From high up on Pyrmont Bridge, we were firstly struck by the incredibly fluid design. On any other boat, the coachroof’s round portholes with decreasing diameters could appear dated. Here they confirm the impression that here we are dealing with something different, unknown until now, a Un-identified Floating Object. The integral pearl grey paint refines its lines, blends its interior spaces, captures and reflects the light. Down on the pontoon, at the foot of the sugar scoop, we felt almost intimidated! The pearl non-slip seems to envelop perfectly the shapes originally designed by Ian Farrier, assisted by the talented Australian design office, Murray Burns and Dovell (MBD). Since 1989, at Newport, north of Sydney, they have been designing some of the fastest, most elegant boats imaginable: Ricochet is undeniably an eminent representative. All the accommodation has recently been reinterpreted by the designer and interior architect Burley Katon Halliday (BKH Sydney & New York).
We were however very quickly put at our ease by Frank’s huge smile; like most Australians, he doesn’t bother with polite conversation. The contact was frank and jovial: welcome aboard! Behind his sunglasses, sheltered by his cap, the little goatee and the haircut reminded us of a certain Sir Richard Branson. Added to this striking resemblance, it turned out that Frank had been the skipper of Necker Belle, the 32m catamaran belonging to the creator of Virgin! But the likeness between the two men didn’t stop there! He too is motivated by the same search for excellence, the same creativity, the same attention to detail. Moreover Frank called on the suppliers of Necker Belle to realize and equip Ricochet: the guarantee of achieving exceptional levels in all areas.
The saloon doors retract into the coachroof bulkhead. Welcome aboard!
As regards the construction, Ricochet benefitted from the most advanced technologies for its initial construction in 2004, by Multihull Technologies Australia, to finally weigh just 8.5 tonnes. The 2008 and 2013 refits continued and perfected the quest for the absolute. The quality of the carbon-epoxy sandwich and the perfection of the look of the Awlgrip ‘Metallic Silver’ betray the thousands of hours of filler, sanding, and finishing necessary for such a result. Although the rotating mast and the canoe-type boom, inevitably in carbon and in the same immaculate silver livery, are not surprising, and although the martingale, also realized in this remarkable fiber allows you to see that everything has been thought of, and there has been no skimping, what can we say about the helmsman’s seat which seems to take root in the deck? The shape and link reproduce We remained amazed at the mirror–like finish of the smooth parts. In admiration of the lines which flow smoothly, transversally along the aft crossbeam, or longitudinally along the coachroof, finally skirting in a very obvious way round a stainless-steel clad winch, recessed by just the right amount. The fittings inevitably bring together the best makes. The sails are delicately crafted by Quantum in the noblest materials, as shown by the carbon membrane/black Technora mainsail. The dashboard which sits prominently behind the port steering wheel immediately has you thinking of a Joan Miro painting. The choice of each curve, each cushion, each color contributes fully to the creation of an atmosphere of harmony and well-being. Even the teak strips in the cockpit, whose alignment and meticulous assembly are an invitation to enter the heart of this gem.
The saloon doors don’t just open, they retract elegantly into the coachroof bulkhead. Elegance is the word which best defines the interior atmosphere. The corner radius of each piece of furniture has been thought out not only to never clash with either the gaze or the body, but above all to give a feeling of serenity and rest, of perfect balance. All the painted surfaces are also perfect. Here there are no headlinings or interior moldings to cover things up. Rather thousands of hours’ labor and impressive expertise to achieve such a level of quality and uniformity in the finish of all the vertical surfaces. Sobriety, efficiency, aestheticism are the DNA of this futuristic interior. Although the different shades of grey dominate, a few touches of red give life to the whole interior. The magic continues working when night falls and the led lighting sets the interior ablaze with its crimson light It reveals the floors, covered with Bolon, and turns a simple toilet bowl (albeit a molded carbon one) into a sculpture.
The helmsman’s seat seems to take root in the deck…
The accommodation is simple, refined. A long aft-facing settee and a few stools surround an egg-shaped table. To starboard, the furnishings accommodate a carefully integrated kitchen unit. Their opposite numbers receive the chart table and its comprehensive instrumentation. This most traditional function here is conjugated in a new tense: the future perfect. Each switch seems to have come straight from a science fiction film, or from Jonathan Ive’s mind. Each hull houses two double cabins and bathroom. Performance, and thus slim hulls, means that the space aboard is far from that offered by a classic production catamaran. But activate the integrated sliding panel which gives privacy to the aft berths, and you will instantly forget any desire for pointless comfort, to concentrate on the functionality of the essentials.
As regards the design, the mobile phone has the iPhone, museums have Bilbao’s Guggenheim, cars have Ferrari. Cruising catamarans have Ricochet. An absolutely unique, thrilling, unforgettable boat. Just like THE ‘cello created by Stradivarius for Rostropovich in 1711, connoisseurs will fight over it and pamper it over time. Don’t count the hours, forget any financial notion, any recent trends. Just think about the beauty of the result, the perfection of every detail, the coherence and timelessness of the whole boat. At the foot of the mythical Sydney Opera House, a reference in architecture and design if ever there was one, you can finally enjoy the speed and beauty of the most beautiful and most successful of catamarans. Frank and Lenny will welcome you aboard for a day or more. But the bad news is that although Ricochet can be chartered, it is not for sale. We guarantee that when it is, there will be a lot of us on the list of prospective purchasers. You will also have to deserve it.
Simple, refined accommodation aboard Ricochet, but always carefully integrated, as here with the superb galley unit…
Technical specification
Length: 47’ or 14.32 m
Beam: 23’ or 7.1m
Draft: 0.90 / 2.25 m
Displacement: 8,500 kg
Engines: 2 x 30 hp Yanmars
Fuel: 400 l
Water: 500 l
Mainsail: 70 m²
Jib: 28 m²
Code zero: 66 m²
Gennaker: 105m²
Spinnaker: 140m²
Price: Unique object, therefore priceless...
With its slim hulls, the cabins don’t have the space offered aboard modern 50-foot catamarans... But is this important?
