Catamarans take the lead for cruising

by Event media on 30 Jun 2005 The Cruising Club Australasia has recently added two internationally renowned Fountaine Pajot luxury catamarans to their Sydney and Auckland franchises.

In June 2005, Australian agents, EC Marine Pty Ltd, finalised a Lavezzi 40 catamaran for the Sydney franchise and a magnificent Eleuthera 60 catamaran for the Auckland franchise.

The Eleuthera 60 and the Lavezzi 40 have been hailed as the new reference in cruising catamarans with their innovative design, advanced technology and superior handling.

The Eleuthera 60 is Fountaine Pajot’s new flagship and has been designed for the most discerning cruising sailor. With a timeless contemporary design featuring sleek hulls and roof, the catamaran offers a level of comfort, spacious accommodation and quality of finish more commonly found in custom designed yachts.

Designed by European architectural firm Berret-Racoupeau, the Eleuthera 60 was based on the original concept of the Fountaine Pajot Marquises 56, which has been a preferred choice for luxury charters and private use over the past ten years.

The catamaran has been designed with long-term comfort in mind to cater for private owners’ use, large families or crew, and private charters for up to twelve people.

Some of the catamaran’s most distinctive design advantages include improved facility of movement aboard, as well as excellent luminosity, with large picture windows affording unmatched visibility and light. Wider hulls have resulted in the addition of larger cabins and island beds.

The catamaran’s performance is second to none, with ease of maneuvering for short-handed crew, with an electric mainsail winch fitted as standard, plus a generous sail area with fully battened mainsail and roller-furling genoa.

The Eleuthera 60 features original technical solutions, patented by Fountaine Pajot, which have become references throughout the marine industry. The catamaran also features a unique helming station with a 360 degree view and electronic repeaters at the chart desk area outside.

Interest in the Lavezzi 40 also remains strong following its 2004 Australian launch. With this model, the designers and architects set out to innovate for life on board and moving about on deck, plus performance under sail.

This ‘Maestro’ version of the Lavezzi 40 features an owner’s suite in the starboard hull with an extra-large double bed, wall cupboards, sofa, office area, plus a head and shower in the bows.

The catamaran boasts an extremely open and airy saloon with an aft facing semi-circular galley. A large combined opening hatch combined with the off-centre door turns the galley into an integral part of the cockpit – a great advantage in Australia’s summer climate.

A galley is located on the port side, leaving ample space for the table and bench seating, with enough room for eight people. The saloon of the Lavezzi 40 features roomy cupboard space in the galley and for the new chart table, and the saloon and cockpit open onto each other, making for remarkable ventilation and easy use of galley whether you wish to dine inside or out.

The Lavezzi 40’s sail plan is generous with an upwind area of 90m2. The genoa winches are laid out in such a way as to keep the cockpit as clear as possible, making maneuvers even easier and helmed without difficulty by just one person.

Fountaine Pajot is the first French boat builder to have been accorded the ISO 9001 v2000 Quality label for the whole of its production cycle, confirming the company’s insistence on quality and client trust.

EC Marine has recently reviewed the prices across their range, in response to the strengthening Australian dollar, particularly against the Euro. This, combined with a recent volume shipping rebate, makes it an ideal time to purchase a Fountaine Pajot catamaran.

The Lavezzi 40 is available for sale from just AUD$519,000 and the Eleuthera 60 is available from AUD$1,875,000. The Lavezzi 40 will also be on display at the Cruising Club Australasia's Berth (#228) at the 2005 Sydney International Boat Show from 28 July - 2 August.

For further information or test sails on the Eleuthera 60 or Lavezzi 40 or any other catamarans in the Fountaine Pajot range, contact Mark Elkington on 0401 045 228 or Peter Cohen on 0414 641 961, email editor@ecmarine.com.au or visit www.ecmarine.com.au