 3/4 of the Genoa jib, I pull in using the powerful electric winches, giving me time to realize how perfect the deck ergonomics are. At the helm, you forget the size of the thing and see its possibilities at 50° from reality. The single large radius wheel lets some sensitivity through, but it is above all the chassis that transmits the full vitality of the boat, which is always responsive and allowing the Sunreef to lengthen its stride immediately, easily running at 10 knots in a choppy sea that is beginning to form. With one reef in the main sail, the boat is maneuverable, well balanced, free of pitch and, above all, sails really well. For an hour or so, we travel upwind off Cap Sicié and the overall balance is particularly positive. In the same way as on many large yachts, we reef the Genoa jib before coming about, an exercise confirming the capability of the 74’ to sail under the mainsail alone. Crossing the lie of the wind is fast and clean. The wind is now blowing at 18 or 19 knots; we take out the reef and pay out the full Genoa jib: and we get another excellent surprise, the real pleasure of sailing this large boat with a precise helm, in spite of demultiplication and very directional rudders. At 140° from the wind, the stems chase the waves, sometimes riding above them, at a regular 12 knots. The geometry is subtle and successful and, during free reaching, I don’t feel any tendency to twist in the dips; with its perfect lines, the 74’ slips through the water flexibly, without roll or pitch, and accelerates well (things would be different with more swell, but there is still this tendency). The operation appears to be too simple to be worthy of the compliments that I address to the architect and builder, but I am really satisfied by this dynamic trial, highlighting the qualities of this extraordinary large catamaran. We tack up the entire length of the roads before mooring for a photo session. Illuminated by optical fibers, the mast and cockpit shimmer like the firmament. The 2 x 240 HP Yanmar motors bring us back to Toulon in total silence, and we maneuver by fingertip control via the electric inverters. Sunreef seems to have thought of everything, with berthing controlled by electric winches housed in the cockpit coamings.

CONCLUSION

“Yachting” with two hulls is here to come, and Sunreef 74’ is the ambassador!  ! In France, Europe and all over the world, several boatyards are now total masters of the construction of 50 to 60’ multihull craft; with the 74’, Sunreef has proven its know-how and the excellence of its proficiency, mobilized by the make in Gdansk. The demonstration of the extraordinary maneuvering capabilities of this large catamaran confirm that they can offer outstanding ability even in the largest sizes, and that nautical qualities, silhouette and luxury are compatible! This 70 to 90’ segment demands rigorous design, engineering and financial opulence, and is bound to develop. To select the best, Sunreef is bound to be included if it continues in this direction.

The pluses

Silhouette and architectural design Construction quality Luxury and rational catamaran

The minuses

Insufficient stiffness of the strut Lack of motor controls in cockpit for maneuvering in the port Need for manual action to control tool-bag during maneuvers at the foot of the mast

TECHNICAL CHARACTERISTICS

Architects: Vincent Lauriot-Prévost, Marc Van Peteghem Builder: Sunreef Yacht Hull material: Aluminum Length: 22.50 m Beam: 10.56 m Weight: 39 t Draft: 1.75 m Mast height: 30 m Main sail: 185 m2 Spectra Genoa jib: 110 m2 Dyneema/Dacron Foresail: 60 m2 Asymetrical spinnaker: 325 m2 Storm jib: 10 m2 Gennaker (option): 322 m2 Engines: 2X240 HP Yanmar Transmission: propeller shafts + variable pitch propellers, adjustable from wheelhouse Fuel tanks: 2X1700 l Desalinators: 2X200 l/h Water tanks: 2X1200 l Gray water: 2X350 l Black water: 2X350 l Batteries: 1200 Ah 24V + backups 200 Ah, 24V Generators: 2X19 kVA Converters: 5000W and 2500W Air conditioning: reversible, 96000BTU plant. Summer/winter adjustable in each cabine Winders: 2 Profurl Central rostrum, front beam, mast and boom: monolithic carbon Paint system: Boero Price: 3,300,000 Euros