Fountaine Pajot's New Sailing Cats

by IBI News on 14 Oct 2006 Fountaine Pajot has revealed it will launch two new boats at the longer end of its sailing catamaran range next year.

First up is the Salina 48, the replacement design - by naval architects Berret & Racoupeau - for the company's Bahia 46. Available for delivery from May 2007, its 48ft (16.4m) length gives it a slender profile and a very low centre of gravity. The saloon and cockpit form a single-level space that incorporates galley, dining table, inside and outside living areas and a large sun-bathing pad that doubles-up as the tender and davit cover.

The Salina 48 will be available in two versions: the Quatuor has four cabins, four bathrooms, and sleeping accommodations for 12; and the Maestro version has a private suite in one hull, with a laundry space and a hull for guests. The boat is due to make its UK debut at the 2007 Southampton Boat Show.

The next model down in the sailing catamaran range is the Joubert/Nivelt-designed Orana 44. As with its larger sister, this new model will have a single-level interior and exterior space. The deck arrangement features key design cues from the Salina 48, such as a mezzanine helm area accessed from the cockpit giving 360° visibility over the deck and the built-in hard bimini, providing space for three crew and all the sailing controls. Below, in the boat's Maestro version, there are four cabins, each with a full sized en-suite with large shower cubicle.

Like all boats in the range the new Orana 44 is manufactured using Fountaine-Pajot's RTM Eco technology. All materials for the entire hull are laid-up and tacked into position dry, then enclosed in an airtight bag. Resin is then introduced under vacuum conditions filling the plug. The system ensures a very strong, uniform finish that eliminates voids in the lay-up process and provides an extremely rigid platform for the rig.

For more information, go to the Fountaine Pajot website